The Bulletin Edition 7

What a fantastic start to the academic year we’ve had at Hampton Prep! The past six weeks have flown by, filled with memorable events and experiences.

• We kicked off with a Poetry Party, where our pupils engaged with words and rhythm. It was wonderful to hear the boys exploring their creative sides, sharing their own verses at the end of the event.
• We also welcomed visitors from Elizabeth College Junior School, Guernsey, for a friendly football tournament. During their weekend stay with us on “the mainland,” camaraderie and sportsmanship flourished between Hampton Prep boys and the visiting team, with new friendships formed both on and off the pitch.
• Local state primary school visitors joined us for an afternoon of linguistic challenge and inter-cultural exchange. Mme Houghton and Mme Faber expertly hosted our Year 2 guests for a “Fun with French” event, filled with the requisite joie de vivre. It was excellent to see the young learners embrace the French language through games, songs, and a literal taste of French food and culture.
• Our first musical performance of the year was held in the James Hall. This marks the beginning of a series of Pupils’ Informal Concerts planned for the academic year. Though the number of performers was small this time, the musical enthusiasm and verve on display were impressive.
• Today’s House Football competition was a highlight, and it was heart-warming to see so many parents in attendance. The matches were hard-fought, with each House demonstrating determination and team spirit. Congratulations to all our players for their efforts!
• After the football, it was lovely to see parents exploring the Years 3-5 Open Homework exhibition in the James Hall. This year’s theme was ‘100,’ in celebration of our Centenary Year. The boys’ exhibits were truly impressive, showcasing their imagination and hard work. The creative interpretations of ‘100’ ranged from historical timelines to art projects and mathematical explorations, reflecting both the boys’ talent and our centenary spirit.

Thank you to all our parents, staff, and pupils for making this half term so meaningful. I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved, relaxing, and energising break!

To deepen their understanding of Stone Age life, Year 3 visited Stonehenge on Thursday. This was a fantastic opportunity to see one of the most significant Neolithic structures in Europe and to ponder its origins and purpose. The boys explored a variety of artefacts in the museum, including an ancient skeleton alongside its forensic reconstruction. Their experience of the reconstructed Neolithic houses certainly made the boys appreciate the comforts of 21st-century living! We feel very fortunate to have such a magnificent World Heritage site within reach, and both the boys and staff thoroughly enjoyed their day at this remarkable venue.

I write this ahead of this afternoon’s House Football event, but I can report that the usual sporting house spirit is in full swing, with the boys full of excitement and energy ahead of the competition. The boys have trained together in their House teams in this week’s sports sessions, and it is evident how much lifting the cup means to them. It certainly looks to be a competitive year with any prediction of a winner getting short odds. Every goal matters and it looks to be a great afternoon.

Please click on the link below to see a very small selection of the amazing homework pieces produced by our year 3, 4 and 5 boys this week based on this years theme - '100'.

How to Get Beyond “Fine” and “Nothing” – Engaging with Your Child’s Day - At the start of the school year, we encouraged avoiding questions like, “How was your day?” or “What did you do today?” after school, as they often lead to those all-too-familiar responses of “fine” or “nothing.” We know these answers well—even from our own workday conversations!

This week in Kindergarten, we’ve been diving into the magical world of autumn. We read the fun story Don’t Hog the Hedge, about a little hedgehog named Hattie who’s getting cosy for hibernation. But, oh no! Other animals want to snuggle up, too! It’s a super story about friendship and sharing.

Reception focused their learning around the theme of 'Signs of Autumn'. In our phonics sessions, we have continued developing our blending skills, as well as learning the correct formation of the letters /d/, /g/, and /o/.

In English this week, Year 1 described the qualities needed to be a good detective – the children thought one needed to be quiet, good at tracking, able to follow footprints and able to listen to information. We put these skills to the test on Thursday when we had to solve our very own mystery. We worked in groups to crack the clues and work out who indeed did steal squirrel’s scarf! Ask your child if they can remember who the thief was and how they knew!

Year 2’s English work has been centred around a new text this week, ‘Lila and the Secret of Rain’, which is based in Kenya. Earlier in the week, the children discovered the importance of expanded noun phrases to elevate their written work, making it more interesting for the reader and many good examples followed this lesson.