The Bulletin Edition 9

At yesterday’s Pre-Prep assembly, we were treated to a wonderful presentation on the power of reading, led by Mrs Rigby, Head of English at Hampton. From the sidelines I was so impressed to watch the children’s faces as they sat fascinated while Mrs Rigby guided them on a journey through time, from the first marks made on clay tablets in Mesopotamia, through Egyptian papyrus scrolls and medieval manuscripts, to the invention of the printing press and beyond.

Mrs Rigby, who brings a wealth of professional expertise and a personal lifelong love of literature to her work, helped everyone at the Pre-Prep appreciate just how extraordinary the written word really is. Books, she reminded us, have shaped the way we think about the world and about ourselves; they have allowed people across the centuries to share ideas, emotions and stories, and to imagine worlds beyond their own.

We take pride in encouraging all our pupils to connect with their emotions, regardless of age. Mrs Rigby’s uplifting visit this week reinforced this critically important aspect of our overall approach and her vivid reading aloud of (a personal favourite of mine) The Very Hungry Caterpillar reinforced this point magnificently! She reminded us that reading does far more than help us to learn, it helps us to feel i.e. to understand other people’s experiences, to see life through different eyes, and to grow as curious, thoughtful human beings.

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The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed a new face on the Sports staff this term, Mr Hollister. Joining us as an afternoon sports coach, Mr Hollister brings a wealth of experience as a professional rugby player.

Our busy but rewarding week in Pre-Prep began with an assembly to mark Anti-Bullying Week, focusing on this year’s theme: The Power of Good. The week, organised annually by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, aims to stop bullying and create safer environments where children and young people can live, grow, play and learn.

In Kindergarten, we have been learning all about Poppy Day and the importance of wearing poppies. Using books and our interactive whiteboard, we explored information about Remembrance Day and discovered stories of the brave soldiers who fought in the war. We talked about how the money raised from selling poppies helps us remember these heroes and supports injured soldiers and their families. 

This week Reception have enjoyed learning about wild animals of the world and have looked at the many types of animals and creatures, noticing similarities and differences between them. We read the story ‘The Journey Home’ by Frann Preston-Gannon - it tells of a polar bear setting off to find a new home, adventuring across the sea and joining other endangered animals on his journey.

We have continued to enjoy Julia Donaldson’s Nut Tree. We explored its cyclical structure, reflecting the life cycle of an acorn tree, and played a fun rhyming game — spotting words that rhyme even when their spellings differ.

Year 2 have had a busy and exciting week!  The children have worked incredibly hard in maths, consolidating their understanding of adding and subtracting two-digit numbers.