Junior Reflections Week 32 June 2024
Dear parents,
I hope that you all had an enjoyable half term, and just like that, we are starting the last half of the term for the academic year. As always there is a lot happening so do keep an eye on the notices that come out on a Thursday where we put gentle reminders about what is coming up.
Events this week
We kicked off the week with our Planet Protectors leading our Monday assembly talking about all that they do in school and the seven pledges that we try as a community to work on to help make our world a better place. It was World Environment Day on Wednesday, a stark reminder that everyone has a role to play, and every little helps. Connie, a Middle Fifth pupil, also spoke to the junior school about her passion of growing food and how inspired she has been by working with our wonderful Planet Protectors. We also welcomed some Third Form pupils back to assembly to talk to our current Upper Two about all things senior school and to alleviate any worries pupils may have about the next stage in their education. In Chapel today, Rev Close shared with the pupils the reason behind remembering D-Day which took place 80 years ago in 1944. This day saw the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare, and it is important that our younger generation remember the sacrifices that so many men and woman made for us during this war.
It was really lovely to see so many upper school parents at the coffee morning on Wednesday. I always enjoy these informal events, having the opportunity to catch up and for you to see the teachers as well. This week has been particularly busy with trips for the Upper One pupils heading off to Stover National Park, and trips into Exeter for geography. Upper Two pupils are in the thick of rehearsing for their end of year production of Alice: The Musical, and from what I have heard it is going to be amazing.
Click here to get your tickets for Alice: The Musical
Sports
The weather has been on our side for once with our cricket fixtures and the girls and boys had a great match on Wednesday against St Peter’s with many girls having a go at hard ball for the first time. Our Upper One pupils were also in action against Stover School and it was lovely to hear and see the chatter and smiles from all the pupils. Clearly a great afternoon was had by the girls and Mrs Wopshott was super impressed with the standard of the cricket on display. Mr Wood was also delighted with the improvements he has seen in his team of U9 boys. Good luck to Alex, Monty, Rory R and Rory D who are heading up to the London Aquatic centre this weekend to compete in the National IAPS swimming finals, I look forward to hearing all about it on Monday. We also have our first athletics meet this Sunday at Mount Kelly; good luck to all involved.
Class allocations for the 2024-2025 academic year
It’s that time of year when the staff are involved in the intricate task of organising new class forms. As the term concludes, parents of children in Form One, Upper One, and Lower Two will receive an email indicating their child’s class for September. This process involves a deliberate and thoughtful reshuffling to ensure pupils can interact with different peers within their year group, fostering a well-rounded social experience at Exeter School. Our decisions are based on extensive consultations with all junior school staff, who have valuable insights into pupil friendships and dynamics, to create the most effective learning environments. On Thursday 4 July, pupils will spend an enjoyable afternoon with their new class, meeting their form tutor, making new friends, and participating in fun activities to ease the transition into the next academic year. Additionally, parents of Upper Two moving to Exeter Senior School will receive further information from Miss Dunning in due course.
New staff
Today is an exciting day as we welcome our new colleagues to the school for the start of their new staff induction programme as they look forward to September. This year we have a wonderful group of new teaching staff across the senior and junior schools and I have summarised them for you here. Between them they bring with them many decades of experience in a range of different schools and settings from New York City to London, and Taunton (!), and we are very much looking forward to getting to know them all and working with them as they settle in and start their Exonian journey. They are very welcome indeed and we wish them all the very best. We will be saying a proper goodbye and thank you to our departing colleagues in the weeks ahead.
| Role | Appointee |
| Director of Learning & Teaching (new post) | Mr Paul Fennemore (English), replacing Mr Stephen Hancock |
| Head of Maths and computer science team leader | Mr Matt Worthy, to replace Dr Geoff Chapman |
| Modern foreign language (German) teacher | Mrs Claire Sewell, on the departure of Mrs Alice Francis |
| Head of Classics; culture & communications team leader | Mr Harry Drew, as Mrs Emily Dunlop leaves us |
| Head of English | Miss Jenni Wilson, following Mr Andrew Dobson’s departure |
| Head of History; humanities team leader | Miss Angela Harris, as Mr Giles Trelawny departs the school |
| Science teacher (physics) | Mr Sam Larkham, replacing Mr Richard Tear |
| Maths teacher | Mrs Yvonne Osborne, who replaces Mr Tom Bowler |
| English teacher (part-time) | Mrs Elloise Stone, due to reorganisation and additional teaching need |
| Junior school teacher | Miss Aimee McElhatton, as Mrs Rita Pettet leaves us |
| Junior school teacher | Mrs Polly Wopshott, due to Mrs Jacquie Barnes’ departure |
Summer Fete reminder
A reminder that next Saturday is our summer fete 1-4pm; I do hope to see many of you there. It is going to be a lot of fun with food and drink stalls as well. Please can I ask that you bring cash/coins as we do not have many card readers and this would help our pupil-led stall holders. I have ordered the sun so all will be well. There will be a bottle tombola – if you are able to bring a bottle of some description for this stall it would be much appreciated; the bottles can be dropped off at the bursary.
More info on the ESFS Summer Fete
Enjoy the weekend.
Mrs Van
