Pre-Prep Reflections

Pre-Prep Reflections Week 4 September 2024

Dear parents,

The children are now well into the swing of the new term and making super progress with their learning. It has been a pleasure to hear some children read this week. We have also welcomed three new children into the Nursery class: George M, Alanna and Danny. We look forward to welcoming Olivia to the class next week.

Whole school photograph

On Tuesday morning, there was great excitement as five buses parked up on the playground to transport all pre-prep children and staff over to Exeter School for the first ever 3-18 whole school photo! There was much ooh-ing and aah-ing as the little ones arrived and took their places at the front. They were so brilliantly behaved and enjoyed the experience of seeing their siblings, old friends and generally waving to everyone! With around 1200 people and three dogs involved, this was no easy task to organise – our thanks go to Miss Rose and all the staff for ensuring that everything ran smoothly.

Click here to see the magic in progress

New Sixth Form Centre

You will no doubt have heard that the sixth form centre over at Exeter School has had a huge transformation over the summer – click through the photo gallery below to see for yourself. It’s lovely when we hear stories from the current sixth form pupils about what they remember of their time at the pre-prep back when it was the New School.  I am looking forward to going along to the grand opening of the sixth form centre after school today to see it for myself. Exeter School’s open morning event is taking place next Saturday 5 October if you would like a tour. Please book below if you’d like to come along – why not share the link with friends too!

Click here to register for 5 October open morning

Welcome to our new sixth form centre

School uniform

Please may we remind parents to check that all uniform items, especially jumpers, are clearly labelled with your child’s name, so that we can return them easily. A few parents have also asked about the elasticated school ties. These are an optional uniform item and are only available to purchase through the school office at £6.75 each. Please contact AJ if you would like to order any and we will add the total amount to your next invoice.

Next week

Our annual grandparents’ afternoon is a lovely tradition which is always well attended. We look forward to hosting this again next Friday afternoon. Please see full details in the article below.

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.

Mr Daniel Ayling

Diary Dates

Friday 4 October 2.30pm – Grandparents’ afternoon

Saturday 5 October – Exeter School open morning

Thursday 10 October – Year 2 taster day at Exeter School

Friday 18 October 3pm – Harvest assembly for parents

21 October to 1 November – Half term (2 weeks)

Wednesday 20 November 2.15pm – 7+ assessment parent information meeting

Wednesday 27 November 4.00-7.30pm – Parents’ evening

Tuesday 10 December 3pm – Informal parent drop-in

Thursday 12 & Friday 13 December 2.30pm – Nativity performances

Monday 16 December – Christmas jumper day

Tuesday 17 December – Christmas pantomime

Wednesday 18 December – End of autumn term (12 noon)

A list of term dates for the academic year 2024-25 is available on the school website.

Spotlight on Reception

The children in Reception have settled very well into their new classroom and routines and are enjoying their topic ‘All About Me’. We enjoy our trip to the school library area every Tuesday and the children love sharing these books at home with you. In mathematics, we have been exploring ways to count accurately and order numbers from 0 to 10. The children have really enjoyed using the Numicon and finding out how the Numberblocks can help us with our learning. In English, the children have been writing captions about what they like about school – the rope swing and playing outside was very popular! We have continued to look at our phase 2 sounds in phonics and we are recapping the key words which the children have been practising at home. We have been busy in art making our Christmas card designs and we’re really pleased with how well they’ve all turned out! We have also been practising our Makaton signs for the upcoming harvest assembly, which we look forward to sharing with everyone soon.

Mrs Rickard, Mrs Smyth and Miss Adams

Grandparents’ Afternoon

Our annual Grandparents’ Afternoon will start at 2.30pm on Friday 4 October. All children from Nursery to Year 2 will be involved, starting with a tour and craft activity in classrooms. Visitors will then be invited to enjoy a relaxed afternoon tea with the children, which will be served in the hall.

Pick up and clubs will be at the usual time of 3.30pm. Children are welcome to leave with their visitors with agreement from parents – please let the class teacher know if this will be the case.

In order to give us an idea of numbers and help us with the final planning stages, please could you complete the online form as soon as possible. If you have more than one child at the school, you only need to complete one form.

Other family members or friends are welcome to attend should grandparents be unable to make it. Tickets are limited to a maximum of 4 per family due to limited space in the hall and classrooms.

Christmas cards

We know it’s still only September, but we have already been working hard on this year’s Christmas card designs with the children and they will be coming home in their book bags today! We are using the company Cauliflower Cards again this year, who can create cards, mugs, notebooks, wrapping paper and gift tags from each child’s artwork. Please complete the order form on paper or online. The artwork must then be returned to school as soon as possible without being folded or creased, so that it can be sent to the company to be scanned. Orders will be delivered to school and sent home to you before the end of term. The school receives a small commission on any orders placed. We hope you like the artwork and thank you for your support.

 

Mrs Goodwill

Individual pupil photographs

Pret-a-Portrait’s early bird discount for the recent individual and sibling photos has been extended until this Monday 30 September. If you visit their website www.pret-a-portrait.net and enter your sitting ID, the discount will automatically be applied. If you have misplaced your sitting ID, please let me know and I can email it to you.

Mr Ayling

Harvest Assembly

Parents are warmly invited to attend our harvest assembly on Friday 18 October from 3pm in the school hall. You do not need to reserve tickets. Nursery children who do not attend on Fridays are welcome to join parents in the audience.

We will once again be supporting our local food bank, the Westbank community larder, and would welcome non-perishable donations to be brought into school by the children from Monday next week. All donations are welcome but priority items listed by the charity are:

  • Fruit squash and fruit juice (long life)
  • Tinned meat, fish, vegetables, potatoes
  • Tinned soup, tinned pies
  • Biscuits
  • Dry noodle snacks
  • Pasta sauces
  • Jams and spreads
  • Custard
  • Sponge pudding
  • Coffee
  • Household items (washing up liquid, laundry capsules, etc.)

We would appreciate it if items could be sent in carrier bags or small boxes to aid transportation. Every item will be used to help a local person or family in need. Thank you in advance for your support.

Mrs Wannell

Stars of the Week

Nursery

Connie

For having a great attitude towards her learning and always being a helpful heron in the classroom. Well done!

Mrs Dray

Reception

Benji

For being very enthusiastic with his reading and putting in so much effort. Well done!

Mrs Rickard & Mrs Smyth

Year 1

Isabella

For great work with her cursive handwriting and for having a super attitude towards our daily reading. Well done!

Mrs Lawrence-Jones

Year 2

Wilby

For always trying his best in lessons and settling into Year 2 so quickly. Well done!

Ms Richards & Mrs Goodwill

Head's Star of the Week

Martha (Year 2)

For being a kind kingfisher with the younger children when showing them how to use our new playground toys. Well done!

Mr Ayling

News

Do you have a story or pupil achievement to share with our community?

If you have a couple of lines of information and a photograph that you and your child are happy to be shared we will try to post these at relevant times through the year.
Email our communications team
Nativity dress rehearsal 🌟

Nativity dress rehearsal 🌟 ...

8 0

6F bowling social Sept 2024

3F Heatree residential 2024

1st XV Hockey vs West Buckland

1st XV Rugby vs Ivybridge

L2 PGL residential to Beam House

Junior school try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Come along to our whole school open morning on Friday 24 January 9-10.45am to hear from the Head, have a pupil-led tour around classes in action and have your questions answered by our friendly admissions team.

Register your place here