Autumn Term newsletter 04.11.2022
E-News Friday 4th November 2022
We hope you have had an enjoyable half term break and welcome back to what promises to be a busy and productive half term. There are plenty of fixtures, house competitions as well as school trips and events, not to mention Mock Week for year 11, The Infants Nativity Performance and the Carol Service which is now less than 4 weeks away! Some important dates and pertinent information is below to help with your planning and to complement the school calendar which was disseminated last half term.
Thank you and well done to everyone who overcame the challenges we faced on Thursday bought on by the misadventures of a squirrel whose actions managed to cut off most of the power in a 2 mile radius of the school! The staff were extremely agile and ensured lessons were adapted quickly where prior plans were reliant on technology. The student’s behaviour was excellent throughout the day in the face of changed plans and timings. The kitchen staff worked tirelessly to ensure food was served on time and for all. A great team effort!
Parking and The Drive
With the wetter weather, pick up inevitably becomes a little trickier with the parking capacity reduced due to the field being closed so hopefully the following points of clarification will be helpful:
Although the drive does get busy, it is invariably only for a relatively short amount of time.
Prep school: May pick up from 3.30pm from the playground – please park in a way which does not block the drive. Infant parents have priority over the spaces closest to the school between 3 and 3.45pm. Prep school pupils can still be picked up between 4-4.20pm. In which case, parents will need to park and walk to the playground to collect.
Senior School: Pupils in S10 and 11 (as well as their siblings) can leave site via the back drive to be picked up if we have prior permission from parent/s.
Middle and Senior School: Registration does not finish until 4pm. We would encourage parents not to arrive before this because the drive gets blocked quiet quickly. Staggered arrival between 4pm and 4.20pm means that traffic should move continually. Those who arrive early, please drive around the island and park on the far side to avoid blockages.
In all cases, please avoid stopping in or blocking the middle lane to ensure a constant flow of traffic is possible. There are often spaces to park on the opposite side of the drive or near to the house. Your child/ren can be vigilant to your arrival and come to you, or you can leave your car to collect them from the field. Prep school parents will be looking to park and leave their car so having a route through is important.
Those collecting/leaving on foot, please do so by the back drive and not the main drive. This is especially important now the evenings are darker.
Thank you as always for your cooperation, courtesy and patience.
Dates for your Diary:
Year 7 parents evening: 4.30 – 6.30pm on Thursday 17th November:
Year 11 Mock Week 1: Monday 28th November to Thursday 1st December
Nativity Performance: 2pm on Wednesday 7th December
Carol Service: Thursday 8th December
NB: All students from year 3 to 9 are involved and expected to attend the Carol Service.
Year 11 who are not directly involved are encouraged to attend as part of the congregation as it is their last year and chance to do so.
Year 10 students who are not directly involved may attend as part of the congregation if they wish but there is no requirement to do so.
More information will follow in due course.
Remembrance
Next Friday we will come together as a school to mark Remembrance 2022. Prior to our two minute silence, students will have their normal break time during which they will be able to purchase a warming hot chocolate for £1 with all proceeds being donated to the British Legion. Students will have an assembly dedicated to this on Tuesday and we know that all students will remember to wear their poppies as a mark of respect over this period of time. Alternative warm fruit drinks will be available as an alternative if required.
Trainers and Tracksuits
As the field is wet, we are asking that ALL students change into their trainers for short and long break. Those playing sport on the field during break are asked to change partially or fully into games kit. Both measures are designed to reduce the wear and tear on uniform as well as cut down on mid-week washing! All students are therefore required to have PE/Games kit (including trainers) in school every day please.
News from the Prep School
I hope you all had a lovely half-term break. We have so much to look forward to this term, beginning with Year 6 being evacuated next Tuesday and Year 5 have their trip to Hartlebury Castle on Thursday. Both as part of their History studies.
In assembly this week we commended Leo Maciej-Clarke (J4) for achieving his level 5 swimming award and also Tom Wilson (6NS) for walking 96 miles this half term to complete the West Highland Way. Well done to both boys.
Mrs. Ridge
Music E-News
Carol Service: Welcome back to a very busy and exciting half term. Much of our focus will be preparing for our school Carol Service which will take place at Pershore Abbey on Thursday 8th December at 7pm. Please note that all students in the Junior and Middle school are expected to attend as they are participating in several pieces and carols. Our ensemble players and choirs are also expected to attend. Please make a note in your diary. More details to follow regarding a rehearsal during the day on the 8thDecember.
Instrumental: Instrumental lessons begin next week. Timetables have now been distributed to students and are up on all of the music notice boards around school. Please let me know if your child has not received their timetable. Students should note down the weekly times and date of their lesson into their planner. Thank you.
Extra-curricular: It is essential that all ensemble and choir member give full attendance to rehearsals now so that they are confident and prepared for their performances in the Carol Service.
Rock Band: On Tuesday next week, we shall be announcing the successful musicians who will make up our new Rock Band for this year. Our first rehearsal will initially meet on Wednesday next week with Mr Bell to begin discussions and create a first ‘groove’.
Music Stars: Congratulations to Miss Smith’s music stars for the half term. In N/R Jonas Ford, I1\2 Indigo Hudson-Page and Elina Woodward, J3 Summer Comens and J4 Adam Baker. Very well done to all.
Thank you
Mrs Izod
PE and Games News
This term in PE is Cross Country. The course can get very muddy, and the weather is getting colder, so students need to come prepared.
They will be going into class lessons afterwards so it’s important that they can get themselves cleaned up if necessary.
Please can you ensure your child has :
- Suitable footwear ( an old pair of trainers is a good idea) or football boots.
- Football/Hockey socks (not white PE socks)
- Skins if required
- Carrier bag to put wet and muddy trainers and socks in to.
- Small towel
- If your child needs an inhaler, they will need to bring this with them on the course.
We are aware that cross country is not always a favourite lesson for students, but we encourage them to focus on their own individual performance and to try and improve on that each week. It is good preparation for House Cross Country in December which all students are involved in. The fastest cross country runners will be selected for ISA cross country in January 2023.
ISA Junior Swimming
The first day back in school started with 14 students from the prep school attending the Junior Swimming competition at Walsall Leisure Centre. It was a tough competition to participate in alongside 24 other schools, and the students from Bowbrook represented the school very well. For some of the participants, it will have been their first involvement with ISA tournaments and competition, and all who participated should feel very proud with the way they conducted themselves. The results will be compiled by the organisers over the next few days. Well done to all swimmers who attended.
Students should check the PE notice board to see if they are involved in fixtures.
Monday 7th November U11’s Hockey vs Heathfield
ISA U11’s 5 a side football tournament @ Wyre Forest
Wednesday 9th November U16’s rugby vs St Edwards @ Home
U16’s Hockey vs Kingham Hill @ Kingham Hill
Thursday 10th November U14’s Hockey vs Heathfield @ Heathfield
U13’s Rugby vs Bredon @ Bredon
