www.stfaithsprep.com headmaster@stfaithsprep.com info@stfaithsprep.com

St Faithian Spring Term 2 February 2018

Friends of St Faith’s I would like to thank everyone who was able to attend the Friends meeting last week, and especially Vicky Crocker who chaired the meeting, which I was sadly unable to make. Key dates for your diary are: a cake sale on Friday 9 February (cake donations and help to run the stalls are welcome); upcoming Easter events, including a Disco for the pupils (provisionally) scheduled for Friday March 23; the famous Friends Wine and Wisdom evening on Friday April 27; the highly popular Summer Fair on Sunday July 1. The proposed summer social spectacular is a Barn Dance on Saturday June 23, which Mr and Mrs Solley have very kindly volunteered to facilitate. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for supporting the Friends activity, whether that is helping out with setting up and running stalls, baking cakes or spending your hard earned money on the sweets, treats and other delights that are on offer. I am delighted to announce that as a result of your efforts, the Friends will be contributing £1,700 to the new playground equipment. Funds raised from the 100 club will also be used to purchase 16 pairs of small headphones to go with the iPads for KS1 children, and we will be liaising with Mr Ainsworth to buy musical equipment.

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to join the 100 club. emmabatch05@gmail.com Victoria.crocker@stfaithsprep.com

A busy week of Music at St Faith’s this week It's been another busy week of Music! Our brand-new group for pre-school children, Tiny Toots, began on Wednesday. Mr Ainsworth was joined by Joseph, James and Joshua and their parents who joined in enthusiastically with songs including Incey Wincey Spider, Sleeping Bunnies and Wheels on the Bus. Thanks must go to Mrs Coombs and Chloe and Florence from Year 6 who came along as well! Year 5 had a tiring, but memorable, trip to the O2 in London on Thursday as they took part in a concert called Young Voices with over 8000 other children. All of Year 5 were a real credit to St Faith's!

The week's music ended with the annual House Music Competition, where each house has the opportunity to earned points for their houses, Oak, Beech, Ash and Sycamore. For the last few weeks, the strains of ABBA have resonated around St Faith's as the Houses have polished their performances. Along with their song, each House also had a Lower School and Upper School solo performance. All of this resulted in a hard-fought victory for Oak! Better luck next year to Beech, Ash and Sycamore! Special thanks should go to Mr David Smith, Head of Music at Sir Roger Manwoods, for adjudicating at this closely fought contest.

Head’s Corner Having been away for two days inspecting another school in Kent I’d like to say a big thank you to Helen Coombs for taking charge so effectively in my absence. So many fantastic things have happened this week but to see the Year 5s on Facebook enjoying themselves so completely and utterly at the O2 Arena was a sheer joy to behold. We have a lot of very tired young people today but I’d say very worthwhile! Well done and thank you to Mr Ainsworth, Mrs Gibbs, Miss Franklin and Mr MacKenzie.

Sport Report A fantastic week of results for the Girls It’s been a thrilling week of sporting activity. Convincing wins in Netball for the U11s who defeated Wellesley House with sensational play. Later in the week the U9s A&B played St Lawrence College and showed grit and determination, fighting their way to a convincing win. The Girls’ Football Team also played a hearty game against Whitfield Primary in the final match of the Dover and Deal League; a cracking game which put the girls at the top of the league and in with a chance of winning but they need to rely on

other results going their way to be champions. Good Luck girls. Finally, not to forget U11 Boys’ Football team who last Friday travelled to Warden House primary school for the quarter final of the Hammond Cup. The Hammond Cup is the biggest primary school tournament in the area and is a very tough competition to win. They heroically made it through to the semi-finals winning 2-1.

Lunchtime clubs Communicate, Collaborate and Play!

At the request of the children, the staff of Year 2 have organised lunch clubs at playtime. After voting within the year they decided to have a football club, a games skills club, a board games club, a Lego club and a table tennis club. Mr Ainsworth also runs two music clubs for Key Stage 1 each week. What busy and happy children we have here at St Faith's Prep School!

Book Review When I was at Primary School I was definitely a reluctant reader. If I read anything it would be Beano comics or football comics. I wasn’t really into reading ‘proper books’. As I got older I became interested in Enid Blyton books, particularly The Secret Seven and The Famous Five. I still think The Famous Five are a fraud since they include the dog (Timmy!) as one of the five! When I was an orchestral musician, a book was always a necessity to have on a music stand – as long as the conductor didn’t notice! I don’t have a favourite author and but choose thrillers and crime novels, often from our local library in Birchington. I feel that the ability to read and, more importantly, a love of books, is the most valuable gift a child can have. My wife and I read to our children, Hannah & Jennifer, before they were born. This meant lots of readings of ‘The Gruffalo’! They have at least one bedtime story and more during school holidays. We also visit the library every Saturday. ‘Press Here’ is one of our favourite books. I love its interactive nature, the sense of wonder and the ‘what will happen next?’ I’ve also shared this story with children at St Faith’s. Mr Ainsworth

Year 1 Assembly Celebrating our differences was the theme of Year 1s assembly. 1CP told the story of sad, lonely ‘Ronald the Rhino’, who tried be like lots of other animals in the jungle. He covered himself in spots like the leopards, stomped like the elephants, tried to slither like a snake and chirp like a bird! He was then led by the other animals to the pool to see the animal he was most like and saw his own reflection! Year 1 spoke clearly remembering all their very important parts. Mr Groves would have been very proud of them if he had been able to attend. They sang ‘It’s Good to be Me’. Mrs Coombs and Mrs Powlter are very proud of how they presented their assembly and of the important message they shared…‘Be happy to be yourself.’

Reception ‘Ketchup on your cornflakes?!’ Do you think that sounds nice? Our children in Reception thought our

Literacy story was hilarious and they had a lot of fun playing with the words and pictures in the book to create some ‘interesting’ combinations. These included ‘talcum powder on your apple pie’ ‘milk on your toast’ to name a few! This story then inspired us to be creative using cornflakes in our art to make pictures and decorate our names.

Clubs & Hobbies

Head Boy & Girl’s Teaser!

What starts with the letter ‘T’, is filled with ‘T’ and ends with ‘T’

Last week’s answer: A CLOCK

Deputy Head Boy & Girl’s Teaser!

Unscramble the letters to make a word

KLOVEGAWSN

Clue: it is a make of car

Last week’s answer: FORGETFUL

READING SHELF

The following children completed Reading shelves this week:

Roxi Booth, Albert Ray, Krish Parthiban, Lily Toomey, Luke Giffin,

Sholto Douglas-Claydon, Eliot Tucker, Zara Coombs, Charley Woodhead, Tilly Ford, Martha Rang, Genevieve Jeer, Jess Reynolds,

Gurveena Dhaliwal, Oliver Simms, Jonny Irwin

Week Commencing 5 February

Monday Yr 5 Residential Week to Kingswood Activity Centre 8.00am Parent Rep Meeting Tuesday 8.30am Pilates 8.40am Reception Assembly 1.00pm Manwoods Primary Maths Competition Wednesday 8.40am Class 4A Assembly 9.00am Tiny Toots 2.15pm U11 A & B Netball vs Northbourne Park HOME Thursday 2.00pm U9 Netball Festival at Kent College Junior AWAY Friday 3.15pm Friends Friday Treat Day

Week Commencing 05.02.18

Monday

Art Club Yr 2-6 YES

Gym Upper Nursery upwards YES

Music (During School hours) YES

Newspaper Club Yr 3-6 YES

Tennis Rec, Yr 1, 5 & 6 YES

Tuesday

Chess Yr 2-6 YES

Dance Pixies & Fairies Ballet up to Yr 1 YES

Drama Upper School Yr 2-6 YES

French Yr 2,3 & 4 YES

Hockey Yr 4-6 (second half term only)

LAMDA (During school hours) YES

Music (During School hours) YES

Wednesday

Dance Ballet & Jazz Yr 2 upwards YES

Fencing Yr 2-6 (8.00am - 8.45am) NO

LAMDA (During School hours) YES

Music (During School hours) YES

Netball Club Yr 4-6 YES

Thursday

Badminton Yr 4-6 (first half term only) NO

Computers Yr 4-6 YES

Football Yr 4-6 (second half term only)

Music (During School hours) YES

Tennis Yrs 2, 3 & 4 YES

Friday

Dodge Ball Yr 2-6 (first half term only) NO

Music (During School hours) YES

Year 5 pupil stars in local Panto! This young man has just completed 5 performances of the Ash Village Pantomime, ‘Cinderella’. He not only acted brilliantly but had a solo spot performing ‘Ode to Joy’ & was note perfect! Well done Bertie!

Year 3 Girls show great initiative and a talent for business.

Last Wednesday, Sienna, Kitty and Maisie-Grace had a Loom Band Sale by the Buddy Bench after school to raise funds for Phase 2 of the playground appeal. It was very well

supported by Upper School and they raised the grand total of £54.00. They plan to target lower school and see if they can reach their goal of £70.00. A great effort from all involved!

HEADTEACHER’S AWARD Flynn Marsh & Sancey Carthew for ‘don’t let the pigeon…’ book writing, Sammy Ur-Rehman for instruction writing Lottie Southorn for speaking so clearly in the class assembly Evelina Salvatori for her great Maths work Cora McGuirk for her writing Darcey Powell, Tom Harrop & Nicholas Fox for their Tudor portrait Eliot Tucker, Michael Coombes for their Bayeux Tapestry drawings

CHILDREN’S ACHIEVEMENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL Sami Ur-Rehman achieved stage 1 in the ASA Learn to Swim Harriet Bolton achieved a Distinction in the Royal Academy of Dance Grade 2 Ballet exam

MUSIC STAR OF THE WEEK Arabella Porter for the super progress

she is making on the piano

SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK Honor Urquhart

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH Matthew Gurr, Holly Rooke, Rosie Hudsmith,

Esther Kurruvilla, Rosie Grinstead

STAR AWARDS Bronze (100 stars +)

Lily Read, Freddie Heffer, Elliot Finlay, Alex Sutherland,

Luke Giffin, Thomas Coombes, Felix Simms, Sholto Douglas-Claydon, Gurveena Dhaliwal,

George Overy, Louis Hunt, Oliver Simms, Tom Harrop, Logan Bouhours Goodlad, Harleena Dhaliwal,

Oscar Farquhar, Harry Ford, Kitty McCullin, Helena Overy, Jasmine Marsh, Meena Hay, Thomas Dowle,

Sami Ur-Rehman

GOLDEN BALL Kitty McCullin, Jude Leberl,

Nicholas Fox, Tom Harrop, Eliot Tucker, Oliver Simms

Times Tables Challenge

Mars stage 9—Helena Overy Mars stage 10—Holly Rooke

Jupiter stage 14—Matilda Ford Jupiter stage 13—Oliver Simms

Birthdays Darcey Powell, Joel Dixon, Portia Taylor-Wilson

These children are Stars of the week for all their effort in class

RB Roy Benayahu For amazing co-ordinations and dance moves

RR Amber Vince For enthusiasm when learning about shapes

1CP Sami Ur-Rehman For consistently working with independence and resilience

1R Gurveena Dhaliwal For neat work and remembering capital letters and full stops

2E Freya Ralph For wonderful story writing

2L Harper Skudder-Acaster For improving his handwriting and Reading skills

3B Harry Ford For an excellent start to his new role of Friendship Council

3F Romy Todd For outstanding work in Maths 4A Logan Bouhours Goodlad For excellent effort in creative writing

4M Genevieve Jeer For a super effort in History

5A Bertie Taylor For resilience and hard work both inside and outside the classroom

5G Evie Dove For dogged determination when unwell

5M Freddie Bickley For an amazing attitude to his learning

6J Rosie Grinstead For fantastic effort in English

6W Cora McGuirk For keeping up an amazing all round effort

FRIEND OF THE WEEK

Roxi Booth for helping a friend when they fell over

House House Points

Ash 161

Beech 153

Oak 137

Sycamore 120

SCIENCE INVESTIGATOR OF THE WEEK

Bertie Taylor