From the Heads
We hope that you are enjoying the recent sunshine we are experiencing. The past few days have certainly made up for the cold and blustery last few weeks! On that note, please ensure that your child brings a water bottle to school each day and that adequate sunscreen has been applied before coming to school.
This week, many of our classes are completing end of term assessments. These are valuable checkpoints to measure the level of progress achieved this term and to identify the next steps for learning. As teachers, we use this data to inform our planning and to ensure we have everything in place to enable your child to reach their fullest potential. We will share this information with you in the end of year reports you will receive in a few weeks’ time.
The next few weeks are set to be very busy with lots of trips, activities, events and celebrations. Please keep a close eye on the school calendar and Dojo for updates.
Mr Gavin Franklin and Mrs Jo Parpworth
School Last Week
Common Entrance
Our Year 8 pupils have all completed their common entrance exams and now enter the anchor leg of their prep school journey. The Leavers’ programme began in some style on Friday morning following the final Latin exam with the customary trip to Viking Bay for an ice cream and a bracing dip in the sea (along with a little bit of beach cricket of course)! A selection of the photos can be viewed here.
School This Week
Six of the Best
Congratulations to two students in Year 8 who have been selected by Mr Parfitt to feature in this term’s ‘Six of the Best’. They are both first place winners from the recent Thanet Young Artists Festival. One is a beautiful still life painting by Grace Flowers and the other an engraving print by Max Miller based on natural forms. We think they are truly stunning and Mrs Parpworth is most excited to display these proudly in her study.
Year 8 Leavers
On Monday morning this week, the Year 8 Leavers departed for their adventure-filled week at Rockley, Dorset. We look forward to hearing all about it when they return on Friday. Common Entrance exam results will be in on Friday too, and Mr Franklin will deliver these personally in a brief one-to-one with each pupil on their return.
After exeat, the in-school leavers’ programme commences. Three weeks of outings, activities and workshops including a trip to Thorpe Park, a day out in South East London at the Kia Oval to watch some cricket, a circus skills workshops, watersports and lots more.
Pre Prep Swimming Gala (Years 2 and 3)
We are delighted to be holding a swimming gala for our children in Years 2 and 3 on Thursday, this week. Year 2 parents are invited to join us just before 2pm where teas and coffees will be served on the terrace. The gala starts at 2pm with Year 2 due to finish at 2.30pm. Year 3 will start at 2.30pm and will approximately finish at 3pm. We have medals and badges for every child.
Exeat
Please note that it is Exeat this weekend. School will finish at 3.30pm on Friday.
Year 7 Exams
We wish everyone in Year 7 ‘Good Luck’ as they embark on their end of term exams this week. This is excellent preparation for the next year ahead and we wish them well.
Team of the Week
Each week, a group of pupils who have contributed positively to live at our school are awarded Team of the Week. This week, we have chosen Year 6 for their exemplary conduct during the SATs exams. We look forward to seeing them this week for squash and biscuits.
Creative Writing Competition
Atom learning is launching the second annual Young Author Award to celebrate the generation’s upcoming young writers. With the chance to win incredible prizes (including a trip to Disneyland and free Chromebooks!)It’s time to pick up a pen and get ready for a summer celebration of creativity!
Click on this link to find out more.
Future Events
Parents Festival of Cricket (Year 5 – Year 8)
After the roaring success of last summer’s “festival of cricket” on our playing fields, we write to ascertain interest in parents having a go at some cricket – in the form of an old fashioned parents v pupils fixture – on Saturday 24th June.
Year 5 & 6 fixtures will take place on Saturday morning between 9am and 11am
Year 7 & 8 fixtures will take place on Saturday afternoon between 1pm and 5pm.
It will be a very relaxed day, with (providing parents are keen to play against their children) a number of fixtures (hard or soft ball as appropriate) taking place on our glorious playing fields.
Please can we ask that you complete this brief form stating your interest to play? Please note we encourage ALL levels of cricketers and always recognise effort and sportsmanship over skill!
Year 5 & 6 parents, please complete this form
Year 7 & 8 parents, please complete this form
Wine Tasting Evening
We are delighted to invite you to a summer wine tasting in the gardens of Wellesley Haddon Dene run by No. 1 Oscar Road wine merchants. The event will take place on Tuesday 27th June at 6.30pm. Tickets are £40 which includes a welcome drink, tasting six wines, snacks and nibbles. There are 20 spaces available – to book your ticket and to find out more please visit: https://www.oscarroadwine.co.uk/products/summer-wine-tasting-in-the-gardens-of-wellseley-haddon-dene. We hope to see you there.
Speech Day and Sports Day (LD – Year 3) Friday 30th June
We are looking forward to inviting parents from Year 1 to Year 3 to our Speech Day/Prize Giving at 9am on the 30th June. At 10am, our Sports Day will start and parents from Little Denes through to Year 3 are invited to watch our little ones compete within their classes. Further information will follow but please ensure you have this date in your diaries.
Speech Day and Sports Day (Year 4 – 8) – Saturday 1st July
As highlighted in the calendar and through previous correspondence, Speech Day and Sports Day for all Year 4 to Year 8 pupils will take place on Saturday 1st July. This will be an all day event, with Speech Day (including some performances, prizes and speeches) taking place from 11am. This will be followed by picnic lunches for all families on our playing fields and Sports Day for all Year 4 to 8 pupils taking place in the afternoon. Further details will follow, but in the meantime, please do make sure that you have this date inked in your diaries.
School Calendar
Please click here and scroll through for the most up to date calendar of events for the term.
Matches This Week
2.00pm start unless otherwise stated
Tuesday, 13th June
Cricket v Kent College: Girls U9 A (a)
Cricket v Kent College: Girls U9 B (a)
Yr1/2 Football A (a) 3:45pm
Wednesday, 13th June
Cricket v Kent College 6’s: U11 A (a) 1pm
Cricket v Kent College: Girls U11 A (a)
Please always refer to the website calendar as it is the most up-to-date place to check for fixture changes and locations.
If your child has been selected for a fixture, we will communicate with you prior to the fixture with information regarding the recommended pick up time from Wellesley HD.
Matches Last Week
Tennis v Norton Knatchbull: U13 A Boys | Lost 2-4 |
Cricket v Sutton Valence 6’s: U11 A | Cancelled |
Cricket v Junior King’s: Mixed U11 A | Lost |
Cricket v Junior King’s: Mixed U11 B | Lost |
Cricket v Junior King’s: U12 A | Lost |
Cricket v Northbourne Park: Mixed U9 A | Won by 9 runs |
Cricket v Northbourne Park: Mixed U9 B | Won by 3 runs |
Cricket v Ashford 8’s: Mixed U9 A | 3rd |
Cricket v Kent College: 1st XI | Cancelled |
Cricket v Kent College: 2nd XI | Cancelled |