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SCHOOL NEWS
APPLE DAY - cancelled!
Due to exceptionally high winds forecast for Saturday, regrettably we have had to cancel Apple Day. We would like to thank all those who have put so much effort into arranging the day and hope there isn't too much disappointment.
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Shop shelves were cleared of flour, eggs, and sugar, and the kitchens of East Sussex and Kent rang with cries “Keep your fingers out of the cake mix…!” Yes, it was time for the Macmillan Coffee Morning and Baking Competition!
The children whipped up a truly fantastic range of cakes and bakes, with this year’s theme, Languages Open Hearts and Minds, interpreted in wonderfully creative ways. Mrs Powis had an incredibly tough job judging the winners from such a fabulous selection.
The cakes and cookies flew off the tables, and the day ended with an impromptu, cake-fuelled game of balloon football!
A marvellous £927.10 was raised for Macmillan. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make the event a resounding success.
The judges were very impressed with the selection of entries. Very well done to everyone for their creative donations. The winners of our first MHV Bake-Off are:
- Ruby S (2C) - Rainbow Heart Cake
- Florence R (4P) - Book Cake
- Louis (1G), Thomas (R) & William J (3P) - Puzzle Cake
- Alice C (7G) - World Cake
- Isabel VG (5H) - Language Cupcakes
- Eleanor (7T) & Arthur T (1G) - Open Minds and Heart Cake.
The winners were awarded the much-coveted Star Baker spoon along with a set of kitchen utensils.
Sarah Grant, FoMHV
Could families please collect their tupperware/cake tins from the main foyer.
Harvest Festival – Thursday 9th, October
We are very much looking forward to celebrating this special occasion together and warmly invite grandparents to join us.
To get a clear idea of numbers and to be able to offer assistance to those less mobile, please complete this form, by Tuesday 7th October.
This year, we are delighted to be supporting Dom’s Food Mission, an environmentally friendly surplus food charity in Hastings.
- Prep School donations: please bring these to the Sports Hall from Wednesday, where four House tables will be set up in the foyer for children to place their contributions.
- Pre-Prep donations: a table will be available in the corridor, outside the hall, from Monday.
Thank you for your generosity and support – we look forward to celebrating together next week!
World Mental Health Day - Friday 10th October
To raise awareness of World Mental Health Day on Friday 10th October, children are invited to wear a splash of their House colour with their school uniform. Such as coloured socks, hair ties, hat or a tassel!
PRE-PREP
Funky Dance
We are delighted that our Funky/Acro Dance lessons are back this term in Pre- Prep! Combining Dance and Acrobatics, these sessions help pupils build strength, flexibility, musicality and confidence in a fun and creative way. The new routines are well on their way, with pupils working as a team building on new and existing skills. Tuesday lunchtimes are as "Fun and Funky" as ever!
Nicky Whitaker, Head of Pre-Prep
This Week in Kindergarten: Learning All About Farming!
This week, we’ve been diving into the wonderful world of farming in preparation for our Harvest Festival next week. The children have loved exploring different vegetables - using them as inspiration for colourful artwork and creative playdough models.
Our role-play farm shop has been a big hit, with plenty of busy little shopkeepers and customers practising their counting and communication skills. Out in the play area, the tractors have been rolling non-stop, and we've had lots of fun imagining life on the farm.
Some of our children already know an awful lot about farming - they’ve been proudly sharing their knowledge with the class!
Moyna Edmondson, Kindergarten Lead
PREP
Author Visit
We were delighted to welcome children’s author Lindsay Galvin to MHV last Friday, where she spoke to the prep pupils about her journey to becoming an author, the inspiration behind her novels and the writing process behind them. Her passion for writing was truly infectious, sparking curiosity and creativity in all our young readers.
The pupils enjoyed the opportunity to choose a book, have it signed by Lindsay, and to ask her questions. We have new copies of all her books in the library, should anyone want to explore more of her work!
It was a fantastic day that not only celebrated reading, but also reminded the children that everyone can be a writer, you just have to pick up a pen!
Rebecca Henderson, Head of English
Year 4 Science
Year 4 turned into mini scientists this week!
They tested what happens to our teeth when they meet different drinks... using eggs with white shells as “enamel.” The results? Let’s just say they were VERY surprised! They then put their detective hats on, matching animal skulls to their owners by studying their teeth and diets.
Louise Barrett, Year 4 Teacher and Assistant Head of Boarding
U8 Football at Skippers Hill Prep
Our Year 3 and 4 football teams travelled to Skippers Hill for a wonderful afternoon of football, showcasing fantastic teamwork, determination, and spirit. For the Year 3's, this was their very first away fixture and their excitement was overflowing from the moment they boarded the bus!
Matt McKinnon, Director of Sport
Cross Country
On Thursday, 27 intrepid runners from the MHV Cross-Country team took part in the regional event at Somerhill School. For some, it was their first time donning the team running vest, while others were seasoned competitors, well aware of the demanding nature of the course, which stretched between 2,000 and 3,000 metres.
Although we didn’t feature in the team standings, our athletes certainly made their mark individually, with standout performances across all age groups.
Leading from the front in the Junior Boys race was Fergus C, who stormed to victory with a superb 1st place finish. Henry P followed with a commendable 5th place, showing great determination. In the Middle Boys race, Francisco ran brilliantly to secure 6th, closely followed by Percy A in 7th.
The girls were equally impressive. Jessica P finished strongly in 11th, and Beth D delivered an outstanding run to claim 2nd place in the Senior Girls race, a fantastic achievement.
The final race of the day, the Senior Boys, proved to be a nail-biter. With four runners neck and neck in the final 200 metres, our very own Charlie C, who had led for much of the race, powered through the final straight to take a thrilling victory.
It was a day of grit, pride, and full-hearted effort. Every runner gave 100%, and despite some tired legs at the finish line, the team spirit and individual performances were truly inspiring.
Matt McKinnon, Director of Sport
Boarding
Wednesday evening was alive with excitement as the boarding community gathered for a much-anticipated activity night. The sky treated us to a beautiful dusk, painting the perfect backdrop for fun and games. As the pupils spread out across the grounds, an atmosphere of laughter, friendly rivalry, and anticipation filled the air.
Look closely, and you might have spotted a dramatic scene unfolding - hunters closing in on their targets! With stealth, strategy, and more than a little playful mischief, the chase was on. The night was full of energy, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments, reminding us once again of the joy of shared experiences in the boarding community.
Joff Powis, Senior Deputy Head
Thursday's boarding was very entertaining, with some "talent" on show. There were TikTok dance move renditions, quick-fire Rubik's Cube solving, and some Spanish football anthems. The (underqualified) judging panel selected "The Boys" as the winning act, with their dance moves and sheep-like calls. First prize was a used pair of Crocs. After the talent show, the evening finished with a run around in the dark and a Year 8 keepy-uppy competition.
Nick Jensen, Deputy Head Pastoral
Flexi Boarding Activities
We ensure that a night in the Boarding House is a really positive experience for our full, weekly and flexi boarders. In addition, we have two dedicated activities every week which may be of particular interest to our flexi boarders. Activity nights are on a Wednesday and Thursday and details of activities up to half-term are available below.
To arrange for your child to flexi board, please contact the Boarding Team on the link below:
CALENDAR
Please find below the calendar for next week. Please note that the U12 & U13 Girls Swimming Gala at Benenden on Monday 6 October has unfortunately been postponed due to staffing shortages at Benenden.
MENU
Please find below the menu for next week. The menu is complemented by a wide selection of salads, jacket potatoes and cold food options, available daily to all pupils in the Prep School.
Coming Up
Fireworks - Date for the Diary
Please note the new date for the Fireworks is Thursday 6th November.
APEX HALF-TERM HOCKEY CAMP
The Apex Hockey Camp that will be running for two-days at MHV during the October half term, on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st October, from 8.30am to 4.30pm each day. The camp will feature a fantastic coaching line-up. Leading the programme is the current Men’s and Ladies’ 1st XI coach at Maidstone Hockey Club, and former Director of Hockey at South Saxons. He will be supported by a team of experienced coaches, including national schools competition winners and current England Hockey Talent Academy players from East Grinstead and Sevenoaks.
This is a great opportunity for MHV players to sharpen their skills mid-season, and for those yet to begin their hockey programme, a valuable pre-season preparation. The camp will focus on high-quality technical coaching, game awareness, and player development to help participants take their hockey to the next level.
Useful Links
Please note that the SOCS password is: mhvsport