Hatherop Messenger 18th October 2024

A Spellbinding Week in Nursery: Broomsticks, Potions, and Storytelling Magic!

This week in Nursery has been filled with magical adventures inspired by Room on the Broom.

We've crafted broomsticks by threading beads onto pipe cleaners, experimented with bubble painting to create potions in cauldron pictures, made our very own character masks, used petals, edible glitter, lavender, and rosemary to make our own potions, and explored storytelling using props such as spoon and finger puppets, our very own magical wands, and story stones.

On Monday, we practised our Room on the Broom song with Mr Page's keyboard and learned to play the guiro. We then brought our week of magical learning together by showcasing our retelling of the story at the school’s poetry and storytelling competition. It’s been a wonderful half-term of fun and exploring the adventure of childhood.

We wish everyone a restful break and can't wait to welcome everyone back for our Sparkle and Shine topic next half-term!

“Egyptian Adventures: Prep 2 Explores Ancient Treasures and Tasty Treats!”

Prep 2 transformed into Egypt detectives on Monday during their exciting visit to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford! The children were thrilled to delve deeper into their topic, enthusiastically handling original Egyptian artefacts and marveling at ancient tombs and mummies. Their eyes lit up with wonder as they discovered the secrets of this captivating civilisation. Fascinating Fact: Did you know that an ostrich egg was used as an Egyptian water bottle? This quirky piece of history sparked the children's imaginations and added a fun twist to their learning experience!

The fun continued on Tuesday as Prep 2 enjoyed a delightful making and tasting afternoon. The children created Zeraffa cookie biscuits and savoured the exotic flavours of Egyptian pomegranates and dates. They even wrote up the biscuit-making instructions as part of their English lesson, remembering to use those all-important bossy verbs! To top off their week, on Wednesday, they gathered in the tree house to listen to an enchanting Egyptian story, all while sipping hot chocolate and enjoying their homemade Zeraffa cookies as a special end-of-term treat.

What a week of learning and fun for Prep 2!

"Prep 4 Presents: ‘All About Me’ Extravaganza!"

On Wednesday, Prep 4 spent a lovely afternoon sharing their homework projects from the last 6 weeks. They had all been given the topic of “All About Me” and we were delighted to see posters, pictorial timelines, PowerPoints about families, scrapbooks full of information and even some cookery! The children had a great time chatting with their friends about what they had done, before they were joined by their parents. It was a really successful afternoon and so good to see the children talking so confidently and enthusiastically about what they had done, how they had done it and answering a variety of questions, from their peers and parents. Well done, Prep 4! They are now all very excited to know what their next topic will be, so they can start planning and creating!

From Frank the Armadillo to Cinnamon the Sloth: Prep 5’s Rainforest Exploration!

Prep 5's faces lit up in awe as they explored the Living Rainforest. Excited “oohs” and “aahs” continually escaped as they discovered free-roaming birds and frogs, as well as countless other species. We listened attentively during our tours, focusing on sustainability and thinking carefully about our own impact on the world. Frank the armadillo was keen to say hello, as was Luigi the curassow bird. We even spotted Cinnamon the sloth—infamously hard to find—when Mr McConnell shared her hidden location, much to the delight of Prep 5.

It was an excellent, in-depth trip full of exciting learning opportunities that will support our classroom studies.

Following our fantastic talk about ‘Sustainable Living’ at The Living Rainforest, we would like to set a half-term challenge for Prep 5 children. We invite you to investigate what Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance products you may already have in your home. If you find any, please bring the clean packaging into school straight after half-term. Photographs of the products would also be suitable.

Poetry on Ice: Prep 6's Creative Journey to Antarctica!

Prep 6 have really enjoyed writing some poetry in their lessons this week. Using the journey of the Endurance to Antarctica as a stimulus they began by looking at illustrations of the vastness of the Weddell Sea. They then brainstormed all their ideas, which helped them to create their own poems. To finish off, they then each chose their favourite line from their poem and used this to create two class collaborative poems. It was a great teamwork activity, lots of discussions about words and poetry and wonderful finished results!

A spooktacular finish to the half-term

We ended the half term in style with a fantastic Halloween Dress-Up Day! The school was filled with spooky spirit as students and staff arrived in their creative costumes, from ghouls and witches to pumpkins and superheroes. It was wonderful to see everyone embracing the fun, with plenty of smiles and laughter throughout the day. The effort and imagination that went into the costumes were truly impressive! A great way to wrap up the term—now, enjoy a well-deserved break, everyone!

Rugby

U8 Wishford Rugby Festival

What an afternoon of rugby! All three U8 teams went unbeaten. There were some excellent try-saving tackles and some lovely solo breaks down the line, but what was most pleasing from the whole afternoon of rugby was the passing before or immediately after a tag was taken. There is still lots to work on; however, the boys are doing incredibly well in what has been a really encouraging first half of term.

A special mention goes to Harry Mason, Ralph Barnes, Freddie Broadbent, Joseph Young, Beau Whittington-Hunt, and Ronnie Raikes. Well done to everyone—lots more rugby to come still!

Under 9 Wishford Rugby Festival

Our U9 Rugby team travelled to Westonbirt on a damp afternoon to play in the annual Wishford Rugby Festival, hoping to continue their positive unbeaten start to the season. The boys had been working hard in the lead-up to the festival, focusing on passing off "10" and line speed in defence.

The boys started well against a strong Heywood Prep team, with good carries from Beau B and Freddie R helping secure a 6-3 win in the first game. The HCS team then faced our near neighbours, Cricklade Manor Prep, where strong attacking play from Jack D and Arlo W ensured another victory.

Next up were Westonbirt B. The boys played some of their most expansive rugby and claimed another win, with Josh W and Frank A leading from the front. The final match against Westonbirt A turned out to be the most physical of the day. The HCS boys didn't back down from the challenge and maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-fought draw.

It was an excellent afternoon of rugby, with players of the day being Arlo W, Josh W, and Frank A. Well done, everyone!

U10B v Richard Pate School

The Under 10B team played a tough, evenly contested match against Richard Pate. The boys showed resilience throughout, particularly in learning the art of rucking. They adapted well, securing possession and supporting each other effectively on occasion.

Our direct running in attack was a key strength, with players making positive gains and driving forward with determination. Defensively, they worked hard as a unit at times. Though it was a challenging game, the team displayed great effort and commitment, learning valuable skills in the process.

U11A Rugby v Richard Pate School

A fantastic, competitive, and hard-fought match between two sides keen to run the ball. The pace of the game was fast and furious, with good handling from both sides. The tackling and breakdowns were fiercely contested. What we lacked was just offloading the ball before the contact or immediately afterwards. Hatherop have made great progress over the last six weeks, and despite losing the game 7 tries to 5, the boys should be pleased with how well the team played. Well done! Player of the Match: Aran Oliveres-Balcells

U11B v Richard Pate School

Score: Hatherop Castle 15 - 14 Richard Pate

Hatherop Castle’s U11 B team edged out Richard Pate in a thrilling 15-14 victory. The game was marked by Hatherop's positive, direct running and excellent progress in the tackle, which consistently pushed them forward. After exchanging early tries, Hatherop’s strong ball carriers broke through the defence for a decisive late score. Richard Pate put up a spirited fight, but Hatherop’s resilience in defence secured the win. Player of the Match: Freddie SJ

Hockey

U9 Wishford Festival Match Report

The U9s showcased an exceptional performance at the Wishford Festival, playing matches against Westonbirt, Cricklade, and Heywood. The team's fantastic effort, enthusiasm, and unwavering work rate were evident throughout the festival, making for an exciting and competitive day of hockey.

Overall, it was a fantastic day for the U9s, who demonstrated great team spirit and sportsmanship throughout. Their impressive work rate, tackling, and intelligent use of space will surely help them build towards future successes! Well done to all involved!

U8 Hockey v Cokethorpe

The U8s had an exciting and hard-fought hockey match against Cokethorpe, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Playing on a big pitch, the team was challenged to cover a lot of ground, but they rose to the occasion with incredible energy. There was lots of running, and the players worked hard to support each other all over the field.

The match showcased the team's excellent ability to find and use space effectively, which was key in creating scoring opportunities. Their attacking play was sharp, and they were rewarded with three well-earned goals. Defensively, the team showed determination, and despite Cokethorpe's strong efforts, they held their ground to keep the score level. The game was a brilliant display of teamwork, with every player contributing both in attack and defence. It was an end-to-end match with excitement from start to finish, and a fair 3-3 result reflected the balance between both teams' efforts. A great performance from the U8s!

U13B Hockey Triangular Match Report vs The Elms and Cheltenham College

The U13B team faced a challenging triangular fixture, competing against both The Elms and Cheltenham College. Despite the final results, the team put in a commendable performance, demonstrating moments of lovely attacking play and fantastic tackling throughout the day.

Match 1: The Elms (1-2 Loss)

The first match saw the team take on a well-organised Elms side. The Elms managed to edge the game with a 2-1 victory. It was a close match, and the team’s commitment and determination were clear to see.

Match 2: Cheltenham College (0-3 Loss)

In the second match, the team faced a strong and fast Cheltenham College side. Although the scoreline finished 3-0 in favour of Cheltenham, the game was end-to-end with plenty of chances created. Ebuun and Emmanuella produced some excellent tackles to prevent further goals and continued to push forward, creating some promising attacking moments. The team’s effort and enthusiasm never wavered, and they can be proud of how they kept battling until the final whistle.

Overall, the U13Bs showed great spirit and resilience throughout both matches. The team’s lovely attacking play and fantastic tackling are strong foundations to build on for future games. Well done to all the players for their effort and teamwork!

U9 Hockey v Windrush Valley School

A Team: Won 6-0

B Team: Won 3-0

Players of the Match: Liyana Shah and Margaux Abbott

I had the pleasure of taking the U9s for their hockey matches against Windrush Valley on Tuesday. We played two matches, and I was very impressed with the girls' attitude and enthusiasm in both. In the first match, the girls' skill and awareness made the difference between the two sides. Using the full pitch enabled them to use the space effectively, and I was pleased with how they listened and put into practice tactics such as keeping their shape and staying in their positions. They thoroughly deserved their 6-0 win, and if we are honest, it could have been more!

The second game was a little closer, but the girls continued to work hard. Although it was challenging to find space due to the opposition following the ball, the girls stuck to their task and were rewarded with goals. As the game progressed, their confidence grew, and they started passing the ball and using the space a bit more. I really enjoyed my afternoon with the girls and was pleased to witness how their hockey is developing, both as a team and individually. I look forward to seeing them play again.