Dear Parents,
We have finished the week with our first Celebration Assembly of the new term and it has been wonderful to hear about so many of the children's achievements already, both inside and outside school. They have made such a good start to the term, showing commitment to their work and excitement to learn, as well as showing great respect around the school, particularly to our youngest learners.
It was amazing to learn about the distances covered for the Conqueror Challenge over the break. Children have been skiing, ice skating, cycling and running their way towards completing the next medal for St Edward's and we are 78% of the way there already. Well done to everyone involved! If your child would like to take part, follow the link below for the details and link to submit their kilometres covered.
As we start a new term and reset the House Points, our House Captains and Vice Captains have taken on the responsibility of changing the flag that we fly for the winning House each week. Here they are this morning getting a lesson from Mr Parsons, before Aditya and Sudaksh raised the St Andrew's flag for the first winners of the term!
Reception teaching Mr Winship how to do different kinds of rolls in Gymnastics!
Year 4 developing their digital skills and getting creative in Canva as they learned about photo editing and design in Computer Science.
Calendar Updates
Key dates coming up:
- Pangbourne Woods: Year 1 on Monday 20 January.
- Fixtures: Years 5 & 6 - Wednesday 22 January vs Thorngrove (Home), Years 3 & 4 - Friday 24 January vs Thorngrove (Away)
- Little Hatchlings Stay & Play: Thursday 23 January, 9.15-10.30am.
- Celebration Assembly: Friday 24 January, 8.40am.
Starting the Day Right at St Edward's Prep
We understand the significant role that a positive start to the day plays in our children's educational journey. As part of our commitment to excellence, we strive to boost attendance data - a key indicator of our school's overall health and child well-being, which we report to the council and our governor's each term.
Being present and punctual not only fulfils a key duty of our school, but also sets our children up for success. However, we recognise that mornings can be challenging for families. We are always here to help and support you in making the morning routine as smooth and stress-free as possible. To encourage independence and responsibility among our children, we recommend:
- Visual Checklists: Help children to remember what they need each day, including school supplies, sports kit or special project materials.
- Pack the Night Before: Teaches children to prepare ahead and ensures they have everything they need.
- Morning Routine: Establishing a stable morning routine, including a healthy breakfast, can significantly impact a child's day. Waking up with enough time to get ready without rushing promotes a sense of calm and readiness for learning.
Reminder: School Bus Drop-Off Times
We wanted to provide a brief reminder about the timings of the school buses taking children home at the end of the school day. The first buses are usually ready to leave soon after 4pm, but please be aware that on Wednesday and Friday when there are sports matches, the buses will often leave closer to 4.15pm so children may be slightly later home than usual. If there are any delays beyond this time we will make sure to let you know.
Half-Term Holiday Club: Booking Open
We are happy to announce that booking is now open for our February Half-Term Holiday Club, where we are looking forward to welcoming children for a week of sports, arts and crafts and activities to help them enjoy the break. The usual half and full day sessions are available between 8.30am-5pm. Please follow the correct link below to book a place for your child. If you have any questions, please email holiday-club@stedwardsprep.com or call the school office.
Nursery: We are now running a separate, dedicated Early Years Holiday Club led by our Early Years team during school breaks for St Edward's Prep families. This will be based in the familiar setting of the Little Griffins classrooms. Please note that there is a higher cost of £45 per day for two-year-olds due to the higher number of staff required. Make sure you select the correct option when booking.
Reception to Year 6: This remains open to both our St Edward's community and external families and there are no changes to how it is run or the cost. We hope to see lots of you there!
Join Us for Open Day
We are looking forward to opening the doors for our next Open Day coming up on Friday 7 February. We'll be showcasing our approach to education and the exciting learning environment we provide, developing the children's love of learning, their understanding of the world and setting them up for future success.
If you are interested in attending or you would like to share the details with a friend, you can find the booking link below.
Call for Parent Ambassadors: We would love to have some of our parent community join us for the morning to help provide a warm welcome to prospective families and join them on a tour of the school to give a parent's perspective of life at St Edward's. If you would like to be involved, please email jordan.ruddick@stedwardsprep.com.
Lunar New Year Decorations
In two weeks' time we will be marking the Lunar New Year through various activities, assembly and a special lunch on Wednesday 29 January from Chef Linda and the catering team. We would love to add some decorations to the School Hall for the occasion and so if you have any items you no longer need or that we could borrow, please do drop them off at the school office. Thank you.
Years 3 & 5 Assessment News
Next week Years 3 and 5 will be taking online CAT4 assessments in some of their lessons, with results due to be shared at the next Parents' Evening after February half-term. If you have any questions, please do get in touch with Mrs Hunt - t.hunt@stedwardsprep.com.
What is CAT 4? CAT4 assesses pupils' cognitive abilities in areas like shapes, words, numbers and visual images. It is a timed assessment focusing on cognitive abilities, not learned knowledge, which helps teachers understand learning styles and potential. We use CAT4 results to tailor learning strategies and support for each pupil.
Should my child revise for CAT4? We strongly advise against any kind of practice ahead of a CAT4 test as this will alter the reliability of test scores. Think of it like an eye test; if you practice ahead of an eye test and memorise the card, your diagnosis may not be correct and valuable information may be missed.
Years 5 & 6: Save the Date for Heatree Residential
We are excited to be offering the chance for Years 5 and 6 to go on another residential trip this Summer. The plan is to take them to Heatree Activity Centre in Devon from 2-6 June for a week of exciting outdoor adventures and challenges. Please save the dates for the trip and we will send all the details next week, including an information evening to be held before half-term.
Enjoy the weekend.
Best wishes,
Jonathan