Dear Parents / Carers,
Following on from Mr Notman’s letter to you, I would like to formally welcome you back to what promises to be a very busy and enjoyable Spring Term.
I am delighted to introduce myself as the Acting Head Teacher of Stover Preparatory School and will play a key role in continuing to shape the education of our pupils and raising the aspirations of our young people.
Working together with my leadership team, teachers and support staff, we will continue to provide a supportive and caring environment, inspirational teaching, the latest technology and resources, whilst engaging and motivating our pupils through exciting enrichment activities.
Working in partnership with parents is crucial, if we are to ensure all of our children feel safe, happy, valued and achieve their full potential. I look forward to meeting you all at important school events or even for a quick chat at the school gate!
I would like to welcome our new Year 6 teacher, Mrs Kerry Gale, who has many years of experience, both as a teacher and leader in primary education.
Mrs Gale is looking forward to getting to know the pupils, staff and parents and will be a positive addition to Stover Preparatory School.
A warm welcome must also be extended to our new Stover families: if there is anything we can do as a school to make your starting period with us easier, please contact me directly or, alternatively, speak with Mrs Martin in our Prep School reception-she really is a font of knowledge for ‘all things Stover’. Furthermore, our Friends of Stover (FOS) would welcome new members. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mrs Martin and she will put you in touch with one of our current members.
On Friday 11th January, we held our PSHE afternoon, organised by our PSHE Lead-Miss Smyth. This was a great success, with children working in their Houses, across year groups, on a range of important topics including resilience, growth mindset and mindfulness, as well as identifying the characteristics of good friendship and what it is to be a good citizen. The maturity demonstrated by all our children during these sessions, even those in Reception and Year 1, was impressive and an enjoyable learning experience was had by all.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that our school day commences at 8.30am, with registration opening at this time. As a result, please ensure that your child is in the playground (or in class for Reception) before this time. Please note that the side gate will be locked at 8.35am. If you arrive after 8.35am, please use the Prep School
reception/office entrance and report to Mrs Martin who will sign your child in. This will ensure that we know exactly who is on our site in case of an emergency happening early in the morning. The side gate will remain locked until 3.20pm when it will be opened for parents of our Reception Class.
By now, you should have received a newsletter from your class teacher containing important information pertinent to your class, including key dates. If you haven’t, please contact your class teacher. As previously mentioned, we have a busy term ahead of us and I would like to draw your attention to a few upcoming events in more detail:
Monday 14th January- Read Write Inc. Parent information Meeting and Workshop (Reception) 3.30pm-4.00pm
All parents are welcome to attend this informative workshop about the all- important aspects of a child’s writing development
Friday 18th January- Bug Hotel building with Pre-Prep, 9:00am onwards
I wonder which mini-beasts will be crawling inside pupils’ wonderful constructions?
Monday 21st January (KS1) and Wednesday 23rd January (KS2) – Parent Maths Workshops in Turkey Hall
Delivered by Mrs Wilson our Prep School Mathematics Leader and member of the Primary Leadership Team. All parents are welcome
Thursday 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th January am- Senior School Scholarships
Saturday 26th Jan-2nd Feb National Storytelling Week
Over the past 25 years The Society for Storytelling has achieved much in its mission for the promotion of the oral tradition of storytelling, the very first way of communicating life experiences and the creative imagination. 2019 marks the 19th year anniversary.
Thursday 31st January- National Storytelling Celebrations EYFS event
Come to the Nursery dressed as your favourite character from a traditional story.
Wednesday 6 February- Enrichment Day Years 3-6
In the past we have had the Doctor Who Tardis, translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics and ice-cream making. What other wonderful discoveries await our children this year?
Thursday 14th February- Reception Class Super Sound Hero Day
Superheroes will descend on our school for the day
Thursday 14th February- Year 3 and 4 Multi-skills event led by 6th Form Leaders-time tbc
Mon 18th February- HALF TERM begins
Monday 25th February- Online-Safety Day Workshops (Years 3-6) in Jubilee Hall
Tues 26th February- Invitational Preparatory X-Country Event @Stover Start 1:00-4:00pm
Determined to build on our teams’ success from last season, we have high hopes of performing well against other independent schools-teams tbc
Wednesday 27th February EYFS trip to Stover Country Park 9:30-12:30pm
An exciting opportunity for our youngest learners to engage with an enriching outdoor learning environment with experienced park rangers.
Thursday 28th February- Early Years Open Afternoon, 1:30pm
Led byMrs Harrison our Outdoor Learning Lead and Mrs Humphries our Nursery Manager- parents welcome.
Saturday 2nd March- Whole School Open Morning, 10:00am
Please spread the word to friends with children who are not yet part of our school community. We will be looking for pupils to assist us on the day, either with school tours or in the classrooms.
Wednesday 3rd March- Scholastic Book Fair- details to follow
Monday 4th – Friday 8th March- Nursery Parent Consultations am & pm
Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th March- SPS Parents’ Evenings
These will commence at 4.00pm on both evenings, with the Tuesday slot ending at 8.00pm to enable parents to have an evening appointment after work. Further information and sign-up sheets will follow closer to the event.
Tuesday 5th March- Year 4-6 Music Assembly, 8:50 am in Turkey Hall
This is an opportunity for all pupils who play a musical instrument, in or out of school, to perform to an audience. Parents of performers are welcome to attend. Peripatetic teachers will contact the families of their pupils, should they wish them to perform. If your child plays an instrument outside of school and would like to perform, please contact Mrs Yonge (Prep School Music Teacher).
Tuesday 5th March- THAT FoodBank Nursery & Reception classes, 9:15-9:45
and Year 1 and 2, 11:30-11:00am –more information to follow
Thursday 7th March- World Book Day/Paired Shared Reading, 9:15-9:40am
An opportunity for all our Prep children and staff to dress up on parade in the courtyard, take part in themed activities, crafts, book quizzes and competitions-details to follow.
Thursday 7th March- General Knowledge Quiz @ Staverton, 9:30-10:30 am
The best of luck to our two competing Prep teams-will it be another step closer this year?
Thursday 7th March- Reception-Year 3 Music Assembly, 8:50 am in Turkey Hall
Children will be taking part in a wealth of mathematical activities throughout the day. Further information will follow closer to the time.
Friday 9th March- Phyllis Dence Workshops for Year 5 & 6
An opportunity for our Prep children to join Senior pupils and specialist performers and musicians in workshops and music-making.
Friday 15th March- Red Nose Day (Stalls from 2:00pm)
Year 6 will once again impress us all with their carefully crafted stalls. Lots of fun in the courtyard for all our Prep pupils. Parents welcome- details to follow.
Wednesday 20th March EYFS Spring Celebration
Let’s hope the sun shines as it did last year! All welcome- details to follow nearer the time.
Friday 22nd March- Preparatory School Production @ Jubilee Hall, 2:00 & 6:00pm
Further information to follow
Friday 22nd March- FOS Bunny Hop (Fundraising event)-times tbc
Thursday 28th March- Inter-House Netball & Football competitions Pre-Prep & Nursery am; Prep/Seniors pm
Another opportunity for families to come along and support a wonderful sporting spectacle.
Friday 29th March- Easter Eggstravaganza
There will be an egg-rolling competition, stalls and egg-hunting. Parents are welcome to attend- details to follow.
Friday 29th March- Term Ends
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Mr. M.J. Appleby
Acting Head of Stover Preparatory School
