Headmistress’ Newsletter Update

Week Commencing 20th April 2020

Dear Parents, I began this week with assemblies around the theme of Hope and being Positive. We have now come to the end of our second week of online teaching and I want to applaud the whole school community for embracing both of those principles wholeheartedly. I especially want to pay tribute to both you and your children for how you are coping with the current situation and this very different way of engaging with Winterfold life. The very positive support you have given our staff during the implementation of our online teaching (and its continual improvement) is very much appreciated. I have been overwhelmed by the many positive messages from parents across the School year groups as we all engage with this new method of teaching, and I thank each and every one of you for them.

As a school of exceptionally dedicated staff, we are here for you every step of the way as we move through this situation together. The majority of pupils in the Prep are quite independent in their learning, but we do fully recognise that due to the age of the children in Pre-Prep, they will need some support - and equally there are those who also need some additional guidance regardless of their age. Please do remember, if you have any concerns about your child’s learning, or you need any other support from the school, please do get in contact with either your child’s teacher, Mr Cotterill (Academic Deputy Head) or Mr Mitchell (Pastoral Deputy Head) or myself.

Keeping Winterfold children safe remains one of our top priorities during these unprecedented times. Pupil well-being and safety are still vitally important to us, and during the enforced school closure period we remain absolutely committed to keeping children safe. If you have any concerns regarding the safeguarding of children (which also includes their mental health), we are still here for you, so please do not hesitate to contact us directly (the Safeguarding Lead for Winterfold is Mr Mitchell, who can be contacted at rmitchell@winterfoldhouse.co.uk).

I would like to congratulate our Prep School Stars of the Week who were mentioned in Celebration

Assembly today: Zoravar U (5S); Noah BG (6L); Jessica J (5F); Lexie J (3J); Isabel H (5F); Hattie M (4R);

Eleanor W (7B); James B (4L); Emily J (8M); Charlie M (7B); Tilda M (3J); Amelia W (3H); Edward M (6L); Frazer Spittle (6S).

There have been many curriculum highlights during the week. Mrs Langston’s science lesson looked at how instruments can be grouped according to the way they make sound. 4R had a super range of instruments between them that were listened to and discussed.

Year 6 have completed their Castle Diaries and many children have chosen to build a model of a castle. The effort and creativity shown has been excellent, and I know many Year 6 children are now expert castle builders! (There are lots of pictures on Twitter). The children are now studying The Magna Carta and the rights of the people. I very much look forward to seeing their modern day interpretations of this important historical document.

In the 4R R.E. lesson with Miss Howarth, Swaran G and Arun N were able to share a prayer each from the Sikh prayer books which they keep at home. They wore head coverings to read them and took a real pride in doing so. The Sacred Nitnem that Swaran is holding is a collection of Sikh Hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book).

In Mr Loughton’s maths lessons, Year 3 children have created some amazing pictograms and bar charts, and have become much more accurate with their table drawing. Year 5 have worked on percentages, fractions and decimals. Year 8 have returned to identifying different averages, but taken on a step to different kinds of data including grouped data, frequency charts and more.

In geography, the Year 6 pupils have been learning about three different types of rock, applying them to the rock cycle, whilst at the same time enduring Mr Loughton’s ‘Geography Rocks’ puns!

Our Pre-Prep children have had a very positive start to the digital term. The introduction to our Zoom Form Time has been welcomed by parents and teachers alike. The children have behaved impeccably and have listened, responded and contributed with a mature approach to this new way of learning. Story time PSHEE and Show and Tell have been received with enthusiasm by all. Children in Early Years have been really busy this week, using the new Seesaw digital platform for lessons. We have even had our youngest children in Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 doing activities on Seesaw. In addition to completing work tasks and activities, many children have been making the most of the beautiful weather that we have been blessed with and doing their learning outside. I have seen some fine examples of children making nests, listening to stories, making Bee Hotels and re-cycling. I think the highlight of the week for Early Years was Music Makers on Thursday with Mrs Richardson, which went down extremely well with children and parents alike.

Our children have been very busy outside of school hours too – some highlights below; Over Easter, Joe F spent a lot of time making space Lego crafts inspired by the pink super moon and other stars. Whilst looking around the garden, he found some newts, and having checked through his bug books they seem to be quite rare. Lewis T has been trying new things in home economics and has made some wonderful dandelion honey – the finished product looks amazing!

Meanwhile, Bessy H has completed the Run 5 Donate 5 Nominate 5 for the NHS – well done Bessy. The daily PE with Joe Wicks workouts seem to have been particularly popular with our children in helping them to stay fit and healthy. Kasey N has completed every single workout since the day it started, which is very impressive – well done Kasey. Freddie A earned his Blue Peter badge for music (the badge was designed by Ed Sheeran, no less!). He sent a recording of him on his euphonium.

Frances, Cecelia and Dominic G celebrated Holy Week and Easter at home and shared this lovely photo with us.

The children attending the Keyworker provision at Bromsgrove Prep School have had a lovely start to the Summer term. Everyone is making the most of the fantastic weather and all of the outside space. Early Years children took part in a number hunt, finding numbers and then working together to put them in the correct order. They made shape mobiles, and paper aeroplane flying is a big favourite. The Woodhouse babies and toddlers have enjoyed making new friends, as some of the younger brothers and sisters have joined them. Everyone is helping to look after the Prep School flower and vegetable beds, water the plants and doing some weeding too.

Prep School pupils have settled well in to their Zoom lessons and are making full use of the mini-golf course and table tennis tables on the concourse in their games time and breaks. Dodge ball sessions are also popular.

As we await Government advice and guidance, we sadly cannot yet say when we will be able to open the

school doors fully, but rest assured that we will continue doing our utmost to keep your child learning and

our school community connected. We very much appreciate your support and help during this time, and

do please remember that we are here to help you and your children, so please do not hesitate to get in

touch if you have any questions or concerns.

Best wishes to you all. Have a wonderful weekend. Mrs Toms Headmistress