holmwood house newsletter …€¦ · rangoli designs page 6 friday 6 october 2017, autumn term,...
TRANSCRIPT
Chitts Hill, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9ST
FROM THE HEADMASTER . . .
Autumn Term, Week 5
www.holmwood.essex.sch.uk
Happiness is the key to progress
Tel: 01206 574305
Friday 6 October 2017
HOLMWOOD HOUSE
NEWSLETTER Chitts Hill, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9ST
FROM THE HEADMASTER.. .
Tel: 01206 574305
Headmaster to watch their
Divisions; where the
whole school marched
across the parade ground
inspected by a visiting
officer from Portsmouth.
This was followed by a
rousing harvest festival
service in the chapel and
lunch afterwards.
The children have enjoyed
various activities as part
of Maths Week. The
crowning moment in the
Prep school came in
assembly today as we
announced our Times
Tables Champions. In
joint first place were
Dominique G and Misha
B, in second place was AJ
P-S and in third place was
Charlie A. The Times
Table Tankard will be up
for grabs again next term
when the children will
also have the opportu-
nity to show their progress
with Times Tables
against this term's
scores. My thanks to Mrs
Wild for organising the
week and to Mrs Watkins
Dear Parents
Last Saturday's Songfest
Grand Finale was a huge
success. The year group
section of the competition
was really entertaining and
the Year 7s did well to pip
the others to top spot. Well
done to them. In the
Element section, the judge,
Mrs Lucy Bloore, Director
of Music at Framlingham
College, had her work cut
out for her in choosing the
w i n n i n g p e r f o r m -
ance. After only an hour
or so of learning and
rehearsing, each Element
p r e s e n t e d a s u p e r
performance but Air's
magical and spell-binding
performance of 'Electricity'
from Billy Elliot, was a
t r u e w i n n e r .
Congratulations to Air and
to their conductor, Mrs
Mitchell, for a well-
deserved win!
Helen and I were delighted
to have been invited to the
Royal Hospital School last
Sunday as guest of the
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday 7 October 12pm Colchester Fire Swim
12pm 1st VII Hockey Tournament at
OBH
12pm 1st VII Rugby Tournament at
OBH
Monday 9 October 3.15pm U9 A, B & C Football v
Littlegarth (H)
Yrs 4 & 5 Special Boarding Event
Tuesday 10 October 1.05pm Vibes in the Library
Wednesday 11 October Year 2 Colne Valley Trip
Thursday 12 October ‘Library Event Day’ Image Theatre
Company
Friday 13 October Year 6 Theatre Trip to The Globe
In recognition of their demonstration
of one or all of the Golden Rules, the
following children have received
Golden Awards this week:
Reception:
Ted L
Fabio C
Year 1:
Winston L
Zachary A-B
Year 2:
Roberta G
Beatrice L-D
Hamish D
Year 3:
Rachel I
Nathan O
Adam D
GOLDEN AWARDS
HEADS OF ELEMENT . . .
for coordinating the Pre-
Prep activities. Thanks also
to all involved in running
the activities.
We enjoyed meeting new
parents at our Open
Morning today. The Year 6
children acted as guides and
did a brilliant job. The sun
was shining and the school
looked great!
We look forward to two
special boarding events
next week. The Year 4 & 5
children will enjoy a
cinema night on Monday
whilst the Year 8s will have
their first formal dinner of
the year at a special Indian
Night when they will enjoy
homemade curries followed
by a talk by Mme
M o o k h e r j e e a b o u t
Partition.
With best wishes
Alexander Mitchell
Headmaster
We have pleasure in announcing this year’s Heads of Elements, their Deputies
and the Charity Reps; the three senior positions in each Element.
AIR LAND WATER
Head of Element Misha B Lucy B Kaela S
Deputy of Element Dominic T Charlie A Oscar D
Charity Reps AJ P-S Daniel R-P Cedd R
Hamish I Leo S Charlotte H
Page 2 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
ELEMENT NEWS . . .
AIR
AIR
LAND
LA
ND
WATER
WA
TE
R
At our Element meeting this week we had hustings and all the Year 8s did amazingly well with their
speeches - it will be hard to choose our Head of Element.
The Year 7s managed the polling station and did a very good job. While people were voting, the Year 8s
organised some entertainment. We had to bounce a ball in to a bin with a ping pong bat.
Alara H and Honor D
I would like to express my pride in the whole Element for winning Songfest last Saturday and for the
teamwork, dedication and effort put in by every pupil in the Element. Thanks also to Mrs Mitchell.
Mr Cook
Well done to all the Year 8s for their amazing speeches for Head of Element this week.
Mr Warner’s tutor group won the senior stars this week with Lucy B getting the most stars and show ups.
Mr Jeffries’ tutor group claimed victory in the junior stars with Tom B getting the most stars.
For entertainment, we did a maths theme “splat” game. We had to turn and shoot our opponent when the
right times table answer was given. Anna B, Sam F, Sebastian L, Emmauella I, Theo L, Henry W, Sienna
YA and Rameen A took part.
Quote of the week by Oscar Wilde:
“Be yourself, everyone else is taken”.
Lucy B
Congratulations to the Year 8s for their amazing speeches, I am very proud of you all.
Mr Earley
A massive well done to all the Year 8s for their Head of Element speeches. We will find out on Friday
who will be our new Head of Element - good luck everyone.
Mrs Wild’s tutor group won the senior stars and Arabella D won the most stars this week. Mr Calow’s
tutor group won the junior stars by 0.1 with Rafe C getting the most stars.
David G won Coral this week for making such an improvement this term.
Kaela S
Well done to all of the Year 8s for their amazing speeches. You had all prepared incredibly well and did
yourselves proud.
Mrs Thorpe
Page 3 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
SONGFEST . . .
Congratulations to everyone for another successful Songfest and well
done to Air for being the overall winning Element.
Page 4 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
MATHS WEEK . . .
Escape Boxes
Page 5 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
MATHS WEEK CONT’D . . .
Pre-Prep Puzzles
Rangoli Designs
Page 6 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
ENGLISH . . .
SPELLING IN THE PREP SCHOOL
At Holmwood House we understand how important accurate spelling is. To foster this the English department has implemented a
number of new policies and rewards within the Prep school. We thought parents would like to know what these are, so to follow
is a summary of the main ones.
ALPHA TO OMEGA
We use the Alpha to Omega programme for teaching spelling. It is clear, well-structured and focuses on phonics. It also has an
unparalleled reputation amongst specialists of specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, and therefore all pupil abilities
are catered for.
VOCABULARY BOOKLETS
All pupils have a vocabulary booklet where they record the spelling and definition of each new word they learn during English
lessons.
SPELLING ASSESSMENTS
All pupils have a spelling test once every two weeks. The tests are created by each English teacher so that the specific needs of
their pupils are prioritised. Spelling tests will usually consist of one or more of the following areas:
words that use specific letter groups;
words that use specific letter groups, which have been identified by their teacher as requiring revision;
subject terminology;
words that pupils have recorded in their vocabulary booklets; new, more challenging words, which will also have definitions to learn. These are to enhance a pupil’s vocabulary and to chal-
lenge more able pupils.
A spelling handout is given to each child, approximately two weeks before the test, to bring home and practise. It is also avail-
able on the Google Classroom hosted by their English teacher.
REWARDS
To encourage pupils to learn their spellings we give the following rewards:
Show Ups for accuracy;
Show Ups for improvement; WOW cards sent home.
We value parents’ input so if you have any feedback or thoughts about English, which you would like to share or discuss, please
don’t hesitate to contact the English Department, via the main office.
In English this term, Year 4 are reading Roald
Dahl’s ‘James and the Giant Peach’, a wonderful
book in which James travels across the ocean with
various oversized minibeast friends. We wondered
how many (smaller versions) of these creatures, and
what other insects, we might find in the grounds of
Holmwood House. So, last Friday, our intrepid bug
hunters trooped off to the dens and found ants,
woodlice, lots of spiders and even an earwig!
Observing carefully, the children drew diagrams
and wrote notes that will help them with their report
writing back in class.
Year 4
Page 7 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
FOHH . . .
KINGS, CANTERBURY . . .
Last Thursday, some Year 6 pupils were invited to attend a Choral Day at the King’s School, Canterbury. After a morning
rehearsing and following a lovely lunch at St Augustine’s Abbey, we had our final practice in preparation for the concert in the
cathedral. Children from different Prep schools across England had the privilege of singing in the most impressive atmosphere
accompanied by the King’s Chamber and Crypt Choirs and conducted by the Director of Music, Mr Bersey.
The music, a selection of anthems from composers like Bruckner, Elgar or
Howells, was quite complex and advanced and required a high level of
musical understanding. However, the Holmwood House children exceeded
expectations and demonstrated a great approach to choral music. We had a
memorable experience and contributed to a tradition that has taken place
daily for over a thousand years in Canterbury.
Friday 10 November
Friends of Holmwood House are again pre-selling an exciting selection of glow toys for children to enjoy with this year’s
fireworks display.
We will still have a selection of toys to buy on the night but, as many parents will know, they sell very quickly and pre-ordering
will avoid disappointment.
Please note that orders should be submitted – with payment please – to the box in the front office by Tuesday 10 October so
that we can get orders ready straight after half term. Order forms have been sent by email or can be obtained from the front
office. Family orders will be bagged together for quick collection before the fireworks display begins.
All profits go to FOHH projects.
Glow Toys for the School’s Birthday and Fireworks Display
Page 8 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
PUPIL NEWS . . .
BOARDING . . .
Congratulations to Jack T who has been selected to join the Essex Junior County Squash U13s
Squad and also to Lewis T who has been asked to join the U13s Development Squad.
Both boys played in the Essex County Closed Tournament recently where Jack took the U11s 3rd
place trophy.
Congratulations to Oscar D and Oliver J who both starred and performed in a West End
performance of the “The Prince” on Sunday 10 September with a professional working cast
(EastEnders, Les Miserables, Wicked and 42nd Street to name a few) plus a 10 piece orchestra.
Both boys played the younger versions of the lead characters and were amazing, confident and
sung their solos beautifully.
The play is in its pilot stages but was a great experience for the boys who received
outstanding compliments from the director.
Team sheets for matches are displayed on
notice boards around the school confirming
team members, dates, times and locations of
matches each week.
For up-to-date match fixtures
and cancellations, please visit
the Sports Fixtures page of the school website.
SPORT.. .
Page 9 Friday 6 October 2017, Autumn Term, Week 5
TEAM WEEK OF
THE
The Team of the Week
All the U9 Girls
Well done!