Friday 22nd November 2019 It’s been a busy week at the Prep School with rehearsals well underway for our forthcoming Christmas productions. We have also had girls representing Howell’s at a chess final this week and cross country today.

Many thanks to our parents who joined Mrs Matthews and Miss Gardner in the Hub yesterday evening for the first parent talk of the year. The presentation ‘Why Girls Only’ was very thought provoking and we hope to run a series of talks through the year about different topics. Please look out for a future email giving you the opportunity to let us know what you would like staff to present on at future parent talks.

Uniform The weather has turned much colder in recent weeks and many of the girls have now brought in hats, gloves and scarves to wear at playtimes. A reminder that as part of our school rules, girls should wear either the school hat, scarf and gloves, which can be purchased from John Lewis, or a plain navy blue alternative. It is enormously helpful if these items can be labelled with your daughter’s name so that we can return them to the girls if they get lost in school. Many thanks for your support with this.

Wednesday 27th November 2019 at 3.30-4.30pm Open Rehearsal for parents and friends. You are invited to the Octagon to see and hear what happens in one of our JCC rehearsals. Refreshments will be provided! Please ring the After School Care doorbell and make your way up the Octagon staircase. You can come along at any point during the rehearsal time! If you are unable to come, your daughters will be dismissed as usual from the end of the Music Wing at 4.30pm. Many thanks for your support and commitment so far this term. Mr Beckett

Chess Competition ‘We were very excited for the Welsh Primary School Chess tournament. Eleven of us went by mini bus to Cardiff City Football Stadium. When our first matches started we were all a bit nervous, as they were very

intense games. Everybody played AMAZINGLY and tried their best, we all had fun!’ Isabella C

South Wales Regional Novice Gymnastics The squad gymnasts took part in the South Wales Regional Novice competition on Friday 15th November. After facing some challenges due to the sports hall being out of action the students had some quick practices in the week leading up to the event meaning they could re-cap their routines. On the day the Howell’s teams were outstanding. They all performed without any errors or falls and were noticed for their competitive edge.

The U9 team consisting of Sana, Bella and Olivia finished in 5th place but the top 5 teams only had one mark difference between 1st and 5th.

The U11 team consisting of Jacky, Eve and Sophie finished in 1st place, again very tight at the top with Rhyd-y-Pennau Primary only .5 behind us.

The U12 team consisting of Lily, Isabelle and Genevieve finished in 4th only 0.05 off 3rd!

The U11 team have qualified for the Welsh Novice Finals which are being held on the 6th December again at the Sport Wales Centre and will face Rhyd–y-Pennau again for the opportunity to be crowned Welsh Champions. Bella will also join this team as the highest scoring U9. Well done to all and good luck for the 6th.

Year 5 Trip Year 5 had a fantastic day at Dwr Cymru on Thursday. They had a guided tour of the water treatment facilities and learned how the water is cleaned. The girls also thoroughly enjoyed investigating which parts of the river flow the fastest – and only got a little bit wet doing so! They went river dipping and examined their findings with microscopes before releasing their catches back into the Taff .

End Polio Now Campaign - Save your plastic milk bottle tops! Our College Rotary Interact group is asking all members of the school community to support the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign. Rotary International is working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio worldwide through the simple act of collecting plastic milk bottle tops. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundations adds £2 to every £1 raised from selling these bottle tops to recycling companies and puts it all towards the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign. https://www.rotarygbi.org/our-causes/end-polio-now/

Prep School Christmas Music on the Bandstand 2019 Once again, there will be music in the Old Tennis Pavilion in the Car Park during the final week of term. Parents are very welcome to come along and listen or even sing! Many of our Prep School instrumental and vocal ensembles will be performing. Monday 16th December From 3pm to approximately 3.20pm Infant Choir Shake, Rattle & Roll Percussion Group 4S Class Brass 3J Class Strings

Tuesday 17th December From 3pm to approximately 3.20pm Junior Flute Choir Junior Rock Band Skills Groups (some still TBC!) Wednesday 18th December From 3pm to approximately 3.20pm String Machine Junior Orchestra Junior Wind Band

The groups will play as parents arrive at the end of the day, but we will make sure that we finish playing in time to catch school buses. Girls, please ensure that you have a warm school coat and hat that day and please remember your instrument and music if you are an instrumentalist! You might also like to bring a bit of tinsel to decorate your instrument! Many thanks for your hard work and commitment this term! Merry Christmas! Mr Beckett, Mr Cheeke, Mrs Lloyd-Jones & Ms Groves

Eco Appeal – Christmas Decorations The Eco committee are hoping to run a stall at the Christmas fair selling Christmas decorations. Rather than sell new decorations, they would like to re-use or recycle any you feel you no longer want. If you are sorting out your decorations this weekend, the Eco girls would be grateful to receive any. Please send them to the Prep School office to Mrs Scott at Nursery. Thank you.

Diary Dates

Llandaff Lights

Christmas will start in earnest for our Music Department on Wednesday 27th November when the Senior Choir will lead the carol singing at the switching on of the Christmas Lights on Llandaff High Street. Festivities begin at 6pm with the lights going on at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, no booking necessary.

Christmas Fair The Howell's Christmas Fair is only one week away on Friday 29th November from 2-5.30pm in our Sports Hall. It will be a wonderful, very busy shopping event, with around 40 individual stalls and Father Christmas on hand to take present requests from 3pm until 5pm. Do pop in if you can and start the festive season in true Howell’s style. Donations for the cake stall will be very gratefully received, and can be brought to school on the morning of the Fair and left with Mrs Hatcher in the Prep School or delivered to the Board Room in the Senior School. No nuts or fresh cream, please!

Magical Winter Morning Do you know someone whose daughter is due to go into Reception in Sept 2020? Come along to our Reception Open Morning on Monday 2nd December at 10am-11.15am and see what makes our Prep School such a wonderful place to learn. For more information, please email admissions@how.gdst.net.

Carol Services Llandaff Cathedral will once again provide the perfect setting for this year’s Carol Services which will take place on Wednesday 11th December. There will be two services, one at 1.45pm and another at 6.30pm, which will include performances from the Year 5 and 6 Choir (afternoon only), Junior Competition Choir (evening only), Senior Choir, College Choir, Youth Choir, Wind Ensemble and Senior Orchestra. The services will also incorporate readings from students, staff and governors. There are no tickets required so we recommend arriving early in order to get a good seat.

Prep School Dates

Friday 29th November Evening

Year 5 & 6 performing at the Tenovus Lovelight Carol Concert at Llandaff Cathedral

Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th December 6pm

Year 3 & 4 Production in the Great Hall at Howell’s

Wednesday 11th December Year 5 & 6 (afternoon) and JCC (evening) taking part in the Howell’s School Carol Service at Llandaff Cathedral

Wednesday 11th December @ 1.45pm Thursday 12th December @ 9.30am Friday 13th December @ 9.30am

Nursery, Reception, Year 1 & 2 Production in the Prep School Hall

Monday 16th December Tuesday 17th December Wednesday 18th December

Prep School Music on the Bandstand in the carpark after school

Thursday 19th December End of term – Prep School finish at 1pm No After School Care.