Head's Newsletter - December 2011

Dear Parents,

As we arrive at the end of the Autumn Term and head towards 2012 there is so much to celebrate.

Everything we do at school is aimed at creating a culture which actively celebrates and acknowledges individual and group achievements. In order to do this, we are mindful of the need to educate our children in a holistic way; by challenging them academically, by inculcating spiritual, moral and cultural awareness and developing social skills which ensure our pupils are confident and articulate young people.

This term, as in each and every term, we have ensured that these aims feature in our lessons, trips out and about, assemblies; indeed in everything we do.

Academic Work

The staff and pupils have been very busy this term, especially in Year 6, where the final preparations for Common Entrance and Senior School Transfer Examinations have been made in order to ensure the children are ready to give of their best in January. I very much hope all these young people ensure they have a good break this Christmas interspersed with some revision and return with their batteries fully charged.

Sporting Success

The Autumn Term has been an exciting term for sport. We have played over 50 fixtures in football and netball, not including Galas and Tournaments, and have won two thirds of them. We have had notable successes in biathlon becoming Hampshire Girls U10 Champions, Locryn Geake was awarded the Winchester Junior Sportsman of the Year Trophy and we have seen all our teams improve and play some great sport. The achievement we are most proud of is that every child in Years 4, 5 and 6 has been given the opportunity to represent the School; this fact really is quite remarkable and quite unique to Prince’s Mead.

Prince’s Mead U10 girls have been dominating recently. Not only have they become Hampshire Biathlon Team Champions, beating some notable teams in the process, but they also managed to scoop a remarkable 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place all in the same race at the Westgate Schools Cross Country Competition.

Sporting Innovation – Pop Lacrosse

We are always looking to add to the sporting opportunities for our children and as of next academic year we will be adding Lacrosse to our sports curriculum. We will be starting with Pop Lacrosse as it is the appropriate game to play for our school’s age group and will develop the skills required to give the girls an excellent foundation for Field Lacrosse. We are very excited about this new innovation and we are sure that the girls will enjoy and benefit from taking part in the sport.

Our Amazing Dads’ Football Team

This term we have hosted two very exciting football matches. We lost 6 – 1 to Twyford but were victorious against Pilgrims, winning 3 – 1. This year, no major injuries were sustained and the months of training and preparation finally paid off. There will be no stopping them now!

Security

When we return next term, our security cordon will have been significantly enhanced by the installation of new automatic gates at the top of the drive. This has been discussed regularly and now with the highly successful occupation of the Coach House, which is a real hit with the children and staff we feel this additional deterrent will ensure the children in our care are even more secure.

In the interests of your children’s security these gates will be closed during school hours, 0830 – 1600, and access during those hours will be via an intercom to Mrs Charleton who will open the gates upon request.

Charity Work and Visitors

We have again welcomed visitors to school, including the Rt. Revd. Peter Hancock, Bishop of Basingstoke who led our Remembrance Day Service. Bishop Peter is also one of our new Governors and we are delighted he has agreed to join the Board. After the service a wreath was laid at the Martyr Worthy War Memorial by Head Girl Eleanor Ring and Head Boy Thomas Hastie.

Lt Cdr Penny Clark attended assembly and gave an inspirational and motivational talk about the preparation and commitment needed to represent your country in the sailing element of the Olympic Games; she represented Great Britain in Beijing.

Following a hugely successful entry by budding Christmas card designers, Mr Steve Brine, Conservative MP, came to school to present Eleanor Ring and other winners with certificates following their success in his Christmas Card competition. Eleanor’s card was chosen as the official Christmas card to be sent by Mr Brine and it will be sent to the Prime Minister. Let us hope Mr Cameron puts it in pride of place on his mantelpiece in Number 10!

Alresford Round Table co-ordinated the shoe box appeal again this year and we donated 77 gift boxes for children in orphanages overseas.

The PMA and the Second Hand Uniform Shop

The PMA entertained us admirably at the astonishing Fireworks Event, where for the first time in several years, it didn’t snow! We had over 600 guests on the night, tucking into hot dogs, pancakes and mulled wine.

I am immensely grateful to so many parents who work tirelessly to organise such events for the delight of us all. I especially thank Mel Renwick, our Chairman of the PMA. In addition, a mention must be made of Jules Murphy, Linda Howells, Katja Ayling and Jenny Lowe who work so hard in the Second Hand Uniform Shop. As volunteers to the cause they too give up hours of their time in order to run this invaluable facility; they have been especially busy this term as we have a number of new starters in January.

Christmas Festivities

Worthy Park House has been filled with the sound of carols being sung and angels and shepherds have been seen wandering in all areas of the school during the past few weeks. Nursery, Reception and Year 1 all presented traditional Nativity plays.
We learn much about the beliefs and traditions of other religions within the school and it is therefore right and fitting that we ensure our children have a clear understanding of the meaning of Christmas and there is no better way than showing this than by recreating the story as a Nativity play. The children as always were truly amazing.

Our Christmas Service in Winchester Cathedral was a joyous and moving occasion. The children made us immensely proud; I never cease to be amazed by their confidence in such a vast building. I especially congratulate Miss Williams and Mrs Emmott-Dart for ensuring all the pupils from Years 2 – 6 sang so incredibly well and Mrs Harrison for co-ordinating the whole event.

The Christmas Market so ably organised by the PMA and led by Jennie Hay, was an unmitigated success. So many incredible stalls, delicious refreshments, tremendous musical entertainment and most important of all, family fun encapsulated the true meaning and spirit of Christmas.

Our final Christmas concert with music and performances from the choirs and musicians was a wonderful way to end the term. There was much active participation from the audience and pupils and in addition to it being a very special family occasion, £373 was raised for ‘Music for the Brain’ which is a service offered by the Alzheimer’s Society. This organises musical opportunities for sufferers as it has been proved that music enhances memory recall.

Christmas lunch, on the penultimate day of term, was a veritable feast and we all tucked into roast turkey, roast potatoes and ……………… brussel sprouts, not to mention chocolate log.

At the end of our amazing Festive Friday Prayers a ‘Dance Squad’ of fifteen staff, co-ordinated and organised by Mrs Beth Lamb, entertained us in fine style. We think they may well enter ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ next year to rival the professional dancers!

I would like to remind you that the Spring Term starts on Wednesday 4 January, 2012 and that all children must be in school each day by 8.25am at the latest.

I wish you all a Joyful Christmas and Peaceful New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2012.

Yours sincerely,

Miss P S Kirk
Headmistress