From Mrs Hall:

Favourite comment of the week, overheard by Mrs Ford while the boys were busily labelling their plants: "No! You’re putting a Nicotiana label into my Antirrhinum pot!" Not something you hear a six-year-old say every day—and proof that our budding botanists know their stuff!

Of course, our other stars of the week have been our ducklings! They have continued to bring joy and delight to children, staff, and families alike. They have kept us all enthralled as we’ve watched them grow (and how quickly they’ve grown!) and begin to explore their new world. They will be with us for another week before they go to their new home. 

Wishing you all a restful and joy-filled weekend.

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Shell awards:

Reception: to Ralph for making super all-round progress at school.
Year 1: to Rory for his unfailing enthusiasm for each Mayday Mile Challenge. Your energy is helping the team!
Year 2: to Freddie, for his curiosity, inquisitiveness and questioning skills.

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Save the Dates !

Little Shells for Toddlers and Babies
Little Shells play sessions take place next on 6 June. We encourage you to spread the word to friends and family - all are welcome! (See flyer at the bottom of this newsletter). 

Thursday 15 May	0930	Musical Shells
Friday 16 May	0830	Pre-Prep PPA Coffee morning after drop off Year 1 trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Saturday 17 May	0830	PPA Breakfast in the Yard
Tuesday 20 May	All day	Year 2 trip to Chichester harbour
Friday 23 May	1115 1200	Pre-Prep Celebration Assembly Half-Term begins
Monday 2 June	0830	Teaching resumes

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Notices

Menus are available here on My School Portal. 
^{Reminder: no food is to be brought into the school and/or given to boys at any time, especially at sign-out.}

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Reception

This half term seems to be going by in a flash already. The boys have been learning about the continent Africa this week and about the animals that live there. Lions, giraffes, hippos, secretary birds and elephants, to name a few, have been touched upon and the word 'habitat' has been discussed. It was lovely for a few of our classmates to share their experiences of visiting Africa recently and name the animals they had seen.

As part of our art sessions this term, we are learning about the French artist Henri Matisse and his collage style of 'masterpiece' artwork.  The boys learnt how Matisse used collage materials to create pictures. They looked closely at his famous picture 'The Snail' and discussed how paper had been placed carefully to create the snail's spiral shell.  

Tearing pieces of paper was then a technique used to create animal art work of their own, in the style of Matisse.  The boys discovered how different and easy this technique was to pick up.  Super 'masterpieces' were created using only coloured paper and glue.  

 

Can you guess which pictures below are of a lion, a giraffe, a zebra and a snail?  Very effective indeed!

 

Update on our lovely ducklings Zoomie and Quackers!  They have really grown and are still so fun to watch and look after.  They really do eat and drink a lot! They are now getting quite big for their enclosure and will need to move on to a new home before the end of term.  It is difficult to believe that they are not quite two weeks old and can do so much already! 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Sarah Huntley
Reception Teacher
 

Year 1

Alfred Wallis – Art

As part of our Seafarers' topic this term, the boys were introduced to the Cornish fisherman and sailor turned artist, Alfred Wallis. He lived in St. Ives during the first part of the 20th century and started painting when he was 70 after retiring from a life at sea. The boys were intrigued to find out that he had used scrap cardboard boxes from the local grocery shop or odd bits of wood and board from the local shipyard. They even provided him with paint as he did not have enough money to buy expensive artistic materials. We investigated various pieces of Wallis’s work to find similarities in colour, subject matter and approach. Of course, his life at sea and in the town of St. Ives influenced what he wished to paint. The boys were able to link the idea of “mood” to the outcome of a painting, and we had many rich and enquiring discussions together.

We experimented with shape and tone in our sketchbooks whilst using oil pastels, which is a new medium Year 1. The boys enjoyed investigating the different ways the pastel could be applied to the paper and exploring how colours could be layered on top of one another to create a different effect. We used large pieces of cardboard to create our final piece, which is now up in the classroom.

The boys’ own individual approaches coupled with the inspiration of Wallis have created wonderful artwork.
Do come and have a look!

Independent Challenge Jobs
The boys have been really inspired by some of the Challenge Jobs that have been available in the classroom since the start of the term. Boys were challenged to create a new pirate cutlass using their fine motor skills and a set of coloured gems. The results are rather dazzling; this class definitely like bling! They have made new pirate flags with playdough to help give finger muscles a workout, and they have come up with various creative ways to build a pirate ship out of wooden blocks. The teamwork and higher-order thinking skills have been exceptional!

Mrs Victoria Ford
Year 1 Teacher

Year 2             

What a whirlwind of activity we've had this week! From historic adventures to outdoor fun and community support, Year 2 has been buzzing with energy, enthusiasm and teamwork.

We began the week with a fascinating trip to Winchester Cathedral. The visit brought our history lessons to life as we stood in awe beneath the soaring ceilings, admired the beautiful stained-glass windows, and explored the ancient architecture. Our boys were full of questions and curiosity. Our tour began even before we entered the building, as we encountered a stonemason carefully repairing an uneven cobblestone on the pathway just outside. Once inside, we were guided through the many fascinating features of the Cathedral. We marvelled at the Great West Window, paused to reflect at the Remembrance Books, and observed the retired regiment flags hanging proudly from the walls. We took time to appreciate the statues and admired the intricately carved font. One of the most memorable moments was descending the worn stone staircase into the Crypt, where we stood in silence, absorbing the calm and mystery of that ancient, sacred space.

Following our tour, we took part in a fascinating workshop on William Walker, the diver who famously worked underwater to save the cathedral from collapse. We learned how he spent six years in diving gear, laying concrete beneath the flooded foundations. Inspired by his dedication, we wrote postcards in role as William Walker, imagining what he might have written to his wife Alice and their eleven children. Our postcards described the challenging conditions of his work, the importance of his mission, and how much he missed his family.

To end the week on a high note, we joined our Year 1 friends for their May Day Mile. Cheering them on and walking (or running!) beside them was a heartwarming way to celebrate friendship and support healthy habits.

Mrs Maxine Kent
Year 2 Teacher

Forest School

Everyone loves a bit of mud at Forest School, so this week Year R had a go at using mud creatively. I transformed the boys into artists, whereby they had to create their own mud paint and pieces of artwork using the thick and rich brown paints. Our artwork was proudly hung in our outdoor art gallery!

The nesting season is well underway, so we decided we would give it a go! However, with a slight twist to it- giant nests! The boys in Year 1 had to create a nest that was big enough for them to sit in, which caused lots of amusement. Sticks formed the structure of the nest and grass provided the boys with a comfortable place to sit to have their hot chocolate in!

DISASTER happened in the Pilgrims’ garden this week for Year 2! A dragon had stolen all the wonderful colours and the garden looked dull and quite lifeless. Inspired by this story, the boys were challenged with creating a wand that would put all the spring colours back into the garden. It was amazing how many different colours and tones the boys found, and normality was returned to this special place.

Mrs Fiona Walker
Forest School and LAMDA Teacher

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Pre-Prep for Pre-Schoolers and Pre-Prep Open Days