Pre-Prep News, Friday 1 May

After this beautifully sunny week, we hope you enjoy a lovely long weekend!

From Mrs Hall:

On Monday, we were delighted to welcome back an Old Pilgrim, 14-year-old Max, who came to speak to the boys about his hobby, acting. There was a real buzz of excitement as he shared stories of his experiences, the roles he has played, and the adventures his passion has taken him on. The boys listened beautifully and were full of curiosity, asking thoughtful questions and clearly inspired by what they heard. It was a lovely opportunity for them to see where interests and hobbies can lead, and how confidence and creativity can grow over time.

There has also been a growing buzz around the department as preparations for our upcoming plant sale gather pace. The boys have been busy planting, nurturing, and caring for their seedlings, and there is a real sense of anticipation as they watch their efforts quite literally come to life. It has been a wonderful way to develop patience, responsibility, and a shared sense of purpose. We look forward to selling our wares for charity on Wednesday 6 May.

We wish you all a restful weekend and look forward to another busy week ahead.

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Save the Dates !

Diary dates for this half-term appear below. Remember the whole school diary is displayed on My School Portal here:

The Pilgrims' School - Whole School Diary

Monday 4 May	All day	No school - Bank Holiday
Thursday 7 May	0930-1030	Musical Shells for prospective parents and children
Friday 8 May	All day 1900-2130	Reception trip to Manor Farm PPA Event: Race Night (details to follow)
Saturday 9 May	0800-0900 0900-1000	PPA Event: Breakfast in the Yard - for all parents Pilgrims' Parley: Details to follow
Thursday 14 May	0930-1030	Musical Shells for prospective parents and children
Friday 15 May	All day	Year 1 trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (details to follow)
Saturday 16 May	0900-1130	Whole School Open Day
Thursday 21 May	0930-1030	Musical Shells for prospective parents and children
Friday 22 May	1430-1530 1545	Pre-Prep Grandparents' Tea Half-Term begins

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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George the Tortoise –

Summer Holiday Home Needed!

We are looking for kind families to help care for our much-loved Pre-Prep tortoise over the summer holidays. If you are able to offer him a home, even for just part of the holidays, we would be so grateful. He is a very easy and gentle guest!

If you think you might be able to help, please do let us know. Any offer of care will be greatly received.

Please email Sarah Hall at: shall@pilgrims-school.co.uk. Thank you so much for your support.

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Shell awards:

Year R - to Oshin for working hard at school all round! Excellent progress shown.

Year 1 - to Joshua for his growing independence and a genuine joy for learning. Creative writing, history and gardening were real highlights of the week.

Year 2 - to Christopher for being motivated in his learning.

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Upcoming PPA Events this term

This fast-paced evening begins at 7pm with a drink by the river before we start at 7.30pm. Using pre-recorded horse races, guests place bets on horses of their choice, watching the race in real time on a projector screen. The lucky winner collects their prize money, before gathering again for another run on the turf. Do join us for some competitive fun! A curry Supper or Vegan alternative will be served and the PPA will run a bar selling wine, beer and soft drinks.

All proceeds will go to the boys' chosen charities. The evening is open to all parents and guardians only.

Tickets: £17.50 per person.

This will include a Chinese Supper or a Vegan alternative as well as a drink beforehand. The PPA will run a bar selling wine, beer and soft drinks.

To book your tickets, please go to My School Portal

Upcoming Admissions Events

FOR ALL OPEN DAY ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE

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Year 2

It has been a busy and engaging week in Year 2. The boys began exploring the concept of fractions in Maths, building their understanding of parts and whole through practical activities and discussion. In English, we revisited noun phrases and the use of adjectives, focusing on how carefully chosen words can make sentences more vivid and help the reader build a clear picture in their mind.

In our wider learning, we have been busy potting seedlings, taking responsibility for nurturing young plants and observing how they grow. This has linked beautifully with our upcoming plant sale, for which the boys have been designing eye-catching posters. They have considered how to persuade others and communicate their ideas effectively.

On Tuesday morning, we enjoyed a memorable trip to Winchester Cathedral. We were warmly welcomed by a knowledgeable volunteer guide, Sarah, who shared a wealth of fascinating information throughout our visit. Our first stop was the Great West Window, where the boys learned about how it had to be carefully restored after being damaged during the Civil War.

The boys were captivated by the stories told through the beautifully carved font, and they took great interest in the many intricate carvings found throughout the cathedral. Particular favourites included the detailed choir stalls, where they spotted carvings of a hunter with a bird and even a monkey playing a harp.

We then made our way down into the crypt. At first glance, it appeared dry; however, on closer inspection, we noticed small pools of water. Unfortunately, this meant we were unable to explore further on this occasion, though we hope to return in the future. As we returned to ground level, we paused to admire the magnificent, 12th century wall paintings, before taking part in a memorable experience—ascending on our knees, just as pilgrims would have done many years ago at the end of their journey.

During the second half of the morning, the boys stepped into the shoes of William Walker, imagining what it might have been like to write a postcard home to his “darling wife Alice and his eleven—yes, eleven—children.” This activity inspired some thoughtful and creative writing.

As you would expect, it was a morning full of curiosity, thoughtful questions, and discovery. The boys demonstrated great enthusiasm and impressed both staff and guides with their observations and knowledge—there were even moments that left the teachers pleasantly surprised!

As we head into the long weekend, we hope you all enjoy the Bank Holiday. For home learning, you may wish to continue supporting the boys’ understanding of fractions through practical activities at home. In preparation for our plant sale on Wednesday 6 May, it would also be helpful to practise counting out loose change, so they feel confident using money when choosing and buying plants on the day.

Mrs Maxine Kent
Year 2 Teacher

Year 1

The Year 1 classroom turned into a world of adventure this week. English lessons designing treasure maps filled with peril and possibility, History lessons on infamous pirates who ruled the seas (we are captivated as a class by the success of many female pirates) and the start of the RNLI Mayday Mile have all gripped the boys entirely.

English – Young seafarers chart their own gold adventure!
Inspired by ‘How to Find Gold’, in which the characters Anna and Crocodile plan a daring hunt for hidden treasure, boys were challenged to follow in their footsteps creating detailed maps of their own fantasy landscapes.

The results were vivid and inventive. Haunted castles loomed over jagged cliffs, deep caves twisted beneath the ground, and dark woods stretched endlessly across the page. Elsewhere, shark-filled lagoons shimmered with danger while fiery hills bubbled and blazed, guarding imagined riches.

Central to the lesson was a focus on descriptive language. The boys were encouraged to enrich their ideas using powerful adjectives, transforming simple features into “gloomy, echoing caves,” “shadowy, whispering forests,” and “fiercely burning fire hills.” The boys really embraced the storytelling aspect and took pride in making their maps as exciting and detailed as possible. The boys were eager to share their maps with their friends, explaining the dangers and treasures hidden within their worlds. The path to learning is best found through adventure!

Preparing for the plant sale
Preparations are well underway for next Wednesday’s much-anticipated plant sale across the Pre-Prep. We all worked together on Wednesday afternoon to transfer the seeds that were sown before the Easter holidays into larger pots, giving them the space they need to continue growing. The boys were careful handling the delicate small plants and with steady hands and good attention, they ensured each plant was safely replanted and watered without too many mishaps with water or soil!

A wide variety of vegetables are now thriving, including broad beans, courgettes, several types of tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, purple basil and fennel. Alongside these, a colourful selection of flowers has also been prepared, such as nasturtiums, antirrhinums, nicotiana, lupins and marigolds.

The boys in Year 2 have chosen a charity that they would like the plant sale to raise money for. Look out for the posters around school to tell you more. See you all at the Plant Sale – Wednesday 6 May 1545 or 1630 outside the Pre-Prep. Bring all your loose change!

Mrs Victoria Ford
Year 1 Teacher

Reception

What a wonderful and busy week we have had in Reception!

We were very excited to welcome a special visitor, our friend Sam Squirrel, (in puppet form) who came to see us bringing his latest story, The Flower Thief. The boys loved listening to another adventure in the series and were full of ideas and predictions about what might happen next and what signs of spring they could see in the story. Sam did not just bring a story, he also brought us some sunflower seeds to plant! We have carefully planted them in pots and are now taking on the important responsibility of looking after them. We have been discussing what plants need to grow, and the boys are doing a fantastic job of watching closely, making sure their seeds are happy with enough water, sunlight, and care.

This week, we also spent time looking closely at the seeds we had planted before the Easter break with Mrs Ford. The boys were so excited to see how much they had grown! We joined Year 1 and 2 in a fun afternoon of re-potting the plants, giving them more space so they can continue to grow strong and healthy. Everyone showed great care and teamwork while helping with this important job.

These plants are now being looked after ready for our plant sale next week. The boys feel very proud knowing they have helped to nurture them from tiny seeds, with Mrs Ford's great help! It has been wonderful to see the boys' sense of responsibility and enthusiasm as they take part in the process from planting to growing.

This has been a fantastic week of learning as we continue exploring our theme of ‘Life Cycles’. We have been focusing on the life cycle of a plant, understanding how something so small can grow and change over time. The boys have shown great curiosity, care, and excitement in their learning.

Well done boys! What a brilliant week! Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend!

The second column.

Mrs Sarah Huntley
Reception Teacher

Forest School

Year R used their imagination this week when given the challenge of creating some huge woodland minibeasts. Working in small groups, the boys learned how to carry large sticks and how to make mud glue! The boys thought about the details they needed to add to the sculptures to make them as realistic as possible. We created a giant centipede, ladybird and spider!

At this time of year, parent birds put in a lot of effort into making nests that are strong and comfortable for their chicks. Year 1 were given the opportunity this week to have a go at building some giant nests that they could actually sit in! Working as a team, the boys had fun making the nests as cosy as they could and enjoyed having a drink in their comfortable nests!

Year 2 were challenged this week to make a small stick raft. Teamwork was an important element of this session, as one person was required to hold the sticks in position, while the other person wove the string around the sticks. The boys demonstrated resilience and perseverance and were very pleased with the end results. The rafts were tested in our water tank to see if they would float.