Habs Weekly - Pre-Prep and Prep edition - Friday 13 January 2023

Head of Prep School’s Message

Ms K Umpleby

Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a fantastic start to 2023 and are feeling excited and positive about the year ahead.

It has been an amazing start to 2023 in the Prep School. With Reception and Year One now on the Elstree site, and Year 6 back in the Prep building, it is lovely to finally be one whole Prep school, Reception to Year 6. Having everyone together allows for so many more opportunities to collaborate between different age groups within our community.

It is so important for our youngest Haberdashers to regularly see our older pupils and the activities and opportunities they will have when they are older – it allows for ambition to develop and excitement to build for what is to come a little further along their educational journey in the Prep School. However, it is equally important for our older pupils to take on the role of ‘big sibling’ who relish the chance to role model our core values and behaviours, develop empathy and patience.

As one of our values, Community is so important to us at Habs Boys. In the Prep School, we (students and staff) are a community of learners, taking risks and pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone; a community of friends caring for each other, demonstrating empathy and respect to all; a community of enquirers, questioners, and explorers. We are also an ambitious community, a courageous community, and a curious community;

however, we are also a community that recognises the importance of bucket loads of joy, lots of laughter and a generous sprinkle of awe and wonder. 2023 in the Prep School is going to be all about Community, there will naturally be lots of learning, but we are going to make sure we have lots of fun along the way too!

We can’t wait to be able to invite all Prep School parents (Reception to Year 6) to tour the new building and will be in touch soon with details of times and dates.

We are excited to announce

announce the launch of more information.

Pre-Prep looking ahead

Reception

Reception Literacy Workshop and Tapestry Meeting

THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY, 8.45AM TO 10AM

We will be hosting a Literacy Workshop on Thursday 9 February during which we will discuss in greater depth how we teach Literacy skills and how you can support your child on their reading and writing journey at home. We encourage all parents and guardians to attend, even if you have previously supported a child of Reception age.

During the session, we will also share details of Tapestry, the online learning platform that we will use as one tool to track your child’s progress. As partners in learning, you will be able to have access to your child’s Tapestry account at home and share milestones you observe.

After School Care Facility

IMPORTANT UPDATE

With the completion of the new Pre-Prep building, After School Care for all pupils has moved to the new Pre-Prep Hall, located just behind the Prep School. When coming to collect your child from After School Care, please make your way directly to the new Pre-Prep Hall to collect them. If your child has not been collected by 5.30pm, they will move to wait in the Prep School Reception and be looked after by Senior Management. In such instances, please do not go to the PrePrep but rather, make your way to the Prep Reception to collect your child.

Please click here to book your child into After School Care.

Rewarding behaviour

INFORMATION

Please click here for a letter regarding rewarding behaviour in Reception.

Florence Nightingale Day

FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY

To enrich our history topic on Florence Nightingale, we have arranged for History off the Page to spend the day with us on Friday 3 February. Through role play and drama, the pupils will experience life as it would have been for Florence Nightingale. They will be using authentic tools and genuine Victorian artefacts and will replicate life in the hospital in Scutari.

To add to the excitement, we would like the boys to dress up in Victorian costume. Costumes do not need to be complicated, just a simple outfit to help the children to get into character.

Victorian Costume:

• Either short trousers or long socks, long trousers/tracksuit bottoms tucked into long socks

• A collar-less shirt (cut the collar off an old one!) A waistcoat and/or a cap could also be worn.

Y2

Year 2 trip to St Paul’s Cathedral

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY

Year 2 will be visiting St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 10 February 2023. Please click here for further information. Payment and consent for the trip will need to be made via Evolve.

Prep looking ahead

Whole School

Prep co-curricular programme - Spring Term

Please click here to view our updated co-curricular programme for Spring 2023.

After School Care Facility

IMPORTANT UPDATE

With the completion of the new Pre-Prep building, After School Care for all pupils has moved to the new Pre-Prep Hall, located just behind the Prep School. When coming to collect your child from After School Care, please make your way directly to the new Pre-Prep Hall to collect them. If your child has not been collected by 5.30pm, they will move to wait in the Prep School Reception and be looked after by Senior Management. In such instances, please do not go to the PrePrep but rather, make your way to the Prep Reception to collect your child.

Please click here to book your child into After School Care.

House Photography competition

We are extremely excited to announce our Inter House photography competition. We would love the pupils to take a photograph with their iPad on anything that shows that we are saving our planet. It could be an animal, a plant, tree, a recycling plant.

This is a very serious topic, but we know that the pupils can show us how we can save the planet through the lens. Be creative. They can have just one entry for their House and so must choose their best one. The House with the most participants will win the award as winners of the House Photography Competition.

House Leaders will choose the best four photographs which will be judged independently. The winning entry, along with the House that has the most pupils entering, will win House Points. We will display the photos from the 16 finalists on the Prep board.

The pupils should upload their photos here.

Working with Parents in Sport workshop

TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY

Please click here to read a letter regarding a Working with Parents in Sport workshop.

March ABRSM Exams

APPLICATION FORM

Please click here to read a letter regarding applying for our March ABRSM exams.

JHC Spring Cricket Courses

INFORMATION

Please click here to see a flyer regarding the JHC Spring Cricket Courses.

Hampton Court Palace trip

WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY

Year 5 will shortly be visiting Hampton Court. Please ensure all pupils wear full school uniform, including a waterproof jacket. All pupils will also need to bring a packed lunch (no nuts please) in a string bag (e.g. swimming bag) – no glass bottles or heavy flasks as your child will be carrying this around all day. In addition to this, please provide a snack.

Y3 to 6

Open House

WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY

Our Open House morning is fast approaching! You will have an opportunity to join your child in one of their lessons and spend time sharing in their experience of life at Habs.

In the past, this event has been very well attended and extremely well received by parents. We offer the choice of two sessions, one from 8.45am to 9.45am, and the second from 9.45am to 10.45am. Please click on the link in the letter to confirm which session you would like to attend.

Update in staffing

As Mrs Sanghrajka is now resting at home awaiting the arrival of her baby any day, Mr Rossington has joined us as 4DS Form Teacher, as well as Year 3 and Year 4 Games teacher. We were fortunate that Mr Rossington was able to spend a few days with us at the Prep School at the end of last term, which has allowed him to hit the ground running. We are also very pleased to have Mrs Kingsley (Year 5) and Mrs Hall (Art) with us full time from this term.

Prep reminders

Whole School

Prep Sport - Spring Term fixtures

UPDATED

Please click here to view our updated Spring Term fixture information.

Swimming

Please be reminded of the school policy regarding absence from Swimming lessons - which are a compulsory aspect of the National Curriculum. If a child is well enough to be in school, they must be well enough to be participate in the full timetable, which includes Swimming, Forest School, and PE. If your child cannot swim due to injury or any other reason, we ask that you submit a doctor’s note stating such. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Pupils wearing hoodies

Prep pupils are allowed to wear school hoodies during days in which they have PE or Games. They may also wear them during Games lessons if they so wish. Pupils must also be wearing their school blazer every day to school, including on PE and Games days, as this is a key component of their school uniform.

Morning arrival at Prep School

REMINDER

A gentle reminder that morning drop off is from 8am. Pupils should not be arriving earlier than this time as they will not be supervised in the playground or in the classroom. Breakfast club is available from 7.30am at the Girls’ School.

Y3 to 6

Matilda The Musical trip

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We are excited to inform you that we have booked tickets to see the award-winning Matilda the Musical for the Spring Term. Please provide consent and payment via Evolve. Click below to find out more details for your child’s year group.

Year 3 and Year 4: Wednesday 25 January 2023

Year 5 and Year 6: Wednesday 8 February 2023

PE Event with Habs' Girls’ Junior School

SATURDAY 4 MARCH

On Saturday 4 March, Years 3 and 4, and separately, Years 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to play games of netball and football alongside Habs Boys Prep. Students from both schools will form into mixed ability teams on the day. This will be an opportunity for learning and skills development whilst improving match play. Further details will be sent out early next term. Please save the date.

National Gallery visit

MONDAY 30 JANUARY

Year 6 will be visiting The National Gallery on Monday 30 January 2023. Please click here for further information. Payment and consent for the trip will need to be made via the Evolve payment and consent links.

Pre-Prep & Prep reminders

Car parking and safety

HIGHLY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Click here to read a letter regarding car parking and safety from our Chief Operating Officer, Mr Rob Dunn.

Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report

INFORMATION

As a result of introducing the new Reception cohort in September, ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) were required to complete a Material Change Inspection, in order to check that our systems, policies and facilities met their standards for Early Years. We are delighted to inform you that we passed with flying colours.

Please click here to see the updated version of our ISI Report.

Lunch Menu

WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 16 JANUARY 2023

Please click here to view the Pre-Prep lunch menu.

Please click here to view the Prep lunch menu.

Stellar Strings video

FINAL CONCERT RECORDING

Click here to read a letter with a link to the Stellar Strings Final Concert.

Breakfast and After School Care

BOOKING INFORMATION

Click here to book your child into the breakfast club or After School Care (ASCF) the week commencing Monday 23 January 2023. Prearranged bookings can be made up until 12pm the Friday before.

After this time, please email ascf@habsboys.org.uk for Prep pupil bookings and preprepoffice@habsboys.org.uk for Pre-Prep pupil bookings.

Please note, there may be a small charge for ASCF after 4pm. Please be reminded that After School Care finishes at 5.30pm. Please arrange to collect your child from the Prep School reception by that time.

Important safety notice

PLEASE READ

Please be reminded that parents and students should not be using the bridge on North Drive for pedestrian access. This is for health and safety reasons, particularly, as the mornings and afternoons are getting darker, and the road is in constant use.

If you are walking from the North Drive to the Prep School, please walk on the new path, via the pitches which is lit. If accessing the main campus, please access the footpath near the MFL car park.

Please also note, that at the beginning or end of the school day, vehicles should not be parking or picking up from the service road outside the Prep building. Please use the designated pick-up areas on Pitch 5 or the North Drive Car Park for drop off and collection.

Tooled Up

As many of you will know, the Pre-Prep and Prep School is a ‘Tooled Up School’. This is a wonderful platform that provides you and us practical and psychological tools to help the children cope with life’s ups and downs. Extensive research by academics all over the world has uncovered approaches to raising children that help them to thrive. This platform has found ‘golden nuggets’ within these academic findings and translated them into practical tips for us all to apply. You will find short videos, podcasts and tip sheets covering:

• Mental health – protecting and sustaining children’s positive mental health

• Digital life – teaching safe and positive engagement with the digital world

• Learning – what we can be doing at home to help our teens thrive at school

• Behaviour – the best approaches to challenging behaviour

• Family life and relationships – investing in good quality relationships at home to help our teens thrive in other areas of their life.

• Aspiration – motivating our children to aim high and supporting them on their journey.

If you have not already gained access to the platform, please click here and insert the school’s unique pin number: HABS7725.

We really hope you find using this beneficial.

PRE-PREP CALENDAR DATES

FRIDAY

MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2023 Perform Drama workshop

FRIDAY

MONDAY

MONDAY

For further dates, please refer to the school calendar on Firefly.

FRIDAY