Out of the Blue - Spring 2016

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The Blue Coat School Founded by the Church of England in 1722

Fire! Fire!

Toilet Challenge

History comes alive for Pre-Prep

Fundraising for Jalo Primary, Malawi

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Head First As Spring starts to appear it’s hard to believe that so much has happened here at school since the New Year. But happened it has, as the stories below testify! In the midst of exams and other necessary tasks we have seen a great flowering of artistic talent, the development of sporting prowess, artistic, historical and geographical trips and visits, and a whole host of enjoyable events. Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies was a remarkable production by any standard; Handel’s Dixit Dominus, performed by the Chapel Choir and Choral Society, was enthralling for all; and the 8-foot long river model that greeted the Year 5 children on their Fieldwork Day had to be seen to be believed! Life at Blue Coat has been as dynamic as ever, and it is its very vibrancy that makes the School so special. Read on, see what we’ve been up to recently, and prepare to be amazed!

Alan Browning, Headmaster

Term Round-up As always the New Year began with our Year 6 pupils focused on their future plans as they sat for a number of senior school entrance examinations. It is to their credit that they remained level-headed throughout, and set about this challenge with great maturity. As we compile their results, we are delighted and proud of their achievements, which we look forward to celebrating formally at Prize Giving.

Following Pre-Prep’s wonderful Nativities in December, it was the turn of our Year 4s and Year 3s to tread the boards. A splendid adaptation of a classic tale provided us with a humorous and entertaining production of Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies. As lines were delivered with impeccable comic timing, we marvelled that our young stars were only 8 or 9 years old at most.

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The School Hall went through various guises on a weekly basis, as pupils went on a historical tour of England. For Year 4 it was a workshop to furnish them with a greater knowledge of the Tudors,

whilst Year 2 experienced the lives of workers and residents of London in Stuart England. A cleverly positioned smoke machine provided a rather authentic backdrop to the story of the Great Fire as it emerged from Pudding Lane on Monday 3rd September 1666.

The Lunchbox Theatre Company were thrilled to return, and Year 5 threw themselves into a dramatic re-enactment of the lives of Victorian children of their own age and younger. They signed an indenture binding them to work in the cotton mills until the age of 21 years for just 1 shilling per 12-hour day, in the most horrific of conditions. This stirred them to march into the playground with angry cries, as they campaigned for the Factory Bill and fairer working conditions.

In the Spotlight Teaching Assistant Mr Mark Darby told us how Blue Coat has been his home for 15 years.

Q. How long have you worked at Blue Coat?

A. I first started working at Blue Coat at the age of 18 years in Buttons Nursery. Then, around 10 years ago, I moved across to Pre-Prep and I now work with Mrs Reiner in Reception.

Q. Have you always wanted to work in a school?

Q. What do you like best about Blue Coat?

A. The thing I like most is the relationship I have with the Pre-Prep staff and children. Although I work hard I also like to have a laugh whilst at work - and the staff and children tend to join in with me!

Q. We hear you love football?

A. Yes, I am a qualified football coach and enjoy running the lunchtime club for Year 2 pupils at school. Out of school I can often be found at the Villa ground supporting my team!

Musical delights have ranged from the mysterious sounds of Balinese metallophones and gongs to the lyrical notes of the harp. Our PrePrep children proved that we have young talent a-plenty in school, and the Pre-Prep Concert at the end term showcased the first-ever Pre-Prep Brass and Guitar Ensembles, as well as a debut performance from the Recorder Group.

Q. Do you have any other hobbies?

A busy programme of fixtures kept pupils physically fit as well as mentally agile. This term offered the chance for the boys to participate in a number of Football tournaments and the girls were equally busy with Netball tournaments. In Tag Rugby, the U8 boys were able to work on their match play in House Matches as well as games against Warwick and West House Schools.

A. I liked PE and Games.

Q. What was your favourite subject at school?

Q. What is your favourite school lunch?

A. Toad in the Hole.

Q. Did you dress up for World Book Day this term?

A. Yes, I came in my Aston Villa kit. There is a book called When I grow up I want to play for Aston Villa – honest!

(Normally I dress up as a pirate.)

Q. If you could choose any Easter egg, what would it be?

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A. I would choose a giant Cadbury’s creme egg and eat it with a spoon!

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Our guest speakers at Chapel this term have included two speakers from St Luke’s, Gas Street, the second being Reverend Tim Hughes, who kindly led our Easter Celebration at the end of term. More than ever, the Spring Term feels as though it has progressed at an alarmingly fast pace: with Easter falling early it has been a jampacked few months of activities!

A. Well… I like theme parks! The scarier the ride the better - but my wife doesn’t like them as much as me!

My favourite ride is Nemesis at Alton Towers.

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Across the seas and back to Ancient Greece, Year 6 gained valuable learning opportunities through a combination of activities, role play and handling of artefacts. We also welcomed back the Young Shakespeare Company to help our senior pupils understand the Shakespearean language of The Tempest – though with a modern twist. Following another successful World Book Day, on which PrePrep children and staff enjoyed dressing up in the costumes of their favourite characters, we were joined by author Philip Caveney. Philip presented prizes to our Prep quiz winners and regaled them with stories of how he first became a writer – sharing his first short stories after lights-out in the school dormitory.

A. My mother is an Early Years Teacher, so I was able to gain work experience in schools when I was younger and really enjoyed it. Yes, I always knew it was something I wanted to do from an early age.

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Classroom Connection Early Years Buttons Nursery have been getting crafty – and they love getting messy with paint and glue! We hope that the cards and decorated plant pots were well received on Mother’s Day. Whilst celebrating Chinese New Year, the children tasted various foods and made paper lanterns. They made pancakes and enjoyed choosing different fillings on Shrove Tuesday, and then joined in with the rest of the School to celebrate World Book Day and raise funds for Sport Relief.

The children in Pre-Prep have been busy making birthday cards for the Queen’s 90th birthday, and Buttons made an extra large card from the Caterpillar and Ladybird Rooms. Towards the end of term Early Years were entertained by a production of Handa’s Hen by The Little Angel Theatre Group. The story book written by Eileen Browne had been turned into a play with singing, dancing and fifty-five amazing puppets, which was enjoyed by all.

If you go down to the woods…

The topic for children in Reception and Transition during the second half of term was “If You Go Down to the Woods”. This covered a whole range of possibilities, including teddy bears’ picnics, minibeast hunts, animal habitats and growing plants.

Children in RS were delighted by a magical woodland that sprang up in the corner of their classroom. Mrs Shaw had asked her father-in-law for some inner tubes from carpet rolls to make trees, and, before she knew it, he had created a mini forest!

The children enjoyed cutting out leaves and making a range of colourful owls to live there

Pre-Prep Book Venture This term the Pre-Prep School Council have been discussing how to raise money for charity. Making a class book and selling it seemed an ideal way to fundraise and have some fun on World Book Day. The children in each class made a simple book during the day. (linked to the recent Birmingham Owl Trail and the Blue Coat Owl). They have been on many adventures involving Gruffalo and bear hunts, animal I-spy charts, Robin Hood escapades and camp-fire activities.

The Great Fire

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Year 2 children were transported back to 1666 to find out all about the events of the Great Fire of London. Everyone became involved in one of the occupations of the time, such as rat catcher, chandler, baker, weaver, leather worker, barber surgeon and apothecary. Some poor souls even had to be children at school in 1666, so there was no escape from the daily grind! Great fun was had when everyone formed a human chain from the well to pass along buckets of water to put out the fire.

After lunch the children returned to group work, but this time as archaeologists unearthing artefacts from a soil-filled box.

Using only a pastry brush they then had to deduce the occupation of the household before reading documents that gave clues as to how many people lived in the property and what happened to them as a result of the Fire.

It was a fascinating glimpse into our history, and the children all learned a lot in a most enjoyable way.

They all learnt a lot about what goes into writing and making a book, and discovered that there was more to it than they thought! They encouraged friends and family to buy their very own book and raised £200 which was shared between Guide Dogs for the Blind and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

​A study of Portraiture Year 3 continued with their visits to the Barber Institute this term and it was the turn of 3Z and 3W to participate in a workshop on Portraiture, as part of their curriculum topic. They learnt that in a portrait the artist must be telling the viewer something about the person they have drawn or painted. This could be indicated by their clothing or their surroundings. In the case of Lady Barber, her portrait took on significance from its location

5-a-day Artwork – it must be good for you!

Although we all know you shouldn’t play with your food, Year 4 were given free rein in the Dining Hall, as they were challenged to create ‘Food Art’. Architecture being the topic this term, pupils used pictures of Tudor buildings and the work of Gaudi as stimuli for some vegetable- and fruitinspired pictures. The children really enjoyed using this new medium to create artwork, and Mrs Lambert-Green was thrilled with the finished masterpieces.

Thank you to Palmer & Howells for helping to prepare some interesting shapes and for sourcing such a variety of fresh produce. Although the pupils couldn’t eat their creations, there were several unused

ingredients left over for lunchtime. The pink and white dragon fruit in particular was an interesting addition to the usual fruit selection!

within the art gallery that was named after her. The children had a go at dressing up and re-telling the story behind the portrait of Bartolomeo Savona, painted as a gift by the French artist André Derain. It was then time to move to the classroom for a printing workshop. The children etched their design onto polystyrene and used ink and a roller to transfer the image onto paper. It was altogether a fascinating experience!

From fresco painting to Greek tragedy With most of their exams over, the Year 6s were able to let their hair down, don their chitons and parade into the Agora of Athens (aka the School Hall) for a day of leisure, Ancient Greek style. The morning was a hive of activity, with the opportunity to try a variety of different trades and crafts. The children were soon engrossed in painting frescos, decorating tiles in mosaic, carving soap, making oil lamps and preparing herbal remedies, all of which were then taken to the Temple of Athena for a blessing.

“Ten-hour day, no less pay”

The afternoon was dedicated to the practising and performing of plays, or the highly-drilled marching of the Hoplite army, interspersed with tasty treats such as olives, feta cheese and figs.

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Through a combination of factual evidence and dramatic licence, the moving story of Emily, one of the child apprentices from Litton Mill, was brought to life. Pupils could really appreciate the misfortune of children their own age and even younger, as they participated in this thoughtprovoking afternoon.

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They learned about the signing of indentures, the bland, monotonous diet of oatmeal and onions, the 12-hour shifts and the cruel punishments that were endured by

these helpless youngsters. But they also met Richard Oastler, the brave man who led the campaign for a shorter working day. A great cheer went up when HRH Queen Victoria finally approved the Parliamentary Bill for better working conditions in 1847.

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Cloth caps, waistcoats, aprons and shawls were the order of the day for the Year 5s as they participated in a Victorian drama workshop, entitled ‘The Runaway Apprentice’, with the Lunchbox Theatre Company. Set in the grim surroundings of a cotton mill at the time of the Industrial Revolution, our normally happy, healthy and well-loved pupils became foundling children, ‘rescued’ from the workhouse at the age of 7 to become slave apprentices.

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Lower School Production Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies “In fair old merry England, eleven ninety-two, We raise the curtain on a play we’ve written just for you.

Our scene is set in Sherwood, beside the Major Oak, Where lives a maid called Marion, with kind and simple folk.”

The stage was set, and with disco ball spinning it was off to Sherwood for a colourful and witty delivery by Years 3 and 4 of the classic tale of good versus evil. Robbing the rich to feed the poor was the aim – but our merry band of tight-wearing entertainers really didn’t have a clue.

They were reliant on their new-found friend Maid Marion, her nurse and a band of Skunk Scouts to get them through!

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“If we all work together, our dreams will come true,” discovered the Merry Men, and this was indeed true for the children of Lower School this Spring Term, as they joined forces to put on one of the best productions to date by such a young cast. Learning lines, practising dances, committing cues to memory: the children worked exceedingly hard for five short weeks of rehearsals. The Merry Men were awesome, the Guards were terrific, the Skunk Scouts were fabulous, the Villagers were admirable, the narrators were tremendous, the dance chorus was astounding and the principals (Emma Burns, Gracie Wynne, Wilf Kane, Lily Mobasher, Melissa Carson and Tilly Richardson) were incredibly mature and confident.

The script was riddled with witty one-liners and comical jokes that had the audience chuckling along with delight. The Henchmen (Aryan Massey Arora and Jeevan Johal) and the Dungeon Master and minion (Deyuan Chen and Karolina Rarko) were hilarious, and it was all rounded off by the majestic King Richard (Morgan Heagren).

Directors Mrs Roberts and Mrs Jennings were extremely proud of the children, who gave their all over the two-night run. Everyone had fun in the process and it was a great learning experience. Thanks go to Mr Nicklin for his musical direction, Mrs Lambert-Green for the wonderful scenery, Mrs Lynn and Mrs Ebrahim for costumes, Mr Isherwood for sound and lighting, and to all the staff and Year 6 helpers, too many to name on this page, but who all played a vital part in the success of the show. Thank you!

Pupil Profile Parents and teachers alike could not fail to be impressed by the standard of our young actors in this year’s Lower School Production, and we eagerly await the Upper School production next term.

No stranger to treading the boards is current Year 6 pupil, Savannah Dass. Talent spotted by a leading London acting agency at the age of 8, Savannah, who attends a local theatre training company, has been featured in several TV commercials for well-known brands such as Matalan, Kinder Chocolate, StartRite Shoes, Disney Dolly, Signal Toothpaste, and the BBC.

We look forward to following Savannah’s budding career and wish her well.

Success stories: We are always delighted to hear of our pupils’ successes in and out of school. Please share them with Mrs Dredger, who would love to feature them in our Latest News and Twitter.

Email: dredgerjs@thebluecoatschool.com.

Savannah with fellow cast: brother Nathaniel and former X-factor winner Rachel Adedeji.

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Though she has also modelled for other big name brands, Savannah’s first love is acting and she has gained fantastic experience through involvement in big West End productions such as Peter Pan at the NIA and more recently Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar.

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Musical Notes Spring Term has been a time for firsts in the Music Department! We watched the first Pre-Prep Morning Concert just a few weeks ago - and what a wonderful showcase of young musicians it proved to be. Although the event was in itself a first, two equally important debuts took place within the concert itself.

Mr Gough, our visiting guitar teacher, was delighted to introduce the first public performance of the Pre-Prep Guitar Ensemble. Their four-part rendition of What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor? was very well played indeed, showing the young ‘strummers’ at their very best. The Pre-Prep Brass Group had their first public performance too, playing Mega March with real gusto and élan. Thanks go to Mr George, our Brass teacher, for working so hard with his team to prepare them to such a high standard.

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We are delighted to welcome Miss Barsby, the newest addition to the Music Department teaching team. She has introduced our Year 3 and 4 pupils to the joys of the harp, and our first pupils have begun tuition this term. Megan and Elspeth (Year 4) are making great progress already, and we look forward to hearing them perform in a concert or recital very soon.

Moving slightly further afield with our ‘firsts’ theme, two of our Music Scholars have achieved exceptional success in recent music competitions. Katie Baker won The Waitrose Cup (Open Grade 7 class on cello), took 1st place in the U14 Jazz Class (saxophone), and gained a creditable 2nd place in the Open Recital Class (clarinet) in the recent Worcester Music Festival: an outstanding achievement for a Year 5 pupil. Tristan Wong, in Year 4, was the first Blue Coat pupil to win a place in the regional finals of the European Piano Teachers’ Association (EPTA) Piano Competition. Tristan achieved 2nd place in the Under 12 Class: another exceptional result!

Earlier this term the Year 2 and 3 children had first-hand experience of exploring the origins and instruments of Gamelan Music, which is found mainly in Bali, Indonesia. The word ‘Gamelan’ means ‘to hammer’ and the instruments they played made sounds by being struck with either a mallet or a gamel. The children discovered the cultural and religious background of this peaceful style of music and were encouraged to create their own compositions on gongs and metallophones of different sizes.

Sports Round-Up Netball The girls in Years 3-6 have been focusing on Netball during the Spring Term. We have competed in 24 fixtures, as well as an U10 Tournament and the U11 IAPS Tournament.

The U9s have shown excellent commitment to training and games with some deserved successes and the promise of being a team to be reckoned with next season. The U10s have developed over the season and are now working towards putting more shots away, in order to take advantage of their centre passes.

The U11s have had a fantastic season, and despite a disappointing start against King’s Hawford, the girls knuckled down to improve their individual skills and strength as a collective squad. At the IAPS competition in March they rapidly improved and went from strength to strength. After playing seven league games they won their last match to finish the league in a very respectable place.

In the U9 Tournament at RGS Worcester, the A Team played four pool games and had to finish in the top two in order to qualify for the semi-finals. Blue Coat won two, drew one and lost one, to finish in second place, just one point behind the winners of the pool, King’s Hawford. Our boys played some lovely passing football and created numerous chances in each of their games. Despite their attacking flair in earlier games, the semi-final was played more defensively, and ended in a narrow defeat after a nail-biting penalty shootout.

Well done to all the boys who took part.

Rugby

Swimming The Swimming Galas this term have provided some valuable experience for our swimmers – especially those in Years 3 and 4.

For some, their first experience of an inter-school gala came against Bromsgrove, and they performed very well indeed. We fielded A and B teams against Eversfield and West House, with the A team gaining first places in both. Edgbaston High School presented a formidable challenge for our Years 5 and 6, and we finished second and fourth respectively. With a re-match scheduled to include Years 3 and 4, this should change the outcome considerably next time round. Well done to all our swimmers on a commendable performance so far; we look forward to more exciting galas shortly.

Year 3 pupils have had their first introduction to Rugby Union this term. A large number of boys have had the opportunity to represent the school in fixtures and have performed very well. The U8As are particularly to be congratulated, as they have remained undefeated all term. We look forward to seeing how this year group adapts to the transition of contact rugby next year, and hope that an interest in the game has been ignited.

Cross-Country On Saturday 12 March, Blue Coat U9 and U11 pupils took part in the Hallfield School Cross-Country Meet. The U9 girls are to be congratulated on winning their event, and a special mention goes to Poppy Couzens who was placed third individually.

The following day Malvern College held the 24th National Prep Schools’ Cross Country Championships, which saw more than 1000 competitors from over 80 schools take part. This was a true test for our pupils, and although there were no medals gained on this occasion, Blue Coat acquitted themselves well and gained valuable competition experience.

Football In Football lessons, Years 4 to 6 have focused on improving their technical development and enjoyment of the game. A full fixture card has allowed pupils to apply the skills learnt, seek to pass the ball and work on team shape, game understanding and positional awareness.

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The U9 B Team have won the majority of their games, whilst the A Team have shown great approach play but still need to develop their killer instinct in front of goal. The U10s have played some fluid football whilst developing the players’ positional understanding on the way. The U11s have improved significantly, showing greater cohesiveness and tenacity to regain possession of the ball. The highlight of the season was winning the triangular fixture with West House and Hallfield.

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The Friends of The Blue Coat School

After the industrious nature of the Autumn Term, proceedings have been a little quieter for The Friends since the Christmas break.

The mighty events of Fireworks’ Night and Christmas Fayre gave way, this term, to the

smaller (yet no less important or enjoyable) attractions of Discos and Quiz Night. Both the Pre-Prep and Prep Discos proved as popular as ever, with hoards of energetic Blue Coat boys and girls brandishing their glo-sticks and strutting their stuff on the School Hall dance floor. It was exhausting just to watch!

Quiz Night, on 4 March, was an altogether more competitive affair. Under the expert ‘quiz-mastership’ of Mr Morris, various teams of teachers, Pre-Prep and Prep parents battled it out to be crowned Blue Coat champions. Following a closely-fought contest (in which Mr Browning’s hair was mistaken for that of Donald Trump) the imaginatively-named ‘Quizzie Rascals’ emerged triumphant.

This term The Friends were able to assist financially with a couple of projects in and around school. The number of benches

and tables in the playground and quad was added to, wet-weather indoor games boxes were supplied and Mr Isherwood was the grateful recipient of some new school lights to help illuminate school productions.

Thank you once again to all parents and staff for their ongoing support. If there are any new parents who would like to get involved with The Friends, please email the friends@thebluecoatschool.com for further information.

A celebration of reading World Book Day is always welcomed at Blue Coat, and this year was no exception. A stream of pirates, wizards, superheroes, fairies, princesses and animals could be seen entering the school gates on Thursday 3 March as the children of Buttons Nursery and Pre-Prep came dressed as characters from their favourite books.

In the run-up to this national celebration of reading, Years 3 to 6 had their knowledge tested with their very own Blue Coat Reading Challenge. The library produced quizzes for each year group with 15 questions on ‘all things books’. Ranging from “In which book would you find the Yellow Brick Road?” to “What is the name of the sweet shop near Hogwarts?” the questions certainly taxed the children’s minds, and the library was very busy in the run-up to the quiz with the children getting in some last-minute revision!

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We were delighted to welcome award-winning author Philip Caveney to the school, fresh from winning the Scottish Children’s Book Award (writing as his alter ego Danny Weston). He presented the quiz winners in each form with a £5 book token, a welldeserved prize for those with exceptional literary knowledge. The

children in Prep then enjoyed a session with Philip as they learnt all about being an author. Philip started his presentation by describing the book that switched him on as a child. From Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked this Way Comes”, Philip developed a love and appetite for reading and writing and started his first book at 12 years old. His story was certainly inspiring, and the theme running through the presentation was to read widely and never give up on your dreams. We all have a writer within us and, as he told us, remember to “show the story” rather than “tell the story”.

Charity Check Flushed with success – funds for Malawi!

Last term we featured Miss Ward in our Spotlight section and learnt about her project to deliver teacher training in Malawi. This March she enlisted the help of pupils in a rather unusual sponsored event.

The Toilet Challenge took place on two nights after school, and involved an obstacle course around the Sports Hall with various toilet-themed challenges. From toilet seat hoopla to toilet roll towers and mummies, it was a very entertaining way to spend the hour before home time. We think our spectators enjoyed it too!

The serious side to all this fun is that we were raising money for Jalo Primary School in Nkhotakota, Malawi. This is a large school with 2000 pupils but, despite this, Jalo only has 11 classrooms, 5 permanent toilets for pupils, and 5 more temporary ones (dug in the ground).

At The Blue Coat School we are lucky enough to have all the water and facilities we need and it is easy to take this for granted.

Through your generous support

we have been able to help a thriving school that is faced with utterly different circumstances. At the time of going to print monies are still coming in but we are well on our way to reaching the £1,500 target, which will go towards providing much-needed toilet facilities for pupils and staff.

Chaplain’s Corner

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Through our Easter Story assemblies we have seen how the Christmas “newborn King” came as the King of peace, righteousness and love. We welcomed back to Chapel Mr Eyles, a former teacher, who threatened to make Mr Browning clean his outrageously smelly muddy trainers. This helped us to see that when Jesus the King washed his disciples’ feet he was teaching us the power and importance of serving others.

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We will not forget the sight of a slow motion Mr Wurr running down the aisle in hot pursuit of Freddie Geoghegan. You can imagine our surprise when the only punishment Freddie received was a rather large chocolate bar! Thank you to the Reverend Tucker for using such a wonderful image to help us to understand the words “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me (pursue) all the days of my life.”

A feely box, a fishing game, a blow-up boat and much more have made their appearance in Buttons Chaplain’s time on Mondays. We have been amazed at the wonderful and miraculous things Jesus did for the people he loved and knew. He calmed a storm, healed a granny, gave sight to a blind man, and even helped catch a net full of fish. We have been learning how he can be our friend too.

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The memory of the Christmas shepherds and kings has lived on in Chapel this term. We have discovered that the baby they came to visit grew to be The Shepherd King. Our assemblies have explored Psalm 23, a well-known shepherds’ prayer helping us to understand a little more of the love, care and protection that Jesus our shepherd gives us.

Friday mornings in Pre-Prep have been taken over by the muchloved little furry Assembly guest, Maximus Mouse. His behaviour can at times be a little challenging, but he has done a fine job of helping Year 1 and Year 2 to learn the Lord’s Prayer ... except for the week when he thought “hallowed be thy name” was “Harold be thy name”. Harold is of course his dear hedgehog friend!

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The School Chapel has witnessed a number of services this term, and our Chaplain, Mrs Elphinston, recalls some of the highlights.

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Sport Relief Best Blue became resplendent red and all things sporty on Friday 18 March, with the return of the biennial charity event Sport Relief.

Part of Comic Relief, Sport Relief is held in association with BBC Sport, and brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries. Children in Prep completed the Sport Relief Mile in their Games lesson, running four times around the playing fields. We look forward to sending our contribution in support of this important fundraiser.

Heads Up We look forward to welcoming Mr Noel Neeson, our incoming Headmaster from September 2016, to Open Morning next term.

Mr Neeson and his family: wife Jules, daughter Bea and son Jasper, are very excited about their move up to Birmingham from Lympstone in Devon. Mr Neeson has already been spending time at Blue Coat this term and both current and prospective parents will have the opportunity to meet him in May. Pre-Prep have been raising money for The Leprosy Mission by filling Smarties tubes and other receptacles with coins.

Key Dates for Summer Term 2016 Term begins at 8.30am on Tuesday 19 April Bank Holiday Monday 2 May

Open Morning Saturday 7 May 10.00am to 12.30pm (Registration at 10am and 11am) Half-Term Holiday (school closed) 30 May – 3 June

Term resumes on Monday 6 June Term ends at 11.45am on Wednesday 13 July

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The Blue Coat School, Somerset Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B17 0HR S

The Blue Coat School Founded by the Church of England in 1722

Telephone 0121 410 6800 @bcsbirmingham

Email info@thebluecoatschool.com Website thebluecoatschool.com

The Blue Coat School Birmingham Limited is registered in England, Registration No. 8502615 and is a Registered Charity No. 1152244