Prep guild

PREP GUILD REPORT

WORDS BY Mrs Emily Hudson, Chair

Not to be beaten by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Prep Parents’ Guild rose to the challenge this year. With plenty of creative thinking and determination, we managed to host a variety of events aimed at bringing the parents community together in unprecedented times.

When we could not meet in person due to lockdown restrictions, we connected online for our committee meetings and AGM. We soon realised that we needed to embrace Zoom if we were to have any hope of seeing people this year. And it wasn’t all bad. Parents who might not usually make it to our events due to other commitments or not living close by were able to join us and appreciated not to have to organise a sitter or worry about whose turn it was to drive!

The Virtual Quiz Night was a great success, with lots of laughs along the way and the half time cocktail making competition unleashed some amazing creations. Despite it feeling like a rollercoaster ride at Quiz HQ as we raced to judge, score, and generally keep the pace going, our inimitable Quiz Master Mr Sam Roberts carried the evening with aplomb. The proceeds of the evening were split between Prep Guild fundraising and the Prep School house charities.

Building confidence with online events, we held a virtual Christmas wreath making workshop jointly with the Upper School Parents Guild. Parent Lucy Copeman from Howbury Farm Flowers was our talented tutor guiding guests through some technical skills to create showstopping festive arrangements. Lucy’s teaching, along with the Guild Chairs as cohosts, made for an entertaining evening for parents based across the counties.

The Christmas Gift Sale for the boys is usually an epic feat of coordination for the Guild as we source and wrap over 2,000 gifts. This time, we had the added element of concerns as Coronavirus case numbers accelerated in the Bedford area. The logistical mountain was conquered by the wonderful Prep Guild committee with incredible support from Mr Silk and many of the school staff. A full online shop of the gifts went live, 600 orders were processed, and an army of socially distant, mask-wearing helpers wrapped and packed the gifts in record time before an early finish for Christmas. Intense? Yes! But we were all still smiling at the end and immensely proud of what we had achieved in the circumstances.

Our final online event was Wine Tasting with parent and Master of Wine, Sarah Abbott taking us on a virtual journey of Discovery of the ‘road less travelled’. Sarah’s evocative storytelling left us dreaming of sunnier climes, as we explored the wine selection, complemented by some exceptional artisan cheeses.

Since restrictions have been lifted, we held a couple of Garden to Vase workshops in the beautiful gardens at Howbury Farm. The flower team were fantastic hosts, and the committee produced a most magnificent feast. Small group restrictions almost made the experience extra-special, after having missed in-person events for so long.

And lastly, we are delighted that a Prep Guild Cricket Team has now been formed. The first match versus the teachers’ team ‘The Ousels’, was held at the beginning of the holidays and we can’t wait to see the team in action more regularly next year.

I would like to thank everyone on the committee, school staff and parent helpers for being so brilliant, especially Melissa Morgan (Vice Chair), Maria Lepore (Secretary) and Sharmila Sohanpal (Treasurer). Also thank you to all the parents for supporting our endeavours and for all the feedback after the events, which makes it all worthwhile. Whilst we have raised some funds for school projects, the main aim was to bring the community together as we all grappled with the everchanging world around us. We can’t wait to see what next year has in store!