–14 February 2025
Dear Parents,
A Note from Our Head
On Valentine’s Day, it is easy to get caught up in the traditional symbols of romance such as flowers, chocolates and cards. Whilst these gifts are lovely, as I explained to the children in Monday’s assembly, true love is so much deeper than that. True love is shown in the everyday actions we do: taking the time to truly listen to someone so they feel valued and heard; thanking someone so they know that what they do is seen and appreciated; offering a helping hand or kind comment to lift someone’s spirits, and believing in someone and helping them to achieve more than they ever felt possible. True love has the power to transform people’s lives as it sends a powerful message that you matter, are valued and are enough just as you are. That is why being compassionate is the most important of our 7C values and I hope pervades all that we do at Castle Court.
It was lovely to see so many of you at our Valentines Coffee morning today. As I get older, it is the simpler things in life that bring me the greatest joy. Enjoying a delicious coffee whilst catching up on your news was certainly a lovely way to start the day and I hope it gave you a moment to pause and reflect on the important things in life. A huge thank you to Coffee Guys for providing the delicious coffee and to the talented catering team for the beautiful cakes.
On Thursday morning, I had the immense privilege of watching the Year 3 performance of Animal Antics. The standard of their performances was simply outstanding. I was so impressed with the confidence and enthusiasm of every single child as they sang, danced and recited poems, taking the audience through a wonderful journey of the different animals from A to Z. It was an hour of pure joy which I will remember for a very long time.
Since September, a number of our Year 8 pupils have been working hard preparing for scholarships for senior schools in a wide range of disciplines including Academic, Art, Music, DT, Drama and All Rounder. I am always so impressed by the dedication shown by our scholars who are prepared to put in so many extra hours preparing for these assessments. Whatever the outcome, I believe that the skills pupils learn through this process provide a fantastic foundation for their future, and I am so proud of them all. Whilst we are still waiting for the results from a number of schools, I am delighted to announce that the following pupils have been awarded scholarships:
Sophia Lill – Art Exhibition to Clayesmore School
Isabella Deas – Academic and Sports scholarships to Talbot Heath
What wonderful news to end this half-term.
I hope you and your family have an enjoyable half-term holiday and I look forward to welcoming all the pupils back on Monday 24 February.
Katie Johnson Head
Head’s Awards
Head’s Awards are given out every Friday morning in assembly to children nominated by their class teacher or form tutor; the reasons for these are many and varied, including outstanding effort, overcoming difficulty, or helping a friend in need.
A huge congratulations for their efforts goes to…
School Diary
The school diary for the first two weeks after half-term is as follows:
Monday 24 Feb 08:00 U13 Boys IAPS Hockey at Taunton, Timings TBC
Tuesday 25 Feb 08:35 CCS Community Choir, Family Lounge
11:00 Bryanston Junior Science Day (Yr6) - tbc
14:00 Mixed Hockey/Netball vs Walhampton - yr3&4
14:00 CAVE: Bikeability Level 2 (Yr6)
Wednesday 26 Feb 14:00 Boys' Hockey & Girls' Netball vs Walhampton - Years 5-8
14:00 Clayesmore Cross Country relays
Thursday 27 Feb 09:00 Year 4 Trip to Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorchester
16:30 Years 3 and 4 Parents' Evening
Friday 28 Feb 08:30 U11 Boys IAPS hockey at Queen's Taunton, Timings TBC
Sunday 02 Mar Bryanston Year 8 Activities Day
Tuesday 04 Mar 08:35 CCS Community Choir, Family Lounge
U13 Girls' Netball County Finals Day
14:00 Mixed Hockey vs Sunninghill - Yr 3&4
16:45 Year 5 Parents' Evening
Wednesday 05 Mar 14:00 Boys' Hockey & Girls' Netball vs Bryanston Prep - Yr 5-8
09:30 Yr6 Geography Trip to Lush, Poole
Thursday 06 Mar World Book Day
09:00 LCM Musical Theatre Examinations, Clayesmore School
08:30 IAPS U11 Girls Netball at Millfield, Timings TBC
08:35 World Book Day Assembly
11:00 Yr7 Dystopian Fiction Day - 1100-1615 - TBC
Friday 07 Mar 16:30 Yr 3-5 Music Festival (Hall)
08:15 Parent Prayer Group, Board Room
09:30 Primary Schools' Performing Arts Morning for Yr 4 (Hall)
The following week - beginning 10 March - is British Science Week! Keep an eye out for information about lots of different activities that Mrs Gallop has planned, including a wormery, bath bombs and even footprint tunnels to track wildlife…
World
Book Week
Parent Information
One of our families is looking to sell a virtually brand-new Pearl River upright piano. It is black gloss in colour and while purchased for £3200, the family are asking around £1500.
If you are interested, please contact Mr Smith on jsmith@castlecourt.com.
Safety outside the Pre-Prep Entrance
When leaving the site, if you do stop to allow your child to play outside of the Pre-Prep area, please ensure that they stay within the fenced section. They should not be near the gas covers or the main road around the site, for safety reasons.
Futures Education
This half-term, we have launched a new careers platform in Years 6, 7 and 8, with a view to enhancing how we prepare children for their futures.
After half-term, we are looking to invite parents in to school to talk about their jobs. We are particularly interested in parents who work in fields such as Science, Technology, Creative Arts, Earth Care and Conservation.
If you would be interested in helping us with this, please contact Mrs Hoey on khoey@castlecourt.com.
Mr Mills runs Karate & SelfDefence classes for children and adults aged 7 and up (Y3+) on Saturday mornings 9.50am–11:20am in the Sports Hall. He also runs Little Ninjas for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 from 9am-9.45am. For more information or to book a free try-out session, please contact him on bdemills@yahoo.co.uk, bmills@castlecourt.com or on 07801730097.
British Science Week Poster Competition
As part of British Science Week, there is a poster competition for all primary aged children on this year’s theme of ‘Adapt and Change’.
This could be animals adapting to changing habitats, humans adapting to new technologies…
If your child would like to take part, please see the details at using this link.
Year 6 went out on Bikeability, using the local roads in Corfe Mullen to hone their cycling skills.
Year 3 were entranced by the world of chameleons as discussed with Miss Sinclair-Smith in Art…
Coin Club continues to go from strength to strength. The attendees (and Mr Edmond!) are here for all your numismatic needs and would be happy to hear from any parents with an interest in coins or who have collections that need appraising.
What a way to end the week! Thank you to all parents who came along for a hot drink, cake, or biscuit this morning as part of our Valentine’s celebrations.
Thank you also to Mrs Robson and Mrs Bee for putting it all together, and the wonderful Chef Mike and his team for the delicious goodies.
Save the Dates: Spring Term 2025
Parents’ Evenings
Years 3 &4: Thurs 27 Feb
Year 5: Tues 4 March
Year 6: Thurs 13 March
Year 7: Mon 17 March
Year 8: TBC
Trips
Easter:
The Easter break will run from Monday 31 March. All children should return to school on Wednesday 23 April.
Performing Arts
Spring Term Performing Arts Presentation will be held on Monday 10 March at 4.30pm.
The Years5-8 Spring Concert will take place on Tuesday 18 March from 4:30pm.
Year 4 will perform ‘Wind in the Willows’ to parents on Wednesday 26 March at 2.30pm.
The Senior Play will be held on Thursday 3 July at 6pm.
CCSCommunity
Choir
EveryTuesdayat Family8:35aminthe EveryoneLounge!welcome!
Year 4 - Tutankhamun Museum - Thursday 27 February
Reception - Compton AcresThursday 13 March
Year 1 - East Dorset MuseumTuesday 18 March
Theme Weeks!
Book Week - from Monday 3 March
British Science Week - from Monday 10 March
World Book Day: This will be on Thursday 6 March
Red Nose Day: This will be on Friday 21 March
Keep an eye out for more information!
Easter Craft
Parents are invited into school for an Easter Craft session in the Art studio with their child.
Year 2 - Tuesday 18th March, 2.20-3.pm Year 1 - Tuesday 25th March, 2.20-3pm Please park in the car park outside Pre-Prep and walk down to the Art Studio.
February Half-Term
For further information regarding cricket sessions, please go to any social media platform and search @Dorsetcricket. This should take you straight to the sign up forms too.
Blandford Fashion Museum are having a Board Games Day on Friday 21 February - come and play board games from through the ages! It will run from 11am-12.30pm and from 1-3.30pm. No booking is needed.
If you are interested in booking a space on the Multi-Activity Club at Lytchett Minster School for February half-term, please contact them on: kirsty@starscorporateltd.co.uk.
Paul Manning will run a Football Clinic at school over half-term. Email manning_ paul_@hotmail.com to find out more!
To tie in with their migration festival, Carey’s will be screening the film Migration during half term. To book tickets, click on the poster or HERE.
Broadstone Tennis Club are offering tennis camps from Monday to Wednesday, 9am to 12:30pm, for children aged 5 to 16. For more information, use the link HERE or click on the poster.
For even more ideas, please see the Muddy Stilettos website!
Artists of the Week
This week’s Artists of the Week come from Year 8, where the children have been looking at the the art of self-portraiture, with a particular focus on specific features.
Well done to Elodie, Myles, Hattie, Conrad and Tye for these fantastic eye drawings!
Conrad Hattie
Elodie
Myles
Tye
Sugarcraft Club
Our resident sugracrafters, under the watchful and very talented eye of Mrs Glenn, have been learning how to make Freesia bouquets this week - we’re sure you’ll agree that the results are absolutely stunning. Huge thanks to Mrs Glenn for her time and efforts in running this club.
Year 8 Trip to Canford Resource Centre
Ms Thompson, Mrs Hoey and Mr Edmond took Year 8 to the Resource Centre at Canford in order to complete research for use in their PSPQ projects. The project qualification is an opportunity for us to explicitly teach and model the skill needed to complete an extended project. Canford School kindly hosted us once again as we explored how to undertake research, understanding different resources, how libraries work and Harvard referencing. This is all part of our futures-focused education.
Years 6 and 7 Theatre Trip
Years 6 and 7 visited the Lighthouse Theatre in Poole today to see a production of Floella Benjamin’s story “Coming to England”. This was a great opportunity to see a love performance from a professional theatre company and also gave children the chance to explore issues such as racism, hope and determination, which we will now follow up in English, History, CAVE and tutor times.
Bryanston School Orchestral Day
Our Director of Music, Mr Smith, was delighted to take a selection of pupils to Bryanston School this week to take part in their Orchestral Day. The children were great ambassadors for us as a school and relished the opportunity that this day afforded them. A huge thank you to Bryanston for their hospitality and sharing their expertise.
Looking ahead to the Summer Term
The Summer Term starts for children on Wednesday 23 April
Prep Sports Day will be held on Friday 27 June
Years 6-8 Swimming Gala will be held on Monday 9 June at 2pm
The Years 3 and 4 Summer Concert will be held in the Hall at 9am on Wednesday 25 June
The Senior Play will be performed to parents at 6pm on Thursday 3 July
Pre-Prep Sports Day will be held on Friday 4 July from 9am
Activity Weeks
Please pencil in 12-16 May for our annual off-timetable Activity Week for Years 3-8 pupils.For pupils in Years 5-8 there will be a residential component to the week. Pupils in Years 3-4 will have a programme of activities in school and out, with their annual overnight camp scheduled for later in June. Further details will follow!
Years 3-5 Swimming Gala will be held on Tuesday 10 June at 2pm
The Year 8 PSPQ Exhibition will be open to parents from 8.30am on Thursday 12 June.
The PSPQ Presentations will take place from 6pm that evening.
The Summer Term ends with Speech Day on Wednesday 9 July
Move Up Morning for children in current Years 2 to 7 will take place on Tuesday 8 July.
New Events for this year:
Friday 6 June - Family Fun Day!
Please look out for more information on this; planning is well underway and it looks set to be an amazing event.
Wednesday 11 June at 6pm
The Handlebards - a Shakespeare Company - are performing Much Ado about Nothing. More information will follow in due course.
Please note that this far ahead, the dates and times listed are subject to change.
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
Year 8
Contact Us
Class Teachers / Form Tutors
Mrs Brewer | Mrs Speer
Mrs Dobson | Mrs Zachariades
Mr Antell | Mrs Glenn
Mrs Baugniet | Mr Bambrey
Dr Lippiatt/Mrs Deards | Mr Laidler
Mr Mills/Mrs Vivian | Mrs Miller/Miss Sinclair-Smith
Mrs Rule/Mrs Major | Mr Fermor-Dunman/Mrs Hoey
Mr Jordan/Mrs Harmer | Mrs Lea/Mr Cheadle
Mr Phillips/Ms Thompson | Mrs Gallop/Mr Smith
Section Leaders:
Pre-Prep Mr Antell
Years 3&4 Mr Laidler
Years 5&6 Mrs Munns
Years 7&8 Ms Thompson
Heads of Department:
English Ms Thompson
Maths Mrs Miller
Science Mrs Gallop
History
CAVE
Mrs Rule
Mrs Hoey
Music Mr Smith
Geography Mrs Hoey
Sport Mr Fermor-Dunman
DT Mr Phillips
Art Miss Sinclair-Smith
SENDCo Mrs Harmer
To report an absence, please call the Office on 01202 694438, or send us an email.
Nursery:
Badger Cubs Mrs Genge | Mrs Tomblin
Badgers Mrs Bartlett | Mrs Wilson
The Nursery Manager is Miss Hixson
Mr Dunsford
Leadership Team:
Assistant Head (Pastoral)
Mr Edmond Assistant Head (Operations)
Mrs Hoey Head of CAVE
Mrs Munns Director of Teaching & Learning
Mr Norris Bursar
Mrs Robson Admissions and Marketing
Your first point of contact for day to day questions and enquiries related to your child(ren) is their tutor or class teacher.
If you wish to make an appointment to see Mrs Johnson, please email hmsec@castlecourt.com
