5 MAY 2025
Message from the Head of Prep
Year 5 began the week with a fascinating trip to Bushy Park as part of their Science work. The boys were buzzing about the discoveries they had made and were complimented on their enthusiasm and manners.
We were blessed with sunshine for our whole school photo on Wednesday morning. It was a momentous occasion in that it featured our Nursery children right the way through to our Year 11 cohort, who have just started their study leave.
On that note, thank you to everyone for their consideration in avoiding the Sports Hall on days when exams are timetabled. Please join me in wishing the very best of luck to all of our Year 11 boys as they sit their GCSE examinations.
Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 have all been involved with cricket matches this week, producing some great individual and team performances. Good luck to our Under 10 and Under 11 teams for this weekend’s fixtures against Danes Hill and to all of our swimmers competing in the ESSA Regional Round.
Mr Heaver
Year 5 Field Studies Trip to Bushy Park
The boys had a wonderful day learning new techniques to help them investigate invertebrates, classify the animals and, most excitingly, pond dipping. It was a fantastic day and the boys were keen to share their experiences on our return to school.
Here is an account by Basty and Henry:
On Tuesday, Year 5 went to Bushy Park on a school science field trip. We started off by playing a fun game; the whole year group went into a field and had to guess which colour of worm (actually coloured strings) was the most populous. It helped us learn about camouflage. Afterwards we went looking for bugs in a field and a wood and used lots of different techniques like log-rolling and netskimming. After lunch, Year 5 went pond dipping and someone found a tadpole, lots of insect larvae, a leech and a water scorpion. Henry said “The trip was spectacular and I wish I could go again.”
Year 4 Trip to New Barn Farm
The Year 4 pupils spent the first three days of last week on their residential trip to New Barn Field Centre, a 20acre nature reserve in Dorset. They stayed in a refurbished 18th century farmstead and enjoyed a wide variety of exciting activities.
On Monday, they did some orienteering; met some animals including goats, sheep, pigs and tortoises; built their own shelters; and learnt about fire lighting in a bush craft session.
On Tuesday, they took part in some Living History activities including making butter, grinding grain and making medicines using natural ingredients. They learnt about the Iron Age and the Roman occupation of Britain and were able to try on some real armour. They enjoyed a barbeque evening meal and sang camp fire songs.
On Wednesday, they walked to Maiden Castle, enjoyed a picnic lunch and then departed on their return journey to school. They returned tired but happy on Wednesday afternoon.
The trip was a great success and the boys were a credit to the school.
Here is Oscar’s account of the residential:
Monday 28th April
When we arrived we went to our rooms and then we went orienteering. It was really fun! Dinner was DELICIOUS! We had spaghetti bolognaise and rocky road for pudding.
Tuesday 29th April
Today we had a Celt and Roman day. I made a Roman coin by hammering onto a piece of metal. I also made a chalk carving. We had a BBQ and sung songs around the fire. We had a talent show and I was a magician!
Wednesday 30th April
Today we had breakfast in the dining hall and went straight for a 2 hour hike. We walked to Maiden Castle which had lots of pathways to trick Roman soldiers. The wrong pathway had a trap! We had lunch there and then went on the bus home.
Mrs Conlan and Miss Fagan
Year 3 are conducting an experiment in Science this half term linked to their current topic of plants.
Each class planted 1 seed in a pot, 2 seeds in another pot, 4 seeds in a third pot and 8 seeds in the final pot. We made sure it was a fair test by keeping the pots, soil and water exactly the same.
The children predicted what might happen and they will monitor and measure the growth of the seedlings over the next few weeks to see if their predictions are right.
Mrs Sinclair
Year 2 loved creating their own Blitz pictures. They learnt to create a wash of chosen colours and designed their own silhouettes of London. They enjoyed adding their own details to create these dramatically unique pictures to depict the Blitz during World War Two. They were very proud of their pictures.
Mrs Stefano and Mrs Carpenter
The cricket season continues to be a busy period with fixtures taking place every day this week. Our U10s took on Rokeby on Friday, with the A team also playing and winning on Saturday against Shrewsbury House. On Tuesday, our U11s had a block fixture against Downsend. Our U8s had matches against Rokeby yesterday and Downsend this afternoon. Two U10 teams play against Shrewsbury House tomorrow and U11s against Danes Hill. The U11A team participates in the Geoff Richards Trophy today at St Georges. In tennis, our U9s played away at Parkside this afternoon. Best of luck to our U11 swimming team who are taking part in the ESSA Regionals tomorrow at the Guildford Spectrum.
Summer
Sports Camps at Cranmore
Please see flyer and use the links below for more information:
https://www.talentedathleteacademy.com
https://lionssports.academy/bookingpage/School-Camp/Cranmore-School
Mr Hodgson, Director of Sport
A Message from our Chaplaincy Team
This Week
Reading
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.’
‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
Reflection
As I sit and write this week’s Chaplaincy Pages, the Conclave has just started. I am sure that as you read this a new Pope will have been chosen. Chosen by God and chosen for His Church. It is quite a job, quite a role, quite a vocation. May he be a person of peace and full of God’s Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus
Help us to live in the joy of Easter and to carry this joy to others. We pray for our new Pope. May you guide and bless him in his role. May he reveal your face to us and strengthen us in the pilgrimage we are on.
Amen
