At the close of the penultimate week of term, the girls have competed in a hockey trio at Royal Russell last Saturday coming 1st; a gymnastic competition at Seaton House, gaining some well earned 1st and 2nd place victories; played netball against Halstead St Andrews and hockey against Notre Dame.
Eight Prep School girls visited Chichester Cathedral on Wednesday as part of the school’s Schola Cantorum choir and sang the Evening Service. It was a truly spectacular venue filled with emotive harmonies in the beautiful, dare I say angelic, singing of our choir.
Thursday saw you all turn out for the Prep Carol Service, which proved a second helping (for me) of beautiful singing as the Drama Club unfolded to us the narrative of the Nativity, accompanied by the poignant carols, poems and advent songs sung by Chamber Choir and each Year Group in turn. My thanks to Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. G for leading and supporting the girls in delivering a service that was a blessing to all.
I leave you to enjoy the rest of this bulletin and the week ahead, contemplating - from our Carol Service – the places in you life this week where you can be more: brave, kind, loving and hopeful!
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined."
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead, Gareth Tindall
Y5 Museum of Egyptology
Year 5 invite you to visit their 'Museum of Egyptology' on Wednesday 10th December in the Senior Library. The girls will be showcasing the projects they have chosen to research and will be keen to talk to visitors about their learning. Please come and join us to see some 'wonderful things!'
Christmas Jumpers - Friday 12th December
We would like to invite the girls to wear a ‘Christmas jumper’ with their own choice of clothes (if they would like to) on Friday 12th December. This is the last day of term, so it would help us all to get into the festive spirit for our Christmas lunch and afternoon activities.
Pastoral Pause
Here is Chris Tomlin’s ‘Noel’ to listen to throughout the week: https://youtu.be/aBZ6Lqx1OHk
Part of me wants to leave it there. I would have that song on repeat this next two week’s as motivation for being brave, being kind, being loving and being hope-filled.
In the Advent story, we have: Love incarnate: love divine; Born as a child; Voices calling: Come and see what God has done… the light of the world, given for us; Son of God and Son of Man; Born to Suffer; Born to Save; Born to raise us from the grave (of our lives we have tried so hard to carve out for ourselves); The Story of Amazing Love
God Bless You,
Gareth Tindall
Key Dates 2025 - 26
As outlined in the Parent Handbook, and reiterated at the Parent Welcome Reception, there are three key dates in the school calendar that are compulsory for all the girls to attend. This is to help them understand the importance of team work and collaborative responsibility as these are events where they are all involved and need to support each other. These dates are as follows:
Spring Concert Thursday 12th March, 18.30 to 19.30
Prep School Prize Giving Thursday 2nd July, 19.00 to 20.00
We would be grateful if you could keep these dates free so that all girls can be present at these important community events.
Please remember to check your inbox, including your junk/spam, as the email may go to your junk box the first time it is sent.
If you have any questions please email prepinfo@st-teresas.com
Christmas Post Box
We will be running a Christmas post service for the children. If the girls would like to send cards to their friends they should write the name of the recipient and their class clearly on the front of the envelope. The cards will be delivered at the end of term.
NoTeacher Led Clubs 8th—12th December
Please be informed that there will be no teacher led after school clubs running during the last week of term. All other paid for clubs and groups will go ahead usual . Pupils will have the opportunity to complete their homework during Study time and can attend After School Care from 4:15 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Thursday. On Friday, 12th December, collection will be at 15:45 & 16:15 PM. Please note that there will be no After School Care provided on the last day of term.
Ordering photographs in time for Christmas Delivery
Gillman & Soame photographed your daughters earlier this term. If you’d like your photos in time for Christmas, please place your order as soon as possible. If you’ve lost your login details, contact Gillman & Soame at action@gillmanandsoame.co.uk or 01869 328200, quoting your child’s name and the security password stteresasgby2025.
Thank you for ordering promptly!
Open Book Dates 2026 - 26
We will be holding Open Book Mornings for each Year Group starting in the Spring Term. This is an opportunity for your daughters to show you their books and their classrooms.
Year 5 - 28/01/26
Year 6 - 04/02/26
Refreshments will be served from 8.15am 08.30 - 08.55am in the Year Group Classrooms
Class Assembly Dates 2025 - 26
25/02/2 - 6MK
25/03/26 - 5AB 29/04/26 - 5HT
At 8.30am in the Senior Library
Refreshments will be served from 8.15am
Golden Book
Well done to all of the girls in our Golden Books this week:
5AB Flossie H for her effort in Maths to apply her knowledge of the times tables to compare fractions.
Lulu for great participation and contributions to our discussions.
Isabelle C for her excellent vocabulary choices when building tension in narrative writing.
5HT Florence E-N for the enthusiasm you have shown throughout our Ancient Egyptian topic and the detail you have given in all the tasks.
Hollie G for your attention to detail in Maths and a fantastic times table score in our recent gig.
6RG Layla B for her fantastic attitude and development of paragraphs when writing her non report on Antarctica. Keep it up!
Eden May O’K chronological report on Antarctica.
6MK Megan S for her cheerful nature and for her kindness and willingness to help out around the classroom. Carys D and Abby VR for their expertly crafted, engaging and well written non chronological reports on Antarctica.
Drama Stars
Year 5: Monica Hall for her confidence and eloquence performing in the Carol Service.
Year 6: Maggie M for being so reliable in remembering her lines and being in the right place on stage at the right time.
Golden Drama Star: Daisy B for stepping into the role of Mary with only a matter of minutes notice.
Scientist of the Week
Year 5: Charlotte E for her great work on day and night.
Arabella N for her enthusiasm and contributions to our current topic.
Year 6: Thea S for her excellent homework on circuits this week.
Sienna D-N for her excellent class work on renewable energy and circuits.
FOST 2nd HAND UNIFORM SHOP
Submission forms are under FOST 2nd hand uniform on the St Ts website: Second-hand Uniform Shop
REMINDER: CASH or CHEQUE only please for the foreseeable future.
Open Fridays 8.30am-9am and First Saturday of every month 10:30am 11.00am by appointment only:
Please contact Wendy or Camilla: Fostuniform@gmail.com
Tips for Tiny
Well done to all those that took part in planning the party for Tiny – he was very appreciative! They were asked to plan different elements of the party, including food, drinks and even organise the timings. In addition, the girls were asked to give the party a name and suggest any other ideas to make it the best possible party. name suggestions were: Tiny's Pop Party, Mathematic World and Tiny's Timed Party. To enhance the party, some girls suggested that there should be the limbo, dodge ball, banners and confetti - all excellent suggestions.
Many girls entered the competition, but the winners were Amelia H, Bea St-G, Jessica S and Jemima H, Well done!
Estimating toys in a jar.
A popular competition during Maths Week was the estimating task to guess the number of items in a jar. The correct answer was...57! Well done to everyone that guessed a number close to 57, but particularly Amelia, H Rosalind D and Isla S.
Primary Mathematics Challenge
Last week, the girls in Year 6 and a small group from Year 5 took part in the PMC. They faced a range of problems covering many different areas of Mathematics. The questions often asked for several steps to be carried out and required application of understanding of multiple topics. All of the girls worked really hard. Well done to everyone that took part, especially those girls that achieved Bronze, Silver or Gold certificates.
Art Club
In Art club, the girls have created their own festive picture ready to decorate their homes. Using water colours and oil pastels, they made bold and effective bauble pictures.
The Year 6 girls are feeling very proud of the non-chronological reports they’ve written about Antarctica. They were encouraged to present their facts in creative ways, using clear subheadings, bullet points, and a range of interesting fronted adverbials to link their ideas effectively.
Music News
Musician of the Week
In a week filled with musical performances and drawing towards the end of an extremely productive term it’s simply not possible to highlight one Musician of the Week. I am so proud of every single one of the girls - they are shining stars, every one.
Carol Service Rehearsals
Years 5 and 6, and the Chamber Choir had their final rehearsals for the Carol Service this week, brushing up the words (and annunciation), polishing their harmonies with careful listening and focussing on dynamics, expression and phrasing. The rehearsals focussed on stage management, choreography, presentation and projection and we reflected on the significant difference we all feel when we move from our rehearsal space into a performance environment. It was a joy to hear all the hard work coming together for a wonderful evening of music making, celebration and reflection.
Year 5
Amidst all the carolling, Year 5 also spent some time learning about the role of music in Ancient Egyptian culture, Hathor and Ihy - the Gods of music, and some of the musical instruments that were played. This has contributed to their Topic projects this half term. Needless to say, the ukulele classes have been dominated by festive tunes!
Year 6
In keyboard classes we’ve continued working on recognising, reading and playing traditional pitch notation in the treble clef, with some girls moving onto bass clef notation. In their last full music lesson of 2025, Year 6 put together performances of Carol of the Bells featuring chime bars, xylophones and boomwhackers. What a festive treat and such impressive collaboration from all the girls!
Orchestra
By popular request, this week, the orchestra jingled their metaphorical bells throughout their rehearsal and we tried some different instrument partnerships (violin with trumpet and violin with flute) to strengthen the melodic and harmonic lines.
Carol Service
On Thursday evening, our Prep School gathered for a truly magical Carol Service that captured the spirit of the season. The event featured a stunning performance of Noel by the School’s Musical Company, including beautiful carols, thoughtful readings, dramatic presentations, and heartfelt reflections. Every girl performed with confidence and grace, making the evening a memorable celebration of talent and teamwork. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, reminding us all of the true meaning of Christmas – a time for hope, peace, and joy. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special occasion. It was a wonderful way to begin the festive season!
Good Luck!
Wishing the very best of luck to Sofia A, Florence E-N, Jemima H and Ania S in their ABRSM graded instrumental exams.
Sport News
Hockey Champions alert!
The U11A hockey team dominated their tournament at Royal Russell this Saturday. The U11 squad delivered an energetic performance this week, showing great teamwork, improving positional play, and strong skating throughout their games.
U11B Player of the Match: Maggie M and U11D Player of the Match: Isla M.
Netball: U10 A-D v’s Halstead St Andrews
Well done to the U10’s for playing netball in the cold against Halstead St Andrews! All teams worked really hard and it was great to see some driving into space to receive the ball. U10A Player of the Match Monica H, U10B Player of the Match Olivia H, U10C/D Player of the Match Lily
Santa Fun Run—Monday 8th December
Please join us for the annual Santa Fun Run on Monday 8th December at 8:30am. Festive wear is welcome!
Gymnastics
A group of Year 5 & 6 girls travelled to Seaton House on Monday evening for a gymnastics competition. The girls have been practicing a routine for a few weeks which they had to perform in front off an audience. It was a fantastic evening with some great results: Year 5 Team: 2nd place. Individually, Scarlett S 2nd place.
Year 6 Team: 1st place.
Individually, Abby V-R & Thea B H 1st place. Merry Christmas from the PE Department
J.
STETERM ENDSTHIS FRIDAY 5th DECEMBER
It has been a lively end to the Equestrian Termly lessons with 40mph winds whipping through the barn and arena on Monday. It’s been a good opportunity to understand how the horses react in these conditions and how to manage their behaviour.
We will be running some ad hoc/make-up lessons on Monday and Wednesday but for those of you who we won’t see before the end of term, we wish you all a very happy and restful Christmas.
Percival the Elf is on the move … check our Facebook page to follow his adventures and see where he wanders...
This Week
Bible Reading
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Reflection
We continue through this season Advent we are in a time of waiting. Pausing. Expecting. In our busy world and busy lives it is easy for us to become impatient.The traffic on the roads, the length of the queue at the post office. Many things can challenge our patience. We want things done now, quickly, in a hurry.Yet Advent reminds us that good things take time.We should be patient with ourselves, with those around us and with how God answers our prayers. Look at how in nature things grow slowly it grows. Good things take time. God is at work.Within us and in our lives slowly and deliberately piecing it together. This Advent, let us wait on Him and allow Him to do His work.
Prayer
My loving Jesus, May we chooseYou, this Advent, as our King and God. May we abandon ourselves toYou and seek to put all our trust inYour tender care. Draw us close toYou and free us from all things that separate us from you.Amen Amen.
“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.”
– St.André Bessette
Spring Term Group Sessions
ESTA is delighted to be accepting bookings for group lessons during the Spring term.
Sessions will run from Tuesday 6th January through to Friday 27th March (11 weeks).
Group sessions will run at the following times:
Y5 - Wednesdays @ 4:15-5:15pm
Y6 - Mondays @ 4:15-5:15pm
Performance Group (invitational) - Wednesdays @ 6:15-7:45pm
Please contact Kirsti to book your child’s place at esta@effinghamschools.org
ESTA also offers private coaching for adults and children throughout the week.
We look forward to welcoming everyone on court during the Spring term!
Prep Clubs, SpringTerm 2026
MON
TUE
WED
Years 5 & 6, Netball Club
(7.50 - 8.20, Sp. H)
Orchestra, by invitation Grade 1+ standard)
Years 5 & 6, Hockey Goal Keeping Club
Years 5 & 6, Prayer Group (10.55 – 11.15)
Years 5 & 6, Netball Shooting Club
Year 5, Tennis Squad Practice (Invitational only, after half term)
