Issuu

Issue 9 Summer Term 26th June 2026

Dear Parents,

Dear, Dear parents,

I do not often struggle to find words while typing, they often come thick and fast, as they are beginning to do now

I have always attempted in my writing in this Prep newsletter to be reflective, honest and upbeat about the week behind and what lies ahead

The week (almost behind us) has been a challenge in so many ways Ordinarily, much of the week is scheduled as it has been for many-a-year into carefully defined rehearsal slots in preparation for our two evenings of production that bring the week to a glorious end Best laid plans

I would like to congratulate and thank the girls and the staff for keeping the learning, preparations and rehearsals going in a week full of change and so much heat��

I would like to thank you for your patience and generosity of spirit in light of difficult decision-making - several parents lending a helping hand with fans to keep girls cool; every parent reading my letter on Monday and delivering daughter’s to school with cold water, fans and cooling towels. Stepping in last minute on Thursday and Friday to collect girls early in the heat at 1:15pm and taking friends home with you too

Senior School co-operating with us to give us our audience for the changed dress rehearsal timings this morning , which went spectacularly smoothly and was very well received - you are in for a treat Thank you for your patience again in accepting the changes to timings for this evening and a new performance scheduled for Monday (which is ten degrees cooler��)

Only Moving Up Day (Y6) and Afternoon (Y5); Sports’ Day; Y6 Leavers’ Liturgy; Prize Giving and final day of the year to go and that will be a wrap

I look forward to seeing many of you later for a cool drink on a warm Mairlot Lawn prior to this evening’s performance of The Wizard of Oz.

Best wishes, Gareth Tindall

Pastoral Pause

Below are your challenges for this week ahead of the end of year:

Extra challenge: ask someone who knows you well to also sum up your life in 5 words; accept someone else’s light on your behalf; get rid of the device entirely (For how long? Is it even possible? I lived for half my life without one...the first half...)

Have a great weekend,

Gareth

GOLDEN BOOK

Well done to all of the girls in our Golden Books this week:

5AB

Kimberley C: For using good initiative during orchestra and for being a great help to Mrs G.

Arabella N: For her hard work and effort in our recent lessons about apostrophes.

5HT

Leila A and Florence E-N - For demonstrating inference skills during our English comprehension lesson and whilst reading our class text together, including providing evidence to justify their thoughts.

6MK & 6RG

All the girls in Year 6 for being so fantastic! For demonstrating resilience, keeping a positive and enthusiastic attitude whilst rehearsing the performance under exceptional conditions

We are very proud of you all!

SCIENCE STARS

Flossie H for her super engagement and valuable contributions to class discussion and Chioma for her spectacular life cycle knowledge

Butterfly release

Last weekend our caterpillars were busy undergoing metamorphosis. The caterpillar parts inside each chrysalis liquefied and re-arranged to become the cells, tissues and organs of a butterfly. When we arrived at school on Monday morning, they had already emerged!

When a butterfly is ready to emerge, it takes in air through tiny spiracles (tiny holes) in the chrysalis. This added intake of air pressure helps the butterfly split the chrysalis open. The butterfly will climb out of the split chrysalis with crumpled wings and then position itself, head upward, in a vertical position. Butterflies need time to rest and recover after their complex transformation. The butterfly will sway from side to side, forcing haemolymph (insect blood) into the veins of its wings in order to expand them to their full size. When a butterfly emerges, its tongue (or proboscis) begins as two long strands or halves that must be fused together. The two halves eventually join to form a tube-like tongue. The butterfly will use this tube to sip nectar. Our butterflies enjoyed oranges, flowers and sugary water.

On Tuesday our butterflies warmed up their wings in the morning sun and prepared themselves for their first long flight. Painted Lady Butterflies are the most widely distributed butterfly species in the world, making their home on every continent except Australasia and Antarctica. They are also extremely resourceful butterflies, able to live in a variety of environments, like marshes, mountains, fields and forests. Year 5 learnt that the Painted Lady is a migrating butterfly and can fly thousands of miles to find food. Keep your n your garden as they might just pay you a visit!

Pupil-Led Assemblies

This week we were treated to two pupil-led assemblies. Firstly, on Monday 22 June, Jemima, Jess A and Jess S treated us to an assembly all about dance. The girls demonstrated a wealth of understanding about styles, famous dancers and techniques, as well as treating us to two live performances of their own.

Well done girls!

Pupil-Led Assemblies

S dl T d 23 J , Megan S led assembly on everything she loves about tennis.

as a smashing assembly.

playing, watching, learning about its history and worldass inspirational players.

What was heartening about Megan’s assembly was not only the fact that she had prepared and presented it all on her, but that she fully engaged and enthused her audience captivating them with tennis history, fun facts like spectators eat the equivalent weight of four elephants in strawberries and cream each year at Wimbledon and tennis balls are yellow because they could be more easily seen on colour television when it was first invented! She even had Mr Tindall and Mrs Kearley play a f e French name ‘Jeu de paume ’ - handball which we play Kearley a clear winner!

Megan left us all with a lasting desire - whatever our age play some tennis!

Well done, Megan!!

You aced it!

SWIMMING ACHIEVEMENT!

Charlotte Evans was selec ted to represent Dorking Swimming Club in the Junior Arena League. She was proud to represent her club in both relays and individual races. She also recently swam a 400m freestyle and won gold in first place.

Summer Term, 2026 Key Diary Dates:

Year 6 Leavers’ Liturgy, Wednesday 1 July 2026

We are delighted to invite Year 6 families to celebrate their time at the Prep School with a special Leavers’ Liturgy. The service will take place in the Chapel at 2.30pm, followed by a cream tea and refreshments from 3 30pm in the school grounds

Parents are warmly welcome to attend both Please may you complete this form to confirm your attendance. Year 6 girls should wear their winter uniform with blazers for this occasion.

Key Dates 2026

As outlined in the Parent Handbook, and reiterated at the Parent Welcome

Reception, there are four 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.

The remaining dates for the Summer term are:

Summer Production: Friday, 26 June at 7:45 to 8:45 pm th & Monday, 29th June at 7:00 to 8:15 pm

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 events.

To help us anticipate numbers, please confirm your attendance he

Prep Clubs

There will be NO clubs for the final week of term ... with one exception: Wednesday, 1 July - Inspire Academy of Dance - catch-up class missed due to Year 5 Residential: 4:15 pm Ballet and 5:15 pm Street Dance

This week you have received the following communications on SchoolPost:

Paul Karensa author and prize-giving visit

Prep School

Hot Weather

New Date Wizard of Oz Production - 29 June 2026

Hot Weather Arrangements

Whole School

Hot Weather Update

Hot Weather Arrangements Update

Year 6 Life Lab Profit Supports Cancer Research UK

You may remember all the way back to the Spring Term when our Year 6 girls put on a fantastic LifeLab fair as young entrepreneurs. Their sales raised a whopping £849.21!!

Every year we donate this money to a charity close to the hearts of individuals in our community.

This year we donated the money to Cancer Research UK - a cause close to many of us who have faced loss due to cancer

Well - we actually donated the money in one special place and that was on the fundraising page of Mr Allen.

For those of you that don’t know, Mr Allen works in our IT department keeping everything ISAMs related ticking over for the school - all our reports, timetables, room bookings, information.

Mr Allen confesses to not being a runner prior to taking up this 10k challenge for this cause close to his own heart and went from couch to 10k. And thanks to our support he has raised over £1100 for cancer research AND completed the race on Sunday 21 June. st

Well done, Mr Allen!

A

reading from the Gospel of Matthew

Fear Not

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all numbered Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows ”

Ref lection

In this passage, Jesus speaks directly to the human heart: “Do not be afraid.” Three times He repeats this message, as if knowing how deeply fear can take root within us We fear rejection, suffering, misunderstanding, and even loss Yet Christ calls us to a different way a life grounded not in fear, but in trust. We all face fears, anxieties, and worries; it is part of our human experience But faith is the remedy. Knowing that Jesus is with us and that He loves us can give us the peace we need

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You know us completely and love us without measure. You see every detail of our lives, and You hold us gently in Your care.

When we are afraid, remind us of Your presence When we feel small or forgotten, help us remember that we are precious in Your sight.

Amen.

Get interested in Catholic Social Teaching

It’s HOT!

The horses have been enjoying having lots of cooling baths this week thanks to the children spending time showering them with hoses and buckets of water. Some of the horses also got to enjoy some apple bobbbing, which encourages them to stay hydrated and also provides mental stimulation.

NSEA NEWS

Congratulations to Rosie C who came 4 place in the 90cm Show Jumping National Championship Qualifier at Felbridge on 14 June. A fantastic result! th th

Sunday 28 June th

Open Morning 10am

Please join us for our Open Morning on Sunday 28 June at 10am. It’s a chance to meet the horses, learn more about what we have to offer at the Equestrian Centre and enjoy some refreshments The staff will also be putting on a ridden demonstration th Please RSVP

Prize Giving 11am

The Open Morning will be followed by our Annual Prize Giving As well as acknowledging the incredible achievements of all our riders, we will be revealing which of our horses/ponies has been nominated the STE pony/horse of 2026... as voted for by YOU!