Pre-Prep and Prep Weekly Bulletin - 16 June 2023

Head of Prep School’s Message

Ms Kate Umpleby

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Whilst Year 3 and Year 5 were enjoying their residentials a few weeks ago, I wrote of relationship building, resilience and self-confidence. As you know, our mission at Habs is to empower our students to have a profound impact on the world, and thus the development of leadership skills is essential. The immersive nature of residential trips provides a unique environment for children to learn and practise the essential qualities required for effective leadership.

Collaboration is a key aspect of leadership, and residential trips offer numerous opportunities for students to work together towards common goals. Whether it is participating in team-building activities, solving challenges, or organising group tasks, students learn the importance of teamwork and how to leverage individual strengths for collective success.

Residential trips also foster respect among students. They often involve working with others they don’t typically work with in school, encouraging acceptance and appreciation of individual differences. Students learn to value and respect their peers’ perspectives, abilities and contributions, cultivating empathy and compassion, enabling young leaders to understand and support others’ needs and experiences.

Communication skills are fundamental to effective leadership, and residential trips provide an ideal setting for their development. Students engage in various activities that require clear and assertive communication, such as giving directions, expressing ideas and resolving conflicts. Through these experiences, children gain confidence in articulating their thoughts, actively listening to others and adapting their communication style to different situations.

Of course, residentials are also about having fun with friends, late night chats and silly games – but much learning happens alongside.

Reception to Year 6 Information

Lunch Menus WEEK COMMENCING 19 JUNE

Click here to view the Pre-Prep lunch menu.

Click here to view the Prep lunch menu.

After School Care Facility

BOOKING LINK

Please click here to book your child into After School Care.

Habs Boys Summer Fair

SATURDAY 1 JULY

New!

Please click here to view information about the Habs Boys Summer Fair.

Bonjour! Hola! 你好!

New!

We are very excited to announce the appointment of Ms Julie King, the very first Head of Languages at the Prep School.

From September, Ms King will build on the fantastic work of Mrs Ali Lock, who has kindly stepped in at various points over the last three years to ensure our Prep students have never missed out on languages provision. Mrs Lock will be missed by students and colleagues alike.

From September students in Reception, Years 1 and 2 will have weekly French lessons. Years 3 to 5 will have weekly Spanish lessons and Year 6 will have weekly Mandarin lessons.

Information about Habs Girls Car Park

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please click here to view information on the Habs Girls car park redevelopment. Parents only dropping off at the Boys’ School, please park in Boys’ School car park. The Girls’ School car park refurb will cause disruptions to drop-off.

Habs Boys Summer Fair – an Update!

Thank you to all those who have brought in their filled pots for the tombola. They look absolutely fantastic. If you have your pot still at home, we are collecting as many as possible so please encourage your child to fill them up and bring them in to reception. If your pot never made it home (or was broken) you can use any plastic pot you have and we will try and leave some extra ones at Prep reception next week. On the day of the fair, all these pots will be prizes on our tombola.

Separately, we will very shortly be collecting any books (in good condition) that you would like to pass on for our second hand book stall and also any used sports equipment for our second hand sports equipment stall. If you have used tennis rackets, footballs, rugby balls, cricket bats, hockey sticks, etc, keep them for the Guild and we will announce where to drop them off shortly. Thank you to Years 3 to 6 for helping us run some stalls on the day of the Fair. Your class reps are pulling together a list and we are truly grateful for all your support. If you have registered your interest via the Guild email address to help, we will be in touch with you very shortly

Finally, tickets for the inflatables and stalls will be on sale shortly, alongside raffle tickets and our silent auction.

We are excited to welcome parents and guardians to our Pre-Prep Sports Day!

Thursday 22 June 2023

9.30am to 12 noon

Pre-Prep Sports Day

Save the date

Summer Concert

Years 3 to 6

WEDNESDAY 5 JULY, 2PM TO 3PM

We are delighted to welcome parents and guardians to attend the Years 3 to 6 Summer Concert on Wednesday 5 July from 2pm to 3pm in the Bourne Hall. Refreshments will be available from 1.30pm. Please park on Pitch 5 on arrival. Please click here to confirm your child’s going home arrangements after the concert.

Year 3 to Year 6 Information

Warm Weather

With the weather forecast continuing to look increasingly warm over the next few weeks, please do provide your child with a water bottle during the school day. They can fill their water bottle up at school once it is empty. Please also provide your child with suncream and a hat as appropriate that they can wear during break time. The suncream will need to be applied at home before the start of the school day as required and can be topped up at school. If you have any concerns, then please do contact your child’s form tutor.

Gardening Club

WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE

Please note, Gardening Club will only run on Wednesday 21 June for the remainder of the term.

Battle of the Bands Competition

THURSDAY 22 JUNE

We warmly invite all pupils to enter our 2023 Prep Battle of the Bands Competition! Taking place on Thursday 22 June from 1.30pm to 3pm in the Seldon Hall, the finals will be held in front of an audience comprising pupils and families of the finalists.

To enter, bands must submit a recorded performance of their piece by Saturday 10 June and can do so by clicking here. The padlet link will also be available on the pupils’ Teams page.

Rules for entering are as follows:

a) Bands must have a minimum of two members and pupils can choose their own bands

b) The band must have a band name which is posted with their entry

c) The band can either cover or arrange a pre-existing song or compose their own

d) All preparation and rehearsals must take place out of school hours by arrangement with parents and guardians of band members

e) Finalists can wear school uniform or band costumes/outfits

The final is always a highly entertaining and memorable occasion. We look forward to hearing your children’s entries and thank you in advance for your help and support given to facilitating rehearsals.

We are excited to welcome parents and guardians to our Prep Sports Day!

Wednesday 28 June 2023

Please click here for more information.

Prep Sports Day

Save the date

Reception

Pre-Prep Summer Production

FRIDAY 30 JUNE

We warmly invite you to our Pre-Prep Summer Production on Friday 30 June at 2pm in the Seldon Hall. Doors will open and refreshments will be served from 1.30pm in the Seldon Hall foyer. Please do not arrive before 1.30pm. Due to limited hall capacity tickets are limited to two per child.

Year 1

Knebworth House Trip

FRIDAY 23 JUNE

Please click here for a letter regarding the upcoming trip to Knebworth House.

Pre-Prep Summer Production

FRIDAY 30 JUNE

We warmly invite you to our Pre-Prep Summer Production on Friday 30 June at 2pm in the Seldon Hall. Doors will open and refreshments will be served from 1.30pm in the Seldon Hall foyer. Please do not arrive before 1.30pm. Due to limited hall capacity tickets are limited to two per child.

Year 2

Whipsnade Zoo Trip

WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE

Please click here to read a letter regarding an upcoming trip to Whipsnade Zoo.

Pre-Prep Summer Production

FRIDAY 30 JUNE

We warmly invite you to our Pre-Prep Summer Production on Friday 30 June at 2pm in the Seldon Hall. Doors will open and refreshments will be served from 1.30pm in the Seldon Hall foyer. Please do not arrive before 1.30pm. Due to limited hall capacity tickets are limited to two per child.

Year 3

Instrumental Scheme Concert

MONDAY 19 JUNE

We welcome all parents, guardians and family of Year 3 children to the Year 3 Instrumental Scheme concert which will take place on Monday 19 June at 2.15pm to 3.30pm in the Seldon Hall. Parking is available in the North Drive car park.

Year 4

Year 5 Induction Evening

THURSDAY 29 JUNE

Please click here for information regarding the Year 5 Induction Evening on Wednesday 29 June.

Year 5

Joint Year 5 Performance Group Showcase Reminder

THURSDAY 29 JUNE

Parents and guardians of those attending the Joint Year 5 Performance Group are welcome to attend the Showcase which will take place on Thursday 29 June at 4.15pm in the Girls School Prevett Hall.

Instrumental Scheme Concert

MONDAY 19 JUNE

We welcome all parents, guardians and family of Year 5 children to the Year 5 Instrumental Scheme concert which will take place on Monday 19 June at 9.30am to 10.45am in the Seldon Hall. Parking is available in the North Drive car park.

Year 6

Year 6 Yearbook

To commemorate your child’s time here at the Prep, we are in the process of creating a yearbook. We hope this yearbook will be a wonderful keepsake for the future and an opportunity for your child to reflect fondly on their time at Habs Prep.

The yearbook will be created in house. Each student will complete a short biography on their time at the Prep to go alongside their photograph(s). For your child to feature, please click here to give your consent. Each pupil will receive a yearbook at the Year 6 Leavers’ Prize Giving.

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Miss Palmer (palmer_r@habsboys.org.uk).

PREP SPORTS FIXTURES

MONDAY 19 JUNE Year 5 Cricket and Tennis

v Highgate (Away)

TUESDAY 20 JUNE Year 4 Cricket v St John’s (Home)

MONDAY 26 JUNE Year 5 Cricket v Radlett (Away)

TUESDAY 27 JUNE Year 4 Cricket v Radlett (Away)

WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE Years 3 to 6 Sports Day

THURSDAY 29 JUNE Year 3 Cricket v St Johns (Away)

FRIDAY 30 JUNE Year 6 Cricket and Tennis

v Highgate (Away)

MONDAY 3 JULY * Year 5 Tennis Tournament

* Selected pupils will be invited to participate via Evolve

PRE-PREP CALENDAR DATES

WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE Year 2 Whipsnade Zoo Trip

THURSDAY 22 JUNE

CHANGE OF TIME: Pre-Prep Sports Day (9.30am to 12pm)

FRIDAY 23 JUNE Year 1 Knebworth Trip

THURSDAY 29 JUNE Summer Production Rehearsals

FRIDAY 30 JUNE Summer Production (Seldon Hall)

THURSDAY 6 JULY Summer Term Ends

For further dates, please refer to the school calendar on Firefly.

PREP CALENDAR DATES

MONDAY 19 JUNE ABRSM Exam Week

Year 5 Instrumental Scheme Concert (9.30am to 10.45am)

Year 3 Instrumental Scheme Concert (2.15pm to 3.30pm)

THURSDAY 22 JUNE

Years 3 to 6 Battle of the Bands (1.30pm to 3pm)

WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE

Years 3 to 6 Sports Day

THURSDAY 29 JUNE

Year 4 Induction Evening into Year 5

SATURDAY 1 JULY Habs Boys Summer Fair

WEDNESDAY 5 JULY Year 6 Commendation and Prize Giving (10am to 12pm)

Year 3 to Year 6 Summer Concert (2pm to 3pm)

THURSDAY 6 JULY Summer Term Ends

For further dates, please refer to the school calendar on Firefly.