Pre- Prep and Prep Weekly Bulletin - 7 July 2023

Head of Prep School’s Message

Ms K Umpleby

As we reach the end of my first year as Headteacher at Habs Prep School, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have embarked on together, the first ever Reception cohort, a new Pre-Prep building, the return of ‘normal’ trips and residentials, numerous musical opportunities, sporting challenges and academic endeavours. It has been a year filled with inspiring moments, courageous undertakings, and a strong sense of community.

Throughout this academic year, we have strived to instil a love of learning in our students, encouraging them to explore the world around them and nurture their innate curiosity. From experiencing the horrors and emotions of the WW2 trenches via virtual reality, to the sheer joy and excitement of observing a duckling and chick hatch whilst learning about lifecycles, our fantastic teachers have created engaging lessons that spark the imagination and encourage our young learners to ask questions, seek answers and challenge themselves.

Courage is a guiding principle at Habs Prep School and our students have demonstrated remarkable bravery in facing new challenges. Whether it was stepping onto the stage for the first time during a Lunchtime Live performance, participating in a challenging sports competition such as the Donkin Cup or presenting their ideas to their peers during a class discussion, our students have embraced these opportunities to grow and develop. By encouraging them to take risks and overcome their fears, we have empowered them to reach their full potential and develop resilience that will serve them well in the years to come.

The sense of community at Habs Prep School is truly something to be celebrated. Together, we have created an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported. During weekly assemblies, our students have come together to celebrate their achievements; through their support of the house charities, they have lent a helping hand to those in need and embraced the diversity that enriches our school. Through various house competitions, from houses singing together to tug-of-war, we have fostered a sense of belonging that strengthens our collective spirit and enables us to thrive as a community.

As we bid farewell to this academic year and embark on a well-deserved summer break, I urge you to continue nurturing the values of ambition and curiosity within your children. We have witnessed their incredible potential and have set high expectations for their future endeavours. Let us encourage them to dream big, reach for the stars and never settle for less than their best. With your continued support and our shared commitment to excellence, I am confident that our students will achieve great things in the years to come.

In closing, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you, our parents and guardians. Your unwavering support, trust and engagement have been instrumental in making this academic year a resounding success. I am honoured to be a part of this extraordinary community and look forward to many more years of collaboration.

Wishing you a restful and joyful summer holiday with your families. May it be filled with precious moments, new adventures and abundant happiness.

Reception to Year 6 Information

After School Care Facility

BOOKING LINK

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

Co-Curricular Clubs and Activities Autumn 2023

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All clubs and activities will commence from Monday 18 September, except for music lessons which will commence from Monday 11 September. The timetable will be shared with you during the first week of term along with further information regarding the sign-up process. Please encourage your child to become involved, but please also help them to keep a balance with their commitments. Year 3 will be assisted by their form teacher when making decision about which clubs to join.

Second Hand Uniform Message from the Parent Guild

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We operate a Habs uniform team who collect outgrown uniform. Thank you to everyone who has donated outgrown uniform to date. Please note, the Parents Guild will be pausing requests for donations at this time and will advise in the autumn term when they hope to have this service up and running again. If you have any queries, please email: habsgoodasnewuniform@gmail.com.

Afterschool Care (Pre-Prep Pupils)

After school care until 4pm will take place at the Pre-Prep School and is free of charge. Please collect your child from the Pre-Prep Studio. Pupils attending until 5.30pm will be charged £4.50 per session. Please note that late bookings made after the online form has closed will be subject to an increased charge of £8.

Years 3 to 6 Information

Breakfast Club and After School Care Facility

We offer the facility of breakfast club at the Girls’ School every day from 7.30am to 8.15am. Parents may book their child by telephone or by email to Mrs Walsh at the Girls’ School mwalsh@habsgirls.org.uk.The charge for each session is £4.50 (with less than 24 hours’ notice the charge will be £8).

Prep Pupils

After school care for children will be housed at the Pre- Prep school. This will operate from 4pm until 5.30pm (Monday to Friday). Parents should collect their child from the Pre- Prep Studio. Pupils attending until 5.30pm will be charged £4.50 per session. Please note that late bookings made after the online form has closed will be subject to an increased charge of £8.

Booking

To book your child into either early/breakfast club or after school care, either weekly or for the entire term, a link will be sent out at 4pm each Friday in our parent communications for the week ahead and closed at 12pm the following Friday before the new form is sent out for the next week at 4pm. Spaces will be limited and should be booked in advance so that the school and caterers can arrange as appropriate. Late bookings can only be requested by emailing: prepoffice@habsboys.org.uk in the Prep and preprepoffice@habsboys.org.uk in the Pre-Prep. Please be aware that it may not always be possible to accommodate late requests, so do wait for confirmation from the school office.

Transport - Tickets for Next Academic Year

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tickets for September will be sent to you over the summer break and will give details of your route and timings. Please ensure these are printed and given to Prep School passengers and kept in a convenient location if stored electronically by Senior School pupils.

Single-journey or casual tickets will be available from Friday 1 September. All requests for new tickets, amendments to an existing ticket or cancellation of an existing ticket must be made via the online form which will be available from Monday 10 July. Please click here. If you currently have a ticket for regular travel, this will automatically renew for the next academic year. No further action will be required by you. Please note, requests sent by email cannot be processed.

Any fare adjustments for an amendment requested before Monday 31 July will be processed at the time of request. Any fare adjustments for amendments made on or after Tuesday 1 August will be included on your spring term invoice. A minimum of one full half term must be given for cancellations or amendments.

Route and Timetable Changes

All coach routes are being reviewed over the summer break to ensure that we are making the best use of our coaches. There will be changes to the timetable, so a further newsletter will be published at the same time the new tickets are issued giving full details of all updates. Please be assured that we will endeavour to keep changes to stop timings to a minimum to avoid disruption to family travel plans.

Coach Routes and Capacity

If you have any questions, please contact the Transport Office on 020 8266 1705 or via email at transportmanager@habsboys.org.uk.

Transport Office Opening Hours

Term time (8am to 6pm) and during holidays (10am to 4pm).

Further Information

Full information regarding our coach network including timetables, fares, maps and our Coach Code of Conduct can be found on the school website by clicking here. Please ensure that all passengers have read and understood the Coach Code of Conduct before using the home to school coach service.

Sports Fixture List

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

New!

Please click here to view a full list of the sports fixtures taking place next academic year.

Routine Reminders

New!

Please click here to read our end of year routine reminders.

Forest School

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please click here to read a letter regarding the Forest School curriculum for the next academic year.

Boys’ School Car Parking - Arrival and Collection Year 3 to 6

Parents should use the morning one-way circuit system around the Boys’ School and drop their child/children in the designated area. Please enter the site via the one way system on Butterfly Lane. If your child is in Year 3, they will be escorted to the designated pick-up point by a member of staff. They will be shown this route on their first day.

If your child has a sibling at the Girls’ School, then you may pick your child up from the Girls’ School car park. If your child is on the coach, then they will be taken over to the correct coach by a member of staff from the Prep. Please be assured that during the first few days, all pupils will be accompanied to the relevant places by numerous teachers from the Prep to ensure that they get home safely. After this, there are always Prep members of staff on duty every day to help the children.

The North Drive Car Park is the designated parking area for parents coming onto campus at other times. On arrival, the Gate Security Porter will direct you to this car park which is the first turning on the right once you have passed the first security barrier.

Please park in marked bays and avoid blocking the entrance for other users of the car park. Parents are requested not to jump the second barrier to drive into the heart of the school and are kindly asked to use the pedestrian footpaths from the North Drive Car Park.

Safe Pedestrian Routes

Pedestrians are requested to use the school footpaths and avoid walking on the campus roads when there is a high flow of vehicle traffic. The school bridge on the main route to Aldenham House is out of bounds to pedestrians and the route along the side of the Bates building should be used to walk to the Prep School.

PE and Games Information

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please click here to read a letter regarding PE and Games information for the 2023 Autumn Term.

Important Calendar of Events

Curriculum Evening and Drop-in Session

We will be hosting our Curriculum Evening during the autumn term. You will have the opportunity to hear from your child’s form tutor, who will provide you with an overview of the year ahead and outline ways in which you can support your child at home.

The curriculum evening will take place in the Prep School for the following year groups at the following time:

• Tuesday 12 September - Years 4 and 6 (7pm to 8pm)

The Parent drop-in session will take place in the Prep School for the following year groups at the following time:

• Wednesday 13 September - Years 3 and 5 (3pm to 4pm)

Mr Swindell will write to you at the start of the autumn term to provide further information relating to both events.

Timings of the Pre-Prep School

Timings of the Prep School Day - 2023/24

Timings of the Pre-Prep School Day (Years 1 and 2) - 2023/24

Reception

Reception End of Year Letter

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please click here to read important communication about the end of term.

Little Habs Reception to Year 2 Chaperoned Minibus Service Trial

FOR CURRENT RECEPTION AND YEAR 1

PARENTS ONLY

If you are interested in your child using the Little Habs chaperoned Minibus service after autumn 2023 half term, please read this letter and express your interest.

Year 1

Start of Term Arrangments - Years 1 and 2

Your child should arrive at school between 8am and 8.30am on Thursday 7 September. Please follow the one-way system, park in the North Drive Car Park and walk your child to the Pre-Prep playground in time for registration at 8.30am.

Children should arrive wearing their school uniform and have their school bag. They need to bring their own water bottle and a morning snack.

Little Habs Reception to Year 2 Chaperoned Minibus Service Trial

FOR CURRENT RECEPTION AND YEAR 1

PARENTS ONLY

If you are interested in your child using the Little Habs chaperoned Minibus service after autumn 2023 half term, please read this letter and express your interest.

Year 2

Start of Term Arrangments - Years 1 and 2

Your child should arrive at school between 8am and 8.30am on Thursday 7 September. Please follow the one-way system, park in the North Drive Car Park and walk your child to the Pre-Prep playground in time for registration at 8.30am.

Children should arrive wearing their school uniform and have their school bag. They need to bring their own water bottle and a morning snack.

Year 3

Start of Term Arrangments - Year 3

Drop Off: Please arrive at school (via the Butterfly Lane entrance) between 9.45am and 10am on Thursday 7 September. Make your way around the one-way system and drop your child off at the AstroTurf pitches (Pitch 5). The pupils will be greeted by senior staff and then be guided to the Prep School to meet their Form Tutor. Please refrain from arriving too early as the rest of the school will be arriving then and a member of staff may not be present to welcome your child.

Year 4

Start of Term - Years 4 to 6

New!

Prep children should arrive at school after 8am unless they attend breakfast club from 7.30am. All children should enter the school using their normal route. Your child should arrive wearing their school uniform and have their school bag and pencil case with them. They need to bring their own water bottle and a piece of fruit or cereal bar for a morning as well as an afternoon snack.

Year 5

Start of Term - Years 4 to 6

New!

Prep children should arrive at school after 8am unless they attend breakfast club from 7.30am. All children should enter the school using their normal route. Your child should arrive wearing their school uniform and have their school bag and pencil case with them. They need to bring their own water bottle and a piece of fruit or cereal bar for a morning as well as an afternoon snack.

Year 6

Start of Term - Years 4 to 6

New!

Prep children should arrive at school after 8am unless they attend breakfast club from 7.30am. All children should enter the school using their normal route. Your child should arrive wearing their school uniform and have their school bag and pencil case with them. They need to bring their own water bottle and a piece of fruit or cereal bar for a morning as well as an afternoon snack.

Year 6 Leavers Video

New!

We are delighted to attach the Year 6 Leavers’ video. Please click here to view it.

School News

Staff Leavers

Debbie Jones, Prep School Office Manager, leaves us after 11 years. We thank Debbie for her dedication and commitment to a post which has seen many changes since she was first appointed. Her wit and good humour will be missed and we wish her every success and happiness for the future.

Gareth Thomas, Prep School Deputy Head (Pastoral), has been a member of the Prep School community for nine years. Joining as an Early Career Teacher, he later became a Phase Leader and then Deputy Head Pastoral in September 2019. Mr Thomas’ genuine care, knowledge and understanding of each and every student in the Prep School along with his restorative approach to behaviour management have ensured strong, positive relationships with both students and parents. We wish him the very best of luck in his new role as Senior Deputy Head of Prep School at Chigwell School.

Ben Williams, Head of PE and Games, joined the Prep School in September 2019. His vision for an inclusive, values led approach to sport in the Prep School has enabled all students the opportunity to experience competitive sports, develop their leadership skills and learn the value of winning and losing. Mr Williams leaves the Prep School to join Forest School as Head of Prep School PE and Games. He will be missed by many and we wish him all the best with future endeavours.

Natalie Young, joined the Pre-Prep in September 2016, inspiring and motivating many of our young students for the last 7 years. As well as being an influential and popular Year 2 class teacher, Mrs Young has also led History in the Prep School. The excitement and enjoyment that she brings to lessons has been evident to all and she has enthusiastically organised many exciting trips and visits for the Pre-Prep students. Mrs Young is committed to achieving the very best for the pupils and she will be greatly missed by staff, parents and students alike. We wish her every success for the future.

Ali Lock, Languages teacher, has been a valued member of the Prep School community teaching French and Italian alongside a variety of other subjects across the last three years. Mrs Lock’s horticultural passion has inspired and engaged many students (and staff) through the Prep School Gardening Club. Thank you, Mrs Lock, for all that you have done for the Prep School; you will be missed.

Kim Brandon, Swimming and Forest School teacher, leaves the Prep School temporarily as she embarks upon the new adventure of motherhood. Good luck Miss Brandon.

Staff Changes

Hilary Pullen - Hilary has shown considerable dedication to the Prep since joining the school in 1998. We are incredibly thankful for her wealth of experience in the classroom and her leadership as Senior Teacher. From September, Mrs Pullen has decided to step aside from leadership to focus on her true passion - teaching, she will return to the classroom full time, teaching in Year 2.

Gemma Caplan - Currently Year 5 and 6 Phase Leader has been appointed Assistant Head - Co-curricular, Data and Timetable from September. With her analytic and logistic skillset, we know that Ms Caplan is going to be great.

New Starters

We look forward to welcoming the following members of staff:

Julie King – we are very excited to welcome Ms King as the Prep School’s first ever Head of Languages. Ms King is currently leading the transition from French to Spanish at Newfield Primary School, having recently returned from Melbourne, Australia, where she was Literacy Lead and Pedagogical Coach at St. Oliver Plunkett Primary School.

Darren Miller – we are looking forward to welcoming Mr Miller as Head of PE & Games in September. He joins us from St Martin’s School Northwood, where he is currently Assistant Director of Sport. At interview, Mr Miller impressed us all with his inclusive yet ambitious vision and ethos for Prep School PE and Games.

Max Gillard – will be joining us as a PE Teacher. He is currently teaching at Exeter School.Mr Gillard has played a variety of sports at a high level, most notably football as an apprentice for Exeter City Football Club. His love of all sports is evident and we are confident that he will inspire this passion as well as developing the attitude and attributes of good sportsmanship in all that he teaches.

Jess Gent – is joining us for a year, to cover Mrs Newman’s maternity leave, as Year 5 Form Teacher and KS2 English specialist. She brings with her a love of literature, passion for drama and many years of experience in the classroom. Mrs Gent is currently teaching Year 5 at Reddiford School.

Parent Voice Committee

We would like to thank the following committee members for their continued support this academic year:

Mrs Bengani 6MN, Mrs Shah 6RP, Mrs Patel 6SA, Mrs Bernstein 5NB, Mrs Malcolm 5EN, Mrs Gathani 4SH, Ms Deen 4DS, Dr Qureshi 4MJ, Dr Lemke 3BG, Mr Shah 3NG, Mr Ghapure 3TP, Mrs Cohen 2JP, Mrs Popat 2NY, Mrs Shah 1SS, Mrs Martin 1NP, Mr Sangani RP, Mr Chong RL.

News stories

U11 National Premier League Tournament

Well done to Leo (6RP) for taking part in the U11 National Tournament organised by the Premier League which was played over two days. Leo’s team (Spurs) won for the first time. Congratulations Leo on your fantastic performance!

U11 Middlesex County Cricket Team

Congratulations Dhruv (5GC) on being selected for the U11 Middlesex County Cricket team, which is a year above his age group. Dhruv has already played a match with the team which they won against Northants and we wish him every success going forward.

Surbiton Team Trophy

Riyan (5NB) and Ari (4MJ) were selected along with two other players to compete at the Surbiton Team Trophy tournament in June. They have both been heavily involved in the playing for the Herts County team this term and have also been competing nationally. The team performed brilliantly winning bronze.

Hertfordshire School Fencing Championships

In a fiercely contested Hertfordshire School Fencing Championships, Habs Boys reigned supreme, emerging as the victors in both the Year 2 and Year 3 competitions. The art of sword fighting not only hones physical abilities but also instils valuable life skills such as focus, discipline and strategic thinking, akin to a game of athletic chess. Fencing emphasises the importance of teamwork, fostering cohesion and camaraderie among the competing students. The unwavering dedication displayed by the participants throughout the tournament was commendable, showcasing their commitment to honing their skills on the piste. The brilliant atmosphere was further amplified by the unwavering support and encouragement of the parents, creating an electrifying ambience that spurred the fencers on to reach extraordinary heights.

Science, Maths and General Knowledge Quiz Finals

Over the course of the year, many of the students have competed in a variety of competitions. Well done to all those who represented the school in these competitions. Congratulations to the following for reaching the national finals:

Science Finalists:

Raphael Barsam, Jacob Dalah, Joshua Dominique, Charlie Durling, Reeday Nandani, Drishaan Pandey, Kushal Pasupuleti, Raghav Singla

General Knowledge Finalists

Krit Dahal, Jacob Dalah, Neil Dhillon, Charlie Durling, Joseph Erfan, Veer Gathani, Vivaan Gharpure, Aarav Patel, Danuj Premachandra, Rafee Rahman, Aran Shah, Avir Shah, Freddie Simmons, Raghav Singla, Alex Vayanos, Michael Yang

Mathematics Finalists:

Gavin Agarwal, Arihant Bengani, Joshua Braham, Krit Dahal, Jacob Dalah, Charlie Durling, Veer Gill, Ishaan Krishnan, Riyan Malcolm, Yashmeet Multani, Drishaan Pandey, Aryan Patel, Jack Samuels, Aarav Shah, Nathan Slatkin, Aarev Vig

Gardening Club

Hello! We are the Gardening Club. We are an all-year-round activity. In November, we planted broad beans and peas to overwinter –it was a success, as you can see in the photo!

In the spring term, we chitted our potatoes in 6MN’s classroom and then planted them in a bag. Each week, we added more compost as they grew. They also needed a lot of water. We also planted lots of vibrant flowers in pots and beds – sunflowers, sweet peas, daffodils, marigolds and nasturtiums. We used bamboo canes to support them as they grew and ping pong balls as cane toppers to make them safe.

Gardening is great fun, good for your wellbeing and you can learn lots of new skills.

By the Gardening Club Members

Tug of War

This year we held our first Inter House Tug of War. The pupils competed in phase teams in semifinals to find a winner for each phase. They showed excellent resilience and strength in competing whilst their house mates cheered them on. Well done to Georges for Years 3 and 4 and Davids for Years 5 and 6. Congratulations to Patricks as the overall winners!

School Council Update

The School Council have continued to make a significant impact on the lives of pupils in the Prep and Pre-Prep this year. It has been the first time that Year 1 pupils have also attended meetings which has been a wonderful addition to our community. Some notable successes include playground equipment, playground painting and football goals which are all fantastic achievements this year.

Eco Council Update

The Prep and Pre-Prep Eco Council have focused this term of reducing the amount of litter in the school community. During the summer term, they had a litter pick up and are continuing to do this around the playground and forest. They presented an assembly to the Prep School about this as well as the benefits of reusable plastic. In addition, some of the Eco Council also spoke to Reception as part of their Eco Days. We hope to continue to build on the efforts of this year’s Eco Council with a new Eco Council next year.

Year 6 Oliver! Production

I think it is safe to say, the Oliver production is a special memory for all of Year 6 and one that will never be forgotten as we leave the Prep. As someone who is not very musical, or confident with speech and drama, the help and support from the many teachers involved made me feel very proud to be part of such an amazing show. All of the hard work began in January, with auditions, line learning, stage directions and mastering the lyrics to songs. We were also given the opportunity to watch the film of Oliver, to fully connect with our characters and understand how to portray our role. The singing truly came to life with the help of an expert choreographer teaching us some moves to the big numbers and a phenomenal band made up of music teachers and Senior School students. I can honestly say that I surprised myself in how much I enjoyed being a member of the cast, it pushed me out of my comfort zone initially, but I was so grateful for the experience on reflection. I was also in awe of many of my peers, there was some hidden talent amongst the year group! We are very lucky to have the teachers that we do at Habs, who guide us and support us in these unforgettable memories. For all the students heading into Year 6 in September, if I can get over my fear of performing in front of an audience, so can you. Get involved! You will love this end to the Prep, as much as we did.

- Connor (6SA)

Year 1 Picnic with Habs Girls

Year 1 pupils hosted a summer picnic with Habs Girls. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed their picnic together whilst chatting away about life in Year 1 across both schools. The pupils took a leisurely walk through the woodland trail and appreciated the beautiful nature along the way. After lunch, the children enjoyed playing together and some enjoyed the outdoor disco! We hope to organise another picnic again very soon!

Year 5 Radley Care Home

This term, a third and final group of Year 5 Habs Plus students visited the Radley Care home. The students made some very colourful and decorative butterflies and dragonflies, which are to be displayed in the residents’ dining room. The students have made an enormous impact; getting the residents to join in with each activity has been challenging at times but, more importantly, wonderfully rewarding. Being able to see first-hand those who suffer from several challenging conditions such as dementia and learning difficulties, overcome barriers and engage in some shape or form with the artwork has had a profound impact.

Reception Fun in the Sun Day

Despite the sun not making much of an appearance on Fun in the Sun Day, we had a brilliant time! It was a fantastic launch to our new units of learning, inspired by the text ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch’ by Ronda and David Armitage. There were cries of ‘This is amazing!’ when the children saw what activities awaited them outside. We enjoyed developing narratives in our pirate ship and ice-cream shop role-plays, had a brief dip in the paddling pool, used adjectives to write about our favourite lunch and much more!

Year 4 Aylmerton Trip

Year 4 had a fantastic week visiting the Norfolk Coast. The aim of this trip was to build teamwork skills, enhance independence and help their knowledge of coasts in Geography.

With the help of the fantastic staff at the Alymerton Outdoor Education Centre, the children participated in a range of teambuilding activities such as high ropes, blind woodland walks, hide building and bushcraft. On Tuesday, the day was spent walking through the marshlands in the mud at Blakeney, exploring the habitat and understanding how tide impacts the area. The pupils got to understand the different types of shells and rocks which could be found.

On Wednesday, the pupils learnt all about the RNLI at the Henry Bloggs Lifeboat museum in Cromer and explored Cromer town. Our final morning was spent at Overstrand beach exploring the coastal defences and building a creative range of sand sculptures.

Evenings provided the opportunity for a village walk, a bird and reptile show and an exciting storyteller, as well as some hot chocolate before bed time! The pupils embodied our school values of community, courage, ambition and curiosity throughout the week and showed excellent manners towards everyone they worked with. Thank you to all the teachers who contributed to making this a brilliant week in the Norfolk sunshine!

Year 6 Portland Trip

All the Year 6 children (53 students and seven members of staff including Mr Swindell, Ms Caplan, Mr Williams, Miss R Palmer, Mrs Newfield and Miss T Palmer) set off on the morning of Monday 12 June at 6.30am from the coach park.

The children were full of excitement. We were blessed with the most glorious weather throughout the week. Our activities included escape from portland, kayaking, mega sup, coasteering, canoe boating, rock climbing, abseiling and a lot of hiking. Every evening we had an activity, which included sunset at the beach, games, visit to the D-Day museum and a murder mystery.

The views along the Jurassic coast were breathtaking. We were fortunate to be visiting such a beautiful part of the country. I was extremely impressed by all the children who hiked for prolonged periods of the day in the heat and participated in all the activities and challenges. They became resilient and bonded as a year group. Some children were outstanding as role models and leaders.

The instructors at Portland were phenomenal with how they engaged with the children. The children were very happy with food choices and they thoroughly enjoyed every activity, but most of all, they had a lot of fun. They requested an extension of their stay in Portland. I would personally like to thank all the children for getting stuck in everything that was offered to them. Huge thanks goes to all the staff who gave up their family time and did a stellar job with all the children. The trip could not have been a huge success without all of these factors.

It was one of the best trips we have had the opportunity to organise. Until next year....

Year 2 Chicks

The Pre-Prep were delighted to have successfully hatched eight chick eggs inside an incubator. Once the chicks were sufficiently strong, Year 2 enjoyed creating a run for them in the classroom, where they could move freely and explore. As well as learning about the life cycle of a chicken, they learnt about how to look after them and of course had lots of opportunities to hold them.

Reception Visit to Aldenham Country Park

Reception had a fantastic time visiting Aldenham Country Park in the beautiful sunshine. They learnt about the life cycle, habitat, care and diet of different animals on the farm and enjoyed supplying plenty of snacks to some furry friends! In addition, we explored Pooh’s 100 Acre Wood where we eagerly took part in a scavenger hunt.

The Reception team are very proud of Hedgehogs and Squirrels and how beautifully they represented the school.

Year 2 Grandparents Afternoon

On Thursday 15 June, Year 2 grandparents spent an enjoyable afternoon with their grandsons at the Pre-Prep School. The children were extremely excited to show their grandparents their work and show them around the new building. The hall was magically transformed into a coffee shop where grandparents relaxed with a cup of tea and slice of cake. It was a pleasure to welcome everyone to the Pre-Prep and spend the afternoon together.

Reception Breakfast with Dad

Hedgehogs and Squirrels were delighted to celebrate Father’s Day with ‘Breakfast with Dad.’ They enjoyed some tasty treats, celebrated their writing progress and completed various challenges.

Year 3 to 5 Instrumental Scheme Performance

The Year 3 to 5 students bravely took to the Seldon Stage to play a small ensemble and solo pieces with their newly acquired orchestral skills. This was the first performance for many of the students and we were so impressed by how much progress they had made in the course of a year. We are delighted that so many children have chosen to continue building on these foundations for next year.

Year 2 Whipsnade Zoo Trip

Year 2 had a fantastic end of the year trip to Whipsnade Zoo. They learned about animal habitats and took an active part in a “Fur, feathers and scales” workshop, classifying animals into their groups. The highlight was handling real animal artefacts and enjoying the amazing outdoor playground. As always, the children were thirsty for knowledge, polite and courteous - true ambassadors for Habs.

Pre-Prep Sports Day

On the morning of Thursday 22 June, the Pre-Prep enjoyed their Sports Day in glorious sunshine. The addition of a Reception year group for the first time certainly added to the excitement levels, with pupils chomping at the bit to show parents and peers the progress they have made in PE and Games this year. The pupils competed all morning with two key values at the forefront of their minds; try your best and have fun. They took to their tasks with gusto and vim, smiling throughout. It was especially brilliant to see all the fantastic sportsmanship that was happening, with pupils cheering one another on and offering support when challenges arose. I would like to thank all the parents, pupils and staff involved in the day; without them it simply would not happen. Well done to Davids House who were this years winners!

Battle of the Bands

Never has the standard been higher and the vibes more competitive than in this year’s Battle of the Bands. Children came with their own costumes, logos, flags and band names, and we had 10 excellent final bands chosen from 28 strong entries. A massive congratulation to everyone who took part, regardless of who did and didn’t make the finals. This was an unforgettable occasion for all involved with a palpable excitement running throughout. It was joyful to see the children throw themselves into performances which they had taken entire ownership of what they would play, who would be in their band and how they would arrange and present their pieces. Appreciation must also be expressed to the families who helped take children to rehearsals, book recording studios and assuage difficult band dynamics.

Winners 2023: Desert Monkeys (Year 6)

Ethan Hill (voice), Aaron Kerai (bass guitar) , Nathan Slatkin (drum kit), Shay Hirani (piano), Alex Rudoe (electric guitar)

Year 5 and 6 category winner 2023: HABS NRG (Year 5)

Harry Bernstein (voice), Lucas Miao (piano), Jacob Dalah (voice), Liam Ardill (electric guitar), Riyan Damani (drum kit)

Year 3 and 4 Category Winner 2023: The Racoons (Year 4)

Riaan Gandhi (keyboard/piano), Adam Hussain (voice), Lucas Xie (drum kit), Kabir Gupta (electric guitar)

Prize for most promise 2023: Band of Brothers (Year 3)

Freddie Simmons (voice), Neil Dhillon (voice), Temwani Muwowo (voice), Felix Lemke (drum kit), William Loomes (piano)

Year 1 Knebworth House Trip

The children had a thoroughly enjoyable day at Knebworth House and Gardens. In the morning, they were led around the Gardens by one of Knebworth’s experienced guides. They explored shape, colour, nature and numeracy. They were fortunate to find out about prehistoric life with a visit to the Dinosaur Trail. In the afternoon, the children had lots of fun exploring the fort and adventure slides. This was a perfect way to end the school year!

Year 1 Parent Fossil Fuel Talk

On Tuesday 27 June, we were delighted to be joined by Mrs Shah, who spoke to all the children in Year 1 about energy, how it helps to power our day to day lives and where it comes from.

The children learnt how most of our energy currently comes from fossil fuels, which can be found deep underground and can be very dangerous to extract. They also learnt that fossil fuels produce a lot of carbon emissions, which are very bad for our environment and cause global warming.

Mrs Shah then went on to talk about the importance of Green Energy and how our country is hoping to be free from carbon emissions by the year 2050. Green Energy is produced and harvested from natural sources such as the sun, tides and the wind. Each of the children were then given their very own toy windmill to illustrate how it is a safe and clean way to produce energy for the future of our planet.

Years 3 to 6 Prep Sports Day

On Wednesday 28 June, the Prep School enjoyed their Sports Day, personifying our sports values with every interaction. The pupils took part in a carousel of activities, experiencing both track and field events. The sportsmanship and passion on show was truly inspirational, lifting the level of competition. Every single pupil contributed to their house total regardless of their performance, exhibiting the wonderful community we have here at Habs. There are too many pleasing instances to mention them individually, but the courage, creativity, respect, communication, leadership and teamwork on show led to a heightened level of competition that brought the best out of every pupil. I would like to thank all the pupils, parents and staff for their continued support; without their efforts the event simply would not happen. Well done to Georges who are this year’s winners!

We are pleased to confirm that images are now available to purchase online. Please click here, using the access code ‘habspix’ to place your order.

Year 1 Butterflies

The Year 1 pupils have spent the last few weeks nurturing their caterpillars and watching them metamorphose into beautiful butterflies. The pupils then sent them off, wishing the butterflies a fluttery life!

Pre-Prep Summer Concert

It was lovely to see so many of you join us for our first Reception to Year 2 Summer Production of ‘The First Kids in Space’ Please click here to view a recording of the production.

Year 6 Commendations

The awards are as follows:

Aldridge Art Award - Lucas Fish

Leonardo Art Cup - Charlie Zhao

Basil Flashman for Academic Excellence - Raghav Singla and Aarav Shah

Rice Award for Effort - Aaron Kerai

Cranmer Cup for Progress Over Four Years - Taha Cockerell

Pullen Cup for Embodying Prep School Values - Veer Gill

Delia Meehan Music Award - Benjamin Kozilek

Wendy Morrelli Singing Award - Ethan Hill

Maureen Parrington Cup for Outstanding Contribution to Orchestral Ensemble -

Sebastian Markson

Drama Cup - Louis Larholt

Cricket Cup - Joe Howlett

Football Cup - Leo Lewin

Rugby Cup - Jack Samuels

Overall Contribution to Sport - Ish Sachdev

Swimming Cup - Joshua Hugh

Brown Science Award - Raphael Barsam and Charlie Durling

Mercer Shield for Outdoor Endeavour - Connor Samuels

School Council Chairman Shield - Johnny Miller

Chess Cup - Kamran Patel

Spirit of Sport - Jeremy Rotenberg

Swimming Endeavour - Siddhant Shah

Class Mathematics Prize

Hursh Haria

Benjamin Kozilek

Nathan Slatkin

Rafi Solomon

Class English Prize

Aadi Bagchi

Joshua Dominique

Joshua Braham

Class Science Prize

Arihant Bengani

Lucas Fish

Adan Thomas

Class History Prize

Nathaniel Lock

Connor Samuels

Aarav Shah

Class Geography Prize

Shay Hirani

Abdulla Khan

Sebastian Markson

Vivaan Obhrai

Class Art Prize

Lucas Davis

Sai Patel

Eric Wang

Class T & P Award

Raphael Barsam

Yashmeet Multani

Krish Sharma

Class Mandarin Prize

Mikaeel Daya

Stephen Ma

Ferdi Mort

Class Design and Technology Prize

Aadi Bagchi

Avir Shah

Lewis Xie

Class Music Prize

Aaron Kerai

Alex Rudoe

Brandon Yap

Good Citizenship

Deven Harte

Sam Toffel

Edward Wu

Class Computing Award

Rohan Davda

Shayan Patel

Jeremy Rotenberg

Class Outdoor Endeavour

Joe Howlett

Aarav Patel

Jack Samuels

Class Drama Prize

Johnny Miller

Ish Sachdev

Raghav Singla

Years 3 to 6 Summer Concert

The Prep School ended the year with a spectacular summer concert which featured large and small choirs. The ‘Desert Monkeys’ were crowned the 2023 winners of Battle of the Bands, which also featured the slick and joyful Street Dance ensemble, and a moving tribute to the much loved and treasured Mr Thomas who is leaving us.

Year 1 Gardening Club

Year 1 Gardening Club took the opportunity to add their own produce to their lunches.

They grew lettuce, spinach, beetroot leaves and sweet peas from seeds. They weren’t entirely sure about the spinach but loved the peas fresh from the pods!

PRE-PREP CALENDAR DATES

THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER Autumn Term Begins

Reception - 9am to 11am (Andrews and Patricks) 12.20pm to 2.20pm (Davids and Georges)

FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

Reception - 9am to 11am (Andrews and Patricks) 12.20pm to 2.20pm (Davids and Georges)

MONDAY 11 SEPTEMBER Reception (8.30am to 1pm)

TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER Reception Full Day Reception Parent Meet with PLT (2.30pm to 3.30pm)

FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER Reception Dinosaur Day

TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER Reception Nocturnal Animal Visit

WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER Year 2 Coffee and Curriculum Meeting (8.45am to 10am)

THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER Year 1 Coffee and Curriculum Meeting (8.45am to 10am)

FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER Year 2 Boys’ and Girls’ School Collaboration

TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER Reception Coffee and Curriculum Meeting (8.45am to 10am)

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

PRE-PREP CALENDAR DATES

WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

Reception to Year 2 Individual and Class Photographs

FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

Reception Read with Me - Family Friday (2.45pm to 3.30pm)

WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER National Poetry Day - ‘Kimba’ (Poet Visit)

FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER

Reception Read with Me - Family Friday (2.45pm to 3.30pm)

TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER Harvest Festival Assembly (2.30pm to 3.30pm)

WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER Parent Consultations (4pm to 7pm)

THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER Parent Consultations (4pm to 7pm)

FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER

Donkin Cup Annual Cross-Country House Competition (9am to 12pm)

Reception Read with Me - Family Friday (2.45pm to 3.30pm)

MONDAY 16 OCTOBER TO FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER Half Term

MONDAY 30 OCTOBER Return to School

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

PREP CALENDAR DATES

TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER

Year 4 and 6 Curriculum Evening (7pm, Prep Hall)

WEDNESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER Years 3 and 5 Drop-in Session (3pm) Individual and Class Photographs

TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER Lunchtime Live (12.30pm to 1.20pm, Seldon Hall)

WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

Years 4 and 6 Parent Drop-in Session (3pm) Years 3 to 6 Individual and Class Photographs

THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Year 6 Hindu Temple Visit

MONDAY 2 OCTOBER

Year 3 Instrumental Scheme Open Morning (9.15am to 10.45am, Music School)

THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER Year 3 Roman Day

SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER Open Day

TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER Years 3 to 6 Harvest Festival (2.30pm to 3.30pm, Bourne Hall)

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

PREP CALENDAR DATES

MONDAY 16 OCTOBER TO FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER Half Term

MONDAY 30 OCTOBER Return to School

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