Important Information Important Information
DirectorofBoarding
Whatanexcitingtermwehavehadinboarding.Somanytripshavebeen enjoyedthistermfromcountrywalksinCassioburyPark,towatchingtheheart warmingfamilycomedyKangarooatthecinema,toariverwalkfollowedby cheesychipsinCookham,toswimminginawavepoolinWindsorand shoppinginWatford!
Weekendshavebeenspentpractisingandrehearsing,relaxing,playing basketballandtabletennis,doingjigsawsandtwobigquiznightswhichare alwaysreallypopularwithallagegroups.
WealsohadaSpringValentine’sSocialwithlivemusicfromAlbert,Gianntino andJamiewhoplayedanamazingset.Itisquiteatalenttogetagroupof teenagerstobesoenthusiasticonthedancefloor!Ostapalwaysentertains withhismoonwalkingmovesanditwasgoodtoseesomanystudentschatting anddancingthenightaway.WeareluckytohavesuchfabulousActivityLeads inReekaandSelinwhoalwaysdosuchagreatjobofrunningSocials.
ImportantInformationfornextterm
IwouldaskparentstosupportusinenablingstudentsinYears11andbelowto gettherequiredamountofsleeppernightfortheirteenagebrains.Weput everythinginplacetoensurethishappens,butitissodifficultifastudent returnswithafakephonesorextraphonesandtechthattheyhidefromusand useduringthenight Pleasedocheckwiththattheyarenotbringingbackipads orphonestousesecretlyatnight,disruptingnotonlytheirsleeppatternbut thatofthosetheymaybecontactingorsharingaroomwith
Nexttermisespeciallyimportantforexamcandidatessopleasedoreinforce themessageabouttheimportanceofagoodnight’ssleep.It'seasyfor studentstofallintothetrapofsacrificingsleep,whetherthat’saresultoftheir worries,ortryingtoremembermorecontentanduseeverywakinghourfor revision.However,researchconsistentlyhighlightssleepasessentialforoptimal performance,memoryretention,andemotionalwellbeing-allofwhichare criticalduringexams.
The The EGGEGG-celent Challenge celent Challenge
ThisEaster,we’recelebratingfreshstarts,growth,andpositive changethroughcreativity.Studentsareinvitedtocreatean originalpieceofartworkinspiredbyoneormoreofthefollowing ideas:
WhatYouNeedtoCreate
Yourartworkshouldclearlyconnecttothetheme“New Beginnings.”ThinkbeyondtraditionalEasterimagesifyouwish thisisaboutmeaningaswellascreativity.
Youmightexplore:
Naturechangingfromwintertospring
Personalgrowthorovercomingchallenges
Symbolicimagery(butterflies,sunrise,blossoms,broken chains,pathways,light)
Communityorglobalrenewal
Abstractinterpretationsofhope
SubmissionDeadline
AllartworkmustbesubmittedbyFriday,24thApril2026at 6PM.
TheSeniorConcertoCompetitionatThePurcell Schoolisoneofthemostprestigiousand competitiveperformanceeventsintheschool year,designedforitsmostadvancedstudents.
Opentoseniorpupils,thecompetitioninvolves severalrounds,beginningwithauditionsand categoryfinals,wherestudentsperform movementsfrommajorconcertorepertoiretoa panelofexpertadjudicators
Fromalargenumberofapplicants,asmallgroup offinalistsisselectedtoperformintheGrandFinal, showcasingfullconcertomovementsatavery highprofessionalstandard. Thecompetitionishighlyvaluednotonlyforits competitiveelementbutalsofortheperformance opportunityitoffers.Thewinnersaretypically giventhechancetoperformtheirconcertowith theschool’sSymphonyOrchestra,animportant milestoneinayoungmusician’sdevelopment
Student Spotlight Student Spotlight
Inanall-girlsboardinghouse,valuessuchasforgiveness,inclusivity,serviceto others,graciousness,collaboration,hospitality,cleanliness,sharedresponsibility, fairness,punctuality,andcooperationarecentraltocreatingaclose-knitand supportivecommunity. Asthesmallerseniorhouse,everyindividualplaysanimportantroleinshaping theatmosphereofthehouse,makingkindness,understanding,andforgiveness especiallymeaningfulinmaintainingpositiverelationships.Inclusivityand fairnessensurethateverystudentfeelsacceptedandconfidentinbeingherself, whilecollaborationandcooperationstrengthenfriendshipsandteamwork. Sharedresponsibility,cleanliness,andpunctualitycontributetoacalmand well-organisedenvironmentwhereeveryonefeelssecure.
Student Spotlight Student Spotlight
EllingtonHouse
Asaseniorco-educationalboardinghousewe arecommittedtodeveloping valuesthatreflecttheresponsibilitiesofadiverseandinclusivecommunity.
Thesevalues:forgiveness,inclusivity,servicetoothers,graciousness, collaboration,hospitality,cleanliness,sharedresponsibility,fairness,punctuality, andcooperation,helpcreateanenvironmentwherestudentsofall backgroundsfeelrespected,supported,andabletothrive.
Inaco-edsetting,inclusivityandfairnessareespeciallyimportantinensuring thateveryonefeelsequallyvaluedandheard,whilecollaborationand cooperationencouragepositiverelationshipsacrossthewholecommunity.
Sharedresponsibility,cleanliness,andpunctualityhelpmaintainasafe, organisedlivingspace.
Forgiveness:
Graciousness:
Collaboration:
Hospitality:
Punctuality:
Ostap
Fairness: Helpfulness: Sonya
Inclusiveness: Kate
Dima
Yoel
Tim
Student Spotlight Student Spotlight
AvisonHouseiscurrentlyfocusingondevelopingandstrengtheningvaluesthatare importanttoboththehouseandthewidercommunity.Thesevalueshelpguidehow studentstreatoneanotherandcontributetoapositiveenvironment.Thekey themesbeingcelebratedarekindness,respect,support,safety,andhealth.
InaboardinghouselikeAvison,studentslivecloselytogether,sothewaypeople treateachotherhasabigimpactondailylife,wellbeing,andevenacademic success.Whenthesevaluesareclearlyrecognisedandrewarded,itencourages otherstoactinthesameway,buildingtrustandasenseofbelonging.Research supportsthisidea forexample,studiesinthefieldofEducationalPsychologyshow thatstudentsinboardingschoolenvironmentswhofeelsupportedandrespected aremorelikelytodevelopconfidence,resilience,andstrongsocialskills.
Boarding Life Boarding Life
Boarding Life Boarding Life
AvisonHouse
Boarding Life Boarding Life
SunleyHouse
InarecentSunleyHouseassembly,MissCledanactivitywherethegirlswrotethings theyadmireabouteachotherontheirbacks,creatinga“capeofkindness”filledwith positivemessages.
Ithighlightedtheimportanceofcelebratingoneanotherinaclosecommunityand linkedtoInternationalWomen’sDaybyencouragingsupportandappreciationforone another.
Boarding Life Boarding Life
Thisterm,MrDhasbeenactivelypromotingandcelebratingpositivebehaviouracross theschool.Studentswhomaintainedanexcellentrecord,withnonegativebehaviour incidents,wererewardedwithaspecialmovienightandpizza—aneventthatwas thoroughlyenjoyedbyallwhoattended.
Unsurprisingly,wordofthiscelebrationspreadquickly,andseveralstudentshave alreadyapproachedstafftoaskhowtheytoocanearnthisreward.It’sfantastictosee suchenthusiasmandmotivation,andwearehopefulthatthisinitiativewillcontinueto inspirepositivechoicesthroughouttheschoolcommunity. Welookforwardtoseeingevenmorestudentsachievethismilestoneinthecoming terms!
Wellbeing Wellbeing
ThisHalfTerm’sFocus:LifeOnline:AMixedPicture
WhyItMatters
Socialmediaandphonesarebigpartsofteenlife,andthat bringsgoodandtrickysides.
Manystudiessuggestthere’salinkbetweenheavysocial mediauseandhigherstress,especiallywhenitfeelslikea “comparisongame.”
WellbeingInBoarding
EverydayWellbeingHabits ThatActuallyHelp
Herearesomesimplethingsyoucantry thesedon’tcostanythingandyoucan starttoday:
Talktosomeone
Chatwithafriend,sibling,teacher,or trustedadultwhensomethingfeels heavy.Youdon’thavetosortitallout alone.
Sleep,food,andmovement
Gettingenoughsleep,eatingwell,and movingaroundmakesabigdifferenceto howyoufeel.
Breaksfromscreens
Regularphonebreakshelpyourbrain reset especiallybeforebed.
Setsmallroutines
Doinglittlethingseveryday(like journalingorstretching)givesyou structureandcalm.
HelpfulLinksfor Students
Let's All Talk Mental Health Let's All Talk
AstheEasterholidaysapproach,wehopeyoufindsometimetorestand rechargetogether.
Wearepleasedthatmoreparentsareengagingwiththeinformativeand practicalhelpfromleadingexpertsontheLet’sAllTalkMentalHealthhub.
Therehavebeensomereallyhelpfulsessionsonthehubthisterm.Belowisa shortsummaryofsomeofthekeytakeaways Ifyouarealreadyregistered, youcanaccessthefullsessionsviathehub.Ifnot,detailsonhowtoregister atnocostareincludedbelow.
OverwhelmedTeens(Anxiety&;Avoidance)–DrSarahJaneKnight
Staysteady,gosmallandfocusonwhat’sunderneaththebehaviour.Calm, consistentparentingbuildsemotionalsafetyovertime.
Autism&ADHD–DrSarahJaneKnight
Lookbeyondthelabels,understandingyourchild’suniqueprofileand buildingpractical,supportivestrategiescanmakeabigdifference.
Screens&Teens–DrFinWilliams
Staycuriousabouthowyourteenisusingscreens,keepthedooropen,and staypresent.Thatsteady,non-judgementalconnectionhelpsthembuilda healthierrelationshipwiththeironlineworld.
Sleep–DrFaithOrchard
Supportsleepwithsteadyroutinesandrealisticexpectations.Wheredevices takeover,sleepisdisplacedsosmall,practicalchangesmakethebiggest difference.
SupportTeensAffectedbyTrauma:DrRussellWoodhead
Recoveryispossible;consistentsafety,understandingandsteady relationshipshelprebuildayoungperson’ssenseoftrustandsafety.
What Does LATMH Provide?
Ifyouclickonanyoftheprogrammelinksaboveandseethemessage“it lookslikeyoudon’thaveaticket”,itmaybethatyourpreviousaccesshas expired.Pleasefollowthedetailsbelowtoregisterforyour2025/26free pass.
ComingupLIVEAfterEaster
Tuesday21stApril,8pm-SchoolAnxietyandRefusal:Howcanparents help?
Monday27thApril,8pm-GamingandInternetIssues:WhenTeensGet StuckOnline.
Eachliveprogrammecontains30minutesofaudienceQ&Agivingyouthe opportunitytoputyourquestionstotheexperts
HowtoAccess
IfyouarenewtotheLet’sAllTalkMentalHealthhubfor2025/26,please registerhere: Afterafewminutes,youwillreceiveanemailfromContrastwithyourhub access.Ifitdoesnotappearinyourinbox,pleasecheckyourjunkfolder. Youcanthenvisitthehubdirectly Foranyassistancewithaccess,contact theteamathello@letsalltalkmentalhealth.co.uk.
WehopetheLet’sAllTalkresourcescontinuetosupportyouandyour family.
Easter Sudoku Easter Sudoku
Don’tworryifSudokufeelstrickyatfirst—justkeepatit andyou’llcrackitopen…afterall,everypuzzleiseasier onceyou’veegg-xaminedalltheclues!
