Orwell Park Safeguarding Team
Jo Coventry-King
Designated Safeguarding Lead & Online Safety Lead
Martin O’Brien
DDSL & Deputy Head Pastoral
Caroline Brunt DDSL & Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead
Afiah Ntiri-Akuffo
DDSL Boarding & Online Safety Lead
Simon O’Malley Head
Callum Licence Chair of Governors
All of the team are contactable via email at: firstnamelastname@orwellpark.org or by calling the school directly on 01473 659225
Vikki Wiggins DDSL EYFS
Hayley Lloyd DDSL Lower Prep
Nick Gibbs DDSL Years 5 & 6
Tristan King DDSL Years 7 & 8
Brunt, Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead
Caroline
Growth Mindset
Finding a Mindful Moment - Continued
Over the summer, I set pupils the ‘Find a Mindful Moment’ and I would like to keep the challenge going this half-term. Amid all our wonderful busyness, taking the time to pause and recentre becomes even more important A calm mind is a mind ready to learn and make the best possible progress; what Growth Mindset is all about
If you would like to learn more about mindfulness, three helpful websites are Teen Tips Wellbeing Hub (for older children); BBC Children in Need Mindfulness Hub (for younger children) and Calm (which has more general information).
As with every skill, mindfulness needs regular practice, and it would be wonderful to have your input at home: it can be something for families to learn about and try together.
In our OrWellbeing Focus Day this term, pupils will have the opportunity to practise these in a school context.
We would love to see what your child tries, so if you are happy to share, please send a short video or a photo with a caption via:
If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Online Safety
Each month, the OrWellbeing team will share tips, ideas, and guidance to help us all try to navigate the digital world safely At Orwell Park, we want pupils to enjoy technology and know how to use it wisely while keeping themselves happy, healthy, and safe.
The internet is full of brilliant opportunities – you can chat with friends, learn new skills, play games, and explore the world without leaving your room. But, just like crossing a busy road, it’s important to know the risks and how to stay safe. Experts often talk about the “4 C’s” of online safety: Content, Contact, Conduct, and Commerce. Here’s what they mean – and some easy tips to help you and your family stay safe online.
CONTENT CONTENT
This means coming across things online that are upsetting, scary, or simply not suitable for your age.
This means coming across things online that are upsetting, scary, or simply not suitable for your age.
Top Tips
Top filters
If something pops up that makes you feel uncomfortable – close it and tell a trusted adult straight away.
Use safe search filters and parental controls. If something pops up that makes you feel uncomfortable – close it and tell a trusted adult straight away.
Remember: not everything online is real or true.
Remember: not everything online is real or true.
CONTACT CONTACT
These are risks from people online who may not be who they say they are, such as strangers, scammers, or bullies.
Top Tips
Only chat or connect with people you actually know in real life. Never share personal information like your school, address, or phone number.
If someone makes you feel uneasy, block and report them, then talk to an adult you trust.
Online Safety
This is about how you behave online: what you post, share, or say to others. It also covers oversharing and building your digital footprint (the trail you leave behind).
Top Tips
Think before you post: Would I be happy for my teacher or family to see this?
Be kind – the same rules of respect apply online as they do offline. Remember, screenshots last forever, even if you delete something.
CONDUCT CONDUCT COMMERCE COMMERCE
The online world is full of money traps – from scams and fraud to sneaky inapp purchases and even gambling-style games.
Top Tips
Always check with a parent or carer before making purchases online. Be cautious of “too good to be true” offers – they usually are. Use secure websites (look for the little padlock �� in the address bar).
The internet should be a fun, exciting, and safe place. By knowing about the 4 C’s of online safety –Content, Contact, Conduct, and Commerce – you’ll be ready to enjoy the best of the online world while avoiding the risks.
HAVE YOU LOGGED INTO THE WELLBEING HUB YET TO SEE ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER?
IF NOT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK HERE.
There are a wide range of webinars available via The Wellbeing Hub Platform, you can join live or watch over the following 2 weeks.
Our top 2 suggestions for you are:
Adolescent health and supporting your daughter through puberty: What every parent needs to know with Dr Katie Malbon, Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Director at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust
Wednesday 25th September, 6 30pm
Why every teenager needs a parrot – a guide to help parents navigate the fine line between letting teenagers go and keeping them safe with Alicia Drummond, Therapist and Founder of The Wellbeing Hub
Wednesday 22 October, 6.30pm nd
NEW ON THE WELLBEING HUB
WEBINAR
Self-harm awareness with Satveer Nijjar, Author, Speaker, and Founder of Attention Seekers?
How to have a successful start to your school days (ages 4-5) with Dr Amanda Gummer, CEO of the research consultancy Fundamentally Children, home of Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide
WEBINAR
Playful ways to increase your children’s confidence and reduce everyone’s anxiety around starting school (ages 4-5) with Dr Amanda Gummer, CEO of the research consultancy Fundamentally Children, home of Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide
Training WATCH HERE PODCAST
Back to school tips for parents of neurodivergent children by Professor Amanda Kirby, Founder and CEO of Do-IT Solutions
Puberty and adolescent changes for boys: What every parent needs to know with Amy Forbes-Robertson, Author and Founding Director of It Happens Education
Strong Bodies, Confident Children!
By Kiri Norris, Personal Trainer
This month, we are grateful to Kiri Norris (Parent at Orwell Park and Expert Personal Trainer) who has shared important advice on Fitness for prep school age children.
Between the ages of 6 and 12, children grow rapidly, not only in height, but in strength, coordination, and independence.This is also when lifelong habits begin to take shape. Physical activity at this stage is about far more than muscles or medals; it’s about confidence, resilience, and creating a healthy balance in a world where screens and devices can so easily dominate.
Why Fitness Matters for Ages 6–12
Many children enjoy team sports like rugby, hockey, netball, and cricket, which build fitness, discipline, and teamwork. But not everyone loves competition—and that’s fine. What matters most is finding an activity they enjoy, whether it’s dance, swimming, martial arts, or fitness, so every child can enjoy being active.
Beyond the Pitch — More Ways to Move
Not all children thrive in structured teams, and offering alternatives can make all the difference. Multi-sport events such as swim–run races, or triathlon-style activities that add cycling in the summer, give variety and build stamina. Teaching the fun of individual competition. Individual pursuits like CrossFit, gymnastics, yoga, or climbing foster balance, flexibility, and concentration.
Family activities — from weekend walks, geo-caching and bike rides to back-garden obstacle courses, show children that exercise can be fun, social, and inclusive.
The Value of Functional Fitness
Functional fitness builds strength, balance, and coordination through everyday movements like squatting, running, and lifting. It helps children with daily tasks, supports sporting skills, and develops core strength for better balance, agility, and injury prevention. Often taught through fun activities like obstacle courses or ‘CrossFit for kids classes, it gives children the “engine” they need for sport and play.
More Than Just Sport
The goal is not simply to produce future athletes, but to help every child develop a positive relationship with movement and fitness. By providing variety, encouragement, and opportunities away from screens, we enable children to grow strong, resilient, and confident; in school, in sport, and in life. As the legendary athlete Jerry Rice once said:
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.”
Elliott helps run a children and beginner adult multisport event on the last Monday of the month at 18:30 in Stradbroke, Suffolk We’d love to see a few of the children come along Contact Elliott on 07968 628717 or use the event link: https://canbuttri co uk/events/
Grange Farm Performance Centre in Martlesham holds weekday after school and Sunday ‘CrossFit for Kids’ classes Come along for a ‘taster’ session Details can be found here or on the notice board in the North Hall
… and it’s not just the children, there will be Bootcamp Classes for Parents starting soon at the school durin the week. Sign up opens soon!
STAFF PICKS
A monthly media spotlight with a member of the prep school community, brought to you by the OrWellbeing Newsletter!
This month, in conjunction with The International Day of Languages on the 26th of September, we caught up with Nick Gibbs, Head of MFL and Years 5 and 6.
Book I Couldn’t Put Down...
From page-turners to playlists, here’s what he’s loving right now.
Podcast Pick
What’s the one book you always recommend - or wish you could read again for the first time?
Recently, I loved Bob Mortimer’s The Satsuma Complex and The Avocado Hotel - quirky and fun reads But my all-time favourite is Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita - a brilliant mix of satire, fantasy, and romance that even inspired the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil ”
TV Show You BingeWatched (and Don’t Regret)
We all have one What’s your guilty pleasure or proud obsession on the small screen?
For your commute, your wind-down, or a moment of inspiration, what podcast do you never miss?
I’d choose What’s Up, Docs? by identical twins and doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken They have a modern, relatable style and bring in experts to explain the wonders of medicine and science making sense of things that often leave people like me confused about how to navigate modern life
A Final Recommendation
Film That Stuck With You
What film left a lasting impression and why?
In winter, I love the old black-andwhite Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce My all-time favourite is The Third Man - a post-war masterpiece In summer, I indulge in Westerns, from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, with Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid as the standout for its grit, soundtrack, and Bob Dylan cameo.
Music on Repeat Something a Little Different
Which song, album, or artist lifts your spirits or helps you focus?
I love 60s music - Bob Dylan, The Doors, CCR, The Rolling Stonesbut I can’t stand The Beatles (sorry!) My guilty pleasure is Elvis, and I often revisit Dire Straits on car journeys Growing up, I was introduced to 1920s jazz, especially Jelly Roll Morton - his Dr Jazz was even played at my mother’s funeral.
An app, YouTube channel, newsletter, magazine or even a place that’s enriching your life right now
Maggie and I loved Slow Horses and can’t wait for the next season - Gary Oldman is brilliant as the leader of a team of misfit spies But our real weakness? Anything Star Trekfrom TOS to Picard Give us tea, hobnobs, and a Starship, and we ’ re set for the night!
Is there a media gem or hidden treasu l to know about?
We love trips to Sutton Hoo and the Lake District - walks from Keswick and a Mars Bar crispy cake at Dodd Wood are a must. Normandy is a growing passion, and we also enjoy southern Spain - Seville, Ronda, and Granada are favourites With a daughter in Sydney, Australia is now on the list too - maybe one day we’ll catch the Ashes there!
Musings from MOB
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. (CS Lewis)
Integrity is a fundamental value for all of us to learn, as it lays the foundation for character and future success. Integrity can mean being honest, responsible, and consistent in words and actions, always seeking to serve and help others. For all of us, practising integrity builds self-respect and confidence, because we are choosing what is right rather than what is easy. It also strengthens relationships with friends, family, and teachers, since honesty and trustworthiness create a sense of safety and reliability
Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. (Dennis Prager)
All those who develop integrity early learn to take responsibility for their choices and accept the consequences, instead of blaming others or avoiding the truth. This helps them become resilient problem-solvers who can navigate challenges with fairness. Integrity also encourages empathy, because doing the right thing often means considering the needs and feelings of others
We learned about honesty and integrity - that the truth matters... that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules... and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.
(Michelle Obama)
As we grow, integrity becomes a guiding principle that influences progress in school, friendships, and later in life. It teaches us to stand by our values, resist peer pressure, and contribute positively to our community. Ultimately, integrity shapes all of us into trustworthy, respectful adults who make ethical decisions and lead lives of purpose and meaning.
COMING UP IN LIFE SKILLS
EARLY YEARS
L B T E e n g b t u e e a l s h e e i h e e b t
YEAR 3
A
E T N I
S C u d g o i n e s i h A S u s
YEAR 6
A
E T N I e o l o d i n e o l p e n p p a n p o a o h h i m e n n
YEAR 1
A L S y p i e e h a s o o m r n i e n a p i e e a o s
YEAR 4
A
E T N I o o e g s i s n n o o e o a l o i s e i e r n p o a e o
YEAR 7
O I I O : R T G U U S F U A E E n r e - g a o e v u y s r n n m i a x e i
YEAR 2
A
E T N I S C a
A S n e e h d n a
n n a t e g s g u f a v u
YEAR 5
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E T N I S C e s a A S o i h m r n f r t g t r e e f l i n n s n o e i i c s )
YEAR 8
I R I T N a - n g a e n o t c v i g e t e i s b t h i u s
E O S e e , r s e e n u c o d i , o e , e e , e i i , o i n r a , h i , u o , a , p o a
A E T N I
e s h S C a A S e u e n e s , n . h e e h d n o n r a h h r o e n o h .
o a s o i N f h e h g e u e s n i k l t n i . u S o c a l e i e n h c o e i .
O r w e l l P a r k P a r e n t s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n Thank you for your continued help and support
SCHOOL COMMUNITY
The Parents’ Association has now been in operation for just over one term (although I’m sure it feels much longer for some!) Having raised £11,600 for our chosen charities and the school last year, the Committee are looking forward to fresh challenges this academic year which will bring this brilliant community together. If you have any questions or would like to be involved in anyway, please contact Trish (misssuffolk2008@hotmail.co.uk) or a member of the staff team.
Are you interested or do you know someone who would like a stall at our Christmas Fayre on Saturday 6 December at 2pm? Please contact Trish! th
SHU Shop Coordinator
Georgina Callander
Bake Sale Coordinator Niki King
SHU Shop Coordinator Fi Siddall
Events Coordinator Leanne Gittins
The SHUshop is now OPEN!
O r w e l l P a r k P a r e n t s ’ A s s o c
The SHUshop will now be run on donations, honesty, and everyone’s cooperation Please use the drop-in times to come and find what you need.
Shoppers welcome: All uniform at the SHUshop will be a standard price and any money raised will go the school.
· All you need to do is visit the shop during opening times, find the items you need, and pay using a card machine. We cannot accept cash.
Any new starters can receive uniform bundles by the SHUshop liaising with class reps
· Any boarders whose parents can’t visit the shop can email their requests and their child can visit the shop to choose clothing on a Wednesday morning, and you can pay over the phone by contacting the school office.
· We want to encourage the children and the wider school community to all take part in the SHUshop so that we reuse, recycle, declutter, and size up for a fraction of the cost, while raising money to enrich school life for the benefit of all our children.
Donations welcome: Please only hand in uniform which is washed, unstained, without frayed cuffs!
There will be a basket to put your donations in, inside the Head’s PA office off the North Hall.
Shushop.orwellpark@gmail.com
Please help or ask any questions - WIFI and Coffee for any volunteers!
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Donate clean football/astro boots, shin pads & hockey sticks to Sally’s office.
Shoes: tie laces together
Shin pads: strap as a pair
Pick up items at the SHUshop for a £1 donation.
Other equipment not accepted.
Prefer to sell uniform? If you have new or barely worn uniform which you would prefer to sell, an Orwell Park parents facebook page has been set up which parents can use themselves This is not managed by the SHUshop.
LOCATION
In the courtyard of the main school. Please park as normal and WALK around to the courtyard entrance which will be open during shop opening hours. It will be clearly signposted.
Pupil Edit Mingrun, Year 6 Pupil Edit Mingrun, Year 6
Each month, we sit down with one of our pupils to hear about their favourite moments, exciting discoveries and proudest achievements at school.
For the first month of the academic year, we are going to hear what Mingrun had to say about his exciting summer holidays.
What’s been your favourite part of the summer holidays and why? We spent time with two different families with children the same age as my brother and I so it was fun playing with people the same age as me We also went with one family to three different places (Cambridge, Norway and Singapore). It was my favourite time as I could share it with others.
What’s something new you’ve tried or learned recently that surprised you?
I went surfing for the first time and I was able to not fall off on more than half of the waves that I rode!
What’s one moment this summer that made you feel really proud?
I competed in my first sailing races in Aldeburgh The first time we were rigging the boat it took almost an hour but on the last day it only took ten minutes!
What’s the most fun or unusual thing you’ve done lately?
When we went to Singapore, we visited the Supertree Grove. Each tree is a metal structure 25-50 meters high and is decorated with more than 163 thousand plants and has over 200 species on each tree! It has solar panels that store energy to power the weekly light shows at night and store rainwater as well.
Who’s someone who made your day better this summer and what did they do?
My friend when I went sailing, as we worked together smoothly and we made a good team when we were in the water.
Sleep Matters: Tips for Children and Families
Getting enough good-quality sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our bodies and minds. Just like healthy food and regular exercise, sleep is a protective factor that helps keep us well now and in the future. Children who sleep well are better able to concentrate, learn, manage their emotions, and stay healthy. Long-term, good sleep habits can even reduce the risk of poor mental health.
How much sleep do children need?
Why IS good sleep so important?
Good quality sleep:
Helps memory and learning stick Boosts mood and emotional resilience. Supports growth and physical health. Builds long-term habits that protect against stress, anxiety, and depression.
Top Tips for Great Sleep Hygiene
These evidence-based strategies can make bedtime calmer and sleep more restful:
Keep a regular sleep routine: Going to bed and waking time every day (even at weekends) helps the body’s “interna
Create a wind-down time: Reading, listening to calm mu gentle stretches can help signal to the brain that it’s nearly be
Screens off before sleep: The blue light from phones, ta brain into thinking it’s still daytime. Try switching off at least a
Make the bedroom sleep-friendly: A cool, dark, and quiet room helps Soft lighting and tidy spaces can also make a difference.
Be mindful with snacks: Large meals, caffeine (like fizzy drinks or chocolate), and sugary snacks too close to bedtime can keep the body buzzing.
matters: Fresh air, exercise, and daylight during the day all or sleep later.
Want to know more?
Parents and older pupils might like to explore: NHS Every Mind Matters – www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters
Charity – www.thesleepcharity.org.uk Child Mind Institute – Sleep Tips for Children – childmind org
Remember: good sleep isn’t about perfection every night, but building healthy habits over time. Small changes can make a big difference!
Books to enjoy and explore together.
month we have selected some great books on the topic of puberty and growing up.
For our youngest pupils...
Ideal for Years 3 +
Let’s Talk About the Birds and the Bees – Molly Potter
A fun, illustrated guide to puberty, relationships, and respect, with an inclusive approach to gender, ethnicity, and family diversity.
Years 4-6 might enjoy...
Growing Up: an inclusive guide to puberty and your changing body by Rachel Greener.
A modern and inclusive guide to help every child understand their journey from childhood to being a grown-up
For our older pupils...
Sex, Puberty and all that stuff by Jacqui Bailey
For Adults...
Written in a relatable, humorous tone, this updated edition covers everything from body changes and emotional swings to relationships, identity, and staying safe-without scare tactics or shame. Why every teenager needs a parrot by
Alicia Drummond
An easy to read, practical guide, providing top tips for parenting 21 Century st Teenagers. Alicia runs the Wellbeing Hub Digital Platform.
