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It has been such a musical week at St Peter’s 2-8 with three live streamed Year Group music concerts and the Whole School Foundation Concert that was screened on YouTube on Thursday evening. As I write this newsletter I have just returned from the Year 3 music concert in the Rayson Room. All of the Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 children performed in concerts that were absolutely wonderful. Fabulous collaborative singing from our choirs and solo, duet and quartet performances on recorders, violins, guitars, drums, piano and bassoon. These concerts were live streamed to parents, families and friends both in UK and around the world. My huge thanks to the IT team led by Barry Nacey who set up the technology for all to be able to be part of a virtual audience for our stunning musicians. At St Peter’s 2-8 we place a tremendous emphasis on music led by Mrs Hayden,
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Newsletter No: 29 Friday, 28th May 2021
with the Year 1 children and our close friend Billy Hickling, a leading performer from the musical ‘Stomp’, will be leading a workshop with the year 2 and Year 3 children. Next half term we are planning a Grand Exhibition for each Year Group to showcase their learning throughout the term including musical items. We are planning to be inviting parents to visit our Grand Exhibition and watch the children perform. I can’t wait…! On the theme of creativity Mrs Hall has organised a House Art Competition for all of the children to take part in. All entries have been displayed in an Art our wonderful Director of Music. Exhibition on the music school lawn at St Walking around the school you can Peter’s 13-18. The exhibition was always hear children singing in classrooms spectacular, akin to the summer show at in addition to the fabulous sound that the Royal Academy in London. Well done permeates around the school from Mrs to everyone who took part in the Hayden’s music room. Music at St Peter’s competition and huge congratulations to 2-8 provides an important contribution to the House Winners, Year Group winners the life of school and is celebrated, and the best in show. Thanks to Mr Hall promoted and encouraged. Music at and Ms Chisolm for doing the most school helps build children’s self-esteem, difficult role of judging and huge thanks to self-discipline and leads to higher Mrs Hall not only for organising the event standards across all areas of the but also for creating and setting up the curriculum. As a school we reap the stunning exhibition. benefits from the transformational power This week Nursery were invited on that music brings to the children, staff, holiday and had a wonderful, if slightly parents and the wider school community, damp, adventure on the school minibuses as we have seen in the past with our to the boat houses (via the ring road to intergenerational music workshops. make the most of the journey!) The Research tells us that music boosts played in paddling pools, took school improvement, improves the photographs in a photobooth AND had a learning process, fosters collaborative REAL ice-cream van. Well done Miss skills, builds life skills, underpins better Kelsh and team, and thank you to Darren behaviour, improves self-confidence, Adamson and the Estates team for all encourages creativity and is so much fun! their help. These skills have been evident throughout As we approach half term we will be the term and most recently in the Whole preparing class lists for the next academic School Foundation Concert last night, year. The rationale for creating new which was outstanding with stunning classes is to ensure the children get to performances across the school. If you know all their peers in the year group as missed the concert you can watch the they travel on their educational journey recording here: Whole School through St Peter’s 2-18. The teachers use Foundation Concert. their professional knowledge and insight My huge thanks to all the children who to create the classes for the following participated and the staff who created this brilliant production. Special thanks to Mrs Hayden for creating a fabulous environment for the children to be able to be creative, perform and thoroughly enjoy this incredibly important discipline/ area of school life. Next half term we have even more inspiring music experiences for our children. One of the most famous orchestras in the country, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, who are based in London, will be leading a workshop with our Reception and Nursery children, Gamelan musicians from York University will be working
year, ensuring a mix of boys and girls, age and independence. I know it causes a little anxiety with parents, but please trust our professional judgement as we observe your children every day in school and we spend a great deal of time ensuring this is a successful process for all. These will be communicated during the second week after half term. As we go into half term, I wanted to say how proud I am off all that children and staff have achieved during the past six weeks. St Peter’s 2-8 winning both the TES Pre-prep School of the Year Award and the TES Independent School of the Year Award was an astonishing achievement and a reflection of the incredible team effort by staff, teaching and support, parents and families, leadership, governors and our fabulous children. There will be a letter sent to you to keep you informed of the plans for the second half of term. Much of this has to be provisional but I thought it would be useful to share with you a sense of how the coming weeks are hoped to unfold. It is very busy and exciting. I hope you have a restful half term before we return for what will be another busy and exciting few weeks as we head towards the end of the school year. Never was a half term break more richly deserved and I hope the coming week will bring opportunities for rest and time spent together. May I take this opportunity to thank the outstanding staff team at 2-8 who work so hard for your children, to you as parents for your continued and ongoing support and most importantly to the children who make this job the best in the world. Have a great week and see you on Monday 7th June. Have a wonderful week,