Newsletter – 19 January 2024 - Chard School | Independent Prep School in Chard South Somerset

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Friday 12 January 2024

Word from the Head, Katie Hill

The children have been fizzing with their learning this week, the highlight for us all was without doubt our ‘Going Green’ Wow day yesterday. On Tuesday the Prep School performed brilliantly in the Area Cross Country Tournament at Holyrood despite the freezing temperatures. Miss Taswell was impressed with their dedication and perseverance in tackling the course so well, being their first cross country run since the Christmas break. Congratulations in particular go to Mary S. who finished in 2nd place, Joseph S. & Clara M. who were 6th, Robin B who came in 7th and Emily W. & Iggy S. in 9th position. Miss T was chuffed to have six children who finished within the top ten in their respective races. A huge well done to our Monmouth runners who tackled their first Cross Country competition with gusto. Miss T was very proud of you all.

The children loved our Guest Assembly this week when Alice from Fizz Pop Science came and wowed the children with her science demonstrations. The deflating balloons caused much hilarity as they flew around the chapel but the highlight had to be the flying toilet roll! Ask your children about this experiment, they loved it! I was pleased to hear what a hit our Fizz Pop Science After School Club was too.

Have you seen the tour of our school that was filmed this week on social media? A huge thank you to Mrs Peniston-Bird for masterminding this for us and to Daisy H. who was the star of the show. Daisy showcased our historic school buildings and Chard Prep School children in their learning and play with such enthusiasm. We were all very impressed Daisy and you should feel very proud of yourself.

We were all delighted when Thursday arrived as this was our ‘Going Green’ Wow Day. The children were excited to discover that a planetarium had arrived in our Gym on Thursday morning and simply loved their class sessions in the planetarium throughout the day with Mr Ould. We were pleased that some of you as parents were able to come and enjoy these sessions with your children too. Last night we were delighted to welcome our Science Ambassadors back to school at 5pm, along with the Science Ambassadors from three local schools to our Science Evening. The children and their parents all had a super time experiencing four different space themed workshops. From space themed art and music workshops, to a session in the planetarium and star gazing with the Chard Astronomy Society it certainly was a very exciting evening which was all topped off with hot chocolate and doughnuts. A huge thank you to all involved with this special evening but in particular to Mrs Halford who masterminded the Science Evening for all of the local Science Ambassadors.

Next week on Tuesday the Cerdics are looking forward to attending a Dance Workshop and our gymnasts are looking forward to the start of our Gymnastics After School Club too. On Wednesday our new Drama After School Club starts and on Thursday Mrs Orr-Ewing is looking forward to welcoming Pre-school age children and their families to our fist Mini Melody Makers session of the term. On Saturday the FOCS are holding a Nearly New Baby & Children’s Clothing & Toy Sale in the Chard School Chapel, we hope to see you there.

Calendar Events/Clubs 15 – 20 December

Calendar Events

Monday 15th January
Tuesday 16th January Dance Hour @ Holyrood Dance Studio – 2.00pm to 3.00pm
Guest Assembly @ 3.15pm – Father Julian Laurence

Wednesday 17th January
Swimming @ Chard Leisure Centre – Whole School from 2.15pm

Thursday 18th January
Mini Melody Makers, Pre-school children 10.15am to 11.15am

Friday 19th January
Celebration Assembly @ 3.10pm

Saturday 20th January
Nearly New Baby & Children’s clothes & toy sale – 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Chapel

Clubs

Monday
Crochet Club Yrs 5 – 6 – Mrs Elmer
Choir – All years (1st half of term only) – Mrs Halford

Tuesday
Gymnastics Club – All years – The London Ballet Company

Wednesday
Drama Club – All years – The London Ballet Company
Netball – Years 4 – 6 – Miss Taswell
Art & Craft Club – Pre-Prep – 1st Half of term only – Mrs Downing

Thursday
Fizz Pop Science – Years 3 – 6 – Fizz Pop Science External provider

Friday
Music Ensemble – Years 3 – 6 – Mrs Orr-Ewing
Karate – Years 2 – 6 – Mr Hazell

Everyday Clubs

Before Club 8 – 8.45am (included in School fees) Booking required

Prep Club 3.45 – 4.30pm (included in School fees) Booking required

After School Club 4.30 – 5.30pm (£5.75 Charge) Booking required

Reminders

As a matter of safety, please ensure that you always shut our school gate behind you.
As a matter of safety, please ensure that you always shut our school gate behind you.
Please ensure that your child brings a named coat to school daily with these freezing temperatures.
Following our school ‘healthy snack’ guidelines, please send your child to school with a ‘healthy snack’ each day.
Please remember that we are a nut free school.
Your Prep children will need to have their football boots in school daily to support this terms PE & Games sessions.

Lunch menu

Please refer to week three on the MENU OPTIONS.

Mr Sills book recommendation

Howl’s Moving Castle

Young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell…

Deciding she has nothing more to lose, Sophie makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above her town, Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl, whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls…

There Sophie meets Michael, Howl’s apprentice, and Calcifer the fire demon, with whom she agrees a pact. Her entanglements with Calcifer, Howl and Michael and her quest to break her curse come alive with Diana Wynne Jones’s unique combination of magic, humour and imagination. 9+

Friends of Chard Prep School Events

On the 20th January we are holding our first school fundraising event of the year – a baby and child nearly new sale. If you have any lightly used, good condition baby, toddler or children’s clothes, shoes, toys, or equipment we’d be very grateful for any donations for our school stall. If you have lots of stuff and you’d like to sell it yourself, you are also welcome to book a stall of your own for £10 (keep all the profit) or if you would like to donate some or all of the profit to the school, we are offering tables for free.

Please could all donations be dropped off at school by the morning of Wednesday 17th January. Volunteers before the day to help sort out donations or on the day to help set up, take down and man the school stall or the entrance would be welcomed with open arms, and likewise donations of cake for our cake stall would also be greatly received.

If you are able to help in any way or would like a stall please drop Ella Lane a message on 07746637818

Award Winners

Birthdays

Wilfred L will be 5 on 15^th Jan.

Old Cerdics Association

The President and Members of the Old Cerdics Association extend their warm wishes to the family community at Chard Prep School for a very happy and successful New Year. May 2024 bring prosperity and joy to you all.