newsletter
Issue No 7 | 2014-15 | Friday 16 January 2015
Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
Introduction - Head of Pre-prep
Dear Parents,
The Pre-prep children have started the term with their usual excitement and enthusiasm for the weeks ahead.
During the first few days it was a pleasure to witness their joy at being reunited with their friends and class-mates.
They shared exciting stories of Father Christmas visiting them during the holidays and of the new toys that they
had received. Always being quick to spot change and differences the Madingley children were intrigued by the new
fence that has extended the playground area, and all the Pre-prep children noticed the arrival of new iPads in the
classrooms. What was clear from these first few days of term is that the children were pleased to be back at school
and were eager in their anticipation of what lay ahead as they began to hear about the this terms topic: Eureka!
To launch the topic the children have been using their Creative Thinking
tool to help them invent. The range of inventions have included a spray toy
to use in the bath (from Thomas in Kindergarten) a bike for Elsa (from Evie
in Reception) and a pump-up pillow, that allows you to adjust how plump
your pillow is, whilst lying on it (from Daniel in Year 1)! The children have
had no shortage of ideas and they are also very keen to bring their ideas to
life. The Kindergarten class at Madingley built their toy inventions using junk
modelling while the Kindergarten class in the City Pre-prep have been using
the iPads to make their robot inventions talk.
All of the Early Years children have been exploring in more depth how the
invention of a bicycle can be improved, inspired by the children’s story Mrs
Armitage’s Wheels. They have been taking bikes apart to find out how they
are made and to see if they can add anything to improve the bike.
The Year 1 and 2 classes have spent more time considering the next step in
the development of an invention and honing their skills at testing an idea and
investigating all possibilities. This week they have been investigating how to
make the best possible paper aeroplane by varying the size of the plane, the
design and the type of paper they use.
Many modern inventions include technology and require the inventor to use
their coding skills to make the invention work. The Year 1 classes spent their
coding lesson this week thinking about how they could program a robot to
take photos using an iPad as they all agreed that taking a selfie was not easy.
The children had different algorithms to test before finding the successful
set of instructions. The children’s learning experiences so far this term have
encouraged lots of creative thinking, problem solving and collaboration.
The children’s abundance of ideas and the ability to develop them has been
impressive and I look forward to seeing what they achieve by the end of this
term.
With kind regards,
Sarah Holyoake
Head of Pre-prep
newsletter
Issue No 7 | 2014-15 | Friday 16 January 2015
Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
Pre-prep Tumblr blog
Check out our Tumblr pages to find out what else the Pre-prep classes have been up to: stephenperse.tumblr.com.
Book Club
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, 29th January 2015, at 8pm (contact Jean Woods, 01223 313770).
We will discuss ‘A Riffian’s Tune’ by Joseph M. Labaki and ‘Two Brothers’ by Ben Elton.
We always have a lively discussion and are keen to welcome new members.
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Martha Crouch for details (telephone 07768311015 or email
[email protected]).
newsletter
Issue No 7 | 2014-15 | Friday 16 January 2015
Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
Picture of an alumna - Myrtle Aldren Wright.
At the start of the new year, our alumni office had a
request from the University of Tasmania to research an
alumna, Myrtle Aldren Wright, a peace activist and writer
who was at school during WW1. A fascinating story
unfolded, and we hope you will enjoy reading about Myrtle
and her achievements, with photographs, on our website
(read it here).
We also published ‘A history in 10 objects’ to celebrate
our 130th anniversary four years ago, which brings alive
10 objects in our archives to illustrate the treasures we
preserve.
Our archive at Senior School holds uniforms, books,
registers and photographs dating back to our founding in
Myrtle Aldren Wright 1923 netball team top row middle
1881. We use different elements for exhibitions and
displays at our reunions, which provides fascinating insights into our history.
If you would like to donate to our archives, please get in touch with Melissa Santiago-Val.
Alumni News
We have recently received some great news on a couple of our former science teachers:
Dr Jane Williamson who taught chemistry was made MBE in the New
Years’ Honours list.
Lady Ursula Oxburgh, who was also Head of Chemistry, has had great
success winning two bronze medals in both the sprint and long distance
Orienteering events at the World Masters Championships in Brazil (at
age 80!). You can read about Ursula Oxburgh in the Cambridge News.
We are now back in touch with Ursula, who has now joined our alumni
Facebook profile. She was delighted to see the story had attracted so
many comments and memories from alumni. Ursula commented:
“I’ve loved reading all your comments. [When we were] cycling in
Suffolk, someone consumed a daffodil at the youth hostel because the
food was pretty awful. I remember the soup tasted of water. We also
cycled in Norfolk which was hillier than we had expected but the food
in the youth hostels was somewhat better. We had quite a lot of trouble
with punctures that time but after that Mr Green came with us and he
did the punctures! Then there were all the D of E expeditions. I’m glad
you enjoyed it (or those who didn’t are keeping quiet!) I had a ball so
Lady Ursula Oxburgh with her bronze medals
thank you, girls.”
newsletter
Issue No 7 | 2014-15 | Friday 16 January 2015
Follow us on Twitter: @SPFSchools
Inspire Me
We have an exciting Inspire Me event coming up - Inspire Me: Third Sector on Wednesday 11 March with Dame
Fiona Reynolds DBE 7.30-9.00pm at the Senior School. If you would like to change the world, this event is for you!
Hear inspiring stories about working in the charitable sector, with a guest presentation on our history of fundraising
for Barnardo’s and why it is so important. More information on that event is here.
If you would like to reserve places, please use SchoolPost reply form or email Melissa Santiago-Val.
Forthcoming
SPF-Parents
& Friends Association events for your diary
PFA Quiz Night
DATE CHANGE
The PFA Quiz on 6 February has been postponed and the
event will now be held on Friday 15 May at 7.30pm at the
Senior School Hall. Come and test your knowledge on food
and drink - includes wine tasting and supper!
Christmas Fair
Saturday 6th December 2014
Come test your knowledge on
Food & Drink, including Wine