Dear Parents
The weeks seem to be rolling by far too quickly! I can’t believe that we are already so close
to the Easter holidays. Well done this week to all those involved in the Composition
Competition Finals. Adjudicator, Andrew O’Brien, Director of Music at Haileybury, said that
he had visited a number of Prep Schools to judge such events, and was stunned by the
standard. It is a great competition: all the boys in the school work in groups of three-five,
composing original music; the best were selected for the final. It also helps develop skills we
think are vital for learning, and for success later in life, such as teamwork, independence and
creativity.
It has been an excellent term so far, with a number of highlights in the classroom, on the
sports field, and on the stage. There are a few more still to come in the week and a half
which remains before the holiday; I am especially looking forward to the Informal Concert for
Brass and Woodwind in the Erskine May Hall today, and to Beowulf, which takes place in the
Quarry Theatre next week . See below for further details. I would also like to draw your
attention to advice provided by IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) about how
to keep boys safe using social media.
YEAR 3
Y3 ‘Missing in the Antarctic’ Talk, Friday 24th March
Next Friday afternoon we have invited Debby Horsman into the school to talk to the Y3 boys
in connection with their topic on Extreme Earth. Debby is a relation of Arnold Spencer-Smith,
the photographer and padre who joined the Ross Sea Party on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic
Expedition from 1914-1917.’ Debby has recommended that boys interested in the topic look
at the Scott Polar Research Institute for further information ​www.spri.cam.ac.uk​.
Y3 House Hockey, Tuesday 21st March
The Y3 boys are competing in House Hockey on Tuesday. All parents are welcome to come
and watch. The Y3s are due to play from 1.45 - 2.45pm.
Games Kit
Could parents please ensure that the boys bring their complete kit (including blue socks and
shin pads and either boots for football or trainers for hockey) for Games lessons on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, as a number of boys regularly turn up without the necessary
items.
YEAR 4 Y4 House Hockey, Tuesday 21st March
The Y4 boys are competing in House Hockey on Tuesday. All parents are welcome to come
and watch. The boys are due to play from 3 - 4pm.
Y4 House Football, Thursday 23rd March
The Y4 boys are competing in House Football on Thursday. All parents are welcome to
come and watch. The boys are due to play fro 1.45 - 2.45pm.
YEAR 5
YEAR 6 YEAR 7 YEAR 8
Upper School Ski Trip, December 2017
Mr Huddlestone is organising an US ski trip in December 2017 in the La Thuile area of the
Italian Alps. The trip will depart on Saturday 16​th and return on Saturday 23​rd December
2017. The trip is open to all boys in the Upper School including current Y8 boys going into
Y9 in September. The cost of the trip is £950. If you wish to secure a place on the trip please
return the forms with a non-refundable deposit cheque for £75 payable to ‘Bedford School
Trust Central Bank’. Half payment to be made by 10​th July and full payment by 18​th
September. Please return forms to Mr Huddlestone or Mrs Yolanda Larrier in the Bell Room.
For further information please see ​here​.
ALL PS YEAR GROUPS James & The Giant Peach Audition Notice
Auditions for James & The Giant Peach have been rescheduled due to a number of sporting
activities.
​The workshop will be held in the Old Theatre on Tuesday 21st March,
between 4.15pm - 5.15pm for those boys who have signed up and who are not in
House Swimming. Year 3 & 4 boys who have signed up will audition on Wednesday
lunchtime, from 12.15pm - 1.00pm in the Old Theatre​. Any other boys who have signed
up and who cannot make these two slots will be seen at a time mutually suitable for all
another time next week.
Prep Drama presents: Beowulf
Fate Goes as Ever Fate Must
Tickets are now on sale through the Quarry Theatre Box Office for the exciting and
innovative Prep Drama production of ​Beowulf. ​Y7 and Y8 pupils have devised a piece of
physical theatre based on Seamus Heaney's translation of the epic, Old English poem.
Featuring live music, song and movement, performances are being staged in the Quarry
Theatre on ​Thursday 23rd, Friday 24th & Saturday 25th March at 7.30pm. As ever,
tickets for pupils are free. Space is limited, so book early to avoid disappointment
www.quarrytheatre.org.uk
Baba Yaga, Thursday 27th - Friday 28th April
Notice for all parents of boys involved in the performance
Due to the many extra commitments of the boys over the last couple of weeks and the
upcoming Easter holiday, Mrs Gedye has arranged for several extra rehearsals. Most of
these will be held during school hours but there will also be an ​additional rehearsal on
Saturday 25th March from 9am - 12pm in the EMH and it is important that the whole cast
attends. Mrs Gedye has also asked that all her choir boys spend time over Easter learning
their song words as the production is just one week after term starts. A separate letter has
also been sent about costumes to all those in the production. For a taster of the production
please see the link ​here.​ Tickets will go on sale after Easter.
Digital Safety
The Digital Generation
This resource has been put together by IAPS, the Independent Association of Prep Schools,
which we belong to as a Prep School. It contains a great deal of information about the pitfalls
for children using digital technology and social media without care; it goes into detail about
the dangers, and how to protect our children from online abuse. Some of it is very hard
hitting, and we pass it on to you not in the expectation that you go through all of it with your
boys, but that you pick and choose to suit your son, at the right time. Forewarned is
forearmed, although the most essential advice is that you are aware of your son’s online
use, take care to educate him about how to use it positively and safely, and reassure him
that it is ok to talk to you about anything he is concerned about. We spend time looking at
this in school, and any reinforcement from home will be enormously beneficial.
Howard House’s Charity Dance-off
Thank you very much to boys and parents for their support of Howard's Charity Dance-off
last week. We have so far raised around £300 for the Bedfordshire Down’s Syndrome
Support Group. If you missed the fun, you can see the video of our Unison dance on the
Bedford School Facebook page and our 'just giving page' is open for another week if you
would still like to make a donation:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/HOWARDHOUSEcharity2017
Prep School Ball, Saturday 17th June - four tables left
The Prep Guild would like to thank all of you who have bought tickets to this event. There
are just four tables left, so please reserve your place soon if you wish to come along. Tickets
can be purchased individually or in tables of ten. For further information please see ​here​.
Summer and October camps
Please see below three camps which are running at Bedford School later this year. For more
information and booking please see ​http://www.activatecamps.co.uk/venues/bedford-school/
7​th​-11​th​ August: Activate Gold Medal Academy, age 5-16
£42/day, £160/week. Sibling discount & extended hours available
The Gold Medal Academy is a unique opportunity to experience and sample a variety of
sports and activities themed around the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. The
programme has been devised using expert input from leading athletes and coaches and has
been broken down into relevant skills and games for all ages. GMA exists to help children
aged between 5 and 16 find sports and experiences they love and can develop.
21​st​-25​th​ August: Activate Multi-Activity Camp, age 5-12
£42/day, £160/week. Sibling discount & extended hours available
On a Multi-Activity Camp we combine lots of different activities with a blend of dance, drama,
arts & crafts and games​. ​This camp is ideal if sport is not your thing, as we'll bring a whole
host of fabulous activities for you to try. Join the fun of ‘Wacky Wednesday’, or 'Wet-day'
where campers can turn up in fancy dress and use the water slide and take part in the
Wet-day Olympics.
26​th​-27th October: Activate Grays Hockey Masterclass, age 7-16
£47/day, £90/both. Sibling discount & extended hours available
The Grays Hockey Masterclass is a unique nationwide hockey coaching course for both girls
and boys aged 7 to 16 years of age. Our course has been custom designed to deliver all
aspects of hockey, ideal for any level of player. Whether you are new and want to enjoy your
first hockey experiences or have played before, our coaching programme is designed for
everyone to benefit, enjoy and develop their game in a fun and safe learning environment
Parents’ Guild Nearly New Shop, Saturday 18th March
If you missed the special opening last Saturday, our Nearly New Shop will once again be
open for you to pick up some summer uniform and sports kit tomorrow from 8.30 - 10.30am.
House Swimming, Tuesday 21st March
House Swimming for all years takes place after school on 21st March.
Calendar for the next few weeks
Start Date
Start
Time
End
Time
Description
17/03/2017
16:30
17:30
Prep School Informal Concert for Brass and Woodwind
in the EMH
18/03/2017
11:00
12:00
Indoor Cricket (6-a-side) : U10A v Northamptonshire (H)
18/03/2017
11:00
16:00
U13 Rugby 7s at Dulwich Festival (A)
18/03/2017
12:00
13:00
Indoor Cricket (6-a-side) : U11A v Northamptonshire (H)
18/03/2017
14:30
15:15
U13 A, C, U12 A, C (1330), U13B, D, U12B, D (1415)
Hockey v Stamford (A)
19/03/2017
10:00
14:00
Rugby: U14, U12 Reigate Rugby Sevens(A)
20/03/2017
12:15
12:50
Y5-6 House Squash
21/03/2017
12:15
12:50
Y5-6 House Squash
21/03/2017
13:30
16:10
Hamlet Workshop for Y6
21/03/2017
13:45
14:45
Y3 House Hockey (H)
21/03/2017
15:00
16:00
Y4 House Hockey (H)
21/03/2017
16:30
17:15
Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6, Y7 & Y8 House Swimming Relays (H)
22/03/2017
13:00
16:00
Y5, Y6, Y7, Y8 House Hockey (H)
22/03/2017
15:30
16:30
U10A, B Football v Rushmoor (H)
23/03/2017
13:45
14:45
Y4 House Football (H)
23/03/2017
14:15
15:30
U8A, U8B, U8C, U8D, U8E Football v Beacon (A)
24/03/2017
10:00
17:00
U13 Rugby 7s at National Schools Tournament (A)
25/03/2017
11:15
12:00
Indoor Cricket (6-a-side) : U12A v Northamptonshire (H)
25/03/2017
12:15
13:00
Indoor Cricket (6-a-side) : U13A v Northamptonshire (H)
28/03/2017
16:30
17:45
House Water Polo (H)
29/03/2017
09:00
09:35
House Tug of War (H)
29/03/2017
11:55
Term Ends
30/03/2017
30/03/2017
Y7 - Y8 German Trip departs 04:30hrs (meet at
04:00hrs)
00:00
00:00
31/03/2017
02/04/2017
Y7 - Y8 Spanish & Art Trip departs 03:45hrs
Y3 - Y5 Easter Ski Trip departs 11.15am (meet at
10.45am)
00:00
00:00
Y7 - Y8 Spanish & Art Trip returns 23:55hrs
For the full calendar please click​ ​here
Details of teams for sports fixtures are available a day or two before the fixture and can be
accessed​ ​here
Speech and Drama Timetables for the upcoming week are available​ ​ here
Menus for the coming week are available ​here
This term’s letters are also available to view in the Parents’ section on the school website on
the​ ​Parents’ Letters page​.
For details on all the concerts, exhibitions and lectures this term, please see the ​What’s On
Guide