Feltonfleet-Newsletter-Friday-14Th
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A busy first Leadershipweek! Newsletter Issue Friday 14th September 2018 FROM THE HEADMISTRESS The new academic year has got off to a flying start, with no time wasted as the children have settled into their work and new routines. Our youngest children in Nursery are already showing such imagination and creativity in their play and interactions with one another in their new rooms. It is so lovely to see them so comfortable in these early days, happily playing and chatting to each other and their teachers. The Pre-Prep has a fresh feel this term, and all the refurbishment in the summer to reorganise teaching rooms and colour schemes has produced a really attractive, calm learning space. We have welcomed 52 new pupils into the Lower School this term, some of course from the Pre-Prep, but many also from other schools. Even if Feltonfleet may be totally new to them, I have been really impressed with how they are all settling in to school life. They have focused beautifully in assemblies and made some thoughtful contributions. For the Year 5s, the transition to Middle School brings with it lots of new routines, as well as greater independence and challenge, and it is good to see the pupils starting their next stage so positively. The Year 6 pupils have begun the first phase of the “Discover you” process. The aim of these workshops is to build pupils’ self-awareness and help them articulate their qualities. We feel sure that the Year 6s will find the sessions really valuable. In the Upper School, Year 7 have embraced the challenges of the new academic curriculum and enrichment programme. Our most senior pupils in Year 8 have responded so positively to the invitation to take on positions of responsibility. The Heads of School in particular spoke with such admirable confidence in Assembly about the roles they will fill and their ambitions for the coming year. This is the time in their Feltonfleet journey when we encourage all Year 8s to step up, lead others and act as fine role models for the younger pupils. Their conduct very much dictates the tone of our school, so it is a big responsibility, but one we feel they are more than ready to fill. There will be more about their roles in the Newsletters later on this term. Feltonfleet is a vibrant and diverse community, as this early issue of the Newsletter demonstrates. The buzz of purposeful activity across the campus is a great sign for the term ahead. Have a lovely weekend. Shelley Lance INSIDE THIS ISSUE Leadership - Our Prefects 2 Upper School News 7 What’s coming up? 12 New Staff News 3 Upper School News 8 Notices 13 Pre-Prep News 4 Sports News 9 Weekly Bulletin 14 Lower School News 5 Achievement 10 Next week’s menu will be Middle School News 6 Headmistress Awards 11 available on the website 1 LEADERSHIP WELCOME FROM OUR NEW HEADS OF SCHOOL Emily When it was announced that I was going to be the new Head Girl I felt so many different emotions. I was overwhelmed, full of happiness and excited to be able to tell my family and I was wondering what they would be thinking. I was also excited and felt proud of myself and my achievement. I will definitely try my hardest to get people to understand each other and get along with each other. I want to help children as they move from one stage to another so that they are not worried or anxious. We sometimes forget it is a big step moving, for example, from Lower to Middle School and I want to be there for the pupils and share my experience with them. I want to make a difference. Charlie When my name was announced I had mixed emotions. I was really, really happy and excited and also nervous because I wasn’t totally sure what it involved or what was expected of me. I was amazed I had been given the opportunity to be Head Boy. I don’t want to bring anything physical to the role, like a building or anything like that but I do want to contribute to the happiness of the pupils and make sure they are okay. I feel I have come a long way especially in public speaking and this year I really want to test my limits in different ways. In Year 7 I really enjoyed and felt inspired by my role as Peer Mentor, getting to know the younger pupils, and I want to continue with this in my role. Like Emily we have been through the different years and so can help them move from one stage to another. MEET OUR NEW PREFECT TEAM Charlie B, Emily J, Sam A, Venetia S, Anna P, Harry T, Maya B, Henry M (Head of Boarding), Noah A, Libby C, Elizabeth H, Alex R, Sophie W, Charlotte S, Freddie D, Navik M, Joe S, Luke V, William W, Tabitha E (Head of LS Prefects) Amelia R-F (Head of Calvi Prefects) 2 NEW STAFF NEWS WE ASKED OUR NEW MEMBERS OF STAFF TO REFLECT ON THEIR FIRST WEEK AS MEMBERS OF OUR FELTONFLEET FAMILY. James Thompson Head of PE and Boys Games I have had a great first week at Feltonfleet. There is a great enthusiasm for sport amongst the children here and they have worked with focus and commitment to make a great start to term. The staff body here have been hugely welcoming and have helped me feel part of the team. Danielle Molyneux L-r: Yvonne Cheung, Amy Adams, Nicky Jordan English and Games Having just returned from a fantastic year of teaching in Yvonne Cheung Dubai, I am so excited to have already immersed myself into Nursery Teacher life at Feltonfleet. It has been My first week at Feltonfleet has been great! I am wonderful meeting so many of amazed at how fast I have settled and it is all the confident and determined down to the very supportive and amazing team in young people here and I am looking forward to the Pre-prep and of course my lovely nursery class. adventure ahead! One thing I love the most here at Feltonfleet is the atmosphere. All the teachers and children are so Robert kind and enthusiastic it really makes me feel relaxed and happy, which is very important as the Palmer-Leeraar day is so busy. Science and Games This first week has been Amy Adams amazing! My previous school Reception Teacher was a Catholic Primary School in Portsmouth, so the vast I have only been at Feltonfleet for a week and areas of green space are great already feel at home. The staff, pupils and to see! Teaching Science in Feltonfleet has been a parents have all been so welcoming and fantastic experience, with inquisitive and curious supportive. The Pre-Prep has such a warm, kind children who are ready to learn. I look forward to atmosphere and the children are full of character the coming weeks and the new experiences which and fun. will come my way! Nicky Jordan Marcus Buchanan Year 2 Teaching Assistant Gap Student I have received an amazing welcome from all the My first week at Feltonfleet staff, parents and children. Immediately I have has been phenomenal. I felt felt at ease with my new colleagues at Pre at home when I started Prep. As I am working at the Breakfast and Owls working as everyone is really Clubs, at either end of the day, this has enabled friendly and determined to me to be part of a positive community that make Feltonfleet a positive upholds our core values! I look forward to the and productive environment. forthcoming term ahead! 3 PRE - P R E P N E W S The first seven days in the Pre-Prep have seen 29 new pupils joining us, with at least one new face in each classroom. In the Nursery every pupil had their first Feltonfleet day, although a fair proportion were already familiar as siblings to existing pupils and also the children of some our staff. Despite being only 3 years old, they very quickly settled into their newly styled Beach and Forest rooms, now located at the end of the corridor allowing them greater flexibility to flow between both rooms and the outdoor area. Reception and Year 1 had the benefit of added familiarity by returning to the rooms they left in July which have been reinvented as River Room for Reception and Ocean Room for Year 1. Year 2 have now moved in the direction of the Main School into the Mountain Room. This has been totally remodelled to include a terrace to enhance flexibility of space and allow the outdoor area to be more fully utilised as a quieter place for Year 2 to extend their learning. We have re-organised our teaching rooms and colour schemes to provide a calmer learning environment, enabling more visual thinking space for pupils and staff. In addition to our new pupils, our teaching team has grown with the arrival of Miss Cheung (Nursery Teacher), Miss Adams (Reception Teacher) and Mrs Jordan (Year 2 Teaching Assistant, also providing care and supervision in Breakfast and Owls). On Monday, our newly extended clubs programme began. From this term clubs will run on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for Year 1 and Year 2. Our Values assemblies began with a game of ‘Pass the Parcel’ to unwrap a large gift that was for everyone to share, the content of which was Kindness.