NP News

Headmaster Writes

By now you will have received our Parent Guide 2 from the Chairman that highlights the key findings from our recent Inspection. It is very important that  you see the following link if you have not already done so:
http://www.northwoodprep.co.uk/inspection_report.html. The report is a highly significant confirmation that the school is very successful in its aim to provide an education ‘where everyone is someone’ in a school which takes account of world-wide innovation and expertise.  The Inspectors say that:

• Pupils enjoy a rich educational experience.Inclusion is a keystone of the curriculum.
• Pupils enjoy their work as they have excellent relationships with their teachers.
• Strong teaching is reflected in pupils’ success in entry examinations to senior schools. A significant proportion of teaching is excellent in line with the school’s aims.
• The pupils demonstrate outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness.
• The care that staff give to the wellbeing of the pupils isoutstanding. Excellent relationships prevail throughout the school
• Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the education their children receive and value the excellent links they have with the school.
• Excellent governance ensures that a good quality of education is provided for all pupils at every stage in line wit the school’s aims.
• The success of the leadership and management is seen in the pupils’ outstanding personal development, the excellent curriculum, the high quality pastoral care and in the standards the pupils achieve. 
  
  We will certainly not be complacent in maintaining these highest standards.   Kind regards, as always                     

KS3 News

After the winter break the pupils and staff have returned with a spring in their step. Life Skills, clubs and matches have resumed in addition to a full academic timetable. Events this term include House football, basketball and cross country as well as the annual school art competition. Andrew Beveridge (Y8W) is Captain of Football and the 1st XI have started the season in style with successive victories against Lyndhurst House and Thorpe House. Congratulations likewise to Harry Rayner (Y8W) for winning the General Knowledge Challenge in Key Stage 3, to James Newman  (Y7B) who received his school colours for his acceptance by the National Youth Choir and to the following boys elected as Form Captains: Karan Gupta (7B), Joshua Marks (7W), Jacob Fordham (8S), Huzaifa Khairullah (8W). The staff enjoyed seeing Year 7 parents at the recent consultation evenings and we extend best wishes to all our Year 8 candidates (and parents!) who are undertaking 13+ Entrance and Scholarship  exams at this time. A similar amount of preparation will be required no doubt for the Valentine’s disco at School on   February 15th .  The 1st XV rugby squad are also eagerly anticipating the school’s overseas rugby tour to Italy.  

KS2 News

The new school term has started well and I would like to welcome Amar Anand (5T) to Northwood Prep. Winter has also arrived! It is now very important that all boys remember to wear school regulation coats, scarves and hats to school to keep warm on these cold days. Please ask them to remember that when they hang the coat up after being outside, it must be by the loop on their peg as otherwise it will fall onto the floor.

Last week there were Year 6 and Year 4 parents’ evenings and a thank you must go to all the parents who attended for a very enjoyable and informative evening. The first football matches of the season have been played with all Year 6 involved against Belmont Prep School.

Congratulations go to Adam Lalani & Govind Grewal 3B, Joseph Dale & Ho-Lam Chan 3E, Neel Bhalla & Freddie   Minihan 4B, Dilan Karia & Rishi Patel 4H, Frazer Pegler & Tommy Barker 5K, Zubair Shah & Oliver Redman 5T, Romi Gupta & Tsukasa Yamano 6F and James Ozden & Shiran Amin 6G for being elected form captain and vice form captain respectively this term.

School Colours have been awarded to  Alistair Ho 6G for his musical excellence as he achieved his grade 5 Theory.   Congratulations, a fantastic achievement.

Congratulations go to Krishen Shah and Shamil Shah, both of 4B, for achieving their Bronze House Points certificates already this term and to Alasdair MacLean 3E for winning a skiing medal recently.

Congratulations also go to Eden Slack for his excellent swimming achievement. Eden swam in the Harrow & Wealdstone Swimming Club championships in 9 different races covering all the strokes. Points were awarded for his position in the races and overall he finished 2nd and received a magnificent trophy. He was only two points behind the winner. Well done! Congratulations also goes to Chaneil Patel Y5 on becoming the youngest Tae kwondo 2nd Dan Black Belt in the UK .  This is absolutely superb and Chaneil is leaving everyone around him lost for words at his achievements.

Please remember that it is important that your son arrives in time for line up at 8.30am in the morning as important information is given out by the staff.

All clubs start after 8am so please do not drop off your son any earlier than this time. If there is an occasion when you need to he will be directed to Breakfast Club with Mrs Lee. The cost, £5, can be paid directly to Mrs Lee on the morning or if necessary the next day. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Junior School News

We have had a very smooth start to the new term and it has been great to see the boys settle back so quickly into the routine of school. Obviously the long holiday has done everyone the world of good. We had a very successful day of 3+ assessments on the first day of term at Nursery, and we saw many delightful children who will be joining us in September. The Staff would all like to express our sincerest thanks to parents for completing the cookery activity at home with your children. In Junior School we had a wonderful assembly (as shown in the photograph) where the children showed their work and we all talked about why cooking is such a fun and yet very      educational experience. We also have put up a beautiful display of the children’s work relating to making biscuits and cakes – perhaps Junior School parents might like to have a look at it when they come for Parents’ Evening next week. The very exciting news this week was the arrival of the snow! We hope that you like the photographs of some of the snowmen that the children created.

email link

As our New Year resolution within the Modern Foreign Languages Department, We have started a new link with a private Mixed French School in  Tunisia (Ecole Paul Verlaine-La Marsa).

My mother, who is both a teacher and the Deputy Head, and myself have been organising this link between the current Year 5 and the CM2 since mid-September of last year. Therefore, our boys have been actively  involved since December in the recording and creation of a fantastic tape including a full presentation of themselves in both French and     English. They have stated their names, age, nationality and where they live. They have also asked three questions each. Now we are waiting for the boys and girls to reply.

They will use both languages too as they have just started to learn English since September, part of their new curriculum. I would like to thank my Year 5 boys for their continuous   enthusiasm and commitment to the French   language.

MIP & MVP

Most Valuable Pupil

This time we congratulate Ben Reeder-Marlow, David Randall, Harry Rayner

Most Improved Pupil

This time we congratulate Theo Gelernter, Bhavik Mehta, Vivek Midha

To encourage further effort and achievement, two cups are awarded to boys in the Senior School each week: Most Valuable Pupil of the week and Most Improved Pupil of the week.

music news

Congratulations to the following boys who sat instrumental exams last term.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate James Newman on his recent success in the National Youth Choir auditions.  James has been  selected as a member and will be participating in their Summer Course in August.  Well done!
Year 5/6 Production – Pilgrim
Boys in Years 5 and 6 are busily preparing their production of Pilgrim – a  musical version of John Bunyan’s classic tale.  Performances take place on Monday and Tuesday, 12 and 13 February at 7pm in the Senior School Hall.  All parents are welcome to attend and tickets will be available from the school office from 5 February.

CAR PARK ETIQUETTE

When bringing your son to school:

• ALWAYS REVERSE INTO SPACES
• Only alight from the car when you have parked in a vacant parking space.
• When you have parked correctly please see your son safely out of the car park.
• Do not wait at the entrance of the first car park. Use both car parks to avoid queues in the drive.
• Only park in the centre of the overflow car park.
• Please observe the one-way signs in the drive and car parks.
• Please depart promptly—this creates the necessary space for other users.
  
  When collecting your son from school:
• Please park your car and collect him from the member of staff at the waiting area, by the notice board, in the main car park.
• If it is raining, boys will be taken to wait for you under the covered way by the Dining Hall.
• Boys have to ask permission before leaving with you.
• They are not permitted to wait in any other area.
• Once you have collected your son, please supervise him and other siblings, to ensure their safety and that of others. (Do not let children run round the trees).
• Please depart as soon as possible to allow others to park.
• Please be considerate to the neighbours both who live in the bungalow and on Sandy Lodge Road with your horns, alarms, slamming doors, etc.
• Do not park on Moor Park Estate at any time if you are on school business.
• If coaches or mini buses are arriving or departing please give way to them, to avoid congestion.
• Cars are parked at owner’s risk. The school accepts no responsibility for loss

np general knowledge quiz

At the start of term the boys in Y5 to Y8 sat a general knowledge paper. There were two papers, one for Year 5 & Year 6 and the other for Y7 & Year 8. Congratulations go to the winners Vivek Midha Y6F and Harry Rayner Y8W who will receive a prize at Speech Day. The top eleven boys from each age group will represent the school in the SATIPS General Knowledge Challenge on February 1st. There names are shown below.

sports news

Welcome back boys to this decidedly chilly start to the football season!
The 1st XI have already played their first two games, winning both in closely fought encounters. The season’s opener against Lyndhurst saw Captain Andrew Beveridge open his account and Peter Ladd added a late strike to seal victory. Thorpe House were the next opponents and two Peter Sinderberry goals settled the match in which the team produced an improved all round display.

Our Year 6 boys have also all been in action against Belmont last week, although they found the going tough. Any spectators couldn’t have failed to notice the new Under 11A football kit, the design is the same as the kit first seen on our senior team last season.

Next week will see all age groups in action against Davenies as the fixtures come thick and fast. Best of luck to all teams!