NP News

Headmaster Writes

I have been deeply impressed with initiatives linked to ecology that are growing at pace within the school. We are making great efforts to  recycle waste and the boys are taking a lead in raising awareness about the need to conserve energy and adopt what is colloquially known as a “green” approach. I am particularly grateful to Mrs.Johnson for her tireless efforts in driving the eco agenda forward as well as her charity work with Operation Christmas Child.  I add a very big thank you to Tessa Douch and the PA Committee for their “sparkling” work in organising another spectacular fireworks night [pictured above].

Everyone that I spoke to on the night enjoyed the event and we were again blessed with very mild weather.  Finally, I am sure that you are aware of our nursery news—please come along to our launch at the school on Saturday 17th November at 10.30 am., if you would like to know more. Kind regards, as always

Kind regards, as always

KS3 News

The main focus for Years 7 & 8 is preparation and revision for school exams next week. Year 8 Parents’ Evenings follow on Thursday, 22nd November and Monday, 26th November (17.00-19.30) and Year 7 at the start of the Spring Term. All parents will receive an end of term Interim Report.

The English Department have arranged a ‘Spelling Bee’ competition after the exams (School website – boys – English - Key Stage 3 spelling list) and I hope to have another Post Exam Challenge.

Thanks to our senior musicians who played at the termly recital, to all   families for their support of the Christmas Box and Poppy Appeals and to the Parents’ Association for the fabulous fireworks.

KS2 News

Welcome back after half term and I hope that you all had an enjoyable break. On November 1st the Parents Association organised bonfire night with a firework display and your support for this explosive event was very much appreciated.
Thank you if you were able to make up a shoebox for ‘Operation Christmas Child’ and to Mrs Johnson for her organisation. The boxes will give cheer to children who otherwise would not receive a gift at Christmas. Poppies are now on sale for Remembrance Day. This money helps support the British Legion who help and care for the soldiers that have been injured in wars.
Congratulations go to Andrew MacLean (6F) & Jonathan Shwartz-Briskin (6J) who reached the quarter final of the U12 IAPS tennis doubles championships and to  Andrew for reaching the semi final of the U12 singles. These are fantastic achievements as they were in Year 5 at the time.
Congratulations also go to Rishav Shah who with his doubles partner won the U11 Hertfordshire Schools Badminton Association County Tournament at the weekend.

junior school news

I have included some photographs of the puppet workshops that took place in Junior School last Friday. It was a truly memorable day, starting with a ‘Three Little Pigs’ show, followed by a workshop for each year group. In the workshops, the children handled puppets and learned how to be puppeteers before making their own puppet, which they brought home. One reception boy said during his workshop, ‘This is the best school ever!’ The full set of photographs will be available on the school website. Janine Gray has completed her vision screening clinic in school this week and results have now gone home. A ticket request letter has been sent home today for our Junior School production, ‘Mend the Manger’. Next week, I am looking forward to the Nursery Parents’ Meetings. By now, you will have all heard the news about our new project for Nursery and I hope that you are all as excited about the move to Merchant Taylors’ School as we are.

Spelling Bee

To provide a bit of relief for the boys after the upcoming exams, Mr Smith and I will be running two American-style spelling bees for Y5-8: one each for Key Stages 2 & 3.  These will take place during assembly on the 23rd  of this month.  As this will be a house competition, on the Wednesday before the event, the houses will run their own spelling bees in order to choose one representative from each of the participating year groups.  

All those in Years 5-8 will be welcomed – but not required – to enter. For those unfamiliar with this type of contest, a spelling bee is a competition where participants are asked to spell words orally.  It is a single-elimination event.  In other words, if you spell your word correctly, you remain in the competition; if you misspell it, you are asked to sit down.  The last one standing is declared the winner.  Obviously there is some luck involved: although the words in each round are approximately of equal difficulty, a competitor may well wish he had been given his neighbour’s word instead of his own. 

If you really would like to get a sense for what spelling bees are all about, I recommend the highly amusing 2002 documentary Spellbound or just visit www.spellingbee.com. Those boys wishing to gear up for the bee should visit the ‘Boys’ Pages’ on the school website.  Go to the English section where you will find the lists for both key stages.  Boys in Key Stage 3 should also revise the Key Stage 2 list (but not vice-versa).  Of course, if on the day of the competition these lists prove    inadequate in our search for a champion, the judges do reserve the right to dive into the school dictionary to find a few suitably challenging words.  Good luck! Spelling Bee KS2 and KS3

MIP & MVP

Most Valuable Pupil

This time we congratulate Arjun Rajani (Y8)

Most Improved Pupil

This time we congratulate Theo Gelernter (Y8)

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.

eco-schools programme

Arjun Rajani in Year 8 has won the eco-school logo competition with his   design incorporating an eye.  The design links really well with the school’s  present motto -'A World Class Outlook.'  The new  eco-motto is in  keeping with the eye design and is 'To see global we need to act local.'  Thanks very much to all those boys who entered.  Our new bird table had an unusual visitor this week. Spot the parrot!

operation christmas child

 

We managed to collect 157 boxes for this year’s Operation Christmas Child appeal.  Thanks very much to all those who took the time to fill a shoebox. I personally found it really rewarding and I loved searching for lots of goodies to fill the boxes with.  Think of all those children who will now have a present at Christmas.

ecdl

Congratulations to the following boys for passing ECDL modules.

Kishan Radia (6J) module 1

Jack Bonnamy (8S),
Bhavik Mehta (6J) &
Rishav Shah (6J)
have passed module 7 and therefore having completed modules 1, 2 & 7 have achieved the British Computer Society Level 1 for IT Users.

ECO-Website

The school has now got an eco-programmes webpage. The pages provide information about all of the schemes that are up and running at school.  There is a photo gallery as well as links to related sites, so have a look.  The link can be found under extra-curricular activities on the school’s home page.  Keep an eye on the bird feeding centre as we have spotted a couple of green parrots enjoying the seeds!

parents association news

Due to the high demand for the P.A. Christmas Party (160 so far) this year, we will be holding the function in the Sports Hall. This now frees up more spaces and if you would like to join us please purchase your tickets through the School Office.

Orders for Northbrook Christmas accessories has now closed. Please collect your orders from the School Office on Friday 23rd November.

sports news

Congratulations to Oliver Redman, Rishav Shah and Kishan Radia for completing the Marathon Challenge. They have all received a Heart Rate Monitor watch which they are using during the break time runs.  Many more boys are on target to finish so keep going!

ancient greeks

‘The best day of my school life so far, was the Greek Day on Tuesday 30th of October 2007’ This was how    Matthew Beveridge started his report about the visit of Legion XIIII to Year 4. Many of the other boys also wrote in similarly enthusiastic terms about the day their history studies came alive. In the morning Pandora, a Greek lady, told both classes about everyday life in ancient Greece. She chose a number of volunteers to help her. Neel Kalhan and Joseph Dale dressed up as slaves and were given various tasks to complete including polishing the bronze mirrors. Alex Mellis volunteered to be dressed as a fashionable Greek lady complete with lipstick made from  berries and eye shadow made from soot. Pandora also told the boys about home life and customs and also all about marriage in the time of the Ancient Greeks. Some of the boys had a Panpipe blowing competition which was won by Alasdair MacLean.

In the afternoon two Greek soldiers,  Arion from Sparta and Lysander from Athens, came to talk to the boys. They showed the boys a range of weapons and armour, including different types of swords and daggers, javelins, slings and bows.  Arion and Lysander also told the boys about battle tactics and the life of a soldier in Ancient Greece. Matthew Beveridge and Rohan Bindra were chosen to try on the helmets and breastplate and hold the big heavy shields. A number of the boys also tried to hold the sword and scabbard in their outstretched arm and found it to be very heavy. At the end of the afternoon we all went out onto the field to watch Arion and Lysander demonstrate the use of their weapons. They were both very accurate with their javelins and Arion also demonstrated the  enormous power of the sling and the deadly accuracy of the bow. The boys all had an enjoyable time and learnt a great deal to enhance their history studies about Ancient Greece.

U8 Tag Rugby

Team photo from Gayhurst U8 Tag tournament played during half term. Ten boys attended and won the plate competition. A fabulous day with lots of support from families who came to watch. Boys were great to coach and played really well.

moor park

MOOR PARK 10k FUN RUN
Congratulations to all the boys who took part in the fun run. 350 young people took park and £15,000 was raised for Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre. A special mention to Nathan Dale who came seventh in the under 12’s section and Roman Mitra who came 11th in the under 10’s section.

MOOR PARK LTD
Just to inform you — Moor Park 1958 Ltd are stepping up traffic checks on the estate to stop unauthorised traffic congesting the estate roads at peak times therefore making it easier for you to get in and out of the school.

school trader

Schoolstrader is a small ads website for independent school communities where parents and staff can trade with each other 24/7, free of charge. You may have read about it in The Times, Daily Telegraph, Country Life or Spectator.  You can find anything from a violin to a Volvo. Visit the site at www.schoolstrader.com