This week was a rather special week as we celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day! On Thursday morning we held a special assembly, where we talked about why this day is so important and we all observed the 2 minute silence to remember those who lost their lives in WW2. I was delighted to give special mention of a gentleman that I know, Henry Ducker, who at 104 was the oldest veteran to attend the tea party at Buckingham Palace. It was lovely to talk to the children about an incredibly brave member of the RAF during WW2 who I have met personally. I am sure many of the children have great grandparents who also served in the war – it would be lovely to hear any stories you may have. VE Day celebrations continued throughout the afternoon for our Junior Prep and Nursery who decorated hats and spitfires, and enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea from Kerry and her team!
For our second whole school assembly this week, Mrs Evans discussed our upcoming Science Fair in June, which will be a project done at home with family and/or friends. I am so very excited to see the various scientific projects the children will be investigating and presenting to us. Mrs Glover and the School Council also told us about the cake sale they are planning on Monday 19th May – so I hope lots of the children will be baking next weekend to support our chosen charity – Wessex Cancer Support.
Our Well Done winners this week are Olivia, Grace D, Ava, Nikolas, Shayan, Joni and Natty and our Academic Excellence winners are George R, George A, Ava and Aria. Our Commitment award this week went to Teddy and Millie, Compassion award to Grace and Sasha, courage to Elsie and Oscar and Creativity to Samson and Sofiia. Well done to you all on another excellent week.
On Wednesday, Forms 5 and 6 had the opportunity to discover more about the church they visit for different school services throughout the year. The Reverend Keith Magee was kind enough to take the pupils on a tour of the building and discuss its many wonderful features. The children were able to develop their understanding further by completing a discovery trail quiz. At the end of the session there was time to reflect on the different aspects of their visit and the memories they would take away with them. Hopefully, the next time they visit this place of worship, they will be able to appreciate it further, thinking about its importance as a place for the community to gather and also the part it plays in the history of the local area.
Form 6 had another exciting trip out on Thursday, when they visited my home town of Portland as they looked at the historic and geographical aspects of the isle. They started out at Portland Castle discovering how Henry VIII had commissioned the building of this coastal fortress and went on to find out about its rich history throughout the centuries including its involvement in the English Civil War and conflicts since. Lunch was a sunny affair, overlooking the beautiful Church Ope Cove. The afternoon was spent understanding the importance Portland stone has played. It was evident everywhere we looked how much of this had been quarried and utilised to help create some of the most famous buildings such as Buckingham Palace. The children completed their afternoon playing in and around the many sculptures in Tout quarry including Anthony Gormley’s ‘Still Falling’. The children had a fantastic day!
We had a fantastic week of sport. We started the week with the wonderful news that Amelka has qualified for the IAPS national swimming final that will be taking place at the Olympic stadium in June. Well done Amelka!
On Tuesday we held some friendly cricket fixtures with Bryanston Prep for our U8 and U9 pupils. They played a variety of diamond cricket and pairs cricket matches and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. On Wednesday 30 of our senior pupils took part in the Clayesmore athletics. Lots of fantastic individual performances and excellent support for each other. On Thursday our U12 and U13 played tennis against Milton Abbey. The matches were played at a very high standard on their beautiful grass tennis courts. Well done to all our sports teams – you all made us very proud.
This week it was great to welcome some new families into our lovely school at our May Open Morning. As ever, the visiting parents were very complimentary about our fabulous tour guides and our beautiful school. Thank you to everyone who helped make everyone feel so welcome.
Next week our sailors will be taking part in the Millfield Regatta and Form 3 will be heading off to their residential. Next weekend is also out Alumni event on Sunday 18th May. A chance for past Sunninghill staff and pupils to get together and share their memories.
Tonight is the PTFA Quiz and there is much excitement at this much anticipated event, and the sought after quiz night trophy…..may the best team win!
Have a lovely weekend!
David
