It’s been another scorching week at Sunninghill. Although the temperature seems to be rising to the late 20’s today, our Form 8’s are sporting their brand new leavers hoodies, and very reluctant to remove them! Although I have to say they do look fantastic!
This morning, we enjoyed Form 5’s fabulous assembly about Heritage. It was an incredibly moving assembly, where each member of the class talked about one of their ancestors – from war heroes to researchers, scientists to members of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain. It really was fascinating to hear everyone’s diverse family history.
Form 5 read beautifully and confidently and it was lovely listening to Lottie play the piano as everyone arrived for their assembly.
We were also very proud of Daisy today, who received her platinum badge for gaining 250 house points – the first pupil in school to receive this accolade! Amazing Daisy – congratulations!
On Monday, we also had another beautiful assembly – our Form 4’s Graduation Assembly! Form 4 will be leaving Junior Prep at the end of this term, and moving into our Senior Prep. Form 4 shared with us one of their special memories of school so far, and Mrs Moss and Mrs Baker presented each child with a personalised picture with words that best described them – written by their teachers and their friends.
Parents were treated to a gorgeous slide show, showing the form from when they first joined, through to the most recent photos of them. It was incredible to see how much our Form 4’s have grown, and there were not many dry eyes from their parents! We know our Form 4’s will continue to shine as they join Senior Prep next year.
Some of our other Sunninghill residents have grown this week! Form 5 have been looking at lifecycles and as part of this topic we have looked after caterpillars, waited for them to form chrysalises and then hatch into butterflies. They are painted lady butterflies.
We had some spare caterpillars, so Form 6 were able to have some too and we released them this afternoon and watched them take their first flights and drink nectar from the flowers. The children absolutely loved this science topic.
Our end of term trips have continued, with Form 2 and 3 enjoying their visit to Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park in Verwood last Friday. They started off the morning by planting seeds and watering the garden area. Everyone had the opportunity to feed the friendly shire horses and they took a ride in a horse and cart. The children loved riding in the back of a trailer attached to a tractor as the journey was off road and rather bouncy. They learnt all about how horses were used in coal mines and during World War 1 and 2.
On Monday, Nursery and Reception children also enjoyed a wonderful day at Poundbury Park. They had so much fun playing in the park, enjoying their picnic lunch, and then having a lovely ice cream to cool off! The first of their lovely end of term treats, and some very happy children!
Form 7 will be returning shortly from their fabulous adventure in the Brecon Beacons. Their trip started with a stop off at the amazing Cardiff International White Water, where they went white water rafting for the afternoon. They camped, and even wild camped, trekked, climbed, abseiled and went canyoning, gorge walking and jumping off waterfalls!
This was the last of our action packed adventures with Rock And Rapid Adventures! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who have led our residentials this year. Although it is a lot of fun, and they have all loved their trips, it is a huge responsibility and is time away from their own families. I would like to thank Mr Stazicker especially for organising each and every one of these trips so successfully and for going along to the majority of them! You are a star Mr Stazicker – and we know all the children from Form 3 – Form 8 have really appreciated their incredible residentials.
Closer to home, last night we were treated to the Junior Prep informal music concert. We had 20 amazing performances – many pupils performing in front of an audience for the very first time! I was so impressed with their performance and their confidence and I was very proud of them all, as I know their parents were.
This morning, Mrs Nolan-Stone presented Mrs King, our Well-Being Co-Ordinator, with a cheque for £100 raised at our Sunninghill’s Got Talent performance for our chosen charity – Activate. Activate is a Performing Arts charity. ‘We exist to promote, support and produce performing arts projects in our communities. In everything we do, we have just two rules. Anything’s possible. And everyone’s invited.’ Groups are Inside Out, Dorset Youth dance, Remix and Creatives. Mrs King also works at Remix, part of the Activate group, which is an inclusive youth performance company open to young people age 12-17, both disabled and non-disabled, from across Dorset. It was lovely to be able to support this wonderful organisation.
Finally, Form 8 had their last ever cricket fixture against Sherborne Prep on Wednesday. It was a very close game which the kids very much enjoyed and it was a pleasure to take them to this match.
I am really looking forward to next week – it is a very busy and very sporty week and should be lots of fun! On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we will be holding our Sports Days, Friday is our Swimming Gala Day. We are also looking forward to welcoming our Grandparents to our Grandparents Day on Monday! And of course next Saturday is our much anticipated Summer Fayre! Please do bring along friends and family – everyone is welcome!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Best wishes
David
