Chitts Hill, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9ST FROM THE HEADMASTER... Dear Parents Wednesday night s Burns Supper was a great success. After superb food (yes, haggis can be described as being superb!) and several poems by Robert Burns (approximately 5% of which was understood by the children), we decanted to the Jubilee Hall for some energetic Scottish Country Dancing, led by our regular troupe of visiting experts. The Year 8s approached this much loved annual event with excited anticipation and they c o n d u c t e d t h e m s e l v e s brilliantly throughout. They were very pleasant dinner guests and even better reelers! The whole of Year 4, complete with siblings and parents, took part in an incredible musical experience on Tuesday. Joining 8,000 other school children in the stunning O 2 Arena in Greenwich, in front of 23,000 people, they sang and danced the night away (see pictures on page 4). Many thanks to Mr Snell for organising this inspiring trip and to those staff who accompanied him; Mr Stapleton, Mrs Goldring and Mrs Mitchell. On Tuesday, the Pre-Prep children made Mrs Roberts 60th birthday one to remember. They made her feel very special in a birthday assembly. With many good wishes, Happy Birthday, Mrs Roberts! We were very pleased to officially open our new cookery room. Head Chef, Zack Deakins, from Le Talbooth, near Dedham, donned his whites to cut the ribbon and crack an egg! Holly Long from Banner Homes (part sponsor) joined us, too, together with a few of the children who will benefit from this wonderful refurbished facility. We are very grateful for the financial support from Banner Homes, as well as from the SCHOOL NEWS... RNLI Charity Day Everyone is invited to wear warm home clothes (any combination of red, white or blue) next Friday and make a minimum donation of 1 to the RNLI. There will also be badges for sale on the day. Sponsorship Opportunity The school is currently in need of a local business to sponsor the upcoming U8 tag rugby and netball tournaments on 16 March. HOLMWOOD HOUSE NEWSLETTER Addressing the Haggis If you are interested and would like further information, please contact Helen Rogers on 01206 574305 or: helen.rogers@ holmwood.sch.uk Senior School Open Morning Framlingham College is holding an Open Morning on Saturday 2 March from 9.30am to 12.00noon. Please visit the school website for more information. Prowting Family Trust. This support, along with money raised by parents at the School Ball held at Le Talbooth last May, enabled us to undertake this major re-fit. Parents are welcome to pop in on Saturday morning before pick-up to have a look. Can I urge as many of you as possible to put the Race Night in your diaries for Friday 1 March. The Friends are organising this event which should be great fun. Please leave your ticket orders (and cheques!) at the front office or email Mrs Griggs (see recent Clarion) for more information. I look forward to seeing lots of you there. Our Year 8s and S7 are working hard in preparation for their next set of trials after half-term. The children are making notes of revision requirements and further guidance will come out by Clarion soon. The Revision and Subject sections of the website give clear guidance, together with the exam timetable. With best wishes Alexander Mitchell Headmaster Les Ambassadeurs Easter French Course Please note that, as we need to liaise with The Ombrosa School well in advance, we should be grateful to receive all applications by 22 Feb. Half-term Break Half-term begins at 3.15pm on Fri 8 Feb. There is no Biscuit Club or wraparound care that afternoon. Term resumes on Mon 18 Feb. Happiness is the key to progress www.holmwood.essex.sch.uk Tel: 01206 574305 Friday 1 February 2013 Spring Term, Week 4 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saturday 2 February 9-11.30am Pre-Prep Consultation Interviews (Years 1, 2 & 3) 12.30pm Lunchtime Concert Monday 4 February CE & Scholarship Revision continues French Oral & Listening CE Trials begin (3 days) CE Mental Arithmetic Trial Exam Tuesday 5 February 11am Prep Schools General Knowledge Quiz at Holmwood 1pm Vibes in the Library 4.30-7.30pm Parent Consultation Interviews (Years R, 1, 2 & 3) Thursday 7 February 9.50am Rs Sharing Assembly Friday 8 February RNLI Charity Day (non-uniform) 3.15pm Half-term begins Les Ambassadeurs Easter Holiday French Course Monday 25 to Thursday 28 March This fun-filled activity based course is for children in years 2 to 6. Pupils spend days with the children from The Ombrosa School, Lyon and take part in various French and English activities. Details and application forms can be downloaded from the school website. DEADLINE: 22 FEBRUARY Open to non-holmwood pupils EASTER CRICKET COURSE 2013 In association with North Essex District Cricket Board and Colchester & East Essex Cricket Club Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 April Course 1: 60 School Years 1, 2, 3 & 4: 10.00am-1.00pm You need appropriate clothing including footwear. Course 2: 90 School Years 5, 6, 7 & 8: 10.00am-4.00pm You need appropriate clothing, including indoor and outdoor footwear, plus a packed lunch*. Cricket whites are worn, but are not essential. *Holmwood House is a nut-free environment Leaflet and booking form available to download from school website
Page 2 Friday 1 February 2013, Spring Term, Week 4 ENGLISH Some Holmwood pupils have entered the BBC Radio 2 500 words story-writing competition. If you are interested in participating, it is not too late to enter. It is open to all children aged 13 years or under. More details are available from the BBC Radio 2 website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/500words/2013/ You have until 7pm on Friday 22nd February to enter online good luck! In recognition of demonstrating one or all of the Golden Rules, the following Pre-Prep children have received Golden Awards this week: Reception: Angus S Edward F Year 2: Louis L William T WELL DONE! Year 1: Dominique G Imogen J Year 3: Hebe W Nicholas B Aleksander B Dominic T SCIENCE During science lessons this week, Year 4 students have been busy counting the birds in the school grounds as part of the Big Schools Birdwatch.
Page 3 Friday 1 February 2013, Spring Term, Week 4 COOKERY ROOM The newly refurbished cookery room was officially opened on Monday 28 January. Thanks to Holly Long of Banner Homes (sponsor) and Head Chef at Le Talbooth, Zack Deakins, for helping to mark this special occasion. The children have enjoyed using the new facilities in their cookery activities this week. Miss Comer AIR ELEMENT MEETING Last Thursday, Air had a very magical element meeting with Angus the Great and Ditie the Amazing! All their tricks were to do with Maths Week. Alex D and Charlie S
Page 4 Friday 1 February 2013, Spring Term, Week 4 MUSIC Young Voices at the O 2 Year 4 pupils formed part of an 8000 strong choir that performed at the O 2 Arena, London on Tuesday 29 January A big thank you to Mrs Baker for making the wonderful banner! All the children (and parents who attended) thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were a credit to themselves and the school. Mr Snell, Director of Music
Page 5 Friday 1 February 2013, Spring Term, Week 4 YEAR 8 But, if ye wish her grateful prayer, Gie her a Haggis!
Page 6 Friday 1 February 2013, Spring Term, Week 4 SPORT Wednesday 30 January THE FRIENDS OF HOLMWOOD HOUSE invite parents to a RACE NIGHT at Holmwood House School on Friday 1 March at 7.30pm Tote Betting 2 course supper Tickets 10 Cash bar & free glass of prosecco Tables of 10 Have you booked your table? Rugby U9 A vs St Joseph s Cricket Bat Tester Day On Saturday 2 February, 10.30am-3.30pm, at Ipswich School s Henley Road indoor cricket nets, Coes (in conjunction with Suffolk Cricket) will have a range of bats available to test and select with expert advice from ECB coaches (access to car park off Henley Road). Special offers will be available on cricket equipment, clothing and footwear at this event.