Eaton House The Manor Pre-Preparatory School
News
Welcome Letter
12th January 2012
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas holiday and that the boys have had a chance to re-charge their batteries ready for the term ahead. As usual we have much planned for the forthcoming term.
Staff
Miss Naomie, who is teaching French in the Pre-Prep while Miss Anouska has been on maternity leave, will be leaving us at half-term, as Miss Anouska is returning to work. We thank Miss Naomie for all the hard work and dedication she has displayed in the short time she has been with us. Apart from teaching stimulating French lessons, she has been a great asset to the school and has even got to grips with re-organising books in the library.
We welcome Nic Marot as our new GAP assistant. He is from Australia and will be working in the Pre-Prep for a whole year, which is wonderful.
Important Dates
You will see from the Spring Term Calendar that we have a stimulating and busy few weeks ahead of us. Please do check the dates carefully - particularly important ones to note are:
25th January - 8+ Examinations
27th January - Scholarship interviews and practicals
3rd February - Second Hand Uniform Sale at 8.30 am
13th – 17th February - half-term
27th February - Book week begins
29th February - Costume Day - boys to come to school dressed as a character from a book
15th March - Spring Fair
29th March - End of Term
You will also find a copy of the calendar and other useful information, such as this term’s lunch menus, on the website.
Advance Warning
This year Sports Day will be held on Wednesday, 4th July starting at 10.00 am, at the Battersea Millenium Stadium. Please note that there will be no afternoon school on this day.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With very best wishes to you all for the New Year and the term ahead!
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Welcome Letter
21st October 2011
Download the Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep Half Term Newsletter (PDF 1.55MB)
Welcome Letter
8th September 2011
Dear Parents,
First of all may I welcome everyone to the start of what promises to be an exciting new academic year. The teachers have been working very hard preparing everything for the term ahead and it has been lovely to see the boys so full of energy and enthusiasm as they enter their new classrooms. I am sure that the boys will quickly settle into their new routines.
A special welcome must go to our very new boys who have joined us in Kindergarten and in Years Two and Three. I am sure that they will soon feel part of the Pre-Prep family and we will do everything we can to ensure that they are very happy here.
Staff
have also welcomed some new staff to the Pre-Prep. New Class Teachers are Miss Emily Day in 1A, Miss Lauren Smith in 2A and Mr Simon Cassell in 3C. Mr Cassell is also the Year Co-ordinator for Year Three. Miss Naomie Lemay will be teaching the boys French.
The new Assistant Teachers are Miss India in KG1, Miss Lucy in KG3, Miss Lorraine in 1A, Miss Hayley in 1B and Miss Kerry and Miss Philippa in 1C. Miss Raquel remains with KG2. Classes in Years Two and Three will continue to be assisted by our subject specialists, when they are not teaching their own subjects.
Information Evenings
Next week you are invited to attend an Information Evening with your son’s class teacher. It will be a good opportunity for you to get to know the teachers better and to find out about the curriculum for the year and classroom routines.
The Kindergarten Information Evening will be held on Monday, 12th September at 6.00pm and we hope that you will be able to stay for a social evening afterwards when you can get to know the other parents in your year group.
Information Evenings for parents of boys in Years One, Two and Three will be held on Tuesday, 13th September from 6.00 - 6.45pm. There will be a talk about entry into Eaton House The Manor Prep School with Mrs Cawthorne and Mr Edwards, in the theatre, for parents of boys in Year Two at 6.45 pm.
Important Dates
You will see from the Autumn Term Calendar that we have a stimulating and busy few weeks ahead of us. Please do check the dates carefully - particularly important ones to note are:
12th September - Kindergarten Information Evening and Social
13th September - Information Evening for Years One, Two and Three
16th September - Second Hand Uniform Sale
7th October - Jeans for Genes (jeans may be worn for a donation to charity)
15th October - Open Day (some boys needed for music and games demonstrations)
24th – 28th October - Half-Term
18th November - Long Leave Day (no school)
24th November - Parents' Evening
1st December - Kindergarten Nativity 11.00 am (KG boys may go home afterwards)
13th December - Christmas Carol Service at Holy Trinity 2.00 pm
15th December - End of Term 12.00 noon
You will also find a copy of the calendar and other useful information, such as this term’s lunch menus, on the school website.
Trips and Workshops
Payment for trips and workshops will now be added to the school fees bill, in arrears.
Early Morning
We do offer early morning care from 8.00 - 8.30 am. The boys are supervised by Mrs Narjot Gill or Mrs Emma Tillson, who are fully qualified nursery assistants from our very own Nursery. Each session costs £1 and is charged to parents retrospectively, each half term.
The main doors to the school open at 8.30 am and boys should not enter their classrooms until this time, unless they have a coaching lesson, as this is vital time for staff meetings and lesson preparation. If your son is invited to attend SRA or handwriting with Miss Rebecca, the boys do not need to come into school early as these sessions do not start until 8.35 am.
House Photographs
These will be taken next Thursday, so I hope the boys will look particularly smart for these.
Uniform and Equipment
Please check that every item of uniform and equipment that your son brings to school is named. As you can imagine, the boys quite often mislay things but if they are clearly labelled then we can get everything back to the right place.
With very best wishes to you all for the new academic year and the term ahead!
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Welcome Letter
3rd May 2011
Dear Parents,
I do hope that everyone had a most enjoyable and relaxing break. It has been lovely welcoming the boys back to school so full of energy and enthusiasm for the term ahead.
I had a fabulous time trekking in Nepal, up to the Basecamp for Kanchenjunga and I managed to visit the refuge, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, which we raised money for last term. The refuge is run very much like an English boarding school and the children are kept very busy with lots of activities in their spare time. They go to school and have the opportunity to go on into further education or to learn skills, such as carpentry. The children, from tiny tots to young adults seem very happy there, although it is sad that the children never go to a family home in the holidays. It costs £300 per year to keep a child at the refuge, so it is wonderful that our fund raising, of over £2,300 will benefit so many young people and give them a good start to their lives.
Staff News
We warmly welcome Jenny Biggart who will be teaching KG3 while Miss Helen is on maternity leave. You will be thrilled to hear that Miss Anouska gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Serafina, in April.
Diary Dates
You will see from the Summer Term Calendar that we have a stimulating and busy few weeks ahead of us. Please do check the dates carefully - particularly important ones to note are:
9th - 11th May - Form Three Trip to Hilltop, Norfolk
24th May - Whole School Photograph
13th June - Exam Morning (Forms One, Two and Three)
22nd June - Parents' Evening (no clubs)
5th July - Sports Day (Battersea Millenium Stadium at 2.00 pm, no morning school - more
details to follow)
8th July - Form Three Play
You will also find a copy of the calendar and other useful information, such as this term's lunch menus, on the school website www.eatonhouseschools.com.
Summer Uniform
Boys may wear white, short sleeved shirts and green ankle socks, to school this term (except on 24th May when we have class photographs). They should also have their sun caps at school to wear for Games. Kindergarten and new boys will be provided with these at the start of term, so please make sure that the sun cap is clearly named.
Sun Screen
Please would you apply sun screen to your son, on very sunny days, before he comes to school. We will apply a top up on Games afternoons. Please inform your son’s form teacher if your son is allergic to sun screen or you wish to provide your own.
Should you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to get in touch.
With best wishes,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Welcome Letter
13th January 2011
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas holiday and that the boys have had a chance to re-charge their batteries ready for the term ahead. As usual we have much planned for the forthcoming term.
Staff
You may have noticed that Gracie Harris, one of our fabulous team of Assistant Teachers is expecting a baby very soon. She will be leaving us at the end of next week and will be replaced by Hayley Wallace, who is a graduate with experience of working with young children at Wellesley House Prep School, in Kent. Our GAP Assistant for this term is, Prep school old boy, Roland Merz and he will be with us for one term before he goes travelling.
Important Dates
You will see from the Spring Term Calendar that we have a stimulating and busy few weeks ahead of us. Please do check the dates carefully - particularly important ones to note are:
26th January – 8+ Examinations
28th January – Scholarship interviews and practicals
21st – 25th February – half-term
28th February – Book week begins
4th March – Author in school (costumes to be worn – being judged by author)
17th March – Spring Fair
18th March – Red Nose Day (boys to wear mufti and something red!)
31st March – End of Term
You will also find a copy of the calendar and other useful information, such as this term’s lunch menus, on the school website.
Summer Term
Although there is the long weekend, at the beginning of the summer term, due to the Royal Wedding and Spring Bank Holiday, we intend to start school, as planned on Thursday, 28th April. We did discuss the possibility of not starting term on the Thursday but the Prep school have two field trips which are going away on the Friday and with Common Entrance looming, Mr Edwards thought that it would be best if staff could touch base with the boys. It is our intention to have a cross-curricular fun day in the Pre-Prep, based on the royal wedding. If any boys are unable to attend school that day please would you request their absence, in writing, as per normal procedure.
Advance Warning
This year Sports Day will be held on Tuesday, 5th July at 2.00 pm, at the Battersea Millenium Stadium. Please note that there will be no morning school on this day.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With very best wishes to you all for the New Year and the term ahead!
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Welcome Letter
9th September 2010
Dear Parents,
Autumnal mists swirling around the Common herald the start of a new academic year and the festive colours of the EHTM uniform brighten up the darkening days once more. I hope you have all had a good break over the summer and that the boys’ batteries are fully charged for the term ahead.
It has been lovely welcoming our old boys back to school and we hope that our new boys settle in quickly and soon feel part of the Eaton House family. Each new boy will have a mentor from Form Three to ease their transition into school life. We also have some new members of staff who are really looking forward to working with our boys.
We have been enhancing the curriculum over the summer and I am sure the boys will enjoy the new challenges we have prepared for them - more will be revealed at next week's Information Evening. Particular thanks go to Miss Charlotte and Miss Helen for their hard work on the curriculum and timetable.
Early morning care
May I remind you about the arrangements for early morning care. Mrs Narjot Gill and Mrs Emma Tillson, who are fully qualified nursery assistants from our very own Nursery, will supervise the boys in the playroom between 8.00 and 8.30 am. Each session costs £1 and is charged to parents retrospectively, each half term.
Break
Please continue to ensure that any food brought into school (for morning break, parties, birthday cakes etc.) is free from nuts. Your consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated.
All staff now have a school e-mail address, which will aid communication between the Eaton House community. E-mail addresses will be given out at the Information Evening, next Tuesday. I am very keen, however, to remind you that we do have an open door policy in the Pre-Prep and it is often better to talk to the teachers personally rather than send an e-mail. You can also still write a note or use the boys’ homework diaries or reading records, which are checked every day, to convey a message. It is also worth bearing in mind that the staff may not have the time, in a busy school day, to check their e-mails and urgent messages should still go through the School Secretary, Mr Tyrone Milton. We do also need a written record of why a child is absent, so I would be grateful if you would continue to send in a note for any absence, which we are required to have by law. I would also prefer for communication to come through my PA Ms Jane Doxford.
Important Dates
Below is information about important events for this term but a more comprehensive calendar will accompany this letter. Do please keep the calendar safe and refer to it for all major events - a copy of it is also to be found on the school website, along with the lunch menus for the term.
Information Evening
There will be Information Evenings for parents on Tuesday, 14th September, from 5.30 - 6.15 pm. These will be held in your son's form room and form teachers will give an overview of the year to come and be available to answer any questions.
There will be a 7+ Information Evening, on the same date, from 6.15 - 7.00 pm for parents with boys in Form Two, in the Theatre.
Jeans for Genes
This year we are raising money for this worthwhile cause on Friday, 1st October. Boys do not have to wear uniform on this day and can wear jeans, if they bring in a donation of £1 for charity.
Open Day
This year our Open Day will be on Saturday, 13th November, from 9.30 am to 12 noon. All boys will be expected to attend and the programme of interesting and exciting activities planned will make it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Clubs
Clubs will start on Monday, 13th September. Please note that there will be no clubs on Thursday, 25th November due to Parents' Evening.
Long Weekend
This year school will be closed on Friday, 19th November for a long weekend, to give the boys a break and a chance to recoup some energy for the end of term activities.
School Day
The normal school day starts at 8.30 am and boys should not enter their classrooms until this time, unless they have a coaching lesson. Please make an appointment to see form teachers, if you wish to speak to them before 8.30 am, as this is vital time for staff meetings and lesson preparation. Please note that if your son is invited to attend the handwriting session with Miss Rebecca, the boys do not need to come into school early as they don’t start until 8.35 am.
I am delighted to report that Luchie Lawrence married Paul Cawood over the summer and would like to be known as Mrs Cawood.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Welcome Letter
20th April 2010
Dear Parents,
Welcome Back!
I do hope that everyone had a most enjoyable and relaxing break, without too many delays and problems caused by the volcanic eruption. It has been lovely welcoming the boys back to school so full of energy and enthusiasm for the term ahead.
Due to the travel disruptions, Mr Chambers is stuck in Egypt and Miss Liz in Oman. We hope they will be back soon!
Staff News
We warmly welcome Katie Miller and Rob Stewart to the Pre-Prep staff. Rob will be Form Teacher for 2C and Katie will be a Teaching Assistant across the school. Miss Kim is settling into her new home in Scotland but retains a keen interest in the progress of those boys she has taught – we will keep in touch.
Diary Dates
You will see from the Summer Term Calendar that we have a stimulating and busy few weeks ahead of us. Please do check the dates carefully - particularly important ones to note are:
26th – 28th April Form Three Trip to Hilltop, Norfolk
3rd May Bank Holiday – school closed
14th June Exam Morning (Forms One, Two and Three)
24th June Parents’ Evening (no clubs)
1st July Form Three Play
5th July Sports Day (Battersea Millenium Stadium at 10.00 am, no afternoon school – more details to follow closer to the day)
You will also find a copy of the calendar and other useful information, such as this term’s lunch menus, on the school website www.eatonhouseschools.com.
Summer Uniform
Boys may wear white, short sleeved shirts and green ankle socks, to school this term (except on 17th May when we have class photographs). They should also have their sun caps at school to wear for Games. Kindergarten and new boys will be provided with these at the start of term, so please make sure that the sun cap is clearly named.
Sun Screen
Please would you apply sun screen to your son, on very sunny days, before he comes to school. We will apply a top up on Games afternoons. Please inform your son’s form teacher if your son is allergic to sun screen or you wish to provide your own.
Should you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to get in touch.
With best wishes,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Summer 2010 Menu Information
15th April 2010
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the latest edition of the catering information letters once again. It’s Summer again and before we know it will be sports days and end of year events.
We continue to use pollack for the battered fillets and have sourced a product made from a whole piece of fish and not minced. We are introducing a baked salmon fillet in order to comply with the government legislation requiring us to provide ‘oily’ fish once every 3 weeks. The suppliers of these choices are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council who ensure that they come from well maintained and sustainable stocks. The quality and flavour of meat is extremely similar to cod.
Roast dinners are on the menus once a week and are very popular with pupils and staff alike. All roasts are served with a vegetarian gravy which is also suitable for most allergy sufferers and can be eaten by all at the school at present.
We have a freshly made tortilla wrap back on the menu filled with plenty of wholesome vegetables such as red peppers and tomatoes in the filling which are good providers of vitamin A and the chicken is breast meat only.
Filled baguettes are back and always prove popular with the pupils as they can have as many fillings as they like in an organic baguette.
We will also have our mini sausage pasta with our homemade pesto (nut free) and this has proved a popular choice in the past.
There are more fruit based pudding choices now that we are in the summer term.
We are now using a wholesale butcher (Heanens) based in Roehampton. They Achieved a 5 star hygiene rating from Wandsworth council who were so impressed with the quality offered that they now supply all of Wandsworth councils schools with their meats. This means that we get Fresh meats Cut Either the same day or the during the night and delivered fresh the day we want to use it. We use only fresh chickens still and are now getting a handmade unfrozen 4oz burger that is 100% beef and delivered fresh the day before use. Our roast joints are also now all fresh too.
We are now using wheat pasta and sauces that are enriched with vitamins to provide the full amounts of vitamins required by the new legislation. Wheat pasta is used so that celiac sufferers can eat it too.
A printout of exactly what levels of nutrients our menus provide and how we comply with the new legislation should also be available to see on the website and if anyone would like to know more on how this works please contact me.
Sports days will repeat last years format and not give out individual picnic bags where a lot of the items were wasted. Instead we will be allowing pupils to help themselves from a selection of fruits (bananas, melon & satsumas). These quench their thirst and give vital vitamins and potassium. There will also be pastries (muffins, flapjacks & mini doughnuts). These provide carbohydrates and sugar to replace lost energy. We will also have a selection of sandwiches and some savoury pies as well just to fill them up. Each pupil will be provided with their own bottle of water and each class will also have a large bottle of water as back up. These bottles can be filled at any time from the kitchen area of the pavilion. We will also be providing cold drinks for the adults but not any hot beverages unfortunately. There are vending facilities should you wish.
As always we are committed to providing a wholesome and healthy lunch within the new government legislation while at the same time trying to find new and better ingredients and products.
I hope that this is helpful in showing you how we put the menus together and the direction that we are trying to move towards. If any parents have any questions about the menus or food in general please feel free to contact me through the Manor office or if you are passing the kitchen and I am in just drop in and see me. Should you wish to have a specific meeting I will be only too happy to arrange this.
David Clayton
Catering Manager
Headmistress' Letter
7th January 2010
Dear Parents,
I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas holiday and that the boys have had a chance to re-charge their batteries ready for the term ahead. As usual we have much planned for the forthcoming term.
The boys will be bringing home a copy of our termly calendar and you will also be able to refer to it online on the school website www.eatonhouseschools.com. It is worth checking the school website on a regular basis, for general information about school.
School Uniform
There were many items of lost property left behind at the end of term and much of it was unnamed. Please do ensure that all the boys’ uniform and belongings are named, including bicycles and scooters, so that they can be easily identified.
Absence from school
If your son cannot attend school because of illness please telephone the Office before 8.45 a.m. on the day concerned. If a child is away, for any reason, the absence must be explained in writing. Parents are requested to make dental appointments, wherever possible, in the school holidays and to take their annual holiday only when the school is not in session. If your son needs to have time off for medical/dental appointments please write a note to the form teacher but for any other reason please write to Mrs Cawthorne. It is particularly important that you telephone the school to inform us if your son has an infectious disease, so that we can notify other parents.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With very best wishes to you all for the New Year and the term ahead!
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
The Headmistress
Announcement of new Headmaster at Eaton House The Manor Preparatory School
from September 2010
19th December 2009
Dear Parents,
As you are aware we have been waiting to announce the successor to Mr Hepher as Headmaster of Eaton House The Manor Preparatory School. We are now delighted to confirm that Mr Jeremy Edwards has accepted the role and will start in September 2010.
Mr Edwards is currently Master at Westminster Under School and was appointed in April 2000. He was formerly an English teacher and then Deputy Headmaster at Emanuel School where he also spent time as Head of Drama and Head of Rowing. He has a B.A (Hons) in English and a PGCE awarded by the University of London as well as an M.A. from the Institute of Education in Educational Studies and Educational Management. He is married with three children; two daughters aged 19 and 17, and a son of 15.
Mr Edwards will be writing a letter of introduction to all our current and prospective parents early next term.
We are very excited by this appointment and look forward to introducing Mr Edwards to you at a number of formal and social occasions over the next few months.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Hilary Harper
Principal
Headmistress's Comment
From The Headmistress
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
23rd October 2009
Dear Parents,
First of all, a big thank you for all your support during the inspection over the past few days and through the first half of this term.
As one of the first schools to be inspected under the new regulatory framework, introduced in September, there were many new requirements to meet and a new self-evaluation form. This meant that a great deal of paperwork was produced. You have been very encouraging to all the staff and this has meant a lot to us. The boys have been superb too - a real credit to the school and we are all very proud of them.
The staff were wonderful, as usual, and I thank them for all their hard work and dedication. I know they are very talented and do a fabulous job - we will have to wait for the formal publication of the report before I can tell you more. One inspector did say, however, that we have much to celebrate!
We are saying a temporary goodbye to Miss Kirsten and Miss Emily, who are both expecting babies in November. Miss Kirsten has been an excellent Year Co-ordinator and Balmoral Housemistress and more recently worked extremely hard as Curriculum Co-ordinator. Certain roles have already been filled by Miss Caroline and Mr Honey. Miss Helen has been supporting Miss Kirsten in the Curriculum role, since the beginning of term and I'm pleased to be able to tell you that she will be the Curriculum Co-ordinator while Miss Kirsten is on maternity leave. Sue Holland, an experienced teacher, will be working in a part-time capacity within the school, after half-term, to fill the extra support role, that Miss Kirsten has held this term. Miss Emily has been a fabulous Kindergarten Co-ordinator and helped to ensure that the boys got the very best start to their education at Eaton House The Manor.
Diary Dates
You will see from the dates list (can be viewed at our website www.eatonhouseschools.com) that we have much to look forward to in the second half of term. Please do check the dates carefully ; particularly important ones to note are:
9th November - Exam morning (Forms Two and Three)
14th November - Open Day (starting at 9.00 am)
20th - 23rd November - Long Leave (school closed)
25th November - Carol singing at Moen's 11.45 am
26th November - Parents' Evening (NO CLUBS)
1st December - Christmas Concert 9.00 am
Kindergarten Nativity 11.00 am (please note that the timing has changed
from the termly calendar)
8th December - Carol Service at Holy Trinity 2.00 - 3.30 pm
I hope you have a fantastic half-term and that the boys have a well-earned rest - they deserve it!
With best wishes,
Open Day
This year our Open Day will be on Saturday, 14th November, from 9.00 am to 12 noon. All boys will be expected to attend and the programme of interesting and exciting activities planned will make it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Break
Please continue to ensure that any food brought into school (for morning break, parties, birthday cakes etc.) is free from nuts. Your consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Early morning care
May I remind you about the arrangements for early morning care. Mrs Narjot Gill and Mrs Emma Tillson, who are fully qualified nursery assistants from our very own Nursery, will supervise the boys in the playroom between 8.00 and 8.30 am. Each session costs �1 and is charged to parents retrospectively, each half term. The school day starts at 8.30 am and boys should not enter their classrooms until this time, unless they have a coaching lesson. Please make an appointment to see form teachers, if you wish to speak to them before 8.30 am, as this is vital time for staff meetings and lesson preparation.
Clubs
Clubs will start on Monday, 21st September. Please note that there will be no clubs on Thursday, 26th November due to Parents' Evening.
Long Weekend
You will see from the dates list that we have introduced a long weekend in November, from Friday 20th to Monday 23rd inclusive. In the Parental Questionnaires, last term, we put forward the idea of a two week half term to allow the boys time to recharge their batteries before what is always a long and tiring second half. The response to this was fairly evenly balanced so we have opted for a slightly shorter option but one which has far less impact on the number of school days missed. I have no doubt that the boys will benefit from this and we will see a livelier group going through to the end of term. This also means that we will lengthen the final day of term to end at 3.30 pm.
Golden Time
In the Pre-Prep we have decided to reward good behaviour with Golden Time. We believe that this is a chance to recognise those children who are always well behaved and to reward them with activities they consider to be 'Golden.' At the beginning of each week, every child is given 30 minutes of Golden Time and the aim is to hold onto as many minutes as possible by behaving beautifully. All classes have Golden Time on a Friday afternoon and boys can choose from a range of different activities such as board games and toys.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P T M Cawthorne
