Dear Parents,
Welcome back to Eaton House and Happy New Year!
As ever, we have another busy term with lots of different events and activities planned. In the first few weeks of term, our 7+ and 8+ boys will be taking their London Day and Boarding School examinations. This is a busy and important time for the boys, the staff and parents, so your support in helping to keep them and each other, as ‘calm’ as possible is gratefully received.
We, as ever, have many events planned for this term and next, for example the Y1 Fashion Show (25th March), Y1 Parents’ Information Evening (2nd March), International Day next term (25th May), Sports Day (8th July) and the Y3 Leavers’ concert (13th July) amongst many others. I am very aware that your contribution to these events and theme days are huge and are appreciated. We will endeavor to give you as much information and warning as possible so that you can all contribute and be involved. However, I realise that this doesn’t always happen or isn’t always possible, so please do diary date the key events now. I put out a plea to parents who have existing or have had past pupils with us, to inform and ‘educ
ate’ new parents as to what our events entail but also welcome any queries myself or via the staff.
We continue to collect used postage stamps for the RSPB. There is a small collection box in the No 3 entrance hall. Please encourage friends and family to collect stamps too. We are also collecting old Christmas Cards which we will take to Marks and Spencers for recycling on behalf of the Woodland Trust and also paperback books (adults) for The Royal Marsden Hospital. There will be boxes in the No 3 entrance hall for the next week or so.
Matches
There are several sporting fixtures planned this term. We really encourage support; Grandparents, God parents, and other supports are welcome too.
Please make sure that if your son is playing in a match, he is aware as to what the collection plans might be e.g. return to school or collected by you after a match. Please do all try to give your support as it is so important and appreciated by staff and boys alike. A good number of supporters also sends out a great message to our ‘opposing’ schools about what an encouraging body we have!
Games kit and uniform
Please make sure that your son has the correct uniform and games kit at school. All items should be named. Some boys might need reminding that their kit is on their pegs. This should, hopefully, avoid parents receiving unnecessary calls from school. Boys in Y2 and Y3 who repeatedly forget their kit might have to miss a games session. Boys will not be allowed to represent the school in matches if they do not have the correct kit. I realise that kit has a habit of ‘walking’….. The lost property box is kept in Miss Nanda’s room on the first floor, no 3 side as well as boxes in some of the cloakrooms. You will receive a letter about Peter Jones uniform as they will shortly be taking orders online. Please note that Perry uniform is now supplying woolen hats for use at games (only) during the cold weather. They are also quite ‘cool’ so I encourage that they are worn pre matches!
Clubs
There are a number of clubs available. I thoroughly recommend that boys join clubs; however, I advise that they only join one or two clubs. Please do look at the term’s list as there are some new clubs including, Singing and Rhythm, Junk modeling and Backgammon. Do also consider the weekend clubs as these provide a wonderful addition to our extra curricular activities.
Miss Delbar Papadopoulos joins us as a piano teacher this term and takes over from Mr Faja. Do, please, continue to encourage boys to learn an instrument. Any musical requirements should be directed to Mr Muhlemann.
Reports
Please return to your son’s teacher as soon as possible.
At the end of term, we will be hosting our ‘Green Day’. To encourage the boys to be aware of environmental issues, please help by not sending in break with too much packaging. For example, crisps or fruit needn’t be sent in a plastic bad and drinks should be in re-usable containers. Boys may not have yogurts, sandwiches or a picnic type break. They should just have one item of food.
We will hold LITERACY & NUMERACY week in February (Week of 14th). During this week, we will host our various events such as a book fair. We would be extremely grateful for any willing parents to help us with handwriting activities, reading stories, maths workshops etc. Any ideas welcome! Please see your son’s teacher if you would like to help. There will be more details later in the term.
Sunningdale Prep School
The Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster from Sunningdale will be hosting a drinks and talk here on Wednesday 9th February, 6-7pm. Their talk will be primarily about Boarding School life. I realise that not all of you are considering boarding but it promises to be an educationally informative evening and an opportunity for parents to gain insight into future possibilities. I encourage as many of you as possible to join us, regardless of your son’s year group.
There will be an Information Evening for Year One parents on Wednesday 2nd March. The purpose of the evening is to look in more depth at both London and Boarding schools as well as more specifically at what we do at Eaton House to prepare the boys for 7+/8+. Further details will follow.
Other news
Miss Clare (F3) is now KG Year Coordinator, and Miss Henrietta (1B) is now Year One Co-ordinatior. Miss Georgie Wilkins returns to us for one day a week having had some time off to have three children as well as helping with supply and one to one lessons with Eaton House pupils. Miss Georgie Baly is with us for a term as our Gap student. She started with us in the last couple of weeks of last term having previously helped at Notting Hill Prep.
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 Tuesday with the Group and several other local schools but the majority are doing as we will and many of the Prep Schools will have Common Entrance looming at the beginning of May. It is our intention to have a cross-curricular, fun day on the 28th based on the Royal Wedding. Being together, at school will be an ideal way of celebrating a special moment in British History. If any boys are unable to attend school that day please would you request their absence, in writing, as per normal practice.
This letter will be posted on our website, as will our termdates.
I look forward to seeing you all in the near future,
Yours sincerely,
Miss Lucy Watts
