A Message from Mrs Knox

As we come to the end of another week, I continue to see evidence of the pupils’ hard work but at the same time tremendous sense of fun and spirit.  Mr Rye’s Performing Arts Assembly bought a tear to my eye – from the Boatswain brothers performing at the Clap for Carers on Thursdays which reminds us all of the support we can give others at this ever changing time to Maddie I and Harley B performing in Maddie’s garden (loved the chickens in the background!) to Jago, George V and Guy R performing (almost together).   I was also thrilled to see actor Andy Whipp announcing the winners of two categories of the House Drama competition.  Congratulations to winners Milly B (Yrs 9+10 category), Ava W (Yrs 7+8 category), James Breed (Yrs 5+6 category), and Poppy F (Years 3+4 category).  Do watch it again on the following link

https://youtu.be/MkH4oGWt3gc

Have a lovely, hopefully sunny, weekend

Mrs Knox

World Ocean Day

On Monday 8th June, Prep and Pre-prep pupils joined forces with children around the globe to celebrate the wonders of the ocean. World Ocean Day started in 2016, with the aim of bringing together resources for teachers to help inspire and inform children about the amazing life it contains, and help them understand its importance and what we can do to help protect it.

To get into the marine spirit, our pupils were encouraged to dress up in blue and throughout the day enjoyed a variety of educational workshops and videos: Year 2 were taught how to breathe like a dolphin by World Champion free diver, Sara Campbell; Year 3 watched turtles and sharks feeding and thought about our plastic use; Year 4 and 5 went on a virtual visit to explore the rockpools at the National Aquarium; and Year 6 heard stories of amazing journeys across the ocean, which inspired their writing in English.

If you'd like to see any of these, they remain available at https://worldoceanday.school, including a talk on shark conservation, which I know was so popular that several of you couldn't join live on the day. 

Mr Wright

Prep and Pre-prep News   

This week in Prep School, as well as diving into the oceans, we have also been delving further into our feelings to think about empathy, as Tuesday marked Empathy Day in the UK. The children were encouraged to reflect on how empathy differs from sympathy, in what circumstances we need to show empathy towards others and also how we actually do it. To help them understand these ideas, Empathy Lab organised some wonderful resources, based around the important role that reading can play in developing children's empathetic skills. By immersing ourselves in a book, and living new experiences through the perspective of characters who might be very different from ourselves, we can broaden our understanding of what it is like to be someone else, and how they might be feeling. Do have a look at the website for further resources; the Empathy Shorts are particularly effective and highly enjoyable! 

https://www.empathylab.uk/

Value awards for this week are:

Effort - Edie H, Poppy F and Ben K

Responsibility - Harry L and Charlie L 

Kindness - Tiago W

Here is a link to the Prep and Pre-prep podcasts too, enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bmMU4vx51g&t=1206s

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26iFJOR9uzo    

Mr Wright

Stars of the Week

Nursery: Lottie F for settling into nursery with such confidence and enthusiasm. 

Reception: Logan N for wonderful phonics this week and a great first piece of written comprehension!

Year 1: Seren G for showing great understanding by using apparatus to create place value sums.

Jack C for excellent focus and for writing an imaginative and descriptive story.

Year 2: Charlotte C for her consistently positive approach towards Home Learning tasks and for being a wonderful big sister.

Mr Wright

Performing Arts News

House Drama

The results are in! Andy Whipp our wonderful House Drama judge commented on the variety and the high standard on display and also on the quirky and original nature of the submissions!

So the final House Points from the competition stand like this:

1st - Hillary - 112

2nd - Chichester - 98

3rd  -Armstrong - 69

4th - Whittle - 49 

A huge thank you to Mrs Honey for organising the competition, to all the pupils for entering and to Andy for judging. He kindly made a couple of videos about the competition which can be viewed here. 

Senior School - https://youtu.be/TqxHIchwHYM

Prep School - https://youtu.be/yKkVKHJP6h0

The Duke of Kent School Album - Vol 3

Every two years we release a school album on C.D. featuring some of the excellent musical work from the last two academic years. With lock down we obviously cannot release a physical C.D.as there is no one at school to buy it! But we will still be releasing it as a download with all contributions going to charity. Watch this space for more info.

Three Little Birds

Every week we mention the Three Little Birds project and this week is no exception! The whole family is encouraged to enter if you so wish - parents, pets, grandparents - all are welcome!  If you need inspiration the original Performing Arts staff version can be viewed here. There are still two weeks until the cut off date.

https://youtu.be/ZzWzFQS0lGQ

Summer Concert

Don't forget to put 6pm on 27th June in your diaries for our Live Streamed Virtual Summer Concert. 

It promises to be the most varied and eclectic concert we have ever done!

Mr Fizz

After a week off the adventures of Mr Fizz and family are back! This week we meet Fizz Dog and find out that he and all his friends can fly! Have a watch here - seriously, it's worth it!

https://youtu.be/_j2yuEoOVyM

Mr Rye

E-Safety Tips

You may remember a few weeks ago I mentioned that the UK was developing a contact tracing app to better combat the spread of COVID-19.  If you were waiting in anticipation to use the app, unfortunately you may have to a wait a little longer.  While a first version of the app is being trialed on the Isle of Wight, it appears its full scale deployment is currently in doubt.  

Issues with the use of Bluetooth as a means of exchanging data mean that the app is not able to work as effectively as it can, having to account for differences in phone strengths, materials around the phones, and duration of distance between devices.

At the moment there doesn't appear to be a timeline on the when the app will be available, but speaking from experience software development is a fluid thing and its better to do it properly than rush it out.  In the meantime, be aware that any app currently claiming to be the official one is a fake, and when the app is finally released it will be done so through official channels.

Here is some more information:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52995881

Thanks for reading! 

Mr-Win-Pe

Pause for Thought

There is a lot in the news and on social media at the moment about the lack of equality in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement. I must confess that growing up in my social context of white privilege I have a lot to learn. The first, and easiest reaction, is to become defensive and to dismiss my part in systemic racism. 

However, my belief has taught me that we are all equal in the eyes of God and I want my actions to follow my beliefs. 

The first step is to listen to those who have different life experiences to me. To come alongside without judgement and ready answers.

May we all be willing to learn.

With every blessing

Rev Kia