A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Years 6-8 Book Clubbers arrived to Thursday’s meeting to find the the Loft converted into a forest glade courtesy of Mrs Byrnes’ foraging skills! Her box of pine cones and leaves helped to set the scene for an animated discussion on Katya Balen’s Carnegie Medal winning book, ‘October, October’. The children were left to wonder what lies in store on Thursday 24th November when Helen Rutter’s ‘The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh’ will be under the spotlight…
Friday’s Harvest Festival was led by Reverend Prebendary Mike Vockins OBE, and served as a wonderful reminder of the power of ‘cheerful giving’. Our junior and senior choirs sang beautifully and with such spirit (a special mention must go to Gabriel and George for their very impressive solos), while Head Girl, Alice, and Prefects, Ellie and Henry, led the prayers and readings. Many thanks to Mr Shortman and our brilliant orchestra and, of course, to all our parents and pupils for donating so many boxes of food to our local food bank, The Lord’s Larder in Yeovil. We know they will be extremely grateful.
Our Pre-Prep Harvest Festival took place in St Martin’s Church on Wednesday, with pupils donating boxes of food and giving thanks for all that they have. Very well done to all the children who sang and recited beautifully: 1L read a poem and 1E led the prayers, while Year 2 recited a poem they’d written. Nursery and Reception sang ‘Mr Scarecrow’ while Years 1 and 2 sang ‘Merci beaucoup pour les haricots vert’ and ‘In the earth the small seed is hidden’. Many thanks to Reverend CJ Davis and everyone involved in a wonderful service of thanks.
Year 8 have been adapting ‘Theseus and the Minotaur’ into a film in classical civilisation with Dr Longley-Cook. Last week, they created film boards to show their knowledge and understanding of the myth and today they presented their ideas to a panel of critics and took questions. Well done to Euan whose adaptation was chosen as the winner and congratulations to all the presenters – audaces Fortuna iuvat!
Our Year 6 girls had great fun at their Loft Night this week, followed by the Year 4 boys. Talking of the Loft, it was a hive of activity on Thursday as Book Club got underway for Years 3-5. The children enjoyed a hearty discussion about the merits of Varsha Shah’s debut novel ‘Ajay and the Mumbai Sun’ which centres on the eponymous newspaper set up by a group of poor Mumbai slum children with a passion for journalism and uncovering the truth. We were especially pleased to see our own Roving Reporters in the audience!
On Tuesday evening, a group of Year 8 girls attended a fascinating talk at Crewkerne Museum by the celebrated local photographer, Pauline Rook. The talk coincided with the launch of her book ‘Behind the Hedges’ which charts 20 years of photography in the Blackdown Hills. It was a wonderful event; thank you to everyone involved.
Year 4 went on a history trip to Maiden Castle last week to explore the largest and most complex Iron Age hillfort in Britain. As well as learning how the Celts lived in roundhouses and what the hillfort would have looked like 2000 years ago, they got to explore the steep ramparts and search for evidence of the Roman invasion and abandonment. They also had great fun attacking and defending the hillfort!
Pin the tail on the school dog? Yep. Soak the Headmaster? You bet. A teachers’ sack race? It can only be the Perrott Charity Fundraising Morning, featuring a host of pupil-led stalls and events on the Front Terrace. This year, pupils were raising money for Merriott-based charity Prodigal Bikes, which reconditions and ships old bikes to Africa to enable school children and teachers to get to school. And if that’s not worth a wet sponge in your face, we don’t know what is…
There were big smiles as Prep pupils took part in their annual Community Action Morning. Whether they were collecting apples at the Haselbury Plucknett Community Orchard, cleaning St Martin’s Church in North Perrott, helping at the North Perrott Farm Shop or performing at the West Abbey Care Home in Yeovil, the children approached the morning with their usual energy and enthusiasm and we couldn’t be prouder!
Many thanks to Anthony Raybould of the Merriott-based charity, Prodigal Bikes, who gave an inspirational talk to Years 3-8 recently about his work to recondition and ship bikes to Sub-Saharan Africa so that children and teachers can get to school. His charity was selected by the children following a presentation given by Harry and Oliver, pictured with Anthony, at last term’s charity assembly.
