A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Three cheers for our amazing catering team for a delicious Christmas lunch with all the trimmings this week. We might have been depleted in numbers, but we more than made up for it in Christmas spirit: the festive jumpers were out in force! Many thanks too, to our incredible staff who have worked tirelessly to make it a week to remember for the children in school. We’ve had quizzes, carols and presents galore – and even a visit from Father Christmas! Team Perrott, we salute you.
Pupils and parents came together for a glorious evening of carols and readings in the Grundy Hall last week. Featuring an array of musical performances and readings, as well as as carols in Mr Shortman’s own inimitable style (a special mention to the Headmaster for his impromptu solo!), it was a lovely festive evening next to the roaring fire. Many thanks to Mr Shortman and our merry band of music teachers for their enthusiasm and support.
Very well done to our amazing Year 8 art scholars, who last week planned and taught an art lesson in Pre-Prep on how to paint and make a recycled Christmas tree. The Year 2 children listened intently and produced some incredible work – it was a wonder to behold! Well done Year 8; the rest of the school are so fortunate to have such wonderful role models leading the way… (PS spot the beards – it was the start of Nativity week!)
Hats off to our brilliant Pre-Prep pupils, who shone like stars in their Nativity this week. The children were so excited to welcome their families and managed not one but TWO amazing performances! Take a bow, Mr Edgar, and a big thank you to the Pre-Prep staff for their hard work over the past fortnight, to Mr Shortman, Mr Hartland and Mr Waite for their musical accompaniment, to Mr Andrews and Mr Harlow for their tech support, and to Mrs Palmer and the maintenance team for such a superb set. For more pictures, please head to our school Facebook page.
Well done to our Head Girl, who this week ran an online Malayalam tutorial for GCSE students at Sherborne School. As well as teaching them some basic conversational phrases, she introduced them to some of the 200 symbols of the written script. Impressive work!
Well done to the girls in Years 5-8 for displaying excellent stick stills and exemplary teamwork in this week’s House hockey matches; Miss White was very proud. The Perrott spirit was out in force and it’s congratulations to this year’s winners… Mendips!
Last week Years 6-8 gathered in the Loft to share their thoughts on Lisa Thompson‘s brilliant novel ‘The Goldfish Boy’. It’s a remarkable story about finding friendship when you’re lonely and sparked an interesting discussion on the debilitating effects of OCD, a condition which afflicts Matthew, the book’s central character. The children talked about how it can affect young people’s lives and wore gloves for the duration of the meeting to empathise with Matthew’s plight. Many thanks to Mrs Byrne and Mr Silk for facilitating such thoughtful discussion.
The Grundy Hall was well and truly decked with holly this week, as the boarders dusted off the Christmas decorations and turned up the festive tunes! The Christmas countdown is now officially on and we’ve got all this to come over the next few weeks: The Pre-Prep Nativity; Christmas Jumper Day; the Lower Prep Christmas Party; Carols and Readings in the Grundy Hall; our Christmas Activity Weekend, Panto Trip and Boarders’ Christmas Dinner; Boarders’ Trips to Stourhead and Winter Wonderland in Exeter; the Christmas Show; and finally, our Carol Service at St Bartholomew’s Church in Crewkerne.
Pupils in Years 3 and 4 have been busy making this year’s batch of Perrott Young Farmers’ chutney which will go on sale during the final week of term. All money raised will go to Michael and Clare Morpurgo’s charity, Farms for City Children, which enables children from disadvantaged communities to experience the adventure of working on a farm. All thanks to our intrepid young farmer, Mr Silk!
Many congratulations to our Year 6 pupils, who took part in Tuesday’s Year 6 Mock Trial alongside primary schools Ash, Chilthorne Domer, Hambridge, Preston and All Saints, Montacute. The panel of Yeovil Magistrates were tremendously impressed by the manner in which the children approached the event, with this year’s defendant in the dock being the fictional Jackie Jones who stood accused of dangerous driving. Well done to all the children who took part, to our adjudicating magistrates, Mary Ellis, Susanna Hanson and Lindsay Wilson (who delivered a brilliant talk in the library a few weeks ago) and to Mr Silk, Mrs Byrne and Victoria Pearson for their help in preparing the children for the trial.
