King's Hall School Prep Newsletter

King’s Hall School Prep Newsletter Edition 142 2 February 2018 ___________________________________________________________________

HEADlines

How far can you walk into a forest? Those who enjoy quirky questions will know that the answer is ‘halfway’, thereafter you are walking out of the forest. Well, today, in relation to our seasonal calendars, we are halfway into winter and now begin to move out as we head towards Spring. I hope you have other reasons to be cheerful (and how many of you can’t help saying ‘Part 3’ as a natural extension to those four words?) as we enter February. Father Mark was reminding us of this and related it to Candlemass and Groundhog Day as well – it’s also (inevitably) a couple of important birthdays today for some. A few other reasons for some to be cheerful also cross my mind: Year 8 CE candidates have completed a week of exam trials without too much fuss (well done to them), Six Nations start this weekend, the gorgeous sun has been wonderful recently, Year 6 are getting to grips with their play, Mrs Hand’s senior netball group all know they can shoot more accurately than me, it’s half term in only seven days – oops, shouldn’t have said that last one out loud! Before then, one other reason to be cheerful if quizzes float your boat is the FoKHS quiz which is now looming next Thursday. If you’d enjoy an evening of fun with some friends do sign up as plans will need firming up pretty soon. Have a good weekend and I may see many of you on a touchline tomorrow - I won’t be either the GS or GA!

Justin Chippendale

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A view from the Rose Garden Year 4 have studied the poet Christina Rossetti and focused on her ‘Colours’ poem. We looked at colours in nature and used descriptive words and phrases to describe the many different colours around us, then used our planning to write colour riddles. After having fun with colour riddles, we attempted to write our own ‘Colours’ poem in the style of Christina Rossetti. Here are a few to read and enjoy!

Academic Life... Computing A busy new year, Years 3 and 4 have been using parts of the J2e suite of online apps; exploring poster design and coding. Year 5 have been in Scratch card challenges, while Year 6 have delved back in time to research the “Computer Age”. House design, using Google Sketchup has been Year 7’s main focus; while Year 8 have been creating music for their bands, using Soundation. During Hobbies the photography group has been focussing on portraits and the creative use of the crop tool. Animators have used Serif Draw to develop stories using stopframe techniques. Next week we have Safer Internet Day to be our focus.

Music Mighty Orchestra Last week, eight children were treated to a day of orchestral playing at Wellington School alongside other prep school children as part of a Mighty Orchestra. It really was mighty as, by the time of the performance, there were around 80 children taking part! After arriving and splitting into different groups for rehearsals, we had a number of hours learning the four pieces in groups of strings, brass and woodwind before joining together to try the repertoire as a whole orchestra. Alongside St Peter’s, Exeter Cathedral School, Wellington Junior and Wellington Senior, the players (all of Grades 3-8 standard) took huge pleasure in playing bespoke arrangements of excellent film music that was in equal measure challenging and thrilling. The concert opened with the 20th Century Fox theme (with a huge amount of percussion!) and the audience was visibly impressed by the vast sound the group created. They then played full-length versions of Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean and Skyfall – along with guest vocalists. The whole day was unforgettable and the children were still buzzing days later. Many thanks go to the Wellington staff who arranged and organised the day.

Lent Term Concert Next Tuesday sees the annual Lent Term Concert. An email was sent out this week giving details of the day and performers. It promises to be a terrific evening so please do come whether you have children involved or not! Senior Choir will not be taking place on Monday and the Orchestra hobby will not take place on Tuesday. Taunton Festival There will be a full write-up of the Taunton Festival next week but here are a few snapshots of children who have performed this week at the Festival – lots of really lovely performances and the odd medal or two!!

Grace Eakhurst (Y5)

Maddie Brake (Y7)

Eleanor Harding (Y5)

Year 4 Science For our topic ‘Keeping Healthy’ Year 4 are learning about the heart. This week they got to look at pig’s heart and see for themselves the arteries and veins and get a really good feel for this incredible organ.

Religious Studies Year 5 The Jerusalem Cross Year 5 have enjoyed looking at different crosses from around the world and what they mean to the Christians around the world. This special cross marks the origin of the Christian story that started in Jerusalem. This cross is made up of five crosses which represents the spread of the Christian church to all four corners of the Earth, with the central cross representing Jerusalem.

Some Year 6 Reflections As the new year rolls in Year 6 continue to be a very busy bunch, here is a snippet of their time at King’s Hall this term, written by a few of the pupils: At the moment Year 6’s are working very hard to perfect our “Arabian Nights” play. We have been doing rehearsals and music lessons to make sure we know exactly how everything goes and it all gels together. There is lots of choreographing and making sure we have learnt our words! We are all very excited to perform our production in March and we hope everyone enjoys it! (Rafaella Cook) On Tuesday 23rd January all of Year 6 went to King’s College to have a science lesson. We did 3 experiments, and my favourite was the “don’t crack your egg challenge.” We had an egg in pairs and we needed to use different materials to stop it from breaking. We also had to make the case weigh as little as possible as it was dropped from the ceiling. It was a great experience for everyone! (Tilly Fuller) The entire year went to the recycling centre and we learnt a lot of things. We talked about how people right around the world built their houses from parts of the rubbish, and that these areas were called slums, usually just outside big cities. The trip was so good and I hope that they will go again next year, and they will have just as much fun! (Gabriel Folorunso) I have just starting playing goal keeper in Hockey and it is so much fun as when you stop a goal all your teammates shout “well saved” at you! You also get the best view of everyone else playing. It has been brilliant to see the team work together and play like professionals. In our last matches against Perrott Hill and The Downs, everyone played brilliantly and we won! (Andrew Lee) In Netball we have a new teacher, Mrs Hardy. She is very good, we have learnt to dodge away from our markers and are practising getting rid of the ball really quickly. We can all see a big improvement in both teams. We have fought hard in all our matches this season, and will keep working hard as we have some really tough fixtures. (Maya Penn)

This week in the Library.... Coming soon in the Library… World Book Day visit by leading children’s author, Katherine Rundell

World Book Day 2018 takes place on Thursday 1st March and we have a very special treat in store for our pupils: award-winning children’s author, Katherine Rundell, will be visiting us to talk to Years 5, 6 and 7 about her books and the inspiration behind them, as well as giving our pupils some insight into what life as an author is like. In January this year, Katherine was awarded the Costa Children’s Book Prize for her most recent novel, The Explorer. In addition to her work as a novelist, Katherine is also a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. She is sure to inspire our budding writers here at King’s Hall! Katherine will be available to sign pupils’ books on the day and there will, as usual, be a book stall for those pupils who might wish to buy one and have it signed. Click here to watch a video of Katherine talking about her Costa award-winning book, The Explorer. We can’t wait to meet her!

This term’s Deputy Head Boy is Ralph Hutchins Half term is fast approaching with a little over a week to go before we take our first break of 2018. All of the hard work that Year 8 have been doing since September has finally concluded this week with the mock common entrance exams. I’m sure there will be a number of pupils relieved that the first stage is finally over, we then have the actual exams in June! The boarders enjoyed their movie night last Friday watching the Emoji movie. I’m sure we are all noticing that the mornings are starting to get lighter and the evenings longer, hopefully the winter is starting to come to an end. We have now crossed the half way mark of the school year. I am looking forward to a great weekend, and I’m sure we are all looking forward to half term.

Sport Action and News... Netball U9 against West Buckland A lovely friendly game, involving a mix of 'Butterflies' and 'Ladybirds' playing. Ellen Hill and Daisy Webster opened up the scoring in the first half with two goals apiece, with Ellie Wrobel adding a fifth goal. West Buckland were struggling a little so players were moved around to enable the opposition to score. A much better performance from the girls today, with Sylvie Rice making a super contribution to the team effort, along with improved movement and ball distribution by Georgia Durham, Faith Hammond, Emily Chisholm and Grace Gompels.

U10A against West Buckland A trickle of goals went in each quarter to create an eight goal difference on this wet damp morning. The King’s Hall passes were generally stronger and more accurate than the opposition. When West Buckland's GA gained possession in her D, she shot two great goals straight through the hoop. Her supply was cut out far too often on its way to her by the King’s Hall team who defended very well indeed. Both teams learnt some new rules along the way and adapted these into their play. Well done to Rose Cartwright (Captain for the day) who was voted Player of the Match; and to all the players who sportingly rotated positions to give the opposition a good game. The scorers were Katie Rowe (2); Rose Cartwright (2); Ella Francis (4) and Ava Broke-Smith (2).

U11B against Wellington School An excellent game playing Wellington. Some last minute team changes saw the girls in positions they aren't used to, but nonetheless rose above, especially Georgia in GS and Bethany in WD. Daisy's intercepts were phenomenal, and lead to quick ball handling through Erin, Tilly and finally to Georgia and Maya to score. At the end of the first half, we were ahead 3-1, but by the end of the second half, our girls worked dynamically together to win 6-3.

U10B against Queen’s and Wellington School It appears from the result that this was a close game but we had plenty more shots on goal than Wellington and our knowledge of the rules was far superior and our general game play was excellent in comparison. The Player of the Match went to Isabel Noble who, as Goal Attack linked play well. A super game with excellent footwork from both sides and I have to say very few infringements of the rules. It was a pleasure to umpire as the game was free flowing and exciting to watch. The shooters Freya and Isabel did a sterling job. Isabel again received the Player of the Match award. Arabella linked the attack and defence very well.

Hockey U13B against Queen’s and St Peter’s The Under 13B played well to beat a competitive St Peters team and it was pleasing to see Ronnie Potter, Adam Craig and William Moulden showing their dribbling and passing skills. In the second match against Queen's, however, the team really began to shine and produced some dynamic passing moves. The link play between Max Earp and William Mercer was at times awesome and they sliced open the defence regularly. Justin Hao was on hand to put the ball away. Tom Day also made some good saves at key moments. More of the same in the next game please.

U11A against Queen’s and St Peter’s Queens proved strong opposition, controlling the centre of the pitch well. We worked hard to get the ball back and round and had plenty of shots on target, but only one made it legitimately to the back of the net, put away by Arthur Webster. St Peter's had less finesse, but played with determination, keeping the score line down to just 1-0 (again scored by Arthur)

U10A against Queen’s and St Peter’s Determined play in the game against Queens saw us 2-0 up by the final whistle, but it was a game that could have gone either way, with the ball travelling from end to end of the pitch! Thomas Rew and Charlie Sidhu were the scorers. We had more of the game against St Peter's but couldn't finish, with lots of shots going wide. However Thomas was finally able to add his second goal for the afternoon to win us the game in the dying minutes. A good, determined, team effort.

Results round up ... Netball

Saturday 27 January v West Buckland and Exeter School

U13B U12B U11A U10A U10/11B U9

Lost & Won 13-7 Won 10-5 and Won 1710 Lost 0-10 and Lost 5-7 Drew 5-5 and Lost 3-8 Lost 5 - 8 Won 10 - 2 Lost 2 - 8 Won 5 - 3

Wednesday 31 January v Queen’s and Wellington

U11A U11B U10A U10B

Lost 0-12 and Lost 1-9 Lost 0-11 and Won 6-3 Won 6-3 and Won 9-3 Won 4-2 and Won 9-2

Thursday 1 February v St Peter’s

U9 U8

Training games Training games

v West Buckland

U13A U12A

Hockey

Saturday 7 January v The Downs

U13A U13B U12A U12B U11A U11B U10A U10/11B

Lost 0 - 5 Won 7 - 3 Drew 6 - 6 Won 6 - 1 Won 5 - 1 Won 8-0 Won 7 - 0 Lost 0 - 4

Wednesday 31 January v Queen’s and St Peter’s

U13A U13B

Lost and Won 4-1 Won 3-0 and Won 60 Won 4-1 Lost 1-3 and Won 70 Drew 2 - 2 Lost 0 - 3 Won 1-0 and Won 10 Drew 1-1, Won 4-0 Won 2-0 and Won 10 Drew 1-1 and Lost 04

U13C U12A U12B U12/13C U11A U11B U10A U10/11B

Thursday 1 February v Blundell’s

U9 U8

Training games Training games

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The Boarders’ World... Go-Karting Competitiveness, whether healthy or unhealthy, there was a massive amount of it flying around, and around on Sunday morning! The Boarders set out last weekend to discover their racing side as we made our way to AJ’s Karting in Weston-Super-Mare. Only being an hour away by minibus the excitement built up the closer we got and it didn’t disappoint, even while watching. After a safety talk and gearing up for the much anticipated adrenalin pumping racing, the Boarders were all ready for what lay before them. The first round of racers consisted of Nigel, Adam, Maria, Oscar, Zhie, and to bolster the Boarding staff, Mr Campleman. The favourites were of course Nigel or Adam but no one can count out the South African, since he has experience of driving compared to the likes of Maria and Oscar, hopefully...? From the side it looked like sheer fun and excitement and all the Boarders waiting for their turn got even more enthused for their round. The Go Karts could drift round a 40 second track like in ‘Need for Speed’, and boy did the children try their best to look like it. Some

quality racing was on hand and the Boarders really lit the place up with skills behind the wheel, even able to spin Miss Biggs… (Herbert…). The Boarders found themselves supporting the other drivers while they completed their own 20 minutes of adrenalin filled fun. It was really good to see the Boarders look very family-like and everyone cheering on each other the entire time. The races had not ended when they came straight off the track saying they want to come back next weekend, so I guess that says it all... the Boarders loved the trip, the staff got stuck in and everyone had a fantastic time!

Things you didn’t know about ...

Johnnie Drysdale Y8 pupil

Max Earp Y8 pupil

How long have you been at King’s Hall School? Tell us more about your arrival. I joined the school in 2008 at the age of 3 and arrived I have been at King's Hall for a year and a half. when my 3 brothers and my sister were at King’s Hall When I first arrived I was excited but nervous. I and King’s College. I have some of the fondest met my new Tutor (Mr Gates) and then I was off. I memories here at King’s Hall and it has been a good was scared to begin with, but I met new faces and experience and lots of fun. There are many skills I’ve everyone was welcoming and friendly. learnt here that I possibly couldn’t have learnt at another school. If you were going to appear in a book, which character would you play and what would be the plot? If I were in a book I would want to be a character like I think that I would want to appear in an action / James Adams from the Cherub series. The plot would thriller book. The plot would be: me (an astronaut) be infiltrating a gang but he doesn’t realize he is journeying to and colonising a new planet. The infiltrating a drugs war. storyline would revolve around how I am able to survive among the creatures on the new planet. What do you like doing in your free time? In my spare time I like playing sports especially cricket In my free time I like to play sport, read or watch and hockey. I also love playing my bass guitar, which I the TV (I like Myth Busters and watching sports do a lot. fixtures). I like to play sport because it tests you and you learn how to win and lose, and the importance of training; reading helps me to learn to expand my mind; watching TV relaxes me.

If you could try out any job for a day, what would you like to try? If I could try a job for a day I would try being a host I would like to try acting as The Prime Minister or for a celebrity TV show, I think it would be a really as a President for a day to see how difficult good experience and great fun. I would get to meet these jobs are. I wouldn't mind having a go at famous celebrities but it’s something I wouldn’t want influencing laws to see how it felt to have such to do in real life. power. I would like to know how it feels to be the person who makes the decisions and finally, it would be fun to see myself on the news! If you could appear on ‘Mastermind’ what would be your chosen field of knowledge? If I appeared on Mastermind, my chosen field of If I appeared on Mastermind, my specialist subject knowledge would be the life and adventures of 007. would be rugby because I love rugby and I know a lot on the subject because I watch every match that is on the TV. Which three people, dead or alive, would you have to a dinner party if you could? Why? If I could pick 3 people to have dinner with I would I would invite Bill Gates, Richard the III and Nelson have Paul Mc Cartney, he is my idol bass guitar player Mandela to a party. I would like to learn about the and probably has lots of good stories of gigs and history of Microsoft and what it felt like to be such performances. My second choice would be Ab De a big part of new ideas. I would like to know what Villiers, I would choose him because he is one of my it feels like to have the responsibility of having so favourite cricket players and I would love to properly much money - does it feel bad or good? I would meet him. Last of all I would choose Theresa May so I like to ask Richard the III whether he killed his two could ask her about plans for the future for my nephews and solve this mystery. Finally, I would generation. like to know where Nelson Mandela found the power to be both resilient (for so long) and forgiving. What is your favourite possession? Why? My favourite item of possession is a Monkey which My favourite possession is a photo of me holding a my brother Tom gave me the day I was born. baseball right at the top of the New York Yankees Stadium because I was in America to meet family for the first time and it was a special time - I look really happy in the photo. If you could meet and talk with anyone in the world, who would it be and what would you speak about? If I could meet and talk with anyone in the world it I would like to speak to Donald Trump because I would be Marcus Miller who is a famous bass player would like to ask him why he wanted to become and bass guitar designer. I was lucky enough to get a President. I would like to ask him if he is playing a Marcus Miller bass guitar this year for Christmas. I big game with us all. would talk to him about styles of playing the bass.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? If I could go anywhere in the world it would be I would like to go to Iceland because you can see Chicago. Hopefully, I could go to a Marcus Miller the Northern Lights and it is an extreme place and I concert. want to see how people live there. I think that seeing the Northern Lights would give you a sense of how magical the world can be.

What has been the most unusual or extravagant food you have ever eaten? The most unusual food I have ever eaten was I ate a sea snail in Japan - it didn't taste as nice as I swordfish when I was on holiday in Greece, I liked it. thought it would and I had to chew it a lot! What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? The one thing I haven’t done but really want to I would like to go skydiving because I think it would do is go to Glastonbury festival. be exhilarating. To have the time to look down and admire our planet, travelling completely by yourself, would be cool. I think it would make you feel both powerful and small at the same time. Would you rather travel back in time or into the future? Why? I would especially like to go back to Australia on our Given the choice, I would prefer to travel back in big family holiday when my eldest brother James was time to see what has happened and to learn from doing his gap year there. As I was only 1, I can’t the past; I wouldn't want to see what the future is remember anything and there are so many photos of like as I would prefer to live it out. me with everyone, and I really want to relive it now that I am older.

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