Headmaster’s Update
Our yearly TPS Fireworks Night event is a personal favourite of mine and last Friday’s celebration certainly hit all the high notes! We are enormously grateful to all our parent volunteers and the staff who made it such a success, and I gather that the event raised approximately £2000 for the TPSC.
In staffing news we are delighted to welcome two new joiners to our Catering team this week, following the retirement of Mrs Mary Cassar earlier in the term. Mrs Chantelle De Bortoli is our new Assistant Catering Manager having worked at the Hollyfield School and Mrs Angela Taveres joins us as a Catering Assistant from the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park.
Across the country many schools have marked Anti-Bullying Week through assemblies, workshops and activities to give a clear message to the children about being a ‘Power for Good’ amongst friends. It was lovely to see everyone don mismatched socks on Odd Socks Day as part of the TPS focus, with some eye-catchingly impressive attire on show from the children and the staff!
On Monday, the whole school was enthralled as 4J delivered a super class assembly, focused on World Science Day, exploring the contributions of notable scientists, such as Jane Goodall, Katherine Johnson, Albert Einstein and Copernicus, across a range of disciplines. The children bravely demonstrated scientific concepts, such as magnetism, static electricity and air pressure, and looked to the future, sharing ideas about their own contributions to scientific research. Well done to the 4J pupils and a huge thank to Mr Jervis for overseeing the scientific celebration!
That same day, our Senior Prep pupils visited the Poppy Factory in Richmond, seeing how poppies are manufactured, learning about the history of the symbolism of the poppy for Remembrance and how Major George Howson set up the original factory. This experience was the perfect way to prepare for the Remembrance Service led by Mr Howorth on Tuesday, with this year’s focus being a moving and fitting tribute to the RAF and ground support , whilst retelling extraordinary stories of the brave men and women whose actions helped ensure a lasting peace. I must make special mention of Tom in Year 6 who performed ‘The Last Post’ bugle call with perfect poise as part of the service. Other events this week included a super trip for Year 4 to the Natural History Museum on Thursday, with workshops on earthquakes and biodiversity, along with a dig to reveal dinosaur jawbones – how exciting! It was also a pleasure to welcome many of the new children and parents due to join Reception in September 2026 at the first of our welcome events that same day.
Our hallway in the Beveree is fit to bursting with shoeboxes ready for submission to the ‘Link to Hope’ appeal, organised by Mrs Engelhardt and our Charity Captains. I can proudly report we have gathered 96 boxes, a very impressive total, so thank you to all the TPS families who have donated a special set of gifts in the lead up to Christmas. The gifts support entire families and are sent to the poorest people in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania.
Finally, this week, I wanted to encourage parents and colleagues to attend our informal and low-key prayer groups on Friday mornings. These take place at 8.15 a.m. fortnightly in my office and anyone is welcome to come and join us to catch up and benefit from best possible start to the day! Our next meeting will be on Friday 28th November, should you be interested.
Oliver Barrett, Headmaster
Key Dates
Nov
| Day: | Date: | Event: |
|---|---|---|
| Wed | 19 | 5KM Class Assembly |
| Thu | 20 | ISEB Common Pre-Test Option 1 |
| Thu | 20 | 7+Assessment/Experience Day (for external candidates in Year 2) |
| Fri | 21 | ISEB Common Pre-Test Option 2 |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
Sports Fixtures
Nov
| Day: | Date: | Sport Event: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | 19 | Year 7&8 Boys’ A&B vs St Philip’s | Kempton CC |
| Wed | 19 | Year 5&6 Girls’ A,B,C&D Football | Claremont Fan Court Senior School Car Park (enter school by Portsmouth Road) |
| Thu | 20 | Year 4 A Mixed Football @ Ewell Castle Festival | Church Meadow |
| Fri | 21 | Year 5&6 Richmond Borough Cross-Country (selected pupils only) | Bushy Park – Teddington CC |
| Fri | 21 | Year 7&8 Richmond Borough Cross-Country (selected pupils only) | Bushy Park – Teddington CC |
| Fri | 21 | Year 3 Girls’ A,B&C Football | Claremont Fan Court Senior School Car Park (enter school by Portsmouth Road) |
| Fri | 21 | Year 4 Girls’ A,B&C Hockey | City of London Freemen’s |
| Sat | 22 | Year 4 Boys’ A @ Claremont Tournament | Claremont Fan Court Senior School Car Park (enter school by Portsmouth Road) |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
House Christmas Wreaths
This year each House will create their own Christmas bauble wreath to display in school during our Christmas events.
Every pupil at TPS has been given a bauble template to decorate and cut out at home.
The completed baubles need to be handed in by Monday 24th November.
Mrs Fox and Mrs Lindsay’s Art club at TPS
TPS Reception Entry Reminder!
Hampton Pool Christmas Light Switch on
My School Portal
My School Portal is a great school-to-parent communication system.
Here you will find the latest events, which can be synced with your electronic calendar, weekly menus and copies of all letters sent home.
Below are important notices from two key departments which are updated weekly:
Pre-Prep — messages from Mrs Barnes including club collection
Click Here
Safeguarding & Wellbeing messages from our Designated Safeguarding Team
Click Here
School Meals week commencing: 17th November Menu Week 1
