Headmaster’s Update
There can be no doubt that children are spellbound by a great story, the chance to hear about extraordinary people and explore eye-opening situations to expand and enrich their world. It was wonderful to focus on this educational truth with teaching colleagues and to learn how story telling can be a powerful tool for the teaching of mathematics with our guest Dr Vince Trakulphadetkrai’s who showcased his ‘Maths Through Stories’ initiative, in partnership with Mrs Clough (Head of Maths) earlier this week. Vince’s work has harnessed the power of children’s reading and writing to explore understanding of mathematical principles. His not-for-profit initiative features a wealth of resources for all ages for educators and parents which can be accessed here: https://www.mathsthroughstories.org/
With Internet Safety Day this week on Tuesday 11th February there have been a number of activities promoting the key messages about online safety and trusted adults. We were immensely grateful to Miss Jones (Head of Computing and ICT) and Year 7 for their assembly on Monday morning, which explored cyberbullying and gave us top tips for how to support one another. The presentation even featured a wise malfunctioning robot who was thankfully rebooted to pass on those top tips!
Throughout the mornings this week, 80s music featuring Wham! (Wake Me Up Before You Go Go), Cyndi Lauper (True Colours), Stevie Winwood (Higher Love) and Lionel Richie (Dancing On The Ceiling) has reverberated through the school, with Apollo, Concorde, Harrier and Firebird practising their performances for the showdown as part of the House Music Competition. The finals on Thursday were a feast for the senses, so congratulations to all the boys and girls and, in particular, to Concorde for winning overall! Later that morning, we had the treat of the instrumental finals organised by Mrs Hill (Head of Music) with a host of talent on show and so many exceptional and inspiring performances. Congratulations to Beatrice (Guitar), Ernie (Drums), Oscar (Brass), Nicole (Piano), Rebecca (Voice) and Toby (Woodwind) for distinguished recitals and winning their respective sections.
What a way to finish the half term!
Oliver Barrett, Headmaster
Key Dates
February
| Day: | Date: | Event: |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 24th February – Friday 28th February – Junior Duke Week | ||
| Monday 24th February – Friday 28th February – NO STAFF LED EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS AFTER SCHOOL | ||
| Monday 24th February – Friday 28th February – Year 6 Cycle Training | ||
| Mon | 24 | Year 8 RSE session |
| Mon | 24 | Year 7&8 Residential Trip to Pembrokeshire Meeting (online) |
| Wed | 26 | Year 3 Residential Trips Meeting (in person for parents) |
| Thu | 27 | School Council Meeting |
| Fri | 28 | Prayer Meeting |
| Fri | 28 | TPSC Quiz Night |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
Sports Fixtures
February
| Day: | Date: | Sport Event: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | 26 | Girls – Year5/6 Hockey Tournament | Tormead School |
| Wed | 26 | Boys – Year 7&8 1st&2nd XII vs St Philip’s | Barn Elms |
| Wed | 26 | Boys – Year 6 A&B vs Claremont | Claremont Fan Court Senior School Car Park (enter school by Portsmouth Road) |
| Fri | 28 | Girls – Year 4 A&B Hockey vs Willington | Willington Prep |
| Fri | 28 | Boys – Year 4 A,B&C vs Tower House | Kempton CC |
All up to date sports fixtures information can be found on MSP
Sensory Parenting for Sensory Children Course
DELIVERED BY EMTIA BARTLETT, A TRUESTED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, WHO SUPPORTS SOME OF OUR PUPILS HERE AT TPS
Emtia will be running the helpful ‘Sensory Parenting for Sensory Children’ course based on the book by Tanya van Dalen again this February and March 2025.
It is really fantastic content for children who are sensory seeking, under- responsive or sensory sensitive. It also looks at parenting styles and thinking about how these impact on our children.
It also looks at how a child’s sensory needs impact on family dynamics and parenting.
It is going to take place on Friday mornings 9:30-11:30, over 6 weeks, 28th February, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th March and 25th April, at the garden studio in Selkirk Rd, Twickenham, TW2 6PU
You can purchase tickets for this on the link below and take advantage of an early bird window.
Sensory Parenting for Sensory Children Tickets, Fri 28 Feb 2025 at 09:30 | Eventbrite
Here is what previous parents have said about the course:
‘It was great to be able to hear from, and talk to, people who have similar experiences to my own with their children. I’ve dealt with this on my own (with my partner) without discussing with friends and family. To hear other peoples’ methods and struggles helped me so much. We have incorporated several of the tactics discussed and become more accepting of some behaviours too after understanding more about sensory challenges.’
‘Would I recommend this course to other parents? Yes! If a parent is struggling it provides a safe space to understand how to support your child.’
‘It was most helpful to learn about my own sensory needs and how this impacts my behaviour and my relationship with my children’
‘I found the shared experiences with other parents most helpful. I have a better understanding of why my children respond to different stimuli – and what I can do to help it!;
‘I learnt new ways to parent my children and find ways to deal with their sensory needs, especially in stressful situations’
Please do get in touch via the website below if you have any further questions.
Leaps and Bounds therapy
World Book Day Competition
Attention all classes! This World Book Day, we’re celebrating with a Canvas Painting Competition! Each class must select five students to create colourful and bright paintings of their favourite book character.
How to Enter:
- Choose five students to represent your class.
- Each student creates a vibrant canvas painting of a book character they love.
- Submit all five paintings by Tuesday 25th February.
The class with the most outstanding artwork will be crowned World Book Day Champions on Friday 7th March!
Get creative, bring your favourite characters to life, and may the best class win!
For more details, visit the library or speak to your teacher. Happy painting!
Book Week – Author Visits
We are delighted to welcome three fantastic authors as part of our World Book Week celebrations, giving children the opportunity to be inspired by real writers and gain valuable insights into the world of storytelling.
On Monday 4th March, Chitra Soundar will visit Pre-Prep, bringing her wonderful stories to life for our youngest readers.
On Wednesday 6th March, Adam Baron will engage with Prep, sharing his experiences as an author and discussing his much-loved books.
Finally, on Friday 7th March, Senior Prep will enjoy a virtual author visit from Andy Briggs, who will delve into his writing journey and inspire our older pupils.
These visits will be a fantastic way to spark creativity, encourage a love of reading, and celebrate the magic of books together!
Travelling Book Fair
We are delighted to welcome back the Scholastic Travelling Book Fair as part of our World Book Week celebrations! This is a fantastic opportunity for children to explore a wonderful selection of books and discover new stories to enjoy.
WHEN: Tuesday 4th March and Wednesday 5th March from 3.30pm – 4.30pm.
WHERE: Weather permitting, outside in the playground, or in the Pre-Prep shared area.
There will be a fantastic selection of books available for children of all ages, with hundreds of titles to choose from. Plus, with every book purchased, the school earns free books to enrich our school and class libraries!
The cost of any books chosen will be recorded and added to your next school bill. If you are unable to attend the Book Fair but would like to make a purchase, please email Mrs Haywood at iauksakyte@twickenhamprep.co.uk.
World Book Day Character Dress-up
We are excited to celebrate World Book Day with our annual dress-up day on Thursday 6th of March, and we would love to see all children take part!
This year, children are invited to dress up as their favourite book character and bring the book into school to share with their class.
To ensure a fun and comfortable day, please make sure that costumes are warm and suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities, including playtime.
We will be awarding prizes and commendations in every year group for the most original and creative costumes that show real effort and enthusiasm!
We can’t wait to see all the fantastic costumes and celebrate a love of reading together!
Support Children’s Sleep Awareness Month
We are delighted to support this campaign putting the spotlight on children’s sleep because…what an important subject it is! Did you know that up to 50% of children struggle with sleep at some point, which rises to 80% where there is a diagnosis of SEND?
Poor sleep can lead to cranky mornings, trouble focusing in school, and even long-term health challenges – not to mention tired, stressed-out parents. That’s why we’re raising awareness about the importance of sleep for children.
Whether you’re navigating toddler wake ups, battling bedtimes, or convincing your teen to switch off at night, here’s what’s coming in February:
✨ Practical tips for better sleep routines.
✨ Free weekly webinars with our experts to tackle sleep challenges.
✨ Resources, info and challenges.
All of this could help you make bedtime battles a thing of the past. Follow the charity for updates, tips, and resources, and get ready to sleep better this February! Download the supporter’s pack here: https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/get-involved/awareness-events/
Half Term Tech Camp at TPS
Still need a February Half Term Activity? 🤔
Join us for a week of inspiring, engaging and empowering tech activities, where kids can explore the world of STEM in a fun and engaging environment!
📍Location: Twickenham Prep
📆 Dates: Monday 17th – Friday 21st February
What can your child experience…
🤖Robotics, Coding and Inventions
🚀Lego Engineering
🌟Minecraft Redstone
🎉 LIMITED OFFER –Individual days for £39.99 or book 5 days for £175!
📅 Spaces are filling up fast, so come on over and secure your spot today! Click the link below to book your spot today: https://www.nextthing.education/product/twickenham-preparatory-school-february-camp/
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: 24th Feb Menu Week 1
