15th March 2024

As this year’s STEAM week comes to a close, it is extraordinary how much has been fitted into the past five days!

From animation creation to various robot-related workshops, time-themed maths challenges, a focus on AI and a visit to a working clock tower, we have certainly squeezed in lots of fun activities across all the year groups this week. Thank you so much to those parents and grandparents who came in to school to talk to the children. I sat in on a number of presentations and found them to be hugely inspiring and I know the children did too. For example, Mr Pearson blew our minds when he talked about satellites, space travel and how he had travelled an incredible 800,000+ miles with just one of the airlines he worked for (equalling 63% of the moon’s orbit around the earth) throughout his career so far. I encourage you to read more about our STEAM week here as we really did cover a lot in just five days!

We also enjoyed a fabulous showcase of musical talent at the Prep House Music Concert on Tuesday, which was the finale of an extraordinary House Music Competition, which had included 109 individual performances! All those who performed did so most professionally and the House songs were such fun to watch. We welcomed 3 guest judges who were all enormously impressed by the breadth of talent we have here at Rupert House. Congratulations to Amazon for being crowned the overall winners and thank you to everyone who took part, including all the House staff for being so game!

Year 2 had a great afternoon on Thursday, playing in the Education Henley Football Tournament together with children from 7 other local schools. Everyone played with enthusiasm and enjoyed showing off their best footwork and ball skills in front of the Mayor and lots of parents. Thank you to Ms Nicholson and Miss Finlay for organising it once again this year.

Finally, today is Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day, and both staff and children had a blast dressing up in rainbow clothes and sporting their crazy hairdos! The School Council led an assembly this morning in which they explained a little about the charity and the work that they do, and how the money we raise today will go towards supporting such worthwhile projects and organisations which are making a difference to people across the UK and around the world. Thank you to everyone for contributing towards our fundraising total of £420. Click here for a snapshot of the colourful morning we had here in school!

Catholic Church Service at Stonor

There will be a family-friendly Catholic church service at Stonor Chapel this Sunday (17^th March) at 9.30am. The Stonors would like to welcome any Rupert House families who are interested to come along. For those coming, when you arrive please park at the Tumblestone Hollow Visitor car park and go to the chapel at the side of the house.

Wishford parent meeting

If anyone was not able to attend one of the previous two meetings or has any further questions about the exciting announcement that Rupert House is to join the Wishford Schools Group, we are holding another meeting at 8.30am on Wednesday 20th March in the Music Studio. To give an idea of numbers and any specific questions you would like answered, please fill in this form if you plan to attend.

Next week - important reminders

There will be no clubs next week except for Judo, Ballet (on Wednesday after school for both the Wednesday and Friday club members), Dramaworks (on Monday and Tuesday), Homework Club, Running Club and Aftercare. There is no Homework Club or Aftercare on Friday.
On Tuesday we have a photographer coming in to take marketing photos. Please can pupils be in correct, smart uniform and come to school in their blazers.
Thursday morning is the last day to bring in Easter eggs for the local foodbank, NOMAD. Members of School Council and Year 4 parent reps will be taking them to the D2 Centre on Thursday afternoon. Thank you to all those who have already generously contributed.
The Easter Service takes place at 2pm at St Mary's on Friday 22^nd March and marks the end of term. Parents are encouraged to attend and children will be collected from the church at the end of the service. Please see the letter below for more information.
The final Running Club of the term on Friday morning will be Easter-themed, so please ensure those children attending also bring in their uniform for the Service.

Finally, the Summer term calendar will be uploaded to the portal next week ahead of the Easter holidays.

Best wishes,

Nick Armitage