News Letter
Wickham Court School Year

2007/2008

Autumn Term

The academic year started well with a visit from The Life Bus. All children from the Nursery to Year 9 participated and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, learning about themselves and their environment.

Early in September parents had the opportunity to meet their child's new class teacher and learn about the new school year.

The PTA Quiz was as usual a great success.

This year, the school had a stand at the Independent Schools' exhibition in Bromley Civic Centre.

As In past years, the children have generously filled shoeboxes for families in Romania encouraged by Mrs. Johnson, one of our parents.

All classes enjoyed a talk on recycling and the school now has compost bins in the grounds.

There was a great deal of interest from new parents at our Open Mornings and children are joining us throughout the year in all age groups.

Years 7, 8 and 9 enjoyed a talk on Black History by Mrs. Allen and all the school joined a number of parents at St. John's Church for Harvest Festival. The generous gifts were collected by the Salvation Army.

Divali - 2007

PC Andy Clark gave a talk to Year 6 on Crime and its Consequences, while Year 3 had followed up a history lesson with a trip to Crofton Roman Villa. Years 4 and 5 benefited from a Tudor Village Workshop, while Years, 5, 6, 7 8 and 9 had a lot of fun at the Art Workshop. This was pottery based and the children made lovely gifts for Christmas. A lecturer from Bromley Museum visited the school to talk to Year 3 on The Romans. Only Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 went to the Beckenham Festival this year and did well with honours and merits which was excellent as so many of the children were unwell and unable to attend.

Bad Hair Day!!

The Christmas Bazaar was a wonderful experience with a Father Christmas in his grotto, mulled wine and hot chestnuts at the door. The parents worked very hard to make it such a happy seasonal time.

Children from Early Years enjoy the Autumn leaves - November 2007

Years, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are visiting the Polka Theatre to see The BFG, while the senior pupils will visit the BFI / IMAX Cinema. The younger children will enjoy Mr. Wotty, a musician, at the end of term. The Christmas and Nativity Plays by the Nursery, Reception, Years 1 and 2 is always a great treat followed by coffee and mince pies.

The finale to this term will be the annual Carol Service in St. John's Church. The Reverend Tim Giles will join the whole school with Christmas readings. Again, the parents will provide coffee, tea and mince pies, which provide a warm family atmosphere at the end of term.

The autumn term is a long term and the children work very hard. Test results are always available to all parents and teachers are happy to discuss any child with their parents.

Spring Term

Horniman Museum Visit.

On Friday 15lh February Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 spent the day at the Horniman Museum. The main focus was on puppets. A trail was followed through the museum, exploring historical examples from different cultures. A workshop introduced students to a range of types including glove, string, shadow and rod puppets. An enjoyable time was bad by all. testing their puppetry skills in a hands-on session with the puppets.

SENIOR SCHOOL OUTING TO LONDON. 10TH MARCH 2008

Students from me senior department went on an outing to London recently. They visited the Tate Modern in the morning, where they admired "The Crack’ and looked for mathematical features in works by artists such as Andre Mason, Rene Magritte, Picasso and Joan Miro.

In the afternoon they were given an instructive tour of The Globe Theatre before entering into a drama workshop session based on The Tempest' in which they explored 'feelings’ and how to convey status. The highlight of the day was to be a “groundling” audience at the first performance of a new, modem version of “As You Like It”, which was much appreciated by all.

It seemed as if "The Tempest" followed them, home as it poured all the way to Waterloo! But it was generally agreed that this had been a really good day out, and thanks are due to the organizers!

On Friday 28th March Yr 4 went up to London to visit the Clink Prison Museum and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

The Museum is on the site of the original Clink Prison, the oldest prison in England. It held prisoners from early Tudor times until 1780. We were given an excellent guided tour and were able to pose for photos in the torture chair, the stocks and pillory as well as having a head or two chopped off on the block!!
At the Globe Theatre we were again given a very informative guided tour and learnt so much about the theatre in Tudor times. The Globe is an exact replica of the original one, circular, with a thatched roof and open to the sky. We then had an hour-long drama workshop, led by Lianna, an actress, and we were able to perform part of 'Macbeth' which we've been studying at school.

SPORTS DAY AT WICKHAM COURT SCHOOL
20TH JUNE 2008

Children from Wickham Court School enjoyed their Sports Day despite the advanced weather forecast being gloomy. The morning turned out sunny for the Nursery, Reception and Year 1 and 2 classes who were cheered on by friends and family in the picturesque grounds of the historic 15th century manor house that is home to the school. Some of the youngest children seemed totally bemused by the whole event, but enjoyed receiving their medals at the end.

In the afternoon, Years 3 to 6 had a more competitive series of races; the looks on their faces showing that they definitely knew what was expected of them. The competitors clocked up points for their houses and the winning house was Lennard. The school swimming gala on the previous weekend had also been won by Lennard. The houses are named after personalities associated with Wickham Court over the past 600 years.

Summer Term 2008

The pupils returned refreshed after the Easter break ready for a busy end to the year. On Thursday 1st May Years 7, 8 and 9 had an outing to BEECHE (Bromley Environmental Education Centre High Elms) at High Elms Countryside Park with the topic: ‘Pond Investigation’. The following day, Friday 2nd May the same year groups left for Bowles centre near Tunbridge Wells for a 3 day residential multi-activity camp accompanied by the ever-intrepid Mrs. Martin and Mr. Davis. Photos suggest a good time was had by all.

Tuesday 6th May was the beginning of Book Week which saw children from the junior school dress up as their favourite book characters and Scholastic held a Book Fair in school which earned commission to be spent on books for the school library. On the Tuesday Year 5 had an outing to the O2 at Greenwich to see the Tutankhamen Exhibition.

On Monday 2nd June Years 5 and 6 left for their School Journey to The Old Malthouse, Dorset for a multi-activity week. They took part in a wide variety of activities including kayaking, climbing, abseiling and archery.

Children and staff from Nursery, Reception, Years 1 and 2 had an outing to Ladyland Farm on Thursday 5th June. This is always a delightful day out, whatever the weather.

Our annual dance extravaganza, ‘Showtime’ was held at Hayes Village Hall on the evening of June 12th. The performers were fantastic as usual, with stunning costumes and brilliant routines.

Saturday14th June saw our first ‘In-House’ Swimming Gala for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 at West Wickham Pool. Competition was fierce, but the day was won by Lennard House.

Sports Day was on Friday 20th June with Nursery, Reception, Years 1 and 2 competing in the morning and Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the afternoon. The weather was good and there was a lovely atmosphere as families of the children sat out in the grounds watching the action- and occasionally participating!

The annual Summer Fayre organised by the PTA was held on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd June. It was another fine day and there was fun for all the family set out around the grounds. We were pleased to see many of our former pupils visiting us for the afternoon as well as our current students and their families.

There was a Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 2nd July for Years 7, 8 and 9, giving parents the opportunity to speak to staff and review students’ progress.

Years 7, 8 and 9 had an end-of term treat by way of an excursion to the Flume and Wave Machine at The Pavilion, Bromley on the afternoon of Friday 4th July. The junior school had their treat on Tuesday 8th July with a trip to St. Mildred’s Bay, near Westgate-on-Sea. Although the weather was changeable everyone still had a great time on the sands and in the rock pools.

On Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th July, Years 5 and 6 took part in a Cycling Proficiency course at school. The weather on the Wednesday was particularly diabolical, but they all seemed to cope nonetheless.

Nursery, Reception, Years 1 and 2 performed their Summer Play on the afternoon of Wednesday 9th and as always were enchanting. Some of the Nursery children however didn’t seem to be entirely happy in the limelight! In the evening, Years, 3, 4, 5 and 6 performed a play with music, ‘David and Goliath’ in Austen Hall with a second performance the following night. Everyone in the year groups participated, even if they didn’t have a speaking part.

On Friday 11th July there was a Senior Sports afternoon in the school grounds. Years 6-9 participated and there was an emphasis on teamwork as much as competition.

Prize-Giving for Years 5 and 6 was held on Tuesday 15th July with many certificates and cups awarded for academic and sporting prowess. Mrs. Hunter gave the annual report on the school and prizes were presented by Mrs. Harries. Our leavers had very good results with two girls going to Newstead Wood School for Girls, one to Sydenham High School for Girls, one to James Allen’s Girls School and three boys going to Trinity School.The now traditional cake was enjoyed by both parents and pupils.

Wednesday 16th July saw Year 6 enjoy a last time together before some of them move on to different secondary schools with a Go-Karting day at Buckmore Park. That afternoon the Senior School held their Achievement Assembly in the company of their families. The students gave renditions of a couple of their favourite songs and received certificates, cups and medals in recognition of their achievements during the past year.

Students due to join the senior school in September had an Induction Day on Thursday 17th July where they met their new teachers and began to find their way around the rabbit warren that is Wickham Court.

The term and the school year ended on Friday 18th July with the Leavers’ Assembly in St. John’s Church. This is traditionally the time for year 6 to say goodbye as they move on to other schools and share their thoughts on the past years and what is to come. It is always a very moving occasion. Many parents then stay on in school for the rest of the morning chatting over coffee, maybe for the last time as a Wickham Court parent, until school is out at lunchtime.

We wish everyone a happy summer holiday and good luck to all our leavers.