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Prep School Headmaster's Bulletin

Mr John Milne, the Headmaster of Clifton College Preparatory School, writes a regular newsletter about the "the Pre"...

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Issue 14

It's hard to imagine that school comes to a close within two weeks and yet there is still so much to achieve. Year 8 exams have passed successfully and the results will be released later this week; the Year 7 pupils, meanwhile, are currently working their way through this week's exam schedule. The Year 8 Post-Exam Week kicks off on Thursday: the pupils will be participating in an impressive array of activities and workshops which will hopefully bring their time in the Pre to a very satisfactory and memorable conclusion. Along these lines, and in light of recent events, I took the opportunity to meet the Year 8 pupils on Wednesday morning to outline my expectations of them for the duration of their time at the Pre and to leave them in no doubt about the potential choices that lie ahead. At the risk of sounding like Mr McChoakumchild, I sense that in society at large many young people have a strange perception of risk these days and approach situations from the point of view of "it's only a bad choice if you get caught"! I would wholeheartedly appreciate your support – as always – in ensuring that a consistent message reaches our children over the next few weeks – and ad infinitum. "When you have to make a choice and you don't make it, that in itself is a choice." William James

Confirmation

On Sunday, a number of the Pre pupils were Confirmed at Bristol Cathedral in what was a rather splendid setting. Congratulations to the following:

1. Charlotte Beswick
2. Beth Griffiths
3. Ben O'Sullivan
4. Miebaka Sekibo

Author Visit

On Thursday afternoon we are lucky enough to have Internationally renowned children's author – Malorie Blackman – visiting the school and talking to the Years 7 and 8 in the Pre Hall from 1.45pm until 3pm.

South West Results 2009

Well done to all those pupils who competed in the recent South West Athletics Trials at Millfield:

1st Place – and qualified for Nationals
Yr 8 Girls Relay – Anna Sibley, Sophie Osborne, Megan Westley, Maddie Jupp
Yr 8 Boys Relay – Dan Richardson, George West, Julian Mogg, James Brooke
Yr 8 Girls 300m – Anna Sibley
Yr 8 Boys 200m – Julian Mogg

2nd Place – and qualified for Nationals
Yr 8 Boys Long Jump – George West
Yr 7 Boys 200m – Freddie Owsley

2nd Place
Yr 8 Boys 400m – James Brooke
Yr 8 Boys Triple Jump – Josh McGill

3rd Place
Yr 6 Girls 200m – Izzy Watson
Yr 7 Girls 200m – Oceane Vigie
Yr 8 Girls 200m – Sophie Osborne
Yr 7 Boys 800m – Freddie Owsley
Yr 8 Boys 100m – George West
Yr 8 Girls Long Jump – Maddie Jupp
Yr 8 Boys Shot – James Brooke
Yr 6 Boys Hurdles – Elis Fowler
Yr 7 Boys 1500m – Solly MacMurchy
Yr 7 Girls Hurdles – Tara Proske

Upper Pre Sports Day

Another reminder that the Upper Pre Sports Day is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 27th June at Beggar's Bush; recent delays to certain improvements up at BB have resulted in restrictions being placed on where we can place a running track that is not only accessible to all parents but that also provides the necessary amenities for a large school event. Although this is only a temporary blip it does, of course, affect us this year!

Fortunately, Mrs Hardy and Mrs Cook have been scouring Bristol for an appropriate venue for this year's Upper Pre Sports Day (Yrs 6, 7 and 8) and have found an ideal temporary home: the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex (behind Brimsham Green School) in Yate, South Gloucestershire. I have attached a photograph of the venue below for your information and I'm sure you will agree it is a perfect venue for the pupils. Mrs Hardy will be in touch shortly with an update on the finer details but I have outlined the provisional timetable for your reference.

• 10.20am: arrive for registration
• 10.30am: warm up
• 11.00am: events start
• 5.15pm: Presentations

Please note that there will be no school for Years 4 and 5 on that day.

Mrs Hardy will also send out a letter with detailed information on the provision of the option of pupil transport to Yate and the option of a packed lunch. Thank you very much for your understanding concerning this temporary measure and I look forward to seeing many of you there in support – and, indeed, at Beggars' Bush for the Y4 and Y5 Sports Day on Friday, 26th June from 2pm.

Calendar Events

The final few weeks of the Academic Year are incredibly busy; key dates for your diary are:

• 23rd June: Informal Concert – 4:15pm
• 26th June: Lower Pre Sports Day: Years 4 and 5 – at BB (2pm)
• 26th June: 8GB performance of Macbeth and Year 8 Concert
• 27th June: Upper Pre Sports Day: Years 6, 7 and 8 – Yate (10:20am registration)
• 28th June: Pre Leavers' Service at 11:15am. (Preacher Mr: John Milne) – Leavers' drinks afterwards in the Rose Garden
• 30th June and 1st July: Performances of 'Rats' – Year 5 Play (6pm)

I will be in touch again towards the end of the term with further updates but I look forward to seeing you at the various events scheduled between now and then.

With kind regards,

John Milne
Headmaster

17 June 2009

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