Dear <<Salutation>>

This week has been a busy week for all. It has provided boys from Y5-8 with an opportunity to show what they have learned in their academic subjects. They have been really impressive in the way they have approached their revision and assessments. The next few weeks, when assessments are handed back, are crucial for boys in working out how to improve their learning further. Lots of boys even seem to have enjoyed the assessments! We hope that the study week has been effective, and would welcome any feedback, via tutors, on how to improve this further.
 
The hockey season has started well, with 21 fixtures on Wednesday, and some very exciting hockey on display. Luckily the Astroturfs have not been as hard hit as the football pitches by the large amount of rain over the last two weeks. It is good to see some sunshine on its way over the next few days.
 
We have also welcomed in large numbers of boys sitting for entrance to the school. This week we hosted boys aged 7-10 to activities mornings and assessment days, and today and Monday we welcome boys hoping to gain entrance to Y7 and Y8. A number of current boys have been brilliant in guiding and helping the prospective boys, and I hope that they have all enjoyed the experience.
 
There are some very exciting opportunities on the horizon, not least auditions for the Prep School musical, and we are looking forward to the curriculum collapse day (see below for details). Please read on to ensure you are fully aware of events to come over the next few weeks.

Y7-8 CREST Club
The Upper School Science department are starting a new club for our Y7-8 boys on Monday 20th January. The CREST Club, which will be held in L1 on Monday lunchtimes from 12:20, is for any Y7-8 boy who likes investigations. They will have the opportunity to investigate a problem and in doing so achieve their Bronze CREST Award. In order to get the Award, they will need to do 10 hours of Scientific work, which includes the planning, carrying out, concluding and evaluating of their experiment. The school will give the boys some ideas for what they can investigate, but boys can also come with their own ideas. There will be some writing involved as well as the practical work, but at the end of this boys can achieve a National Award. Mrs Mainstone looks forward to seeing any boys who are interested on Monday.
 
Y7-8 Pre-Season Training Camp at Lord’s Cricket Ground,
Monday 20th April
Please see here a letter from our Director of Cricket, Mr Steer, about a pre-season Cricket Training Camp in April. If your son is interested in going, please return the forms and make the payment via wisepay by Thursday 6th February. Places are limited.
 
Y4-8 Tennis Coaching
Following the success of last year’s tennis coaching, we have arranged some more tennis sessions this term which will run at lunch times for any boys in Y4-8 who are interested. The coaching is open to all boys, regardless of their ability or experience and the cost of the sessions will be blue billed. For further information, please see the letter here.
 
Y8 Bushcraft Trip Information Evening, Monday 16th March
Most of the year group are now signed up to the Bushcraft trip in June. There will be an Information Evening for parents and boys at 6.45pm on Monday 16th March. A representative from The Bushcraft Company will be there to talk about the trip. We will run through a kit list and you will have the chance to ask any questions you might have. Information packs with consent forms and medical forms will also be handed out.
There are still places available if your son is not yet registered to go but would like to join the rest of the year group. Please see Mrs Russell’s letter here for further details. Please note that the second instalment of £70 was due by 1st December if you have not yet paid. Many thanks.
 
Y5-8 School Musical - auditions
Mon 20th, Wed 22nd and Thur 23rd January
This year’s school musical is called 2004unk: A Space Odyssey and auditions for the main roles (there are over 30 speaking roles) will be held at lunch time on Monday 20th, Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd January. The sign-up sheet and excerpts from the script are in Prep Reception. Any boy interested in auditioning should sign up and prepare using the excerpts. Further information will be given out in Choir rehearsals, so attendance is crucial. Once the cast has been decided, additional rehearsals will be mainly on Mondays and Tuesdays after school (4.30-5.30pm in the EMH) and sometimes on Fridays. These won't be for all boys every time and a schedule will be sent out once the auditions have finished.
 
Y5-8 Boys in Choir
2004unk: A Space Odyssey
All the boys in the Y5-8 Choir should please try and learn all the tracks which are now available on YouTube and Spotify via the links below
Youtube link
Spotify
Deezer
Apple

Saturday Morning Timetable, Wednesday 22nd January
Please note that Wednesday will be a Saturday morning timetable so boys in Y6-8 should please remember to bring in the correct books.
 
Easter Ski Trip Information Evening, Wednesday 22nd January
There is an Information Evening for all those going on the Easter Ski trip at 6.30pm on Wednesday 22nd in the EMH, where Mrs Travis and a rep from Ski Astons will go over all the details you’ll need for the trip, including the travel arrangements, itinerary, kit and insurance. Boys and other children going on the trip are welcome to come. If your party require helmets (the hire for these is included in the trip price) we will be measuring heads that evening too. Please if you have not yet completed your forms, could you bring them along on the 22nd and hand them in to Mrs Travis. We look forward to seeing you then and answering all your questions.
 
Mufti, Friday 24th January
Please note that Friday is an optional mufti day for Prep School boys. If your son would like to come to school in mufti, can the £2 donation to our House charities please be brought in and given to tutors on Monday. The tutor will keep a record of who has paid and if a boy hasn’t paid then he should come to school in his usual school uniform.
 
PS Curriculum Collapse Day, Friday 24th January
On Friday it is our annual Curriculum Collapse Day which this year will aim to raise awareness of disabilities. The whole school will be off timetable and immersed in a variety of enriching activities and workshops from sign language and braille to wheelchair sports and guide dogs. It’s a mufti day but boys should also please bring in trainers and a change of clothes which are suitable for doing sports in (these may also be mufti) as some of the activities are taking place on the Inky pitch and boys could potentially get quite muddy. They will not need to bring any books on Friday and we hope the boys enjoy the day.

Exeat, Saturday 25th January
Please note that next weekend is an exeat weekend. We hope boys in Y6-8 enjoy their weekend.
 
Eagle Choir ‘Open House’, Thursday 30th January
Do you love to sing, or have you ever wanted to find out if you do? Now is your chance!  The Eagle choir, an adult choir kindly sponsored by Bedford School, are hosting an evening of singing at 7.30pm on Thursday 30th January in the Recital Hall.  This will be followed by time to chat with existing choir members over a glass of wine. The singing will feature ‘Songs from the Shows’ and all ages and abilities are welcome. So, come along and give us a try!  Find out more here
 
Bedfordshire Festival Showcase
The Festival Showcase is an informal non-ticketed event, which aims to give the Speech and Drama boys some practice at performing in a large space with an audience, in preparation for the Bedfordshire Festival. This year’s Showcases will be on the dates below and we hope you are able to come and watch the boys perform. Boys should please wear white shirts and bring a snack to eat after school if they would like to. Please contact Mrs Bell ebell@bedfordschool.org.uk if you have any questions.
 
Year 4 & 7 Showcase  Monday 10th Feb in the EMH
                                    from 4.30pm-6pm approx
Year 3 & 8 Showcase  Monday 24th Feb in the Quarry Studio
                                    from 4.30pm-6pm approx
Year 5 & 6 Showcase  Wednesday 26th Feb in the EMH
                                    from 5pm - 6.30pm approx 
                                    (a later start time due to fixtures)

Chapel Term Card, Spring 2020
Parents, families and members of the school community are always welcome at our Chapel services. For further details on all the various services taking place this term, please refer to the attached Chapel Term Card. If you have any questions, please contact the Chaplain, Mr McCleery.
 
Prep School Ski Club
Following the success of the Prep School Ski Club last term, we will be offering another block of 4 lessons this term at a total cost of £76 to be paid via wisepay. Sessions will take place at MK Snozone from 5.30pm – 6.30pm. School transport will be provided to and from the Snozone, with boys likely to be back at school at 7.30pm. Boys are also welcome to be collected from MK, should you prefer. Sessions will take place on the dates listed below and every effort will be made to try and avoid clashes with other commitments, but this is not always possible. In the event of a clash, the boys will have to choose which activity they take part in. Unfortunately, as skiing is made on a block booking arrangement, no refunds will be possible. Once the club is full, Mr McGregor will be in touch again, with further information and skiing ability requests for the sessions.
Session Dates:
3rd March
10th March
17th March
24th March
 
Prep House Singing, Friday 14th February
Do remember that all the House Singing music is on Firefly.
House Singing
Bunyan
Harpur
Howard
Whitbread