Dear <<Salutation>>

Amidst planning for as many eventualities as possible in regard to the Covid-19 outbreak, we are still carrying on as normal for the most part. However, an enormous thank you to those who have offered to look after boarders who are not able to return home. It shows what a very strong, amazing community we have. We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation closely, and thank you to those parents who have already made sensible, thoughtful decisions with regard to issues they have already faced.
 
This week we have welcomed an excellent author in to the school to speak to all years on World Book Day. It was also amazing to see the efforts boys and staff had gone to in dressing up as characters from their favourite books. Thank you to parents for their efforts in making costumes, which I know is not always easy in a busy week. As ever, we had lots of fixtures this week, with our U13A team at the IAPS National Hockey finals as I write, and nearly half the Year 6 boys away in Jersey. We enjoyed a visit from the Good Schools Guide on Thursday too, and small groups of boys were brilliant in taking tours or talking in small groups.
 
Finally, it was a pleasure to welcome in Year 3 and Year 4 parents this week for their Parents’ Evenings.
 
Enjoy the weekend. 

Y6 Shakespeare Workshop, Tuesday 10th March
On Tuesday afternoon, all Y6 boys will be watching a performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. We hope they enjoy the experience.
 
Y5-8 Hockey and Football team photos, Wednesday 11th March
Any Y5-8 boy who is in a hockey or football team, should please come to school in their kit on Wednesday as they will be having a team photo taken. They do not need to bring uniform with them. Details on how to order the photos will follow.
 
Y6 Visit to Big Bang Science cancelled
Unfortunately, the trip to the Big Bang Science Fair, which the Y6 boys were due to go on this Thursday, has been cancelled by the organisers due to their concerns about the Coronavirus.
 
Y6 Trip to Stibbington, Tuesday 17th March
As part of their Rivers topic in Geography, a trip to Stibbington has been arranged for all Y6 boys on Tuesday 17th March. Further information about the day and what boys will need to bring can be found in Miss Goodman’s letter here. Could the form please be completed by Tuesday 10th March. Thank you.

Bedfordshire Speech and Drama Festival
The festival starts today and will run all week to Saturday 14th March. If parents need to check  the time of their son’s performance, they are all listed on the Firefly Speech and Drama page. Boys must be in white shirts, apart from the boys who are coming straight from fixtures. Boys must be collected from school 30 minutes before their performance slot in order to give them enough time to get to the Corn Exchange and be ready for their class. The Prep Gate may be open, depending on the time, but if it isn't, parents will need to come via Burnaby Road. Parents are reminded that there is a small entry charge of £2.50 to watch their son perform, and that programmes cost £3.50. Mrs Bell will have the school mobile with her (07741 645207), as well as being contactable on her email ebell@bedfordschool.org.uk.
Best of luck to all the boys who are taking part.
 
Choral Evensong, Sunday 8th March
The Chapel Choir sings the traditional service of Choral Evensong, well-known as the daily public worship of England’s cathedrals, on Sunday 8th March at 6.15pm. Music includes Herbert Sumsion’s setting in G of the evening canticles, as well as the Elizabethan composer Orlando Gibbons’ haunting setting of Phineas Fletcher’s poem ‘Drop, drop slow tears’. There is no sermon. Parents, families, and members of the School community are always welcome at Chapel services. For further details, please see the Chapel Term Card
 
Service of Compline for the Season of Lent, Thursday 12th March
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Prep School Choral Day on Tuesday 10th March with its service of Choral Evensong at 4.00pm has been postponed. Instead, you are invited to a service of Compline for the season of Lent on Thursday 12th March at 6.15pm. This short (20 minutes) contemplative service will feature music by Thomas Tallis and John Sanders, sung by the Consort Choir made up of girls from Bedford Girls' School and some of our boys.
 
Mufti, Friday 13th March
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.
 
Exeat, Saturday 14th March
Next weekend is Exeat. We hope the boys have a great weekend.
 
Wind in the Willows - tickets now on sale
Tickets are now on sale for the school play: The Wind in the Willows. This production of the children's classic story features an ensemble cast of fifty seven Prep School boys from across Years 5 - 8 and will be performed on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March, at 7pm, and on Saturday 21st March at 2.30pm and 7pm. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.quarrytheatre.org.uk/shows/the-wind-in-the-willows/
 
Lost Property
There is once again a lot of un-named lost property. If you recognise any of the items in the photos below, please ask your son to go to the lost property hut to retrieve it.
Lost Property
 
Boarding Taster Weeks
Last autumn we launched an opportunity for all day boys to try boarding for themselves, and we are offering these Boarding Taster Weeks again from now until the end of term. They will give every boy the chance to see what it is like to board at Bedford: a week with no travelling, a week living with friends and fellow students, a week where staff are on hand to supervise prep time, and all meals and a full laundry service are provided daily, a week for school and school friends that leaves more family time for the weekend. Boys are invited to apply with a friend if they would like to and we will do our best to accommodate boys together where possible. Spaces are limited and those interested are encouraged to apply without delay. The cost is £180 per week or £45 per night which will be added to blue bills at the end of term. Tasters are available for a period of up to six nights during the month of March. We ask that boys taking up the full week begin on a Sunday evening, but shorter stays are more flexible.  Parents are asked to contact Mr Simon Lincoln slincoln@bedfordschool.org.uk to book their son’s space.
 
Upcoming Concerts - Dates for your diary
Informal Concert for boys in Y5 & Y8,
Friday 13th March, 4.30pm in the EMH
 
Composition Competition Finals,
Tuesday 24th March, 4.30pm in the EMH