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Dear Parents, Guardians & Carers,
As we break up for the Christmas holidays, I thought it might be interesting to take you on a whistle-stop tour through what has been an extremely busy, enjoyable and successful term Autumn Term 2024.
September
We started the new academic year in early September with Inset training for staff and the sun beating down on our backs. ‘Attitude; a little thing that makes a big difference’ was our focus during the early weeks of term and we reminded ourselves that we need to think before we make our choices… because they always have consequences. Metacognition naturally featured in our assemblies and throughout lessons (as it has done throughout the term).
Week two saw us look at the world as if it were a village of one hundred people and how, in such a community, we would find ourselves in the top 1% in virtually every single category. Taking this into consideration, we returned again to ‘Attitude’ and how we should, and can, make the most of our opportunities; to better ourselves, to make a difference to those around us and to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We rounded this up by returning to the words of John Wesley:
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
To keep us busy, we also set off on our year group walks around the county as well as engaging in swim trials, matches, kayaking and sailing (amongst many other activities).
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With the sun still shining, week three the continuation of the year group walks, the start of the rugby and hockey seasons, Cognitive Ability Tests underway in the classrooms and the TSP ‘Greetings competition’. Not forgetting the delightful FTS barbecue and picnic.
October
Week four arrived along with autumn and harvest festivals. We collected hundreds of items for the local food bank and sang traditional hymns during the Harvest Festival services. The beginning of October also hosted the beginning of the Truro School Conker Competition with over one hundred contestants (children and staff) taking part in the first round.
The middle of October witnessed masses of matches and trips, plenty of hard work in the classroom and a reminder of the importance of appreciating the natural environment. This came hand in hand with a look at the opposite end of the spectrum – namely the use of phones and devices. We looked at safer internet advice from CEOPS and several agencies, as well as watching and sharing the ‘Look up’ short film by Gary Turk.
November
November saw us return to the topic of Respect and the celebration of diversity (on the back of the excellent lecture by a former professional rugby player, headteacher and soon-to-be Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall, Floyd Steadman).
The week of the 11th of November saw us mark Armistice Day with a Service of Remembrance and the reading of the Roll of Honour – the 124 former pupils of Truro School who lost their lives in wartime service.
After this pause to remember those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy our own, we were soon back in the thick of the action with interschool swimming galas, football matches, academic assessments, Y5 and 6 Primary Mathematics Challenge, the ‘England Rocks’ (Times Table Rock Stars) competition, rugby festivals, hockey matches, the performance of ‘The Princess and the Pea’, a humanities lecture and Children in Need Day.
Mid-November provided the opportunity for us to engage with the National Anti-Bullying Week and we took the time to explore the three key terms of Bullying, Respect and Kindness.
Moving to the final week of November, we revelled in gymnastics, football and hockey events, the start of the food bank donations and the arrival of the Christmas trees. Amongst a host of exciting events, the highlight was, without doubt, the Year 5 production of ‘Christmas is Forever’. Our assembly focus was ‘Standing up for what is right’ and we took the time to explore what makes it difficult to do this and the strategies that can be employed to help. The message is summed up by the quote of the week: Strong people stand up for themselves. The strongest people stand up for others.
December
During the first week of December, our thoughts naturally turned to Christmas with the EYFS and Key Stage 1 Nativity performances taking place. The Prep School Celtic Christmas concert held at Truro Methodist Church was a delight and was a testament to the children’s language as well as musical ability. Running parallel to this was the children’s ’Report Reviews’, various Cathedral Chorister performances and the customary raft of sporting events. Almost unbelievably, the conker competition was still going at this stage and Finn and Aria enjoyed a battle royale in the final, Finn eventually proving victorious.
In assemblies, we returned to The Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We talked about thinking of other people and not blaming them when things go wrong (remembering that you do not shout at a lettuce if it does not grow well!). Let us not forget the FTS Christmas Fayre (thanks once again to all who helped to make this such a lovely occasion), the Choir performing with Gabrieli Roar, House cross-country competitions, swimming galas and the culmination of the Reverse Advent food bank donations.
Today, we embark on end-of-term assemblies, the FTS ‘Santa run’ and Christmas lunch.
With so much happening and with so many lovely stories to tell, my final message of the term is one of sincere gratitude. In the first instance to your superb children who have given their all both in and out of the classroom.
My second message of thanks goes to the staff team here at Truro School Prep. They have given wholeheartedly throughout the term (and in many cases throughout the holidays) and I take this opportunity to thank them for their professionalism, enthusiasm and determination.
And my final message of gratitude extends to you all as parents, carers, guardians, grandparents and friends of Truro School. I take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding, your support and for entrusting us with your children over these past 14 weeks.
I wish you a wonderful holiday with your superb children and I look forward to seeing you all once again early in January.
With season’s greetings and the very best of wishes,
Rob Morse
Head of Prep
Latest From Truro School
Messages & Downloads
Uniform Updates
Please remember to name all of your child’s uniform items; it helps us to reunite any lost property with the correct owner quickly and easily.
If you are buying new school shoes over the holiday, please ensure they are of polishable leather in the traditional style. Please save trainer/skate-style shoes for the sports pitches.
Plastic Free Christmas
Please support our Plastic Free Schools campaign this year and try to cut out three single-use plastics from your Christmas.
We have swapped sticky tape for masking tape or garden twine and chosen plain, non-shiny wrapping paper. You can find some more good ideas here > https://plasticfree.org.uk/2020/12/02/10-tips-for-the-ultimate-plastic-free-christmas/
With best wishes,
Mrs Stableforth
Head of Forest School
World Book Week
World Book Day will soon be upon us and with it, a frenzied making of bespoke costumes or last-minute dashes to Asda to grab something from their obligatory World Book Day costume rail! This year we are doing things differently, as we are dedicating a whole week of activities and events to promote and foster a lifelong love of reading.
For those who enjoy dressing up as magical book characters (I know a few teachers do) there will be an opportunity to do this, but the week will be so much more. In our mission as an eco-school and our desire to protect the environment, we will be hosting a ‘Costume Swap Shop’ in the new year, more details to follow.
Our chosen theme this year is ‘Out of the Blue’ and will have links to all things sea and water-related. Our beautiful location was too good an opportunity to miss. There is much to plan and much to do, but in the meantime, I ask for your help. We would like to invite speakers to come and talk about their links to the sea. A fisherman, a boat maker, a lifeguard, a marine biologist; anybody with an interest and passion for the sea who would be willing to come and talk to our fantastic children. If you know of anybody or indeed have a burning desire to spend a few hours with us and share your tales of the ocean, you would be warmly welcomed. If you have any suggestions, please do send me an e-mail or catch me at pick-up.
I am also hoping to run ‘pop-up’ storytelling sessions throughout the week, so if you or your grandparents would be willing and able to give an hour of your time and lose yourself in some magical storytelling, then I would love to hear from you.
Our book week team have a long list of ideas, but if you have any thoughts then please contact me.
More details will follow in the New Year.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Ms Sian Cadwallader
English Co-ordinator
Email: [email protected]
Multi Sports Activity Camp
We are pleased to announce that we will be running Multi Sports Activity Camp days on 6 and 7 January (INSET days). Bookings will go live at 10am on Monday 2 December.
Find out more > https://www.sirbenainsliesportscentre.com/activitycamps/multi-sport-activity-camps/
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