COURIER

23 November 2007

HEADMASTER’S ITEMS

House Point Totals: 19 November 2007

*Cooper*	*1109*	Loveday	872
Dowell	927	Roberts	893

Congratulations to the following who took part in the Cubs District Gala:

§ Emma Read who came 1^st in the breaststroke.

§ The following pupils who were part of the Relay team who came 1^st:

Holly Conquer, Hannah Jolley, James Coleman, Jamie Harris

Overall Taunton Prep School won the Gala.

End of Term Arrangements:

Carol Services: We very much hope that you will be able to come to our Carol Services on Wednesday, 12 December. This is our final chance to celebrate together the Joy of the Nativity.

Years 3-5 at 1.30 pm: In the School Chapel followed by mince pies, tea and coffee in the Old Library. The children will be looked after at school until the Service for Years 6-8 finishes.

Years 6-8 at 3.15 pm: In previous years we have been very short of space for the Senior Carol Service in the School Chapel and are conscious that there will again be pressure on seats this year. Accordingly, could I please ask that younger siblings in the school do not accompany you to the second service of the afternoon? Both Pre-Prep and the other three years of the Prep School will be operating and able to look after children until the service is over.

Issue No. 401

We will also be issuing tickets for the Senior Carol Service this year to give us a clear indication of just how many seats will be needed seats will be needed.

Please fill in the form

at the end of the

Courier and return

to School Reception.

in good timeTickets will be sent home with your children or posted in the case of boarders. Please join us following the Service for mince pies, coffee and tea in the Old Library.

The children in Years 6, 7 and 8 will be taken back to school where they will collect all their belongings together. They will be available for collection from the Prep School campus about fifteen minutes after the service.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Instrumental Group Concert: The Concert takes place on Monday, 26 November at 7.00 pm in the Chapel. Refreshments will be available in the Old Library following the performance and all are welcome to come along and listen to the variety of instrumental groups taking part.

TPS “SEIZING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES”

Speech and Drama Festival: Congratulations to every single student who took part in the Taunton and Somerset Drama Festival; you made your teachers, parents, friends and school very proud. We had a very successful week with high marks and positive adjudications

for all our entrants. As well as a lot of second and third placings, the following students all won their classes:

Emily Buckland	(7s Prepared Reading – Alexander Joy Award)
Timothy Phillips	(12’s Solo Acting – Hereford Cup)
Harriet Armstrong & Bailey Petts	12’s Duo Acting – Audrey Leyland Award)
George Hallas, Tom White & Charles Solanki	(12’s Group Acting – Group Bowl Award)
Millicent Flintham & Megan O’Brien	(9’s Duo Verse Speaking – Medal Award)
Edward White, Martha Connon-Cole & Faith Glanville-Hodge	(9’s Group Acting – Riggs Award for Group Performance)
Georgia Blackwell, Abigail McHardy & Imogen Allen	(11’s Group Acting – Felgett Award)
Rory Capel & Elliot Blanchfield	(11’s Duo Verse Speaking – Medal Award)
Isobelle Badcock	(11’s Solo Acting – Medal Award)
Ciara Smith	5’s Verse Speaking – Mount Award)
Martha Connon-Cole	(8’s Verse Speaking – Hilda Chapman Cup)
Glyn Hornsby & Louis Parkin	(10’s Duo Verse Speaking – Medal Award)
James Dancey	(10’s Solo Acting – Medal Award)
Emma Stacey and Alicia Mileham	[10’s Duo Acting – Vivary Cup]

A very big well done to them all! Also a big thank you to all the parents and friends who transported and patiently waited for their performances and, of course, to all our Taunton Prep School colleagues for their continued support for this very important Speech & Drama event.

Darren Riggs

Music Festival: Many congratulations to the following pupils who won their classes:

Holly Conquer and Kate Drew	[10 yrs and under piano duet]
Emily Yap, Amrita Patel and Wendy Zhu	[10 yrs and under piano trio – joint 1^st]
Robin Stallard	[8 yrs and under Brass Cup]
Robin Stallard	[8 yrs and under String Cup]
Tiger Goodridge-Griffiths	[Singing Cup]

We entered eight classes altogether, so an excellent result. Well done to everybody.

Alison Pink

National Children’s Choir: We are very proud to announce that 5 children gained places at the National Children's Choir of Great Britain this year, making a total of 10 children in total attending this prestigious Association from Taunton Prep School.

Well done to:

Matthew Nawrat

Georgina Hill

Hera Bradly

Imogen Gray

Tiger Goodridge-Griffiths.

GIRLS’ UNIFORM

Thank you to parents for your support following last week’s entry in the Courier, but there is one other minor request. If pupils need to keep their hair pinned back, could we ask that they wear small blue clips in their hair?

PRE-PREP

Thursday, 6 and 7 December:

First Steps 2 and Reception “Whoops a Daisy Angel” Nativity

9.30 am

in the Pre-Prep Hall

Year 1 and 2 – “The Best Gift of All”

10.45 am in the Pre-Prep Hall

Both performances are followed by refreshments in the Arts’ Foyer, Taunton School and we hope you can join us. Tickets will be allocated next week, and thank you for your prompt responses.

Christmas Fair: Friday 30 November, 3.00-5.00 pm: Please note that there will be no After School supervision, hobbies or activities on this day. Children may be collected from 3.00 pm. The School day will end at 3.30 pm.

Last Day of Term - Wednesday, 12 December. This is a normal working day for Pre-Prep and First Steps. Would parents please collect their children at 3.30 pm. For those parents who are attending the Prep School Carol Service, children can be cared for in Pre-Prep. Sadly, lack of space in the Chapel will not allow children in Pre-Prep and First Steps to attend. Mrs McLauchlan has requested that all children who remain, MUST be collected by 4.15 pm following the Carol Service.

Speech and Drama Festival: Well done to all pupils who took part in the Festival. Please look out for news in the Gazette as a number of photographs were taken this week.

Book Fair: The Book Fair will take place in the Pre-Prep Hall from Friday, 30 November until Wednesday, 5 December. and will be open from 8.00-9.00 am and 3.00-5.00 pm daily.

Pre-Prep Electronic Gate: Details have already been sent home to parents regarding the operation of the new gates. Just a quick reminder that in order to obtain entry to the Pre-Prep, you need to slide the bolt back to release the catch.

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Christmas Fair: Parents please note the day of the Christmas Fair is a MUFTI day for the pupils in both Pre-Prep and the Prep School. It would be appreciated if all

pupils could make a donation to the Fair: Pre-Prep children could bring in a cake for the cake stall [to be delivered to the Pre-Prep Hall on Friday,

30 November – the

day of the Christmas

Fair] and Prep School

pupils an item suitable

for a Christmas Hamper. PLEASE MAKE SURE that all perishable items have a long sell-by date. These hampers will be raffled off at the Fair, so please bring along something nice that you would like to win in a hamper. This could also include wine, spirits, and chocolates, gifts for both adults and children. If anyone is able to come along on the morning of the Fair and help prepare the hampers, then please put the date in your diary now. More hands make less work for everyone involved!!!

Please remember to look out your "as new" books, toys, comics and DVDs for the stalls at the Fair and leave any items in the Centenary Hall entrance area from Monday, 26 until Thursday, 29 November – the last day for items to be left.

If anyone is able to lend us 30 minutes of their time to help man the tea, cake, raffle and toys/books stalls, please sign up on the rota sheet on the Parents’ Association Notice Board in the Parents waiting area in Weirfield. We would be very grateful for any help on the day.

GAMES DEPARTMENT

Hockey v. King’s Hall

U9A	4 : 2	WON
U9B	5 : 0	WON

Hockey v. Port Regis

1s	5 : 0	WON
2^nd	3 : 1	WON
3^rd	1 : 0	WON
4th	1 : 3	LOST
5^th	1 : 1	DRAWN
6^th	1 : 1	DRAWN
7^th	1 : 0	WON
U11A	0 : 0	DRAWN
U11B	1 : 0	WON
U10A	5 : 0	WON
U10B	3 : 1	WON
U10C	1 : 1	DRAWN
U9	2 : 1	WON

Rugby: Semi-Final of Floodlit Cup v. King’s Hall

U13

17 : 8

WON

Final takes place on Wednesday, 28 November at 6.00 pm at Taunton Rugby Club. All support welcome.

Rugby: Alteration to Fixture

The U9 match at home against Queen’s on Saturday, 24 November will be for both the U9A and U9B teams.

Rugby: Extra Fixture

U9A, U9B [H] v. The Down’s on Monday, 3 December [3.30 pm]

Hockey Stick Sale

There will be a sale of Mercian Hockey Sticks and Stick Bags on Friday, 30 November in the School Shop between 12.30-2.00 pm and 3.30-4.30 pm. All prices will be discounted by 20%.

DATES TO NOTE

25 Nov: Boarders’ Service: Preacher, Mr M Ward [9.15 am]

29 Nov: First Steps Parents and Staff: Shema Workshop, Pre-Prep Hall [7.30 pm]

30 Nov: 6C Assembly [8.40 am]. Parents invited to coffee in the Library [8.20 am]

Christmas Fair [3.00-

5.00 pm]

TAUNTON SCHOOL NOTICES

Hockey Course – Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 December 2007

Yes it’s that time again! The Course is open to boys and girls aged 7-13 years [beginners, improvers and experienced players] and will take place over the two days from 10.00 am-5.00 pm each day. The cost for the entire course is £60 per pupil and will include hot lunch on both days as well as drinks and snacks.

This course promises to be the most exciting yet with lots of hockey tuition, including coaching by two former international players, assisted by some of the top young players in this country. Mercian Hockey will again lend their support and they will be providing some super prizes, as well as displaying a selection of Mercian goods for sale (on the Monday afternoon). Come along – and why not tell your friends, brothers or sisters? Lots of fun and lots of prizes to be had. Further information and application forms can be collected from TS or TPS Reception, or contact Sue Goodall on 01823 349228, by email – sue.goodall@tauntonschool.co.uk or download forms from the school website (www.tauntonschool.co.uk and follow the link ‘Senior School’ and ‘Parents’).