Year 8 have had the most fantastic week in Cornwall. The group made the most of the week, enjoying surfing, coasteering, kayaking, paintballing, beautiful walks and delicious suppers on the beach whilst watching the sun set. We'll be including a full report in the Buzz next week.

The end of the week has been even quieter than usual, as our Year 6s headed north to Derbyshire. The children visited Warwick Castle to learn more about the medieval period, and watch some live jousting in the historic grounds. They also visited the caves at the Heights of Abraham which ties into their geography work, and this morning, they visited Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre for a guided tour. The children had an excellent time, and managed to dodge the rain showers.

Before their wet and wild week in Cornwall, our Year 8 children celebrated the end of their Common Entrance exams with our inaugural Year 8 Formal. The children put on their best shirts and frocks, and paraded down the Yellow Brick Road, as their Formal was themed around their Year 6 play, the Wizard of Oz. After enjoying a drinks reception, the children sat with friends and teachers in a formal sit down dinner in the Dining Room. They then enjoyed a (very green) disco to round off the evening! It was a fantastic night, which we are sure to repeat in the years to come.

 

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We were treated to a very professional report from the 'Beaudesert Broadcasting Corporation' (aka 5H) on Tuesday morning, who reported on all the latest news stories from the Beaudesert community. We heard the latest sports news, environmental news and a brilliant 'and finally' segment, full of our favourite Beaudesert dogs. Well done, 5H.

On Saturday, Tabitha and Bridget in Year 7 represented Beaudesert Park at the IAPS National Swimming Finals held at the iconic London Aquatics Centre, the same pool used for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tabitha competed in the 50m backstroke with an excellent performance, narrowly missing out on a place in the finals. Bridget took part in the 50m freestyle and impressed by progressing through the heats to qualify for the finals, ranking among the top 10 swimmers in the U12 category – an incredible achievement!

Well done to both girls, whose dedication to their sport has paid off.

As the children were told in assembly this week, the Years 5 and 6 Challenge Awards are now open. The children are able to choose a challenge in a number of different subjects to stretch their learning further. They have until after the summer holidays to complete their projects. We cannot wait to see what they produce.

The excitement in Nursery on Tuesday morning was palpable as children prepared for their trip to The Cotswold Wildlife Park. They were reassured that lions were definitely locked safely in their enclosures, and when they arrived they had a special talk, during which they were able to hold a snake skin, an ostrich egg, a lion skull and even some rhino poo! Going on the train was a real highlight of the trip as well. Back at Nursery, the children have been talking, drawing and writing about their favourite parts of the day. What an experience!

The Year 1 children delighted and impressed with their assembly all about Australia, first showcasing this to other Pre-Prep children (and several ISI inspectors) on Thursday, and then to parents this morning. The confidence, clarity and enthusiasm the children displayed as they shared their knowledge and poems, sang their song and acted out their stories was a joy to behold.

We have also been working hard on our inquiry cycles, using skills to evaluate and classify in Year 1, while in Year 2, children shared their thoughts in groups, and worked collaboratively on the reasons for and impact of deforestation.

As part of our transition events to help prepare children for their move into new classes next year, Year 2 had their Year 3 taster lunch this week, in which they took the leap to access their own lunchtime choices with their trays up at the serving counter in the Dining Hall. How grown up they are becoming!

Forest School was as wonderful as ever this week, with dragonflies in abundance in the Reception visit on Wednesday, and 2N enjoying an extended session as an end of year treat, including having lunch in the forest. 2B are looking forward to their forest lunch next week. Here is a report from Mrs Shearer-Bird about 2N’s picnic lunch:

From sunshine and willow crown making to a sudden rainstorm leading to a lunch of hotdogs huddled in the teepee, Class 2N's end-of-year Forest School was an unforgettable adventure! The children declared it "the best Forest School ever," splashing in muddy puddles and dancing joyfully in the rain — because, after all, “life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” We even sang "I Hear Thunder" in round, turning the storm into our own musical celebration!

Listen here

Anna Packman, Head of Pre-Prep

Last Friday was nothing short of magical. The Year 8 Formal was a highlight of the year. Seeing the children arrive smartly dressed, enjoying welcome mocktails and sitting down to a three-course meal was a joy in itself. The evening continued with a trip to the Emerald City disco, where dancing, laughter and a touch of sparkle made it a night to remember. It felt like a fitting celebration for a wonderful group.

This week has been a little quieter in the Boarding House, but one event kept us buzzing this week. The Year 7 children had their first taste of Wednesday night boarding. Home clothes were on, and the Banks were alive with activity. Before supper, there were handstands, French cricket and plenty of energy in the air. A relaxed barbecue followed in the Rose Garden, with everyone enjoying time together as the evening sun settled in.

After supper, the real excitement began as Wachy Special commenced. The game delivered everything it should: fast-paced fun, plenty of dodging, and lots of laughter. Afterwards, children scattered across the Banks, the woods and the Astro, squeezing every last minute out of the evening.

It was also clear that excitement for next week’s French trip is growing. Bags may not be packed yet, but there are a lot of discussions on what might be packed. They’ll be missed in the Boarding House, but we know they’ll have a brilliant time.

All in all, we have had a lovely week in the house. We are already looking forward to what’s next.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Oli and Debbie Jones, Houseparents

The Beaudesert team had a really successful day at the Dean Close NSEA Show Jumping competition at Rectory Farm on Sunday. We had placings either as a team or individually in every class entered, and all the children jumped brilliantly. Following Sunday’s results, Amelie has qualified as an individual for the NSEA Championships at Addington in October in the 80cm and 90cm, and the team of Amelie, Jack and Marni have qualified in the 90cm. A special mention should also go to Rose, who was awarded the Judges' choice of Best Rider in the 70cm.

Below are our full results:

40cm - Saskia, 6th, Hanni, 8th
50cm - Nina, 2nd and Team 4th (Saskia, Nina & George)
60cm - Team 3rd (Lola, George, Nina & Iris)
70cm GR - Lola, 3rd
70cm - Rose, 5th and Judges' choice of Best Rider
80cm - Amelie, 1st and Team 5th (Amelie, Annalisa, Jack & Marni)
90cm - Amelie, 3rd and Team 2nd ( Jack, Amelie & Marni)