Vinehall School
Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5JL,
Telephone 01580 880413 Fax 01580 882119
www.vinehallschool.com    office@vinehallschool.com

To view, print or email the photographs displayed on the screen in the front hall please go to www.fotki.com/vinehallschool

Many congratulations to our badminton star, Aaron Lam who competed at the U15's Open Sussex Tournament in Portslade last Sunday.  Aaron reached the final and was placed runner up! He is also competing in the U13’s Sussex Open on Sunday this weekend and we wish him well.

 

Weekly debates in Year 8 English lessons are to become a feature of the pupils’ learning and these began last Wednesday.  Parents were grateful for the opportunity to look in on the debating which will support the growing confidence and communication skills displayed by our youngsters.

 

Vinehall is taking a stand at The Independent Schools Show in Battersea, London, at the end of October (Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st).  We have a number of complimentary tickets for this event and if you would like to attend, please let us know.  We hope that one or two parents might travel up to London on that day and visit the exhibition.

 

On Monday evening next week, Vinehall will play a prominent part in the launch of a cross-sector teaching and learning project called Flying High.  We are embarking on a series of projects involving small groups of pupils from local prep schools and primary schools.  The overarching Flying High project is supported by funding from East Sussex County Council, CfBT and The Temple Grove Trust and we hope that our children and teachers will benefit from special link projects which provide opportunities to share ideas and develop new learning opportunities.

 

This weekend will be especially busy with taster boarders, Year 6 adventure activities, clubs, trips and an open morning.  Following a mention of sensible bedtimes in last week’s bulletin, I would like to mention again the importance of a good night’s sleep.  At the IAPS Heads’ Conference in Liverpool this week, Dr. Eric Jensen, neuroscientist, spoke of the factors which have been proven to contribute towards optimum learning and a good night’s sleep was key.  Important environmental factors were a hopeful and active ethos.  The most effective students, unsurprisingly, have an affirmative mindset, put in sustained and long-term effort, receive both positive and negative feedback and develop sequencing, processing, memory and attitudinal skills (with lower levels of impulsiveness).  Plenty of physical activity has been proven to stimulate neurogenesis, that is, development of grey matter.  Where pupils are positively engaged in activities and see the relevance of those activities, they develop important operational functions in the brain.  It would appear that a prep school environment offers immense and varied opportunities for the development of learning skills and life skills which will ensure that our children have the best life chances.  Socially and educationally, we seek to develop just that kind of positive ethos.

 

On Monday our percussionists will undertake a drum-a-thon in aid of the charity for sufferers of cardiomyopathy.  Vine Oliver Tucker was struck down by this illness whilst at university and it is in his memory that the event is to be run.  There will be a cake sale to support sponsorship and donations so day pupils are asked to please bring in approximately 50 pence on Monday for cakes which will be sold in the front hall.  

 

Next Thursday morning we will welcome grandparents to our Grandparents’ Day from 9.30 in the morning.  Please let the office know if your relatives plan to attend.  Our visitors will attend our whole school harvest assembly and we will be very grateful if parents could send in some non-perishable items so that St John’s Evangelist, St Leonards on Sea, can distribute them.

 

Our Prep School pupils were excited to buy books from the travelling book fair last week and over the summer Lucy and Alice Brown took part in the National Summer Reading Challenge: Team Read, organised by the Public Library Service in partnership with The Reading Agency.  The girls were proud recipients of certificates and a medal each in assembly.  

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