Headmistresss Newsletter

Issue 12 8 th September 2017

Welcome Back!
A very warm w elcome back to all Bronte families as
we embark on the academic year 2017/18.

It was lovely to be gr eeted at the gate by so m any

smiles on Wednesday, and also to meet our new
children. The Reception class looked extremely smart
and grown up in their uniforms and during the
afternoon we have b een getting to know our new
Kindergarten children. Mrs Lakha and Mrs Kybert
have b een very impressed at how well they are
settling.

We also have new children in some other year groups:

Hugo Krol Year 1

Daniel Widdows Year 1
Rianne Agoro Year 3
Thomas Widdows Year 3
Anjola Solademi Year 5

Welcome to you and your families.


New Staff
Our new H ead of PE (Luke Johnson) has started his
lessons this w eek, and already the children are in awe
of his energy and enthusiasm!
After studying Sports Science at the University of
Roehampton, Luke started his Sports Teaching career
in America, spending 6 months of 2006 Coaching
Soccer on the East Coast. For th e past 9 year s he has
been Teaching Primary School PE in Lambeth,
Lewisham, Bromley, Dartford, Greenwich and parts of
Kent. Luke currently sit on the All Party P arliamentary
Group for a fit and healthy childhood and he is a huge
believer in the power of Sport and PE to improve each
and every child's School experience. He says I am
incredibly excited to start work at Bronte School and
will make time to get to know every parent and explain
my visions for School Sport at our school.
Mr Johnson with his House Captains: Joseph Martin
(Nelson) and Verity Storrie (Hood).
We are also delighted to welcome Mrs Elaine
Patience to our peripatetic team, as she will be
teaching violin. Elaine has been a violin/viola
teacher at Brighton College for the past 17 years
and has vast experience of teaching prep and pre-
prep aged children (as well as older children). A
recent house move has made the commute too
long, so (luckily for us) this means that Elaine will
be teaching violin at Bronte each Monday. Please
contact the School Office if you would like to
arrange a taster session.
Page 2
Year 6 Responsibilities
During their last year at Bronte School, our Year 6
pupils take on a wealth of extra duties and
responsibilities throughout the school. They are
settling into these roles during this week, and already
proving themselves invaluable as Play Leader s, Digital
Leaders, Prefects and in many other roles. In
particular our Head Boy and H ead Girl will be assisting
me throughout the year at various events and
frequently around the school as well.
I am pleased to introduce you to Jude Murphy (Head
Boy) and Poppy Kybert (Head Girl).
Uniform
Most children have arrived this term immaculately
presented in their winter uniform (coats, not blazers),
but some items o f uniform r emain un-named. PLEASE
can all school items be clearly named, as it can
otherwise be very difficult to reunite clothing with the
correct child!!!
Also, following advice from Mr Johnson, we will no
longer be asking parents to provide plimsolls as they
do not provide adequate grip when the children are
outside, or support when they are running. Instead all
children will wear black trainers for PE these must
be plain (no logos or coloured parts) with black soles.
If plimsolls have r ecently been purchased, these may
be worn until they need to be replaced.
 Page 3

Summer Works Looking Ahead

Over the summer ther e has been much activity
around the school, with new interactive boards Mon 11 th - Reception class: BASE assessment
installed in KG, Reception, Year 3 and Year 4, a new Fri 15 th Sep tests
storage sh ed in the garden and a totally refurbished
Year 6 classroom (including a new entrance door and Mon 18 th Sep Activity clubs and music lessons
new desks). You may also notice workmen at the begin
front of the school as the railings and car park
entrance are smartened up. Mon 18 th - Year 2 Year 6: InCAS assessment
Fri 22 nd Sep tests
An interactive noticeboard is now outside th e Office,
showing photos of recent events at th e school, and Tues 19 th Sep Year 2 and 5: swimming lessons
giving information about upcoming dates. begin (pm, Cobham Hall)
Year 1: Forest School begins
Kent Test
On Thursday the whole of our Year 6, sat their 11+ Fri 22 Sep Jeans 4 Genes Day
nd

entrance test. Both Mrs Prescott and Mme Baldacci

were impressed at their hard work and determination
to do their best. Mr Hardwick oversaw the
administration and we welcomed an invigilator from
Timberwood Academy. Well done to all the children,
and good luck for the n ext few weeks as many will also
be taking tests at Mayfield, as well as the Medway and
Bexley tests.