Chitts Hill, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9ST

FROM THE HEADMASTER . . .

Messrs Snell and Stapleton. It

was a pleasure to host the Year 8s

and their parents for drinks and a

barbecue in my garden. There

was a super atmosphere, if a little

emotional perhaps. It helped to

round off a superb year.

The whole of Pre-Prep enjoyed a

day out at Frinton beach earlier in

the week. The sun was deter-

mined to hide most of the time

but at least the rain kept off. This

trip is a lovely annual tradition.

Thanks again to the staff

involved.

We will wave good-bye to our

Year 6 and 7 intrepid adventurers

on Sunday as they set off for

Rhoscolyn in Anglesey for a

week of coasteering, abseiling

and much fun. Good luck to all

of them and the staff who are

giving up the first week of their

holiday.

On behalf of Helen and my

family, it only remains for me to

wish you all a wonderful summer

and to thank you for your

continued support. We look

forward to seeing you again in

September when all of the

children will seem so much more

grown up!

With best wishes

Alexander Mitchell

Headmaster

Dear Parents

Welcome to our final edition of

the year! We said our farewells

to the Pre-Prep children in this

afternoon’s Prize Giving. I look

forward to seeing the Prep School

parents at tomorrow’s Speech

Day & Prize Giving at 10.30am

on the front lawn.

We have also said our thanks and

goodbyes to two further members

of staff, Mrs Emma Jones, who

has been a literacy assistant in the

Prep School. We wish her well as

she takes up her studies to

become a teacher.

Mrs Laura Stapleton leaves us

after two years as one half of

2SL. Mrs Stapleton is soon to

have a second baby and we wish

her every good wish and will

hear about it from Mr Stapleton

next term!

Prep School Sports Day, despite

being a tad chilly, was a great

event. Some of the finals were

incredibly exciting and the relays,

as always, were the highlight of

the day - or was that the staff

Element race? My thanks to all

involved and in particular to

Mrs Goldring and Mr Lesiak for

the organisation of the event and

the preparation of the pupils.

Thanks also to Mr Jeffries who

masterminds the scoring system.

Last Friday’s Summer Concert in

the Prep School was an enormous

triumph! Messrs Snell and

Stapleton produced an incredible

showcase for the children. My

thanks to everyone involved.

The Year 3 sleepover last Friday

was such a success! We have

received lots of fantastic feed-

back. I enjoyed a debrief in my

study with the entire year group

on Monday to discuss it. The

children were superbly behaved

and everyone seems to have

slept!

The Year 8 ‘Vibes Special’ on

Tuesday was a hugely enjoyable,

informal event. With many

parents in attendance, there were

lots of watery eyes!

The annual leavers’ cricket match

with dads against sons was

augmented and enhanced this

year with a mums and daughters’

rounders match. The atmos-

phere was great, the standard of

play was......variable and the

number of aching muscles on

Monday morning were high in

number! It was a super event and

t h a n k s t o M r E a r l e y ,

Mr Milheiro, Mrs Goldring,

Mrs Austin and Miss Little for

their time. Thanks also to Mr

and Mrs Allison and Mrs Burrell

for arranging such super food.

The hog roast was excellent!

After a highly entertaining Year 8

play last night, again thanks to

Summer Term, Week 11

www.holmwood.essex.sch.uk

Happiness is the key to progress

Tel: 01206 574305

Friday 5 July 2013

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 6 July 10.30am-12noon Speech Day

12noon Prep School term ends

Sunday 7 July - Friday 12 July Years 6 & 7 Residential Adventure Trip

to Rhoscolyn, Anglesey, Wales

AUTUMN TERM 2013

Tuesday 3 September 2.00-3.15pm All new Prep School pupils

to meet the tutors

2.00-3.15pm All Parents of new Prep

School pupils - Induction

Wednesday 4 September 8.30am Term begins (whole school)

2-4pm Senior Rugby & Hockey -

Extended Training

(all Years 7 & 8 pupils)

HOLMWOOD HOUSE NEWSLETTER

SCHOOL NEWS . . .

Sport & Speech Day Photos

The professional photographs

taken at the Pre-Prep Sports Day

and the Prep School Sports Day

are still available to purchase.

Please visit the parent secure area

of the school website to obtain

the link to the DE Photo website

and also the access code.

School Uniform

Updated uniform lists and details

about all aspects of school uni-

form and sports kit items can be

found in today’s end of term

envelopes.

The school’s second-hand

uniform shop will be open at the

following times during the sum-

mer holiday:

Thu 11 July 9.30-11am

Fri 26 July 9.30-11am

Fri 2 August 10-11am

Mon 2 September 9.30-11am

Items being phased out are also

on sale at 50% discount.

GOOD LUCK!

Our very best wishes

to all children and staff

who are leaving

Holmwood House

this week.

Pre-Prep Trip to Frinton

See Photo Gallery on school website

Details available on website

Page 2 Friday 5 July 2013, Summer Term, Week 11

S… ACTIVITIES…

Gardening

YEAR 8 - VIBES SPECIAL…

This term the gardening groups have had

huge successes with the vegetable and fruit

growing.

We have already harvested (and eaten!)

a large number of super-sized radishes

and strawberries. As we go off for the

summer break, we leave behind a

variety of other crops.

In particular we look forward

to seeing the already enormous

cabbages in September!

Page 3 Friday 5 July 2013, Summer Term, Week 11

YEAR 3 SLEEPOVER…

Page 4 Friday 5 July 2013, Summer Term, Week 11

YEAR 8 PLAY…

Please visit the Photo Gallery on school website.

Year 8’s Last Open

Page 5 Friday 5 July 2013, Summer Term, Week 11

SPORTING SUCCESS…

Cricket - 1st XI win Brandeston Hall plate!

Cricket - Girls’ U11 A XI win Tournament at New Hall !

With Susie Rowe, international cricketer

Page 6 Friday 5 July 2013, Summer Term, Week 11

SPORT…

Tennis Tournament at Brandeston Hall

Unbeaten all season - well done U9 C!

Cricket - Year 8 Leavers vs Fathers

Rounders - Year 8 Leavers vs Mothers