Page 15 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

NEWS FROM THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Under 11 Midlands Rugby
As I write this review, we Under 11 Midlands Rugby Orchestra opened the Christmas Concert
Festival in November, which
have just ended a year Festival in November, which in the Chapel with two movements from COLLEGE NEWS
like no other, and begun was a great success, and Tchaikovsky’s festive Nutcracker Suite.
was a great success, and
our annual Cross-Country
another busy Autumn our annual Cross-Country It was delightful to see them perform a
Festival received record-
Term like no other! Festival received record- familiar Christmas cracker to such a high
Nevertheless, the Prep breaking entries. This year standard. One of the fi nal concerts to take
breaking entries. This year
School is in very good also saw the opening of place before lockdown was the Spring
also saw the opening of
heart, with the largest our Prep School Sports Concert. Again, the Newman Orchestra
our Prep School Sports
number on role ever! We Hall – a fantastic facility opened this with a poised performance
Hall – a fantastic facility
recently
haveve
ha recently been which will greatly enhance of the ‘Half-Minute Waltz’ and a rousing
been
which will greatly enhance
looking at the Gospel the sporting experience version of ‘We Will Rock You’, which the
looking at the Gospel
the sporting experience
value of thankfulness, and that every Prep School audience clearly enjoyed!
value of thankfulness, and
that every Prep School
as par child receives in the years
as part of Pope Francis’ t of Pope Francis’
child receives in the years
to come. The addition of
wish for us to celebrate
wish for us to celebrate to come. The addition of
the Season of Creation, we this purpose-built facility
this purpose-built facility
the Season of Creation, we
highlights just how far
have held some beautiful ve held some beautiful
ha highlights just how far
class Masses, focusing on the start of the Prep School sport has travelled over the
new school year, St Francis (patron saint past six years; the children now have a
of animals), and a very generous charity facility which will allow them to fully explore
collection of foods to celebrate Harvest their sporting talents, as well as giving
and support our local Leicester food them an arena in which their sporting
bank. There was also much to celebrate last enthusiasm and energy can be unleashed.
year in the Prep School. We were delighted We also saw some outstanding team and
by the large number of awards that Year 6 individual performances on the sports
achieved in the 11+ entrance assessments, fi eld this year, before the fi nal whistle was Nursery, Year 1, and Year 2 delighted us
with nearly all students choosing to move blown for half-time. Violet Rudkin was with their Nativity performance, Stable by
on to our Senior School again this year. crowned County Under 11 Girls’ Cross- Starlight, and Year 4, who had worked so
They celebrated the end of the year with Country Champion, Jessica Tuckwell and hard on their Easter production, managed
a very fi tting open-air assembly, with very Edward Crawley both qualifi ed for the a performance of Resurrection Rock to our
moving speeches from the Head Boy and IAPS National Swimming Finals, our Under Year 6 children just before lockdown. The
Head Girl, recounting all that has been 10 Boys’ Rugby Team remained unbeaten singing at both events was uplifting,
special to them since joining us at three all season, our Under 11 Netball Team won and there were some beautifully moving
years old in Cygnets.
the IAPS Regional Under 11 Netball Plate solo performances as well. The Year 4
Before the lockdown in late March, Competition, and both our Under 11 Girls’ performance was the fi nal live event that
the Prep School children spent many and Under 11 Boys’ Hockey Teams qualifi ed we managed in the Prep School. Music
joyous times together, celebrating the for the Midlands Finals for the third year, in in lockdown presented some frustrating
Harvest Festival, the Nativity, Carols by succession with the boys qualifying as challenges! An inability to actually play at
Candlelight, and preparing for Easter County Champions for the second year in the same time made us realise the huge
with the Year 4 Passion Play. This year, our a row. importance of playing, singing, and
Chaplaincy team have worked hard on a performing together. And so, we adapted!
number of new fundraising initiatives, Remote individual music lessons began. We
including providing over 100 backpacks slowly found our way. And then, yes, let’s do
full of school stationery and other urgently Chapel Choir, String Stars, and Woodwind
needed items, supporting our chosen via Google Meet! Music was something
charity, Mary’s Meals. The team have also that we could do, and that we could gain
created a new cycle of prayer and led comfort from, when everything around us
assemblies. Sadly, we were unable to have was so alien. We achieved a virtual concert
a celebration of First Holy Communion of Prep School Music Competition entries,
this year, owing to the closure of churches compositions, music theory, and multiple
during the summer. performances of ‘Somewhere Over the
Rainbow’ for the NHS. Wow! We actually
We have had many extraordinary sporting achieved so much in the end.
years in the Prep School, but none quite Prep School Music stepped up another gear
as extraordinary as 2019-20. This was in the Autumn Term, with co-curricular May I take this opportunity to wish all of
the sporting year that started, but then groups being eager to begin their music- our Old Ratcliffi ans a merry Christmas and
never actually fi nished – instead, being making. The Newman Orchestra, once a very happy New Year.
abandoned at half-time! Nevertheless, again, was a Friday morning highlight, Fr Christopher Cann
the fi rst half still produced some with children from both the Prep School Preparatory School Headmaster
exciting performances and wonderful and Senior School rehearsing from
achievements. We hosted our second IAPS 8am in the Newman Hall. The Newman

The Old Ratcliffi an 2020 15