Newsletters
Read below a sample of our 2025 January Term school newsletters:
Spirit of the Banda – Week 01
Happy New Year! As I shared with the pupils during assembly on Tuesday and the Maths Department have been focusing during the week, 2025 is a ‘perfect’ year as it is a square number: 452. Of course, it’s very much the time of year for resolutions, but research shows that nearly 90% of them are broken within two weeks.
I also spoke to the pupils about our new Effort Grades system where the emphasis is very much on each child giving their best effort to all that they do during the school day. Achievements will naturally flow from this so it is perhaps putting one’s all into everything that should be central to any goal-setting for the year ahead.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 02
Term already feels well under way, with a number of events to look forward to next week including football house matches, the first round of Boats and Upper School Movie Night, followed by Hog Charge at the weekend. We’ll also be joined by Penn Kirk for her annual visit and please note Thursday’s revision guidance session for parents of pupils in Years 6-8, which will take place in the Hall at 4 o’clock.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 03
It was fantastic to welcome the supermodel Ajuma to our assembly this morning and to hear of the amazing work that she is doing in Kenya’s rural communities to promote children’s education. Her story is an inspirational one and it was great to be able to provide her foundation with a sizeable cheque, raised from the proceeds of the PTA Christmas Party.
It’s also been a pleasure to have Penn Kirk, our Education Advisor, with us this week, getting involved in all aspects of school life and providing invaluable advice to us as a ‘critical friend’.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 04
News continues to come in from senior schools in the wake of scholarship assessments: congratulations to Eliana Otieno on being awarded an All Rounder Exhibition at Peponi School.
It’s a little while away but please do make a date in your diaries for the Beyond Banda Information Afternoon on Thursday 13th February. This is an ideal opportunity for parents (particularly those in Years 4 to 7) to learn more about the application process to senior school and how we can help you with it.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 05
Spirit of the Banda – Week 06
At a time globally when we see various examples and degrees of tension and even hate, we are extremely fortunate to be living in such a kind, tolerant and inclusive community where children and adults alike have the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences and culture. It is a fantastic environment for our pupils to foster such an appreciation of others as we prepare them for life beyond The Banda and such an important element of what we aim to do here.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 08
It’s been brilliant to see the huge array of Book Day costumes at school today and the efforts that have gone into putting them together. We’ve enjoyed a great day of fun with, amongst other things, a special assembly, numerous fun activities and a Roald Dahl themed lunch. Reading really is one of life’s pleasures – it’s been great to devote a whole day to celebrating it and I hope that it’s something that becomes integral to all our pupils’ lives.
We’ve had further good news from UK senior schools regarding scholarships and
congratulations are due to Erin Ghir (Art Scholarship to Blundell’s), Isabella Ambrose (Academic Scholarship to the Royal High School Bath) and Marley Hodson (Football Scholarship to Bede’s).
Spirit of the Banda – Week 09
The Spirit of The Banda was out in full force last Saturday at the IAPS girls’ hockey tournament. After a quiet and slightly shaky start, our Under 13 team played some excellent hockey to make it to the final where they eventually lost in extra-time to a golden goal. More pertinently than their good hockey though was the absolutely superb way in which they carried themselves – despite a disappointing final result, they held their heads high and impressed everyone present with their sportsmanship. Indeed, they would not have been held in higher esteem had they emerged as tournament winners. Very well done girls on representing the school so brilliantly.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 10
Wellbeing has been centre stage this week during our ‘Be a warrior not a worrier’ initiative. A series of events, including a fabulous assembly from 7AW which looked at how to cope with anxiety, have made us all reflect on how both ourselves and others cope with tricky situations. Our focus on wellbeing is becoming increasingly integral to our pastoral care system.
