19th April 2013 Dear Parents I trust that you all ... - The Perse School

19 th April 2013Dear ParentsI trust that you all had an enjoyable Easter break and it has been good to see the boys and girls return toSchool in such excellent spirits. I hope that you managed to hear the BBC Cambridgeshire’s Jeremy SallisShow during the final week of last term which featured The Prep, and had some very informative andamusing interviews with pupils and staff.At Thursday’s Assembly I spoke to the children about Margaret Thatcher and the response of the public toher funeral. I was deeply impressed by the level of knowledge that the boys and girls displayed, not onlyabout the recent news coverage, but also about Mrs Thatcher as a politician, and her place in the history ofthe country.On Sunday the nation’s focus will, once again, be on the capital as we watch coverage of the LondonMarathon. All good wishes to Mr Guy Musson who is taking part, running to raise money for Khandel light.I know that he is enormously grateful to everyone who has supported him and he has currently raisedalmost £3000‐YES £3000! If you haven’t yet managed to sponsor him and wish to do so then please followthis link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/guymussonI would also like to encourage you to support Mr Ashley Artaman who is spending part of this weekendraising money for Addenbrooke’s. Please see his article for details.New AppointmentFrom September we will have an additional member of staff. I am delighted to tell you that this will be MissPhilippa Barbour, who has a BSc in Biological Sciences from Durham University, and is currently completingher PGCE there.Best wishes to the McCaughransMr and Mrs James McCaughran are expecting their baby to arrive in the next week or so and we sendthem our very best wishes, in the hope that there won’t be too many sleepless nights! As you willunderstand, Mr McCaughran will be away from school from time to time after the arrival of the baby, butshould 5A parents need to contact him urgently, he will still be answering e mails.New Office HoursPlease note the following changes:Head’s Office (Elinor Schneider) 9.30 – 4.00School Office (Helen Tully) 8.00 – 5.00

Parking on Porson RoadIt helps the traffic flow if you do not park on the right hand side of the stretch of Porson Road thatruns between the end of Trumpington Road and the start of the school drive, even though there areno yellow lines. In addition, I would ask that you do not park your cars on the grass verges that runalongside the pavement. There was an occasion last term when some very thoughtless parking led toconsiderable damage to these areas.Mr Artaman’s Charity Bike RideOn Sunday 21 st April I am planning on cycling the Cambridge 100 mile bike event.Having spent Wednesday night and Thursday in Addenbrooke’s hospital with mythree year old son being rehydrated intravenously, I was inspired by the wonderfulwork that the doctors and nurses do to make the time children spend in hospitalsas pleasant as possible. As a result I have decided to try and raise some money forthe ward that takes care of children at Addenbrooke’s, to show my appreciation ofall they did for my son and to help them provide more for the children in theircare. If I complete the ride and you feel like you would like to donate, please giveMrs Tully a contribution next week and I will send them a cheque which I can then gift aid. I will let youknow how I get on, on Monday. Many thanks, Ashley Artaman.Congratulations IshbelGood news ‐ as part of the Y4 English Club activities we entered the Radio 2 '500Word Story' national competition. Ishbel Hallam's story has been chosen for thenext stage. They received over 90,000 entries, and only around 3,000 will gothrough to the next stage, so this is a great achievement!The story has now been sent to the Scottish Book Trust for the second stage of thejudging process.Well done to Ishbel and good luck!Library newsPlease do take a look at the attachment below the newsletter for some exciting book news! The Carnegieand Greenaway shortlists have been announced. Miss Thurston would love it if every child was able towrite a review of their favourite on our shadowing site.Well doneCongratulations to Euan Mackenzie for his skiing success,to Madalena Sennitt for her Judo award and to OllieBartolo and George Salisbury for their rugby success. Welldone to Peter White and William Crawford Stainsby fortheir swimming awards and to William for his additionaltable tennis success. Final congratulations go to DaisyDickinson for her gymnastics award and to AlexanderHewett, Matteo Codispoti and Tom Davies for theirclimbing awards.

CongratulationsBronze house point certificates have been awarded to Robbie Dodsworth, Simon Skovgaard, ThomasWoodley and Thomas Woodward. Anastasia Andreou, Lirit Dampier, Saira Powar, Gabriel Price andWilliam Routledge have been awarded silver house point certificates. Gold house point certificates havebeen awarded to Alice Wentzell, Victoria Black and Wendy Hau. Well done all.Yours sincerelyHeadmaster

Carnegie and Greenaway AwardsThe shortlists for both the Carnegie and the Greenaway Medal Awards 2013 wereannounced recently. The Carnegie Medal celebrates outstanding writing in a book forchildren and young adults, and this year is typified by challenging themes and epicstorytelling. The Greenaway Medal is awarded for outstanding illustration in achildren’s book ‐ the only prize of its kind in the UK. This year's shortlist includesprevious double winners Helen Oxenbury and Emily Gravett, both looking to secure aplace in the history books with an unprecedented third win. Here are the nominees:GreenawayCarnegieIn our library lessons, children in Years 3 & 4will be looking closely at the Greenaway titles.Library Club will be taking a look at some of the Carnegie shortlisted titles, they willbe added to the Year 5 Pirate Quest, and most are available for Years 5 & 6 to read.However, some of the Carnegie titles are for age 14+ and I have not made themavailable at the Prep.I’m hoping all the children will write their thoughts on the books on our shadowingsite based at www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk. Just search for Perse Prep School!Our new Librarians have been chosen!Sachin, Arjun, Alice, Calum, Cecily, Jack, Thomas, Tatiana andLydia can help you in the library. You will know they arelibrarians because they are wearing great badges!They will scan the books you wish to borrow on the computersystem and they put your returns back on the shelves. Thelibrarians can also help you to search ‘Olly’ for the book that youwant.

The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlist for 2013Judges’ comments are listed in italics. Please note that the ‘age ranges’ listed below areintended as a guide only. These are determined by the 2013 judging panel. MissThurston’s year group recommendations are in blue.(All the Greenaway Medal shortlisted books are suitable for the Perse Prep age group.)Rebecca Cobb LUNCHTIMEMacmillan Children’s Books (Age 3+)ISBN: 9780230749528It's lunchtime for one little girl, but she's just not hungry. A visitingcrocodile, bear and wolf, however, are starving. It's just as wellthat children taste revolting! A beautifully illustrated tale of food,friendship and fun from an exciting new talent, Rebecca Cobb.A book featuring a very attractive colour palette and an exemplaryuse of white space, text placement and layout. Naïve and yetsophisticated, the use of perspective and size reinforces the child’sviewpoint throughout.All yearsEmily Gravett AGAIN!Macmillan Children's Books (Age 5+)ISBN: 9780330544030It’s nearly Cedric the dragon’s bedtime! He’s brushed his teethand had his bath, which means there is just enough time for hismum to read him his favourite book. However, once is not enoughand mum is more sleepy than Cedric. Growing impatient, hepleads with his sleeping mum to read to him again ‐ with somefiery consequences! Emily Gravett won the Kate GreenawayMedal in 2008 with Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears and in 2006for Wolves.This perfect picture book by previous Greenaway winner Gravett,employs a clever use of ‘a book within a book’. The use of colour tosignify emotion is both very effective and visually stunning, as isthe way the text of the story changes as mum gets more tired.Every little element of the whole package works togetherbrilliantly.All years

Chris Haughton OH NO, GEORGE!Walker Books (Age 5+) ISBN: 9781406332254George is a dog with all the best intentions. And his owner, Harry,has all the best hopes that George will be a well‐behaved dogwhen he leaves him alone for the day. But when George spies adelicious cake sitting on the kitchen table, his resolve starts towaver. You see, George loves cake… and it’s so hard to be a gooddog when there are cats to chase and flowers to dig up!The bold colour palette used in this very funny book is both vibrantand very effective – George’s expressive eyes, in particular, arebrilliant. The relationship between Harry and George is veryfamiliar and there’s a clever use of gorgeous endpapers before andafter the story.All yearsJon Klassen I WANT MY HAT BACKWalker Books (Age 5+) ISBN: 9781406338539The bear’s hat is gone and he wants it back. Patiently and politely,he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether theyhave seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately thanothers. But just as the bear begins to despair of ever finding hishat, a deer asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory,inspiring him to renew his search with a vengeance.A quirky, unique and fantastically funny book, there is so muchhumour to be found in the illustrations. A lesson in visual literacy,character emotions are expressed brilliantly and the clever use ofthe colour is inspired.All yearsChris Mould PIRATES ‘N’ PISTOLSHodder Children's Book (Age 9+) ISBN: 9780340999349Following on from Mould’s Dust 'n' Bones and Fangs 'n' Fire,comes Pirates 'n' Pistols – ten swashbuckling pirate tales aboutsome of the most villainous and scurrilous rogues ever to sail theSeven Seas. Traditional pirate myths and legends, some new andoriginal tales and memorable pirates from all over the world burstoff the pages.The larger‐than‐life pirates are drawn with great humour and anextremely distinctive style using detailed pen and ink drawings.The combination of black and white and rich colour is used togreat effect throughout this beautiful book with the illustrationsworking hand‐in‐hand with the text.All years

Helen Oxenbury (illustrator) and Peter Bently (author)KING JACK AND THE DRAGONPuffin Books (Age 3+) ISBN: 9780141327594Night is falling, bedtime is looming and playtime is almost over…but brave King Jack and his faithful followers, Sir Zak and babyCaspar are more than a match for dragons and horrid beasts! Witha band of faithful knights and a mighty castle too, this is a magicalmake‐believe adventure for brave little children everywhere!Helen Oxenbury won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1969 with TheQuangle Wangle's Hat and The Dragon of an Ordinary Family andagain in 1999 with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.This is a truly timeless book offset by some fantastic moderntouches. The distinctive illustrations echo the late MauriceSendak’s Where the Wild Things Are but yet have a wonderfulquality all of their own. The tonal colours are absolutely lovely,wonderfully evoking the imaginative playtime, and perfectlycombine with the opposing pages featuring black and whitedrawings.All yearsLevi Pinfold BLACK DOGTemplar Publishing (Age 5+) ISBN: 9781848770522A black dog appears outside the Hope family's home. As eachmember of the household sees it and hides, the dog grows bigger.Only Small, the youngest Hope, has the courage to face the BlackDog. When it chases her through the forest she shows no fear, soit grows smaller and smaller. Finally, back to the size of a normalhound, the Black Dog is welcomed into the Hope household astheir newest addition.A visual treat, full of mood and atmosphere, the beautifulillustrations are full of detail and perfectly in keeping with thestory. The use of scale, with the big dog pushing the text off thepage, is clever. A timeless, thought‐provoking book about facingup to anxiety, fears, and the black dog that visits some of us fromtime‐to‐time.All yearsSalvatore Rubbino (illustrator) and Nicola Davies (author)JUST DUCKS!Walker Books (Age 5+) ISBN: 9781406327397The young girl in this story may live in the city, but outside herwindow there’s a river full of mallard ducks! She hears them assoon as she wakes up and, on the way to school, she sees themupside down bobbing for food. Interspersed with fun facts, herenthusiastic commentary about her feathered neighbours arepaired with cheerful watercolour illustrations.This book features a beautiful ‘duckish’ palette of colours with aclever use of white space to indicate the duck’s watery landscape.The use of shadow and differing text types really makes theseducks – and their story ‐ come alive.All years

The Shortlist for 2013Judges’ comments are listed in italics. Please note that the ‘age ranges’ listed below areintended as a guide only. These are determined by the 2013 judging panel. Miss Thurston’syear group recommendations are in green.Sarah Crossan THE WEIGHT OF WATERBloomsbury (Age 9+)ISBN: 9781408823002Armed with a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes,Kasienka and her mother head for England. Life is lonely forKasienka. At home her mother's heart is breaking and, at schoolfriends are scarce. But when someone special swims into herlife, Kasienka learns that there might be more than one way forher to stay afloat.A real gem of a read, Kasienka's strength of character and herpoignant and inspiring story is told in a spare and lyrical style.The depiction of bullying and Kasienka's school life feelsabsolutely true, from the attitude of the teachers to the familiarsetting. Ostensibly a simple tale, this is a wonderfully originaldebut novel with strong characterisation and fantasticallycreative use of language.Years 5 & 6Roddy Doyle A GREYHOUND OF A GIRLMarion Lloyd Books (Age 9+)ISBN: 9781407129334Twelve‐year‐old Mary O'Hara is the youngest of four generationsof strong Irish women. Mary's mother Scarlett is more than amatch for her and her grandmother Emer would be, if sheweren't dying in hospital. Her great‐grandmother Tansey is thefeistiest of them all ‐ and she's dead. But then Tansey's ghostarrives on Mary's doorstep with a very special mission, to take amidnight road trip back to the past...This latest children's book from Booker Prize‐winning RoddyDoyle is a fantastic and satisfying tale with memorablecharacters, brilliant dialogue and beautifully portrayedrelationships. The overlapping stories and clever structure offersa real celebration of life. Despite dealing with death, the book isnever sentimental but instead is wonderfully funny and touching.Years 5 & 6

Sally Gardner MAGGOT MOONHot Key Books (Age 11+)ISBN: 9781471400049A ruthless regime is determined to beat its enemies in a race tothe moon. But when his best friend Hector is suddenly takenaway, it is up to unlikely hero Standish, his grandfather, and asmall band of rebels, to confront and defeat the ever‐presentoppressive forces of the Motherland.A stunning book with an underdog hero, Maggot Moon offers apowerful depiction of an utterly convincing and frighteningdystopia. With clever plotting, conspiracy theory and a trulyoriginal concept at the heart of it, this is a real tour de forcewithout a hint of sentimentality.Year 6 – Advanced ReadersNick Lake IN DARKNESSBloomsbury (Age 13+)ISBN: 9781408819944In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, Shorty, a teenageboy, is trapped beneath the rubble of a ruined hospital, thirsty,terrified and alone. He has been drawn into the gangster worldbut he harbours a secret: a flame of revenge and a burning wishto find the twin sister he lost seven years ago. Shorty's fires burnso bright he forges a link with Toussaint l'Ouverture, the Haitianrebel who led the slave revolt two centuries ago. Together theymust face their own darkness and find the strength to survive.This vivid debut novel is perfectly executed and powerfullywritten with two strong interweaving strands that show howslavery, in different forms, still persists in the modern age. Thetale incorporates elements of voodoo, mystery, horror and yetmaintains a strong sense of hope ‐ Shorty offers us a hugelysympathetic character who does what he has to simply tosurvive. An excellent and challenging read with an unpredictableand heartbreaking ending.

R. J. Palacio WONDERBodley Head (Age 10+)ISBN: 9780370332284Born with a terrible facial abnormality, shy, bright ten‐year‐oldAuggie Pullman has had countless operations and has beenhome‐schooled by his parents for his whole life. Now, for thefirst time, Auggie is being sent to a real school, exposing him tothe stares and cruelty of the outside world ‐ and he's dreading it.Through the voices of Auggie, his big sister Via, and his newfriends Jack and Summer, Wonder follows Auggie's journeythrough his first year at Beecher Prep.Told using multiple voices, this debut novel is beautifully writtenwith the chorus of characters around Auggie helping to revealhim to the reader. With a sly and insidious bully on the periphery,Auggie's strong and stoic voice sings out. This hugely movingstory is full of empathy and kindness without ever feelinganything other than authentic.Years 5 & 6Marcus Sedgwick MIDWINTERBLOODIndigo (Age 11+)ISBN: 9781780620091A story that spans hundreds of years, Midwinterblood tells thestory of Eric and Merle who have loved and lost one another andwho have been searching for each other ever since. In the sevendifferent interweaving stories, the two appear as lovers, motherand son, brother and sister, artist and child, as they come closeto finding each other before facing the ultimate sacrifice.An atmospheric, highly original and poetically told story,Midwinterblood incorporates love, sacrifice, myth and folklanguage. With a clever and careful structure, intertwiningstories and a repeating cycle echoed in the seasons of the moon,this is a truly unique read, gripping and sinister, with undertonesof horror.Year 6 ‐ Advanced Readers

Dave Shelton A BOY AND A BEAR IN A BOATDavid Fickling Books (Age 8+)ISBN: 9780385618960A boy and a bear go to sea, equipped only with a suitcase, acomic book and a ukulele. They are only travelling a shortdistance and it really shouldn't take long. But then their boatencounters 'unforeseeable anomalies'... Faced with turbulentstormy seas, a terrifying sea monster and the rank remains ofThe Very Last Sandwich, the odds soon become pitted againstour unlikely heroes in the story of a truly memorable friendship.This mesmerising book, filled with beautiful and funnyillustrations, is both gripping and entertaining. Essentially a taleof existentialism for younger readers, the interaction betweenthe bear and the boy, their developing friendship and their abilityto cope with whatever is thrown at them is a great metaphor forlife.All yearsElizabeth Wein CODE NAME VERITYElectric Monkey (Age 14+)ISBN: 9781405258210Only in wartime could a stalwart lass from Manchester strike upa friendship with a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other aspecial operations executive, both serving during WWII. It's notlong before they become devoted to each other. But then a vitalmission goes wrong, and one of the friends is captured by theGestapo. Now a prisoner of war, the story begins in "Verity's"own words, as she writes her account for her captors.Clever and moving, this beautifully written debut novel featuresa classic unreliable narrator, superb characterisation andfantastic plotting. The relationship between the two best friendsis powerfully written, yet the book also shows the depths towhich humanity can plunge. The unflinching portrayal of torturelingers long in the mind in this commanding story.