abingdon.org.uk/prep 7 IN SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATING The annual Middle Section Public Speaking and Senior Section Debating Competitions were held near the end of term. The external judges were Dominic Scott, a teacher from Radley College, Abingdon Foundation Governor Ken Welby and former Abingdon Prep pupil and former runner-up of the debating competition, Ted Smethurst. The audience heard speeches on a range of topics, including the possible banning of animal testing, whether the film versions of stories are better than the book versions, and who should be deemed to be ‘Person of the Year’ for 2022. Well done to the winners of both competitions. In the Brainstems Science Club, we grew alum crystals on pipe-cleaners twisted into Christmas shapes. The shapes were hung in the saturated alum solution and after a couple of days they were covered with sparkly crystals, the colours of the pipe-cleaners showing through. Once the crystals had grown, they were removed to dry and harden before taking home to display proudly. CHRISTMAS CRYSTALS YEAR 7 TYCOON IN SCHOOLS In our Computing lessons this year, Year 7 pupils have been taking part in the Tycoon in Schools Enterprise competition. The teams each developed an idea for a product and wrote their own business plans to pitch for a start-up loan from the Peter Jones Foundation. They used their ICT skills to create a variety of sales and marketing materials including presentations, posters, videos and spreadsheets, leading up to a Mini Christmas Market at which the young entrepreneurs sold their wares. The pupils worked with great enthusiasm and teamwork on this project, from which all profits will be donated to the school charities. Many thanks to parents who supported them too. DRAGON CHARITY EVENT Dragon hosted the first House Charity event of the school year. They organised a cake sale and a ‘Splat the Teacher’ competition where the pupils got to throw wet sponges at Roger, Russell and Richard which proved to be very popular! They raised a fantastic total of £337.05 for the UK Ukrainian Appeal (UKUA). Fortified by a superb Christmas lunch, the pupils immersed themselves in a range of festive activities for the afternoon. Pre-Prep had received special gifts from Father Christmas and enjoyed playing a fun game of pin the nose on the reindeer. Years 3-4 enjoyed a carousel of activities, creating tree decorations and competing in the Candy Cane Olympics. Year 5 got creative with customised Christmas crowns and cards before party games and food while Year 6 enjoyed a festive DT workshop, quiz and disco karaoke. Years 7-8 were not to be outdone on the creative front as they ‘dressed a friend as a Christmas tree’, had reindeer races, played a chocolate party game and braved the quad for festive aerobics. What a fabulous way to end the term and start the holidays. CHRISTMAS FUN AT APS
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