22 January 2024 Abingdon Prep Supporting each other As part of the peer support lead and Partnership mentoring programme, in November students from Abingdon Senior School visited Year 8 pupils for a mentoring workshop. Pupils were asked to consider body language, eye contact and empathy when in conversation with each other and were taught valuable listening skills. Working in groups, they used a phrasebank of open-ended questions and supportive comments to talk through how they might help a student in a number of common scenarios focusing on friendships, school work, sport and confidence. Year 8 will now use these skills to establish their own mentoring programme and help younger year groups at APS. The Festival of Lights In November, the Prep School welcomed two visitors to Reception - Chair of Governors, Professor Mike Stevens and Rupal Gupta who came in to talk to the children about the celebration of Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali. There was music, dressing up, special food, Rangoli patterns (including those done by Professor Stevens!), glitter, glue and diva lamps being decorated. Thank you to our visitors - we really enjoyed having you with us. Throughout the week commencing 6 November, pupils remembered those who sacrificed their lives or have made significant contributions to the defence of our country and its values. A series of assemblies was held and the children also examined war and Remembrance through the lenses of poets including Binyon, Brooke, Owen and Armitage. The week culminated in a service of Remembrance on Friday, where our entire school community came together to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, including former school pupils. We will remember them
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