Our Year 3 string and brass players from the instrumental scheme joined Rising Strings and Brass Monkeys last week. The boys are gaining a great deal from playing alongside more experienced students, who are also taking the time to support and mentor them. We look forward to their performances at the Summer Concert on 25 June.

On Tuesday, artwork by all Year 4 pupils from both the Junior School and Warwick Prep School went on display. Now a tradition, the boys took inspiration from a female artist, Yayoi Kusama, and the girls took inspiration from a male artist, Pablo Picasso.

The work looked brilliant together and the use of bright colours in contrasting styles really caught the viewers eye. Well done to everyone in Year 4! 

YouTube continues to be a very popular platform for entertainment, learning and creativity.  However, the easy access to the site, not needing to register for an account and being easily watched on a range of devices, along with its vast and largely unregulated content library, presents ongoing safeguarding challenges that parents need to consider.

Algorithms that push out content to encourage further viewing, can have an impact on screen-time, as well as suggested viewing which may not be age appropriate, or contain misinformation/extreme views which are then reinforced through further recommended viewing suggestions.

Explore more of the risks and some practical advice on tools such as YouTube Kids, supervised accounts and parental controls, to encourage a safer, more balanced and informed use of the platform.

tIt was wonderful to welcome the boys back to school this week for the start of the Summer Term.  

In the first assembly of the term, the boys reflected on the different emotions they might be feeling when returning to school. From excitement to tiredness, and nervousness to confidence, feeling such emotions is natural. Sometimes we think we know how people are feeling by their expressions and behaviour. The boys proved to be experts at reading the emotions represented by different emojis!  However, with the help of some optical illusions, I asked the boys to consider that sometimes what we see – or think we see – is not the truth. This is the same for people. We can all put on a different ‘face’ at times and actually what we are feeling is very different. We discussed the importance of not judging appearances, being empathetic, listening to each other and showing kindness as being important considerations as we head into the summer. 

Next week, is the Music Open Teaching Week and I hope that those parents whose boys take individual music lessons, take up the opportunity to come into school to observe their son in their 1:1 lessons. We are also looking forward to Ignis Charity Day next Friday which is raising money for UNICEF. Some of the Year 6 Ignis boys will be revealing more about the day to the school in Monday’s assembly.  

Wishing you a restful weekend, 

John Bond 

The highlight of this final week of term was the Spring Concert. The boys always impress with their musical skill and the confidence to perform in front of such a large audience in the impressive setting of the Warwick Hall. Led by Mrs Glover and supported by a dedicated team of instrumental teachers, boys from across the year groups performed songs inspired by countries from around the world. The range of genres and musical styles ensured a varied and entertaining evening. Thank you to all of the boys and staff who made the evening happen and all the parents and families who attended who gave the boys such encouragement and support. 

Congratulations to those boys who received their colours and sports awards in assembly this week. Also, well done to all those boys who completed their music exams last week. Many of the results have come in and the boys should be proud of their efforts. 

It has been another busy sporting week with football fixtures for Year 4 and 5 as well as year group swimming galas. The week also finished with Easter Fun activities run by our PAWS volunteers. 

As we start the Easter holiday, I would like to thank you for your continued support of the school and your sons. A start of term letter will be sent out to parents on Monday 12 April and we look forward to seeing everyone return to school on Tuesday 13 April. 

With best wishes, 

John Bond 

Why do teenagers and children self-harm? 
The reasons children and teenagers self-harm will be different for everyone. They might not be able to name any one reason they’re self-harming. 

Self‑harm is usually a way for young people to cope with difficult feelings, memories, or situations. With understanding, compassion, and the right support, recovery is possible.  
 

Signs of self-harm in children and teenagers 
Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose as a way of expressing or relieving distress, overwhelming emotions, or fear.

It can be hard to recognise the signs of self-harm in children and teenagers, but it’s important to trust your instincts if you’re worried something’s wrong. 
 

Some common forms of self-harm include:  

• Cutting themselves. 
• Burning their skin.  
• Scratching or biting themselves. 
• Hitting themselves or walls. 
   

But self-harm isn’t always visible. It can also include taking part in risky or harmful behaviours, such as:  

• Using drugs or alcohol to cope with problems. 
• Unsafe sexual behaviour. 
• Disordered eating, such as under- or over-eating. 
• Excessive exercising. 
• Doing dangerous things / acting in a reckless or unsafe way
   

It can be hard to see self‑harm, especially since many people try to hide it. If you’re concerned, here are common signs to watch for: 

• Unexplained cuts, bites, burns, bruises, bald patches. 
• Always keeping themselves fully covered, for example, wearing long sleeves or trousers even during hot weather or avoiding activities such as swimming.  
• Signs of depression, anxiety or mood swings.   
• Withdrawing from friends or family.  
• Expressing low self-esteem, for example, saying they’re not good enough. 
   

Things to do to help:

• showing them you’re there whenever and however they choose to talk 
• listening and not asking too many questions about why they've self-harmed, which may make them feel judged 
• letting them know that you care about them and want to help them find healthier ways to cope 
• reassuring them it’s OK to be honest with you about what they’re going through.  
• focus on what's causing the self-harm - remember, an underlying problem often causes self-harm. It can be more helpful to focus on what’s causing their feelings rather than on the self-harm itself. 
• Encourage them to find healthy ways to cope e.g. paint, draw or scribble in red ink, deep breathing or going for a walk 
• Help them to build their confidence.  Many children who self-harm suffer from low self-esteem or confidence.  

Remind them about the things they do well. Try to focus on things about their personality rather than things like their academic achievements or sporting abilities. 

• Encourage them to try something new e.g. drawing, music, exercise 
   

Below are some useful websites for tips and advice: 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/advice-for-families/self-harm/

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/support-for-parents-and-carers/self-harm-children-young-people#signs

Advice for children can be found via Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/self-harm/self-harm-coping-techniques/