On Sunday, 11 May, the Birmingham Megafinal of the prestigious UK Schools Chess Challenge, the world's biggest junior chess tournament, took place.

A number of boys from Warwick Junior School took part and did themselves and the school proud - all taking home points from what was a very strong field; four of the five sections featured members of the England national junior team and dozens of members of the Warwickshire Junior Chess Squad also competed in all five sections.

The star performer was Warwick's youngest representative, Alex. In his first time competing on this stage, he scored a fantastic 4/6 in the U8 section and qualified for the Gigafinal, the penultimate stage of the competition. Remarkably, he did so despite being outrated in every single game. Congratulations to Alex and all the boys who competed!

This week, we introduced our new learning strength, Focus. The boys gave some thoughtful responses to the importance of focus and concentration in achieving our aims. We discussed how we can lose focus, sometimes through external distractions such as noise, but also through internal distractions, where we are distracted by our feelings and emotions. Using a clip from the film ‘Inside Out’, we reflected on how our emotions can sometimes deflect us from the task at hand. Such emotions and thoughts are natural, and it is important to understand how they will affect our focus. We continued by discussing the importance of sleep, a healthy diet, exercise, breaks and effective listening in ensuring that we focus both inside and outside the classroom. 

Last weekend it was wonderful to welcome Year 1 boys and parents from the Prep School and other local schools to our Explorers Morning. Taking part in a range of activities, the boys had their first taste of life in the Junior School, and it was fantastic to see so many smiling faces. It is always a pleasure to share the opportunities on offer at all the Foundation Schools with our families so I would like to draw your attention to the Warwick School Open Evening on Friday 4th July which provides a great chance for parents and boys to experience the next stage in their Warwick School journey.  

Wishing you a happy weekend, 

John Bond 

Every week, I have boys visit my office to receive a Headmaster’s Commendation. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to see what the boys have been doing and talk to them about their learning. A particular highlight this week was to see some of the work the boys completed at the end of last term during open homework week. I watched two documentaries based on the theme of ‘Earth Day’, one produced by Artie on the importance of bees to our environment and one made by Ted on the dangers of pollution. James also designed and built his own bird feeder and hedgehog house to encourage wildlife in his garden. It is a pleasure to see the skills and knowledge the boys obtain in school being applied in such creative and interesting ways.  

The breadth of opportunity on offer at the Junior School continues to be evident. Since the start of term we have seen a fantastic Year 4 art exhibition, the wonderful achievement of the boys qualifying for the IAPS national swimming finals, and the final preparations as some of the boys travel to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire next Monday to record their own music tracks. Year 6 also continue to work hard in their rehearsals for Aladdin Jr. 

Thank you for all your continued support of your sons and I wish you all a restful weekend. 

John Bond 

Well done to the following boys for being Junior School finalists in the Town Council Flag competition: Brody E, Alessandro L, Oscar M and Jeevan R. 

Congratulations to Alessandro whose design was selected to represent the Junior School. Alessandro's design will join other winners from other schools in Warwick. His design will be made into a flag which will be used to decorate the town, recognising the 80^th anniversary of VE and VJ Day.

On Friday, 28 March, Terra House hosted their charity day in aid of their chosen animal charity, the RSPCA.

The boys in Terra House came up with three different ways that everyone could get involved in to help raise money:

Firstly, the boys were asked to dress up in something beginning with R, S, P, C, or A, and to bring in a £1 donation.

Secondly, 'Terra’s Treasure Chest' encouraged boys to bring in something that would enrich the life of an animal in need, and the school received donations of canned food, small pet toys, and enrichment games for small pets. This was then all donated to the nearest RSPCA centre. 

Finally, 'Terra’s Terrible Tuckshop' saw boys in Terra House donate sweets and chocolate to be sold at lunchtime, with items being sold for 50p each.

Overall, Terra House raised nearly £550, along with lots of donations for the local RSPCA branch. Well done to Terra House for organising a successful charity day this term, and thank you for all of the donations and to the boys who participated.

From Monday, 31 March to Wednesday, 2 April, Year 3 and Year 4 pupils from Warwick Junior School embarked on an unforgettable residential trip to the Mount Cook Adventure Centre in Derbyshire. Blessed with wall-to-wall sunshine, the two-night trip was filled with excitement, learning, and camaraderie.

The Year 3 boys engaged in a variety of thrilling activities, including land karts, indoor climbing, and the Game of Tribes. They also participated in an archaeological dig, archery, bone working, and fibre craft. The evenings were equally adventurous, with firemaking skills and rocket building sessions. Throughout these activities, the boys demonstrated empathy and resilience, working together and supporting each other through challenges.

Year 4 students took on more challenging pursuits, such as high ropes, ziplining off the top of the accommodation block, off-site orienteering, scrambling, and rock climbing. Their evenings were filled with abseiling and the Mount Cook challenge. The boys showed remarkable focus and independence, tackling each activity with enthusiasm and determination. Their ability to communicate effectively and take responsibility for their actions was evident throughout the trip.

The boys stayed in dormitories of 4 or 6, which led to some late nights filled with laughter and bonding. Despite the excitement, they made the most of every opportunity presented to them, demonstrating creativity and reflectiveness in their approach to the various activities. The food at Mount Cook was fantastic, providing the boys with the energy needed for their action-packed days. The Mount Cook staff were brilliant, offering support and guidance throughout the trip.

In conclusion, the trip was a resounding success, with the boys not only having fun but also developing important life skills. The combination of excellent weather, well-organised activities, and supportive staff made this an unforgettable adventure for everyone involved. The Year 3s are already looking forward to returning next year as Year 4s to experience the thrilling zip line!

A heartfelt thank you to all the staff who made this trip possible. Their dedication and hard work ensured that the boys had a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience. The boys returned home with wonderful memories, having had a fantastic time at Mount Cook.