The Buzz - Michaelmas 2024

Meet the team!

We are so pleased to have a brand new batch of brilliant Buzzers.

Here's a who's who of our new team.

Harry P - Roving reporter

My name is Harry, and I wanted to join The Buzz because I’ve enjoyed past Buzz competitions, so I thought I would be involved in creating one myself. I enjoy bouncing on my trampoline and playing manhunt in the Copse. This term we are doing 'happy news' to cheer you up if glum. We would be delighted if YOU joined as well!

If you are interested please contact Mrs HR or Mrs Miles.

Lily L- New editor

Hi my name is Lily.

I wanted to join The Buzz because I love writing and English I just love the thought of writing and being in the school magazine. I love cricket, art and English. Outside of this brilliant club, I love doing art and sport at the Cranleigh cricket club. This term we are focusing on cheery news for everyone to feel good about. In school we also focus on anti bullying which will be exciting and fun for the buzz team to do and for you to read as well. We hope that you will follow us by stopping bullying and standing up for people.

Amber M

Returning editor

Hi, I'm Amber.

I joined The Buzz last year because I love reading, writing and coming up with ideas for new competitions. I also enjoy drawing, being creative, playing football and watching Women's football. I like to practise gymnastics and do lots of cartwheels.

Arabella G - new editor

Hi I am Arabella. I love art, horse riding and dance. I joined the Buzz because I like making fun challenges for the school and wanted to spread happy news.

Xinxin Z - new editor

Hi I’m Xinxin. I love dance and art, and I joined The Brilliant Buzz because I like creating and giving people challenges. I am one of the crew who came up with the Nomination Station because its important to make people happy and celebrate small wonders.

Twiglet - Paper Mascot

Twiglet loves to share competitions and wish us well in our endeavours. That is what makes her such a brilliant mascot and vital to every edition of The Buzz!

KINDNESS

This term's edition has a strong theme of kindness. Read our articles to find out what we have been doing to promote this in our school.

Nominate your friends and make them feel appreciated!

OUR NOMINATION STATION!

The nomination station is something we have been working on…

The nomination station is a special box in the front office near the sofas where you can nominate people’s kindness. If you nominate someone, they will receive 1 or 2 carrots added onto the system and their reason for being nominated will be displayed on our Buzz Board in the Ferrier building. Why not spread the kindness, and pass on the good deeds.

Here are just some of the fantastic children who have been nominated by their friends. Each nominee gets a house point too!

If you have a friend who you would like to Nominate, write down why and post it in the box at the Front Office. You feel great and so do they. Your friend will also receive a carrot so it is great for your house as well.

Anti Bullying by Lily L

What is bullying?

Bullying is saying or doing something unkind but regularly. It can be targeted at just one person or they can do it to lots of different people. Bullying is something that can spread. For example, if someone said something nasty or unkind, those words can spread easily to other people.

What can our school do to prevent it?

Stand up for people; be an upstander not a bystander; don’t watch and take in horrible words. Don't be afraid to say no to bullies and make sure everyone is happy. If some one seems upset or worried, go over and talk to them. In the case of bullying talk to the and say that it is not right.

Why do we have anti bullying week?

We have anti bullying week because it gives us courage to stand up for people who stay quiet about getting bullied. If we don’t stand up or don’t have ant bullying week, anything at school could go wrong. Anti-bullying week is also a shout out to bullies to stop what they are doing and to take a moment to think. It is also a shout out to the people who are getting bullied to say something to us about it. Together we can stop bullying by using our voices and anti-bullying week.

When does anti bullying week take place?

Anti-bullying week takes place from Monday 11 November to Friday 15 November. But you can still stop bullying after!

What are the activities during anti bullying week?

During anti bulling week the activities are:

Anti-bullying {of course.} odd socks day, anti-bullying poster making and lots of others. These particular activities are enjoyable but they also teach why we don’t bully, and why we stop it. Odd socks day is important because it teaches us that we can be different in any way we like. For example, we can have different hair different eye colour, and so on. If we bully each other for our differences, think about we can’t all be the same.

Odd Sock Day by Harry P

What does it mean?

Odd socks on a school day? Weird! In fact, it does not sound formal enough to be approved by teachers! So, what does it mean? It actually means that you should never be afraid to be different, as we’re all unique and special. Whether you have different hair, eyes and skin colours or beliefs and personalities. No one’s perfect so let’s all celebrate our differences.

What can you do?

As well trying to tackle bullying. Be sure to bring in your craziest pair of socks! It is also in anti-bullying week. Be sure to check out the anti-bullying article.

When does it happen?

Odd sock day 2024 was on Tuesday 12th November, so the second week of the 11th month.

We helped to raise awareness and make the world a better and more understanding place by wearing crazy socks!

Congratulations! Through Pudsey coins, Odd sock day and the cake sale we have raised £1401.75! This total amazingly does not include Christmas jumpers or the Carol Service. 306 toothbrushes were sent to Nepal

and 40 Christmas boxes were sent to Ukraine. Well done and thank you to all.

Fabulous Finding Nemo by Lily/Dory

Finding Nemo Kids is an enjoyable production put on by Form 3's young actors who have a love of performing! It is the story of a small fish with a 'little fin' who, despite this, conquers the ocean whilst his dad learns to listen and let go... Along with a little help from a certain forgetful friend.

Throughout all rehearsals, I realized anyone can act. Being in a play is always nerve racking, thinking about the audience out there but so much fun as well. The amazing cast of Form 3 have just finished their last performance of the superb Finding Nemo Kids for a very supportive audience who listened well and showed their support for the phenomenal and spectacular play. It was full of fun and amazing props for the stage, thank you to Mr Perry, Mrs Charlesworth and Mrs Waller for those. Mrs Everett's costumes were also incredible as you can see in the photos in case you weren't lucky enough to see the play for yourselves. It was my highlight of the year, and something I will never forget.

I’m sure all the directors worked very hard to put this production together and they didn’t stop until it was perfect. Many thanks to Mrs Williams, Dr Ward and Mr Waller for doing such an amazing job on the play.

Wonderverse by Hugh H-R

Wonder verse is a poetry competition for seven to twelve year olds. It is a competition for young writers to enter a world of imagination. Winners

have the chance to get amazing prizes like bookmarks and goody bags. 1st place wins £1000 for your school! Your poem could even be published in a book! In order to enter your poem could be about anything! So get writing and get winning. We will let you know if the winners are any of our writers.

Here are some examples of the poems submitted:

Sorry, Not Sorry by Evie J

I’m sorry that I’m different, I’m sorry that I’m strange.

I’m sorry that I’m not like you, I’m sorry I can’t change.

I don’t know what you think and I don’t know what you see.

But if I could be anyone, I probably wouldn’t be me.

I wish that I could blend in, I wish that I could hide.

I wish you wouldn’t judge me, I wish I could decide.

Decide or hide. Decide or hide. Decide or hide. Decide not hide!

Pause, rewind… I think I’ve changed my mind!

I’m loving, I’m caring, I’m thoughtful and I’m kind.

And yes, I’m different, and yes, I’m strange.

I’m great the way I am, and there’s no need for me to change.

I know what I think and I know what I see,

And if I could be anyone, I’d definitely be ME

Time by AHR

Time is everywhere, time is not

just the hand on a ticking clock.

Days go by, weeks and months,

Or maybe it’s just breakfast to lunch.

We all want more, yet all get less

As when we close our eyes to rest

Hours fly by

Yet when we wake it feels a mere blink of an eye

Seasons spin by

Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter too

How much time has slipped past?

Yet we never stop to think and make a minute last.

If we don’t turn and linger in the second’s heat

Time will be lost, squeezed by in a heartbeat.

So I say Stop, and Look behind,

Do not waste this precious prize.

Hold those you love, and notice when,

A perfect moment together is spent.

This rarest of gifts we fritter away

Imagining we will always have another day.

Time is everywhere, time is not

just the hand on a ticking clock.

Me My Friend and I

by Piper

It’s just me, my friend and I.

We used to be so distant at the start

All it took was one word,

Now we’re never apart.

Now I stand tall

Knowing I will always have you

And that’ll forever be true.

People go of making scenes

But that’s not what a true friend needs

A friend is there to make laugh

But really that is only half.

Different countries, Different lives

Though we are miles apart

You are still in the centre of my heart.

I may not be next to you nor near you

But no matter what happens you will be my friend

That is why I will be with you to the end.

THE MATTERHORN

by Hattie B

I stand amongst those jagged, broken and weak,

I stand in perfection, not nearly as meek.

Before me lays distilled opaque water,

not daring to disturb one’s eye from the quarter.

The quarter, the half of substantial greatness,

with the pride of a lion, my stance, my mane's tenderness.

I am the mighty, the proud and the strong,

the stuff that all goes into self-belief song.

But how can something of no heartbeat,

have confidence of that, of concrete?

To be able to repeat, not defeat at Godspeed.

Well let me tell you my secret,

I have on me a sacred trinket.

I blanket of greatness embracing me forever,

one that is to impress whomever.

A blanket of white, delicate powder,

one that does not crumble and break by the hour.

But merely ambles amongst my rock, discovering the power.

This blanket insulates my soul and my pride,

and keeps it for no one is to stride,

on me myself, I

I am not weak, jagged or shy.

I am the MATTERHORN.

Butser Farm Visit for F3

by Harry P & Lily L

Introduction and guide

Butser Farm is a great place to go. Not just to have fun and enjoy being away from school for a day, but to listen and learn. At Buster Farm they have fairly accurate built houses from Anglo Saxon times. Of course they are not actually from that time but they have collected artefacts that tell them how they lived a bit. They also used the internet and did research. But in this article we will be telling so much more than just that.

The tour

At Butser Farm they gave us a small tour of not even half of the sight. They showed us an Anglo-Saxon house and a Roman house. They helped us compare both houses and why are they different and are there bits of them the same?

For and example, their differences are that a Roman house is a lot bigger than an Anglo-Saxon house and Anglo-Saxon houses don’t have toilets in them and roman ones do.

Archelogy

Archelogy is an activity where you dig up grass, mud and lots of different materials. But never ever, dig hard and rough. Because if there are different artefacts down there, you could damage them and then no one can guess which time they are from and what they are. Make sure you are careful with the artefacts because they may be valuable. And you never know it could be a very valuable piece of Anglo-Saxon times!

Watling

This is an activity done in the morning. We learned how to make an Anglo-Saxon fence from ready harvested hazel branches. We had 4 pieces of stakes hammered into the mucky earth. We all got into partners. We had an odd number of people so I had to go with popular teacher/teaching assistant Miss Sandy. It was great fun.

New Head boy and Head girl at CPS!

Congratulations to Edmund L and Hattie B for being made Head Boy and Head Girl. When their names were announced in assembly a roar of approval went up amongst the students and staff. This is what it means to them:

Hattie says: I was delighted to be chosen as Cranleigh Prep's new Head Girl. When they called my name in assembly lots of ecstasy rose in my chest. I couldn’t wait to lead and fulfil all my responsibilities in the school! I look forward to rest of the year with much excitement.

Edmund says: I am thrilled to have been chosen for Head Boy. I am really looking forward for taking on some of the responsibilities of the role.

Congratulations to Olivia S for winning best Hearts' mascot, Ben B for winning for Spades, Benji I for winning for Diamonds and Livs W for winning for Clubs. They all look fantastic and will join us in many house events to come!

Sewing Bee

In the middle of November we were delighted to welcome Pascha, a finalist from The Great British Sewing Bee 2024, where amateur sewers compete to impress the judges, hoping to be crowned Britain's more sensational seamster.

Pasha's talk about her journey to becoming a finalist on The Great British Sewing Bee was nothing short of inspiring. From the moment she began speaking, it was clear that her passion for sewing stemmed from a desire to live more sustainably, creating clothes that both personal and environmentally conscious.

Thank you to Mrs Groocock for organising. It was sew good!

Looking at Pasha's makes

Look at all the mascots we created!

Pasha delivering her fascinating talk

Winner of the Hearts mascot

Magic Maintenance by Amber M

Here at Cranleigh prep, we are very thankful for our amazing maintenance staff that work in all weather conditions to make our school environment much better.

It is very easy to forget how valuable these people are, but if they were not here our school would be horrible and messy, the changing rooms would have mud all over the floor, our classrooms would not be sparkling and the toilets would be very unpleasant to use.

So we thought it would be so important interview the maintenance staff to get to know them better. Here are our questions and their answers.

Thank you so much for all your hard work. We so appreciate you and what you do for us and for the school.

Fatima

What do you do in your spare time?

I run

What is your favourite part of the school?

Sunset through the big window at the front of the chapel.

Where have you lived? Which languages can you speak?

I can speak English, Portuguese and Spanish

If you had a superpower what would it be?

I would make sure everyone was kind.

Tell us a surprising fact about you:

I am one of a set of quadruplets!

Sam

What is your favourite part of the school?

The beautiful view from Top Pitch.

Where have you lived?

England

Which languages can you speak?

English

If you had a superpower what would it be?

Make English people better at speaking other languages!

Tell us something we don't know about you:

I love to read. At the moment I am reading Richard Osman's 'Thursday Murder Club' and I have a dog called Misty.

Joao

What is your favourite part of the school?

I love the Wheeler building.

Where have you lived? Which languages can you speak?

I speak Portuguese.

If you had a superpower what would it be?

To be able to sing like Pavarotti on stage!

Tell us something no one knows about you:

I am a singer (although you know that one), a dancer and a gardener.

Debra

What is your favourite part of the school?

I love the Cooper building (as that is where I spend most of my time here) and the view over the orchard to the Senior School.

Where have you lived? Which languages can you speak?

I speak only English and I lived in Australia and New Zealand for 10 years.

If you had a superpower what would it be?

I would love the ability to make anyone happy and make people get along with each other.

Tell us something no one knows about you:

I was the goalkeeper for the Queensland ladies Ice Hockey team!

Mavis

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I play Mahjong

What is your favourite part of the school?

School House and the orchard.

Where have you lived?

Hong Kong and England

If you had a superpower what would it be?

I would love mind control!

Tell us something no one knows about you:

I am a great cook.

Ruperto

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to rest and relax!

What is your favourite part of the school?

The balcony of the Roulston

Where have you lived?

I have lived in the Philippines and Manilla

If you had a superpower what would it be?

To rid the world of litter.

Tell us something no one knows about you:

I trade Bitcoin!

Diary from High Ashurst by Rafe B

Monday 14th October

Today I was feeling excited for the residential that faced me. I was feeling ill the day before but not I felt fit as a fiddle. I got in the car shaking with excitement and fear because I was afraid of the rainy day.

When we got to the school I waved my dad goodbye and went to the chapel with the rest of the class.

When we got on the coach I sat next to Angus and we played Top Trumps. Angus won the first round and I went the second. When we got to the countryside, we were put on a mini bus to get to the campsite. Two hours later we set a challenge course which was about pulling ropes. After that we found out which rooms we were in (I was in Room 2). Then we had a 2 hour night walk. Finally we went into our dorms and went to bed.

Tuesday 15th October 2024

When I woke up this morning, I asked Wilfie what the time was and he said 6:10. We waited 50 mins chatting about what we were going to do today. Our first activity was den building I made a hiding hole Rupert made the shelter and Finn and Bean made a golf course. Then it was lunch I had a jam in a bagel but Mattew called them Baaaargets!

After that we did climbing and abseiling. It was great but abseiling was cooler.

Next we went back to our dorms to have a shower and wash our air then we got into our pyjamas, got pop corn and watched a movie. The movie we chose was Paddington 2. I found it very funny and mysterious.

Wednesday 16th October

Today I felt a little bit disappointed because I was going home although I was excited to see my parents. Before we were we enjoyed one final activity: orienteering which was very exciting. My team and I found clues 1 to 12 but we couldn’t find number 13! Then we checked the map for the 6th time and we saw we were standing directly opposite number 13! We finally filled in our final answer and went back to tell the instructor.

When we got back to the room, we packed up our suitcases and got on the bus to go home.

Farewell to Mr and Mrs Brooks

We interviewed our outgoing Headmaster and his wife to get an overview of his time as our fantastic Head.

Q1: What is your favourite memory of CPS?

NB: There are so many but when the whole cast of a play comes out at the end to do an encore and to be celebrated.

TB: I love going to visit the children on residential trips, especially Form 1 and Form 6.

Q2: Which event in the school calendar will you miss the most?

TB: Cross country - everyone hates it but I love it!

NB: I love Sports' Day and House singing.

Q3: When you wake up for the first time in Swanage, what do you think you will miss first?

NB: The chirpy voices around the school.

TB: I will miss the teachers!

Q4: If you had another year, what would you have liked to have changed or achieved that you didn't quite get around to?

NB: To make sure that the Form 6 and the first year of the Senior School are more connected and make the transition smoother.

Q5: Prep schools often foster a strong sense of tradition - how did you manage that balance between honouring tradition and innovating for the future?

NB: A sense of history allows you to belong but you must stay relevant. this can be done through activities in the school from the traditional chapel, Sports Days, the house system and competitions. Innovation mainly comes from the skills of the teachers and the demands of society.

Q6: What was the biggest challenge you faced as Head of the school and how did you navigate them?

Both: The pandemic!

NB: We coped with it all by pulling together as a team. And by using those yellow footprints!

Q7: What are your plans for the future?

TB: We want to go travelling. Our top three places we ant to visit are Canada, Costa Rica and Australia and Mr Brookes is going to be on the life boat crew in Swanage.

NB: We want to catch up with family and friends too and go hiking and walking as well, maybe in the French Alpes during the summer.

Q8:What do you think CPS does better than any other school?

NB: Teamwork at every level. From the staff to the children there is a really strong sense of team from pupils, staff, domestic staff - everyone. It's great.

Q9: What advice would you give to Mr Newman as he steps into the role of Head at this school?

NB: Take the time to go and watch and support the pupils. Keep reminding yourself who it is all for and what it is all about.

Q10: What is the story behind the monkeys and parrots?

NB: The original phrase 'Collect your monkeys and parrots' comes from a book about a British officer posted in India when it belonged to the British Empire. Soldiers who were posted there for a few years at a time would bring back exotic souvenirs on their return to England. As they stood on the dockside waiting to be released, the last order that was given by their commanding officer was: 'Pick up your monkeys and parrots and fall in, facing the ship.' I had a Colour Sargent with a heavy Scottish accent when I was in training who used to say this to us often. Other jems he came out with were to tell us to 'take off your party hats' when we were being silly and when we were being lazy he would cry: 'Where do you think you are? Your grandfather's yacht?'

Q11:How would you like the school community to remember you?

Both: That we left the wood pile a little higher than we found it.

Q12: How do you think the school would describe you in 3 words?

TB: I will do 3 words for you. Humble, amusing , compassionate.

NB: I think the school would describe Mrs Brooks as caring, determined and energetic.

Lucky Q13: What message would you like to leave with the students, staff and families as you prepare to move on?

TB: Surround yourself with people who make you feel good and politely turn away from those that do not.

NB: Time is precious. Make the most of every day. Enjoy and embrace the differences in other people.

Mr and Mrs Brooks - thank you for all you have done. There will be many tributes to you both but here is a song that The Buzz team created and sang for you. Listen by clicking on the video.

Here's a Christmas cracker of a word search. Can you find them all?

If this leaves you wanting more...

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