Charity

The School supports numerous charities throughout the year. These include CAFOD, Great Ormond St. Hospital for Sick Children, Little Haven’s Hospice, The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, SNAP, Macmillan and the local Women’s Refuge.

Community Embrace

St Andrew's house chose to support a local food bank ‘Community Embrace’ as their chosen charity for Enterprise Week.

They had the opportunity to visit the project in Harlow and spent a morning of their Easter holiday volunteering and learning about the charity. The founder of the charity, Herty Ama Twumwaa,  explained to the children the process from beginning to end of getting food to those most in need, whilst at the same time avoiding food wastage. They also learned about the additional challenges that Covid -19 has posed, many more drivers have been required to deliver food boxes to families during these challenging times.

The children watched the surplus food deliveries arriving, in huge sacks. Whilst we were present deliveries arrived from M&S, Co-op and Waitrose. They then learned how the food is sorted, how the food boxes are made up and how these are dispatched to the many families and elderly individuals that find themselves in very difficult circumstances and often rely on these donations. They also learnt that any food not fit for human consumption (for example, with a too long expiry date) was recycled at a local community farm and would be eaten by pigs.

It was shocking to see and hear just how much good food, that would otherwise be thrown away, can be used and enjoyed by those that need it.

The children then helped to serve a free lunch-made by volunteers from these food donations- to around 50 local children attending a free holiday sports and activity camp.

Inspired by this visit the children worked really hard to fundraise during Enterprise Week and managed to raise a staggering £1060 in a week to support the work of the charity!

Enterprise Week 2021

The top class’s ‘I’m an Upper Two get me out of here!’ themed Enterprise Week has been a huge success. During their very busy fundraising week, each House has devised and carried out their own (often gruesome) challenge and also taken part in Mrs Macdonald’s daily House Point Hoard Challenge. Many of the classes were able to join ‘Ant’ and ‘Dec’s’  morning Zoom meetings to vote for the House member they wanted to take part in that day’s challenge. St George’s House were triumphant, winning 3 of the 5 events and the whole class had great fun competing against each other in some very weird and wonderful ways!

Preparations began a few weeks ago when the children had to choose the charity they wanted to support and then House Captains put together a presentation to promote their charity and activity to the rest of the school. Special mention must go to the members of St Andrew’s House, who spent a morning volunteering and finding about the work of their charity at a food bank in Harlow.

The fantastic efforts of the Upper Two children and their parents have produced a record breaking result of £2,904.84.  We are very proud of the Upper Two children for this amazing achievement and for working together as a team so successfully. Thank you very much to all of the families that have contributed so generously to the children’s Just Giving pages and supported the children’s initiatives.

The charities that will benefit are: Community Embrace, Young Minds, WWF and Fare Share.  The challenges included: Sickly Smoothies, Hand and Feet, Blindfold Challenge and Bug Jelly!

Please click to see Presentation for more details.

Our very own 'Ant and Dec' and the class of Upper Two!



Visit the Gallery to see how much fun they all had!

Red Nose Day 2021

Red Nose Day was on Friday the 19^th March and we had a superhero day!  The school was filled with mini superheroes with all children dressed as their favourite superhero or the superhero they would like to be!! Children took part in many super hero activities in class and we asked children to give a voluntary donation of £2.  The school raised £423 for this very worthy charity.

Poppy Appeal 2020

As a school we have continued to support the Royal British Legion finding a Covid secure way of selling various poppy related items.  Our Charity Prefects  have been selling poppies, rulers, bracelets and wrist bands at breaktimes.  Thank you for continuing to help us to support all of our military heroes.

We will know in due course how much we have raised for the Royal British Legion.

Children in Need 2020

On Friday 13th November we held our annual Children in Need day at school with children arriving in Pudsey/ spotty sporty wear. It was wonderful to see so many staff members dressing up too! Children watched an assembly in class and did many Children in Need activities in class.  They also brought into school donations for this very worthy cause.

Shoe Box Appeal 2020

The Shoe Box Appeal is organised by Samaritan's Purse, an international relief and development organisation that has been providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970.  In these very difficult times charities need our support more than ever and with this thought in mind the parents and children of the Ursuline Prep School filled over 140 boxes to be distributed to those around the world for whom this may be their only Christmas treat.  Thank you for your support.

Children in Need 2019

On Friday, 15^th November, we supported the BBC annual Children in Need Day which helps disadvantaged children enjoy safer, happier and more secure lives.   The theme for this year was 'Spotacular’, the children all look very colourful!  Over £400 was raised for this very worthy cause.

SNAP Cake Sale 2019

SNAP is one of our local charities in Brentwood for children and parents who have special needs or disabilities. They provide counselling, therapy, education and support for all that need help.

They have a charity cake sale to raise funds for their charity and any cakes that are left over are brought into our school for our children and parents to buy and enjoy. The children were delighted and we were very happy to help.  The school raised £136.94 for our friends at SNAP!

Shoe Box Appeal 2019

The mission of Samaritan’s Purse is to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel that is taught through the bible story of the “Good Samaritan.”

Samaritan’s Purse is an international relief and development organisation that works through local churches to proclaim and demonstrate the love of God amongst communities in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are part of the global Samaritan’s Purse family that has been providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970.

Alongside sending shoeboxes overseas, they respond to issues facing people in the places where we work: issues like water and sanitation and sustainable livelihoods along with disasters and emergencies.

This November children collected 154 boxes to send out to children all over the world. Thank you to all children, parents and staff who took the time to fill a box! Every box will bring a great joy and happiness to a child somewhere overseas who might not have received a present or gift before.

Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2019

As a school we have continued to support the Royal British Legion with our Charity Prefects selling poppies, rulers, bracelets and wrist bands at break time.  We have been delighted with the response from all the children and their parents.

20p Coin Trail 2019

Children throughout the school collected 20 pence pieces for our annual coin trail. We had a visitor from CAFOD who reminded us that it is our right to have clean water, but many children in the world do not have this privilege. She highlighted one boy from Uganda called Fabiano who had to walk one mile to a water pump each day. It often became a painful journey, but thanks to fundraising by CAFOD they now have a solar powered water tower that helps Fabiano to have more time to go to school, grow crops and have clean water. He said that “It means a lot. It means life.”

An article appeared in the local press about this event. Click on the link to read, Recorder article

 


One child in Transition that took this message to heart, saved 20p coins since last year. William counted out all of the 20ps he has been saving since last year’s coin trail. He has been saving them in a stand-alone money box for this cause as his own idea. He has raised a staggering £15 to bring into school.

Visit the Gallery to more photographs from this event.

The Bake Off 2019

The Hall was full of sweet smelling delights as the school held their annual Ursuline Bake Off in aid of Macmillian Cancer Support. Children were put into 4 categories with a task set for each.

Pre Prep: 3 decorated digestive biscuits
Infants: 5 jam tarts
Lower Juniors: 5 Butterfly cakes
Upper Juniors: Show Stopper with a theme of Europe.

We invited a panel of judges that tested every bake. They were delighted with the imagination and skill of our young bakers!We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of all children and families that took part and all enjoyed the buying of the cakes at the end of the day which resulted in a sugar high for all!  Thanks goes to Mrs Cutbill for assistance with the judging panel, Mrs Long who run the UPS cake café at the end of the day, Mrs Coker for help with the decorations, Mrs Hardy for collating the entries, Mrs Parker-Litjens for organising the event and of course our star bakers- the children!

We raised £1006.21! Thank you everyone!  Visit the Gallery to see some of the creations.

Uganda 2019

Our Chair of Governor's, Mrs Deery, visited the school during assembly to show all the children a presentation about her trip to Uganda.  She told the children what a difference all the gifts that had been donated by them made to the orphans that she met.  She also thanked all the staff and children for their continued support.

RNLI 2019

Children and parents from Transition made a variety of gifts to sell to the rest of the school for Fathers Day. For several weeks, they worked hard making signs, key rings, coasters and ‘make your own’ kits to sell to the rest of the school. Each house sold to different classes to raise money for the RNLI following their trip to the Lifeboat Station in September. They raised almost £300 for this very worthy cause.

St. Issac's House Uganda May 2019

Mrs F. Deery our Chair of Governors is currently in Uganda supporting this charity.  The children were delighted with all the gifts of stationery, pens and pencils that were donated by members of our school community.  Please see photographs below.

NSPCC Buddy's Big Workout

A trained NSPCC member of staff delivered an assembly and workshop with the help of Speak out Stay safe mascot, Buddy the speech bubble. Pupils were taught in a lively, memorable and child-friendly way.  Speak out Stay safe is a session which aims to equip our children with the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe from abuse and neglect. Children were taught to speak out if they are worried, either to a trusted adult or Childline. Hopefully our children feel empowered - knowing how they can speak out and stay safe.

Following the NSPCC assemblies and workshops, the children took part in Buddy’s Big Workout to raise money and to support the charity NSPCC. The events took place and were recorded in the children’s PE lessons. For this event, children in Intermediate and Transition tested their throwing skills as they aimed their beanbags into a hoop. The children had one minute to score as many beanbags in the hoop as possible. In the Junior classes, the children tested their tennis skills. They had one minute to complete successful, uninterrupted keep-ups with their tennis ball on their racket.

The children enjoyed the challenge and supported a fantastic cause in doing so!

20p Coil Trail 2018

The collection this year was outstanding. Thank you for your generosity. The event raised over £912 which is to be donated to CAFOD to help educate families in Third World countries to grow and produce a food source and to provide water supply to their homes. Well done to St. Patrick’s House who were the group that made the longest line, closely followed by  St. Andrew’s,  St. David’s, and St. George’s.

The Great Ursuline Bake Off 2018

Ready, Set, BAKE for Macmillan!

On Friday 28^th September, the children at Ursuline Preparatory School swapped pencils for whisks in a bid to compete in the Great Ursuline Bake Off.

Miss Amelia Allen, class teacher and keen baker, hosted a bake off contest open to children from Pre-Reception (Nursery) to Year 6 (Aged 10-11). Depending on their age group – the children were given the task of baking Signature Cupcakes, Technical Biscuits or Showstopper Sponges (with a sport theme decoration or a hidden surprise inside!) Nearly 100 children entered the competition and donated.

The judges had an impossible decision to decide the winners from each category. The children produced phenomenal bakes with an array of delicious flavours, tantalising textures and daring designs – and there was not a soggy bottom in sight!

Pupils, staff, friends and families of the school all supported the day, which culminated in a coffee morning and bake sale. In total, the school raised an incredible £1,146.20.

Visit the Gallery to see more photographs from this event.

GTCA 2018

Due to the mini 'Beast from the East' the fun run had to be cancelled this year. But in order to still support the charity that children, staff and parents were running for many participants competed instead in the South Weald Park run in order to still raise money for the GTCA charity.

Children in Need 2017

The Ursuline theme for BBC Children in Need 2017 was Spotacular!  On Thursday 16^th November the Ursuline turned into an a rainbow of spots everywhere as children arrived in school dressed in home clothes with as many spots as they could find.  Thank you to all families for their generosity and effort with the children’s costumes. Everyone looked very colourful!  The children all brought in donations for this worthy cause.

Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 2017

Parents and children were very generous filling their shoe-boxes this year; filling 157 boxes to be sent to children all over the world. The staff at Samaritans Purse were very grateful and delighted with our efforts! The destination of our shoe-boxes is unknown at the moment but they may go to Africa, Eastern Europe or even Iraq.

Coin Trail 2017

On the 30th October, following an assembly with representatives from CAFOD, the school held the annual 20p coin trail. The children went into the playground  to lay all the  20p coins they had collected in their house lines. It was close competition between the houses, but in the end the results were:

4th St. Andrew
3rd St. David
2nd St. George
1st St. Patrick

Thank you for all your generosity which makes a BIG difference to children overseas in developing countries.

Great Ursuline Bake Off!

Ready, Set, BAKE for Macmillan!

On Thursday 28^th September, the children swapped pencils for whisks in a bid to compete in the Great Ursuline Bake Off.

Miss Amelia Allen, class teacher and keen baker, hosted a bake off contest open to children from Year 1 to Year 6. The children could select from the judges challenges – a signature biscuit bake, technical jam tarts or a spectacular showstopper sponge – and brought their baked goods into school for judging.

The judges had an impossible decision to decide the winners from each category. The children produced phenomenal bakes with an array of delicious flavours, tantalising textures and daring designs – and there was not a soggy bottom in sight!

Pupils, staff, friends and families of the school all supported the day, which concluded in a bake sale of all the children’s sweet treats. In total, the school raised an incredible £800.

It was a fantastic way to encourage young bakers and raise awareness of this fantastic cause.

Visit the Gallery to see some of the wonderful creations.

St. Issac's House Uganda 2017

Thank you to all the parents and children who donated pencils, pens and stationery for Mrs Deery's trip to Uganda. She was delighted when she collected a very heavy suitcase!  Please follow her progress via the blog link below:

http://www.travelpod.com/members/weightmans

NSPCC

We are pleased to inform you that the final total raised following all the different class fund raising event was £3007.30; the representative from the NSPCC was extremely grateful on behalf on the charity.

Carol Singing at Lakeside 2016

Lower Two travelled to Lakeside Shopping Centre on Thursday 8^th December to sing carols in order to raise funds for SNAP, a local charity which the Ursuline supports.

Christmas song and carol after carol were soon rolling out: each one as tuneful and melodious as the last, with some carols enhanced by synchronised choreography. A loyal band of parents and friends had come along to provide some much needed audience response. After just over an hour of constant singing, Lower Two headed back to school where they counted the funds in their collection box, amounting to £94.

Coin Trail 2016

The children thoroughly enjoyed placing all the 20 pence coins that they had collected in their respective house lines. This event raised the significant sum of £816 which will be donated to CAFOD.  The charity helps to educate families and communities throughout the world.  St. Patrick's made the longest line, the team captains are pictured below with the winning trophy.

Enterprise Week Charity Assembly

Enterprise week continues to be a very successful venture and this year Upper 2 raised a phenomenal £1,214.47. We were very proud of the houses’ successes: St George’s £397.32 for Wipe Away Those Tears, St Patrick’s £230.86 for WATOTO (Child Care Ministries in Uganda), St David’s £131.42 for Barnardo’s and St Andrew’s £227.43 for SNAP and £227.43 for Caudwell Kids. On Friday 18^th March representatives from four of the charities came into school to be presented with their cheques. It was lovely to meet the charity workers and also to find out more about what would happen with the money that was raised.

Easter Raffle 2016

For the last month raffle tickets have been selling for all the wonderful gifts that have been donated for this very worthy fund raising cause. The prizes were given to all the delighted ticket winners at the end of term assembly.

Brentwood Fun Run 2016

The School would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents and children who ran for GTCA on Sunday 2oth March 2016 at the Brentwood Fun Run.  The money that was raised will go to very worthy causes and help so many people.  The School was very proud of how many children (and parents!) completed the race.

Sport Relief 2016

As well as the whole school dressing in their favourite sports clothing, Intermediate participated in a sponsored bounce. The children have been learning how to bounce a ball in PE, so we put them to the test in this Sponsored Skill Fundraiser. The children were given two minutes to bounce the ball as many times as they could. Everyone participated and they were fantastic. As a class they raised a total of over £200 through their sponsorships. A fantastic achievement, for a fantastic cause.  The total raised so far is over £550.