The Week Ahead
Saturday 20th March until Friday 25th March
The Master's Voice
We are just five days from the end of a remarkably successful Lent Term – steady as she goes. Achievements have been ferociously high across the board, with all pupils contributing in their eight aptitudes, and almost all students are already on high effort grades or are showing improvement by the end of term. Highlights include the U15s reaching the final of the Daily Mail at Twickenham, some breathtaking concerts, our lacrosse girls reaching the finals of the national competition, several compelling plays including The History Boys and Antigone, and our squash boys being placed third in the national squash finals, behind two specialist squash academy schools. It is all building up to a very high energy Speech Day on Saturday 29th May, to which I hope you are all going to come. One person who has been very keen to get an invitation, but didn’t quite make the cut, is the person featured with two of our victorious squash players in the photograph below. He was also very keen to be included in our squash team as he senses that he might have time on his hands, and hence left his desk in London to watch the matches: but we have had to rule him out on the grounds of age and, frankly, ability.
General Events
You may be interested to know that the Master is presenting a one hour programme on BBC Two on Monday evening, called “Trust in Politics”, and the programme and his ideas are the subject of a profile in the Telegraph this morning,
Whilst the Week Ahead is very definitely a preview of the future rather than a review of the past, the photo opportunity that the squash team got this week was too good to pass up. Wellington came 3rd in the Nationals Schools Squash Tournament in Manchester and Gordon Brown made a guest appearance on the day and got to meet a few of the Wellington team as can be seen in the photo!
The annual girls' sports dinner is due to take place this year on Saturday 20th March. All parents are warmly invited to join the celebrations in congratulating all girls who have represented Wellington College in the sporting arena this year at the black tie dinner. Please download and return the attached form if you would like to join us for this fun evening.
The Third Form have a closed Saturday night and Sunday morning with a social on Saturday 20th March. On Sunday 21st March they have a special service of Matins at 10.00 am. All 3rd form parents are very welcome to attend this. The preacher is Peter Whalley from Eagle House. There will be coffee served in the V&A afterwards for everyone.
WCA Reps' Event - thanks to those who have already replied but if you haven't we'll still let you in! Drinks this Sunday 21st March in theMonro Pavilion between 6:15 pm and 7:30 pm (before the Choral Concert)
The Choral Society and Choral Concert will be on Sunday 21st March at 7:30 pm in the Newsome Sports' Hall. Parents and friends are warmly invited to hear the 'Wellington Chorus' sing Karl Jenkins' Requiem and Anton Crayton (Upper 6th Raglan) will be performing Shostakovich Cello No.1. Please contact the Music Department if you would like more details.
83 days ago Naomi Pendle (CR 2005-09) left the comforts of Wellington to take on a new challenge, South Sudan. Naomi will spend her Vodafone World of Difference year in South Sudan working at the Marol Academy where she will take up the position of teacher Trainer and Training Facilitator. Her goal will be to significantly raise the level of literacy in the area. Naomi will also seek to raise awareness of the project through organising placements for UK teachers to come over and share their expertise and experience in both teaching and training.To do this she requires the generosity of donators. As a result Geoff Hopkinson and Charlie Byrd will be attempting to static cycle for 24 hours on exercise bikes (each!!). They write "This task will no doubt be gruelling and uncomfortable, but worth every minute knowing the aid it could generate. Therefore, once again we ask for you to dig deep in to your pockets and help not only change the life of one of our friends but also the lives of the people she cares about so much. Donations can be made in two ways, either donate via http://www.justgiving.com/MarolAcademy online or pledge a donation by emailing byrdch@wellingtoncollege.org.uk"
On Monday 22nd March at 6:00 pm in the Concert Room are the Montgomery Competition heats. this is Wellingotn's premier musical competition, the standard of which is often staggering.
Originally calendared for Wednesday 24th March: was an open rehearsal of the Othello production going to tour the Far East over Easter. In the end, it is being run at Wellington for the first week of the Summer Term - a date to put in your diaries.
The final Master's Lecture of the term is on Thursday 25th March at 8:15 pm in the Theatre and is the Rt Hon Michael Howard, QC, MP talking to "What is at stake in the general election". He was elected Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe in 1983. Following the 1992 election, Michael Howard was appointed Secretary of State for the Environment. In this position he played a major role in securing the participation of the USA at the Earth Summit in Rio which he attended on behalf of the Government. In May 1993 he became Home Secretary, a position he held for four years. During his term of office crime fell by an unprecedented 18%. When he left office, nearly a million fewer crimes a year were being committed than when he became Home Secretary four years previously. Following the 1997 Election Michael Howard was appointed Shadow Foreign Secretary until his retirement from the Front Bench in June 1999. In September 2001, under the Leadership of Iain Duncan Smith, he was invited to return to the front bench as Shadow Chancellor where he remained in post until November 2003. Michael was then elected as Leader of the Conservative Party, a position he held for over two years. He led the Party at the 2005 General Election, the first election in 22 years in which the Party gained a significant number of seats. In that election the Conservative won more votes than Labour in England. Indeed if just 14,500 votes in the 34 seats which give Labour its majority had changed their vote, Labour would have been deprived of its majority. The day after the election Michael announced his decision to stand down as Leader of the Party, but called for a debate on the future direction of the Party before the commencement of any leadership election. He submitted his resignation in November, and, following the election of David Cameron in December 2005, handed over the leadership to him. Michael continues to represent Folkestone and Hythe at Westminster. If you wish to attend please contact Tarla Woolhouse.
Term ends on Friday 26th March and you sons and daughters should be able to go home from 3:00 pm. The Summer Term starts at 7:45 pm on Sunday 18th April for the boarders and 8:15 am on Monday 19th April for day pupils.
The School Calendar for the next term has gone to the printers. It should be back in time for the end of term letters. If you want to find out any dates now, an electronic copy can be found here.
Over the next few weeks and months, the Wellesley are collecting school vouchers in order to help purchase items for Marol Academy in South Sudan. So, if you’re at the supermarket, pick up as many school vouchers as you can and send them in to the Wellesley or leave them at Porters Lodge and help a great cause! Why don’t you get your family involved too!
We are pleased to be able to offer you the opportunity to join Wellington College Golf Club. Until now, all play on the golf course has been for pupil and staff golf members, and their introduced guests. Recently, it has become possible to extend membership to selected members of the College Community, which we have wanted to do for many years. There will only be two categories of membership other than current pupils and staff: Current parents and Old Wellingtonians (initially offered to members of OWGS) More details can be found here.Following the success of the Marrakesh Trip, the WCA are now taking bookings for the Amsterdam Trip from 14th May until 16th May. For more details and to reserve places please contact Denise Cook.
The Wellington College Parent Portal is up and running and we have started the process of creating accounts for current parents. This means that parents will be able to log on to our website from anywhere in the world and view their child’s reports, internal and external exam timetables, results and other relevant information. Besides being more convenient for parents it will, in the long term, allow us to cut down on the amount of printing we do - all part of our sustainability drive. Our intention is that parents of pupils in the Upper and Lower Sixth will receive a letter within the next week explaining how to access the Portal. Parents of other year groups will receive their letter within the next three weeks. Follow the instructions and you should have access straight away. The few parents who have trialled this did find the process simple and clear and it did provide easy access to the module results for the Upper Sixth last week. There is some information about the Portal here.
The Bursar reminds parents that the College requires one term's notice of a pupil leaving other than at the end of their Upper Sixth Year. Notice for any pupil leaving at the end of the Summer Term should be sent in writing to the Bursar on or by the first day of the Summer Term, Sunday 18th April. This is to ensure that you do not become liable for paying the following term's fees in lieu of notice. If you are unsure whether or not your daughter or son may be leaving, you may consider forwarding provisional notice that he/she may be leaving and will confirm the position later in the term. Obviously, it will help us to have such decisions as early as possible so that we can ensure that places are filled.
Sport.
On Saturday 20th March, the cross-country team compete in the English Schools' Championships, the hockey and football players compete with Radley, the netball with Epsom and Pangbourne (The netball fixtures with Epsom have changed significantly from the calendar. At Wellington for a 2:00 pm start:1st VII, 2VII, 3rd VII, 4thVII, U16A and B. At Epsom for a 2:00 pm start: U14 A, B & C, U15A, B & C and for a 3:00 pm start:U15D, U14D and E.) To round of the Saturday sport, the basketball players welcome the OWs.
On Sunday 21st March the Yearlings VII will travel to the Sherborne tournament, and in a calendar addition the Colts VII will be playing in the rearranged St Edward’s 7s. It is also the day when the rackets players start in the Public Schools Championships at Queen's Club.
On Tuesday 23rd March and Wednesday 24th March the Wellington College 1st VII will defend their National Schools 7s Festival title at Rosslyn Park. The college are aiming for a record extending 10th title! They are joined in the tournament on Wednesday 24th March by our Colts VII. Details of the event; including timings and pitch locations can be found on www.ns7s.co.uk
On Wednesday 24th March, the golf team take on Millfield in the last external sporting fixture of the term.
On Wednesday 31st March the U15s will be playing rugby against Wilmslow School in the Daily Mail Cup Final at Twickenham. The Wellington match is the 2nd of the day and will kick off at 12.30 pm. We would obviously welcome the support of everyone associated with Wellington. Current pupils have been given tickets through their houses at school, however if you would like to attend the final then additional tickets can be purchased on the day for £7 adults, £4 juniors. Twickenham stadium have informed us that parking will be available on a first come first served based.
Further Ahead
The College is hosting the prestigious RFU International U16s Rugby Festival for the first time this Easter between the 3rd and 9th of April. If you are staying near Wellington during the Easter break and wish to see some talented U16s playing for their country then you may be interested in the match schedules and times here. The matches will be played on Bigside 1, Bigside 8 and Turf 1 with training pitches on Bigside 2 and Farm Field. All supporters welcome to what promises to be a great festival.
On Sunday 18th April at 5:45 pm there is an Orchestra rehearsal in the Old Gym– parents and pupils, please be aware that this is before term starts. Supper will be available for students, but pupils must be in the Old Gym by 5:40 pm for a prompt 5:45 pm
Other musical events to look forward to next term include:
Friday 7th May, 8:00 pm – Old Gym, Summer Gala Concert
Friday 14th May, 7:45 pm – Old Gym, Montgomery Competition
Friday 28th May, 7:30pm – Combermere Quad, Eve of Speech Day Jazz
As usual, any enquiries through the Music Office please.
Some of our parents are involved with a couple of charities that have significantly helped Wellington families in the past and on Saturday 8th May they are involved with the Women's Windsor Twilight Walk. They write "Get your trainers on, join our Windsor Twilight Walk and help raise funds for Sebastian’s Action Trust and The Children’s Trust - charities which support children with life-limiting illnesses or multiple disabilities. Thousand of women don’t have the luxury of a good night’s sleep because their child’s condition means they often need 24-hour care. This is an opportunity for you to give up one evening and have some fun with your girlfriends to help us make life a little easier for them and their families! Starting and finishing at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Pococks Lane, Eton SL4 6HN. The warm up begins at 5.00pm and the walkers leave Eton at 6.00 pm.. Enjoy the amazing architecture of Eton College and Windsor, past the Castle and down the Long Walk. Watch the sun go down as you walk through the beautiful Windsor Great Park, back through the town, along the Thames, through Eton and arrive back at the Athletics ground. It costs just £10 for the 7 mile walk and £20 for the 13 mile walk to register (£15 for groups of 4 or more registering together). (There is a small processing charge of £1.65). Your registration includes a fabulous complimentary event T-shirt and a very exciting finishers goody bag. There is no minimum sponsorship but you will be loved forever if you could raise £100! Please register now at www.sebastiansactiontrust.org or https://regonline.activeglobal.com/windsor_twilight_walk". Enjoy!
This Summer for the first time we are running the whole of the inter-house athletics competition on a Sunday, Sunday 9th May. The weekend will be a closed one but parents are warmly invited to attend the event. more details can be seen on the poster to the right - if you can't read it click on the image and it should open larger and in a separate window.
A few places are still available on the WCA Amsterdam trip with Dr Seldon between 14th May to 16th May, but the deadline for applications is Friday 26th March. Please contact Denise Cook for details of what promises to be a fabulous weekend.
Although there was some interest in catered picnics for Speech Day through the WCA, the general feeling was that people preferred to cater for themselves and pay a visit to the WCA cream tea tent in the afternoon!
A diary date for all Upper VI pupils and parents is the Leavers’ Service, Graduation Ceremony and Ball on Friday 2nd July. This event runs from 1:30 pm onwards with two graduation ceremonies and breaks for tea, followed by a champagne reception in houses and dinner and ball in the marquee. For those parents who will only be able to attend the Graduation Ceremony in Chapel (i.e. between 3:00 pm to 6:15 pm), the occasion will be free of charge, and there is no need to apply for tickets. For those pupils and parents attending the whole event, the charge will be £80 per person for the dinner and ball to include half a bottle of wine per person. Please note, leavers will only be able to apply for dinner and ball tickets if their parents are attending or with a nominated guardian from the pupil’s house. Details and booking forms will be sent out at the beginning of next term. If you have any queries please contact Tarla Woolhouse, Event Organiser on 01344 444085.
Although it might seem a long way off, Friday 24th September sees a "Wellington at Wentworth" Golf Day. A rare chance to take your own 4 ball team onto the exclusive Edinburgh course at Wentworth, followed by gala dinner with guest speaker. Ideal for corporate entertainment or just a world class day out for serious golfers. Click here for details.
Letters Home
To try to cut down on the amount of paper we send out and to try and not bombard parents with large numbers of posting, e-mails and information generally, we try to use the Week Ahead to include letters we would normally send out - either electronically or by post. If there are parents who would still rather receive everything on paper, please e-mail the College Secretary. We still anticipate sending out paper copies of reports, bills and the Master's letters. To open some of these letters you will need to log on to the intranet as the page they are saved on is only viewable to those in the Wellington community. Do contact me if you need the password.. All letters home of this sort are stored here. If for any reason you want to see a back copy of the Week Ahead they are all available on the internet here.
Contact us
This newsletter and past editions are on the Wellington College website as is a version of the school calendar with details of all activities going on at Wellington for the rest of this term.
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