Saturday 7th February until Friday 27th February

This week the news has been the snow. Cameras started appearing everywhere and thanks to those who sent me their images. Some of them are reproduced below.

The Master's Voice

The report of The Children's Society on childhood chimed very well with all we have been doing at Wellington to teach well-being and to focus on the importance of good human relationships.  The reports and the evidence are growing all the time, and point to one clear conclusion - we need to do more to enhance well-being and happiness amongst our young.    The biggest cause of happiness is loving relationships.  The biggest cause of unhappiness is poor relationships.  What is the difference between happiness and pleasure?  Happiness endures: pleasure, which comes from material things, is transitory.  The single most certain way to become happy is to do good to others, and to end self-absorption.  All the studies clearly show these things to be true. 

Our preacher for the Lent Addresses this week reminded us also that loving others is the very heart of the Christian message, a message that has remained unchanged for over 2000 years.

General Events

Saturday 7th February is a closed Saturday for theThird From as they are all going up to the West End  to see a show.

There is a full school Eucharist on Sunday 8th February at which the preacher is the Reverend Rodney Dreyer, the vicar of St. Laurence, Hawkhurst. Parents of boys in the Beresford are invited.

Sunday 8th February sees the official opening of the Upper Sixth Art Exhibiton in the V & A. Images of some of the paintings can be seen below. All parents are welcome to thi private view but are asked to e-mail to Bethan Thomas if they wish to come.

On Monday 9th February in Great School  we welcome Charles Crawford CMG to give a lecture entitled "Is Russia too big or too small?". Russia has had nearly eighteen years of its transition away from Soviet rule. How is it doing? Why does it matter? Is Russia doomed to be on the edge of Europe? Or is Europe doomed to be on the edge of Russia? From 1991-96 Charles Crawford served in the FCO and Moscow at the heart of the British policy response to the collapse of the Soviet Union. He is a leading international expert on the policy, practice and psychology of the 'transition' away from Communism in Europe. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and a pay bar will be available with the lecture starting at 8:00 p.m.  Please contact Tarla Woolhouse if you wish to attend.

On Thursday 12th February Sarah de Carvalho will be speaking in Chapel, and then in Great School at 9:05 p.m. She is the inspirational author of "The Street Children of Brazil" and founder of Happy Child. She will be speaking about how God's love led her to reach out to Street Children in Brazil, and show a short video about the work. Happy Child is one of the leading and most experienced charities helping street children in Brazil. During its time, Happy Child's effective 12 Step Programme has helped over 7,000 street children.

Friday 13th February is not going to be unlucky for tuba aficionados as, at 7:30 p.m. in Great School, there is an opportunity to see a world-class tuba player from Norway - Oystein Baadsvik. "Baadsvik shows that anything a violin can do, a tuba can do too" Have a look at some clips on You-tube and you will see what a fine player he is, and what a great entertainer.  The concert is free.

The half term starts on Saturday 14th February. As it transpires there are no sporting fixtures on the day and so pupils will be free to leave after lessons - i.e. from 12:05 p.m. We expect to see the boarders back by 9:15 p.m. on Sunday 22nd February and the day-pupils for 8:15 a.m. on Monday 23rd February.

The Jesus Christ Superstar cast will be required for rehearsal on the Sunday 22nd February.  The Sunday is in Half Term, just before the whole school returns.  The rehearsal will run from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.  It would be helpful if students could eat lunch prior to the start time of 2:00 p.m. and dinner will be arranged for students in the evening.  Many thanks to parents of the cast for their ongoing support.  Please contact Amelia Morse in case of any problems.

The Third Form Parents' Conference is to be held on Thursday 26th February, details of this were outlined in the end of term mailing.  The evening will commence at 5:30 p.m. when Dr Seldon and Sam Gutteridge, Head of Third Form, will be speaking in the Chapel. Appointments formally start at 6:00 p.m., however some pupils may also be able to book appointments between 4:30 p.m. and  5:30 p.m. with those teachers who have more than one set.  A link to the booklet entitled "Joining the Middle School" is attached here.  It contains useful information about GCSE courses and the option columns.  Copies of the booklet will also be available at the Parents' Conference. Thank you for the very many replies received to date.  Responses are still being taken by Mrs Sally Yarnton  and parents who wish to attend are invited to reply to her by Monday 23rd February.

Also on Thursday 26th February, the College are holding an 'Oxbridge Applications Information Evening' for parents of potential Oxbridge applicants in the 4th, 5th and L6th years. Admission to these Universities has never been more competitive and lots of myths abound. The Master will speak on 'The Academic Mind', Dr. Louise Fawcett (Senior Tutor at St. Catherine's College, Oxford and formerly Tutor for Admissions) will speak about the application process for Oxford and Cambridge, and Simon Allcock (Master in charge of Oxbridge) will speak about what potential applicants need to be doing. There will then be time for questions. The evening will begin with a buffet supper in Old Hall at 7:00 p.m., and the main session will be in Great School at 8:00 p.m., and finished by 9:30 p.m. Please do contact Simon Allcock for further information. For catering purposes, we need an RSVP (by Friday 20th February) to Mrs. Sally Yarnton stating number of parents, name of son/daughter and whether you are coming for the supper too.

On Friday 27th February there will be an Orchestral Masterclass given by four members of the London Mozart Players. The players are: David Juritz (Leader), Sebastian Comberti (Principal 'Cello), Angela Malsbury (Principal Clarinet) and Peter Wright (sub-Principal Trumpet). Our students will be involved with sectionals and full orchestra rehearsals from 3.30 - 6pm and a performance will follow at 8pm in the Old Hall to which you are all warmly invited (admission is free). The programme will be Symphony in F Major by Boyce and the 'Cello Concert in C Major (1st movement) by Haydn - 'Cello soloist, Anton Crayton (Wn). The concert will be conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton. Please use this  link to find out more about this internationally famous ensemble.

Also on Friday 27th February there will be a presentation and report on last year's Wellington Initiative projects, at 7:30 p.m. in Driver Lecture Room. 

Parents are most welcome to have a school lunch in the Main College Dining Room on Saturdays. Lunches will be available to parents between 12: 30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and the cost is £2.50 per head (cash please) for a two-course lunch. Even if you will not be staying for a match do come along, make yourself known to the Duty Catering Manager who will guide you through the system.  It is not the formal occasion that it used to be!

On Saturdays in the V & A the counter is open for coffee, tea, milkshakes and goodies between 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Between 12:00 and 10:00 p.m. the catering department will provide flasks of coffee and tea in the V & A for people to assist themselves. If you have any queries concerning these arrangements do either e-mail the Bursar ( 01344 444020) or the Catering Manager, Phillip Stockwell.

On Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  by appointment  there is the opportunity for consultations with the Educational Support Department regarding your child's specific educational needs. Please email Carole Blunden-Lee to make an appointment .

Can we ask parents to order tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar before half term where possible and to remind them and their  sons/daughters that payment will be needed before tickets are issued? Order early to avoid disappointment - Adults £5 and Students £4. Email  info@wellingtoncollege.org.uk. Cash payments must be brought into Reception but cheques can be sent through the internal mail or post.  No Sundries or Credit Card bookings on this occasion.

Letters Home

To try and 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 plan to use this section of 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 - details are further up  in this Week Ahead. 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.

On Saturday 14th March, there is a Sports Dinner for the girls and their parents.  Tickets for the sports dinner are selling and your presence is warmly invited. If you would like to attend, here is a copy of the invite with more details.

The Master and the Head of Fifth Form have written to parents of Fifth Form pupils this week., Copies of these letters are to be found on the letters home area of the intranet as detailed above.

Sport

Some sporting pictures from last weekend's action - many thanks to Mr Davidson (parent of two Wellingtonians) for them.

The block fixtures on Saturday 7th February for hockey are against Tonbridge, for netball against Cranleigh and for football against St. John's Leatherhead. In addition the cross country team run at Cranleigh, the shooting team welcome Cheltenham and the Badminton team travel to Abingdon.

On Tuesday 10th February we play our Under 15 Daily Mail Quarter Final against Judd School on Bigside 1. The kick off time is 2:30 p.m.

Thursday 12th February is a busy sporting day with netball matches against Marlborough and football matches against  Harrow. In addition the rackets players travel to Charterhouse , the shooting team take on Tonbridge, the golf team compete with Radley, the basketball team are at Marlborough and the squash team travel to Winchester.

After the exeat, fixtures start promptly with the squash team welcoming Radley and Marlborough on Tuesday 24th February. Thursday 26th Febraury sees our hockey teams in action against  Abingdon, the lacrosse team welcome Bradfield, the basketball and golf teams compete with Charterhouse and the rackets team travel to Slough to play Eton.

Netball, hockey and football fixtures and results can be found on the Wellington College Intranet.

Further Ahead

Sunday 1st March is the Daffodils walk.  Welcome the first day of Spring with a country walk around Chawton, Hampshire, featuring an optional visit to Jane Austen's house, and a stop for lunch in the Good Pub Guide recommended Grey Friar Inn.  Departing Wellington 10 a.m.  Email Denise Cook  if you would like to join the walk.

Sunday 8th March in the Sports Hall from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. sees our annual GAP fair.  Aimed mainly at L6th and U6th pupils, we encourage parents to come along too as they bring sons and daughters back after the leave-out.  Relatives and  friends are very welcome to come along and there is no charge for entry.  The event is organised by ISCO's Expanding Horizons team.  This link has details of exhibitors.

As part of our 150th celebrations we are trying to raise £150,000 for Hope and Homes - a charity that helps children whose lives have been ruined by war. We hope that one component of this will be an on-line auction. In particular this summer, inspired by an idea from the pupils, a group of pupils and staff are swimming the Channel in aid of Hope and Homes for Children and Berkshire Air Ambulance.  To help raise money for such worthy charities, Eunice Gillan and Kitty Jack are organising a Promise Auction on Thursday 19th March at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Hall.  Your help would be greatly appreciated by all!  If you have a promise that could be auctioned that evening please contact Eunice Gillan.  Many thanks for your help in advance!  Tickets for the event will be available from the beginning of March - more details to follow.

On Wednesday 11th March, the renowned clarinettist, Emma Johnson, who won the BBC Young Musician competition in 1984, will work with clarinet pupils in a masterclass at 4:00 p.m. in the Concert Room. On Friday 13th March at 8:00 p.m. Old Gym there is the Spring Concert in aid of Crowthorne Community Minibus featuring Wellington Jazz Orchestra directed by Ben Greenslade-Stanton and the Wellington Concert Band directed by Jeff Oakes. Admission: £7.50 Tickets available from Music School: 01344 444201 All proceeds to Crowthorne Community Minibus. On Sunday 15th March at 7:30 p.m. in the Newsome Sports Hall there is a Choral and Concerto concert conducted by Simon Williamson. Purcell's Ode to St Cecilia, Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb performed by Wellington Chorus and Crowthorne Choral Society. Also Steph Tress playing Elgar's Cello Concerto. Tickets: £10 (students £2) available from Reception or Music School

The Wellington College Orchestra, Chapel Choir, Camerata and Jazz band will be performing at St John's Smith Square, London on Friday 1st May at 7:30 p.m.. The programme will include the Haydn 'cello concerto in C Major performed by Anton Crayton (Wn). Please put this in your diaries now! Details for purchasing tickets will need to be done via the St John's Box Office and details for this will follow in due course.

Places on the WCA trips to Paris (24th to 26th April), the Trenches (15th to 17th May) and Waterloo  (September 26th to 27th) are filling up fast.  Contact Denise Cook to reserve your place.

There is a diving trip being run to the Red Sea between 26th June and 3rd July of this year. Currently there are twelve places left of this 'live-aboard' diving expedition out of Hurghada which is open to both parents and pupils. Interested parties should contact Eddy Heddon for further details. Dive qualification training will take place on Wednesday afternoons in the summer term. To get some idea of what the trip involves please view here.

Vacancies exist on three Cadet Leadership Courses being run at the Cadet Training Centre at Frimley in the summer. The aim of these courses is to develop the cadet's initiative and self-reliance by exercising them in problems of practical leadership. The course dates are as follows: 5th to 11th , 12th to 18th and 19th to 25th July. Those cadets interested in attending should contact the Commanding Officer, Eddy Heddon, for further information.

If any parent is interested in becoming involved with the Wellingtonian sailing trip between Cannes and Elba in early July to celebrate the 150th anniversary, raise funds for Hopes and homes and retrace Napoleons Bonaparte's return from exile please e-mail Ian Frayne.

In the last week of August, Simon Lockyer and I  am planning to take a group of pupils to Ireland. the challenge is 7 days, 7 islands walking/cycling from the oldest church to the highest point on each of them. Spectacular scenery guaranteed , decent weather not but hoped for! The image to the left is of a sunset over Inishturk, one of the putative seven. If your son or daughter is interested, please either contact Simon or me.

From the Archives