The Week Ahead

General Events

From Sunday 7th October until Sunday 14th October, we will be enjoying our first 'Environment Week' whose purpose is to raise awareness of current environmental issues, and create a sense that we are all capable of changing both the way we think and our daily habits in ways that are more focused on a sustainable future.  Events include an environment-themed sermon in the Full School Eucharist, several showings of the Inconvenient Truth, an ecoposter competition, a recycling hour,an all day "save energy day", school and house assemblies focused on environmental themes. Sadly, we have had to cancel the Fashion Show scheduled for the 13th as the organisers have decided it would be more appropriate for them to hold their event somewhere else, but we will be hoping to hold one as part of our planned Arts Festival at the end of the Summer Term.

Over the weekend of 6th and 7th of October, the third form in the Anglesey, Beresford, Blucher, Benson, Orange, Hopetoun and Talbot go away together on an activities weekend. This provides a chance for pupils to work together at a series of fun tasks and challenges in the Hampshire countryside.  The pupils camp in house groups and are assessed on their team performance in each task.  There is a trophy awarded to the winning house.  The challenges vary but do include the risk of pupils getting wet so the kit list, already provided via HMs, includes a complete change of dry clothes. The pupils will leave after dinner on Saturday and return in time for dinner on Sunday.  Further details will be available via  HMs nearer the time. The weekend is organised by Mike Fielder.

On Sunday 7th October, there is a Full School Eucharist with the preacher being the Reverend Father Kit Dunkley, the Master of S.S.C. The Orange parents ware warmly invited and the collection is going to the Nabukenya Primary school in Mityana in Uganda.  Last year the House raised nearly £9,000 to  build a classroom block at the school. This year we would like to build accommodation for the teachers, who currently live in cramped and semi squalid shared rooms. There can be no education without committed and qualified teachers and the teachers of Nabukenya are excellent. We want to encourage them stay at the school and really make it a success for the children. Providing them with an adequate place to live is a real priority for the school.

On Monday 8th October we are holding a Conference on "Multiple Intelligences: What is Education For?"  The keynote speaker is Howard Gardner from Harvard University.    A detailed programme is available on the website.   You may reserve a place by emailing Tarla Woolhouse. Parents are invited to attend for a discounted rate of £60.00.  Any parent interested in attending can either download an application form or apply online.   Do please inform your friends and colleagues about this conference.

On Tuesday 9th October at 5:00 p.m. there is a chance for parents to get involved in Environment Week with an "Environment Question Time" that is open to all, chaired by James Breen in the Driver Lecture Room.

Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th October see the return of our annual Talent Show.  The show features the very best of our performing arts talent, with musicians, singers, dancer and comedians.  Tickets are already selling fast, so don't delay if you wish to attend.  The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on both evenings and tickets are available by emailing Sarah Spencer.

The Upper Sixth Form conference will take place on Thursday 11th October.  From 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. teachers of two or more Upper Sixth groups are available for interviews, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the Master addresses parents and pupils in the Theatre, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. teachers are available for interviews and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. there is an optional Finger Buffet in Boarding Houses.

On Thursday 11th October, we have the pleasure of welcoming John Weston, a poet, to give the Edmonds Reading in the Driver Lecture Room at 8:00 p.m. He spent 36 years in the Diplomatic Service, and has lived and worked in China, continental Europe and the United States.   He retired from public service as UK Ambassador to the United Nations in 1998.  Since then he has pursued a mixed bag of activities in the corporate, charity, arts and education sectors.  He is an Honorary Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. Information about him is on the web.      

Friday 12th October presents parents with another chance to get involved with Environment Week with the showing of Inconvenient Truth in the Theatre at 4:15 p.m.

Parents of prospective Lower Sixth pupils are warmly invited to an IB and A Level information evening on Friday 12th October at 7:00pm in the Theatre.  Following last year's introduction to the IB, this evening is designed to give families the essential information they need to begin the process of choosing between the two major pathways in the Senior School.  Presentations will focus on the nature of both courses, the options on offer within them, and the advantages of each for university entry.  There will also be opportunities for questions about both options.  Following the evening, we hope pupils and parents will take the opportunity over the term ahead to talk with teachers, tutors and HMs to ensure that they make the right decision in the Lent term.  There will be a similar evening for new entrants to the Lower Sixth Form coming from schools other than Wellington, on Friday 12th October. If you do have any queries regarding IB then please do email the Director of IB, Dr David James or phone him on +44 (0)7946 242676.

On Sunday 14th October, there is a Full School Service of the Word with the preacher being the Reverend Martin Caesar, Baptist Minister of Crowthorne. The Picton parents are warmly invited.

It has been highlighted ( and verified by CCTV! ) that some parents are "tail gating" other users when using the Mordaunt Gate. We would be grateful if this practice stops immediately as there have been a number of near misses and this action has caused the gate sensors to fail and require an engineer to be called out. We therefore ask that if you intend using the Mordaunt Gate, please factor in the extra time and do not tail gate or alternatively use the West Gate entrance only. Thank you for your cooperation.
 

Sport

The block fixtures on Saturday  6th October are against Lord Wandsworth for the hockey (sadly the U15A fixture has been cancelled) and Marlborough for the rugby - with additional rugby games against the Oratory and Reading Blue Coat. It is also the opportunity for the badminton team to take on Harrow.

On Tuesday 9th October the U14 hockey teams play St. Mary's Ascot, the squash teams take on Bradfield and Charters and the golfers travel to Charterhouse.

Wednesday 10th October is round three of the Daily Mail U18 rugby competition with our team playing Pangbourne on Bigside at 3:00 p.m.

Thursday 11th October sees the senior hockey team travelling to Leighton Park and the basketball yearlings team playing Shiplake.

The block fixtures on Saturday 13th October are against Eton for rugby (with an additional game against Lord Wandsworth) and against Dauntsey's for hockey.

All of our Rugby and Girls' hockey results will be on the schools' sport website again this year.

Further Ahead

On Tuesday 16th October,  we welcome Felix Francis at 8:00 p.m. in Great School. He will be talking about his father Dick Francis and their latest book "Dead Heat",  released in September of this year. He will also be signing books which will be on sale (cash sales only).  Please look at the website for further details.

The Fourth Form have been working hard on their Master's Project and this is coming to a conclusion (deadline for submission is the  15th October). On Wednesday 17th October and Thursday 18th October there will be an Exhibition of all the projects ranging from go-karts to boats and book reviews to theatre productions. All are welcome to view on those evenings 6:00 p.m. onwards in the Driver Rooms.

On Thursday 18th October Wellington is hosting the 'Angels Choir' a children's choir from West Africa to perform in the Old Gym alongside pupils from the three Wellington choirs.  This will be the highlight of their tour and money has been raised in order to bring them here by parents of children at Wellington.  Please do join us for our Gala Evening which will be a fabulous event with a two course dinner, wonderful music and a unique moment in Wellington's history.  All monies raised go towards the children's school and community in West Africa.  Ticket price is £25 per head and anyone interested should contact Clare Walters on 07831 093 499 or Sara Blosse on 07778 399 929.  Of course donations are also readily and gratefully received!

On Friday 19th October between  4:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. there is the well-being and tutorial conference for all parents with sons and daughters in the Third Form.  Ian Morris will  talk to parents about well-being and then there will be an opportunity to meet with tutors to discuss progress.

Looking further ahead from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th November, Ian Botes, a Wellington parent and member of the W.C.A. committee, is leading, with the Master, a pre-Christmas trip to Vienna for 30-40 parents, staff and friends of Wellington College. If you are interested please contact  Tarla Woolhouse (+44 (0)1344 444085)  or Ian Botes for further details.  The cost for the inclusive break is £475 per person with a single supplement of £65.  The programme is outlined on the college website. To book contact Kevin Collins or Suzanne Wade at  Weekend a la Carte (01722 744695)  The deadline is the 30th September.

On Friday 9th November  there is a chance to see one of the UK's leading session drummers in action. Ralph Salmins is professor of Drum Kit at the Royal College of Music and won the Best Drummer category of the British Jazz Awards in 2006.  His versatility has established him as the drummer of choice for producers and composers worldwide.  After working with percussion pupils at Wellington during the day, he will be performing at 8 p.m. in the Old Gym - tickets are £5 each and can be obtained from Ros Dunmore in the Music School or Reception.

Towards the end of term we have two closed weekends for a  year group when we are running two trips aimed at our boarders to the West End to see a "big" show. The dates are Saturday 1st December for the Fifth Form and Saturday 8th December for the Third Form. The pupils have certainly enjoyed these trips in the past and are being asked now if they wish to go as we need to book tickets as soon as possible. The cost will be in the region of £50 per head. If for any reason you do not wish your son or daughter to go on one of these trips, please e-mail John Arton-Powell.

Saturday 9th February sees the W.C.A. Hollywood Ball - tables and tickets are selling fast. An application form can be found here and full details can be found on the website.

There will be a Roman Catholic Confirmation in Crowthorne on Friday 6th June 2008  and classes will start in March. If you wish your child to be confirmed please e mail Dr Boscher.