Saturday 14th June until Sunday 22nd June

General Events

There is the WCA Parents' garden party on Sunday 15 June from 6:30 p.m.  to 8:30 p.m. in the Master's Lodge Gardens. This is open to the whole Wellington Community and is an enjoyable opportunity to meet a variety of other parents. There is champagne, strawberries and smoked salmon and tickets cost £10 a head.   Please confirm your attendance by email to Tarla Woolhouse. All late "yes" replies should please come to the Master's PA by 12.30pm on Saturday 14th June. Even if the weather is bad it will still go ahead - albeit indoors.

Sunday 15th June sees a full school School Service of The Word at 8:00 p.m. to which the Murray parents are cordially invited.

On Monday 16th June at 6:15 p.m. in the Concert Room there will be an opportunity to enjoy the talents of the younger musicians in College at the Junior Concert.  There will be items from the Woodwind ensemble (Don't get around much anymore and American Patrol), violin trio (Drunken Sailor) and quartet (Telemann Concerto in D), Junior Brass (Pictures at an Exhibition and Battle Hymn of the Republic), sax quartet (Black and White Rag), a medley on the bagpipes, duets and solo items  - lots to enjoy.please come if you can to support the young musicians who are all practising hard for this concert.

An extensive and mixed programme of academic and other activities has been organised for the Lower Sixth in this later section of the term, and all pupils are expected to participate fully in this, through to the end of term. Particular attention is drawn to Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th June, when the whole Lower Sixth year group will be participating in a 25 mile overnight walk. This is a new venture, very similar in spirit to the "50 Mile March" at Charterhouse, albeit 25 miles shorter! We have asked the pupils not to arrange university open days in that two day period; there will be other chances to make such visits. Please direct any queries about the post-AS programme to the Head of the Lower Sixth, Murray Fowler.

The following is from a group of students embarking on an ambitious charity project this week  "On  Wednesday 18th June, six fifth form pupils are setting off from John O'Groats to Lands End, approximately one thousand miles - it should take between ten and twelve days. The purpose of the expedition is to raise money for research into testicular and prostate cancers, and support of victims. In particular we are raising funds for: Cancer Research UK - where donations will be specifically directed to prostate and testicular cancer research and The Lance Armstrong Foundation - a charity set up by Lance himself, to help cancer sufferers and in particular testicular cancer: As a group we chose these charities because each of us know that the causes are worthy, and we are proud to be helping. Cancer is a huge killer worldwide, in particular the money we raise will go towards research in Testicular and Prostate cancer. As a group we are hoping to raise £30,000 and we are well on the way to achieving this goal, and we hope with your additional help we can get that one step closer.
In terms of the bike ride, we will be cycling between 80 - 100 miles a day, the saddle sores will kick in nearly immediately, but with the help of the 'Medical Centre' in the form of Vaseline we think we have it under control. For those interested in following our progress, we are planning to run a blog on the following Wellington College internet site -http://intranet/page.aspx?id=5811
If you would like to make a donation then please visit our website at www.justgiving.com/thebiketeam it is a very quick and easy way of donating; it's the fastest, and most tax effective way, to get money from you to the charity. If you would like to donate by cheque then please make a cheque payable to either "HCT - Cancer Research UK" or "HCT - Lance Armstrong Foundation" and please hand into your son or daughter's HM in an envelope to Charlie Byrd (Benson House). Any contributions will be greatly appreciated. From The Bike Team  - Charlie Byrd, Alex Hardy, Tom Llewellyn, Charlie Pickard, Tom Rowe and Max Tulley." Please do help them reach their target.

Following the excellent performances of Jane Eyre last week, the Third Form are putting on another play, Daisy Pulls it Off. When a Scholarship student arrives at Grangewood School for Girls, she encounters more than she thought possible.  Daisy Pulls It Off is a hilarious and heart warming tale of a plucky heroine who undergoes a number of tribulations and in the words of the Sunday Express, "Deegan's work is"... Perfectly ripping, absolutely spiffing, not to mention "scrummy" entertainment" ! There are performances of this on Wednesday 18th June, Thursday 19th June and Friday 20th June and tickets are available from James Baker.

The annual Haldane Organ Competition takes place in Chapel at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday 19th June.  Illias Thoms, Felicity Morgan, James White and Tom Lowe will all be performing and the adjudicator, who will also play during the evening, is David Pipe, who has just been appointed at York Minster.

On Friday 20th June four sixth form music scholars will perform at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London as part of their lunchtime recital series. The performers are Steph Tress (O) - 'cello accompanied by Tom Lowe (Wn), Emma Parkhouse (C) - clarinet, and Sabina Virtosu (W) - violin. The recital starts at 1:00 p.m. and will last approximately 45 minutes. Your support at this concert would be most welcome and appreciated.

The Third Form French Trip approaches very quickly leaving on Sunday 22nd June - please could Sam Gutteridge have all parental consent forms in as soon as possible. If you have an y questions on this trip please contact Sam.

Parents are requested to round up any College Library books they find at home and see that they are returned to school. One parent's response to the Librarian's plea for help in getting a very overdue book back, was to tell their child they would get no food until they did so. A bit harsh, but it had the desired effect!

For the L6th Form and their parents this is advance notice that we shall be offering the ISCO "Interview Preparation with Video" course in early November.  The cost should be similar to the £80 charged last year.  Further details will be printed in the end of term information booklet for parents, but those who would like to take advantage of this should contact the Head of Careers, Dr Elaine Hood, as soon as possible and by 6th September at the latest.

A plea from our green tzar, Ant Peter about sustainability: "May we recommend that we all have a look at the Prince of Wales' new website - http://www.princesrainforestsproject.org/  ?   The destruction of the rainforests is one of the most serious acts of environmental degradation that humankind is currently engaged in, releasing more tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere every year that the entire global transport system.   As far away as the rainforests may be, our Western lifestyles demand the beef, palm oil and soya that are produced on land cleared of trees.   It behoves us all at least to consider The Prince of Wales' view, and to take action according to our conscience."

From time to time we receive requests for UVIth Formers, who have passed their driving test, to have permission to drive cars to Wellington. We have a very strict line on this; our policy is that permission will only be granted if parents can show that it is a necessity for their child to have a car here. We cannot give permission on the basis of mere convenience. We would also take into account the behaviour and performance of the pupil concerned. We take this strict line because we wish to keep our campus and pupils safe. In the past years 6th Formers have been involved in some nasty car accidents; two years ago in the holidays a group of senior pupils were lucky to escape from a car with only minor injuries. If you wish your son or daughter to be able to drive a car at Wellington you should write to the Second Master, Robin Dyer, making clear why you think it is a necessity for this permission to be given. He will consult with the relevant Housemaster or Housemistress before a decision is taken. Under no circumstances must pupils drive to Wellington, keep cars here or in Crowthorne, without written permission from the Second Master.

Increasingly we are putting information for parents on the school intranet set. In particular the handbook for pupils with information for both pupils and parents is now electronic and can be found under the section of the intranet called info@community. Some parents have had problems logging on to the intranet. You do need to click on the log -in link at the top right of the page. The general parents' username is COLLEGE\victoria (if you are offered three boxes COLLEGE is the domain and victoria is the username). The general parents' password is the name of the O.W. on the plaque by the Round Square noticeboard at Queen's Court and must be entered in capitals. Hopefully your son or daughter can supply that information. If not, then ask me! There is information on the intranet to help you and this can be found at http://intranet.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/login_help.htm

Sport

Saturday 14th June's cricket fixture is with Charterhouse, the athletes are in the County Championships (47 College pupils have been selected to compete in this event at Palmer Park, Reading) , the tennis teams play Cranleigh and the shooting team compete with the OWTRC.

On Sunday 15th June, we are entered in the U16 Polo Tournament att he Longdole Polo Club.

On Tuesday 17th June, our junior golfers take on Papplewick whilst on Thursday 19th June, the junior colts and yearlings cricket sides play the Oratory and the junior golfers compete with  Charterhouse.

Saturday 21st June sees our cricket sides in action against Radley, the athletes (both boys and girls) competing at Marlborough and the tennis teams taking on Epsom.

On Sunday 22nd June our intermediate age polo players enter the National Intermediate Tournament at the Longdole Polo Club.

Cricket results are on the internet, all other results can be found on the school internet site .

Further Ahead 

On Tuesday 24th June there is a Conference on The American University Experience: What's it Really All About.  This is an opportunity for students thinking of studying in the US.  Cost to Wellington College parents will be £20 to cover the cost of refreshments.  The conference is free to Wellington College pupils.  For further details and to register please contact Tarla Woolhouse, Conference Organiser.

The Wellington College ArtsFest runs from Tuesday 24th June  to Thursday 26th June. The purpose of the festival is to raise the profile of the Arts at Wellington through a combination of student productions and exhibitions, professional workshops and performances. On each of the three days there is at least one major event which parents, pupils, OWs, friends and the local community are able to attend, by applying for tickets. Other events, such as student productions are open to all and there is no need to claim a ticket. You should have received a copy of the ArtsFest programme by now in the post - an electronic copy can be found here. 

As part of the ArtsFest , Jenny Whalley will exhibit her art work from the Tuesday 24th June until Thursday 26th June in the Medical Centre. The Tuesday opening is at 6:00 p.m. with the added incentive of a glass of wine and snacks. Jenny, originally an African Wildlife Pastel Artist nursing in Africa, soon found on moving to the UK, she had to adapt her artistic skills to what a different county and culture offered. Since arriving in the UK she has been an active member of the local art society. She initiated the first local Crowthorne and Sandhurst Society Art Exhibition, now held annually in October at St Sebastian's Hall.  In 2003 she exhibited at the nationally renowned 'Patching', Artist and Leisure Artist exhibition and won awards for her unique use of Oil Pastels and Neocolour.  In 2004 she was invited to exhibit along with several other international artists in Wales. Here she sold a very controversial piece of artwork: a painting of Seagulls pecking at left over fish and chips wrapped in a collage of newspaper headlining the violence in Zimbabwe. This year she exhibited with the Society of Women Artists in London's Mall Gallery. Approached by various charities,  to donate  painting for auction Jenny gives willingly and thus far, in the UK, has contributed to many worth while causes; Sri Lanka's tsunami, Zimbabwean elderly and Sue Ryder Cancer Care. In July 5th and 6th, in Wokingham at St Paul's Parish Church Hall she will be exhibiting with 2 other well known local artists, Dee Cowell and Judith Milne. This is in aid of Berkshire East Air Ambulance. Having taught 'A' Level art successfully in Zimbabwe for 5 years, due to the lack of trained teachers, she is passionate about sharing her talent with others. She is often asked to demonstrate her mixed media techniques to local art clubs and she enjoys teaching adult art classes. Some of the other nurses will also exhibit and sell their craft work, quilts, jewellery and many other items. They look forward to your visit.

On Friday 27th June we are having the Leavers' Service, Graduation Ceremony and Ball.  We are delighted so many of you are able to join us to celebrate this excellent Upper Sixth's time at Wellington.  For those of you who have ordered tickets for the Graduation Ball, these will be issued to the students via their HM's later this week.  Please note that no tickets are required for the Service. 
A reminder of the programme of the day: 
2.00pm           Leavers' Service in Chapel
3.00pm            First part of Graduation Ceremony in Chapel*
4.15pm            Tea in Master's Lodge Garden
5.00pm            Second part of Graduation Ceremony*
6.30pm            Receptions in Houses
8.00pm            Dinner in marquee on South Front
10.00pm on    Dancing in Old Hall (disco) and in the marquee (live band)
12.00 midnight   Carriages
*It is expected that all parents and Upper Sixth will attend both parts of the Graduation Ceremony.

Wellington College have joined Wilderness Expertise to run a Leadership Course for young people aged between 15 and 18, based at Wellington College from Monday 11th  August until Friday 15th August this Summer. The Wellington College Leadership Course will be a balance of practical activities, theory and discussion during which the participants will experience the challenges and rewards of leading a team and gain an understanding of what it means to lead across a range of contexts. During the five days the young people will be challenged with a variety of tasks such as 'Reach for the Skies', 'Wilderness survival' and hands on, realistic Incident Management scenarios. In addition, there will be guest speakers from military, business and religious sectors who will talk about their experiences of Leadership. The course will aim to develop leadership in talented and gifted young people from a variety of backgrounds and provide them with an action plan for the future. We believe that this course will fill a gap in the market by providing specific leadership training for young people at an age when it will be most beneficial. This course is in line with the College's aim to be at the forefront of providing Leadership opportunities for young people. For more information on the course, please visit: www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/leadership or email Katy Granville-Chapman.

There is a proposed Art trip to Paris and Giverny from Friday 12th September to Sunday 14th September for parents. This is a fantastic chance to sample the cultural delights of Paris and Monet's stunning gardens in Giverny. It is envisaged that the price for the trip will be around £350 and include flights, 3* accommodation, breakfast and evening meals and the 24 hour services of a tour director. For more information contact Mr Laurence Hedges Director of Art..