The Week Ahead
Saturday 3rd May until Sunday 11th May
General Events
The Master has consistently argued over the years that the independent sector needs to take the initiative and to do more to bridge the huge gap between independent and state schools in this country (the so called 'educational apartheid'), and has argued that the best way for schools to do this is by forming their own academy, as Wellington has decided to do. Parents will be interested to read this letter in The Times which he initiated with a colleague, which is co-signed by the heads of another eight senior schools, including Tonbridge, Harrow and Marlborough. All of them are now starting academies, and all of them are employing the same arguments as he has been. Those independent schools that start academies will also be a lot more secure from the Charity Commission by doing so. He would encourage all parents to read this letter, which sets out the rationale behind public schools starting academies.
The weekend starting Saturday 3rd May is a Weekend Leave. We hope that you manage a restful Bank Holiday and look forward to welcoming your sons and daughters back at 9:15 p.m. on Monday 5th May. We are reviewing term dates and more particularly the Weekend Leaves. The experiment of running a Weekend Leave from Friday evening to Sunday night last term met with more approval than disapproval and so we are contemplating introducing more of them. We would welcome any more feedback - it is probably best to e-mail me. You will see from the new Calendar the provisional term dates for the Michaelmas Term 2009. We should warn you that there is already a change to the dates for the Exeat in that term: provisionally, the Exeat will be from Saturday 17th October 2009 to Sunday 1st November 2009 (when boarders should return) and not as advertised in the calendar.
Tuesday 6th May sees our first Fashion Show for a while. This should be a fun event and is in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign. Ticket prices are £7.50 for students, staff and anyone under the age of 12 and £15 for parents and over 12s outside of the school. Arrive at 7.30 p.m. for an 8:00 p.m. start in the Old Gym. There will be refreshments included in the ticket price before the show, as well as donation buckets going round as we are trying to raise as much money as possible.
For Upper Sixth form parents, the deadline for replying to university offers through the UCAS system is Tuesday 6th May. If your son or daughter still has not done this, please take the opportunity over the leave-out weekend to discuss this and finalise decisions. Also, please remember that UK residents starting university courses in September this year need to start sorting out their student finance arrangements now. Details were circulated in the UVIth parents' information booklet at the end of last term, a copy of which can be found here. Paper copies of the PN1 forms can be obtained from your own Local Education Authority, or you can complete them on-line. This link takes you to the relevant government website. Any questions should be addressed to Elaine Hood.
Wednesday 7th May sees another talk from an OW Max Lovell-Hoare in Great School at 7:30 p.m. for 8:00 p.m. The talk is about travelling 15,000 miles overland travel from Darjeeling to London (15,000 miles by taxi and Tuk Tuk!) through 15 different countries (including the gruelling heights of the Himalayas, wilds of Central Asian and Iran. The presentation will showcase the rich cultural heritages, varying religious traditions and fascinating social practices lived each day by people along the route.
Also on Wednesday 7th May at 5:00 p.m. in Old Hall, there will be a presentation by Basecamp, for The Independent Schools Ski and Snowboard Championships. This will take place in Les Deux Alpes from 17th to 22nd December. The school took a group to the championships in 2006 which was a great success and we hope to return this year if there is sufficient interest. The ski and snowboard programme adopts an exciting new format this year with options to specialise in race coaching, personal development and freestyle as well as a freeride competition for snowboarders. It caters for both competitive racers and conventional holiday skiers. Any parents who would like further information, please email Bethan Thomas, the trip organiser.
On Friday 9th May there is the Orchestral Concerto concert, a chance to hear the Wellington College Orchestra conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton. Concerto soloists include Katie Jillings (viola)(Bruch Romanze); Dongsu Kim (Grieg Piano concerto); Tom Lowe (Handel's Organ concerto No.7 in D minor) The concert starts at 8:00 p.m. in the Old Gym and also features items by the Clarinet Choir and Camerata . The members of the orchestra will have worked very hard all through the week to ensure an excellent standard of playing, so we strongly recommend this concert. For further information please contact the Music School (rmfd@wellingtoncollege.org.uk)
Also on Friday 9th May the Right Honourable Andrew MacKay, Member of Parliament for Bracknell Forest (our constituency), will be talking to the Lower and Upper Sixth politics students - and any other interested listeners - in the Driver Rooms at 6:00 p.m. for about an hour. In addition to listening to Mr MacKay talk about his experiences as a member of John Major's government and a current close aide to David Cameron, this also presents a very good opportunity to pose questions to Mr MacKay on both local and national issues.
From Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May there is the WCA Parents Trenches Trip to First World War sites. Dennis Silk, former warden of Radley and President of the MCC, will be accompanying the tour, and will be talking in particular about the literary aspects of the First World War. Dennis was an old friend of Siegfried Sassoon, and knows much about the poetry and prose of the war, and where it was written. Also accompanying him will by Gerry Long, Adjutant - Wellington College, who has done much research in OW soldiering in the first world war -and will be pointing out various battlefield cemeteries and memorials where old Wellingtonians fought. If you are interested in joining this trip, please contact here. There has been a little confusion over tickets and I will take this opportunity to explain. Before Speech Day, every pupil will be issued with a ticket for themselves and two for their parents. In the case of siblings it will just be two for the parents in total. If you want more tickets then we will try and help by using returned tickets. There is a form to fill in and return with the letter if you want more tickets. If you don't want to use either one or both of the two parental tickets, then please contact Tarla Woolhouse as soon as possible to say you don't and those tickets are the ones we will be able to pass on to the parents who want more than two. I hope this clarifies the situation.
All concessions are now in place for those in the top three years groups taking public examination this summer for extra time of up to 25% as well as laptop word processing concessions. Pupils have been given advice by Head of Educational Support and subject teachers about how to use the time to best effect. Any enquiries regarding future assessments that are likely to be required should be addressed to Carole Blunden-Lee , our Head of Education Support . She arranges in College Assessment by a Chartered Educational Psychologist in June and November .
The Charity Shop is an important part of the College, raising a significant amount of money for Chairty. It relies on parental volunteers to run it. We would really appreciate more help with it. If you think you might be able to offer some assistance, please read this letter which gives you more details.
As a follow-up to the information sent to you at the end of the Lent term about arrangements post-GCSE, could we please ask that you return the slip indicating what your son or daughter will be doing after exams are over? The replies should go to the Academic Secretary Mrs Sally Yarnton. Once we have a better idea of numbers, Mrs Henderson (Head of Middle School) will be sending out details of the programme for them. A copy of the letter sent out is here.
Something that leavers might be interested in for their GAP year is taking the opportunity to spend some time on a tall ship. The ship TS Pelican provides such an opportunity and more information can be found on their website - www.adventureundersail.com . The ship arrives back from Bermuda at the beginning of June, after its highly successful maiden voyage to the Caribbean and will be in Weymouth where it can be inspected, before it starts on the Tall Ship races in July. Rear Admiral Sir Richard Burn is head of the land-based partnership that owns the ship. There are also still four shares in the ship available if any Wellington parent is interested. They cost less than a year's school fees, and they would help keep the ship's programme on its intended course.
A French family have contacted a colleague asking if he was aware of a family who might wish to host their 15-year-old grandson to spend a couple of weeks in August to brush up his English. They are more than happy to pay their way and it would provide an ideal opportunity for a Fourth former to brush up his French too! If anyone is interested could they please contact Bruce Roth who has more details.
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
We are in the process of switching databases and for next term we will be using the new database to produce our mailing list. If you stop receiving the Week Ahead next term then please do contactme and I'll will try to sort it out. Apologies if this does happen - the whole process is quite a complex one!
You should have got a copy of the term's calendar in the post during the holidays. If not the current information on dates this term can be found here.
Sport
On Saturday 3rd May, the block fixtures in cricket and swimming are against Eton and the shooting team competes in the LMRA meeting. Unfortunately the athletics match calendared against St. Edwards is cancelled.
On Tuesday 6th May, our clay pigeon shooters travel to Marlborough and on Thursday 8th May, the girls' cricket team take on Cranleigh, the tennis teams compete with Harrow, the swimmers are at home against Lord Wandsworth whilst the golf and sailing teams compete with Eton.
Saturday 10th May sees our block fixture at cricket with Harrow and the unbeaten girls athletics team go to Marlborough for a big meeting with Cheltenham Ladies, Downe House, Dean Close, Kingswood, St Mary's Calne and Marlborough whilst the boys, who were second at Marlborough last week, go to the Thames Valley Athletics Centre for the Lord Derby event taking on Eton, Tonbridge, St Pauls, RGS Guildford, Epsom, Pangbourne and Radley. The tennis teams are in action this Saturday too with the girls comp[eting against Heathfield st. Mary's and the boys with Winchester. Finally to end a busy day, the sailors are entered in the Southern Regatta at Portsmouth and the shooting team are entered in the Surrey Schools' Meeting.
The shooting team are in action again on Sunday 11th May in the CCF target rifle competition and the polo team compete in a three way tournament at the Longdole Polo Club
Cricket results are on the internet, all other results can be found on the internet.
Further Ahead
On Monday 12th May we are hosting a conference on "Habits of Mind - Effective Learning for the 21st Century" from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This conference is aimed not only at teachers but also at adults who recognise the need for independent learning, developing intelligent behaviours and skilful thinking. Habits of Mind are a set of 16 intelligent behaviours that will give delegates pathways to lead their own learning and help them become independent reflective students. The keynote speaker is Arthur L Costa Ed.D., an Emeritus Professor of Education at California State University, Sacramento and Co-director of the Institute for Intelligent Behaviour in El Dorado Hills, California. This will be a unique opportunity to hear one of the worlds leading educators in the field of independent learning. Parents are invited to attend at a discounted rate of £50 to include coffee, lunch and tea. If you are interested in attending please email Tarla Woolhouse. You can download details and a booking form from the website by clicking here.
Also on Monday 12th May, there is a meeting of the Parents' Forum. Details of contacts for that can be found here. This is a chance for any parent to raise any issues with the Master and the management team of the school.
On Friday 23rd May - the Eve of Speech Day - from 7:30pm - 1:00am is one of the social events of the year not to be missed - the WCA Summer Ball. Following the tremendous success of previous years' Summer Balls, the WCA is once again organising a Summer Ball This is a superb evening, an event not to be missed before Speech Day, for parents, friends and OWs to enjoy excellent food and wine, first class musical entertainment, guest speaker, a busy bar and vibrant DJ music until a late hour. Individual tickets cost £98.00. Tables of 10 or 12. Parents are invited to put a table together, if you are not able to get a table together, do not be put off. We can assure you of a warm welcome and a great night. Booking form and further details from: Reena Price, Tel: 01628 622355 Mobile: 07778 205 112 Email: reena_price@hotmail.com or Tarla Woolhouse at the College, Tel: 01344 444085 or tw@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
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
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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