10 Mar 2017

WEEKLY MAILING

This week's mailing:

Letters:

Notices:

Internal exams
  • 4th year exams week will take place from Friday 28 April – Friday 5 May.
  • Lower Sixth exams will take place from Monday 5 June – Thursday 8 June.
  • Lower School exams will take place from Thursday 8 June – Monday 12 June.
  • 3rd year exams will take place from Wednesday 21 June – Friday 23 June.
Bedtimes…. (from Mark Hindley, Deputy Head Pastoral)

We have recently surveyed the 3rd Year about prep and sleep, and were a bit perturbed that a significant proportion of 3rd Years said that they were going to bed at 10.30pm or later most nights. For growing teenage boys, ensuring quality sleep is imperative, both for their academic progress and for their well being. We would advise the following bedtimes…

  • 3rd Year – up to bed at 9.30ish, 15-20 minutes of reading (so no screens or TV!) and then lights out at 10pm.
  • 4th Year – up to bed at 9.45ish, 15-20 minutes of reading (so no screens or TV!) and then lights out at 10.15pm.
  • 5th Year – up to bed at 10ish, 15-20 minutes of reading (so no screens or TV!) and then lights out at 10.30pm.
  • Sixth Form – more flexible, but again aiming for a period before sleep without screens or TV and aiming to be going to sleep by 11pm or so.

These are the routines that we aim for in the boarding houses and that would be advised by most schools.  If your son is struggling to make these times due to pressure of work, then I would ask you to contact his tutor, and to encourage your son to chat to his tutor about managing his workload and commitments. As ever, please do feel free to discuss any concerns with his housemaster as well. If your son feels these timings are harsh or overly restrictive, do feel free to blame me – I am happy to discuss with him in person the rationale behind these routines!

Parents of Lower Sixth boys: link to UCAS Advice for Parents and Guardians.

As promised during the UCAS1 evening, here is a link to a section of the UCAS website specifically directed to parents and guardians of UCAS applicants.  The Parent Guide 2017 is due to be updated to 2018 at the end of March.

Music Notices
  • Scholars and Senior Musicians' Concert – Wednesday 15 March, 6pm in the CMR. Come and hear sixteen of our senior musicians in solo performance. Next term we have a Junior Scholars Concert, but this free concert should yield some wonderful performances, followed by, for some, the Inaugural Music Scholars' Dinner.
  • Intermediate Solo Competition – Thursday 16 March, 6pm in the CMR.  This concert is for intermediate standard musicians (up to grade 8), with Robert Secret as our external adjudicator. Robert was Head of Strings at Stowe for many years and conductor of the Oxford Symphony Orchestra and Oxford Harmonics Choral Society. This event should be a most enjoyable occasion – please join us and watch the boys battle it out!
Level 2: Emergency First Aid at Work – 1 Day Course  – Tuesday 18 April 2017

Abingdon School Enterprises Limited will be hosting a Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work Course at Tilsley Park on Tuesday 18 April 2017.  Where an organisation’s risk assessment of First Aid needs identifies that there is a requirement for Emergency First Aid at Work practitioners, then this national Award in Emergency First Aid at Work satisfies the requirements of the regulatory body for First Aid – The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  All learners will have the skills and knowledge to provide the organisation with Emergency First Aiders that can provide treatment to their casualties in a prompt, safe and effective manner.  A three year Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work will be issued to the learner, subject to successful assessment (both practical and written assessment). For more information or to book your place, please contact Matt Walsh. Please visit our website for further details.

Integrated National Pool Lifeguard with Emergency First Aid at Work (with AED), Monday 10 – Friday 14 April 2017

A National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) course is being held at Abingdon School Sports Centre. The NPLQ is a internationally recognised qualification and will cover vital life saving skills, CPR, first aid and pool rescue techniques. The course will finish no later than 6pm every day, and the day is split into two sessions: theoretical/classroom based activities session and a 2-hour pool session. Each participant will be required to wear shorts and t-shirt whilst in the pool. You must be 16 years old or older and in good health and fitness to attend this course. Upon the successful completion of the exam there is the opportunity of working in the sports centre on certain shifts. For more information or to book your place, please contact the Sports Centre on  01235 849 062. Please visit the website for further details.

Food menu for the coming week: Week 3