23 Sep 2016

WEEKLY MAILING

This week's mailing is:

Letter from the Headmaster (PDF)

Letters:

Notes:

Pastoral Advice for Parents from the Deputy Head (Pastoral)

I am aware that we have a large number of new parents, and that the summer holiday might have meant that your son has not only grown out of all his uniform, but has also hit a new stage of adolescence. Equally, for some of our existing parents, your son might have hit a new age and stage of development. To that end, please find below a link to the document “Pastoral Advice for Parents” covering a variety of pertinent issues from screen time to parties. As ever, please do feel free to contact Mr Hindley (Deputy Head Pastoral), or your son's housemaster, if there are aspects of this document that you would like to discuss.

Bus users

It is always prudent at this time of year to have a brief chat to your son about safety around the buses. He will moan that you are talking to him about it, but hopefully he will register the key facts. Please remind him that he should wait for the coach to pull away before crossing any road in order to ensure there is clear visibility each way: remember the old fashioned stop, look and listen. Equally it is best to avoid the need to rush in the morning, so please build in some extra time: it is when pupils rush to cross roads that accidents occur.  Finally there have been issues in the mornings with children waiting in cars rather than at the stop itself. This adds to the running time thus having an adverse effect on everyone. Please ensure that your son waits at the stop so he is ready to get on the coach as soon as it arrives. 

Help needed: Mock Medicine Interview

Each year Abingdon offers its Upper Sixth medicine applicants the chance to have a practice interview with someone from the medical profession. We rely on volunteers, parents and OAs to staff this event. This year it will be held on Tuesday 8 November from 6pm to 9pm. If you feel you can help out then please email Ben Whitworth.  We aim to run a mock Multiple Mini Interview session (MMI) and any experience of these would be welcome.

Improvements to School Facilities

Over the last 12 months the School has improved a range of its facilities across academic, sport and recreational spaces. Highlights include the transformation of the old science block into Greening Court, the addition of a multi use sports area to the main campus, extensive improvements to the facilities at Tilsley Park, including the installation of a 4G pitch, and refurbishment and upgrading of the Amey Theatre. If you would like to see the new facilities, please follow this link.

A National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) course is being held at Abingdon School Sports Centre. The course will run from Monday 24 – Friday 28 October. 

The NPLQ is a internationally recognised qualification which is valid for 2 years from the completion date. The course will cover vital life saving skills, CPR, first aid and pool rescue techniques. You must be 16 years old or older and in good health and fitness to attend this course. The course will run during the October half term from Monday 24 – Friday 28 October. 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. The cost of the course will be £230 and all course materials will be provided. The participants will be required to wear shorts and t-shirt whilst in the pool. Upon the successful completion of the exam there is the opportunity of working in the sports centre on certain shifts. Contact details: Phone: 01235 849 062 Email: [email protected].

Food Menu for the coming week – Week 1