8 Mar 2019

WEEKLY MAILING

This week's mailing is:

Letters: 

Notices:

2nd Year Parents' Evening Presentation

Mr Lomax's presentation from Monday's 2nd Year Parents' Evening is available in PDF format. 

For parents of fifth year pupils:  Work Experience Scheme – checklist of things to consider

March and April are critical months for the 5th Year Work Experience Scheme. If your son has not yet applied for a summer work experience placement, time is running out, and he should make applications as soon as possible. There is a special 5th Year Work Experience Scheme page on Firefly with links to employers who offer work experience placements, and your son can also approach employers of interest who don’t offer formal work experience schemes but may be happy to host a placement if asked. If your son has made applications, but has not heard back yet, some polite but persistent ‘chasing’ may be needed. And, if your son has already received an offer of a placement, congratulations! If he has received more than one offer, he can undertake more than one or request to defer one perhaps to the October half-term next school year. Parents are strongly advised to download from this web page a checklist of things to consider when preparing for their son’s work experience placement; there is no need to register the placement with Abingdon School. If I can be of assistance, just let me know. Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance ([email protected], 01235 849129).

For 5th Year parents – Elevate Parents' Seminar on revision on Tuesday 19 March 7 – 8pm in the Amey Theatre

Following a seminar in the afternoon with all the 5th Years called 'Ace your exams'. Elevate are running a parents' seminar giving advice on how to support your sons with their revision.  Please fill in the form if you would like to attend. 

L6 parents evening, Tuesday 12 March, 5.30pm 

Just a reminder that the L6 Parents' Evening will take place on Tuesday 12 March at 5.30pm.  From 7-7.30pm in the Amey Theatre, Caroline Taylor, Director of Universities, will give a presentation to all boys and parents on the UK university application process.

Bedtimes…. (from Mark Hindley, Deputy Head Pastoral)

We have recently been asked by a number of parents about homewrok and sleep, and were a bit perturbed that a significant proportion of Third Year parents said that their sons 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.

These are the routines that we aim for in our 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.

Reporting Feedback Form

We are very keen to listen to parents' views on how we manage reporting at Abingdon. We would therefore appreciate your feedback on how and what we communicate, so that we can improve what we do. Please could you take a few minutes to give us your views. Most of the form just requires 'tick box' responses but there is a section at the end of each of the two sections for you to offer more expansive comments if you wish. 

Music 

There are several music events remaining this term. Please do consider attending – all are most welcome and admission is free.

  • Solo Concert Platform No 4 – Wednesday 13 March at 6pm, CMR. Come and hear about twenty of our solo instrumentalists in a wide range of repertoire.
  • Intermediate Solo Competition – Thursday 14 March at 6pm, CMR.  This term's solo competition is for solo instrumentalists between the levels of grade 6 and grade 8. Our visiting adjudicator is Thomas Neal, the new Director of Music at New College School, whose role at Portsmouth Grammar School was recently filled by Mr Cotton.
  • School Choirs Evening – Thursday 21 March at 6pm in the Chapel.  Here is a chance to hear all four of our senior choirs in action – Chapel Choir, Joint Chamber Choir, Gospel Choir and the Abingdon Academicals (close harmony ensemble).

Annual Boat Club dinner – Reminder

Last chance to book for the Annual Boat Club dinner – ticket sales close on Sunday 10 March.

Follow the Amey Theatre on Facebook and Twitter 

Follow the Amey Theatre on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest performances, concerts, Live Screenings and much more!  

  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmeyTheatre
  • Twitter: @AmeyTheatre

Ultimate Activity

We wanted to remind you that Ultimate Activity Camps have an Early Booking Offer which ends on Tuesday 12 March for Easter and Summer dates.  If you do not know which dates you need yet, you can book now and change dates for free up to 14 days before. Parents can book online (www.ultimateactivity.co.uk) or call their friendly team on 0330 111 7077 (local rate).

Food menu for the coming week: Week 3