1 Dec 2022

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

As we move into the business end of the World Cup in Qatar, I’m sure we’re all looking forward to savouring the highs and lows that sport can bring – while desperately hoping that the drama doesn’t include England taking part in a penalty shoot-out.

While we wait for the showdown on Sunday night, I’m looking forward to watching the 3rd/4th Year production in the Amey Theatre this week. Eleven, by Ed Rowett (OA 2005) is described as follows: Passionate captain Liam is trying to galvanise the hapless B XI to their first victory of the season. Unfortunately for him on this particular afternoon, the members of the team are too busy navigating life, love and loss to hear his battle cry. Will they have learnt the meaning of team spirit by the time the last ball is bowled?

Sport offers a great lens into the way we handle ourselves and interact with one another and I’m sure Ed will make the most of this in his piece. It should be a highly entertaining night of theatre. I wish Mr Phillips and the cast and crew every success with it.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

UPPER SCHOOL

  • 6th Form Parents: Gap Year Advice Evening Webinar, Thursday 19 January 2023, 6:30-8:00pm, on Zoom. Is your L6 or U6 child thinking – even remotely – about taking a Gap Year? If they are, this is an event they and you will not want to miss. You both are invited to attend a Gap Year Advice Evening Webinar on Thursday 19 January 2023, 6:30-8:00 on Zoom. The event is being co-hosted by Abingdon School and St Helen and St Katharine and is open to all students in the OX14 Learning Partnership. The webinar starts with a brief presentation on electing, planning, and managing a Gap Year. This is following by a further presentation from Independent Gap Advice (https://independentgapadvice.org/) on travel abroad during a Gap Year. Then, a panel of school leavers from Abingdon School and SHSK will share their individual stories of what they did during their Gap Year and how they felt about the choices they made. This will be followed by a Q&A session for any of the speakers or panellists. To attend, you must register in advance: bit.ly/GapYearAdvice2023
  • To parents of Lower Sixth students who wish to drop a subject, from the Upper Master, Simon James
    • I talked to Lower Sixth students during Assembly about potentially dropping a subject. Oliver Lomax has written to them with details of the process they need to go through. Please find the details here.  November test results are currently being collated, and will be published to MyAbingdon as soon as possible. Clearly there is the opportunity to discuss their progress and prospects with subject teachers at parents’ evening on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 December. We suggest that in cases where it isn’t straightforward to decide whether to drop a subject/which one to drop, that students wait until after parents’ evening to make decisions.
  • To parents of pupils studying A level Geography – Independent investigation holiday work

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • Waiting and pick-up in Park Crescent
    As previously requested, please drop and collect pupils in Park Crescent, operating a one-way system travelling clockwise past the private housing to the west of Albert Park, and ending up near the boarding houses.  This avoids cars trying to turn around in the road, which is causing concern about the safety of students waiting there.  Drivers are also asked to avoid dazzling other drivers by turning off their rear lights.
  • Driving near the School
    We would like to remind parents to act with courtesy and consideration to local residents and other road users when driving near the School and to respect parking instructions and speed limits.  In particular, please can we remind parents to not park on the pavement, verges and across the cycle lane on Faringdon Road, as this makes life difficult for wheelchair users, pram users and cyclists.
  • Second Hand Uniform Shop (SUS).  SUS will be open every Wednesday (12.30-1.30pm) and Saturday (11am-12pm) during term time.  Dates and times for the Lent term are available here.  When visiting the shop, please park at Faringdon Lodge Reception.  The postcode for this is OX14 1BQ.
  • Music:  
    • Christmas Concerts 2022 on Wednesday 7 and Friday 9 December at 7.30pm  Parents are warmly invited to apply for tickets for this year’s Christmas Concerts, featuring all our main ensembles – three orchestras, two bands and First Year and Gospel Choirs. Further information at the Box Office on the school’s website here. The concert programmes are identical for both evenings. Parents of all musicians taking part should be aware, please, that we are expecting all the students to be having a school supper and that the appropriate charge will appear on school bills at the end of term. I would be grateful if parents could remind the students to wear a white shirt to school those days.
    • See other upcoming Music events
  • OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
  • News from the week
  • Food menu for the following week – Week 3
  • School calendar
  • Weekly mailing archive
  • Box Office: