1 Mar 2019

WEEKLY MAILING

This week's mailing is:

Letters:

Notices:

3rd Year Parents' Evening Presentations

Mr Lomax's and Mr Crisp's presentations from Thursday's 3rd Year Parents' Evening are available in PDF format. 

Safer Internet Centre – Momo Challenge

You might have overheard your son talking about or doing an online search this week for the “Momo challenge”. This is a character, shown with bulging eyes, supposedly appearing on WhatsApp setting children dangerous “challenges” such as harming themselves. However, charities say there have been no reports of anybody receiving messages or harming themselves as a result and are warning that media coverage has amplified a false scare story. The UK Safer Internet Centre reported that it was “fake news”. Nevertheless, the advice for parents at this time is rather than focusing on the specific momo meme, to use the opportunity to remind their children about internet safety, as well as having an open conversation about what children are accessing. I attach a helpful guide to the internet which you might find useful in your ongoing discussions with your sons.  That said if you have any concerns about self-harm at any stage please contact Mark Hindley the Designed Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head Pastoral or Paul Gooding, Head of Wellbeing. 

Update on A level & GCSE results release

In a previous mailing it had been mentioned boys had to send a request to the Exams Officer if they would like their results emailed to them. The way results will be released has now changed all candidates will be able to access their results via 'My Abingdon' portal by 9am on results days. Boys will still be able to come into school to collect their results and any not collected will be posted to the home address that afternoon. We will no longer be sending individual emails. Also the venue for results day collection has changed from the CMR to the Sixth Form Centre in Beech Court. 

5th Year and Sixth Form Parents: Abingdon Careers Convention, Friday 15 March 2019, 7pm-9.30pm, Abingdon School

The annual Abingdon Independent Schools’ Careers Convention, jointly run by Abingdon School, Our Lady’s Abingdon and St Helen and St Katharine, will be on Friday 15 March 2019, 7pm – 9.30pm at Abingdon School. The event is compulsory for 5th Year students and optional for L6 and U6 students. Parents are welcome; no booking is necessary. This is an exceptional opportunity for students to gather information about careers of interest and educational routes into those careers. The format of the event is that of a careers fair, with students choosing joining small discussion groups led by career representatives. Concurrent with the career fair will be two panel presentations by experts, one called 'What employers seek: Preparing yourself for the future job market' (focusing on what employers look for when recruiting for entry level roles) and one called ‘Alternatives to university: taking the road less travelled’ (focusing on vocational and professional courses, apprenticeships, and school leaver programmes).  Please arrive and be seated in the Amey Theatre by 6.45pm for a prompt 7pm start; this will give you time to read the event programme and plan your evening. If you are driving to Abingdon School for this event, please be aware that there will be very limited parking on the School site and in the visitor car park on Park Road. You are therefore encouraged to park at St Helen and St Katharine School and to walk to Abingdon School. Allow yourself a comfortable 10 to 15 minutes to reach the Amey Theatre.

Third Year Parents Battlefields trip briefing reminder

This is a reminder that David McGill, will be giving a short talk in the CMR on Thursday 7 March, 7pm for parents and pupils about the History Department's Battlefields trip taking place in the Easter holidays (Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 April 2019). It is entirely voluntary and will just cover the sites being visited in a bit of detail. If you intend on coming please email David McGill. The talk should last about half an hour. 

Music Notices

  • Solo Singers Platform – Wednesday 6 March, 6pm, CMR.  Here is an opportunity to hear our marvellous singing teacher, Andrew Yeats working with his singers in a wide of repertoire from Bach to Cole Porter (Ol' Man River…)! We have two boys in 3rd and 4th Year who are about to take their ARSM singing diplomas and there should be something for everyone in this concert. Please do join us!
  • National Pro Corda Chamber Music Competition success.  Congratulations to the two 5th Year String Quartets and the Dvorak Piano Quartet musicians who have gained places in the regional semifinals of the National Pro Corda competition to be held in Salisbury Monday 4 March. We wish them the very best and keep our fingers crossed that we might have a finalist ensemble this year!

Football Club Dinner 2019  – Friday 22 March 2019 

Tickets are now on sale for the 4th Annual Football Club Awards Dinner will take place on Friday 22 March 2019. The evening will start at 7pm with a drinks reception followed by dinner, speeches and the presentation of awards. This year we hope to be joined by former Premiership Football referee and Football pundit Dermot Gallagher as our special guest for evening, and look forward to hearing of his stories in the professional game as well as celebrating the boys achievements on the evening. Tickets can be purchased through the school box office.

Courses and Academies 2019 

We would like to let parents know that our courses and holiday camps for 2019 are now available to browse and book. We have extended our programme this year, to include a more varied range of activities, providing an opportunity for students to develop new or existing skills, led by qualified, experienced and DBS-checked coaches and staff.  We also have Ultimate Activity Camp and Academies of Sport running exceptional courses and inspiring sport coaching camps throughout Easter and Summer, which are running at both Prep School and Senior School, as well as at Tilsley Park.  The full range of Courses and Academies can be found listed in this brochure. For more information or to book, please visit the Abingdon School Enterprises website. 

ASPA

Third Year Event – save the date.  Mexican theme night Saturday 18 May, 7.30pm in the Dining hall, tickets will go on sale very soon.  It's set to be a fun night.

Abingdon Box Office

Chairman's Charity Concert – 7.30pm, Saturday 2 March. The Abingdon-based Waterloo Band & Bugles of The Rifles will give a concert in aid of SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity. Tickets are just £12 (£10).

Come and Sing with Bob Chilcott – 10.30am, Saturday 27 April

Food menu for the coming week: Week 2