This week's mailing:
Letter from the Headmaster (PDF)
Letters:
- To parents of all Lower School pupils – Modern Languages trip to Normandy & Consent form
- To parents of all 5th Year pupils – Abingdon Careers Convention, Friday 17 March 2017
- To parents of all Upper sixth pupils – Griffen Ball
Notices:
Notice from the Headmaster
I would like to thank all those parents who have already responded to the questionnaire emailed to parents on Monday. If you have not already done so, I would very much appreciate your response to this questionnaire. It will give me valuable feedback and help to make informed decisions about the direction of the Foundation. It will take about 20 minutes to complete online. If you need to be sent the link to the questionnaire again please contact the Headmaster's PA: [email protected].
Upper Sixth Mocks Monday 20 – Friday 24 February 2017 – The timetable for these mocks has been published here. Boys have been granted study leave for their mock exams week, which means they do not have to come into school if they do not have an exam or other school commitments (such as Other Half activities). Boys are still welcome to come into school even if they don't have an exam and they should use the Westridge Room, Library and House Rooms for that purpose. Sixth Form sports sessions on Monday and Friday will continue to run but they will be non-compulsory for the U6th. Boys will not need to go to morning or afternoon registration and Chapel on Thursday 23 February it is cancelled.
Music Notices
Thursday 23 February – Annual Chamber Music Evening at 6pm – Please consider coming to our annual showcase of chamber music. Several of the groups will have just competed in the Pro Corda National Festival and there will be plenty of variety – strings, piano, woodwind and brass ensembles. You are most welcome and admission is free!
Oxford Music Festival Success – Congratulations to Raffy Armon Jones (flute) and Ashwin Tennant (violin and piano), who have recently won their classes at the Oxford Music Festival in U15 Woodwind and Accompanying and Musicianship (Open) respectively. The latter was a particularly fine achievement for a Year 9 pupil, who was competing against candidates of up to 18 years of age.
Abingdon Sports and Leisure
Abingdon Sports and Leisure (Abingdon School Enterprises Limited) has a wealth of courses and activities taking place at the Sports Centre this month, with spaces still available to book. Squash courses starting Monday 20 February – Adult and Junior lessons, led by a fully qualified and experienced instructor. Great if you are just starting to play, or getting back into the game. There are also climbing courses starting Thursday 23 February – fully instructed lessons led by a qualified instructor. Courses available for both beginners and improvers – whether you want to be introduced to the world of climbing, or learn new techniques, these courses cater for all. Our February Half Term programme is also available – from inflatables to gymnastics lessons, there is something to keep every child entertained this half term. For more information or to book, please call the Sports Centre on 01235 849 062 or email [email protected].
Abingdon School Football Club End Of Season Dinners – Save The Date
As a finale to this year’s football season all Lower School footballers and parents are invited to attend the Lower School Football Awards Evening at 6.45pm on Thursday 23 March with special guests from Oxford United. In addition to this I would like to invite all Middle and Upper School players and parents to attend the Abingdon School Football Club End Of Season Dinner on Friday 24 March. The evening will start at 7pm with a drinks reception followed by dinner, presentations and speeches with Old Abingonian and current professional footballer at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Alex Fisher the guest speaker for the evening. More information and invites will be distributed after half term.
Abingdon School Boat Club and The Friends of Abingdon School Boat Club (FASBC) would like to invite all rowers and their parents to attend the 26th Annual Rowing Dinner on Saturday 18 March, 7.15pm. Drinks Reception in The Charles Maude Room followed at 8pm by a three course dinner. There will be a cash bar and a raffle to name a boat. Dress: Black Tie or Regatta Dress. Our guest speaker this year is Ollie Cook, OA 2008. Ollie is a reigning World Championship gold medallist. Ollie is a talented young GB rower making his mark in arguably the most competitive men’s open-weight squad in world rowing. Ollie is currently studying for a postgraduate diploma in International Development at Oxford and will be participating in the 2017 Boat Race. This is always a popular event so we encourage you to book your tickets to avoid disappointment. Please book tickets through the school box office.
NT Live Screening: Saint Joan
Saint Joan, the first NT Live Screening at the Amey Theatre, takes place on Thursday 16 February. From the torment of the Hundred Years' War, the charismatic Joan of Arc carved a victory that defined France. Bernard Shaw's classic play depicts a woman with all the instinct, zeal and transforming power of a revolutionary. Josie Rourke (Coriolanus, Les Liaisons Dangereuses) directs Gemma Arterton (Gemma Bovery, Nell Gwynn, Made in Dagenham) as Joan of Arc in this electrifying masterpiece. For more information and tickets click here.
