13 Oct 2022

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

I write with the sounds of House Singing fresh in my ears. It was such a pleasure to return to the Amey Theatre for this event after a two-year hiatus and to bring everyone together to enjoy an afternoon of music-making.

We were treated to an eclectic range of songs. As ever, Abba provided solid choices for a couple of houses while Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – an apt choice for our setting – got the audience moving. Pygott’s navigated the twists and turns of the Meatloaf epic I will do anything for love (but I won’t do that) amongst a batch of rousing stadium anthems. New Housemaster Mr Stockdale almost steered his charges to victory with a confident and stylish rendition of I Want It That Way but he was knocked off top spot by Donnelly’s neatly arranged and musical performance of Counting Stars by One Republic.

I’m grateful to our adjudicator, Iain Donald, former Director of Music at Hampton School, and to my colleagues in the Music department who worked closely with Mr Dawswell to ensure this event went so smoothly.

I can’t quite believe that we have reached the end of the first half of term. The time seems to have raced by. I wish all the best to everyone taking part in school trips over the half term break and hope all our students are able to enjoy some rest and relaxation over the next couple of weeks. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday 31 October.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • FAO parents of 5th year pupils – Into the Sixth Form Information Evening on Monday 14 November, 6pm – 9pm.  Please make a note of this date. This event is for students and parents and comprises an evening of presentations about the A Level curriculum, the options process and individual subject courses. The format of the evening is as follows:
    • 6pm – Introduction to the curriculum & process in the Amey Theatre.
    • 6.40-9.20pm – Individual subject presentations in Greening Court classrooms.

The evening represents the start of the A Level choices process, and final decisions will not have to be made until February.

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • Parent Webinar: In Conversation with James Shone from the charity, I Can & I Am – Thursday 3 November 7:30pm
    As part of the charity’s visit to Abingdon School, Fitzharry’s School and John Mason School in November, James Shone, founder of the charity, ‘I Can & I Am’ will be talking about his work and why he passionately believes that every young person deserves to have good self esteem and self belief. This webinar for the OX14 Learning Partnership will focus on how parents and families can support children and raise self esteem and confidence. To express interest in attending this webinar, please fill in this google form. A link to the webinar will then be emailed a few days prior to the event. For more information, please contact Natalie Hunt (Mental Health & Wellbeing Coordinator) at [email protected]
  • Seatbelts and behaviour on buses.  Parents are asked, please, to reiterate to their children the importance of wearing seatbelts on buses, as this is a safety issue.  In the course of that conversation could you please also remind them that if they cannot adhere to the requisite standards of behaviour, then they will receive a Friday Detention. School rules apply at School and obviously on travel to School.  If students continue to misbehave, we reserve the right to ban them from the buses for a period of time, probably 3 to 5 days in the first instance. The level of the sanction will obviously be dependent on the severity of the offending behaviour.
  • OddBalls Bobble Hats. Once again we, as a sports department, have teamed up with the ‘OddBalls’ charity to produce bespoke Abingdon bobble hats.  Through the sales of these hats we will not only support the charity and their research into testicular cancer, but will also raise the awareness amongst our students of testicular cancer. These hats will hopefully be useful for both the students and also parents in the winter months whilst training or on the touchlines … not to mention make a perfect Christmas present for relatives!  The OddBalls foundation was set up in 2014 and they use the income from the sale of OddBall products to raise awareness of testicular cancer.  To date they have raised thousands of pounds and have in turn used this to fit ‘check yourself guides’ into toilets and changing rooms across the country.  Further information on the OddBalls Charity can be found at https://www.myoddballs.com/  If you would like to order one or more of these bobble hats please complete this form before Friday 4 November.  The cost of £12 per hat will added to your next school bill.  The hats will be distributed to students through their tutors on Wednesday 9 November.
  • Music: 
    • Senior Solo Instrumental Competition Thursday 3 November at 6pm, in the CMR. This is always a much anticipated competition when we welcome oboist and former parent, George Caird, as our adjudicator for this year’s coveted senior solo competition. George is the former Principal of the Birmingham Conservatoire. We are expecting nine of Abingdon’s senior musicians to take part. Do join us for what promises to be a fascinating evening of high quality performances and enlightening feedback from one of the country’s most distinguished teachers.
    • A Violin Masterclass with Sebastian Müller – Friday 4 November at 6 pm, in the CMR.  We are delighted to announce the return of distinguished violinist, Sebastian Müller. Sebastian is an international violinist and inspirational teacher, whose pupils win international competitions and, under his guidance and tuition, develop successful international careers. Mr Müller teaches at the Vienna Conservatoire, Chethams School of Music, Guildhall Junior Department, and is also the Director of the Pro Corda Advanced Violin Course.  Sebastian has also just been appointed at the Yehudi Menuhin School. The masterclass will take place from 6-8pm when six of our violinists will be taught by him for about 20 minutes each. Sebastian will also give a short recital after the masterclass with Lynette Stulting, our Head of Instrumental Studies. We are grateful to ASMS, the School’s Music Society, for funding this Masterclass and we hope very much that you will join us with our string playing community for the fantastic opportunity from which we will learn so much. The event is in the CMR at 6pm and will be free of charge.
    • Solo Concert Platform No 2 – Tuesday 8 November at 6pm, in the CMR.  This will be the second of the term’s solo concert platforms when we hear musicians of different instruments and stages of development who are ready to play their pieces in front of a supportive audience. Do join us!
    • Haydn’s Creation – Joint School’s Choral Society – Friday 18 November at 7.30pm in the Amey Theatre. One of the highlights of the term will be the Choral Society performance of Haydn’s Creation, involving pupils, parents and staff from three schools – Abingdon, St Helen’s and Headington. We have three top professional soloists, including OA and Ferrier award winner, Johnny Herford, joining us for what we hope will be a most enjoyable performance of this great work. Please apply to the Box Office for tickets.
    • See other upcoming Music events.
  • Abingdon Film Unit’s next Annual Screening – 7pm Wednesday 2 November. The Abingdon Film Unit is one of the school’s extra-curricular activities. It allows pupils to make their own short films with guidance from film industry professionals. Formed in 2003, the Unit is now closing in on twenty years of uninterrupted creativity that prompted one journalist for The Week to declare “The School’s unique asset is the Abingdon Film Unit.” The AFU’s next annual screening takes place just after half term, at 7pm in the Amey Theatre on Wednesday 2 November.  As always, tickets and refreshments are free, but we encourage you to book your tickets in advance to give us a good idea of numbers. Please follow this link to secure your tickets: https://www.abingdon.org.uk/sports-and-leisure/performance/abingdon-film-unit-screenings/ This event is the only occasion in the year when members of the AFU show their work in front of a live audience, and it always generates a celebratory atmosphere. This year, we have added cause for celebration, since the thirteen films produced over the last twelve months – a characteristic mix of fiction and documentary – will take to over two hundred the total number of AFU films produced since the Unit formed in 2003. Do join us if you can!
  • OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events.  

The evenings will run from 7pm to 9pm in the Hospitality Suite in the Sports Centre. These evenings are free to attend and are intended as an opportunity to meet other parents in your child’s year group. Parents who attended these events last year really enjoyed the evenings and found them a great way to meet many new parents at the school beyond their own child’s house, often for the first time.

Other dates for the diary: Friday 3 March 2023 ASPA will be hosting a quiz evening, further details to follow. Saturday 20 May ASPA are intending holding a fundraising event, again further details to follow.

Classlist: This has now been set up for all the new pupils and year groups. Please download the Classlist app and use this system to communicate and message other parents in your year group or beyond.  It is easy to use and a useful resource for connecting with other parents.