This week's mailing is:
Letters:
- To parents of boys in the Third Year – Immunisations: Letter and Consent Form
- To parents of boys in the Fifth Year – Tentative Preference For Sixth Form Subjects
- To parents of boys in the Sixth Year – Moldova Project
- To parents of all string pupils – Violin Masterclass with Levon Chilingirian
- To all parents – First World War Centenary Lecture
- To all parents – SHSK Christmas Fair
Notices:
Revision leave dates – Summer 2015
Fifth year: revision leave begins Friday 1 May, 5.15pm
Lower Sixth: revision leave begins Thursday 7 May, 5.15pm (boys to return on Wednesday 3 June, 8.35am)
Upper Sixth: revision leave begins Friday 22 May, 1pm
Notes:
The 5th year will, as usual, be offered optional study leave help for the first three weeks of their study leave in the form of subject clinics and supervised study rooms. More detail on this will be given next term. It is recognised that many L6th boys will still have some AS and A2 papers to sit after their return from study leave on 3 June. We cannot justify keeping study leave going, however, when relatively few boys still have exams to sit or there is a long gap between most subjects finishing and one final paper being sat. As per our usual policy, boys still taking public exams outside of the official study leave times will be allowed (if they wish) to take the morning off before an afternoon exam.
We are also aware that U6th boys will be taking more AS resits in the summer session than we used to see, owing to the loss of the January resit window a couple of years ago. Given that these exams mostly take place before half term in the summer, they will be sitting them without any study leave provision, except as outlined above (morning leave for an afternoon exam). U6th boys intending to take AS papers in the summer need to be planning their time now as to how they are going to prepare for them; they should certainly not be leaving their revision of AS material until Easter or the summer term. Heads of Departments and tutors will no doubt be giving guidance to boys who will be preparing for resits but it is also the responsibility of U6th boys to take charge of the process and make sure that they pace themselves sensibly. If they haven't already begun revising that material, then we would suggest that they start and certainly that they have a plan in place for next term.
U14 Football Tour To Paris – Easter 2015 – For the attention of 3rd year parents whose son has elected to play football during the Lent Term 2015.
Next term Mr Donnelly is proposing to take both an U14 and U15 football squad to Paris for five days, from Wednesday 8 to Sunday 12 April. Whilst in France we will be attending the 2015 International Youth Festival of Football, providing an opportunity to demonstrate our ability against competitive opposition from across not only France, but also other areas of Europe. The cost of the tour is £550, which includes half board accommodation, all transport, entry to the Disney Land Paris resort, and playing / travel kit. Invitations will be distributed to those boys selected in mid January, once the U14 football playing squads for the Michaelmas term have been established. If you would like any further information please contact Mr Donnelly ([email protected]).
French Exchange
In the context of the French exchange, we are looking for 7 families willing to host a French pupil from Sunday 8 to Sunday 15 March 2015. The French pupils are boys and girls of between 15 and 16 years of age. The young person would stay with your family, come into school with your son and go out on trips while your sons are in lessons. If you think you can help, please contact Jane Mansfield ([email protected]) as soon as possible.
Anti-Bullying Week – Monday 17 – Friday 21 November 2014
Next week is the annual Anti-Bullying week. This year's theme is “Let’s Stop Bullying For All”. We will address this in Assemblies, chapel, tutor periods and in PSHCE lessons. Please could you try to find the chance to raise it in discussion with your son as well, not only to reiterate the importance of being compassionate in our dealings with others, but also to highlight some of the groups of people who can be targeted. At Abingdon we want to build a culture where difference is celebrated rather than being used as a means of picking on the outsider. The points of difference could revolve around gender, sexuality, or it could be simply that the interests of that are not stereotypical. Please do ask your son how he might react if he witnesses this kind of thing happening? Does he know who to talk to if he feels he needs to raise a concern? Please also feel free to visit the Anti-Bullying Alliance website:http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
A bit about As You Like It
There is a joint 3rd year Abingdon/St Helen’s production of ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare taking place on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December at 7pm in the Amey Theatre. The performances will last just over an hour and the cast would love as many people in the audience as possible, having been working on the production since the beginning of the school year: there is a fight; singing (and dancing); a Deity and a really good story to entertain you. Don’t miss out on getting tickets – go online now and be sure of a seat!
Christmas Concert – Friday 5 December 2014
The Sheldonian Theatre Concert is selling fast and there are only about 150 tickets. Please book now if you would like to come, as we will soon be sold out.
