Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents
One of our aims is to ensure that pupils have opportunities to develop their leadership skills. We present an award for Student Leader of each Half Term, and recent winners have emerged from different aspects of school life, for instance: a Lower School pupil who has set up and now leads a Dungeons and Dragons club; an Upper Sixth student who designed and coordinated the sound for the school musical; a Sixth Former who has devised sessions for younger pupils in the Lego Architecture club. Of course, this only represents a tiny segment of the opportunities for leadership that are available through the House system, academic life and the Other Half.
A new initiative for us is the 4th Year Leadership Day taking place in school tomorrow, which will see the entire year group engaging with activities designed to give them opportunities to think about leadership and to develop their own skills. They’ll be engaging with a broad range of Other Half activities to inspire them and they’ll be supported by a number of Lower Sixth students. I’m grateful to Ms Kaye for coming up with this initiative and look forward to seeing the students in action tomorrow.
On the theme of student leadership, we’ve recently selected the team of school prefects for the coming year. I’m delighted to report that Jonathan Ochero and Khadim Sagna will be our Heads of School and I’m looking forward to working with them over the next twelve months.
Best wishes, Mike Windsor
UPPER SCHOOL
- Upcoming 1st XI midweek cricket fixtures: Just a quick reminder of a couple of midweek 1st XI cricket fixtures this week and next. Friday 16 June – 1st XI versus Old Abingdonians (War Memorial, 2pm start). Thursday 22 June – 1st XI versus MCC (War Memorial, 11:30am start).
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Upcoming 1st XI midweek cricket fixtures: Just a quick reminder of a couple of midweek 1st XI cricket fixtures this week and next. Friday 16 June – 1st XI versus Old Abingdonians (War Memorial, 2pm start). Thursday 22 June – 1st XI versus MCC (War Memorial, 11:30am start).
WHOLE SCHOOL
- School reporting review:
- We are currently undergoing a review of our reporting system. As part of this we are collating the views of the parents, pupils and staff on reports. We would be grateful if you were able to complete the survey linked here on reports to share your views.
- Dogs on School site:
- Whilst we do not encourage bringing dogs onto the School site for fixtures, if there is no alternative, please could parents ensure that dogs are never taken onto the pitches, remain on a leash and be under your control at all times. We also require any ‘deposits’ to be taken away with you.
- When on site, should you need to use the facilities, arrangements have been made for you to access them in Park Lodge, Faringdon Lodge or the Visitor WC on War Memorial Field. Other buildings are off limits due to safeguarding arrangements that are in place.
- Music: No new additions – see upcoming Music events
- Reminder: Henley Royal Regatta – Friday 30 June 2023. Current and former parents, staff, and governors, are invited to join OAs for the OA Club’s strawberries and Pimm’s event at the Friends of Abingdon School Boat Club marquee in Henley Cricket Club car park during the afternoon tea interval (usually between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm) on Friday 30 June 2023. No RSVP required.
- OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
- News from the week
- Food menu for the following week – Week 3
- School calendar
- Weekly mailing archive
- Box Office:
- Mostly Books Presents: Discover Barrington Stoke – Thursday 22 June at 7pm. An informative presentation and Q&A from market-leading children’s dyslexia-friendly, reluctant and struggling reader publishing specialists, Barrington Stoke. Parents, guardians, teachers and those with a vested interest in learning more about books that focus on making reading more accessible for children are invited to learn more about these fantastic titles.
