19 Jan 2023

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

This morning I gave the assembly at Abingdon Prep School. I encouraged pupils to seek out moments of awe and wonder, whether that be in nature, art, design, literature, music, sport or in their studies. I reflected on the opportunities that this presents to take us out of ourselves and our daily concerns and stresses and to give us a greater sense of perspective and joy. I also talked about the excitement of sharing in ‘collective effervescence’; those times when we come together as a group and lose ourselves in the moment, be that in a choir or in a crowd watching a football match or concert.

At Abingdon you are never too far away from moments of awe as the students’ aspirations, achievements and willingness to support one another are frequently awe-inspiring. An example of this took place last weekend when Johnny James in the Upper Sixth came home first in the Knole Run in Sevenoaks, a prestigious event which brings together many of the best cross-country runners in the country. This follows Will D’Arcy’s victory in the same event last year; an exceptional achievement and hopefully an inspiration to all our athletes in the lower years of the School.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

UPPER SCHOOL

  • For Lower Sixth students and their parents: After Abingdon and university applications.
    On Wednesday 8 February from 7pm we will be holding a virtual event to introduce the Lower Sixth to the options available to them after they leave School.  This is an important opportunity for students and parents to learn about the UK university application process and alternatives to university.  The evening will include three sessions:

    •  After Abingdon –  a keynote presentation introducing the UK university (UCAS) application process, key considerations for choosing degree courses and how Abingdon supports its students in their future pursuits.  (Mrs Jen Hoddinott, Assistant Upper Master, Universities)
    • Applying to Oxbridge – an optional presentation aimed at those considering applying to Oxford or Cambridge. (Mr Richard Taylor, Assistant Upper Master, Extension)
    • Alternatives to university – an option overview session on some of the alternatives to university including work-based learning, apprenticeships and school leaver programmes. (Mr Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance)
    • Further details including session registration information will follow.
  • 5th Year, L6, U6 Parents: Abingdon Careers Convention: Thursday 16 March 2023, 6:00-9:00pm, SHSK.  Save the Date: The annual Abingdon Independent Schools’ Careers Convention, jointly run by Abingdon School, Our Lady’s Abingdon, and St Helen and St Katharine, will be held on Thursday evening 16 March 2023, 6:00-9:00pm at SHSK. 5th Year, L6 and U6 students will not want to miss this event!  More than 100 parents and alumni of the three schools (representing more than 50 different career areas) have so far volunteered to serve as ‘career representatives’. The event is run as a careers fair, with students and parents choosing which career representatives they would like to meet, going to their table/stall, and sitting down for casual face-to-face conversations, individually or in small groups. This event offers a rare opportunity to gather information about a wide range of occupations and educational routes into those occupations…from people who know.  Concurrent with the career fair will be a selection of six different half-hour talks which anyone can attend. The event is compulsory for all 5th year students and optional for 6th form students. Parents are welcome to attend.  No booking is necessary. Please put this date in your family diary!  Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • 5th Year, L6, U6 Parents: Abingdon Careers Convention: Thursday 16 March 2023, 6:00-9:00pm, SHSK.  Save the Date: The annual Abingdon Independent Schools’ Careers Convention, jointly run by Abingdon School, Our Lady’s Abingdon, and St Helen and St Katharine, will be held on Thursday evening 16 March 2023, 6:00-9:00pm at SHSK. 5th Year, L6 and U6 students will not want to miss this event!  More than 100 parents and alumni of the three schools (representing more than 50 different career areas) have so far volunteered to serve as ‘career representatives’. The event is run as a careers fair, with students and parents choosing which career representatives they would like to meet, going to their table/stall, and sitting down for casual face-to-face conversations, individually or in small groups. This event offers a rare opportunity to gather information about a wide range of occupations and educational routes into those occupations…from people who know.  Concurrent with the career fair will be a selection of six different half-hour talks which anyone can attend. The event is compulsory for all 5th year students and optional for 6th form students. Parents are welcome to attend.  No booking is necessary. Please put this date in your family diary!  Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance.

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • Music:  
  • Charity Nominations 2023
    Every year Abingdon School raises a significant amount for charity. We like to pick charities that mean something to our school community and therefore we would like your nominations so we can form a short list.  Please complete this Charity Nominations 2023 form by Friday 27 January.
  • Foodbank Collection Monday 23 – Friday 27 January 2023
    The Charities Committee is holding a collection for Abingdon Foodbank. We encourage students to bring in non-perishable items of food with a use-by date of at least 6 months in the future. We are grateful for any donations, though the foodbank is currently well stocked with pasta! However the following items are most needed:

    • Bottles of squash; Cartons of long life juice; Long life cows milk; Instant coffee/tea; Tinned soup; Tinned meat for hot meals; Dried couscous, chickpeas; Cleaning sprays; Shampoo; Shower gel; Washing up liquid
    • There will be drop-off boxes in all house rooms and the 6th Form Centre. Thank you.
  • Talk: The Road to RECOVERY: Finding Treatments for a Pandemic, Friday 24 February 2023, 7.00 pm – Abingdon School.  Martin Landray (OA 1987), Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology at Oxford Population Health and Deputy Director of the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute, will give a fascinating talk on his pivotal role in the RECOVERY trial (the world’s largest trial of potential treatments for COVID-19 and the discovery that dexamethasone reduces mortality for the sickest patients) for which he received a knighthood for services to public health and science.  Online booking is available via the Abingdon School Box Office here.  All welcome.
  • ASPA QUIZ NIGHT – Friday 3 March, 7pm.  Save the date in your diary and start getting your teams together.  Everyone is welcome with teams of 6-8 people, you can either enter as a team or ‘unattached’ and we will allocate you to a team accordingly – a great way to meet other parents. Tickets will cost £10 per head including a two course dinner, and will be available from the Abingdon School box office in due course – look out for further details of how to book in next week’s mailing.  Richard Stone, Chair of ASPA
  • OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
  • News from the week
  • Food menu for the following week – Week 3
  • School calendar
  • Weekly mailing archive
  • Box Office: