21 Mar 2024

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Head

Dear Parents

As I write, an afternoon of Inter-House Sport is underway. While the Lower School are completing their Inter-Tutor group football competition, alongside a cake sale, older students have a large range of events to choose from, ranging from hockey and water polo, to pool and badminton. We are also celebrating the superb achievement of the 1st XI hockey team in reaching the final of the National Plate competition, the first time, as far as I am aware, that we have achieved this feat. The U16A XI  have reached the semi-final of the same competition in their age group, which takes place on Friday 19 April, and I wish them all the very best.

I write of course as we approach the end of term and I’d like to congratulate our students on their collective efforts. My thanks go to the staff who have supported them in all they have undertaken this term. I’m also grateful to my colleagues who are leading a large number of trips over the Easter holiday, including the 1st Year adventure holiday at PGL and the 2nd Year trip to Wales, as well as the ski trip, the cricket tour to Sri Lanka, the rowing camp, the CCF Easter Camp, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions and the 3rd Year Battlefields trip. I hope all these trips pass smoothly and that our students embrace the opportunities for personal development that they offer.

Finally, I’d like to thank you all for your continued support this term. The summer term starts on Tuesday 16 April, with boarders due back on Monday 15 April.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

UPPER SCHOOL

  • Revision leave for Upper Sixth begins at 1pm on Friday 10 May.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • Revision leave for fifth years begins at 5.20pm on Friday 3 May.
  • For 5th year parents who attended Abingdon Careers Convention 2024: Request for Parent Feedback
    • If you attended last week’s (Thursday 14 March) Abingdon Careers Convention at Our Lady’s Abingdon, and would like to provide feedback about the event, we would welcome hearing what you have to say, positive or negative. You may be anonymous. Please use the parent feedback form.  Thank you!  Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance.

LOWER SCHOOL

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • Reports:
    • End of term reports will be posted on the parent portal for all year groups over the weekend.
  • Start of next term.  Term begins on Tuesday 16 April, with registration and tutor time at 8.35am.  Normal Tuesday lessons, using Week B timetable, begin with period 1 at 9.00am.
  • School Calendar.  Any amendments to Summer Term 2024 events made after today will be indicated clearly on the School Calendar.  Parents may wish to consult the term dates page to remind themselves of the beginnings and ends of terms and half-terms.
  • Music: 
    • Music lessons for those in 5th and U6th
      • For those pupils who have music tuition at school in the 5th and U6 years, they will receive three lessons in the Summer term ahead of the study leave period. It will be assumed that your child will only have three lessons unless specifically requested. If you wish to have more than three lessons, please make contact with the instrumental/vocal teacher directly. For all award holders in these years, a reminder that three lessons will be credited and if you desire further lessons, these lessons will be charged to the parents.
    • ABRSM/Trinity Exam Deadline
      • For all pupils wishing to take a music exam next term, the deadline for entries to Mrs Hardiman at [email protected] is Monday 22 April.
    • U6 Leavers’ Concert
      • A new addition to the calendar, we will be hosting a concert on Friday 3 May which celebrates the musical achievements of pupils in the U6. This is open to all musicians and we hope to have a varied, informal concert to which parents are most welcome to attend.
    • See other upcoming Music Events.