This week's mailing is:
Letter from the Head (PDF)
Letters:
- To all parents – Pastoral Advice for Parents
- To all parents of Fourth Year boys – DofE Silver Level Award
Notices:
Silver DofE Walking
Silver DofE Walking application deadline is Thursday 7 July 2017 to allow selection of boys before the end of term. Applications should be sent to Mr Dempsey via the MCR by this date.
Parties, boundaries and temptations – From the Deputy Head (Pastoral)
We are very aware that the summer is inevitably a period when boys can come of age. It is important each year that they grow up, learn to take responsibility, and have experiences that will nudge them ever closer to adulthood. The difficulty for us all is that they can sometimes make poor judgement calls. Teenagers, boys in particular, are hard-wired to take risks. While acknowledging that it is important to give boys the space to mature, it is equally important to reiterate the standards that are expected of them, and to establish boundaries. I am sure that we can all remember pushing against these boundaries when we were teenagers, but they are even more important now: a wild party in our youth might have involved cider and a cigarette, now there will be drugs routinely passed around at parties attended by 14 and 15 year olds. To this end I am resending our Pastoral Advice for Parents document. I would urge you to go through this with your sons and to establish your ground rules for the summer. If possible, try to discuss these with the parents of your son's friendship group so that there is a co-ordinated, collaborative approach. Finally, our policies are available on our website. It might be worth reminding your son that a number of these apply at all times, which includes the holidays whether at Reading Festival or at a beach party.
Reminder for Parents of 2nd year boys: 3rd Year Induction Day Activites
A reminder that on Tuesday 28 June all 2nd year boys will be off timetable and involved in 3rd year induction day activities. The dress is home clothes although it would be good if boys could wear something suitable for the sporting activities. The parents' tea party is at 3pm on Lacies Court (sports centre hospitality suite if wet) for those parents who are able to attend.
Reminder for Parents of 4th year boys: Tougher Minds: Thursday 30 June, 6 – 7pm, Amey Theatre
You are invited to attend an important event, which will introduce the Tougher Minds programme to help you to support your child at home. Tougher Minds Personal Change Management training improves health, happiness and educational performance. It won Education Initiative of the Year at the 2014 Independent School Association awards and its performance resources have featured in The Daily Telegraph. The programme supports pupils, teachers and parents. Tougher Minds also work in business and professional sport. This introduction event will introduce the brain, the powerful role of daily habits and insights into how better sleep, diet and exercise, which reduces stress and improves learning, can be developed. The event details are: Thursday 30 June 2016 start: 6pm finish by 7pm in the Amey Theatre. The opportunity for us to offer this only arose recently, so apologies for the short notice.
Food Menu for the coming week – Week 1
