24 Nov 2022

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Headmaster

Dear Parents

Highlights at school this week include the Extended Project presentations given by Upper Sixth students. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an opportunity for Sixth Formers to focus on a topic of particular interest to them and to respond in the form of an extended piece of writing or an artefact. Under the watchful guidance of Dr Gardner, our Librarian, record numbers of Upper Sixth students have risen to the challenge this year. The concluding phase of the project requires students to give a 20-minute presentation to other students, teachers, parents and friends and I am always bowled over by the quality of presentation and the amount of work that students have put in. It’s a healthy confirmation of the scope, level and ambition of students’ academic work – and all done alongside their usual A Level study commitments.

Beyond Abingdon (and at Abingdon) focus has shifted to the World Cup in Qatar. In my assembly this week I shared some of my memories of past World Cups which I suspect I share with many parents – including the outrage I felt at Maradona’s infamous Hand of God ‘goal’  in 1986 when I should have been revising for my A Levels. I challenged students to reflect on the wider controversies around the event and to see sport in its wider social and moral context; it’s certainly a World Cup unlike any we’ve seen before.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • From the Health Centre:
    • Flu Vaccinations for 3rd Years. We have just been informed by the NHS Immunisation Team that the Flu vaccinations that were due to take place this term, will now take place on Wednesday 18 January 2023 on the same day that 2nd and 3rd years receive their HPV vaccinations. We had been led to believe that the Flu vaccinations would take place before Christmas but this will now not be the case.  Full information and links to complete the consent form for both vaccinations will be sent out as soon as we receive this information from the NHS Immunisation Team.

LOWER SCHOOL

  • From the Health Centre:
    • Flu Vaccinations for 1st and 2nd Years. We have just been informed by the NHS Immunisation Team that the Flu vaccinations that were due to take place this term, will now take place on Wednesday 18 January 2023 on the same day that 2nd and 3rd years receive their HPV vaccinations. We had been led to believe that the Flu vaccinations would take place before Christmas but this will now not be the case.  Full information and links to complete the consent form for both vaccinations will be sent out as soon as we receive this information from the NHS Immunisation Team.

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • From the Health Centre:
    • Pupils with food allergies and intolerances.  It has been brought to our attention that pupils with food allergies and intolerances are not always using the special diets counter in the servery and asking advice here if unsure of what options are suitable for their needs. Please could you remind your child to do this to ensure their health and wellbeing. The servery staff are always happy to help and advise on suitable choices.
    • If your child is unwell with a raised temperature please do not send them into school. Covid testing is no longer a requirement but it is important that anyone with a raised temperature and feeling unwell should stay at home until they are well enough to return to school.
    • If your child has had any episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting they should remain off school for 48 hours after the last episode of either diarrhoea or vomiting. This is to ensure the risk of passing on any infection to pupils and staff is kept to an absolute minimum.
  • JBS AM Departure time adjustments – from Monday 5 December 2022.  Vectare have recently been monitoring the AM arrival times of buses into school and feel that a few of the routes would benefit from a slightly earlier departure.  Please note, the changes will come into effect from Monday 5 December meaning all stops on the following routes will depart 5 minutes earlier.  The arrival times will continue to be monitored in the weeks running up to the end of term.  Thank you for your cooperation.
    • Blewbury / Burford / Goring / Headington / Lambourn / Newbury / North Oxford / Twyford / Wantage / Woolhampton / Woolton Hill.
  • Abingdon School’s CCF is increasingly popular, both at third year recruitment, and beyond.  Would you be interested in becoming a CFAV (Cadet Force Adult Volunteer) with the CCF? If you have military experience, either as a regular or reserve forces or as a CFAV, and you have the time to work with us at Abingdon CCF on a Tuesday afternoon, or on training weekends and camps we would love to hear from you.  Please contact CCF Contingent Commander Sqn Ldr Becky Cottam ([email protected]) or SSI Capt Lee Edwards ([email protected]) for more information or click here to find out what’s involved.
  • Music:  
    • Wednesday 7 and Friday 9 December at 7pm, Amey Theatre – CHRISTMAS CONCERTS 1 and 2.  Our Christmas Concerts are always popular occasions when we present our larger and senior ensembles – First, Second, Chamber Orchestras, Big Band and Concert Band, Gospel and 1st Year Choirs. We perform the concert twice in order to accommodate the expected audiences. Please book your tickets here in good time. There will be concertos from two of our senior musicians (piano and oboe), together with Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, Warlock’s Capriol Suite and some seasonal fare, too.
    • See other upcoming Music events
  • OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
  • News from the week
  • Food menu for the following week – Week 2
  • School calendar
  • Weekly mailing archive
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