26 Feb 2021

WEEKLY MAILING

This week’s mailing is:

Letters:

  • From the Headmaster – All parents should have received a letter from the Headmaster earlier today regarding the arrangements for the return to school on Monday 8 March.

Notices:

From the Deputy Head Pastoral re Online Chat Platforms

We wanted to bring your attention to a website called Omegle and an app called Hoop that is linked with it. These are on-line chat platforms that allow users to socialise with others, without the need to register. They randomly select people to pair up, but also have an option to add in your interests so that it is possible to ‘hook up with like minded people.’ The legal minimum age for users is 18+, or 13+ with parental guidance and it is advertised as ‘a great way to meet new friends, even while practising social distancing’.

Unfortunately there are growing incidences of sexual predators, racists, fundamentalists and stalkers using the site to prey upon others. It is extremely easy to copy an IP address straight out, which makes your precise location immediately available.

As ever, we would advise regular conversations at home about online activity, and for those of you with younger children, you might want to recheck your parental settings and block anything that you are not happy with.  Thank you. Mark Hindley.

Music:

  • Solo Performance – international success for Oliver Simpson (cello). Congratulations to 5th year Music Scholar, Oliver Simpson, who has heard the news that he has won 1st Prize in the 2021 International Music Competition – “London” Grand Prize Virtuoso – in the 13 to 15 age category. The competition is open to all nationalities in strings, piano, wind and vocal.  They had entries from 71 countries across the world. Oliver played Chopin’s Introduction and Polonaise Brillante, arranged for cello and piano. The prize gives him a medal and a concert in the Elgar Rooms at the Royal Albert Hall. We are delighted to be able to share the video of his stunning winning performance in which Oliver is accompanied by our Head of Piano, Lynette Stulting, It can be found here.
  • Today’s Lower School Lunchtime Concert. Over half term, boys from Lower School were set the challenge of recording themselves performing as soloists. The recordings were enjoyed by the Lower School boys at their assembly at 1pm today and we are delighted to be able to share them with the wider school community here.
  • FUTURE EVENTS for your diary:
    • Wednesday 17 March – Solo Concert Platform No 4
    • Thursday 18 March – 5th Year Solo Performance Evening
    • Wednesday 24 March – Composers’ Masterclass with Edmund Finnis OA

News from the Week:

School Calendar

Please continue to consult the School Calendar for up to date information.

Here is the link to previous weekly mailings.