29 Feb 2024

WEEKLY MAILING

Message from the Head

Dear Parents

Over recent years, we have sought to use the annual International Women’s Day as a prompt to encourage students to reflect upon and celebrate the social, cultural, economic, scientific and political achievements of women through assemblies, PSHCE lessons and other activities in school. In that context, I’d like to invite you to an event that will mark this year’s International Women’s Day and in particular highlight the global campaign to ensure a greater provision of education for girls; a vital and compelling campaign.

The event will take place in the Charles Maude Room in Big School on Thursday 7 March at 7pm and will feature discussions, presentations and performances from students from Abingdon and SHSK, as well as visiting speakers from a number of countries. I am sure it will be an insightful and engaging event and I’m grateful to Ms Sabah and her team of volunteers for organising it. Free tickets are available from the Amey Theatre Box Office here.

Best wishes, Mike Windsor

 

UPPER SCHOOL

  • Reminder to Upper Sixth Students and parents: Griffen Ball BOOKING LINK.  Tickets are selling well.  If you are yet to book your ticket, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • For parents of 5th year pupils: checklist of things to consider for work experience
    • March and April are critical months for the 5th Year Work Experience Scheme. If your child has not yet applied for a summer work experience placement, time is running out, and they should make applications as soon as possible. There is a special 5th Year Work Experience Scheme page on Firefly with links to employers who offer work experience placements, and your child can also approach employers of interest who don’t offer formal work experience schemes but who may be happy to host a placement, if asked. If your child has made applications, but has not heard back yet, some polite but persistent ‘chasing’ may be needed. And, if your child has already received an offer of a placement, congratulations! If they have received more than one offer, they can undertake more than one during the summer holiday or request to defer one perhaps to the October half-term next school year. Parents are strongly advised to download from the bottom of this web page a checklist of things to consider when preparing for their child’s work experience placement. Note, we do not require students or parents to complete any work experience forms for Abingdon School. If you have any questions, contact Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance, at [email protected].

WHOLE SCHOOL

  • School Policies:
    • A reminder to parents is that school policies are available on the website: https://www.abingdon.org.uk/about/school-policies/  These are regularly updated to comply with best practice, school procedures and regulatory requirements.
    • The School has recently made changes to its Staff Behaviour Policy. This is a document primarily for staff use although also acts as a useful reference for all those coming onto school premises and may be of interest to parents and the wider community as it is designed to help staff create and maintain the safest possible learning and working environments to safeguard children.
    • In addition, a new Registration and Attendance Policy has been published and is available via the policies link above.
  • International Women’s Day Event, Thursday 7 March, 7-9pm in the CMR
    • We extend a warm invitation to all parents to join us for our International Women’s Day event with a focus on Girls’ education at Abingdon School. This is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together and shed light on one of the most important global issues of our time. The event promises to be insightful, featuring engaging discussions, presentations, and performances. Your presence will not only support and inspire our students but also contribute to fostering a more inclusive and empowered community.
    • Please note there are limited availability and free tickets could be booked through the Amey theatre website.
    • Here is the list of our speakers:
      • Ambassador Roya Rahmani (Afghanistan’s first female Ambassador to the United States, Distinguished Fellow at GIWPS)
      • Professor Hashem Koohy (Girls’ Education – Oxford University, Radcliffe Department of Medicine)
      • Professor Anne Goriely (Director of Equality Diversity and Inclusion of Medical Science School, University of Oxford)
      • Ms Samaneh Savadi (Founder of Cheragh Academy – Equality and Diversity Advisor)
      • Ms Summia Tora (Women and Refugee rights campaigner)
      • Lina Tori Jan (Women’s rights advocate, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security – GIWPS)
  • Music: 
    • Wednesday 6 March, 7pm – Rock Concert.  Join us in the Amey Theatre for an evening of Rock Music which will blow your mind away! With a variety of bands performing from across the breadth of the school, this will be a fast paced and varied evening of music making. All are most warmly invited to hear the progress and performance of Abingdon’s bands. Tickets are free of charge and can be booked at the following link: https://www.abingdon.org.uk/sports-and-leisure/performance/rock-concert/
    • Friday 8 March, 7pm – Musicians perform at Great Coxwell. In a new addition to the calendar, musicians from Abingdon School will be performing as part of the Stonevale Concert series in St. Giles’ Church in Great Coxwell. With a range of performances alongside some Chamber Music, this is a showcase of the most advanced performers at Abingdon School. Tickets are free and all are most welcome to join.
    • Wednesday 13 March, 7pm – School Choirs’ Concert – St Michael’s Abingdon.  Our annual School Choirs’ evening takes place in the stunning setting of St. Michael’s Church this term with a programme performed centrally by the School Chapel Choir. The centrepiece of the concert is Vivaldi’s exuberant and joyful Gloria whilst there is time for performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Three U6 pupils will sing Vaughan Williams’ ‘Songs of Travel’ whilst the trebles will perform Alexander L’Estrange’s Panis Angelicus. A concert with something for all! Tickets are free of charge but need to be booked at the following link: https://www.abingdon.org.uk/sports-and-leisure/performance/school-choirs-evening-2/ 
    • Thursday 21 March, 7pm – Spring Concert – Amey Theatre.  Our final concert of term sees the larger ensembles take to the stage. The Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, Sinfonia and Symphony Orchestra will all perform their term’s work with notable highlights including U6 performances of Shostakovich Piano Concerto, Koussevitzky Double Bass Concerto and Vaughan Williams’ ‘Songs of Travel’. Interval refreshments will be served in the Pavilion. Do join us for a wonderful evening of music making to round off the term’s musical activities. Tickets need to be booked at the following link: https://www.abingdon.org.uk/sports-and-leisure/performance/spring-concert/
    • See other upcoming Music Events.
  • Reminder – Abingdon Hockey Awards Dinner, Saturday 16 March, 7.30pm, School Dining Hall
    • Calling all Middle School and Upper School hockey players and their parents.  Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the 2024 Abingdon Hockey Dinner & Awards Evening being held on Saturday 16 March. The guest speaker this year is Paul Revington, Head Coach of England and Great Britain Men’s teams and former FIH World Coach of the Year. Join us for welcome drinks followed by a three course dinner in the School Dining Hall. BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW.
  • Physio Service update from Tom Jacobs, Abingdon School Physiotherapist:
    • In the spirit of clarity, we’re notifying parents of an update of the pricing of physiotherapy appointments at School which will take place from Friday 1 March 2024. These adjustments reflect careful consideration of the value our treatments bring to our patients and the market dynamics. Rest assured, we remain committed to providing exceptional physiotherapy services at the school satellite clinic for staff and students. Prices continue to reflect the usual 10% discount compared to the main clinic in Milton Park.  New appointment prices: School initial: £70, School follow up: £58.
    • If you have any questions about the school satellite physiotherapy clinic which runs on Monday and Friday afternoons, please contact the Practice Manager, Emily Campher by email [email protected]
  • From the OA Club Office:
    • John Rayson Award – £250 Prize.  All current pupils of Abingdon School are eligible to apply for the John Rayson Award.  The John Rayson Award is a memorial to the late John Rayson (1924-2012), an Old Abingdonian (1942) who gave a lifetime of service to Abingdon School.  The award will be given to a current pupil to help fund a personal project/experience that embodies the defining characteristics of John Rayson himself – adventure, courage and resilience coupled with service, loyalty and commitment.  The award carries a value of £250.  Further information, and a link to the application form, is available here.  Application forms must be submitted no later than Wednesday 1 May 2024.
    • ASPA / OA Club Travel Awards 2024.  ASPA and the OA Club have joined forces to offer travel awards to upper and lower sixth pupils undertaking some form of UK or overseas travel and activity either during the summer or in their gap year.  The awards range from £50 to £500 depending on the activity and its benefits.  Further details, and the conditions attached to the awards, can be found here.  Application forms need to be submitted by Wednesday 1 May 2024.
  • OX14 Learning Partnership Upcoming Events
  • News from the week
  • Food menu for the following week – Week 2
  • School calendar
  • Second Hand Uniform Shop (SUS) opening dates for the week ahead: Saturday 2 March & Wednesday 6 March
  • Weekly mailing archive
  • Box Office: