This week's mailing:
Letters:
- To all parents of third year boys – Architecture Workshop
- To all parents of lower sixth boys studying Politics – Politics Conference
Notices:
Survey reminder
Last call to complete the survey on fees. Thank you to all parents who have completed this survey – we have had a very good response and have decided to keep the survey open for a few more days for any other parents who would like to complete the survey. The new deadline is 11pm this Sunday (5 November). A reminder of the Headmaster's cover letter can be found here. Please note the 4 digit code you need to access the survey is 9830. Thank you again for your help in this important survey.
Device security
With the introduction of devices in the 2nd, 3rd and L6 year groups, we are reminding pupils to look after their devices and to use the secure facilities provided by the school. The safety and security of the students' devices is of utmost importance to us. With this in mind we strongly suggest:
- When not in use the devices should locked in the boys lockers in the houseroom (e.g. for Games sessions and Wednesday afternoon).
- Over lunch they can use the Big School foyer lockers, provided they bring a padlock, if they do not happen to pass their houseroom.
- For PE they can either quickly drop their device back in their lockers in their houserooms if it is on their way, or they can get a key from the sports centre reception for use in that lesson.
All devices should have a suitable case or sleeve that protects it whilst in the bag.
If anyone has any concerns or questions, then please contact Ben Whitworth, the Director of eLearning.
All Parents: Volunteer Career Representatives needed for Abingdon Careers Convention, Friday 16 March 2018, St Helen and St Katharine
The annual Abingdon Independent Schools’ Careers Convention, jointly run by Abingdon School, Our Lady’s Abingdon and St Helen and St Katharine, provides an excellent opportunity for students to gather information about and personal insights into careers of interest and educational routes into those careers. It features parents and alumni of all three schools, as well as local employers, representing a wide range of careers. Students can meet with ‘career representatives’ one to one, participate in small group career discussions, and watch panel presentations on current topics. The event is always well attended – and much appreciated – by students and parents alike. This year’s Careers Convention will be held on Friday evening 16 March 2018 at St Helen and St Katharine. At present, we are recruiting parents and alumni to volunteer as a career representative. To register your interest, please complete this online Expression of Interest form no later than Friday 17 November 2017.
Parents of 5th Year Pupils Participating in COA Preview Programme – This week, your son will have had a 1:1 interview with a professional careers adviser from COA and received a printed report of the findings from his online career matching questionnaire as well as a book to help him research, think about, and plan for a future career. With tentative A-Level subject choices made at the end of this month, now is the time for your son to look over his report, focusing on Section C, which outlines the career areas to which he would appear to be well matched (based on his answers to the questionnaire). He should research specific careers in these areas (using the COA Careers Directory given to him, or other web sites recommended on the school’s Study Site, Firefly) with a view to long-listing a number of potential careers he might like to pursue in the future and then looking at the educational options/requirements for entering those careers. This latter information may help inform his A-Level subject choices (see Section D of the report). If your son would like to discuss further the findings in his report, about research he has since undertaken on careers of interest, or on the selection of specific A-Level subject choices (from a career planning perspective), please encourage him to contact me directly to arrange a meeting. And, if your son is planning to seek a work experience placement after his GCSE exams, encourage him to look for a placement with an employer in a career of interest as a way of finding out more about that career. Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance.
Music
There are plenty of upcoming music events which parents are kindly invited to note – here is a summary:
- Solo Concert Platform No 2 – Thursday 9 November, 6pm in CMR (admission free)
- Music Society Quiz (with the Headmaster as Quizmaster) and Family Supper – Friday 10 November, 7pm in CMR. Due to catering requirements, tickets in advance are required for this event. Please make your ticket purchases by 5pm on Monday 6 November.
- Senior Instrumental Solo Competition – Wednesday 15 November, 6pm in CMR (admission free)
- Joint Choral Society sing Mozart and Rutter – Sunday 19 November, 7pm in the Amey Theatre. Tickets are required for this event.
Fines for parking on Park Road and on Park Crescent
Parents are reminded that, to discourage parking on these private roads, a company is employed by Christ's Hospital to fine cars parked there. Visitors should use the School's Lower Field Car Park on Park Road, and then report to Park Lodge Reception, please.
Reminder FASBC Quiz and Curry Night – Saturday 18 November, 7pm
Website Feedback
We would be very grateful if parents could spare just a few minutes to give us some feedback on the school website which was updated at the beginning of this term. Please follow this link, it will only take a few minutes.
