5 Nov 2021

WEEKLY MAILING

This week’s mailing is:

Letters:

Notices:

From the Headmaster to all parents:

Dear Parents

We’ve enjoyed welcoming students back to school this week and it’s been great to see them throwing themselves into their studies and Other Half commitments. There have been some wonderful highlights in the arts this week, including the screening of eight superb films by members of the Abingdon Film Unit and some outstanding solo performances in the Senior Music Competition. The sporting programme is hotting up too and we look forward to fixtures in badminton, squash, fencing and rugby this weekend. You are all welcome to join us for these events.

The Combined Cadet Force has been busy preparing for their parade which forms part of our programme to mark Remembrance Day on Thursday 11 November. We will take time to come together and remember those, including Old Abingdonians, who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today.

I am grateful to the many of you who have already completed the School Pulse survey that was sent out earlier this week. I am conscious of the challenge of survey fatigue but your feedback on the School and its future direction is very important and I would be hugely grateful if you were able to complete this survey if you have not done so already. We have sent out a separate reminder which gives you direct access to the survey.

We have a busy second half of term ahead of us and I will look forward to seeing you in the weeks to come.

Best wishes

Mike Windsor, Headmaster

 

Catch up Covid-19 vaccinations

Pupils in the Second to Fifth year who missed their covid-19 vaccination in school are now being invited to make an appointment (not in school) via the National Booking System. This also now applies to those pupils in the First year who have turned 12 since the beginning of this academic year.

Catch up Flu vaccinations

Pupils in the First to Fifth year who missed their flu vaccination in school are now being invited to make an appointment (not in school).  Please refer to this letter from the Oxford Health Immunisation Team.

For Parents of 5th Year Pupils: Morrisby Profile Programme Interviews

If your child is participating in the Morrisby Profile Programme, they will have received an email from Mr Triff with the date, time, and location of their Zoom online interview with an independent careers’ adviser from Morrisby. This 30-minute interview will be next week on one of the following days: Monday 8 – Thursday 11 November. Thank you for ensuring your child has put this appointment in their planner/diary and that they set aside some time this weekend (if not already) to review their results and complete some pre-interview questions – all in their online Morrisby account. The Morrisby Profile Programme can help to inform A-Level subject choices from a career planning perspective, so thank you for ensuring your child makes the most of their interview next week. Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance.

All Parents: Volunteer Career Representatives needed for Abingdon Independent Schools’ Careers Convention, Thursday 10 March 2022

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 occupations of interest and educational routes into those occupations. It features parents and alumni of all three schools, as well as local employers, representing a wide range of career areas. Students can meet with ‘career representatives’ one to one, participate in small group career discussions, and attend presentations on current topics. The event is valued greatly by students and parents alike. This school year’s Careers Convention will be held on Thursday evening 10 March 2022 at Our Lady’s Abingdon. At present, all three schools are recruiting parents and alumni to volunteer as a ‘career representative’. To register your interest, please complete this online Expression of Interest form. Completing this form DOES NOT commit you to being a volunteer; it only tells us of your interest. We will follow up with you to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for considering being a volunteer at this important annual careers event! Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance

Music:

  • Wednesday 10 November at 6pm in the CMR – Solo Concert Platform No 2.  Please consider joining us for the second solo concert platform of the academic year. There will be a mixture of age groups, instruments and levels represented at the concert and all are welcome to attend. Parents of those performers who would like supper at 5.30pm are asked to let the music secretary know at [email protected]
  • Wednesday 17 November at 4pm at St Michael’s Church, Park Road, Abingdon – Choral Evensong. Parents are welcome to join us for Choral Evensong with the Chapel Choir. We have opted for an early time to allow pupils to catch buses home at the usual time.
  • Sunday 21 November at 7pm at St Helen’s School, Faringdon Road – Joint Choral Society sings Pirates of Penzance.  Parents of pupils participating are advised that arrangements for procuring tickets for this event are not yet confirmed as we are awaiting a decision from St Helen’s School. We hope to advise parents shortly, once we have clarification.

What is the role of chapel in the Abingdon School of today?

In the latest blog, the School Chaplain, Rev’d Dr Simon Steer, discusses why this 800-year-old activity still has an important part to play in school life and is relevant to everyone, regardless of the type of faith we hold or whether we hold a faith at all.  It is a very interesting and enjoyable read.

Abingdon Box Office:

News from the Week:

Food Menu for the coming week – Week 2

School Calendar

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

Here is the link to previous weekly mailings.