This week’s mailing is:
Letters:
- To all parents and carers – Mental Health Awareness week
Notices:
From the Headmaster to all parents:
Dear Parents
After such a long hiatus, it was fantastic to see our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award entrants out and about on Tuesday, preparing for their expeditions later this term. Everyone involved with DofE has shown great ingenuity and persistence in ensuring that they have continued with the other aspects of the award, such as volunteering, skills and physical activities. The expedition phase offers such an important opportunity for young people to develop independence, resilience and teamwork so I’m delighted that DofE groups will soon, once again, be a feature of the British countryside. There is lots of planning going on over the next few weeks for expeditions later this term at Bronze, Silver and Gold level, and my thanks go to Mr Dempsey who heads up the scheme at Abingdon, together with the many colleagues who assist with our expeditions.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hailstorm as prolonged and violent as the one which put paid to our tennis matches on Wednesday. The weather is not exactly helping our return to school fixtures at the moment. Let’s hope it stays consistently dry soon and that we can welcome spectators back in the near future as well.
Wishing you all the best for the weekend,
Mike Windsor
Upper Sixth and Fifth Year Events for Summer Term 2021
Following their assessments the exam cohorts return to classes till Half Term. Fifth years will study material in preparation for the sixth form. Upper Sixth will complete their studies and celebrate the end of their time at School. All are welcome to participate in the activities listed on Upper Sixth and Fifth Events for Summer Term 2021, not least by continuing with their Other Half activities, both sporting and non-sporting. This will be explained to them shortly.
Annual Data Check – Reminder
The Annual Data Check forms were sent to parents on Wednesday 28 April via iSAMS email. Please complete and submit by Friday 15 May. The Data Check is an online process that takes a few minutes to complete.
Parents of 5th Year Pupils: Next Steps with Summer Work Experience, from Mr Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance
Last Thursday, 29 April, all 5th year pupils watched a video during morning assembly advising them of what they can/should do regarding summer work experience, whether they have a confirmed placement or not. And, earlier this week, all 5th year pupils received an email from Mr Triff with a link to an online work experience reporting form; pupils with confirmed placements should report their placement to the School. Placements can begin any time after the current school year ends for 5th years on Friday 28 May. In that same email was an attachment containing suggestions for how pupils can get the most out of a work experience placement. And, as a reminder to parents, there is a work experience checklist linked from the bottom of this web page on the school web site; please download it and read it in full. If you have any questions about summer work experience, contact Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance, at [email protected].
Middle School Scholars’ Newsletter – Summer Term 2021
Please find here the latest edition of the Middle School Scholars’ Newsletter. This issue has been written by our 3rd and 4th year academic scholars and features a wide range of excellent articles, focusing on independent thought and research. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Music, from the Director of Music:
- Solo Concert Platform No 5 – Wednesday 12 May, streaming from 6pm. Next week sees the last of this year’s five all-year solo platforms. This is a pre-recorded event that can be accessed from the Box Office in the normal way. The concert will also be available by means of a link in next week’s mailing.
Whilst we are looking to what we hope will be live events later in the term (Lower School Gala Concert, Summer Concert and Celebration of the Arts), I would like to record my thanks to all those pupils and staff who have recorded their performances during the last year or more. It has been wonderful to continue to enjoy their music-making and to be aware of progress.
All being well, the events at the end of term will be live occasions and I hope to see there many parents and friends of the school.
CCF charity event honours the Old Abingdonians (OAs) who fell in WWI
Our ambitious undertaking this year is to virtually visit the sites of all of the graves of the OAs who died in WWI. We are supporting SSAFA, the armed forces charity that helps to rehabilitate ex-service men and women as well as supporting their families. Find out more.
Reminder – Family Quiz – Friday 21 May at 7pm via Zoom
ASPA and the Charity Committee are running a joint online quiz at 7pm on Friday 21 May
Proceeds will be split between two charities:
- SSNAP – a charity that works at the John Radcliffe Hospital supporting sick new born babies and their parents
- AGAPE – a charity supporting educational work in Moldova which Abingdon has collaborated with for 20 years
Cost to join the quiz will be £5 per family but there will be an opportunity on the booking form to donate more to these charities if you wish. To book your family ticket please click here and complete the booking form including the email address to which you would like the Zoom details to be sent.
Closing date – end of day on Wednesday 19 May, Zoom meeting details to be sent on Thursday 20 May. We look forward to seeing you!
News from the Week:
Food Menu for the coming week – Week 1
School Calendar
Please continue to consult the School Calendar for up to date information.
Here is the link to previous weekly mailings.
