8 Jan 2016

WEEKLY MAILING

This week's mailing is:

Letters:

​​Notices:

The Abingdonian

The 2015 edition of The Abingdonian magazine has been distributed this week to all boys who were members of the school last academic year. In the case of brothers, a copy has been given to the older sibling.

Abingdon News

The latest edition of the School's newsletter, Abingdon News, has been given to your son to bring home this week. Boys who are full boarders will have a copy posted home. The newsletter can also be viewed online. Any feedback regarding school publications is very welcome, please email [email protected]

Music Technology Lessons at Abingdon School

The Music Department is offering an exciting opportunity to a limited number of pupils to learn about its latest state-of-the-art music technology equipment. A short eight week course in the summer term will be an introduction to how music/sound is composed, recorded and produced within the digital studio environment. This will involve the use of a variety of software packages and hardware equipment to unlock the vast potential of recording musical ideas and sound.
There will be a limited amount of places with a view to longer term study in the Autumn 2016. Recent pupils have gone onto courses and careers in commercial music and sound recording and an understanding of the use of this essential technology will certainly give future candidates an important edge. The lessons are offered on the same basis as individual music lessons, which currently cost £18.50 for a 30 minute lesson. Places are limited so are offered on a first come first served basis. 
If you are interested, please contact the Director of Music by email at [email protected]

Music Notices

Parents are warmly invited to attend any of the events that feature in our busy calendar of music this term. We look forward to seeing you.

The music newsletter gives more information about the events, which include a Woodwind Masterclass with Paul Harris as well as our Annual Chamber Music Evening, a Singers' Platform and a School Choirs concert.

Parents of all woodwind players should consider bringing their sons to the imminent Woodwind Masterclass with Paul Harris on Thursday 14 January. These occasions are both enjoyable and fascinating, and we have the pleasure of hearing Paul Harris give his own brief clarinet recital at the end.

We are so delighted the Chilingirian String Quartet is coming to Abingdon again this year. This is a concert not to be missed. Please see the flyer and book early for tickets.

To all parents who have a career!

The annual Careers Convention takes place on the evening of Friday 18 March and is hosted this year by Our Lady’s Abingdon (St Helen’s are the third school involved along with Abingdon). We are in need of professionals for the event which aims to give fifth year (and some sixth form) students an insight into what is really involved in as many careers as possible. There is a keynote speech and some panel presentations but most of the careers are represented by an individual who is available for one-to-one conversations with students. As well as providing a realistic inside track on what a career actually is like students can benefit from finding out about entry requirements, useful qualifications and recent changes in the industry.

The areas in which we could really use your expertise are:

  • Advertising.
  • Civil aviation.
  • Creative arts.
  • Education.
  • Extractive industries.
  • Financial services.
  • Health & social care.
  • Journalism.
  • Law.
  • Sport.

If you are available to help I would love to hear from you. Please email [email protected] 

Sport priority on a Saturday – reminder

In planning for this term, please observe this extract from the Parents' Handbook:

Boys are expected to be available for matches against other schools unless specific permission has been sought from and granted by the Head. Any request should be made well in advance, at least one week before the fixture and copied to the Director of Sport and PE, Andrew Hall. Abingdon has a strong tradition of participating in interschool fixtures across the age ranges. In recent years we have strengthened our fixture list, and been more ambitious in the schools we have been playing, and we are putting out more teams. Please avoid asking for leave of absence. We are keen the boys practise and play together, that the boys develop an allegiance to the School, and that our opponents have the best opposition we can provide.

To all parents of 3rd Year Rowers

The FASBC committee would like to invite all parents, guardians and families of the 3rd Year boys starting rowing this term to a “Tea Party” on Saturday 23 January at 2pm at the school boathouse, Wilsham Road, Abingdon, OX14 5LE. Come and see what your sons are up to at the boathouse and on the water, weather permitting, have a cup of tea and some cake and find out what the FASBC does to support the boys rowing. Further information will be sent out by the coach, Hugh Price.

Parking is very limited at the boathouse. Please try and park in Wilsham Road, alongside the river, and walk round to the boathouse. Please take care not to block any driveways – we try to be considerate of our neighbours. We look forward to seeing you there.

Food Menu for the coming week – Week 2