8 Nov 2019

WEEKLY MAILING

This week’s mailing is:

Letters:

Notices:

Anti-Bullying

Next week is annual Anti-Bullying week. This year’s theme is: “Change Starts with us” and we will be raising this issue with boys throughout the week. Whether it is verbal, physical, online or in-person, bullying can have a significant impact on a child’s life well in to adulthood. Please, could you try to find the chance to talk about this important topic with your son as well?  We will be encouraging boys to speak out and to be that change, if they ever witness bullying. This might be to a trusted adult or via the school’s whistleblowing system. We will also be exploring the idea that by taking collective responsibility we can challenge bullying.  Thank you in anticipation of your support with this.  Please also feel free to visit the Anti-Bullying Alliance website and/or the School’s Anti-Bullying policy.  If you haven’t already done so I also invite you to join our wellbeing twitter feed for parents which is @Ab_Wellbeing.

Remembrance Parade 

Only the Lower and Upper Sixth pupils in CCF are involved in the Remembrance parade on Sunday at 9am.

For Parents of 5th Year Pupils: Morrisby Aspirations Programme Results from the Head of Career Guidance

If your son is participating in the Morrisby Aspirations Career Profiling Programme, earlier this week, he will have had an interview with an independent careers adviser from Morrisby. By early next week (if not done already), the career adviser who interviewed your son will have typed up and posted notes from their interview to your son’s Morrisby online account (www.morrisby.com).  If your son has given you read-only access to his online account, you can view these notes and the various psychometric analyses on which the advice given is based. If not, please ask your son to give you access to his account (which he can do via the Planner tab). Find time over the next few weeks to discuss the results of this programme with your son and how these results might impact on A-Level subject choices (from a career planning perspective). Tentative A-Level choices will be requested at the end of November. Please email me at [email protected] if you have any questions, concerns or requests. Michael Triff, Head of Career Guidance.

All Parents: Volunteer Career Representatives needed for Abingdon Careers Convention, Friday 13 March 2020, Our Lady’s Abingdon 

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 year’s Careers Convention will be held on Friday evening 13 March 2020 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.

Joint Schools Choral Society

Sunday 17 November at 7pm at the Amey Theatre.  Please join us for this year’s Choral Society concert under the direction of Adam Treadaway. This annual event brings together singers and instrumentalists from both Abingdon and St Helen’s, as well as parents and staff. Adam has chosen a lovely programme of Gjeillo’s Sunrise Mass, together with Mozart’s Ave Verum and Puccini’s Chrysanthemums. Please apply for tickets online and see the poster here.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Dates of opening of the Second Hand Uniform Shop are on their usual page, together with details of how to sell your second hand uniform.  Many thanks to all involved in SUS, as the boys benefit from money raised which is donated to the School.

School blog: A December Election – Time for Reflection by Mike Windsor

The latest blog written by the Headmaster is now on the website. 

Mike Windsor considers how independent schools can assist in raising education standards for all  – in the light of the Labour Party’s backing of a conference motion that called for the abolition of independent schools.

Abingdon Box Office

Top Dog Film Festival – 7.30pm on Tuesday 12 November

Tickets for the Joint Senior Production are now on sale: Abingdon & St Helen’s present: King Charles III – 7pm on 29, 30 & 31 January

News from the week:

Food Menu for the coming week – Week 3