19 Jan 2018

WEEKLY MAILING

This week's mailing is

Letters:

Notices:

OA Damian Sutcliffe to Speak at Abingdon School on the Technological Revolution in Financial Services

Damian Sutcliffe (OA 1987), the now retired former EMEA Head of Technology and Global Chief of Operations Technology at Goldman Sachs, is coming to Abingdon on Friday 2 February (4-5pm, Sports Centre Hospitality Suite) to speak about the technological revolution occurring in the financial services sector and career opportunities that this revolution is already bringing. The event is open to any students who are interested in the topic, but is most relevant to 5th year, L6 and U6.

Gap Year Advice Evening for Sixth Form Pupils and Parents

Abingdon will host a Gap Year Advice Evening for Sixth Form pupils and parents on Thursday 25 January 2018, 6pm-7.30pm in the CMR. The event will feature a presentation about the reasons to take a Gap Year; the pros and cons of a Gap Year; setting goals and finding relevant experiences during a Gap Year; the likely costs of a Gap Year; and the transition following return from a Gap Year. In addition, there will be a panel of five Old Abingdonians on hand to share their own Gap Year story and insights. No booking is necessary; just show up on the night. Pupils can also download (from the University Admissions page of Firefly) the Abingdon School Gap Year Guide, which is intended to help pupils think carefully through all the considerations involved in electing, planning, and managing a Gap Year.

FASBC – Tea party for parents of 3rd year rowers

The Friends of the Abingdon School Boat Club invite the Parents of the new 3rd year rowers (J14) to a tea party at the boat house on Saturday 3 February from 2pm. This is a great opportunity to watch and cheer for your sons (weather permitting); to meet the Coaches, other parents of rowers and the FASBC Committee; and to see around the boat house. The Abingdon School Boat House can be found at the bottom of Wilsham Road, OX14 5LE and can be accessed through large black gates just after Kingfisher Close. There is limited parking within the grounds of the boat house, so please park on Wilsham Road next to the river and walk down, showing respect and consideration to our neighbours. There is no need to RSVP, but we very much hope that many of the new parents will be able to join us at this first event of the season. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

The Abingdon Science Partnership

The Abingdon Science Partnership has been asked to find young volunteers to help the Department of Psychology at the University of Oxford with their Brain For Maths study. This study aims to find out how the brain processes numbers throughout life. They are looking for children and  young people to take part in the research to help understand the development of the brain and numeracy skills. Currently, they are recruiting children aged 6, 10 and 14 years, and first year A-Level students NOT taking Maths at A-level. Participants must be right-handed, fluent English speakers, and without any known (or suspected) learning or developmental difficulty. The study involves a safe brain scan using a Magnetic Resonance Scanner (1 ½ hours) and several Maths puzzles and games (3 hours). Repeat sessions will take place in 18 or 24 months’ time (depending on the stage of education). Sessions will be in the volunteer's own time and must not interfere with normal schooling. All participants receive a voucher to say thank you for taking part. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. The team hope to make the experience of being involved in research interesting and fun. You can find out more about this research on the study website.  Or please contact the team on [email protected] or 07464 755010 for further information.

  • Or text Participate to 07464 755010
  • Facebook and Twitter @brain4maths!
  • CUREC ref: MS-IDREC-C2-2015-016 Date 15.08.16 Version No: SI10_v4

Music Notices

Friday 2 February – Whole First Year trip to Birmingham to hear CBSO – Parents are respectfully reminded to complete the permission for their sons to attend the CBSO Schools Concert Matinée performance on Friday 2 February. The link was sent in last week's mailing but should be accessible by following this link to the Google response form.

There is a flurry of concert opportunities coming up….

  • Wednesday 24 January Solo Platform 6pm CMR – Admission is free to hear some of our leading players in solo performance.
  • Wednesday 31 January Fitzroy String Quartet 7pm, Amey Theatre – We would request that all string players and their families support this important occasion to hear one of the rising star ensembles of the international chamber music world. Please apply for tickets using this link.
  • Thursday 1 February New Year Charity Concert 7pm Amey Theatre – Come and hear many of our leading ensembles and support the school's selected charities at the same time. It's win, win! Please use this link to order your tickets.

For Lower Sixth boys and their parents: UCAS

UCAS1: Introduction to the university application process: Friday 23 February 2018, 7pm, Amey Theatre. This is an important opportunity for boys and their parents to be introduced by experts to some of the key features of university application and admission processes.

Programme:

  • 7pm: Introduction, followed by Katherine Pagett, Student Recruitment Manager at Birmingham University, who will give an overview of the application process from a university admissions perspective (Amey Theatre);
  • 7.45-8pm: Refreshments (Amey foyer and Cafe);
  • 8pm-8.45pm: Boys and parents choose to attend: EITHER Oxford University and Cambridge University applications talk, OR Question and Answer: a panel of current Upper Sixth boys will talk about their own experiences of university applications (CMR).

An Evening with James Ketchell – Monday 5 February, 7pm, Amey Theatre

All parents and pupils are warmly invited to attend this event at 7pm in the Amey Theatre to hear from James Ketchell, serial adventurer, motivational speaker and Scouting ambassador. On 1 February 2014, James became the first and only person to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, successfully summited Mount Everest and cycled 18,000 miles around the world. There is no charge for the event but tickets do need to be booked at this link. James will be signing copies of his book “The Ultimate Triathlon” at the end of the evening (cost: £10).

Reminder – A Matter of Life and Death – Amey Theatre, Wednesday 24 – Friday 26 January, 7pm 

On the night of 2nd May, 1945, an English airman tells a woman he's never met he loves her before jumping from his burning aircraft to almost certain death. However, in the thick fog above the channel, the angel sent to collect pilot Peter Carter misses him, and Carter finds himself washed up on the shore, alive. But having issued an invoice, the other world must balance its books, so Peter has to take the heavenly authorities to the Universal Court of Appeal to argue for his life.  Inspired by Powell and Pressburger’s ground-breaking 1946 film, this wildly romantic tale was first performed at the National Theatre in 2007 in a breathtaking adaptation by the Kneehigh Theatre Company.  Please note, staff are able to book one complimentary ticket. If you wish to do so, please get in touch. Tickets still on sale.

Traffic Disruption in Park Road

Due to essential gas mains replacement by S.G.N., there will be some considerable disruption to vehicles visiting the School, travelling along Park Road from Monday 29 January.  Although the works will predominately be carried out to the footpaths and grass verges, it is expected that some temporary road closures will occur.  Parents and pupils will be contacted if significant changes to routes are needed.  

Food menu for the coming week – Week 3