Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 9th june 2017
Dear Parents,
Nationally, it’s certainly been an unusual week and I’m impressed at how informed and measured the boys have been about national and international news. Not to be left out, we have run our own school election, masterminded by 8S who set up two political parties, Change and Evolution, produced manifestos, campaign posters and spoke to their Years 3-8 constituency. Our returning officers invited constituents to register their vote and set up the Polling Station in a most authentic way. In the event, there was very nearly 100% turnout. Both Change and Evolution garnered a strong number of votes, but Change had the edge and their victory was marked in assembly today by eloquent and generous speeches of acceptance and concession by both candidates. The excitement of elections aside, for the upper end of the School there has been a slightly different rhythm to the week anyway as we have all been busily engaged either writing exam scripts or marking them. And Pre-Prep and Years 3 & 4 have had a little more run of the place, as demonstrated respectively in the thoughtful and confident assembly produced for us in Chapel on Wednesday and in the energetic rehearsals for Bugsy Malone.
In a week of exams and a week in which the wider world may seem an even more complex and bewildering place, it was timely to read a fellow Head writing about the importance of learning from failure, fear or anxiety. “We all need challenges and adversity in life," she writes, “being happy all the time is not psychologically healthy. Being able to draw on character strengths gives a young person a toolbox from which to cope appropriately with whatever comes their way.” Martin Seligman (author of The Optimistic Child) lists such character strengths as, for example, humour, fairness, passion, wisdom, bravery, courage and gratitude. And simply by getting children to recognise their particular strengths and carry them out in actions as simple as picking something different to their friends for lunch, or holding a door open for someone, or recalling three things they are grateful for each day, gives them something constant and self-affirming to draw upon when the going gets tough.
Louise and I look forward to welcoming the class of 2017 to the Leavers’ Dinner for Year 8/8S this evening, which is always a most civilised occasion when I'm sure both colleagues and parents can be proud of some really first-rate young people. Would parents please note that the dinner will finish at 9.00pm.
Chorister Open Day is tomorrow, Saturday 10th June, 4.00-6.00pm. Parents of boys in Years 1 and 2 will have received a letter about the Chorister Open Day, which is an excellent time to meet Mr Quinney and find out more about life in New College Choir.
All current, former and prospective parents and Friends of the School are warmly invited to our Summer Drinks Evening on Wednesday 21st June at 8.00pm in the Cloisters in New College. It will be preceded by Year 8’s play-reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 6.00pm. If you would like to attend the drinks evening please RSVP to jemma.kilkenny@newcollegeschool.org, indicating numbers as soon as possible.
The Summer Fête is fast approaching on Saturday 24th June. Please dig out anything we could sell on the popular Toys and Books stall, run by Year 7 parents in the gym. We would also like to ask for donations for the Tombola stall, run by Year 6. Items for this should be new or 'as new'. Decorative items, unloved gifts, nicely packaged food items, bottles (but no alcohol please as it is complicated when the boys win) good condition toys or games, unused toiletries. Things you would like to win yourself. Donations can be brought in and left in the office from this Monday 12th June. (Tombola items cannot be dealt with on the day of the fair as they need to be numbered). There will also be a Bake-Off competition with cakes sold on after the Fete – so don’t be shy with your culinary skills! Also, please do help your year reps in organising and running the stalls as much as you can: it will be greatly appreciated.
Please do join us for the celebratory events leading up to the end of term. I know how much the boys and my colleagues appreciate your support.
▪️The Pre-Prep Instrumental Concert on Tuesday 13th June at 2.30pm. There is tea for parents afterwards and parking will be available from 2.00pm in the playground.
▪️The Chamber Choir Concert is at 5.00pm on Thursday 15th June. Drinks in my study from 4.45pm. Parking available in the playground.
▪️Years 3 & 4’s production of Bugsy Malone is on Tuesday 20th June and Thursday 22nd June at 6.00pm in the School Hall. Parking available in the playground.
▪️Year 8’s play reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is on Wednesday 21st June at 6.00pm in New College Cloisters, followed at 8.00pm by the Summer Drinks Evening. Parking available in the playground.
▪️The School Fête is on Saturday 24th June, 2.00 – 4.00pm. Please park in surrounding roads (or better still cycle of walk if possible!) since the school grounds will be full of fête stalls.
▪️Sports Day is on Tuesday 4th July at the University Sports Ground in Iffley Road. Parents are warmly invited to join us; please bring a picnic lunch. Pre-prep sports last from 10.00 – 11.00am and pupils may either stay on with their parents for the prep school sports at 11.00am and lunch or return with form teachers to school. Prep school sports last from 11.00am until about 3.00pm, after which pupils may go home with their parents or return to school to be collected at the usual time. Limited parking will be available at Iffley Road and at School.
▪️Wednesday 5th July is the Leavers’ Service is at 10.45am in New College Chapel. Parents of leavers are particularly invited to join us. Coffee afterwards in the College Hall.
▪️The Pre-Prep Summer Show and award of annual certificates is also on Wednesday 5th July at 2.00pm. All pre-prep parents are invited but, for reasons of space, we need to limit tickets to two per family. Parking available in the playground from 1.30pm.
▪️The Fathers vs Leavers Cricket Match is also on Wednesday 5th July at 6.00pm on Field. Parking available in the playground and some limited parking on Field.
▪️The Leavers’ Concert is in the University Church at 7.00pm on Thursday 6th July, followed by a reception at School. Parking available in School.
▪️Term ends at 12 noon on Friday 7th July, following prizegiving at 10.45am (to which parents of prizewinners in Years 3-8 will be invited nearer the time). Parking available in school from 10.20am.
With good wishes to all NCS families,
Robert Gullifer
Forthcoming Events
Sat 10
Chorister Open Day, Antechapel, 4.00pm
Mon 12
U13 A Cricket vs d’Overbroeck’s, Away, 2.00pm
Tue 13
Pre-Prep Instrumental Concert, Sports Hall, 2.30pm
U11 A&B Cricket vs MCS, Away, 4.00pm
HM Reception for new parents, Sports Hall, 7.30pm
Wed 14
School Service 10.00 am – New College Chapel
Speaker: Dr Timothy Hands, Headmaster of Winchester College
Coffee afterwards in the Undercroft for parents and visitors
Eco Committee meeting 12.00-12.30pm
U13 B Cricket vs St Hugh’s, Away, 2.15pm
Thurs 15
U11 Cricket House Matches, Home, 2.00pm
Chamber Choir Recital, School Hall, 5.00pm
Drinks in HM Study from 4.45pm
Corpus Christi Service, New College Chapel, 6.15pm
Fri 16
Open Morning 10.00-12 noon
Open Art Studio 10.00 – 5.00 p.m., Art Room
U9A&B Cricket vs MCS, Home, 2.00pm
Sat 17
End of University Term
Grade V Theory Exam
NC Choir : CD Launch
Sun 18
Last Evensong, New College Chapel, 6.15pm
Mon 19
Associated Board Exam Week
U13 Cricket House matches, Home, 2.00pm
Tues 20
U11 A & B Cricket vs MCS, Away, 4.00pm
Years 3 and 4 Musical: Bugsy Malone, School Hall, 6.00pm
Wed 21
School Service 10.00 am – New College Chapel
Speaker: The Revd John Witheridge, formerly Conduct of Eton College & Headmaster of Charterhouse
Coffee afterwards in College Hall for parents and visitors
LAMDA Examination day (all day in the school hall)
School Council meeting, 12.30pm
U13 A Cricket vs CCCS, Away, 2.15pm
U13 B Cricket vs CCCS, Home, 2.15pm
Year 8 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, New College Cloisters, 6.00pm
Summer Drinks Evening, New College Cloisters, 8.00-9.30 p.m.
Thurs 22
U13 Athletics (Mercia Games), Away, 9.00 – 4.00pm
NC Choir: Rehearsal and Concert in Temple Church 12 noon onwards
U11 A Cricket vs Bruern Abbey, Away, 2.00pm
Years 3 and 4 Musical: Bugsy Malone, School Hall, 6.00pm
Fri 23
Induction Morning for new pupils 9.00am
Years 1 & 2 cricket house matches, 10.30am, Field
U9 A&B Cricket vs Cokethorpe, Home, 2.00pm
U9 C Cricket vs Cokethorpe, Away, 2.00pm
Sat 24
School Fête 2.00- 4.00pm