Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 11th november 2016
Dear Parents,
I am always moved by the profound sense of awe and respect that the boys show at our annual Remembrance Day service. From an early age, they seem to get the solemnity and dignity of the occasion. It’s a delicate balance between ensuring they are not upset or anxious about the harsh realities of war and yet understand the sacrifices made in the past which contribute to the peace and freedoms we all want to enjoy today.
But there has probably never recently been a more important moment than now for current generations to remember the lessons of history. The philosopher Alain de Botton’s salutary reminder of human failings, published in yesterday’s New York Times, is worth quoting here. “It is an enormous and very rare privilege to have lived in the days of good government. Across nations and centuries, few people have ever done so. By a rare bit of luck, certain groups in a few corners of the globe tasted decades of this remarkable, anomalous blessing. They might...even have started to assume it was a natural or God-given norm. Yet the default state of almost all nations is quite other, it is authoritarianism, bullying, demagoguery, corruption, monopoly, racial segregation and state sponsored aggression and murder.” In an assembly this week, I showed the boys the medals my grandfather was awarded after the First World War. He was nobody special, nobody important and would not have considered himself a hero: these particular medals were awarded to all who took part in the conflict. But I’m sure he believed he should do his bit to stand up and do his duty for what he held dear about the way of life (not necessarily perfect, but based on a reasonable moral code) in this and like-minded countries. And whilst undoubtedly lamenting the conflict that was felt necessary to protect it, he gave out the sense of the job having to be done.
Václav Havel, the Czech dissident who eventually became President of the Czech Republic, was optimistic that individuals can make a difference. “We cannot assume that our microscopic yet truly unique everyday actions are of no consequence simply because they apparently cannot resolve the immense problems of today.” So, as teachers and parents, I’m sure we should not be afraid to promote actively to our children the need for kindness, mutual understanding, tolerance, care for those less fortunate than ourselves and respect for rational thought. As I emphasised to the boys this week, every one of them can make a difference simply by the way in which they learn to treat others at home, at school and in the wider community. The world clearly needs these values to be asserted as much now as in 1914 or 1939.
Congratulations to Years 7 & 8 on their excellent performances in The Tempest this week. Many parents and guests have commented how well they mastered the Shakesperean language and what assured interpretations they gave in the atmospheric surroundings of the Chapel. It was a great privilege for Dr Jenkinson and me to work with such a dedicated cast. Well done to all! My thanks, too, to colleagues and parents who have given so much support to the production in so many different ways.
Sport. Last Friday the U9 and U8 teams played MCS. In the U8 TAG rugby games, we played in two very sporting matches as the lead changed hands many times and over 20 tries were scored in both games. At the final whistle, though, the lead was in our guest’s hands and we lost the games by a single try. Nonetheless, a great afternoon of rugby was had by all. Over at MCS the U9 contact games were both hard-fought but equally enjoyable affairs. In the ‘B’ team game Leon Tarin scored the opening try and the boys were in fine spirits. However, on this occasion one too many dropped balls meant we failed to score enough points to take this game and eventually lost 8-5. Theo Knight, and indeed Leon Tarin, were clear men of the match. The ‘A’ team played a great game of rugby and were chasing a two try deficit in both the first and second halves. The boys showed amazing determination, especially in the face of some very vocal MCS parental support! They never gave up and, thanks to Jack Rothery’s final run, they scored the decisive try to win the game 6-5! On Monday this week the U10 team visited MCS for the festival of rugby. In a tough group we managed to secure 3rd place after very narrow defeats to Chandlings and Abingdon Prep. Both games were decided by a single try! However, we found ourselves in a 5th place play of vs the hosts MCS. This was a tough game in which we took an early lead thanks to Fraser Mackenzie running the MCS defence ragged. We quickly backed this up with 2 more scores to take a 3-1 lead at half time. Despite a spirited MCS come back, we controlled the game well and looked in charge all the way through. They held firm to take the win and a very impressive 5th place overall.
Following this it was the turn of the U11 ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams to play against Cokethorpe. All three teams gave very impressive performances with the ‘A’ team winning 8-4, the ‘B’ team 6-5 and the ‘C’ team 15-0. In so doing they set a new NCS record by scoring 15 tries in a single match. Stand out performances and special mentions must go to Callan McMillan and Joseph Conway in the ‘A’ team, Nathan Sparkes and Narian Madar in the ‘B’ team and Xander Quinney in the ‘C’ team.
The U13 teams were down a few key players this week as they were resting and preparing for The Tempest this week. The boys who were able to play stepped up and played in some very tough matches vs the Dragon on Wednesday. In the ‘A’ team match, it was very special to watch Theo Stavrik score his first try for the 1st team. Theo and the other Year 7 boys really worked hard in this game and, despite the score line of 7-1, they never gave up. Arlie Macpherson and Matthew Rolfe both put in some very impressive tackles to stop some certain try-scoring opportunities. In the ‘B’ team, Tom Blake even surprised himself with the tackles he managed to make: he certainly deserved his place in the team.
The Pre-Prep Fireworks Party last Saturday was hugely enjoyable and it was super to see all the boys (and many siblings) dressed up so imaginatively, bringing in some highly authentic-looking Guy Fawkes lanterns (in the best ‘Blue Peter’ tradition), and entering into the fun with such gusto. Many thanks to the team of parents who organised it all so smoothly and produced the delicious refreshments.
The Library has benefited this week from a superbly imaginative and generous donation of Maths-related books which will surely enthuse many pupils. They range from fiction books with Maths themes to puzzle books, from engaging Maths facts to fascinating Maths problems and beautiful number patterns. My warmest thanks to the Curtis family for their thoughtful gift.
You may have noticed the striking and beautifully-made cushions which now grace the chairs in my entrance hall and feature the College and School crest. These were especially created for the School by Mrs Jo Asquith, Mrs Sandie Capel and Mrs Margaret Slorach. The design and the intricate work which has gone into them must have taken many hours of work and care, for which we are very grateful. Do have a look!
National Anti-Bullying Week begins on Monday. No school should ever claim it is free from the potential for bullying and so it is important that children are taught to be open about their feelings at school and at home and that schools are always vigilant to ensure there is an ethos in which anti-bullying is taken seriously. As ever, we shall focus on anti-bullying and a culture of openness and mutual support in our PSHCEE lessons throughout the School this week.
Next week also sees the start of ‘Switch-Off Fortnight’ when the eco-committee are fostering a number of initiatives to monitor energy usage and promote wise use of our resources at home and at school. On Wednesday morning we shall have ‘Switch-Off Form Period’ when we shall try to get by with minimal use of electricity and see just how soon we need to ‘switch-on’. We hope it will give the boys a really immediate sense of how much we rely on electricity and the need for our responsible use of it. We are also encouraging the boys (and families!) to undertake their own Carbon Footprint Survey. Do have a go: it’s instructive, and perhaps alarming! http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/
The Junior Concerts for Years 3-5 are on Wednesday at 5.15pm and 6.30pm. Miss Sharp has sent out detailed arrangements and a list of performers. We look forward to hearing our instrumentalists: judging by some of the music emanating from the practice rooms, we are in for a treat. Drinks will be served in my study before each concert.
A new CD in time for Christmas! This latest recording from Robert Quinney and New College Choir celebrates music sung at the college’s annual Advent and Christmas carol services. From plainsong and traditional carols to striking contemporary settings, this new selection is a haunting evocation of the Christmas liturgy in New College’s medieval chapel. Available from www.newcollegechoir.com (there is an NCS parent discount).
With good wishes to all NCS families,
Robert Gullifer
Forthcoming Events
Sat 12
U9 A Rugby vs Winchester House, Away, 1.00pm-4.30/5.00pm
Mon 14
National Anti-Bullying Week begins
‘Switch-Off’ Fortnight begins
Tues 15
U8/9 Tag Rugby House Matches, Home, 10.30am
U11 A Rugby vs Sibford, Away, 2.45pm
U11 B Tag Rugby vs Sibford, Away, 2.45pm
Wed 16
School Service 10.00 am – New College Chapel
Speaker: Fr Jonathan Beswick, Vicar of the Church of St Barnabas, Oxford
Coffee in the Undercroft afterwards for parents and visitors
U13 A Rugby vs d’Overbroeck’s, Home, 2.30pm
Junior Concerts (Years 3, 4 & 5), 5.15pm & 6.30pm, School Hall
Refreshments beforehand in Headmaster's Study 5.00pm & 6.15pm
Thurs 17
U11 A&B Rugby vs Windmill, Home, 2.15pm
Fri 18
U9 A&B Rugby v Dragon, Home, 2.15pm
Tues 22
U8/9 Rugby House Matches, Home, 10.30am
U11 Rugby House Matches, Home, 2.00pm
Wed 23
School Service 10.00 am – New College Chapel
Speaker: Dr Andrew Counter, Fellow & Tutor in French, New College
Coffee in the Undercroft afterwards for parents and visitors
School Council Meeting, 12.30pm, French Room
U13 A Rugby vs Bruern Abbey, Home, 2.30pm
U13 B Rugby vs Bruern Abbey, Away, 2.30pm
Senior Concerts (Years 6, 7 & 8), School Hall, 5.15pm and 6.30 pm
Refreshments beforehand in HM Study at 5.00pm and 6.15pm
Thur 24
U11 A&B Rugby vs CCCS, Away, 2.30pm
U11 C&D Rugby vs CCCS, Home, 2.30pm
Fri 25
U9 A&B Rugby v MCS, Home, 2.15pm
Sun 27
Advent Carol Service New College Chapel 5.30 p.m.