Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 27th september 2019
Dear Parents,
Aficionados of the school history (a small but dedicated bunch) will know the stories of the NCS food in the early twentieth century. The boys would be served their evening meal in the dining hall – the same as our current dining hall, though not for much longer – by the headmaster, Mr Carter, and his wife. The boys would then surreptitiously decant the food, so inedible was it, into their pockets. They would then discard said food by flinging it over the back wall into the area now occupied by Mr Neal’s office. This plan worked perfectly for quite a while, until the headmaster’s son (and successor) was carrying out some routine maintenance work to the back of the school and discovered a festering pile of liver in gravy.
I’m pleased to say that this isn’t the situation any more, and we have a committed team in the school kitchen who are eager to listen to our suggestions and strike the right balance between a number of different constituencies. I can vouch, having read the community survey, that the boys’ tastes and requests often differ somewhat from the tastes and requests of parents and colleagues. Chicken burgers are especially something of a hot potato. Hot potatoes seem quite popular. Nonetheless, I am working with Mr Greenfield to continue to enhance our food provision even further, both in terms of its nutritional balance and being attractive to palates of varying maturity and adventurousness.
Food has very much been on our minds this week. Firstly, because our host on the next stage of our journey around the wellbeing grid, Mr Bishop, used Tuesday’s pastoral assembly to explore the prompt ‘I understand how to eat well and I have a balanced diet’. Then, of course, during Wednesday’s Harvest Festival we thought about, and supported, those who are not fortunate enough to be able to have such a luxury as the choice to eat well. Enormous thanks for all of your donations that have made their way to the Oxford Food Bank and the Gatehouse, and for supporting our fresh produce stall, much of which generously came from our friends at Sandy Lane Farm.
When we weren’t thinking about our stomachs, the remainder of the NCS week was characteristically varied and stimulating. Madame Phillips took us through a celebration of the European Day of Languages; the choristers excelled themselves at the Founder’s Obit at Winchester; we enjoyed hosting the fantastic Michael Griffin for his workshops on developing musical skill; Year 4 got to hone that skill with a Tudor music workshop in the University Music Faculty’s Bate Collection; and I got to tell the boys about a peculiar quirk in transport history, that the first passenger train and the Model T Ford were both launched on 27 September, just in different years. Who knew?!
I hope you and your families have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
Sport. As another fabulous week comes to a close we can reflect on another very successful round of fixtures with all age groups involved in competitive matches. The U9 boys had their first taste of action this week as the four teams travelled to MCS on Friday afternoon. All four games were some of the most entertaining of the week with plenty of end-to-end action with some wonderful goals being scored. Over the course of the afternoon the NCS boys scored thirteen and only conceded five! All four teams had great results with the A team earning a 3-3 draw despite going 3-1 down at half time. This showed a real fighting spirit and determination not to lose. The same must be said about the B team which I had the pleasure of refereeing. The boys played some excellent football with Isaac demonstrating superb on the ball skill. However with only two minutes left they were 1-0 down but thanks to a double strike late on from Alexander the game was won in the dying seconds! Both the C and D teams won with the D team being the stars of the afternoon with an emphatic 7-1 win, which included a great hatrick from Monty on his debut. The C team managed another late goal to win their epic encounter, with Peter getting the man of the match from Mr Rose.
Also this week the senior boys hosted D’Overbroeck’s with three teams in action. On the A team pitch the boys quickly got into their stride and took an early lead and they were playing some excellent football in attack. However some ill-timed tackles saw the away team awarded two penalties to get back in the game. During the second half NCS began very well and passed the ball around with ease but after one or two lapses in concentration we were behind and chasing the game. With a necessary attacking mind-set and legs becoming tired it was becoming more and more difficult to find the elusive equalising goal and at the final whistle it was 4-6. On the B and C team pitches we were treated to two more fantastic games with both teams winning. The C team were the standout performers of the afternoon as they managed a 5-0 win, with Krishan scoring a hatrick and Sebastian keeping a clean sheet in goal.
On Tuesday the U11 teams played Bruern Abbey and Sibford with the B and C teams playing at home in the round robin mini tournament and the A team playing away at Bruern. This proved to be a very productive afternoon with all of teams registering good comprehensive wins. Harry in goal for the A team was singled out by the referee for his professional approach to the game and text book skills when distributing the ball to his outfield players. Following this the U11 A-D teams were in action on Thursday afternoon against MCS; we were very excited about these fixtures as they always deliver good games. This occasion was no different with the D team kicking things off with a great 1-0 win thanks to the joint men of the match Henry E and Henry J who combined up front to score a great goal deep in the second half to win the game. Kian was instrumental in the midfield, passing the ball well to his forwards. In the B and C team fixtures the boys fought really hard and for long periods the games were in the balance but on these occasions NCS just lost out going down 2-1 in the Bs and 4-1 in the Cs. Josh in the Cs and Ishan in the Bs were both sighted by the home referees as the respective men of the match for their teams, so well done both. In the A team match, despite a close start where the score remained 2-2 for a while, the NCS boys soon started to play some brilliant football and eventually ran out 7-2 winners thanks to a Leo hat trick and some excellent goalkeeping from Tolly who was making his first team debut. CB
Open Morning is tomorrow (Saturday 28 September) at 10.00-12.00. Materials advertising the morning are being sent home with the boys and we hope you have seen Miss Kilkenny’s fantastic posters around town. Please display them at work, home, or in your neighbourhood as is possible. All boys are welcome to volunteer as guides. Saturday Morning Music pupils attend the morning as usual to act as guides and continue with their music. Parent help with teas/coffees and in talking to visitors will also be most welcome. Please let the NCSPA know if you will be able to help (ncspa@newcollegeschool.org) and/or email office@newcollegeschool.org if your son would like to act as a guide. School uniform should be worn by all boys attending on Saturday morning, please.
The NCSPA AGM is on Monday 30 September at 19.30 in the sports hall. I look forward to meeting parents and discussing how we can work together over the coming year for the benefit of everyone in the community.
Year 7 Parents’ Evening is next Wednesday (2 October) from 18.00 in the sports hall. Some colleagues like to make a slightly earlier start so do pop in if you are at a loose end and want to get a head start. We politely ask that you arrive no later than 19.00 to allow all parents and colleagues plenty of time to have productive and targeted discussions but without things going on into the small hours.
St Giles’ Choir is Recruiting. It provides a platform for budding musicians to realise and develop their potential. They sing in St Giles', visit cathedrals, and undertake an annual tour. The experience of teamwork, common purpose, and shared endeavour amongst friends builds confidence and gives children valuable training in focus and concentration. To arrange an audition parents should contact Dr Nicholas Prozzillo choirdirector@st-giles-church.org http://www.st-giles-church.org/stgiles/
Future Destinations Evening. Parents and boys from Years 5 and 6 are very welcome on Monday 7 October for our Future Destinations Evening. This will take place in the sports hall from 18.30. Form tutors, other NCS colleagues, and representatives from senior schools will be available for discussion. The boys are encouraged to come along, to meet representatives from a variety of senior schools, and to have their voice heard in the senior school selection process. My colleagues and I are, of course, available at other times to help navigate through the vagaries of the 13+ future schools process.
Miss Hinds will be performing at St Nicolas Church, Abingdon, on Sunday 13 October at 15.00: Schubert’s Sonata in A and Janacek’s In the Mists. NCS families are, of course, very warmly invited to go along.
Person of the Week: William Lenthall
Artwork of the Week: ‘Mother and Child’ by Barbara Hepworth
Word of the Week: enervating
Forthcoming Events
Saturday, 28 September 2019
10.00 Open Morning
18.00 NC Choir : Gaude Evensong
Monday, 30 September 2019
15.00 U13 A,B,C&D Football vs Thorngrove, Away
19.30 NCS Parents’ Association AGM, Sports Hall
Tuesday, 1 October 2019
All day PSB Music Meeting, Red Room, New College
14.00 U11 A&B Football vs Sibford, Home
Wednesday, 2 October 2019
10.00 School Service, New College Chapel
Speaker: The Revd Canon Dr Simon Jones, Chaplain of Merton College
Coffee in the Undercroft afterwards for parents and visitors
12.30 Eco Committee - Charity Meeting, Yr 5 Classroom
14.30 U13 A & B Football vs Summer Fields, Away
14.30 U13 C Football vs Summer Fields, Home
18.00 Yr 7 Parents' Evening, Sports Hall
Thursday, 3 October 2019
12.15 U11A Football vs Elstree (ISFA Cup), Away
Friday, 4 October 2019
14.00 U9 A-C Football vs Summerfields, Away
14.00 U8 A-C Football vs Summerfields, Home
Saturday, 5 October 2019
9.00 U13A IAPS 6-aside Football Tournament at Summerfields
Monday, 7 October 2019
13.45 U13 Football House Matches, Home
18.30 Year 5 & 6 Future Destinations meeting, Sports Hall
Tuesday, 8 October 2019
14.00 U11 Football House Matches, Home
12.05 Meeting for probationer choristers, Chapel
Wednesday, 9 October 2019
10.00 School Service, New College Chapel
Speaker: Mr Robert Quinney, Organist, Fellow and Tutor in Music, New College
Coffee in the Undercroft afterwards for parents and visitors
12.00 Pupil Librarian meeting, Media Room
13.00 Choir recording session, St Michael's Summertown
13.00 U9 (all teams) Rugby vs St Hugh's, Away
14.15 U13 A&B Rugby vs Cothill, Away
14.15 U13 C Rugby vs Cothill, Home
Thursday, 10 October 2019
13.00 U7 Football vs Summer Fields, Home
16.00 U12 & U13 Cross Country vs Dragon, Away
Friday, 11 October 2019
14.15 U9 A&B Rugby vs Sibford, Home
18.15 First Evensong, New College Chapel
Saturday, 12 October 2019
Abingdon pre-test (Year 7 for September 2021 entry)