Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 7th july 2017
Dear Parents,
Amid all the other wonderful celebrations of the end of the year, this week belongs pre-eminently to our leavers. Wednesday’s thoroughly good-natured Parents vs Leavers cricket match on a perfect summer’s evening (at which the boys just secured a victory) was followed by last night’s Leavers’ Concert. Both were characterised by high standards and a real sense of the boys working together, rejoicing in each other’s talents. Our Year 8 leavers are a special group who have achieved a good deal between them and contributed a huge amount to school life. They have been very good company, stimulating to teach and generous in sharing their talents across the School. I suspect there are very few younger boys in the School who do not know these older boys and they regard them as excellent role models – the huge benefits such a close-knit community.
At the Leavers’ Service on Wednesday, I urged them to consider that they will have not only developed their intellectual skill here but also, I trust, will have learned what it is to be a decent human being in a civilised society. Above all, I hope this will serve them well as they begin to make more and more choices for themselves. I wish all our leavers continuing happiness and fulfilment in the future and thank every one of them for their special contribution to NCS.
Pre-prep’s The World of Christopher Robin was another highlight of this week. It was good to see the confidence of all boys in the pre-prep as they made their contributions, suitably attired in nostalgia-evoking costumes, against a most authentic background in the E.H. Shepard tradition accompanied by some evocative incidental music. Very well done to all, including the aspiring actors on the pre-prep staff.
And the weather on Sports Day was perfect for the occasion! Well done to everyone for entering into the spirit of the occasion and cheering on all the athletes so even-handedly. I was delighted that a good number of school records were broken, records which have dated back several decades in some cases.
Although the end of term has been upon us, NCS pupils are continuing to notch up successes in all sorts of different areas of interest. Many congratulations to Christopher Brain and Theo Cawood who have achieved a merit in the Junior Maths Kangaroo Challenge; to Ben Tate won Stagecoach ‘Performer of Year’ for his effort and progress at his local drama club; and to Henry Channon and Theo Stavrik who competed at a national level in athletics this week. I’m delighted to hear of these achievements.
Reading in interesting places. If your son wishes to submit a photo of reading in interesting places, please do so to the School Office (preferably by email; office@newcollegeschool.org) by Monday 11th September .
Holiday Diaries. NCS pupils know how much I enjoy reading holiday diaries. So do encourage your son to keep a record of his summer experiences, which I shall be delighted to receive early next term.
Reports. I hope you have all safely received your son’s end of term report which was issued on Wednesday. Please notify the School Office as soon as possible if not. I was delighted to read in so many reports of the significant progress boys have made this year: I am sure they will take to heart the wise and considered advice of teachers and return refreshed in September ready to take their talents still further.
Calendar & Fixture List. A copy of next term’s calendar and fixture list are attached with this mailing and are on the website. Please put key dates in your own calendars.
The Newswire. You should also have received via your son today a copy of The Newswire. Many thanks to Dr Jenkinson for his professional editorial eye and for much burning of the midnight oil which enables The Newswire to appear on the last day of the school year, rather than (as in so many institutions) halfway through next. The magazine is testimony to how imaginative boys and teachers are in what they do here and a wonderful celebration of the year’s achievements.
Michaelmas Term Activities. Don’t forget to sign your son up for next terms’ activities via the electronic sign-up issued earlier this week by Mr Morrison. Sign-up opens at 8.00pm on Sunday 9th July and lasts until Friday 14th July. After School Activities will start on the first day of next term.
Holiday works. While the boys are away, Mr Mulford and Mr Woodward will be overseeing refurbishment of the windows of our 1972 building and ensuring everything is in tip-top condition for September, while Ms Ulett will be carrying out upgrades to our IT infrastructure. I am grateful to all our support staff for their hard work ‘behind the scenes’ which enables the School to function so efficiently and provide such a pleasant, safe and efficient working environment for the boys.
A reminder that pre-season football training will take place on Tuesday 5th September from 1.30pm – 3.00pm on Field. Full details from Mr Bishop, who will also send out a reminder near the time.
Farewells. Miss Megan Sharp took up the then new post of Assistant Director of Music in 2012. She has brought to the role a combination of encouragement and rigour together with a creativity from which many pupils of all ages have benefited. We thank her for her attentive and versatile teaching of music throughout the School, for enjoyable concerts and musical productions, and for her work as a Chorister Tutor. We wish her well as she takes up the post of Head of Curriculum Music at the Dragon School.
Miss Ysobel Roby has run Science here since 2014. Her deep commitment to the subject and meticulous, dedicated contribution to her pupils’ progress are much appreciated and have set high standards for the teaching and learning of Science throughout the School. Equally, her work with the School Council has been much valued. We wish her well on her appointment to the Science Department at Summer Fields.
Mr Neil McCleery completes his time with us as Assistant School and College Chaplain after a three-year stint. We thank him for the support he has given in Chapel and for his enthusiastic help on the Games field. He moves on to be Succentor at Christ Church Cathedral.
Dr Laura Arthur, who took over in January from Mrs Rindler to run Classics, returns to academic life next year: we are grateful for all she has done to maintain the strong profile of Classics in the School and wish her well for the future.
In September, Mr Andrew Bradley will join us as a part-time Games teacher. Mr Bradley took his degree from University College, Chichester and has recently taught at the British International School, Abu Dhabi and at Tring School. Miss Harriet Cannell will take up the post of Year 2 class teacher in succession to Mrs Caroline Showell-Rogers who will be returning to her role as Learning Enrichment Co-ordinator. Miss Cannell took her degree from Clare College, Cambridge and is currently teaching at Keys Meadow Primary School in London. Mr Nicholas Hanson, who covered Mrs Laura Rindler’s maternity leave here last year, will return to NCS to take charge of Classics after completing his D.Phil. at Wolfson College. Mr Hanson took his undergraduate degree from St Benet’s Hall and before teaching at NCS taught at Queen’s College, Harley Street. Miss Emma Krebs joins us to run the Science department. Miss Krebs took her degree from Bristol University and currently teaches at Headington School. Miss Sarah Llewellyn-Jones will become Assistant Director of Music and Chorister Tutor. Miss Llewellyn-Jones took her degree from Christ Church, Oxford and her postgraduate performance and teaching diplomas from the Royal Academy of Music. As well as already teaching with us on Saturdays, she currently teaches at Wycombe Abbey School.
And, as the summer holidays are upon us, here’s a thought I recently came across from one of my esteemed colleagues, Dr Tim Hands, Headmaster of our sister foundation at Winchester. “Holidays aren’t there for academic study... To be sure, a little bit of cultural sightseeing, a lot of literary or historical reading, or a good bit of music practice can certainly be done. But the emphasis should always be on something different from term time, something that the pressure of term time makes it difficult to accomplish. And, save at critical times of academic presuure, the absence of formal academic study is the chief thing to aim for.”
Finally, I know you will join with me in thanking all my colleagues for all they do to make life at NCS so special and fulfilling. Their passion for learning and care for every pupil seems to me to be at the heart of everything they do. Equally, none of what we do would be possible without your support and thoughtful interest: thank you for all your kind expressions of gratitude at the end of this year, which are much appreciated.
Louise and I wish all NCS families a very happy and enjoyable summer.
Robert Gullifer
Forthcoming Events
Mon 4
INSET for Staff 9.00am to 4.00pm
Tues 5
INSET for Staff 9.00 am to 4.00 p.m.
Pre-season Football training, Field, 1.30 – 3.00 pm
Wed 6
Start of Term. 8.20 Prep School, 8.45 Pre-Prep
After School Activities start
NCSPA Coffee Morning at the University Club after drop-off
School Service 10.00 am - New College Chapel
Speaker: The Headmaster
Coffee in the Undercroft afterwards for parents and visitors
Fri 8
Chorister parents start of year drinks, Savile Road Garden, 7.30pm
Mon 11
U13 House Matches, home, 2.00pm
Tues 12
Visit of O-Pro Dentist 9.00-11.00
Year 8/8S start-of-year parents’ meeting/drinks 6.00pm
U11 A&B Football vs Cokethorpe, Home, 2.00pm
U11 C&D Football vs Cokethorpe, Away, 2.00pm
Wed 13
School Service 10.00 am – New College Chapel
Coffee in the Undercroft afterwards for parents and visitors
Eco Committee Meeting, 12.30pm, Yr 5 Classroom
U13 House Football Matches, Home, 2.00pm
Year 7 start-of-year parents’ meeting/drinks 6.00pm
Thurs 14
Years 3 and 4 to Wittenham Clumps 8.30 – 3.45
Fri 15
U8 A&B Football vs MCS, Home, 2.15pm
U9 A&B Football vs MCS, Away, 2.15pm
Sat 16
Wykeham Day
U10 A Rugby vs Abingdon, Away, 10.00am