Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 14th June 2019
Dear Parents,
Rome was in the news this week as the city authorities introduced some very clear and direct rules to govern tourists’ and locals’ behaviour around their historic sites. It’s probably very easy to take for granted the privilege of living alongside or visiting some of the great buildings and artefacts of human civilisation and, of course, we are not immune from that here in Oxford. And whilst, mostly, we have not yet needed to introduce such regulations as the Roman authorities have, it’s still worth regularly reflecting how lucky we are to be able to draw daily inspiration from our historic surroundings and the living traditions of learning they embody. There can be few schools in the country which sit ‘cheek by jowl’ with world-class laboratories or museums or can draw upon the resources of some of the top minds in their academic disciplines; and I’m always profoundly grateful for the encouragement and practical support our pupils receive in this way. This week, for example, the Principal of our neighbouring college, Harris Manchester, spoke at our Chapel service. One of Professor Shaw’s previous roles was Chaplain of New College and she said how important she felt it was for NCS pupils and parents to be able to be in the College regularly as an integral part of the foundation and all the historic and contemporary values it stands for. Of course, it’s often difficult for children to articulate in exactly what ways their environment inspires them, but they surely cannot be unmoved intellectually or emotionally by nearly a decade growing up in these surroundings. I still think one of the most telling comments I have heard was from a Reception pupil some years ago who told me very earnestly after one Wednesday morning visit to the College: “I love going to the castle.”
We have had two enjoyable concerts this week from each end of the School. On Wednesday, the senior boys shared their considerable talents with us on a wide variety of instruments and every performance was characterised by real commitment and tenacity. And yesterday it was particularly encouraging to see so many of the pre-prep boys perform with such dignity and confidence at this early stage in their instrumental learning. And there was some lovely tuneful singing too, including a very musical tribute to a leaving Headmaster, complete with ukulele accompaniment from some older boys.
As you will know from last week’s newsletter, the Eco Committee have suggested we have PFFF (Package Free Fruit Fridays). We were delighted to see so many package-free snacks in School today and the package-free fruit in the tuck shop seemed to go down very well. My thanks to parents for your support for this initiative.
This morning’s Open Morning seemed to be greatly enjoyed by our visitors. As ever, your sons were excellent hosts in their lessons and Year 8 proved informative guides. All our visitors commented on the natural good manners of the boys: as I have many times observed, NCS pupils have a good sense of occasion. My thanks to the boys, to my colleagues and to current parents who all contributed to the success of the occasion.
Sport. This has been of the worst weeks in recent history for lost cricket matches because of persistent rain and cold conditions. However, it has not been all doom and gloom because seven boys from Years 4, 5 and 6 represented the School at the annual Sibford School Triathlon (which was more of an Aquathlon as it was too wet and dangerous for bikes)! Undeterred by the cold, the boys braved the conditions and performed superbly well: in the Year 4 age group Max Brown swam beautifully and, after his 100m, we were in 2nd position. After the relay, run between Josh Cable and Finley Appleby, we had managed to cross the line in third place for a bronze medal. A great achievement! In the Year 5 and 6 age groups, the boys had to complete both the swim and the run so this was an individual event as opposed the relay for the younger boys. Timon Bergmann and Henry Jones in the U10s with Ben Harkness and Ethan McMillan in the U11s all performed with determination and excellence to achieve the following superb results: in a field of 16 athletes in each age group, Timon was 5th, Henry was 8th in the U10s. Ben was 6th and Ethan was 8th in the U11s. Very well done to all!Sport. This has been of the worst weeks in recent history for lost cricket matches because of persistent rain and cold conditions. However, it has not been all doom and gloom because seven boys from Years 4, 5 and 6 represented the School at the annual Sibford School Triathlon (which was more of an Aquathlon as it was too wet and dangerous for bikes)! Undeterred by the cold, the boys braved the conditions and performed superbly well: in the Year 4 age group Max Brown swam beautifully and, after his 100m, we were in 2nd position. After the relay, run between Josh Cable and Finley Appleby, we had managed to cross the line in third place for a bronze medal. A great achievement! In the Year 5 and 6 age groups, the boys had to complete both the swim and the run so this was an individual event as opposed the relay for the younger boys. Timon Bergmann and Henry Jones in the U10s with Ben Harkness and Ethan McMillan in the U11s all performed with determination and excellence to achieve the following superb results: in a field of 16 athletes in each age group, Timon was 5th, Henry was 8th in the U10s. Ben was 6th and Ethan was 8th in the U11s. Very well done to all!
Congratulations to Alexander Cadogan who came first in his age group in the recent Wytham Woods Fun Run and thirteenth overall. Very well done! Congratulations are also in order to Dr Jenkinson whose book, Charles I’s Killers in America, was published by OUP this week and was favourably reviewed in The Times.
Chorister Open Day is tomorrow at 4.30pm in New College Chapel. Prospective choristers and parents are most welcome to come along to meet Mr Quinney and find out more about life in New College Choir. Auditions for boys in Year 2 to join as probationers in September 2020 will be held this coming January. Do speak to me or to Miss Llewellyn-Jones or to Mrs Cox if you would like to any further information about what being in the Choir involves.
A reminder that the ABRSM Music Exams are next week. Time now to put the polish on those scales and pieces!
Plans are, of course, very well advanced for our Activities Week and I know the boys are looking forward to some special times at home and abroad. I’m most grateful to my colleagues for all the care they take with often quite complex arrangements to ensure the boys have a safe, enjoyable and instructive time. Please can I urge parents to make sure that any required travel documents/ medical forms reach trip organisers as soon as possible.
Next Friday is Induction Morning from 9.00 – 10.00am. The whole school will move up to their new forms and we shall be joined by all pupils and teachers who will be new to NCS in September. Form tutors from September are as follows:
Reception: Mrs Rosemary Cox
Year 1: Mrs Caroline Hitchings
Year 2: Miss Harriet Cannell
Pre-Prep TAs: Miss Hayley Bishop, Ms Sara Hornby, Mrs Katherine Ridley
Year 3: Mrs Victoria Hayter, assisted by Mr Andrew Hardy-Lenik
Year 4: Mrs Maria Williams, assisted by Mrs Caroline Showell-Rogers
Year 3 and 4 TA: Mrs Monika Calatayud
Year 5: Mrs Louise Brown, assisted by Mr Craig Bishop
Year 6: Mr Tom Neal, assisted by Mrs Catherine Phillips
Year 7: Mr Andrew Bradley, assisted by Mr Nicholas Hanson
Year 8: Mr Brett Morrison, assisted by Miss Emma Krebs
Year 8S: Dr Lucy Gallagher, assisted by Miss Emma Krebs
The library is having a total recall of library books from all pupils & staff. All books should be returned by next Friday 21st June and then those boys who are returning to NCS after the summer can borrow books from Monday 1st July. Mrs Hess will be really grateful if boys, parents & staff could seek out books that have been inadvertently removed from the library and are in bedrooms, desks, classrooms, lying forgotten! It is frustrating when a boy is looking for a specific book that should be on the shelf but cannot be located. And a drain on library finances if they have to be replaced. If a boy is desperately keen to take a book out for activities week, and they have returned all their books, then it will be possible to do so with Mrs Hess’s special permission.
Dates for your Diaries. It has been good to see so many parents and grandparents at our end-of-year events so far. You are always most welcome whenever you can spare time to be with us and I know the boys and my colleagues appreciate your support.
Monday 17th June Year 8 Playreading A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cloisters, 6.45pm; Summer Drinks Evening, Cloisters, 7.45 - 9.00pm. Parking available in the playground.
Wednesday 19th June Years 3 & 4’s HMS Pinafore, School Hall, 2.00pm. Tickets from the School Office. Parking available in the playground from 1.30pm
Thursday 20th June Years 3 & 4’s HMS Pinafore, School Hall, 6.00pm Tickets from the School Office. Parking available in the playground.
Saturday 22nd June Wykeham Day (Concert, Cricket Match, BBQ, School Fete), Field, 12 noon onwards; Last Evensong, Chapel, 6.00pm; Old Boys’ Dinner, 7.30pm Parking available in the school playground.
Thursday, 27th June Pre-Prep Summer Picnic 2.15pm, University Parks
Monday 1st July Choristers’ Concert, Chapel, 5.30pm. Parking will be available from 5.00pm in the playground.
Tuesday 2nd July Sports Day. Parents are invited to 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 the return home 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 3rd July Leavers’ Service, Chapel, 10.00am; Pre-Prep Summer Show, School Hall 2.00pm. Parking available in the playground from 1.30pm. Leavers vs Fathers Cricket, Field 6.00pm
Thursday 4th July Leavers’ Concert and Reception, University Church, 7.00pm, followed by a recpetion at School. Parking available in School.
Friday 5th July Prizegiving for Years 3-8 to which parents of prizewinners will be invited nearer the time. Term ends 12 noon. Parking available in school from 10.20am.
With good wishes to all NCS families,
Robert Gullifer
Forthcoming Events
Saturday, 15 June 2019
No Music School, except for theory exam candidates
10.00 Associated Board Theory Exams
16.30 Chorister Open Day
Monday, 17 June 2019
Associated Board Exam Week
14.00 U13 Cricket House matches, Home
18.45 Year 8 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, New College Cloisters
19.45 Summer Drinks Evening, New College Cloisters
Tuesday, 18 June 2019
14.00 Years 3 & 4 Musical: Dress Rehearsal
14.15 U11A & B Cricket vs Sibford, Home
10.30 U9 Cricket House Matches, home
Wednesday, 19 June 2019
10.00 School Service, New College Chapel
Speaker: The Revd Dr Melanie Marshall, Chaplain of Lincoln College
Coffee afterwards in the Undercroft for parents and visitors
12.30 Eco Committee Meeting
14.15 1st XI Cricket vs CCCS, Away
14.15 2nd XI Cricket vs CCCS, Home
14.00 Year 3 and 4 Musical: HMS Pinafore, School Hall
Thursday, 20 June 2019
14.15 U11 A Cricket vs Bruern Abbey, Away
14.15 U11 B Cricket vs Bruern Abbey, Away
16:00 U13 VI Chess vs The Dragon, Home
18.00 Years 3 and 4 Musical: HMS Pinafore, School Hall
Friday, 21 June 2019
9.00 Induction Morning for new pupils
14.00 U9 Cricket vs MCS, Away
14.00 U8 Cricket vs MCS, Home
Saturday, 22 June 2019
Wykeham Day
12.00 OBs and Pupils' Concert, School Hall
13.00 Cricket vs OBs, Field
13.00 BBQ Lunch, Field
14.00 School Fête, Field (ends 16.00)
17.30 OBs AGM, Undercroft
18.15 Last Evensong, New College Chapel
19.00 Old Boys' Drinks and Canapes, College Gardens
19.30 Old Boys' Dinner, College Hall
Sunday, 23 June 2019
End of University Term
Sicily trip (Yr 8) departs
Monday, 24 June 2019
Activities Week
No pre-prep after school activities run by external providers
Malvern Hills trip (Yr 4) departs
France trip (Yrs 5-6) departs
Isle of Wight trip (Yr 7) departs
Wednesday, 26 June 2019
No School Service
Summer Banquet for Pre-Prep and Year 3
Yr 4 return
Thursday, 27 June 2019
Year 8 return
Friday, 28 June 2019
Pre-prep activities week outing
12.00 Yrs 3 & 4 BBQ lunch
13.00 U8 Cricket vs Summer Fields, Home
14.00 Year 4 Tennis Coaching, Home
Years 5-7 return