Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 21st October 2022
Dear Parents,
Every so often you hear about schools that have silent corridors: a deliberate policy that leads to a sanction if you talk between lessons. While there might be an iota of disciplinary wisdom behind the policy (even if I disagree with it), it has always struck me as slightly odd that we encourage young people to speak about their thoughts, concerns and issues, then remove one of the prime occasions when a young person might indeed open up to someone else about their worries. It doesn’t affect us here, because we’re never going to have silent corridors: I don’t even know how’d we’d implement it, even if we wanted to. Life’s too short.
We have been thinking a lot about talking this week, inspired especially by our Wellbeing assembly on Tuesday. Mr Neal talked about the importance of talking to our families and friends about how we are feeling, even if we are having a disagreement – the important thing is to keep the lines of communication open. If you haven’t yet seen it, I can strongly recommend watching Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (it’s on the iPlayer, so easily accessible). I could listen to Bob Mortimer all day long, and I grew up watching Paul Whitehouse on The Fast Show. But this particular programme is a brilliant display of the virtues of people talking to one another. The background to the programme is that both Mortimer and Whitehouse experienced very poor physical health a few years ago, after which the former invited the latter to go fishing – to get him out of the house if nothing else. What started off as a genuine unfilmed act of friendship has ended up being a terrific television programme, with fishing interspersed with discussions about mental and physical health. You don’t need to be interested in fishing to watch it (I’m not particularly; I’m learning a bit!), but you may enjoy the therapeutic benefits of watching two very entertaining individuals looking after one another by talking to one another.
You will hopefully have the opportunity to speak to your sons a little more when they are home for the half-term break next week. I totally appreciate that, for a lot of you, this little holiday is not a holiday at all. But I hope you can all take some time to rest, take a deep breath, and enjoy one another’s company. I would like to thank you all for a wonderful start to the 2022-23 academic year. It has been great to welcome so many new families to what is (I’m biased) a very special community; it’s like you have been with us forever, so effortless has the transition been. And, to our long-standing NCS families, I’d like to thank you too for your unstinting loyalty, good humour, and excellent company. It is all much appreciated as we move forward and face the opportunities and challenges of the coming months.
Have a great half term,
Matt Jenkinson
Congratulations to Monika Calatayud who has been appointed to a post at The Unicorn School in Abingdon. I am delighted to announce that, following interviews on Monday, Sarah Hainsworth has been appointed as Teaching Assistant to replace Monika in January 2023. Sarah’s PGCE is from Exeter University and she also has qualifications in physiotherapy. She has been a teacher at Okehampton Primary School, Colnbrook Primary School, The Falcons in Chiswick, and at the Walnuts School in Milton Keynes. She has also been Teaching Assistant at the British School of Brussels, and has especial experience teaching pupils with dyslexia and ASD. I’m sure that Sarah will contribute a huge amount to NCS life and that she will be made very welcome in the new year.
Please find attached to this Parentmail the first of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion newsletters, written by Dr Lintott (our Inclusion Coordinator) and Ms Lam (our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Rep).
From Mr Morrison: Just a brief note to say a huge thank you for all the contributions throughout Charity Week. I’m mindful of just how much effort has gone into cakes, the construction of paper plans and remembering the all-important home clothes day! Thank you to you and to your families for your support of the ICAL Teaching English Through Nature programme delivered through the Yearly Trust and our link school, Nalang Model Academy. On Monday 31 October, Pooja Silwal – who is an English teacher with the Nalang Model Academy and Yearly Trust – will visit NCS speak to pupils and staff in assembly and spend some time visiting lessons. This will allow pupils to gain a greater understanding of their efforts throughout charity week and allow for vital insight into the English programme offered by ICAL. A big thank you, as well, to the charity committee members for their tireless efforts throughout this week. The Dodgeball competition was enjoyed by the prep school on Thursday; it was fiercely competitive and the three matches saw the Year 8 boys victorious against the teachers & charity reps team. Starring roles were by Josh C, Herbie H and George W. The paper plane competition was won by Raad, Oliver and Jacob (Year 3) & Benji (Year 8). The cake competition was again strongly supported and the catering team has selected the following pupils as winners: Aloysius (Year 4) for his island; Eugene, Xander and Dominic in Year 6 for their dice; Isaac in Year 8 for his Daleks; and Rowan in Year 2 for his hedgehog. There were numerous highly commended cakes from the catering team: Bertie in Year 1, Henry and James in Year 2, Chris in Year 3, Alex in Year 5, Herbie in Year 7, Carlo in Year 7, Thomas in Year 4, Andres in Year 5, George McK in Year 7, Henry McK in Year 3, Ambrose in Year 4, Aloysius in Year 4, Charlie in Year 3, Ollie in Year 3, Thomas H in Year 6 and Max in Year 7 all gaining special mentions. This week's charity week raised over £650.
Hopefully prep school parents will have safely received, electronically, their son’s half term Orders, along with a Parentmail attachment explaining how our grading system works. If you have not received these, please contact office@newcollegeschool.org.
Years 5 and 6 had a wonderful French Day today, with a series of French-inspired activities: making their own baguettes and 'purchasing' fillings from a 'French Market' stall in the playground; competing in 'Les Grands Jeux', a multi-sport challenge; performing and recording a French song; and participating in a volleyball tournament. My thanks to Mme Phillips for masterminding the day, and to all of my colleagues who assisted her so enthusiastically. A big thank you, too, to Mrs Hitchings who coordinated the wonderful pre-prep QED Day on Thursday, focusing on the theme of inventors. We loved seeing the costumes come through the school gates in the morning, and the boys clearly had a brilliant time, judging the buzz emanating from the pre-prep building!
Please could parents of pupils in Reception-Year 6 complete the Parentmail form, sent to them earlier this week by the office, regarding vaccinations. Thank you.
Tickets are now on sale for the Choral Society’s annual Christmas concert, which this year takes place on Sunday 11 December at 7pm in New College Chapel. A special concessionary rate is available for NCS parents; children are free. Book now to avoid disappointment!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncs-christmas-concert-tickets-445105902737
Dr Gausden has sent a Parentmail to Year 7 and 8 parents outlining our final rehearsals for Henry V. We are looking forward to our performances in New College chapel on Monday 7 November at 19.45 and Wednesday 9 November at 18.00. Please could audience members enter the chapel via the Song Room (there will be signs) approximately twenty minutes before the start time? This will give us time to set up the chapel ready for the performance. Pick-up after each performance (c.20.45 and c.19.00) will be from the undercroft, at the base of the College hall steps; we will happily direct those who need assistance. Many thanks – especially for all of your help assisting the boys with learning their lines!
You will have seen what great progress our new building has made over the summer. It is really beginning to take shape now ready for opening next academic year. As you know, this is part of a once-in-a-100-years renewal of the College/School Savile Road site, enabled by the generosity of a College alumnus. But we also want to do our bit by raising money for our bursary fund so that we can continue to offer the opportunities of NCS as widely as possible. So, as the building fast nears completion, we are continuing to offer parents the opportunity to name a seat in the new auditorium for £1,000 in support of the bursary fund. And remember that an outlay of £800 with gift aid will make up the £1,000. We’re very grateful to all those who have already contributed to the campaign, and it would be wonderful to be able to name all 120+ seats. You may want to name one in honour of your family or perhaps in memory of a loved one. Or perhaps a group of you may wish to get together to contribute and name a particular year group. Giving is easily done by filling in the Gift Aid form on this link https://www.newcollegeschool.org/_site/data/files/documents/DB58EB7AE291339DCB46774056A170A0.pdf and emailing it back the Director of the NCS Foundation robert.gullifer@newcollegeschool.org Many thanks!
From Mr Bishop: The last week of an extremely busy and productive half term comes to a close with a slightly reduced set of fixtures. The U13 boys have been taking a well-earned break away from competitive football and have really enjoyed basketball, a bleep test and of course beating the staff in dodgeball! All of the boys from the prep school have performed brilliantly in the house cross country events this week. The U9s ran 2km with both Aloysius W and Tassilo H breaking the old Year 4 course record; however it was Tassilo who won the race by only 10 seconds! The new 2km record is now a rather daunting 7 min 47 sec. In the U11 event the two winners were Max LL in Year 6 but the overall winner was Yoav G from Year 5. In the upper school the U13 race was won by Finn L but the overall winner was Isaac W from Year 7 in a brilliant 18m 43s.
On the football pitch the U10 teams played away at Cothill on Wednesday afternoon and in the B team they played two great games on a tiring afternoon. Mr Gardner was really impressed with the improvements made, not only on the day but over the course of this half term. They are playing some really pleasing football now and are improving with each passing week. In the first game they were unlucky to lose 2-0. After a little advice and a drinks break, new-found confidence spread throughout the team and they won the second game 6-0, thanks to a brilliant Peter K double hat-trick. I can’t remember a time when an NCS boy scored 6 goals in one game! On the A team pitch the boys went into half time 1-0 thanks to a brilliant George T cross-field pass that found Ollie B in space before he coolly slotted home his shot. However, in the 10 minutes after the break Cothill scored two quick goals. Another fantastic Henry T tackle turned over possession in our own half and Ollie again scored to level the game. Cothill again took the lead and with NCS chasing the game we conceded another. The NCS boys showed control, team spirit and skill to not only keep going but also push our hosts to the very end. A late Yoav G goal meant the final score was 4-3 to Cothill but this game was one of the best I’ve watched this term and the boys were fantastic. Our host coach nominated Henry T as player of the match and it was a justified choice; he was superb all game long.
At home the U11 teams played host to Cothill. In the B and C team games the boys demonstrated some hard work and determination and, with their continued efforts in training, I’m sure they will soon start to enjoy some victories. Mr Rose tells me that his U11 A team have also showed the same levels of improvement as the U10s and they put on a great show. The final score was 2-1 to Cothill and, although we lost this fixture, the result goes to show how much progress this team has made since early September. I am very much looking forward to the resumption of our football season after half term and I urge you all to keep training over the break, get outside in your gardens and parks and work on those skills we have seen you all display so far. Very well done, boys.
Saturday, 22 October 2022
Start of Half Term
Sunday, 30 October 2022
13:30 Henry V rehearsal, Years 7-8, sports hall (end 16.00)
Monday, 31 October 2022
Return from Half Term
14:00 Henry V rehearsal, Years 7-8, chapel (end 15.45)
Tuesday, 1 November 2022
14:15 U8A&B Football vs Manor Prep, Away
14:15 U9A-C Football vs Manor Prep, Away
Wednesday, 2 November 2022
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Matthew Albrighton, Headmaster, Burford Grammar School
14.00 U11A-E Football vs Summer Fields, Home
14.00 U13A-E Football vs Summer Fields, Away
15.45 Henry V rehearsal, Years 7-8, chapel (end 17.15)
Saturday, 5 November 2022
13.00 Henry V rehearsal, Years 7-8, chapel (end 15.30)
Monday, 7 November 2022
19.45 Henry V performance, Years 7-8, chapel
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
All day Orchestra workshop and concert, Radley College
14:30 U8 A-C Football vs Summer Fields, Away
14:30 U9 A-C Football vs Summer Fields, Home
9.45 - 11.45 Year 2 Trip to The Ashmolean
Wednesday, 9 November 2022
9.00 Remembrance Day Service, Chapel. Speaker: Dr Tim Hands, Headmaster, Winchester College
14:30 U11 A-E Football vs MCS, Away
18.00 Henry V performance, Years 7-8, chapel