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Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 1st July 2022

Dear Parents,

I imagine those of you with sons away on residentials this week have experienced some mixed emotions. There may have been a flicker of joy at the prospect of a few days without drop-offs and pick-ups, and even a little bit of free(r) time to catch up with things while the house is a little quieter. Maybe even a meal out?! But, at the same time, I imagine you’ve been missing having the boys around the place, especially as for many families these will have been the boys’ first ever residentials; perhaps, even, the longest time they’ve been away from home, or you’ve been away from them. Ordinarily, of course, we’d have been building up these experiences as the boys worked their way through the prep school. Covid scuppered, like many things, our usually well-planned and graduated system. So this may have been a little more of a shock than usual, but I’m sure it has brought with it many benefits.

Even from my isolation, the sense of anticipation for activities week was palpable. I received plenty of reports of the boys excitedly talking about the outward-bound activities they were looking forward to, the sweets they’d planned to smuggle into their dorms without my colleagues knowing (they always know), and the little taste of freedom they were going to experience being away for a few days. No doubt the boys would have been experiencing mixed emotions too: excitement, apprehension, a little homesickness. All of this is totally natural, the experience of pretty much every single young person who has been through the residential rite of passage. Having said that, though, I did see on the internet one young person’s letter home to their parents from camp. Said parents had asked their child to write to let them know they were alive. ‘I’M ALIVE!’ came the rather terse epistolary reply. Closer to home, our younger boys who are not yet quite ready for residentials, had a wonderful time with special activities on site and some day trips around the locality, including to the Story Museum and Cotswold Wildlife Park.

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary commitment of my colleagues, many of whom have been away from their families too: organising, planning, counting (then counting again), nurturing, listening, supporting, accompanying – and, I imagine, taking part in many of the activities themselves! So spare a thought and cheer for them as they arrive back this evening, many sleep-deprived, having once again gone the extra mile and beyond for the boys of NCS.

Have a great weekend,

Matt Jenkinson

Sports Day

Below is a digest of arrangements for evening events in the final week of term:

Monday 4 July: The Year 8 playreading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will begin in the cloisters at 18.00. The Year 8 boys will remain in school from 15.45 and will be fed before the performance. It is customary, though by no means compulsory, for families attending the playreading to bring a picnic (and occasionally some bubbly) and graze throughout the performance. While this is primarily a leavers’ event, all NCS families are more than welcome. Then, at 19.00, we will be joined in the cloisters by other parents who are attending the drinks reception. Parking is available in the playground from 17.15, first-come, first-served.

Tuesday 5 July: Sports Day will take place at the Sir Roger Bannister Athletics Track at Iffley Road. The events will begin at 11.00 and conclude c.15.00. There will be a break for lunch; please provide your son with a packed lunch, which they will eat under the care of their form tutor. Parents are very welcome to join us for the day; please bring a picnic, rugs, deck chairs, and shelter for rain/sun. The boys should also have a water bottle, sun cream, sun hat, and a waterproof jacket. We are preparing for every eventuality! Entry/exit is via the gate next to the main stand. Parents are welcome to take the boys from Iffley Road at the end of the events, but those boys must be signed out at the gate by NCS staff. Those boys who are not picked up at Iffley Road will be brought back to school for pick-up then. If you have not already returned the Parentmail form letting us know if your pick-up arrangements, please do so at your earliest convenience.

Wednesday 6 July: The Leavers’ Concert will begin at 19.00 at the University Church. Those performing should be picked up as normal from school at the end of the day and then be dropped off at the University Church 18.30-18.45. There will then be a drinks reception back at school after the concert. Parking is available in the playground from 17.15, first-come, first-served.

Thursday 7 July: For the leavers vs parents cricket match, the Year 8 cricketers will stay in school with Mr Bishop and Mr Mainstone after 15.45 and will be taken down to field. The game will begin at 17.30. Please could parents bring picnics for themselves and for their sons. There will be some liquid refreshment provided by NCS. Parking is available in the playground from 17.15, first-come, first-served.

Please note that we will be staggering pick-up times on the last day of term in an attempt to reduce congestion on Savile Road and to improve road safety for the boys: Reception 11.45-11.50; Year 1 11.50-11.55; Year 2 11.55-12.00; Years 3-4 12.00-12.10; Years 5-6 12.10-12.20; Years 7-8 12.20-12.30.

A reminder from Mrs Hess, please, that all library books must be returned (or renewed) on Monday. Those boys returning to NCS in September are encouraged to borrow books (and read them) over the holidays. If, however, boys are leaving the school it is really important that they return all books. We would very much appreciate it if parents could help the boys search for any library books at home. Thank you.

A reminder from Miss Rose that Enrichment Activities sign-up closes at 20.00 this evening.

Monday, 4 July 2022

18.00 Year 8 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, New College Cloisters

19.00 Summer Drinks Evening, New College Cloisters

Tuesday, 5 July 2022

11.00 Prep Sports Day, Iffley Road

Wednesday, 6 July 2022

8.15 Charity committee meeting

9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Chaplain

10.00 Year 8 soloists and readers rehearsals, University Church (10.00-11.45 and 13.00-16.00)

19.00 Leavers' Concert, University Church

followed by a reception at NCS

Thursday, 7 July 2022

14.00 Pre-Prep Summer Show and annual certificates, School Hall

17.30 Leavers v Parents Cricket Match

Friday, 8 July 2022

9.00 Final Assembly

10.45 Prizegiving for Years 3-8

12.00 End of Term 12.00 noon

Monday, 5 September 2022

INSET for Staff, 9:00-16:00

Fire Safety Awareness for Staff, 13.00-14.00

Tuesday, 6 September 2022

INSET for Staff, 9:00-16:00

Wednesday, 7 September 2022

Start of Term

After School Enrichment Activities start (pre-prep and prep)

9.00 Chapel. Speaker: The Headmaster

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