Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 16th September 2022
Dear Parents,
We have just come to the end of our first full week of term, perhaps the dominant features of which have been our start-of-year information evenings for all parents. Having four evenings of such events in a row, right at the start of term, is a really valuable way for us all to touch base at the start of the new year, and to welcome new parents into the fold alongside those parents who have been with us for a while already.
They also enable us, as the name suggests, to impart some key information as your son progresses through the school. Much of this is year-group specific, and I would like to thank our form tutors for taking parents through how routines and systems work in their particular classrooms. There are also some cross-year-group issues that pop up at different times as the boys get older: hence, for example, why we introduce internet and phone safety issues quite early, and then invite families to revisit our talks as the themes become more and more relevant. The same goes for our future schools information and senior school ‘carousel’: what might seem a long way off at the beginning of Year 4 becomes rather more pressing in Years 5 and 6, but it’s no bad thing to have the contours of the road ahead outlined quite early on.
It was also great, on Wednesday, to introduce Years 2 and 3 to how the prep school works. While our pre-prep and prep departments work very closely together and are in many ways symbiotic, there can be a few things beyond donning a tie and blazer that might feel a bit different once the boys enter Year 3. Including Year 2 in this discussion enables our parents at the top of pre-prep to see what will be coming in the future for their sons. Then, on Thursday evening, we were able to talk to our Year 7 and 8 parents about the key issues that come up in year groups that are, for all intents and purposes, senior school-aged. We are old hands at the kinds of things that can pop up at this stage, so we know what to advise and guard against in advance. The evening was also a valuable opportunity to outline how the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate works in Years 7 and 8: a fantastic system (if we do say so ourselves) in which all of the boys get to develop a holistic and rounded Record of Achievement that celebrates their academic achievements across the two years, as well as their successes outside of the classroom, while also taking into account the boys’ learning skills. We also got to speak a bit about our ‘special subject’ in the top two years, when the boys get to choose an independent research topic (within reason and analytical!) that they then get to investigate for the remainder of the year, culminating in a mini-thesis in Year 7 and a TED-style-talk in Year 8.
I would like to thank all of my colleagues for outlining the year ahead for parents, and especially Brett Morrison and Emma Krebs for navigating parents through the ‘supra’ issues and themes so admirably. If there are still any questions you have, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Jenkinson
The boys in Years 3 and 4 had a wonderful outward-bound team-building day at Wittenham Clumps on Thursday. My thanks to our Years 3-4 team, especially Mrs Hayter and Mrs Usher, for organising such a beneficial activity.
Parents may already have seen that there is a separate council ‘consultation’ on the city’s proposed traffic filters, which is available at https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022. The deadline is 3 October.
We have the boys’ portrait photos scheduled for Friday 23 September in the morning. Please could all boys arrive in school uniform on that day; those boys who have sport later in the day will have the opportunity to change and should bring their sports kit with them in a separate bag. They may also want to bring a comb with them.
The NCS Parents’ Association will be meeting for its AGM in the hall on Monday 26 September at 19.00. We are pleased to welcome any parents to join the meeting. We hope that this year will bring plenty of opportunities to come together and fundraise. We will be discussing potential events and also electing officers at the AGM. We are looking for a co-chair and a secretary; do spread the word! Please email ncspa@newcollegeschool.org for more information. Please note that the previously advertised NCSPA Quiz (originally on 30 September) has been postponed; we will let you know once we have a revised date.
Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar Saturdays will be hosting a one-hour, interactive, virtual session on Saturday 17 September at 11.00. This session is free, fun for all the family and most suitable for 5-12 years. In the session you will explore genetic inheritance, DNA and Darwin's monster. This session is hosted by Bright Sparks Science and features Oxford Brookes molecular biologist researcher Dr Priya Samuel. Registration for the event is required (https://brookes.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qcOytrTojHdw_kiTDq59b55Rs7QRhDiPK).
Over the last week we have enjoyed reading the suggestions that have been submitted by the boys for our new leopard gecko. The name which was submitted the most times was Artemis, so we are delighted to announce this as the name for our newest addition to NCS! We were thrilled with the choice – a nod to our last, and very much loved, gecko Artie. And, of course, there is a science link to NASA's new Artemis space programme. Artemis is looking forward to going home with boys who would like to borrow her at weekends or during the holidays. Please email Miss Krebs if you would like to provide her with a weekend away from school (emma.krebs@newcollegeschool.org).
The school tuck shop is now up and running every morning from 8.00-8.15 in the aquamarine hut next to the bike stores. The tuck shop is run by Year 8 boys and sells a small range of items such as dried fruit, crackers, popcorn and juice cartons. Prices are no more than 80p per item. Boys in Years 3-8 are welcome to purchase snacks for their morning break before school if they would like. Do send your son in with a small amount of money if they would like to buy something.
From Mr Bishop: This first full week of school has seen a number of high-quality football matches played, both here at NCS and away. First up were the U9 boys who travelled across to Sibford. They enjoyed a great match with the boys scoring 6 goals on their way to an impressive opening win. Luca P was Mr Gardner’s player of the match thanks to his non-stop running and not to mention his 3 goals. On Wednesday afternoon the U11 and U10 A&B teams played at home against Elstree. On this occasion Elstree were a little stronger but all four games were competitive and the NCS boys managed to get on the score sheet in most encounters. The coaches were all very impressed with this first round of matches and have asked that the following boys be congratulated for their roles in their respective teams. Dominic B was great in the U11 B team, along with Jack D who scored! Toby C in the U11 C team showed great leadership and commitment throughout. Noah S in the U11 A team led the team superbly well and showed ever-improving skill on the ball. Olly B in the U10 A team ran well into attacking positions which will result in goals later this season. Away from home the U13 team were also playing Elstree. In the B and C team games we conceded early on. However, both Mr Cui with the C team and Mr Swanepoel with the B team said that after a little half time chat the NCS boys looked altogether different and played some exciting football. Having proven they can play with this quality we are all excited for next week’s games against Cothill.
Finally this week I had the pleasure of taking the 1st XI and we had a very exciting afternoon as we played a triangular event against Cothill’s 1st and 2nd teams. In the first of two 30-minute games, we narrowly lost 1-0 to the 1st team. This was a hard fought, physical game and one where the new Year 7 boys enjoyed a baptism of fire as they were welcomed to the hard and fast life of senior football! All of the NCS boys grew into the game and by the end we were unlucky not to have equalised. After a rest period where we watched the two Cothill teams do battle we then faced the Cothill 2nd team. NCS quickly established themselves as the dominant force and scored inside 10 minutes to lead 1-0. Despite some scares and hair-raising moments, the boys held onto their lead and won the game. This was a fantastic opening fixture for all concerned and I have to mention our new-found defensive super stars. Henry and George W were, as ever outstanding with cover tackles and lung-bursting runs to ensure we did not concede. A very well-deserved joint player of the match award for them both!
Upcoming Events
Monday, 19 September 2022
Bank Holiday
Tuesday, 20 September 2022
14.00 U9 A-D Football vs MCS & Cothill, Home
Wednesday, 21 September 2022
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Oliver Wright
8.15 Eco Committee meeting, library
14.30 U11 A-C Football vs Cothill, Home
14.00 U10 A&B Football vs Cothill, Away
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs Cothill, Away
Thursday, 22 September 2022
9.00 OPRO mouthguard fitting (Yr 3-8)
13.00 U8 A-C Football vs Summer Fields, Away
Friday, 23 September 2022
9.00 Portrait Photos, Sports Hall
Monday, 26 September 2022
19.00 NCSPA AGM
Wednesday, 28 September 2022
9.00 Chapel (Harvest Festival). Speaker: The Chaplain
14.30 U11 A-E Football vs Summer Fields, Home
14.30 U13 A-C Football vs Summer Fields, Away
Saturday, 1 October 2022
U13A IAPS SF Festival Football vs Summer Fields, Away (tbc)