Headmaster's Newsletter Friday 9th December 2022
Dear Parents,
There is something peculiar about the elasticity of time in Michaelmas. It seems like an eternity ago that we were having our start-of-year meetings, that our new boys were taking their first steps on their long NCS journey, and that we could stand outside in the last vestiges of summer sun. At the same time, the days and weeks seem to have hurtled by and, what seemed a long way off at the start of September, has all now happened. And so we get to the end of Michaelmas, the longest of our terms, slightly discombobulated. This discombobulation intensifies if you look back over all the boys have done and achieved over the past three and a bit months. Michaelmas is, in many ways, our busiest term – it is the term when the lion’s share of the curriculum is covered, and when the boys come on in leaps and bounds in so many different areas of school life. It is also, yes, a tiring term. But I haven’t encountered many people in life who have achieved something worthwhile without feeling a bit tired at the end; those who have are probably best left to their own devices.
As we hunker down for the darkest of the winter months then (you can see previous newsletters for my views on January), we can do so safe in the knowledge that we, and the boys, already have a lot of the academic year’s progress under our belts. As you will have read from your sons’ reports earlier this week, my colleagues are very happy with a huge amount of the progress that has already been made and, because we believe that everyone can review and improve, there are some tangible tips for that development in Hilary and Trinity. One of the many joys of working in such a supportive and collegial community is that the support for the boys (and their families) is palpable.
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, though. Before we reconvene in January we have a few weeks to catch our breaths, reflect on the successes of the past term and where we can develop even further in the new year, and spend some quality time with our family and friends. It is one of the facts of Michaelmas life that it can be difficult to find time, energy and space to keep in touch with everyone we’d like; I will be doing what I can to remedy that over the holidays. I hope that you all get the opportunity to do that too. I look forward to seeing you back at the gate in January; in the meantime I wish you, your families and friends, a very happy and restful Christmas break.
Matt Jenkinson
At the end of this term, we say goodbye to Monika Calatayud, who has been with us at NCS for a number of years as a Teaching Assistant, first in pre-prep and then in Years 3 and 4. I would like to thank Monika for all she has done for the NCS community during her time here. She is especially passionate about assisting those who require a little more support in maths, and this has been the focus of her postgraduate work during her time with us. She will, I’m sure, make significant contributions to The Unicorn in Abingdon, where she will begin work in January. Sarah Hainsworth has been appointed as TA 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 autism. 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.
Congratulations to the choristers who have been in tremendous voice during this carol service season. No jaded descants for our boys, who might inwardly roll their eyes at the thirtieth rendition of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’! They are singing a livestreamed service tomorrow (10 December) at 16.00 if you would like to tune in: https://www.youtube.com/user/NewCollegeChoir
Thank you to all of those parents involved in the NCSPA who have worked tirelessly to put on our usual festive events. Thanks, too, to all those families who have donated so generously to ensure that the stalls were heaving with gifts and jingle jars! The Fair was buzzing with happy children yesterday. Indeed, it has been a lovely final week of term, with lots of special events ranging from the fantastically heart-warming Nativity in Pre-Prep to our carol services, with a panto, our junior band playing to the prep school, and Christmas lunch in between. My thanks to all of my colleagues who have made these events such successes. To have lots of positive feedback from parents and grandparents has really given us all a lift.
I have enjoyed reading the most recent edition of ‘Amuse-Toi’, a short French puzzle booklet put together by boys in Year 6. I confess that I didn’t get all the answers correct … My thanks to Catherine Phillips for collating the boys’ work, even if it did make me feel a little inadequate about my language skills.
You may already be aware of next term’s SHTEAM Festival, 13-17 March, celebrating interdisciplinarity through the theme of the ‘How to Live’ – we will be looking at this topic through a series of workshops, assemblies, guest talks, and in-house lessons, focusing on how we can live healthy and fulfilling lives. If any of you would like to volunteer to take part in a talk or workshop or the like, and haven’t already been in touch, do please email emma.krebs@newcollegeschool.org.
From the Eco-Committee: Last year we ran a very successful photography competition and we would like to repeat this in 2022. We would love to receive your photos of whatever wildlife, or aspect of nature, that you come across. Photographs should be autumn or winter related, although all photos will be welcome. All entries should be submitted to Emma Krebs by Friday 13 January 2023 (emma.krebs@newcollegeschool.org). The entries will be judged in year group based categories: Pre-Prep, Years 3-5 and Years 6-8. Prizes will be given to the top entries in each category.
From Mr Wilkins: NCS Judoka were set the challenge of demonstrating many attributes and skills during their regular Monday Judo classes this term. We are delighted to announce the following boys were very successful in their mature approach to the challenge. Years 3-4: Gold - James D; Silver - Harvey M; Bronze - Sam P. Years 5-8: Gold - Peter K; Silver - Henry T; Bronze - George T. Well done!
From Mr Bishop: In this final week of term we had our annual local derby against Christ Church. In the U11 fixtures, the A team found their scoring boots and, in a fast and furious first half, NCS scored five unanswered goals. Christ Church came back in the second half leading to a rather nervy finish, but the game ended up 7-5 to NCS. The B and C teams also enjoyed victories with a lot of goals being scored by both teams. The D team squad also played out a fantastic and entertaining game; Mme Phillips and the opposition coach were both in awe of how the boys on both teams played: “the referee and the coach both agreed we had a mini Hugo Lloris (Alex A) in goal and a Varane in defence in the shape of Michael S as they worked tirelessly to keep out the CCCS attacks, so much so that Michael was declared the player of the match by both coaches. We also had a midfield Rabiot (Henry C) working very hard and actually covering all pitch.” At home the U13 teams were also playing CCCS. The A team game was refereed by Mr Gardner and this turned out to be the cliched game of two halves! Mr Gardner has the following to say about the match: “Five minutes before the first half ended, a solo infiltration by CCCS into the NCS box resulted in a goal. In the second half, and with new resolutions on communication, timing and spatial awareness, a swift treble of New College goals allowed the team to end up victorious.” On the B team pitch, just before we’d kicked off in the C team game I noticed that Mr Cui was signalling for a goal. It was quite possibly the fastest NCS goal ever; I don’t think 45 seconds had elapsed. The NCS boys ended up with a 6-0 win, finishing off a super season for Mr Swanepoel’s team. Benji, our captain, once more led his troops brilliantly and was on the score sheet again.
I had the pleasure of finishing off the term in charge of the C team, and what a treat they had for me. From the first whistle, Will T battled through midfield with robust and strong running to allow Jake to get his shot away; it whistled past the post, forcing our guests onto the back foot. After the game had settled a little we took the lead thanks to a Jake J thunderbolt that saw the net rippling and the crowd cheering. However, before we knew it, we were 2-1 down edging towards half time. Another strike, this time by Issac T, saw us level at the break. In the second half, in a blink of an eye we’d raced into a 4-2 lead. Goals from both Isaac and Jake were a joy to watch as the boys carved open the CCCS defence with sublime passing and fantastic vision from the midfield pairing of Herbie and Thomas H. The inevitable comeback came from CCCS and the boys weathered the storm to only concede one more and at 4-3 the game was still in the balance. Vedant had other ideas, though, and he stormed through from the left wing to score and make it 5! A late penalty made the score 5-4 but by then the final whistle was about to blow and a famous win for Mr Cui’s mighty Cs was a great result. To cap it all a Jake J hat-trick was a real bonus and a joy to witness. This was a fantastic end to a brilliant term on the football pitch. With over 25 goals scored this week and only 6 conceded, 6 wins and only 1 loss is not a bad return on a day’s play, so well done everybody from Years 5 to 8.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, 11 December 2022
13.00 Chamber Choir rehearsal, Chapel
19.00 Chamber Choir concert, Chapel
Monday, 2 January 2023
School and bank holiday
Tuesday, 3 January 2023
Staff INSET
Wednesday, 4 January 2023
Start of Term
VMT 1:1 Music Lessons Start (pre-prep and prep)
After-School Enrichment Activities Start (pre-prep and prep)
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: the Headmaster
Monday, 9 January 2023
Internal Chorister Auditions
Tuesday, 10 January 2023
External Chorister Auditions
Wednesday, 11 January 2023
8.15 School Council, library
9.00 Chapel. Speaker: Mr Robert Quinney, Organist, New College
14.30 U13 A-D Hockey vs Cranford House. Away
14.15 U11 A-C Hockey vs Cranford House. St Edward's
18.00 Year 3 and 8S parents' evening
Sunday, 15 January 2023
Start of University Term