From the Headmaster’s Study

We were delighted to welcome the pupils back this week – all of them seeming in excellent spirits, full of holiday stories. At our start of term staff meeting on Monday, I highlighted the excitement of the calendar year ahead, where Wellesley Haddon Dene will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our merger with St Peter’s Court, coinciding with the opening of our new pre-prep in September. We look forward to providing you with further information on planned events as the school year progresses. Over the Christmas holiday, Claire and I had the opportunity to reflect on the considerable progress that we made as a school last term, in a number of areas. We look forward to continuing this momentum and to providing your children with the best possible care and education. We wish you all a very happy and healthy 2019.

Gavin Franklin

 

School This Week

Welcome

It is always good to see everyone back for the new term. We welcome our two new gap students, Molly Tuit and Will Robinson, who both come from Sydney. We also welcome five new children to the school in Block 1, Block 2, Block 3 and Form JH.

 

Saturday Chapel

The first Chapel Service this term will take place on Saturday, and we look forward to listening to Mr Spencer who will be addressing the school. This Saturday is for pupils and staff only, but thereafter at the other services parents and families are warmly invited to attend. The services begin at 12.10 pm.

 

Townsend Warner History Prize

The first round of the Townsend Warner History Prize, a competition that has been running for more than 130 years, takes place on Friday morning. The paper consists of 100 questions, requiring short answers, from British and World history. Good luck to all our competitors.

 

Wellesley Challenge

The annual inter-set general knowledge quiz, the Wellesley Challenge, begins on Friday afternoon. Each set has a team of four children, one from each of the year groups from Block 1 to Block 4. The first round pits Romans against Vikings and Danes against Saxons, with the finals taking place on the last Friday of term. We look forward to hearing the participants impressing with their wide range of knowledge.

 

Sunday Outing

The outing for the boarders this Sunday will be ten-pin bowling at Bugsy’s in Cliftonville.

 

Coffee Morning

Do please join Mrs Franklin for her Coffee Morning in the Headmaster’s house (opposite the school office) after drop off next Friday 18th January. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing everyone who can make it.

 

UK Schools Chess Challenge

This year’s UK Schools Chess Challenge will begin shortly. Those who enter will play seven rounds of competition within the school during this term, with the winners qualifying for the Area Megafinal during the Summer Term, followed potentially by the South Gigafinal and then the National Terafinal. Last year’s tournament attracted more than 40,000 children from 1200 schools, so competition is fierce.

 

Scottish Dancing Rehearsals

Rehearsals take place next Tuesday evening in preparation for our Burns Night celebrations the following week on Tuesday 22nd January. Block 3, Block 4 and Junior House will be rehearsing from 5.45 pm to 6.30 p.m., followed by Blocks 1 and 2 from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

 

Middle School Play

Rehearsals for this year’s Middle School play, ‘Ye-Ha!’, are set to begin. Rehearsals will take place mainly during the Activity periods on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of the cast’s labours at the end of term.

 

This Week’s Menu

LENT TERM MENU WEEK 1 2019

Matches This Week

Please always refer to the website calendar as it is the most up-to-date place to check for fixture changes and locations.

Saturday 12th January

Netball v Junior King’s: U13 A (a) (Note: Training Match)

 
 
Matches Next Week

Please always refer to the website calendar as it is the most up-to-date place to check for fixture changes and locations.

Wednesday 16th January

Netball v Dover College: U11 (h)

Rugby v Duke of York’s: U13 & U12 (a) (Note: 2.00 pm start)

Rugby v Ashford & St Lawrence: U11 (h)

Rugby v Ashford: U10 (h)

Saturday 19th January

Netball v St Lawrence: U13 A & B (a)

Netball v Junior King’s: U11 (h)

Rugby v Junior King’s: U13, U12 & U11 (h)

Rugby v Junior King’s: U10 (a)