From the Headmaster’s Study
This week we welcome a team of Independent School Inspectors (ISI) to Wellesley to inspect our overall educational provision. Amongst other things, the ISI staff will observe lessons, look at pupils work, interview randomly selected (by them) groups of pupils and staff, visit both boarding houses as well as scrutinising all administrative paperwork from a compliance perspective. Pupils, staff and parents have also been requested to fill out anonymous ISI questionnaires. Thank you for your timely assistance with this task at such short notice – your feedback, which will be shared with me in abbreviated form, is very much appreciated. We last had a “full inspection” in 2011 and we have welcomed the opportunity to share what we offer here at Wellesley. We look forward to hearing their report in due course and sharing with all of our stakeholders.
Gavin Franklin
Fixture Change
The Colts A cricket match against Dover College, scheduled for this Wednesday, has been rearranged and will now take place on Wednesday 5th June.
Notices
School Photograph
The school photograph takes place on Thursday morning. Would parents of day pupils please ensure that they come to school as detailed in Mrs Hatt’s e-mail: girls should be in their kilt, white best blouse and cardigan, while boys should be wearing their grey trousers, white shirt, tie and sweater. The procedure for ordering copies will be sent out when we have the details from the photographers.
Half-Term Sports and Activities Week
Mr Longdon is running a Sport and Activites week at Wellesley from Tuesday 28th to Friday 31st May. Activities each day will run from 9.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. with great fun guaranteed. For further information visit: www.wellesleyhouse.org/news-events/camp/ or email Mr Longdon. Please pass the word on to friends and family.
Coffee Morning
Do please join Mrs Franklin for her Coffee Morning in the Headmaster’s house (opposite the school office) after drop off this Friday 17th May. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing everyone who can make it.
School Last Week
Pre-Prep Stay and Play Sessions
The first of the stay and play sessions was held on Friday and a strong turnout ensured that the room was full. The next session takes place this Friday 17th May. The sessions are open to all and primarily aimed at children aged 0-4. Mrs Brown will be hosting these events upstairs in the Junior House and parents will remain with their children. All enquiries/bookings should be addressed to admissions@wellesleyhouse.net
Maths Competition
The last of the Maths competitions scheduled for early in the term took place on Tuesday, with a team of four children from Block 4 going to Ashford School for their annual Year 5 Maths Competition. Our team enjoyed the event, even though they found the questions quite challenging. Team: Margot Grand, Alexander Long, Everett Olson and Stanislav Shatokhin.
Class Assembly
The first class assembly of the term took place on Thursday. In spite of some technical problems, Mr Hallam’s tutor group spoke to the school about Honesty and Fairness, incorporating a chocolate honesty game and then speaking about the Cadbury family and how they improved the lives of others through developing the community of Bournville for the workers in their factory.
School Council
The School Council held its first meeting of the term on Friday during Morning Break. Amongst other things, we discussed the pupil planners that were introduced this academic year, looking at ways in which they could be improved and made even more useful for next year. We have also decided to organise a cake sale in aid of our chosen charity, Louie’s Helping Hands, and this will be held on Monday 17th June.
Sunday Outing
A group of boarders will be enjoying an energy-packed afternoon at Bayford Meadows Kart Circuit in Sittingbourne this Sunday.
Chapel
Our second weekend chapel service took place on Saturday. The choir sang the anthem beautifully, and Mr. Franklin referenced the lesson from Joshua chapter 1 in speaking to the school about strength and courage when making choices about courses of action, and the positive influence good decisions can have on others.
Sunday Outing
A group of boarders took to the racing track in an energy-packed afternoon at Bayford Meadows Kart Circuit in Sittingbourne on Sunday, while others enjoyed a range of activities within school.
School This Week
Common Entrance
The first round of Common Entrance examinations take place this week for members of Block 1, with the Mental Arithmetic examination on Monday and then listening and oral examinations in French and Spanish during the rest of the week. Good luck to all the candidates.
ABRSM Exams
Congratulations to Gracie Lawton, who was presented with her certificate for Grade 1 Music Theory in Monday’s assembly.
Ampleforth History Competition
Well done to Barnaby Carter, Joe Dawson and Cameron McKenzie, who were presented with certificates for their entries into Ampleforth College’s 2019 Junior History Competition.
Scientist of the Month
Two awards were given out for Scientist of the Month. For March, Jessica Zhang was recognised for her strong progress as she approaches Common Entrance, while for April, Jonjo Wylie was commended for his enthusiasm and example in bringing so much to his lessons.
Music on Monday
Music on Monday was provided by Jessica Zhang, who played a Japanese piano piece ‘’The River Flows Through Summer’. Well done, Jessica.
Team of the Week
This week’s ‘Team of the Week’ are the Block 1 and Block 2 children who took part in the Sutton Valence Prep Schools Maths competition. They will be rewarded with cookies and squash in the Headmaster’s drawing room during a morning break.
Sunday Outings
A group of eight children, with parents, will be going to Royal St George’s to compete in this year’s Invitation Golf competition. There will also be a trip to Betteshanger Park, where the children will take to the cycling trails.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 1.
Matches Last Week
Wednesday 8th Ma
Cricket v Marlborough House: 1st XI – cancelled
Cricket v Northbourne Park: Colts A – won by 8 wickets
Cricket Quadrangular v Dover College: Wellesley U13 Girls 1 – won 265 – 200
Cricket Quadrangular v Dover College: Wellesley U13 Girls 2 – won 265 – 202
Cricket Quadrangular v Northbourne Park: Wellesley U13 Girls 1 – won
Cricket Quadrangular v Northbourne Park: Wellesley U13 Girls 2 – won 268 – 262
Cricket Quadrangular: Wellesley U13 Girls 1 v U13 Girls 2 – won 265 – 231
Thursday 9th May
Tennis v Simon Langton: U13 Boys – cancelled
Friday 10th May
Cricket v St Lawrence: Colts A – abandoned
Saturday 11th May
Cricket v Ashdown House: 1st XI – won by 8 wickets
Cricket v Ashdown House: 2nd XI – lost by 2 runs
Cricket v Northbourne Park: 3rd XI – lost by 2 wickets
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U11 Girls – lost 52 – 75
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.
Monday 13th May
Tennis v Junior King’s: U13 Boys and U13 Girls (a)
Wednesday 15th May
Rounders v Duke of York’s RMS: U13 A & B (a)
Cricket v Northbourne Park: 2nd XI (a)
Cricket v Dover College: 3rd XI (h)
Cricket v Dover College: Colts A (h) – (Note: Postponed until 5th June)
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U9 A & B (h)
Thursday 16th May
Cricket v Junior King’s: U9 (h)
Tennis v Dane Court: U13 Girls (h)
Saturday 18th May
Rounders v Junior King’s: U11 (a)
Cricket v Duke of York’s RMS: 2nd XI (h)
Cricket v Duke of York’s RMS: 3rd XI (a)
Cricket v Junior King’s: Colts A (h)
Cricket v Junior King’s: Colts B (a)
Sunday 19th May
Royal St. George’s Invitational Golf