From the Headmaster’s Study

It has been a delight to welcome all Welleslians, including nearly 30 new pupils, back this term and after a long summer holiday, the grounds, corridors, form rooms, library, dormitories, common rooms, playing fields and staff room (!) are buzzing with energy, enthusiasm and a real sense of purpose.  Our congratulations go to all pupils for settling so quickly into the usual routines.

Since our return, other than a full timetable of academic lessons, pupils have already been seen in the swimming pool, at beach school, on stage, on the hockey and football pitches, in the music pods, in the art school, at the squash courts, in the rifle range and on the playground!  We have been blessed with fine weather and this has been matched by positive energy and high spirits from pupils and staff alike.  It has also been wonderful to see a number of parents at drop off, Claire’s very well attended coffee morning and Saturday’s fixtures.

My staff and I could not be more excited about the year ahead and we look forward to supporting, encouraging, stretching and challenging our pupils in pursuit of their goals.

Gavin Franklin

JDRM Gavin Portraits-2

announcements

Friends of Wellesley

The Friends of Wellesley are very much looking forward to hosting their Summer Party this coming weekend.  There is such an array of fabulous raffle prizes on offer they would like everyone in the school community to have the opportunity to buy a ticket or tickets!  Members of the Friends of Wellesley committee will be outside selling raffle tickets (£5 per ticket) on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons during sports this week. Those going to the dinner will also be able to purchase tickets on the night.  Raffle Prizes include a meal for 2 at Stark, Broadstairs,  2 tickets to a premier league football match, 4 group sessions with HITT Fitness on the beach, Afternoon tea at Felicity’s cafe at Quex Park, a gift voucher for Kit Stores, Broadstairs and last but no means least a PT session and Beauty session at Kent Body and Aesthetics.  A huge thank you to all the contributors to our raffle, we are looking forward to a wonderful evening.

School Last Week

General Knowledge

Our school General Knowledge paper was answered by Block 1 to JH on Thursday. Congratulations to the winners in each year group, who were as follows:

Block 1Margot Grand  82/100
Block 2Raf Cable          85/100
Block 3Tate Sheppard   69/100
Block 4Ralph Wainman   67/100
JLAlgie Moore 57/100

Prizes will be awarded to all these winners in the Final Assembly at the end of term.

Sunday Activity

On Sunday afternoon the boarders enjoyed a walk to discover the sandy beach in Broadstairs. This was, of course, accompanied by a delicious ice cream in the gorgeous September sunshine!

News from Pre-prep

It has been wonderful to welcome so many new children and their families to the Pre-prep. Everyone has settled brilliantly and lessons and activities are in full flow. This week will be another busy one with U9 football training, swimming lessons, Coding club and Stagecoach starting.
We are delighted to announce the set captains for pre-prep:
Vikings – Rupert Reed
Saxons – Sammy Franklin
Romans – Auben Shaddick
Danes – Henry Harper
We are very grateful to the Friends of Wellesley who have allowed us to purchase a range of outdoor equipment to enjoy at playtimes and during Beach School and Forest School sessions.

School Librarians

Mrs McDermott invited pupils from Blocks 2 and 3 to submit an application for the role of librarian at Wellesley. She was absolutely delighted with the number and content of the applications and can confirm the following pupils in this important role: Georgie Carter, Grace Flowers, Max Miller, Mirabel Poulson (Block 2), Harriet Brooks, Melody Flowers, Lila Grady, Luna Sarafoglou (Block 3). Congratulations to them all.

Six of the Best

Congratulations to Matthew McBride for being selected as this term’s Six of the Best for his William Blake inspired painting that will hang proudly in the Headmaster’s study.

School This Week

Jeans for Genes Day – Thursday 16th September

Jeans for Genes Day is the annual fundraising campaign for Genetic Disorders UK, the national charity that supports individuals and families affected by a genetic disorder. Monies raised on Jeans for Genes Day aim to transform the lives of children born with genetic disorders.
Thursday 16th September will be a non-uniform day to include an item of denim or a pair of jeans. £1 will be added to the school bill. Please contact the school office if you do not wish to participate.

Pre-prep Open Morning

We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our Pre-prep Open Morning on Friday. The session runs from 10am and 12 noon and as well as a stay and play session we will be offering tours of our fantastic setting and outdoor classroom facilities. If you have any friends or family who would like to come along, please contact Mrs Baird via hmsecretary@wellesleyhouse.net.

Music

Music lessons start back up this week. We are currently offering drums, piano, woodwind, brass, guitar, strings, and DJing. Please email Mr Barnes, jhb@wellesleyhouse.net, for more information.

History Newsletter

Please click here to read Wellesley’s History Newsletter. Packed with interesting facts, articles written by pupils, a review of the Townsend Warner History prize etc, do please take a moment to have a look.

Saturday Chapel

This coming Saturday, 19th September, we will hold a Chapel service for pupils and staff only (sadly no parents on this occasion). Please note that pupils will not need to wear best uniform for the service on 19th September. The Headmaster will address the congregation.

Harvest Boxes

We are asking again this year for the children to bring a harvest box from home to be distributed to those in need amongst the local community. It would be hugely appreciated if the boxes could come into school after the first exeat on Monday 27th September. Harvest boxes can contain useful non- perishable food items or even personal items such as toothbrushes or toothpaste. Details of our Harvest services will follow shortly.

Team of the Week

The ‘Team of the Week’ is announced at each Monday’s assembly. For demonstrating teamwork, skill and considerable effort, this week’s winners are the 1st XI football team, who beat JKS 3-0, away. Head of football, Mr Martin said that he “could not have asked for more from the team”.
Well done. They will be rewarded with cookies and squash with the Headmaster on the front lawn during Tuesday’s break time.

Honey harvesting day

Next Wednesday the pupils will be harvesting the Wellesley Haddon Dene honey. Just like last year, we hope to raise funds that will go towards our wildlife projects around the school. With last year’s money raised we have purchased new beekeeping equipment and a summer house from which our wildlife projects will be based.
Pupils will attend sessions throughout the day so the pupils get a taste of the process (and a taste of the honey!). They will be collecting the honey frames from the hives, extracting and filtering the honey and putting it into jars before labelling them ready for the sale for which details will follow.
Start saving up your pennies, this year is going to be a fantastic vintage year!

Activities

This term, we are hoping to run the school play once again! Due to this decision, we have had to arrange rehearsal time for all of the children required and to avoid missing academic time this will be during the Tuesday activity slot (Tuesday activities – 2.45-4.00 in school.) Unfortunately, this may mean that your child may not be able to take part in the activities they selected. We regret this, but the play must go on!

StageCoach will take place on Thursday evenings in the Studio Room. The first session will be on Thursday 16th September. Group 1 will be for those who signed up from Nursery to Year 3 – 3.30-5.00pm. Group 2 will be for those in Year 4 to Year 8 – 5.00p-6.30pm. Please could parents collecting children do so from outside the Studio/Sports Hall at the correct time. Miss Georgia Perry will be taking the class.

CodeKids will be running Augmented Reality classes this term in the ICT room on Friday evenings. CodeKids is run by Monika Gumbar. We would ask that if parents are collecting children after the session that they do so from the ICT Block, parking is available at that time just in front of that building. The first session will be on Friday 17th September at 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

Ballet – Kate Carrington will be returning to coach Ballet this term. We are hoping to arrange this during activities on Fridays (2.45-4.00 slot) but this is TBC. If we can’t arrange the afternoon session then Ballet may take place on Wednesdays from 5-6pm. We will contact parents involved to confirm.
Kate also teaches different dance techniques which are included below:
1) BALLET – ISTD SYLLABUS
2) TAP – ISTD SYLLABUS
3) MODERN /JAZZ / MUSICAL THEATRE
“My aim is to provide a form of physical training that is safe, correctly aligns and places the body to the best of the individual’s physical facility, alongside developing artistic and musical appreciation and a sense of performance which incorporates an awareness of style and expression. Creativity within a disciplined environment.” – Kate Carrington AISTD.ALAM
Should you wish your child to participate in a dance session please contact myself – spk@wellesleyhouse.net

Tennis Coaching – just at the end of August, our coach Miss Tonkiss achieved a placement in a law firm. Whilst we wish her every success and thanks for her work last term, it has left us without a coach for the moment. We will be looking to find a new coach but this is unlikely to happen immediately. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Mrs Sue Flory teaches our LAMDA sessions. She will be in school on Wednesdays and Friday mornings to coach children. These sessions run like music sessions i.e. with the children coming out of classes to attend. The lesson is 30 minutes long and every effort is made to rotate timings each week to prevent the same lesson being disrupted.

Swimming – individual swimming lessons on a Monday and Tuesday are organised and run by Mrs Jasmin Chiaramello, to book please contact her directly – jfc@wellesleyhouse.net

Coffee morning

Thank you to everyone who was able to come to the start of term coffee morning. It was lovely to see so many of you and we look forward to a successful and happy term.

Menu

This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 2.

Senior School News

Tonbridge

This term, Tonbridge School has a range of dates where families can attend an Open Morning.  Please click here for further information.

King’s Rochester

King’s Rochester is now open for tours and you are invited to book an appointment at one of their Open Mornings.  For further information, please click here

Ampleforth College

For those looking further afield, Ampleforth College is holding an Open Morning on 18th September.  Please click here for further details.

Matches This Week

Wednesday 15th September

Hockey v Dover College: U13 A&B (h)

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

 

If your child has been selected for a fixture, we will email you each Tuesday morning with information regarding the recommended pick up time from Wellesley.

 

Matches Last Week

Fixture

Result

Soccer v JKS: 1st XI 

Won 3:0

Soccer v JKS: Colts A 

Lost 

Soccer v JKS: Colts B 

Lost 

 

 

 

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