From the Headmaster’s Study
In Headmaster’s Assembly this morning – live streamed to the pupils in their form rooms – I was proud to reflect on such a positive and productive first half to this summer term. Without fail, the pupils have worked hard in lessons and preps, embraced all of the wonderful opportunities and have lived by our core values in all that they do. There have been learning opportunities for all – sometimes from mistakes; sometimes from new experiences; sometimes from feedback – and everyone should enter half term proud for what they have achieved over the past 5 or so weeks. My special congratulations go to our new Welleslians – fitting into a new environment can be a daunting prospect for us all – but the new pupils have demonstrated great courage and positivity throughout for which they have my sincere congratulations. Also, I must mention our staff who, possibly even more than the pupils, deserve their well earned half term. They have been superb. On behalf of us all, we wish you and your families a happy and healthy half term.
Gavin Franklin
announcements
Update on school fixtures and spectators
With the government’s announcement to progress to stage 3 of the roadmap, we are delighted to be able to allow spectators for our fixtures at Wellesley. We still need to be cautious, however, and remind parents not to come into the main school building. Toilets will be available in the sports hall. I’m sorry that we won’t be offering sharing platters for match teas at this stage but will have a self-service tea and coffee station under the gazebo outside of the dining hall. In order for us to ascertain numbers of spectators, we will be asking you to complete a google form stating your intention to attend the fixture. Spectators at away fixtures are determined by the host school – all schools are operating to their own risk assessment. If away schools are accepting Wellesley spectators, you will have the option to complete your information on our google form – if you don’t have the option, it is because that school is not accepting spectators at this time. The form will be shared with parents tomorrow (Tuesday). It is our hope that this is a straightforward process (!) – thank you.
SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY 26TH JUNE
The Friends of Wellesley’s Summer Party is on Saturday 26th June in the Dining Hall at Wellesley. If you would still like to come the cost of a ticket is £60 to include a 3 course meal, cheese and biscuits, coffee and petit fours. The Friends of Wellesley will generously offer welcome drinks on arrival where Mr Jamie Rogers will be leading a Jazz Trio accompaniment. A Guest DJ will also be in the house for after dinner dancing. Wine for each table can be pre-ordered in advance, forms will be sent out after half term. Raffle tickets will be on sale on the night for some fabulous prizes from Afternoon tea at Felicity’s Cafe at Quex Park to burning it all off in a private HITT personal training session on the beach, tickets to premier league football matches and T20 blasts to fine dining at Broadstairs very own Stark restaurant and much more! A game of Heads and Tails will precede the dinner so plenty of cash is needed! We are very much looking forward to getting as many of our community together to raise some funds for the school but most importantly to enjoy a fun evening together.
Swimming
This term, we are pleased to be able to offer swimming lessons (for the whole school), on Monday and Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-5:10. All lessons are group lessons.
£14 (per child) for a half hour, group lessons.
We are currently taking a waiting list for Tuesday. Swimming lessons can be offered on a saturday as well from 2:15pm.
If you are interested in booking lessons, please contact Geraldine via hmsecretary@wellesleyhouse.net or directly to the swimming instructor at jfc@wellesleyhouse.net
COVID-19
We thought that it would be valuable to share with parents our COVID-19 flow charts, which map out the necessary course of action, dependent on the situation for pupils and staff who are displaying COVID-19 symptoms in school.
Staff
Positive cases – children
Positive cases – boarders
Symptoms of COVID – children
School Last Week
Pre-Prep
The younger members of pre-prep took part in a global movement ‘Outdoor Classroom Day’ to inspire outdoor play and learning. The children benefited from a Forest School session run by Mrs Chiaramello, they used peelers, made fruit kebabs and had the opportunity to whittle a stick to toast marshmallows. Maths and English lessons also took place outside and Form JB explored the features of the sun dial by the Orchard as part of their maths topic Time. The children in Reception enjoyed a picnic and Miss Kingsland set them the challenge of sharing their food equally between the group. It was another successful Stay and Play session with children and parents enjoying chatting with teachers and other parents, finding out about all the fabulous opportunities Wellesley has to offer.
Reminder – pick up this Friday for half- term is at 1pm for Pre-prep children.
Royal Mail’s Heroes Stamp Design Competition
Over the past couple of weeks all students from JB up to Block 1 have been designing entries for the Royal Mail’s Heroes Stamp Design Competition. This nationwide art event has been set up to create eight new stamps for general circulation that will honour the many heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. Children were asked to consider who they thought should be commemorated in this way and recognise the enormous efforts of the many people who worked tirelessly to keep the country moving during the pandemic. From NHS staff to farmers, scientists to Sir Captain Tom, the students’ stamps were both thoughtful and beautifully designed and I had a lot of fun leading these sessions.
A special panel of judges will pick eight winning designs overseen and approved by Her Majesty The Queen. There are over 120 great prizes on offer for regional winners and runners up and with the quality of the designs being entered maybe a Welleslian will have the rare honour of having their design in the corner of envelopes sent across the globe. Fingers Crossed.
Mr Parfitt
School This Week
Half Term Pick Up
Half term starts on Friday lunchtime and pre-prep children can be collected from 1pm. Pupils in Years 4-8 can be collected at 1.30pm from the usual bubble pick up points. Boarders return to school between 6pm – 7.30pm on Sunday 6th June and day children return at 8.10am on Monday 7th June.
Townsend Warner History Competition
Following their spectacular showing in paper 1 of the Townsend Warner History national competition, Archie Butterfill (Block 1) and Georgie Carter (Block 3) will sit paper two this week. We wish them both all the very best as their historical knowledge and essay writing ability is tested to the full.
School Council
The termly school council meeting will take place in Friday break this week, chaired by Mr Spencer. Representatives from each year group will discuss ideas in a group forum.
Team of the Week
Congratulations to the U11 girls cricket team for their superb performances and effort last week. They will enjoy squash and cookies with the Headmaster during a break time this week.
Study Skills
This week all pupils will be having sessions with Ms Moosuddee discussing Study Skills, revision tips and having a go at Mindful Meditations! Hopefully everyone will be fully prepared, calm and ready to focus.
Atom Nucleus
Atom Nucleus provides unlimited access to personalised learning at home from Years 3-8, combining high-quality teacher-written content with an adaptive algorithm tailored to your child. Click here to see how it works. Parents will gain access to:
Course areas across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning (and soon Science).
Unlimited mock tests that closely mirror key senior school entry assessments.
Granular performance insight on strengths and areas to work on.
Live and on-demand video tutorials for supplementary support.
We have a discount code which will give you 20% off your first month if you would like to try it out: WwcsvSyg (This code is valid until 31st July 2021.)
If you would like any further information on this please email Mrs Sabin-Dawson (ksd@wellesleyhouse.net).
Stay and Play
We look forward to hosting our final Stay and Play session on 11th June. Younger visitors will be able to take full advantage of our Outdoor Classroom whilst parents have the opportunity to meet with our lovely Pre-prep team and see for themselves all Wellesley has to offer. As we are limiting numbers, we ask parents to pre-book. Held on Friday afternoons from 2pm to 3.15pm, we still have a few places available. If you, friends or family have children under 5 and would like to book a place please contact admissions@wellesleyhouse.net.
Gap students
Please do get in touch with the school office if you know of any enthusiastic 18 year olds that may be interested in working at Wellesley Haddon Dene during the Michaelmas term. We are able to offer accommodation and meals if needed.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 3.
Senior School News
For boys seeking entry to Tonbridge School in 2024 an ’in person’ Open Morning is being held on Saturday 26th June. For further information please contact admissions@tonbridge-school.org
Uppingham is inviting families with children for 2021 and 2022 entry to contact them to book visits (admissions@uppingham.co.uk). Whilst observing Covid protocols, tours of houses are also available. Year 6s (with pre-tests next term) are encouraged to explore Uppingtham via their programme of Virtual Visiting Days – 12th June at 10.30am.
Benenden is hosting a series of online Prospective Parent Open Mornings, please click here for dates and further information.
Wellington College very much hopes to be able to welcome visitors soon, however, in the interim please view their Virtual Visitors Day via this link.
King’s Rochester is inviting families to pre-book for their Open Morning on Saturday 26th June. Please contact admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk for further information.
Inspirational talks for pupils, families and staff
Wellington College continues with its programme of Fireside Talks …
In the final of Wellington College’s Fireside Talks, this week you are invited to join Ed Caesar …Why do we climb mountains? The talk starts at 8pm and please click here to join, via Teams.
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.
Please complete the google form here if you will be attending any home fixtures.
Wednesday 26th May
Girls Cricket v Northbourne : U13 (h)
Cricket v Ashford School: Colts A (a)
Cricket v Northbourne: Colts B
Cricket v Northbourne: U9 (mixed) A & B (h)
2:30 Cricket v Sutton Valence: 1st XI (h)
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 |
Cricket v Dover College: 1st XI | Won by 52 runs |
Cricket v Kent College: Colts A | Won by 4 wickets |
Cricket v Kent College: Colts B | Won by 4 wickets |
Girls’ Cricket v Northbourne: U11 | Won by 33 runs |