From the Headmaster’s Study
We were delighted to welcome the pupils back this morning (and last night) and indeed to welcome 9 new Welleslians who join us at the start of this Summer term. Everyone appears in excellent spirits! You will see from the calendar that this term is full of exciting events and activities. As always, please do keep a close eye on the Wellesley Weekly for up to date reports and news.
The staff have been back in this week preparing for the term ahead and in amongst our meetings and presentations, we took time to reflect on all of the considerable pupil success that has happened this year that is reported to you via the Wellesley Weekly. We look forward to more progress, success and enjoyment amongst our pupil body this term. Happy Easter to you all.
Gavin Franklin
School This Week
Welcome
It is always good to see everyone return for the new term. Nine new children have joined us, from JH up to Block 2, and we wish them every success during their time at the school. Mrs. Brown joins us as the Head of the Pre-Prep, to prepare for its opening in September, and Ms. Mousuddee joins us as Head of Academic Educational Needs and Wellbeing. Additionally, we welcome back Mrs. McDermott following her maternity leave.
Summer Timetable
The school moves back over to the summer timetable from the start of term. The main change is that there are two lessons after lunch before games and activities take place. Pick-up times for day children remain unchanged at 5.15 pm.
Six of the Best
Congratulations to Freddie Southorn, whose series of abstract works (two relief prints, two etchings and a mixed media drawing) has been chosen to hang in the Headmaster’s study for this half of term. The works made up one project to think about how music and art might inspire each other, predominantly looking at painter Wassily Kandinsky and composer Modest Mussorgsky.
Thanet Schools Art Festival
Well done to all the following, who are currently exhibiting art works as part of the Thanet Schools Art Festival: Joshua Andrews, Harriet Brooks, Georgie Carter, Margot Grand, Teresa Imaz, April Ma, Matthew McBride, Henry Obee, William Obee, Jimena Pena and Mencia Sanchez. Their works are on display at Sainsbury’s at Westwood Cross until this Sunday 28th April. Georgie Carter and April Ma have won runner-up prizes for their entries, and will attend the presentation event on Saturday. Congratulations to them both.
Music Certificates
Congratulations to these musicians, who have been awarded music certificates for their ABRSM exams taken last term:
| Archie Butterfill | Trumpet | Grade 1 |
| Elisa Kuang | Piano | Grade 2 |
| Robin Hu | Viola | Grade 3 |
Fencing
Well done to Henry Barker, who has won the Master of Arms Cup for the Under 11 age group at Invicta Fencing Club.
Swimming Certificates
Certificates from Swim England were presented in Thursday’s assembly to those pupils who were unable to collect them late last term. Well done to Joshua Andrews, for 100 metres backstroke, and to Steven Shi, for 1000 metres freestyle.
Team of the Week
The ‘Team of the Week’ for this week, postponed from the end of last term, are the rugby team who played so well in the Small Schools 7s Festival at Sherborne. They will be rewarded with cookies and squash in the Headmaster’s drawing room during a morning break.
Team Captains
Congratulations to James Felton, who has been selected as the Captain of Cricket for this term, to Ella Yu who is the Captain of Tennis and to Jansci Motsi, who is the Captain of Golf. We wish them all and their teams a successful season.
Fixtures
The season gets underway on Saturday, after just one training session, with cricket matches against Junior King’s for the 1st XI and Under 11 Girls, and rounders, also against Junior King’s, for Under 13 A and B teams. Good luck to all the teams.
Maths Competitions
There are four Maths competitions coming up early in the term. We start immediately, on Thursday, when two pairs in Block 4 will travel to Junior King’s where they will take part in a Maths Challenge organised by a former teacher who arranges such events around the country. Next Tuesday a number of children in Blocks 1 and 2 will be taking the Junior Mathematical Challenge, a nationwide competition. Also next week, on Thursday, mathematicians from Block 1 and Block 2 will be going to Sutton Valence School for their annual Prep Schools’ Maths Competition. Finally, on Tuesday 7th May, a team of four children will be going to Ashford School for their annual Year 5 Maths Competition. Good luck to everyone taking part in these competitions.
Sunday Outing
This weekend’s Sunday outing for the boarders is the annual ‘Big Walk’, this year taking place along the north Thanet coast. The children will have a picnic lunch, followed by the walk which will be from Minnis Bay to Reculver Country Park and back. Families of day children are very welcome to bring their own picnics and join us; further details can be seen in the letter sent out with the end-of-term mailing.
UK Chess Challenge
Five chess players, who qualified from the competitions in school last term, will be heading to Sandwich Technology School on Sunday to take part in the Area Megafinal. They will play six matches, hoping to be crowned Supremo for their age groups. Good luck to Felix Butterfill, Robin Hu, Simon Ji, Henry Obee and Freddie Southorn.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 1.
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 27th April
Rounders v Junior King’s: U13 A & B (a)
Cricket v Junior King’s: 1st XI & Under 11 Girls (h)
Boarding Event – Tonbridge and Benenden Schools
On Monday 13th May, Tonbridge and Benenden will be holding a combined event in London which may be of interest to you. The occasion, entitled “Boarding: Meeting the Challenges of the Teenage Years” will be led by James Priory, the Headmaster at Tonbridge, and Mrs Samantha Price, the Headmistress at Benenden, with contributions from housemasters, housemistresses, parents and pupils from their two schools. Their hope is that the evening will help parents to understand better the ethos which allows pupils to flourish as boarders in their schools during their teenage years.
They would be very pleased to see you on Monday 13th May. If you are able to go please reply to Tonbrdge by signing up at: www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/modernboarding or call Mrs Veryan Larmour on 01732 304297. Alternatively reply to Benenden with your child’s name, year and prep school: email Dawn Bradford: dbr@benenden.kent.sch.uk.
Girls’ Schools Association
Benenden will also be represented at the GSA ‘Open Your Eyes to Boarding’ event on Thursday 2nd May at St Matthew’s Church, Bayswater, London W2 4LA.
This is an event which provides ‘an opportunity to discover what modern boarding has to offer your daughter.’ You will also be able to meet top girls’ school Heads and staff and to take part in a Q & A session with a panel of experts.
Further details and registration for the event can be seen on the Girls’ Schools Association website.