From the Headmaster’s Study
There has been no sign of any slowing down as we reach the final straight of this immensely busy and successful term. The achievements of the pupils continue to amaze me, and aside from all of the scholarship success, we are delighted to report of many more individual and team achievements within the last week – two recent highlights being further academic success in the nationwide Townsend-Warner History competition and victory in 6 games out of 6 for our senior rugby team in the national IAPS festival at Sherborne School last weekend. The atmosphere at the brilliantly-attended and organised Friends of Wellesley quiz on Saturday night is further evidence of the strength of our special community here at Wellesley Haddon Dene. Also, on Sunday, I had the privilege of representing Wellesley at the Globe Theatre in London as I watched Harrow School’s remarkable production of Twelfth Night – one of Shakespeare’s loveliest plays – in which Duke Orsino was played by an Old Welleslian who is now in the 6th form at Harrow. The Wellesley community is clearly flourishing. Thank you for all of your support of your children and our staff this term; it is very much appreciated. We wish you all a wonderful holiday.
Gavin Franklin
Notices
Further Scholarship Success
We are delighted to announce further Scholarship awards. Ella Yu has achieved both Music and Sporting awards at Kent College in Canterbury. Congratulations, Ella, on your double success, a fine accomplishment.
Middle School Play
If you would like seats for the Middle School production of ‘Robin Hood’, please contact office@wellesleyhouse.net. There is an evening performance on Tuesday at 6.30 pm and a further performance on Wednesday at 11.00 am.
School Last Week
Rugby Sevens Festival
Our senior rugby players travelled to Sherborne School in Dorset to take part in The Small Schools Rugby 7s Festival on Sunday. They were clearly inspired by a trip to Ashton Gate in Bristol on Saturday, to watch the match between Bristol and Worcester, as they came away with a perfect record of 6 wins out of 6, following matches against Barnardiston Hall, Chesham Prep, Forres Sandle Manor, St. Michael’s from Jersey, Perrot Hill and Winterfold House. Well done to all the team: Blessing Afolabi, Toni Alaka, James Felton, Barnaby Gibson, Daniel Gurung, Pablo Guzman, Kaspar Irving, Daniel Stowell and Toni Su.
Friends of Wellesley Quiz
The quiz night was a great success. A very enjoyable and sociable evening was superbly organised by Belinda Wakeling and her committee and we thank them all. Mr Latteur again provided much entertainment as the question master, coming up with rounds that proved fairly challenging. Congratulations to the Evans team, who finished as winners by several points; the Carter team just pipped the staff team for 2nd place. Thank you also to the kitchen staff who provided a wonderful meal. Book your table now for next year’s event!
Informal Music Concert
The second informal music concert this term took place after lunch on Tuesday. Many children and staff attended, and enjoyed performances from Raul Forsythe-Artiga, Olympia Jokat, Paloma Llari de Sangenis, Everett Olson, Mia Otley, Ines Vaes Somolinos. Catherine Ye and Ella Yu.
Wellesley Challenge
Friday evening saw the final round of this year’s Wellesley Challenge. The evening began with Danes and Romans competing in the 3rd place play-off, with Romans prevailing by 295 points to 245. In the final, Vikings took an early lead over Saxons which they never relinquished, and ultimately they came out on top by 435 points to 315. We think the winning score may be the highest in the history of the competition, which has been taking place since the mid-1990s. Well done to the winning team of Tabitha Butterfill, Kyle Cullen, Reuben Okotie and Lilia Hunter.
Netball Triangular
The Under 13 netball team played a triangular fixture on Saturday against a staff team and a mothers’ team. In a highly enjoyable afternoon, the girls won both their matches, while the staff team overcame the mothers. Thank you very much to everyone who took part.
Sunday Outings
The outing on Sunday was to the Vue cinema, where the boarders enjoyed seeing ‘Captain Marvel’.
School This Week
Townsend Warner History Prize
This competition for prep school children began in 1886 and has been won five times by Wellesley pupils. Around 1000 children entered from schools across the country, and Barnaby Carter and Toni Alaka qualified for the second paper, which they sat just before half-term. The results have now been circulated: Toni finished just outside the top 200, while Barnaby was a most respectable 118th overall. Well done to both for their performances in the competition.
Squash Colours
Following the squash match last week at Tonbridge, James Felton and Pablo Guzman were awarded squash colours in Monday’s assembly, for their huge improvement over the season and their sportsmanship on court.
UK Schools Chess Challenge
The Junior House played their final round of the UK Schools Chess Challenge on Tuesday last week. The winner of the competition was Felix Butterfill, who won all seven of his games. Also qualifying for the Area Megafinal were Henry Obee and Freddie Southorn. In the Senior school the winner, who will be awarded the Blakey Trophy, was Robin Hu with 6 points out of 7. Also qualifying were Simon Ji and Blessing Afolabi, while Reuben Okotie is still in the running with two matches to complete. There may be space for one or two others to compete in the Area Megafinal, which takes place on the first Sunday of next term at Sandwich Technical School and is followed by the South Gigafinal and then the National Terafinal.
Music on Monday
Music on Monday was provided by Ella Yu, who gave a most impressive performance of ‘Romance’ by Beethoven on the piano. Well done, Ella.
Swimming
Well done to the following, who were awarded certificates from Swim England in Monday’s assembly, for achieving various distances up to 1000 metres: Joshua Andrews, Anaia Beckett, Harriet Brooks, Felix Butterfill, Mola Etan, Olympia Jokat, Paloma Llari de Sangenis, Sam Llewellyn, Matthew McBride, Cameron McKenzie, India Ollivier, Mia Otley, Steven Shi, Stanley Shoring and Lottie Southorn.
Team of the Week
The ‘Team of the Week’ for this week are the rugby team who played so well in the Small Schools 7s Festival on Sunday. They will be rewarded with cookies and squash in the Headmaster’s drawing room during a morning break.
British Science Week 2019
Prizes were awarded in Monday’s assembly for the competitions which ran during British Science Week (see www.britishscienceweek.org). Prizes for the daily quiz, which ran throughout the week, were won by Margot Grand, Olympia Jokat and Paloma Llari de Sangenis. Abraham Olson was the winner in the poster competition, with runners-up Joe Dawson, April Ma and William Norton, with. The basketball challenge was won by Jansci Motsi, followed by Kyle Cullen and Archie Brown. Thank you to Miss Wallace and Mr Waldie for organising all the activities.
Middle School Play
The technical and dress rehearsals for the Middle School play, ‘YeHa!’, took place on Thursday and Friday, and final tweaks were made on Monday. We now look forward with anticipation to the two performances on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Refreshments will be served in the library during the interval of each performance.
Easter Holidays
Term ends at 1.30 pm on Wednesday. Please note there are no buses. Children whose parents are watching the play on Wednesday may be collected before lunch. Boarders return for the Summer Term at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 24th April and day children at 8.20 am on Thursday 25th April. Happy Easter to you all!
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 2.
Matches Last Week
Tuesday 19th March
Squash v Tonbridge – drew 2 – 2
Wednesday 20th March
Netball v Dover College: U13 A – drew 9 – 9
Netball v Dover College: U13 B – won 18 – 3
Rugby v Northbourne Park: U12 – lost 2 – 7
Boys Hockey v Lorenden A: U11 – lost 1 – 5
Boys Hockey v Lorenden B: U11 – won 5 – 0
Sunday 24th March
Rugby Small Schools 7s Festival – won 6 out of 6 matches
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.
Easter Holiday Cricket Coaching
The Wellesley Haddon Dene Easter Holiday Cricket Coaching course will take place this year from Wednesday 17th to Thursday 18th April, under the guidance of Mr Franklin and Mr Burleigh. Full information and a booking form can be downloaded from this page. Any questions about the course should be addressed to the Headmaster’s PA, using e-mail hmsecretary@wellesleyhouse.net.
Easter Cricket Coaching Course Flyer
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.