From the Headmaster’s Study
Last week, our pupils achieved wonderful success in the Thanet Music and Drama Festival – further details of which can be found below. Aside from Wellesley pupils winning 5 of the 10 classes that they entered (in the face of significant competition), it is the courage and enthusiasm that these pupils demonstrated, merely to perform, that is of most significance. One of our aims at Wellesley is to challenge our pupils, in the most supportive way, both in and out of the classroom, and the Thanet Music and Drama Festival is the epitome of this. My thanks go to Sue Flory for her leadership of the pupils, and congratulations to all of the pupils who represented our school with such pride, skill and energy – they are all superb ambassadors for Wellesley.
Gavin Franklin
School Last Week
Parents Squash
On Saturday afternoon, we hosted our annual parents v pupils squash match. The competition was fierce and there was some real talent on display from both sides, with the parents dusting off their rackets! Each parent played two matches – one against their son and one against another member of the squash team. A match report is being written by the captain of squash, but in the meantime, we can report that the overall competition was halved: 6-6. Our thanks and congratulations go to Mr Long, Mr Brown, the Headmaster, Mr Spanton, Mr Goddard and Mrs Hulme for their great sportsmanship and for playing with such great spirit, and of course, to Mr Hallam for organising the event. We predict some stiff bodies today!
Thanet Music and Drama Festival
Nine Wellesley Haddon Dene pupils participated in classes in this year’s Thanet Music and Drama Festival in Broadstairs: Alex Sant (Block 4), Kaspar Lear, Platon Shatokhin, Luna Sarafaglou, Lila Grady (Block 3), Georgie Carter, Raf Cable (Block 2) and Hector Hulme and Stas Shatokhin (Block 1). Well done to them all and a full report from Mrs Flory can be found by clicking here.
Block 2 Study Skills
On Tuesday Block 2’s had their Study Skills session where we discussed how to prepare for exams. We explored different ways to improve revision and looked at different approaches to boost our memory. Ms Moosuddee showed us how to create Mind Maps using 2Simple and we had fun training our brains using the Stroop test.
Pre Prep
Another busy week in Junior House. The U9s had a successful trip to Dover College. We began to think about Shrove Tuesday in our Pre-prep assembly and Saxons have now taken the lead in the good marks. Preparations are underway for the Junior House music concert and children are busy learning their poems for the recitation. The nursery enjoyed a very sunny trip to Ramsgate beach this morning.
Upcoming events
1st March – Shrove Tuesday – donate a £1 for a pancake for breakfast. All money raised will go to Porchlight.
3rd March – World Book day – wear home clothes and bring in your favourite book. Dressing up as a character from a book is welcome but optional. (this event is a different day to the Prep school children who will still have exams on 3rd March)
Friday 11th March – 4pm Junior House concert
Monday 14th March – Pre-prep and JL poetry recitation – 9am
Friday 18th March – Red Nose Day – Have a laugh with your class. Donate £1 to wear something that will make your classmates laugh! (home clothes)
Wednesday 23rd March – 11am whole school easter egg hunt
School This Week
Block 1 Study Sessions
Running Monday to Friday, from 6pm to 6.40pm, day pupils are invited to join boarders in study sessions straight after supper. Please inform Geraldine (hmsecretary@wellesleyhouse.net) if you would like your child to attend.
Team of the Week
This week’s team of the week is awarded to the nine pupils who performed in the Thanet Music and Drama Festival. Feedback from the judging panel was glowing, and they were particularly impressed with the confidence and performance skills which our pupils displayed. Well done. The performers will meet with Mr & Mrs Franklin for home baked goodies and squash in the library during Friday morning break.
World Book Day
On Friday 4th March we will be celebrating World Book Day. This is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) a celebration of reading.The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading, something which we value highly at Wellesley Haddon Dene.
As part of our celebrations we would like to encourage pupils to attend school dressed as their favourite book character.
Block 1 Mock Examinations and Parent/Teacher meeting
Block 1 pupils sit their mock exams in the Old Hall this week and will be following a Common Entrance or Scholarship timetable. There will be a Block 1 parents conference on Saturday 12th March – this will happen remotely and further details will follow.
FOW Meeting
The Friends of Wellesley will be meeting at 12pm in the Library on Friday 4th March.
Exeat
On Friday we have the second exeat of the term. Pre-prep children can be collected from Junior House at 1pm and pupils in Years 4 to 8 will be ready for collection at 1.30pm from the usual pick-up points.
Boarders should return to school between 5.30pm and 7pm on Sunday (with a hot meal served at 6pm in the dining room) or at 8.20am on Monday morning.
Atom Learning
Atom Learning has a series of tea time online live lessons taking place for children in Years 3 – 6. With subjects such as creative writing exam prep on offer, for further information please contact Atom Learning.
Matches This Week
Tuesday, 1st March
Wainman Cup Cross Country 2pm
Stevens Cup Cross Country 2.45pm
Wednesday, 2nd March
Netball v Northbourne: U11 (h)
Rugby v Duke of York: U13 (h)
Thursday, 3rd March
Squash v Holmewood House: 1st V and Colts V (a) 3.15pm
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 |
Squash v St Lawrence: 1st V | Lost 2-3 |
Rugby v Dover College: U13 (h) | Won 12-2 |
Rugby v Dover College: U9/U8 | Won 7-3 |
Netball v JKS: U11 | Lost 23-5 |
Netball v JKS: U13 A | Won 12-6 |
Netball v JKS: U13 B | Lost 12-5 |
Squash v Parents | Drew |
Rugby v Northbourne: U13B | Drew 6-6 |
Rugby v Northbourne: U10 | Drew 3-3 |
Netball v Northbourne: U13 A | Won 15-13 |
Netball v Northbourne: U13 B | Won 14-1 |