From the Headmaster’s Study
I hope that you enjoyed half term with your children. You will, of course, have followed the news of the impending 4-week national lockdown as announced by the Prime Minister over the weekend. As a school, we are awaiting further information from the Department for Education with the necessary updated guidance that we are obliged to follow. In the meantime, we will continue to operate largely under the same measures as we have done since the beginning of September.
I would like all parents to click here to read some relevant and updated news in light of the above.
Gavin Franklin
Future events
Individual Pre-prep photographs
These photos will be taking place on Tuesday 3rd November at 9am for children from Nursery to Year 3. Details on how to order photos will appear in a future edition of the weekly.
Christmas Cards for Schools – Nursery to Block 3 parents
If you would like to order any cards, gift tags, coasters or mugs in your child’s design then please fill in the order form with quantities required and your child’s details. Please return all forms to the school office by this Friday 6th November. Cheques can be made payable to Wellesley Haddon Dene School and can be attached to the form or the amount will be added to your school bill.
Remembrance Crosses
Last year we marked Remembrance Day by asking the children to find out about any of their relatives who had died during the wars. These names were then written on crosses and displayed at our service. This year, due to Covid, we cannot send the crosses home but we have them in school. If you might be able to let your children know the names of any relatives and perhaps dates they died then the children will be able to create their crosses in school. Thank you, Mr Kearns
Remembrance Service
We will be conducting Remembrance in a slightly different way this year. Whilst we will not be able to have a full school and parent service in Chapel, our bubbles will be participating in Remembrance Readings by candlelight in the Ridgway Chapel next week. We will share further information in next week’s Wellesley Weekly and we would be grateful for any family research as per Mr Kearn’s message above.
School Last week
Half-Term
Many of our overseas boarders stayed with us over Half-Term to avoid the need to quarantine again if they returned home. They enjoyed a fun-filled twelve days of activities and outings, including a trip to Wingham Wildlife Park; skateboarding at Revolution; trips to the castles at Dover and Walmer; pumpkin picking and a beach lunch in Deal; Hallowe’en crafts and pumpkin carving; climbing at Clip and Climb; trampolining at Flip Out; movie and popcorn afternoons; pizza-making and some academic lessons. A great time was had by all and we imagine that Michaelmas Half-Term 2020 will not be forgotten!
School This Week
Team of the Week
The ‘Team of the Week’ this week are the boarders who were unable to head home to see their families for half term. They will be rewarded with cookies and squash in the Headmaster’s study during Wednesday morning break.
Block 4 Roman Day
Block 4 will have a Roman-themed day on Tuesday, during which their lessons will involve Roman-based activities. The whole school will also be enjoying a Roman lunch. We especially look forward to seeing the children dressed up in their costumes.
Bonfire Night
We are looking forward to enjoying hot dogs and the bonfire on our playing fields (in our bubbles) on Thursday evening of this week. We are very sorry that we will not be able to welcome parents or other members of the wider Wellesley community to this event. The school bus will depart at 5.45pm and all day pupils should please be collected by 6pm. Children in Pre-prep who are staying, should please be collected from the Junior House front door at 5.30pm. Thank you.
Sunday Outings
The activity for boarders on Sunday will take place in school.
Senior School News
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. Please contact admissions@wellingtoncollege.org.uk for further details.
Benenden is hosting a series of online Prospective Parent Open Mornings, please click here for dates and further information.
Eton College has introduced a 45-minute webcast that they hope will serve as some form of a virtual visit; it includes an interview with the Head Master, a tour of the school given by a Y9 boy, an explanation of our admissions process for parents, and a broader video about the school. These are broadcast at specific times via Zoom, and interested parties are asked to email admissions@etoncollege.org.uk in order to book into a webcast. Their prospectus has now been significantly condensed into what they hope is a rather more user-friendly document (and certainly more geared towards Y5 boys and their parents). Do let us know if you would like hard copies of the new version, which is also viewable at www.etoncollege.com/admissions/entry-to-eton .
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.