From the Headmaster’s Study
Last week, I enjoyed two days in London at the annual IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) Heads’ conference. There were a number of core educational policies on the agenda. In amongst discussions about the current political situations, keynote speeches were also delivered on Artificial Intelligence in schools, Mental Health in young people and partnerships in schools. One common thread throughout the talks was the importance of the impact of positive role models on our pupils – a message that we as a Common Room at Wellesley take very seriously.
I look forward to seeing those of you who can make it at one of our two Harvest Festival services this week – as outlined below.
Gavin Franklin
Dates for the diary
Harvest Festival
Please remember to bring in your Harvest boxes this week. The harvest boxes tend to be shoe boxes/small cardboard boxes made to look like small hampers which contain non-perishable / dried goods. Sometimes they also include toiletries like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc. As the boxes may not be distributed for a week or so, please note that they should not contain any perishable items such as fresh fruit or vegetables.
The pre-prep will be celebrating their Harvest festival this Wednesday 2nd October at 8.30am where we welcome Debbie Ellisdon from Foodlink food bank in Margate to tell us all about their good work. Please join us for the assembly in the Old Hall next to Junior House and there will be coffee served afterwards in the Headmaster’s house at 9am.
The prep school Harvest Festival will be in chapel this Saturday 5th October at 12.20pm and we welcome Paul Worledge, Vicar at St Luke’s, Ramsgate. Soup and sandwiches will be served in the Library afterwards. We will be delivering the harvest boxes to Foodlink the following week.
Christmas Fair
The Friends of Wellesley would like you to Save The Date for the Wellesley Haddon Dene Christmas Fair.
This will take place on Saturday 23rd November in the Old Hall, between 11.00 am and 2.30pm. Christmas Shopping, games, mince pies, music and more!
If you wish to take a stall at the Christmas Fair, please speak with either Claire Franklin or Belinda Wakeling. Contact via the school office (office@wellesleyhouse.net).
Following the success of our Easter Cricket Coaching Workshops and Half Term Activity Camps, we are delighted to be running further camps during the October half term:
Netball Coaching – Tuesday 22nd October – click here for booking form
School Last Week
World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
Thank you to everyone who joined Mrs Franklin at home last Friday for this year’s event, which raised funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Thank you to everyone who generously donated: a total of £152 was raised.
Deal Castle
JB had an interesting trip to Deal Castle where they learnt about Henry VIII and life as a soldier in Tudor times. It was a lovely day and everyone enjoyed the picnic on the pebbly beach.
East Kent Ploughing Match
The pre-prep accompanied Mrs Brown, Mrs Reed and Mrs Franklin to the East Kent Ploughing Match near Dover last Wednesday. In amongst some very heavy downpours and some extremely muddy terrain they saw horses and tractors ploughing, a birds of prey flying display, the police (for Reception’s ‘superheroes’ topic) and a wide array of countryside pursuits including some welly throwing! It was great fun and the new waterproof coats and waterproof trousers were definitely put to the test.
Sunday Outing
Wet weather put pay to the go karting outing but the boarders enjoyed a range of activities on Sunday – from playing sardines around the school building to a co-ed hockey match after supper on Sunday!
Scientist of the month
September’s scientist of the month was awarded to Kyle Cullen in Block 1 for his excellent attitude towards his studies. Both Miss Wallace and Mr Waldie agreed that he had gone above and beyond what had been asked of him in class and with prep, setting a fantastic example for his Block 1 peers in their final year at Wellesley.
School This Week
Team of the Week
After two superb consecutive victories in the last week, demonstrating all round commitment and teamwork, this week’s ‘’Team of the Week’ are the 1st XI Football team.
They will be rewarded with cookies and squash in the Headmaster’s drawing room during break on Wednesday morning.
Tournaments
The Under 13 A team will be taking part in the Kent Mini-Hockey Championships at the Recreation Centre on Wednesday. Please note the start time of 11.30 am.
Meanwhile, Wellesley will be hosting Under 13 soccer teams from across Kent for the annual Shapira Cup 6-a-side competition. Ten teams will be taking part, and the tournament starts at 2pm.
The Colts A team will also be competing in a tournament at Spring Grove School. This competition will begin at 1.30 p.m.
School Council
The School Council, with a new group of councillors, will convene for its first meeting of the school year on Friday in the Library during Morning Break.
Study Skills
Ms. Moosuddee will lead Block 1 in a Study Skills session on Thursday morning in the library, giving them tips and ideas which will help them as they progress towards the examinations they will be taking later in the year.
Reception Trip to Ramsgate Fire Station
The children in Reception are looking forward to finding out about being a firefighter when they visit Ramsgate Fire Station as part of their topic: people who help us.
Music on Monday
This morning’s music was provided by Tom Leonard who played ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ by Edward Elgar on the trumpet. Well done, Tom.
Change to the Calendar – Wellesley Music Evening
Please note the change of date for the Wellesley Music Evening, this has been moved from Thursday 31st October and will now be held on Tuesday 29th October. Further details will follow nearer the time.
Travelling Book Fair
All week, we will be hosting a book fair from ‘Travelling Books’ in the library. Last year, this was a very successful event, as all the children had the opportunity both in their English classes and breaktime to peruse the books available. Last year, excited children purchased 140 new books, which enabled the school to purchase some new titles for our own library, as well as some new class reading books.
Stay and Play
The first of this term’s stay and play sessions will be held on Friday, starting at 2pm. The sessions are open to all and primarily aimed at children aged 0-4. Mrs Brown will be hosting these events in the Junior House and parents will remain with their children. All enquiries/bookings should be addressed to admissions@wellesleyhouse.net
Sunday Outing
The outing for boarders this Sunday will be Dodgeball at the SOAR Trampoline Park in Gillingham.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 2.
Matches Last Week
| Wednesday 25th September | |
| Hockey v Northbourne: U13 A | Lost 2-1 |
| Hockey v Northbourne: U13 B | Lost 6-1 |
| Soccer v Northbourne: 1st XI | Won 0-4 |
| Soccer v Northbourne: 2nd IX | Won 0-4 |
| Soccer v Northbourne: Colts A | Lost 4-5 |
| Soccer v Northbourne: Colts B | Lost 1-6 |
| Saturday 28th September | |
| Hockey v Duke of York: A | Won 7-0 |
| Hockey v Duke of York: A | Drew 1-1 |
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.
Wednesday 2nd October
Hockey: U13A Kent Minis @ the Rec Centre (Note: First match 11:30 start)
Hockey v Northbourne: U11 & U9 (a)
Soccer – Shapira Cup: 1st VI (h) (Note: 2.00 p.m. start)
Soccer – Spring Grove Tournament: Colts A (a) (Note: 1.30 p.m. start)
Thursday 3rd October
Soccer Spring Grove Tournament (U9) (Note: 1.30 p.m. start)
Saturday 6th October
Hockey v JKS: U13 A & B & U11 (a)
Soccer v Northbourne: Colts A & B (a)