From the Headmaster’s Study
It is wonderful to see the gradual return to normality at Wellesley. Inside the first two weeks of term, we have hosted a hugely successful “Stay & Play” for prospective pre-prep families, our boys and girls have enjoyed their first competitive inter-school fixtures for over a year, pupils have visited Senior Schools (Tonbridge, Wellington and Harrow) for scholarship exams and assessment days, Welleslians have performed amazingly in the Townsend Warner national history challenge, beach school is back(!), our Exeat boarders had a brilliant trip to see the animals at Howletts, and, of course, our pupils have also been busy working hard in lessons… In the week ahead, we have more fixtures, a French trip to Broadstairs(!) and our parents and pupils annual golf competition at Royal St George’s. My congratulations go to all pupils for the energy and positivity with which they approach every day at Wellesley Haddon Dene.
Gavin Franklin
announcements
Update on school fixtures and spectators
Whilst we are optimistic about the term ahead and the return to normality, we are still operating under a number of Covid-19 restrictions and necessary safety measures. We are absolutely delighted to have re-introduced competitive fixtures into our programme, however, under the government guidance that we are obliged to follow, we cannot yet welcome spectators (i.e. parents) to watch school fixtures and our parents are not allowed on other school grounds. We hope that we will have more flexibility after the 17th May (the government review date). All schools are following the same line on this. Therefore, on match days at pick up from Wellesley, can we please ask that you wait by your cars for your children? Likewise, if our cricketers have been playing away from Wellesley, we will bring the pupils back to Wellesley for collection. We will endeavour to provide as accurate a time as possible for pick ups. Thank you very much for your understanding and respect of this. If you have any questions, please do contact the office.
SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY 26TH JUNE
The Friends of Wellesley will be hosting a Summer Party on Saturday 26th June in the Dining Hall at Wellesley to include drinks, dinner and music. Tickets for tables will be going on sale shortly. Please save the date and watch this space!
Swimming
This term, we are pleased to be able to offer private swimming lessons (for both pre-prep and prep age groups), on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
£14 (per child) for a half hour, group lesson (max of 4 children)
£28 (per child) for a 1-2-1 half hour lesson
£40 (per child) for a one hour private lesson
If you are interested in booking lessons, please contact Geraldine via hmsecretary@wellesleyhouse.net
COVID-19
We thought that it would be valuable to share with parents our COVID-19 flow charts, which map out the necessary course of action, dependent on the situation for pupils and staff who are displaying COVID-19 symptoms in school.
Staff
Positive cases – children
Positive cases – boarders
Symptoms of COVID – children
School Last Week
Boarders
Over the Exeat weekend, some of our boarders who remained with us were kept busy with a range of activities. Amongst some chill out time, they enjoyed an art extension, a trip to Howletts, mini golf at Broadstairs, golf around the grounds of Wellesley Haddon Dene, a 10km walk to Ramsgate and too many ice creams to count! Much fun was had by all.
Pre-Prep
The children in Nursery and Reception enjoyed watching the boats at Viking Bay during their Beach School session last week.The Reception children have been thinking about how to look after our planet during their English lessons and I know they have plans to organise a beach clean during a Beach School session in the near future. During their weekly cooking session the Nursery children made delicious looking (and smelling) pizzas.
Our focus in Pre-prep assembly was courage and it is super to see so many children rising to the challenges set during the week whether in academic lessons, Beach School, swimming, tennis, cross-stitch, ballet or chess.
We are very grateful to parents who have donated plants for us to grow in our outside area. Having planted sunflowers and sweet peas, the children are enjoying watering the plants on a daily basis. If anyone has a spare or unwanted water butt we would be very grateful.
School This Week
Music
It has been brilliant to see all the music pupils back in the music department this last week. We currently have over 60 music lessons happening. For more information please contact jhb@wellesleyhouse.net.
Royal St George’s Invitational Golf
We are so fortunate to have such a strong and long-standing relationship with Royal St George’s Golf Club. Widely regarded as the best golf course in England, we are privileged to be heading to the links at Sandwich for our annual Wellesley Haddon Dene Invitational where some of our top golfers will team up with a parent (or family friend) and compete for the coveted trophy that hangs proudly in the Dining Hall. This year is even more special as in two months time, Royal St George’s will play host to the Open Championship – the most famous golf tournament in the world. It is clear, however, that the real reason that people enjoy heading to RSG is for the world-famous lunches! We wish all competitors a good game and much fun.
Team of the Week
Congratulations to the 1st XI cricketers for displaying such teamwork and skill in their first fixture of the season away at St Lawrence College (in baltic conditions!). The Headmaster looks forward to seeing them for squash and cookies in his study (or on the lawns) during a break time this week.
Captain Tom 100!
A message to Wellesley Haddon Dene from The Captain Tom Foundation, the charity set up to support causes that were close to the late Captain Sir Thomas Moore’s heart.
The Foundation is encouraging schools to take part in Captain Tom 100 – one year on from the day that the former British Army officer started his world-famous 100 laps of his garden in aid of NHS Charities Together.
Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, says:
“Captain Tom 100 invites everyone of all ages and abilities to dream up a challenge based around the number 100 and complete it over Captain Tom’s birthday weekend from Saturday 1st May to Bank Holiday Monday 3 May. Take a look at our Captain Tom 100 video to find out more.”
You can raise funds by donating to The Captain Tom Foundation or a charity of your choice, or just complete the challenge for fun and help spread Captain Tom’s message of hope and resilience.
Please save the videos of your challenges in this folder so that we can share on social media.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A5RMAOPgMzLJZZ6MJBZfbjn2Tgwg615Q?usp=sharing
Click here for inspiration.
Stay and Play
We look forward to hosting our second Stay and Play session on Friday afternoon. Younger visitors will be able to take full advantage of our Outdoor Classroom whilst parents have the opportunity to meet with our lovely Pre-prep team and see for themselves all Wellesley has to offer. As we are limiting numbers, we ask parents to pre-book. We also still have a few places available on the following dates: 14th May, 21st May and 11th June. Held on Friday afternoons from 2pm to 3.15pm, if you, friends or family have children under 5 and would like to book a place please contact admissions@wellesleyhouse.net.
Gap students
Please do get in touch with the school office if you know of any enthusiastic 18 year olds that may be interested in working at Wellesley Haddon Dene during the Michaelmas term. We are able to offer accommodation and meals if needed.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 3.
Senior School News
For boys seeking entry to Tonbridge School in 2024, you may now book a visit from Tuesday 27th April until Thursday 13th May 2021. In addition a virtual open morning is being held on Saturday 15th May and an ’in person’ Open Morning on Saturday 26th June. For further information please contact admissions@tonbridge-school.org
Uppingham is inviting families with children for 2021 and 2022 entry to contact them to book visits (admissions@uppingham.co.uk). Whilst observing Covid protocols, tours of houses are also available. At the moment, whilst visits for Year 7s & 8s are being prioritised, Year 6s (with pre-tests next term) are encouraged to explore Uppingtham via their programme of Virtual Visiting Days – 6th May at 6.00pm, 22nd May at 10.30am and 12th June at 10.30am. These are live Zoom events, last 90 minutes and serve to offer a useful introduction to the School through the medium of videos, live interviews and presentations.
Benenden is hosting a series of online Prospective Parent Open Mornings, please click here for dates and further information.
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.
Inspirational talks for pupils, families and staff
Wellington College continues with its programme of Fireside Talks …
Mon 10th May 8pm: Dr Ed Brooks ‘Post COVID and Trump: is it time for a new leadership paradigm?’
Please click here to join the talk
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 5th May
Cricket v Dulwich Cranbrook: 1st XI (a)
Cricket v Dulwich Cranbrook: Colts A (a)
Cricket v Dulwich Cranbrook: Colts B (a)
Girls’ Cricket v Northbourne: U11 (h)
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
Wednesday 28th April | Result |
Cricket v St Lawrence: 1st XI | Won by 30 runs |
Girls’ Cricket v St Lawrence: U13A | Lost by 108 runs |
Girls’ Cricket v St Lawrence: U13B | Lost by 17 runs |