From the Headmaster’s Study
I have been away in London this week at the annual Heads’ conference run by the Boarding Schools’ Association so apologies for missing fixtures and parents on Wednesday. The theme for the conference was “Building Character” and I will reflect on this in next week’s Wellesley Weekly.
Gavin Franklin
School Last Week
Maths Competition Success
The run of Maths competitions early this term continued last week. Firstly, on Tuesday a number of children in Blocks 1, 2 and 3 took the Junior Mathematical Challenge, a nationwide competition, and we await the results. Then on Thursday, mathematicians from Block 1 and Block 2 went to Sutton Valence School for their annual Prep Schools’ Maths Competition. Our Under 12 team performed well and finished in the top half, scoring 65 out of 100 from their 20 questions in a contest which saw the winners achieve maximum points. The Under 13 team had much to live up to, as we ended as runners-up last year and were winners in 2017 and 2016. They did not disappoint, scoring 90 out of 100 to finish joint first and therefore entering a tie-break. They were able to answer this question correctly and therefore bring home the trophy. Well done to the Under 13 team: Toni Alaka, Tony Su Betty Zhang and Jessica Zhang. Under 12 team: Barnaby Carter, Amelia Lawton, April Ma and Steven Shi.
The last of the competitions takes place this Tuesday, with a team of four children from Block 4 going to Ashford School for their annual Year 5 Maths Competition. Good luck to them.
The Living Land
Last Thursday the Junior House enjoyed a chilly but dry day at the Living Land exhibition at the Kent County Showground. First they attended the Sheep Show, where they learnt a lot about sheep and even saw the sheep dance. They then visited the Touch and Taste zone where they sampled local fruit juices, sausages and learned how to make bread. In the Animal Zone they saw lots of farm animals, and were able to hold chickens and guinea pigs. After lunch they visited the Discovery and Machinery Zone. There were steam engines and a massive new tractor. There was the opportunity to join in various crafts. The day ended with the Birds of Prey show. The birds were beautiful and it was amazing to watch them fly and to be so close to them.
Music
Further to last week’s report on Poppy Brooke Turner’s solo debut as Soprano Chorister in Walmer, Sue Flory writes:
On Saturday 27th April, Poppy Brooke Turner, joined the Deal & Walmer Handelian Choral Society in their performance of Mendelssohn’s great tour de force, ‘Elijah’. Not only did Poppy sing the soprano choruses, she also sang the solo role of The Youth. Her performance was stunning; the bell-like quality of her voice rang out in a packed St Mary’s Church. It was not an easy solo: she had a top A to reach, which she did with apparent ease. She really did herself, her family and Wellesley Haddon Dene proud with her outstanding performance.
I was delighted to be singing with Poppy in the chorus. (I was brought in as an extra Tenor and thoroughly enjoyed singing ‘Elijah’, which I had not tackled before.)
Very well done, Poppy.
School This Week
Chapel
Our next Saturday chapel service is this coming Saturday 11th May, at 12.10 p.m. Parents and families are warmly invited to attend. Soup and sandwiches will be served after the service, so do please contact the office if you are planning to join us, so that we can make the necessary catering arrangements.
Class Assembly
The first class assembly of the term will take place on Thursday. Mr Hallam’s tutor group will be talking to the school about Honesty and Fairness.
School Council
The School Council will hold its first meeting of the term on Friday during Morning Break.
Pre-Prep Stay and Play Sessions
The first of the stay and play sessions will be held this Friday 10th May. The sessions are listed in the calendar and are open to all and primarily aimed at children aged 0-4. Mrs Brown will be hosting the event upstairs in the Junior House and parents will remain with their children. All enquiries/bookings should be addressed to admissions@wellesleyhouse.net.
Sunday Outing
A group of boarders will be enjoying an energy-packed afternoon at Bayford Meadows Kart Circuit in Sittingbourne this Sunday.
Tennis
Our tennis coach, Mr Matthews, will be starting the individual tennis sessions from Thursday 16th May. We apologise for the delay with these sessions.
Menu
This week the kitchen will be serving Menu 3.
Matches Last Week
Tuesday 30th April
Cricket v St Ronan’s: 1st XI – lost by 60 runs
Wednesday 1st May
Cricket v St Lawrence College: 1st XI – lost by 5 wickets
Cricket v St Lawrence College: 2nd XI – lost by 56 runs
Cricket v St Lawrence College: 3rd XI – won by 22 runs
Cricket v Spring Grove: U11 Girls A – lost 226 – 251
Cricket v Spring Grove: U11 Girls B – lost 243 – 250
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 8th May
Cricket v Marlborough House: 1st XI (h)
Cricket v Northbourne Park: Colts A (h)
Cricket v Dover College & Northbourne Park Triangular: U13 Girls (h)
Thursday 9th May
Friday 10th May
Cricket v St Lawrence: Colts A (h)
Saturday 11th May
Cricket v Ashdown House: 1st XI and 2nd XI (h)
Cricket v Northbourne Park: 3rd XI (a)
Cricket v Northbourne Park: U11 Girls (h)
Monday 13th May
Tennis v Junior King’s: U13 Girls & U13 Boys (a) (Note: 4.30 p.m. start)
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.