From the Headmaster’s Study
Our thoughts this week turn to the old boys and former staff of Wellesley Haddon Dene and St Peter’s Court, who gave their lives fighting to provide a safer future for us all. We have three separate services this week culminating in our traditional Remembrance Service in the Chapel on Saturday at 1130 to which all parents are warmly invited. The service will be compulsory for all pupils in Block 4 and above (i.e. those who are in school on Saturday) and we look forward to some hymns, readings, anthems from the choir and are delighted to confirm that Brigadier Jo Butterfill OBE will address the congregation.
In advance of that service, we will be providing two additional opportunities so that we can remember and pay our respects to those who died in the wars. The first gathering will be on Armistice Day (Thursday the 11th) and we will congregate as pupils (JL and above) and staff (teaching and support staff) around the squareabout outside the music school just before 1100. The names of some Old Wellesians will be read out, as will an extract from Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen before the Last Post is played and we take two minutes silence together. The second service will be some Remembrance readings (some war poetry and an extract of prose from the Wellesley Haddon Dene Yearbook of 1916) taken by candlelight in the Ridgeway Chapel on Thursday evening during prep for all pupils from JL upwards. All readings at the candlelit service will be delivered by pupils. The pupils and staff will also have the opportunity to acknowledge the people whose names live with us on all 3 of our war memorials that are proudly on display around our corridors – in the W.F. Sale Library, the Old Hall and in the Ridgeway Chapel.
Gavin Franklin
School Last Week
News from Pre-prep
It was another busy week in Junior House. Children marked the Hindu festival of Diwali and also learnt all about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks display and we want to say a big thank you to the Friends of Wellesley for their brilliant light up gadgets which everyone loved. During our Pre-prep assembly we discussed Cop 26 and what climate change means. Children had lots of good ideas about how we can protect our precious earth.
The first swim sessions with our new swimming teachers were a great success and this week older members of Junior House will be preparing for their first cross country event at Spring Grove.
Get ready for lots of Christmas songs in the car! This week we will begin to rehearse for our Nativity show…..
JB Trip to Art Festival
A group of children in Junior House visited an art exhibition held at Margate School in Margate Old Town. They saw a magnificent selection of artwork from children all over Kent and were delighted to see work from every member of Form JB displayed in the gallery.
Fireworks Night
Thank you to everyone who came to our spectacular fireworks display. From the preparation of the bonfire, the supervision of the pupils, the delicious hot dogs, doughnuts and hot chocolate, to the climax of the display itself, it was a real Wellesley team effort. Our thanks go to the ground staff, maintenance team, catering and fireworks team of Monsieur Latteur (captain) and his son, Mr Barnes and Miss Wallace. Thanks also to the Friends of Wellesley for providing the super cool glowing merchandise. We hope that you all enjoyed this special event in our calendar and perhaps most importantly, it was wonderful for our community to be able to congregate together.
Six of the Best
This term’s Six of the Best goes to Margot Grand (Block 1) for her stunning triptych of drawings inspired by plant forms in the photography of Karl Blossfeldt. The drawings are made using stippling, cross-hatching and soft pencil shading to create a sense of form and tone and, if you get a chance to take a closer look, you will see the amount of time and focus that went into these outstanding studies. Margot’s triptych will hang in the Headmaster’s study. Very well done, Margot.
School This Week
Team of the Week
The ‘Team of the Week’ is announced at each Monday’s assembly. Congratulations to the U11 girls’ hockey team for their superb efforts at the St Lawrence triangular tournament. Aside from the excellent results, their work rate and team work was highly commendable. Well done, girls. They will be rewarded with cookies and juice with the Headmaster in the library during Thursday morning break time.
Scientists of the Month
We are pleased to award ‘Scientist of the Month’ for October to the following pupils. In the senior school the prize is awarded to Georgie Carter for an excellent poster on the topic of hydro-electric power. It was informative and interesting highlighting both the advantages and disadvantages of this energy source. It was the culmination of excellent effort during this topic. The junior prize is awarded to Tillie Spanton for her hard work, enthusiasm, perseverance and curiosity. She always gives of her best in lessons and has a determined approach to learning. Well done.
‘The Next Step’ – Block 4 Parents – choosing a Senior School
Later this term we will be inviting Block 4 parents to hear about the application process to senior schools. Parents in other year groups who may have missed previous talks should also attend. The talk takes place at 2pm in the library on Saturday 27th November. Please complete this google form to confirm your attendance. Thank you
Roman Day
On Tuesday, Block 4 will be having their Roman Day. It will involve some dressing up and Roman themed lessons and lunch.
Remembrance Service / Chapel
Further to the message from the Headmaster at the top of this edition of the Wellesley Weekly, this is a reminder that Wellesley Best is to be worn by all pupils in JL and above on Thursday 11th November. Wellesley Best is also needed for Block 4 and above pupils for our Remembrance Chapel Service on Saturday 13th November, unless they are members of the choir.
Parents are warmly invited to attend our Remembrance Chapel service on Saturday at 11.30. Please click on this link to confirm your attendance so that we have an idea of numbers for the service and for the soup and sandwich lunch that will follow in the Old Hall.
We are delighted that Brigadier Jo Butterfill MC OBE will address the congregation on Saturday.
School Council
Members of the School Council will meet on Friday break in the library. A particular focus for this week’s meeting is on charities that our pupils will choose to support for the remainder of this academic year.
Team Photos
Team photos will take place on Wednesday – details for ordering your copy will feature in a future edition of the Wellesley Weekly.
Christmas Fair
The Friends of Wellesley are looking forward to seeing you at the Christmas Fair on Saturday 4th December in the Old Hall. The Fair will run from 11am – 2pm with the Pupils in Block 4 and above running their stalls between 11am – 12pm. Amongst all the exciting stall holders that we have joining us there will also be a Christmas Cafe, carols from the choir and much merriment all round.
We are hoping to be running the ever popular Tombola stall at the fair and any donations for this will be gratefully received. They can be left with the school office. Items in the past have included toys, craft activities, games, books, stationery, soft toys, chocolate and sweets or anything that you can think of that the children might like to win!
School Play Exeat weekend
We are very much looking forward to welcoming all parents and family members to our School play – “What a Knight!”, which is being performed on Thursday 18th November at 6.30pm and Friday 19th November at 11.15am next week.
Both performances are open to all Wellesley parents (and wider family members if they wish). Family members of those children who are in the play are more than welcome to attend both performances. The pupils (and staff!) have been working very hard so please do show your support!
The matinee performance on Friday will begin at 11.15 and all pupils from Year 1 upwards will be in the audience. Nursery and reception children will have a normal morning of lessons and learning activities. Exeat will begin immediately after the play at 1pm.
Please complete the form here to indicate if you will be attending one or both performances.
Senior School News
Tonbridge
This term, Tonbridge School has a range of dates where families can attend an Open Morning. Please click here for further information.
Benenden
Benenden is hosting a series of Open Days throughout the Michaelmas term and for further information please click here.
Matches This Week
Wednesday 10th November
Soccer Metherell Cup: Colts A (a)
Soccer v Northbourne: 1st XI and 2nd XI (a)
Hockey v Northbourne: U13 A & B (h)
U11 & U9 Spring Grove Cross Country
Saturday 13th November
Soccer v Kent College: Colts A, B & C (a)
Hockey v JKS: U13 A&B and U11 A&B (a)
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.
No Matches Last Week
Fixture | Result |
Soccer v St Edmund’s: 1st XI | Lost 6:0 |
Soccer v St Edmund’s: 2nd XI | Lost 6:0 |
Soccer v St Edmund’s: Colts A | Lost 3:1 |
Soccer v St Edmund’s: Colts B | Drew 1:1 |
Hockey v Duke of York: U13 A | Won 6:1 |
Hockey v Duke of York: U13 B | Won 4:2 |
Hockey St Lawrence Triangular U11 | Won 2 Drew 1 |