From the Second Master
Wykeham Day
I look forward to meeting many of you this weekend. There is the concert on Friday 16 June, further details below, in addition to Parent Drinks, followed by Wykeham Day on 17 June.
Saturday 10 June was a beautiful summer evening and perfect for an open air screening on Meads against the backdrop of Musa. The film festival was attended by pupils, staff and parents, with film producer Merlin Merton judging. Merlin gave an insight into his work as a film producer, explaining how he began making one-minute films at his boarding school, and speaking passionately about the rewarding possibilities of life in a creative industry. He offered detailed feedback to each of the film makers, framed by constructive targets and then brought the adjudication to an end with awards for:
Best Editing: Winston (X)
Best Junior Film: Demyan (E)
Best Cinematography: Gerald (D)
Best Senior Film: Gerald
You can watch Demyan and Gerald's winning films below.
Health & Well Being
Medical Records
Further to our previous announcement regarding the change of our linked GP practice, we are pleased to confirm that we will transfer pupil medical records to St Paul’s Surgery between 29 June and 3 July.
To ensure this transfer is as smooth as possible, existing pupils’ registrations will be transferred automatically to the new GP surgery. However, in line with NHS patient choice, there is the option of staying with the existing provider. Any pupil wishing to remain registered at the previous surgery should inform the College by 20 June 2023, in writing to Mrs Ali Harber , Deputy Head Pastoral.
We strongly encourage all pupils to register with our linked GP practice to benefit fully from this service, including access to on-site GP appointments, as well as any necessary prescriptions and referrals. The new GP practice is highly-regarded, with an excellent reputation for high-quality healthcare, as well as significant experience of delivering care to children, teenagers and young adults over many years.
Community
Faith Circles
Faith Circles meets every Sunday during term time and supports those pupils who adhere to a faith which lies outside the Christian tradition (approximately 70 – 80 pupils, 10% of the school). Pupils actively interested in exploring beliefs outside the Christian tradition may join Faith Circles in VI Book after consultation with the Second Master.
The goal is to provide insights into different religious beliefs, philosophies, traditions, and cultures. This is accomplished through individual presentations by the don in charge, the Prefect of Faith Circles and any pupils who feel they would like to talk. The presentations are given in the Science Lecture Theatre in front of the Faith Circles community. Volunteers are given their slot some weeks before they are due to present.
Inspired by one of these presentations, Head of Faith Circles, Dr Cullerne spoke in Chapel last week about 'The Nature of Truth'. You can read the transcript via the link below.
Talks
Mentor Soc meet Mrs Gucci
Last week, Mentor Soc welcomed Mrs Jenny Gucci, who has lived a fascinating life, having been married to Paulo Gucci for ten years before packing her bags and filing for divorce, which left her homeless and penniless. She shared insights about her life in the music world and candid views of the Gucci family, and was a very engaging and funny speaker.
Mentor Society was founded this term, supported by Dr Methven, and is looking forward to welcoming exciting guests including Alex Chalk MP (OW, currently Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice) and Fraser Nelson (Editor of the Spectator). Mentor Soc aims to inspire young people through the stories and messages of influential people.
Follow the link below to listen to Mrs Gucci's interview.
Hugo Poland Bowen, Head of Mentor Soc
Sport
Marlow Town Regatta
This past weekend, crews from the College's rowing team competed in the Marlow Town Regatta.
The teams consisted of pupils from JP, MP, and VBk.
Special mention must go to the MP team, who overcame the odds and beat three boats from Radley in the J15 eight category. This was an outstanding performance from the team, overturning some difficult results earlier in the season.
Four of the MP participants also raced in the J16 eight category, also winning that event.
On Wykeham Day, pupils and staff will take on a stair climbing challenge in aid of the school’s international charity, Stay at School Nepal, which is building sustainable boarding houses to reduce the pupil drop-out rate, which in some parts of eastern Nepal is 75%. Students often have to make dangerous 4 - 6 hour daily journeys to attend school. The funds raised will be used to build a farm for one of the new girls' boarding houses, as well as paying the salary of a matron to look after the girls. We hope to raise £8850 or one pound per metre of Everest’s height.
From 7:00 to 13:00 on 17 June, the team will climb a route around Flint Court and parents are welcome to take part on the day. Additionally pupils from the CCF will aim to fully recreate the Doko run up St Catherine's Hill with 10kg worth of sand each, accompanied by six Gurkhas. The group leave the campus at 11:45 and can be cheered back at around 12:15.
The Charities Committee have produced the following short film about the challenge. You can pledge your support by donating here.
Music
Eve of Wykeham Day Concert
On the eve of Wykeham Day, Friday 16 June, a special concert will be held at 7:30pm in New Hall.
A selection of music will be played by orchestras and choirs from the College, including songs by Charles Mingus and compositions from Tchaikovsky and Mozart.
You can find out more information below.
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Parents are invited to College pupils' performance of Molière's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. It will be performed in its native French, with accompanying subtitles, by JP, MP and VIBk2 pupils, who range from native speakers to beginners.
The play follows Monsieur Jourdain, a typical social climber, who is determined to impress the aristocracy and be recognised as a man of refined taste. However, there's just one small problem: he has no idea how to act like a nobleman!
In his quest for gentility, Monsieur Jourdain will try and master the skills expected of a gentleman, to the great despair of his family and tutors. Adding to the chaos, Monsieur Jourdain falls head over heels in love with a beautiful young marquise named Dorimène.
He believes that marrying her will finally secure his place in high society. But of course, being the bumbling character that he is, his attempts at wooing her are far from smooth.
The play runs from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 June in QEII, starting at 19:30.
Drama
Agincourt
Last Friday, the Junior Drama Club along with the Shakespeare Reading Orpheus Glee United Society (SROGUS) put on a rehearsed reading of Shakespeare’s Henry V.
The reading was highly abridged and following the travails of the young Henry V played by Oscar, (E) who is joined by his uncle Exeter played by Hugo (E) and cousin Westmoreland played by Nye (X) on a military campaign in France.
They were joined by a shifting cast of actors playing multiple parts. Monty (C) appeared as the noble French Herald Montjoy, Harry (X) as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Governor of Harfleur and the King France. Nicholas (K) was the French Dauphin, who sets off the conflict by sending Henry an insulting present of tennis balls, but also the English traitor, Cambridge, and an ordinary soldier, Bates. Kirin (K) was the Constable of France, the other English traitor, Grey, and an ordinary soldier, Williams.
Highlights included Oscar’s moving declamation of the two famous Shakespearean speeches – ‘Once more unto the breach’ and the St Crispin’s Day speech – and the singing of the hymn in commemoration of the English victory at Agincourt, 'Non Nobis Domine’.
Music
Kirby Prize
On Sunday evening the annual Kirby Prize for musical composition, open to all in the school, took place in Music School.
It was expertly adjudicated by composer, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, who was recently commissioned by our chapel choir to write a setting of OW Thomas Ken’s famous hymn, ‘Awake my soul’.
Superb live performances of the pieces by this year’s ten finalist, which for first time included music technology compositions, contributed to a truly impressive and heart-warming evening.
The winners were:
Junior: Asher (E)
Intermediate: Dominik (H)
Senior: Michael (G)
Music Technology: Joshua (X)
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