From the Headmaster
Over the past few weeks I have received messages and well wishes from many of you, and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for the kind words.
Next Tuesday we will be sending out the traditional end of term newsletter, which will include my final video message, highlights from Domum, the prize winners from HM Commendas and Medal Speaking, and a recording of one of the Symphony Orchestra's best performances of the year.
You can also view the music diary for Short Half via the link below.
HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS FORM
In preparation for the end of term, a reminder that all parents of boarders should complete the School Holiday Arrangements form, which is available on the Parent Portal, via the link below, under Interactive Forms.
Academic
Translation Award
MP pupil Arthur (D) has achieved the mark of Highly Commended in Queens College's Anthea Bell Translation Prize.
Over 15,000 students participated in the prize, with a team of undergraduates and professional translators judging entries to the competition. Launched in 2020, the competition is inspired by the work of Anthea Bell and aims to promote language learning across the UK.
Drama
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Last week, the French Department staged Molière's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme in a beautifully crafted production. A challenging text, even for fluent speakers, the cast performed spectacularly across the three days of performances.
Sport
Cricket
Last Tuesday, the U18 girls cricket team travelled to Wiltshire to play a fixture against Marlborough College. There was confident and determined batting from Ines (K), Cecily (K) and Rosaleen (B), complemented by consistent fielding from Anna (A), Olivia (A) and Allie (B).
Team captain Maya (K) organised the team superbly and Amara (H) was voted by Marlborough as our Player of the Match.
Tennis
A superb summer for the 1st VI was capped off with a commanding win over St Edward's School, with excellent play from Paul (X) and Tom (I), achieving another unbeaten season in the process. The 2nd also showed their skills, winning their game 9-0, with Harry (X) marking his senior debut with a tremendous performance.
Admissions
New Day Pupils
On Saturday we held our induction day for the Sixth Form day pupils who are joining us in September.
The pupils were hosted brilliantly by our current VBk and together they enjoyed a range of activities including mocktail making, a Div hour and lunch in their boarding houses.
The incoming pupils also attended several academic presentations to help them get to grips with everything on offer and we now look forward to welcoming them formally in Short Half.
Charities
Step Up Nepal
The charities committee continues to provide all Wykehamists with a chance to participate in one or more fundraising initiatives each year.
During the ‘Step Up Nepal’ event on Wykeham Day, the school community collectively climbed more than 15000 flights of stairs to raise funds for Stay at School Nepal.
The fundraising target is £8850, which is a reference to the height of Mt Everest, sadly on this metric the donations so far mean the team is yet to reach Base Camp.
You can help them get there via the link below.
Trips
Classics in Oxford
Last week 17 Wykehamists from the Classics Society visited Oxford, taking in Balliol, Christ Church, and the Knossos exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, before supper in New College Hall.
Trips
Tate Britain
Last Tuesday, MP GCSE artists travelled to London to visit Tate Britain and its modern, contemporary and historic British Art collections. They created their own sketches to explore and develop their knowledge of the inspiring works on show.
Modern Foreign Languages Karaoke Night
The MFL Karaoke Night returned this year with 20 pupils performing in the Language Lab, alongside enthusiastic staff.
Despite a timid start and a few technical issues, both students and staff swiftly embraced the melodic call and resolutely engaged in harmonious vocal performances covering all the languages that the school offers, and more.
A select few dazzled with their best dance moves to the Macarena and the evening proved again to be a very enjoyable way to relax after the exams.
Diversity & Inclusion
Windrush
22 June marked the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush docking at Tilbury in Essex, carrying hundreds of immigrants from the Caribbean to the UK. In recognition of this, last week all pupils learnt about Windrush — the voyage, the generation and the recent scandal — during the weekly Tutor Hour, with presentations provided by pupils from History Society.
After watching an introductory video about Windrush, including a contemporary newsreel of the arrival, pupils and tutors were free to explore four themes — being Black and British before Windrush; immigration to Britain throughout history; the impact of Windrush on culture; and transport and Windrush. Resources available ranged from an extract of a book about black Tudors, to a video of the Notting Hill Carnival, with an emphasis on discussion throughout the session.
Community
UK Chess Challenge
On Sunday 25 June the College hosted 200 boys and girls, aged 6-18, from across Hampshire and the surrounding counties, into New Hall to play six rounds of rated chess games in the UK Chess Challenge Hampshire Megafinal.
The College sponsors the event annually, which is run by Hampshire Junior Chess Association.
*Pictured right: Chess at Wykeham Day
Outreach
The Winchester Greek Club
Last Thursday, the Winchester Greek Club celebrated the end of its first year with a trip to Oxford.
Launched by the Classics Department last September, the Club aims to provide pupils at schools across Winchester which don’t offer Ancient Greek the chance to study the language from scratch, with weekly sessions after school.
Recently, 18 year 11 pupils, from local schools, sat the Intermediate Certificate in Classical Greek, and many are planning to press on to the GCSE next summer.
Short Half
Talks and Events
The College is delighted to share with you the lecture programme for next term.
We offer a diverse range of speakers to our pupils and as a current parent you are welcome to come to any of our talks.
As always, next term's programme aims to satisfy a range of interests and includes talks from a range of guests such as former England cricket captain Mike Brearley, and an evening with the director of the Wallace Collection, Dr. Xavier.
We open our lecture programme more generally to pupils from partner schools and the broader Winchester community through the Friends of Winchester College and the Outreach work of Clare Talks and Hannah Fletcher.
You can view full the schedule of talks at a glance via the link below
Back to Previous Newsletters