From the Second Master
WEEKEND ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOARDERS
Details for this weekend can be found here. Please access the Parent Portal via the link below to inform us of your child’s plans for this weekend by 23:00 on Thursday 5 October. Log in, select 'Interactive Forms' and 'Weekend Sign-Out' to complete the form.
Return time on Sunday: House Singing Competition
We ask that all pupils return to their Boarding House for tea (1800) on Sunday 8 October ready for the House Singing Competition later that evening.
DAY PUPILS: HOUSE SINGING COMPETITION (SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER 1830)
As the House Singing Competition is a whole school event, day pupils are required to be in school.
Academic
MFL Speech Prize
On Tuesday 26 September, the annual MFL Speech Prize took place in Chantry.
The poems are set by Dons for pupils to learn and then recite. Prior to the final, the language Dons had a difficult job narrowing the candidates down to three finalists for German, Russian and Spanish, and five for French.
This task then fell to external judges on the night, with awards going to Jos (G), Mario (B), Ben (H) and Ranai (B).
The pupils were praised not only for the dedication that they showed in learning the poems, but also the excellent accents and the unique interpretations that they gave.
You can read the poems used in the competition below.
Life at the College
Founder's Obit
On Wednesday 27 September, all 139 Junior Part pupils, joined by their housemasters and members of the College’s senior leadership team, took part in Founder’s Obit, a celebration of the life of William of Wykeham.
Following a year group photograph in the Warden’s Garden, they attended a special Festal Evensong at Winchester Cathedral in honour of Wykeham’s life and contributions, sung by the Cathedral and College choirs, and featuring a stirring sermon delivered by the Headmaster. The service was followed by tours of the Cathedral in house groups and then the main event, a three-course formal dinner in College Hall.
Founder’s Obit marks the beginning of each pupil’s five-year journey as Wykehamists and will be book-ended by their Domum dinner at the end of VI Book, when they will graduate from the College.
The photographs taken at Founder's Obit are available to view and order via the link below.
The login is 415032 and the password is 857625.
Music
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
Recently, following a multi-round audition process, Nye (X) won a place in the Trombone section of The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
The judging panel commented that Nye's “...playing was exceptional and his commitment to playing his part really shone out.”
You can read more about Nye's success via the link below.
Morning Hills
The annual tradition of Morning Hills took place on Friday 29 September, with the whole College community rising early to hike to the top of St Catherine’s Hill for a short sermon and prayers.
While rain had fallen overnight, the clouds parted, and it was a bright, clear morning. Reverend John Storey gave the sermon, speaking of the purpose of climbing hills and the opportunities it affords for reflection, admiration of natural beauty and achievement.
After prayers sung by the choir, including the Quiristers, the 750-pupil contingent descended back to houses for a hearty cooked breakfast.
Sport
Sport Report
This week's Sport Report features a recap of the fixtures from last week, including football, golf, rackets, real tennis, and more.
On Thursday, a team of College fencers faced off against Eton. Despite a narrow loss, there were some commendable performances, particularly from Tabitha (I) who took the vicory in Sabre, winning all three of her matches.
Also on Thursday, the College's badminton top 8 met Wellington College, putting on a dominant performance, securing a decisive 16-0 win. Debutant Oliver (G) and Derek (G) played three sets against Wellington's third pair, losing the first match, only to put on a stunning come back and win the next two.
For the full sport report, click the link below.
Charities
Fun Run and Bake Sale
Last Friday, the Charities Committee organised a sponsored run in aid of the School’s national charity Young Lives Vs Cancer.
In what was a well attended event, the fundraising goal was not only met but exceeded, with over £10,000 raised including gift aid. More than 700 pupils participated over a variety of distances, with a record 43 of them taking on a hill half marathon, and the bake sale itself raised over £900.
The atmosphere at the finish line was electric and it was great to see so many parents there.
The College and the Committee are grateful to all those who provided and bought cakes, as well as those who donated to the cause.
Any further donations can be made via the link below.
Talks & Lectures
Chris Packham Speaks on Nature & Mental Health
At the start of Winchester Green Week, the College welcomed conservationist and broadcaster, Chris Packham, to a packed New Hall. Chris, who is a passionate advocate of our natural world and patron of Winchester Youth Counselling, spoke powerfully on 'Nature and me'.
He described how his own connectivity with nature helped to improve his mental health and well-being, by channelling his 'ecoanxiety' towards our biodiversity crisis into more positive energy, whether conserving vulnerable habitats or educating others, and gave hope that we all have the capacity to reinstate, restore and repair nature.
Academic
Eco Conference & Spanish Symposium
Eco Conference
On Friday 29 September, over 140 students from across Hampshire joined us for the annual Winchester Eco Conference in partnership with Hampshire County Council and Youth Parliament.
The day included talks from the CPRE on water quality and a career in ecology, as well as workshops on plastic pollution from the Final Straw Foundation, and climate change role-playing sessions using the EnROADS model.
Spanish Symposium
On Thursday 28 September, in collaboration with Epsom College, the College hosted a Spanish Symposium for students who were applying to read Spanish at university. They were joined by students from Barton Peveril and Peter Symonds sixth form colleges.
Students had a chance to network over lunch before a talk from Dr Maria del Pilar Blanco from Trinity College, Oxford, on 'Questions of Race in Cuban Literature'. This was followed by a carousel of activities on symbolism in Latin American literature, art and culture.
Anders (K) from the Hispanic Society led the session on Mexican Murals, alongside Dons from the Spanish Department.
Talks & Lectures
Sir Laurie Magnus: Protecting and Championing England's Heritage
This Thursday, 5 October, the College is welcoming the former Chair of Historic England, Sir Laurie Magnus for a talk in School.
Sir Laurie was Deputy Chairman of the National Trust from 2005 to 2013 and an elected member of the Trust’s Council since 2003. He was appointed as the Prime Minister's new Independent Adviser on Minsters' in 2022.
Sir Laurie is a Senior Adviser at Evercore Partners, the investment banking group, holds a number of listed company non-executive directorships within the finance sector, and has over 40 years’ experience in the corporate finance advisory business.
His talk at the College will be wide ranging, covering a number of fascinating topics.
You can book tickets via the link below.
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