From the Second Master
WEEKEND ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOARDERS (11 & 12 November 2023)
This Sunday 12 November sees the College’s whole-school Remembrance Service take place, which all pupils are expected to attend (no flexible or prefect’s weekends to be taken this weekend).
Owing to the lack of additional space in Chapel during this service, we are regrettably unable to formally invite parents to join us. There will however be very limited capacity in the organ loft, available on a first-come, first-served basis, primarily for parents of pupils in the CCF colour party or Chapel choir. Guests are asked to be seated by 10:05. Please note that the organ loft is accessed via a steep spiral staircase. The Chapel service is followed by an Act of Remembrance in War Cloister at 10:55 until approximately 11:10, but due to ongoing restoration work in War Cloister, space for guests is also very limited here.
Please access the Parent Portal via the link below to inform us of your child’s plans for Sunday by 23:00 on Thursday 9 November. Log in, select 'Interactive' and 'Weekend Sign-out' to complete the form.
EXEAT ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOARDERS (17-19 November 2023)
In preparation for Exeat, all parents of boarders should complete the Exeat Arrangements form, which is also accessed via the same route on the Parent Portal; under ‘Exeat Arrangements'. Please complete the form by 13:00 on Friday 10 November.
Exeat will begin at 13:05 on Friday 17 November and end at 21:15 on Sunday 19 November. Pupils may return to the boarding houses from 18:00 on Sunday.
Academic
Model UN
Last weekend, 8 top year pupils travelled to the Oxford Global Model United Nations Conference, a large scale event at the Oxford Examination Schools featuring 920 pupils from dozens of schools up and down the UK, plus many travelling in from overseas.
Two of our team, Fausto (K) and Seb (K), won awards as best delegates and best delegation for their work in the model DISEC (Defence, Intelligence and Security Committee) during the conference.
Jamie (I) was also highly commended in the model World Health Organisation debate. This continues a tradition of strong College performances in Model UN Conferences, reflecting the popularity of the MUN Society at the school.
Music
Cantores Episcopi Celebrates 50 Years
This past weekend, the College's Close Harmony group, Cantores Episcopi, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special concert.
Founded by Tony Ayres, a Physics don and tutor in Furley's, the group started as a small in-house harmony singing group. Once the line-up was opened up to singers from throughout the school, membership became an ambition for many.
This anniversary provided an opportunity for a large number of Cantores singers from the past 50 years to come along to celebrate the group at the concert.
Alongside songs by three alumnus groups, and two tutti pieces, was the debut performance by this year's line-up of singers who carry on this wonderful tradition, whether it is the annual Mince Pie concerts in December, the late night candlelit concert in Chapel in Common Time, or its ever-popular Wykeham Day performance.
Harvard University Autumn Global Debate Invitational
Over Leave-out, Arthur (C), attended the Harvard University Autumn Global Debate Invitational Competition.
Held in the public forum format (an American debating style) the competition took place in the US, meaning Arthur was competing at night, between 11:30pm and 6:30am, on the topic 'The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its military presence in the Arctic.'
Despite the challenges of the time difference and competing against 100+ other teams, Arthur finished 5th as a quarterfinalist overall, and 7th in the preliminaries.
This achievement follows on from Arthur's success over the summer, where he was shortlisted as a finalist in the Junior Prize category of the John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition.
Music
Visiting Artists Series
On Saturday 11 November at 7pm in New Hall, the College will welcome Dame Imogen Cooper and Old Wykehamist Adrian Brendel as part of our Visiting Artists Series.
They will be performing a wonderful programme of music for piano and cello by Beethoven, Liszt, Schuman and Debussy. Pupils will be able to attend this concert at no cost. Parents can get tickets via the link below.
Tickets are £20 / £15 (18 and under reductions available).
Academic
Stewart McDowall Science Essay Competition
Over the summer, current and incoming College pupils entered the annual Stewart McDowall Prize science essay competition.
A competition for post-GCSE pupils, the essay focuses on a topic beyond GCSE level that should stretch and challenge the pupils.
Results
The results for this year's entries came in over Leave-out with Peiyan (X) winning first place for his essay titled The Chemical Life Cycle of Microplastics.
The competition's adjudicator, the Head of Science at Eton College, said of the entrants "I was highly impressed with the standard of the scientific content, and with the quality of the writing.”
Winner - Peiyan (X) - The Chemical Life Cycle of Microplastics
Runner-up - Josiah (F) - The Controversy of LK-99: A Story of Superconductivity
Commended - Ethan (I) - Should Opioids still be used for Chronic Pain Treatment?
Commended - Zachary (X) - Plotting Eccentric Kepler Orbits from Instantaneous Position and Velocity
Music
Upcoming Concerts
Family Christmas Carols - Saturday 9 December, 2pm, New Hall
If you are still in Winchester on Saturday 9 December, you are warmly invited to an informal 60 minute family carol concert in New Hall – audience favourites to sing, Away in a manger for the children, and some beautiful carols sung by the Winchester Philharmonic Choir with accompaniment from Ben Cunningham and the Winchester Phil strings. You are welcome to come for all or part of the event and Christmas costumes are welcome!
Tickets are on sale now: adult £10, accompanied children free.
Handel Messiah Concert - Saturday 20 January, 7.30pm, Winchester Catherdral
Tickets are now on sale for the Choral Society Concert on Saturday 20 January in the Cathedral via the link below. Stellar soloists, a world-class venue, and a brilliant choir encompassing members of our whole school community.
Futures
Futures Fair
On Saturday, we were joined by 20 delegates at the Winchester College 2023 Futures Fair.
Over 200 pupils from VI Book 2, VI book 1 and V Book attended and gained valuable careers advice about a range of industries, from Finance to Journalism, and Healthcare to the Armed Forces.
A huge thank you to those parents and Old Wykehamists who gave up their Saturday evening to support this initiative.
Celebrating Gothic Literature
Moberly Library is supporting the English Department’s teaching of classic Gothic literature through displays and reading lists of Gothic and horror fiction.
Some JP divs are reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and in V Book most pupils are studying Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
The library creates regular fun and inspirational displays designed to support learning and reading for the enjoyment of the entire Winchester College community.
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