From the Second Master
Founder's Obit photo
The recent Founder’s Obit photograph of all first year pupils is now online and available for you to order. Please view and order on the Gillman & Soame website using the following details. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact Gillman & Soame directly at enquiries@gillmanandsoame.co.uk or on 01869 328200.
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Weekend Arrangements for Boarders
Details for this weekend can be found here, including timings for the Act of Remembrance and School Concert on Sunday. Please access the Parent Portal via the link below to inform us of your child’s plans for this weekend by 2300 on Thursday 10 November. Log in, select 'Interactive' and 'Weekend Sign-out' to complete the form.
Exeat Arrangements for Boarders
In preparation for Exeat on Friday 18 November, 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 11 November.
City Partnership
This week the College entered a partnership with Winchester City Council, committing to work with them to help enhance the City for the benefit of residents and visitors.
We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (link below) that will see us focus on a number of shared priorities. This includes the local authority supporting the College’s delivery of a co-educational Sixth Form, open to day pupils.
The College has committed to working with the Council to maximise our contribution to the local economy, and to support the local Carbon Neutrality Action Plan by exploring the potential for the College to become carbon neutral within five years.
Inter-House Competition
Ingenuity Challenge
Constructing a chair solely out of cardboard, with no tape, glue or other fixing materials allowed, was the task set for the 2022 Ingenuity Challenge. Hosted by the DT Department, the inter-house competition tested the structural engineering skills of each house’s three best engineers.
Recognising the increasing demand for sustainability in design, the challenge required engineers to consider a product’s full lifecycle – from using recyclable materials that can be easily separated at end-of-life, to minimising the impact of transportation and storage through the revolution of flatpacked furniture.
The winners were Beloe’s team of Max (V Book), David (VI Book 2) and Henry (VI Book 2), who created a sturdy lounge chair constructed with interlocking half-lap joints. Their use of the material was efficient, the comfort well-considered and the structural integrity sound. Runners-up were Cook’s, closely followed by Freddie’s.
Sustainability
Climate Week
In line with COP27, pupils have organised a Climate Week to draw attention to the issues and drive forward action.
Sixth Form pupils Oscar Mitcham (VI Book 1, Trant's), who writes the Climate Soup blog, Felix Von-Moltke (VI Book 1, Furley's), and Sebastian Fennell (VI Book 1, Hopper's) have put together a programme of activities that includes a net zero petition, an update on the Elizabeth Project, an online En-ROADs workshop, a mock COP27 with MUNSoc, a talk from Alexander Heavens about Climate Income and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the unveiling of a new Environmental Committee.
Youth MP Delivers Commons Speech
On Friday 4 November, the Youth Parliament annual sitting took place in the House of Commons, chaired by the Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Dev Sharma (VI Book 1, Chawker's), Youth MP for Hampshire, was one of nine Youth MPs from across the country elected to deliver a speech at the Despatch Box. He chose to use his platform to call for greater action to tackle climate change.
Academic
Mechanical Engineering Conference
Congratulations to Warren Zhang (VI Book 2, Chawker's) who recently presented his research paper to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' annual conference in Ohio.
Warren's paper, entitled 'Optimization Design of Roof Heat Transfer Based on Computational Fluid Dynamics', was originally inspired by a desire to maximise the energy efficiency of his family's own residential refurbishment project. Warren completed his research project last term using mathematical modelling and machine learning, and, having submitted his paper to the conference, was invited to present his work.
Warren reflected: "I felt honoured and proud – it was the first time I have ever gone to present my work at such a big event. I was assigned to present to undergraduates, so it was daunting to be the youngest person there – and to be the presenter."
Inspired by his experience at the conference, Warren hopes to study in the US and is considering setting up a company to market his ideas.
Sport
Fantastic Football
On Friday 4 November, Soccer XI took on St Joseph’s College, Ipswich in Round 3 of the Independent Schools Football Association U18 Boodles Cup. Just 24 hours later the team faced Marlborough College in their regular inter-school fixture and came through both matches with superb victories.
This means the team has reached the last 16 of the ISFA U18 Cup for the first time since the 2011-12 season and is on a nine-match unbeaten run, playing plenty of attacking football.
For Parents
Talks this Week
Antarctic Exploration
Join us this Thursday, 10 November as we commemorate the OW explorer Apsley Cherry-Garrard (with Captain Scott 1910-13). There is a special exhibition in Musa from 1600, Chapel service at 1730, followed by a talk in New Hall at 1900. Sara Wheeler (the biographer of Apsley Cherry-Garrard) and Douglas Russell from the Natural History Museum discuss the science behind Captain Scott's expedition and Apsley's part in the 'Winter Journey' of 1911, described by Scott as 'the worst journey ever made'.
You are welcome to attend all or any part of the event. Please register via the link below.
Pseudium
Experience the best of Winchester as dons from all departments teach their favourite lessons this Saturday, 12 November from 1000 - 1230. Expect bangs and whistles in the Chemistry Department; medieval manuscripts in History; poems in English; brainteasers in Maths; experiments in Physics; Old Master analysis in Art History; Beethoven in Music; discussion and debate in Div.
Book your seat in the classroom via the link below.
Educational Partnerships
We are delighted to be welcoming over 120 students, teachers and parents from state schools to our talks this week, as part of our partnerships programme, including the fully-booked Evening of F1 with Ross Brawn.
Music
School Concert
The school concert takes place on Sunday 13 November at 1900 in New Hall. Parents are very welcome and no ticket is required.
The concert features our orchestras playing Symphony No. 8 by Antonin Dvořák, Egmont Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven, Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock, Blackbird by Lennon and McCartney, Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock.
Outreach
Inspiring Young Naturalists
We were honoured to welcome renowned ornithologist Roger Morgan-Grenville to give our annual Cameron Bespolka Wildlife Lecture, which was attended by 450 primary pupils from across the county. Sharing his passion for curlews with the children, Roger was joined by Ellen Bradley from the charity he founded, Curlew Action.
Following the talk, entrants to the Cameron Bespolka Wildlife Poetry Competition were invited to afternoon tea in College Hall, where prizes were awarded for the best bird-themed poems.
Catalyst
In July 2022 the College launched its first CATALYST programme. A select cohort of 33 students from more than 10 countries participated in a two week immersive digital course that explored the topic of ‘change’. You can meet some alumni from the programme in this video.
Two Winchester students, Alessandro Patel (VI Book 2, Hopper's) and Michael Nevin (VI Book 2, Phil's), proved to be integral to this inaugural class, and we welcomed CATALYST alumnus Jeff Ho (VI Book 2, College) into the Sixth Form this autumn.
This ambitious foray into the digital education space, grounded in Div's interdisciplinary pedagogy, received very positive feedback. Therefore, in 2023, CATALYST will be offering a total of four programmes of one and two weeks in length. Applications are open to any student aged 13-18 who is curious and driven to effect positive change, no matter their topic of interest.
To learn more about CATALYST please follow the link below or connect with the team directly on catalyst@wincoll.ac.uk.
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