Toaster Dilemma

Our boys do indeed march on their stomachs and as one wise matron once noted, the way to keeping boys happy is to keep them well fed. We currently have a toaster crisis in Skipwith with only one decent working toaster. Funnily enough the most robust and quickest producer of toast is also the most expensive. We need to get hold of a few more 6 slice Dualit toasters to keep the boys happy during their break times. This is an appeal to see if anyone knows where we could get one (preferably two) of these at a good price, or perhaps you know someone who no longer needs theirs? Any info much appreciated!

Billy and ORFC

Billy Sayers has been awarded a place in the U16 squad for Oxfordshire rugby - well done to him and the best of luck for the forthcoming training and matches!

Speech Day Winners 2013

The initial list of Speech Day prizewinners has been announced. More are to follow but in the mean time a huge congratulations to the following who will be receiving their prizes on the last day of term:

Matthew Horsfall - English GCSE Prize
Tom Merryweather (Head of House) - Biology and Theology and Philosophy Governors Prize
Tom Arnold - GCSE Results 2013 Prize
Marek Lapham and Jo Unsworth - The Trotter Trophy for representing Great Britain in Rowing

Off to London to meet the Queen

As ever our pride in Ms Satch continues to grow as tomorrow afternoon she will be in the presence of Her Majesty at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Have a lovely time!!

Athletics Championships

Today the championships took place on the new field. For this event a team is entered with any individual being able to complete in 4 events only across track and field. Many thanks to all who took part and those who supported. Results are pending but in the mean time lots of photos have gone in to the gallery from todays action. A noteworthy win by Adam Hunt in the Junior 400m, setting a new school record, followed by Elliot Whittingham in 3rd place.

 Meg had fun too!

Mufti day this SATURDAY

It’s not too late for spring cleaning! Do you need to get rid of those unwanted Christmas, Birthday and Easter presents? We have the perfect solution…….


Please donate any unwanted gifts etc. to the Shiplake College Parents’ Association and in return your son or daughter will be allowed to wear their own clothes on SATURDAY 18th May!

All donations will be used for the tombola at the Shiplake College Parents’ Association Barbecue.
Any money raised will be split between the PA and the Kumali Mission Hospital in Uganda.

Please ask your son or daughter to give your gifts to their housemaster on their return to school by the weekend of (Sunday, 12th/Monday, 13th May).

If you are unable to donate a gift, pupils will be allowed to make a donation of £2 to wear mufti on 17th May. Many thanks for your support.

Exams!

GCSE and AS exams get under way properly this week. A very tense time for all involved but we obviously wish them the very best!

Pastoral Parents' Meeting

Yesterday was an excellent opportunity for year 9 parents to hear from Barry Evans who gave a lecture on drugs and alcohol. This was followed by an informal discussion amongst Skipwith year 9 parents on the subject of their adolescent sons. I hope you all found it really useful, we certainly did!

The main topics discussed were:
1. How mobile phones and laptops are being used amongst year 9;
2. Body image issues and how this is skewed given the easy access to material online;
3. A developing interest in substances which are thought to enhance image without proper knowledge of the consequences.

We will be discussing these further in school but hopefully yesterday gave a good opportunity to bring some of these issues in to the open. We may look to hold similar forums in the future for parents in the older year groups too.

PA Summer Ball

If you are interested in attending this years Summer Ball then please see the flyer here.

Sleep Good

Some interesting facts just sent through from Mr Alcock - especially relevant prior to exam season:

• Average hours teenagers need: 8.5 hrs
• Recent survey indicated 65% were sleep deprived to some extent
• In an experiment to test this a group of pupils went in to a school hall and tried to remember all the objects placed there. They recalled just 25%
• After a better might’s sleep they were asked to do the same again. The result was they remembered 75%.
• Teenagers should have 60 minutes in the evening to unwind after being on some kind of screen- game, tv, x box, laptop, etc to help them go to sleep
• Too many have TVs in rooms at home or parents don’t ensure mobile is switched off – often texting late at night.

Athletics Standards 2

Today the wind could not keep the standards event at bay. Despite the howling gales, the athletics went on with everyone competing in the 400m and the field events. Skipwith boys and girls showed good spirit in this event with most accounted for in the final tally. Seniors finished 5th and Juniors and Girls both finished 4th. Thank you to everyone for taking part!

Code of Conduct for Buses

A reminder of the code of conduct signed by all those using the school buses:

1. On boarding the bus pupils must sit down and put their seatbelts on without delay.
2. During the journey pupils must not needlessly talk or distract the driver.
3. Pupils must not remove their seatbelts or leave their seats while the bus is in motion.
4. Pupils using the school buses are subject to normal school sanctions for unruly behaviour or breach of the above guidelines. If warnings are ignored, a pupil will be suspended from using the bus.

Would you trust your son with a gun??

Well apparently the CCF do. Year 11 were on firing exercises yesterday on New Field, shooting blanks and performing basic drills. Looks fun! More in the gallery.

House Council

The Skipwith House Council met yesterday and the minutes are given below:

Year 9 – Ross Johnstone

- No comments from year 9

Year 10- Carl Harris

- Dualit toaster was requested for kitchen. Mr Settle wholeheartedly agrees this is a good idea, but the cost is a big limiting factor. Mr Settle will look at alternatives or fundraising ideas to try and get this in place by September.

- More range fizzy drinks requested. Fizzy drinks like lemonade and coke are banned but fizzy fruit juices are fine. Matron to look at expanding her range supplied in tuck shop.

- Early leave arrangements were requested for next half term for days when boys wish to leave at 5pm. Mr Settle to investigate through housemasters but said this may not come in to force until the last week of term.

Year 11 – Henry Waller
- Early leave arrangements were requested for boys wishing to leave at 5pm if they prefer to study at home. Mr Settle to investigate further and will put in place a formal notice and sign out procedure before the half term.

Year 12 – Bodie Deane

- Absent. Tom Merryweather said there were no comments from the sixth form.

Year 9 Pastoral Parents' Meeting 11th May

Year 9 parents have been invited to a pastoral parents meeting taking place next Saturday (11th May). This is held every year and involves a talk by Mr Bob Tait, a specialist in drug education, and an excellent presenter. Having heard him before, I can assure you that you will come away better informed and educated. This talk will take place at 11am in the Old Vikings Room. After this, parents will meet in houses with lunch being provided in order to have group discussions with members of the house staff with regard to various adolescent issues such as parties, alcohol, smoking, computer games etc.

I hope you are able to attend and that you will find it a very informative morning. This has always been a great success in the past.

New Boys

The school registrar has been very busy lately and a number of new boys have signed up to board in Skipwith House next year alongside the current cohort of day boys with further applications being processed. The boarders will be from an international spread as well as some boys from the UK. We are very excited about welcoming them in to Skipwith and hope they will be very happy. This continues Skipwith's role as a busy house offering day facilities, flexi boarding and full boarding in year 12. We are also looking forward to welcoming our new year 9 boys in the upcoming induction day this June.

House Photos

Whole School and House Photos are now available from Gillman and Soame. The boys have been made aware that order forms are with matron. Parents wishing to see an order form may wish to remind their sons that this is where they can find them.

House Athletics - Standards 1

Today was the first round of the house athletics standards where boys compete for an A, B or C in an athletic event. We are eagerly awaiting todays scores. Most of the boys put in solid performances but there will be a lot more to play for in round 2 and ultimately the championship event. Lots of photos in the gallery thanks to the team of photographers.