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.

New Painting

Over the Easter holiday I commisioned a former Shiplake pupil, James Gifford, to do a painting to enhance the entrance hall in Skipwith. This giant painting is now hanging and is as impressive as I had originally thought it would be. It must be seen to be believed and this picture does not do it justice. Please feel free to come in and have a look when you collect your sons at the weekend.



New Prefects

Huge congratulations to Tom Arnold and Harry Vardigans who have been made College Prefects for next year. After 2 rounds of rigorous interviews and voting by students and staff Tom and Harry have been appointed along with 11 others from the other houses. Harry Hogan and Jonathan Smith also did very well to reach the second round interviews but narrowly missed out. We are very proud of all of the boys!