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EDITION 125 10th September 2021
The weekly newsletter for the Holyport College family
From the Head Master It has been such a delight to welcome our staff and students back this September; seeing their enthusiasm to return, their engagement with their learning and their joy at being reunited with friends and beginning to make new ones has felt like a real return to normality. My beginning of term message to our students is the same every year: work hard, say yes to opportunities and be kind to one another. This year, in my beginning of term assembly on Monday, I put a particular emphasis on kindness. Very few people ever set out to be unkind to someone else but a great many of us end up causing hurt or upset to others by the things we do and say by failing to take their feelings or circumstances into account. This year, I have therefore called for “active” kindness from our community: active kindness means making a choice to be kind and making a choice to consider the thoughts and feelings of others. This approach to active kindness will be reinforced through our personal development programme this term with all students taught what it means to be anti-racist; what it means to be anti-homophobic and what healthy relationships and boundaries look like in the real world. We will also be educating our students not to be bystanders but to speak out when the behaviour of peers falls short of these standards. With the return of a full programme of sports and sporting fixtures, the commencement of our co-curriculum programme next week, hugely exciting plans for Drama and Music later in the year and the realisation of our new boarding and pastoral structures (with all the opportunities for enrichment that these bring), I truly believe that we are set to have an incredible year. Ben McCarey Head Master @holyportcollege
www.youtube.com/holyportal
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DIXIT 10th September 2021
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IN THIS EDITION
From the PE Department Sport is back in swing!
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From the Music Department Music Department news
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From the Boarding Houses Our boarders have been warmly welcomed back
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From the MFL Department Linguists of the Week!
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From the Sixth Form University destinations and the Scholars schedule
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From the TVLP Upcoming events for students
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From the College Mrs Ellis launches our woollen poppy appeal
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From the Dad’s Club Notice of the first Dad’s Club meeting of this year
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Notices Information to note
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From the Refectory Next week’s lunch menus
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From the Calendar Upcoming events and items to note
@holyportcollege
www.youtube.com/holyportal 2
DIXIT 10th September 2021
FROM THE PE DEPARTMENT
Last Saturday signalled the start of the 2021/22 Sport programme at Holyport College. It was fantastic to see so many students from Year 7 & 9 back playing sports and meeting new friends!
Senior Sport on Wednesday afternoons also started again this week ☺ ➔ Ex-student Beth Wiltshire debuted for Windsor 1’s hockey club at the weekend. In goal and keeping a clean sheet, they won 1-0. Pictured here with Miss Kerr.
Upcoming Fixtures: Saturday 11th September - U14 Rugby Away vs Reddam House. 9:30 KO Saturday 11th September - U12 & U13 Football Away vs Reddam House. 9:30 KO Saturday 11th September - U12 A&B, U13 A&B Hockey vs St Benedict’s @Eton Willowbrook. 9:00 Start Monday 13th September - U14 Rugby Away vs Holme Grange. 15:30 KO Tuesday 14th September - U12 & U13 Hockey Away vs LVS. 16:15 Start Wednesday 15th September - Seniors U18 Hockey Away vs Reading Blue Coat. 14:30 Start 3
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FROM THE MUSIC DEPT
10th September 2021
Private Instrumental & Singing Lessons These start on Monday and your child’s teacher will be emailing you the timetable. These will also be put up on the Music corridor as they are received. For the benefit of new families, students should excuse themselves from their class lesson 2 minutes before their music lesson and make their way to the music corridor. If unsure where to go, ask Mrs Bryant in the classroom. Please can parents ensure that their child brings their instrument and any music on the correct day - thank you! Further Exam Success
In addition to the wonderful ABRSM graded music exam results published at the end of last term, massive congratulations also to the following, who received their exam results during the holidays: Danny Oxenham
Grade 4
Baritone Horn
Pass with Merit
Olivia Churchill-Browne
Grade 3
Singing for Musical Theatre
Pass
Alexander Wood
Grade 3
Singing for Musical Theatre
Pass
Tate Pickering
Grade 3
Singing for Musical Theatre
Pass
Music Department Clubs and Activities, Autumn - First Half Mondays: 1:30pm (go to early lunch at 1:00pm) - Orchestra (starts 20th September) Co-curricular - Year 11 Composition Clinic Tuesdays: First break - Ukulele Club, all welcome, Years 8-13 1:30pm (go to early lunch at 1:00pm) - Senior Girls’ Choir, all welcome, Years 9-13 Wednesdays: 12:35pm (go to early lunch at 12:15pm) - 6th Form SATB Unisex Choir - all welcome Thursdays: Co-curricular - Junior Choir (years 7-8), all welcome Fridays: 1:30pm (go to early lunch at 1:00pm) Jazz Band Lunchtime Recital Concert Series Our new programme of lunchtime recitals starts on Friday 24th September, with an outdoor performance by the Jazz Band at 1:30pm. All are welcome! Further recitals are scheduled for the following dates, all at 1:30pm in the Music room unless otherwise stated nearer the time. Friday 1 October, Friday 15 October, Friday 12 November, Friday 21 January, Friday 11 February, Friday 11 March, Friday 29 April, Friday 13 May, Friday 17 June. Any student may sign up to perform at one of these lighthearted, informal events and sign-up sheets will be up on the Music door each Monday preceding the recital, on a first-come, first-served basis. These recitals are a brilliant chance to perform in front of a small and supportive audience to try out a piece you have been learning. Please do get involved and please come and support your friends! All performers and audience members will go to early lunch to enable them to attend. 4
FROM THE BOARDING HOUSES
DIXIT 10th September 2021
It has been brilliant to have full boarding houses again this week. New staff and students have settled in brilliantly and everyone’s in the process of getting to know each other and making friends. Here are a few photos from our first full week back ☺
Milton and Fawcett Year 7 students
Milton and Fawcett Year 12 Milton girls
Herschel student leaders - Alexi and Matt Top achievement points so far for Year 7 Brunel students!
Year 12 Fawcett girls ➔
Milton - Sixth Form bonding run by Year 13 students
Cooking with Nico and Prince
Year 12 team bonding at Liquid Leisure 5
FROM THE MFL DEPARTMENT
DIXIT 10th September 2021
Linguists of the Week! Each week the MFL & Classics Department will be choosing ‘Linguists of the Week’! Congratulations to the following students for a great start to the term! Year 7 • Jack Mustard - a great and confident start to Year 7 Spanish. Jack went beyond what we learnt in the first lesson and was able to tell me extra details about himself in Spanish. Keep it up! Year 8 • Oliver Capstick - a fantastic start to Year 8 Spanish. Well done for going beyond and completing all the challenges and for your wonderful contributions in Spanish. Year 9 • Luke Side - an absolutely amazing start to Year 9 Spanish for someone that had never done Spanish before, huge well done! • Emmanuel Lampejo - a fabulous start to Year 9 Spanish, working very hard in lessons and showing great linguistic skills. • Alice Light - an amazing start to the term in Spanish, great participation and answering lots of questions. • Riley Campisi-Dignan - very impressive extended answers in Spanish this week. Peter Guo - an amazing start to Year 9, constantly participating and helping a new student in class to succeed in Spanish. Year 10 • Ariyan Dodiya - a great start to Year 10 Spanish by being the first in class to complete the tasks with all correct answers. Well done! Year 12 • Inbar Ayash - amazing answers in your first lessons of Spanish A Level on film techniques, a really good start! • Olivia Allan - excellent contributions on French grammar topics in your first A Level lessons. Year 13 • Will Adler - thank you for coming and talking to the new year 12 Spanish A Level students about your experiences of Spanish A Level as a non-native student. 6
DIXIT 10th September 2021
FROM THE SIXTH FORM
Upper Sixth Students Enjoy University Success When Holyport’s Sixth Form started four years ago, the stated aim was for it to become a pathway to the best universities in the UK and around the world. Despite all the disruptions of the last two years, we are delighted to see this becoming a reality with four of our alumni off to Oxford or Cambridge, five studying Medicine or Veterinary Science and more than 60% attending Russell Group or equivalent Universities. Well done to Eric (PPE), Daniella (History) and Kate (Medicine) who all have places at Oxford University and to Sera (Vet Science) who has a place at Cambridge. Three students have made it into the prestigious King's College London - Lewis (CompSci), James (Geography), Fiona (Medicine). Three have places at the prestigious Warwick University including Beth (Maths) - with the highest grade requirement I have ever seen of 3A*s which she made, and, two Chemists - James (Chemistry) and Dylan (Chemistry). Two have made it into Durham University, one of the best universities in the North of England - Mille (Society, Religion and Culture) and Amy (Biological Sciences). You may have seen the press reports about Exeter University being highly oversubscribed, but we still managed to get six students holding a confirmed place - Joseph (Engineering), Harry (Politics and Economics), Grace (Modern Languages), Eric (History and International Relations), Chloe (Law and Business), George (Physics). Five made it into Nottingham, another from the elite Russell Group of universities - Fabienne (French with Marketing and Media), Michaela (Pharmacy), Jess (Economics), Ben (Health Sciences), Hannah (Environmental Science). Another popular Russell Group destination with Holyport students in the past few years has been Cardiff and this trend has continued this year with five more securing places Ethan (Business Economics and French), India (Psychology), Silvia (Politics and Italian), Francesca (Physiotherapy), Lauran (Biomedical Sciences). Five more are going to Queen Mary, London - Diamond (Geography), Chiedza (Medicine), Zain (Mechanical Engineering) and Ruqaiyah (Degree apprenticeship in Software Development). Jemima (English and European Law), who graduated in 2020 and took a gap year secured a place this time around. Four are going to Southampton - Yasmin (International Relations), Polly (Accounting and Finance), Harvey (Maths) and Imogen (Psychology). Another four are going off to Leeds - another university that is highly over-subscribed - Hannah (Physics), Phil (Business), Sophia (Art and Design) and Azeezah (Marketing). Three have made it into Manchester University - Simisola (Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology), Isabella (Politics and Spanish) and Tom (English and Drama) and three are off to the West Country city of Bristol to begin their undergraduate studies - Louis (Zoology), Rebecca (Theoretical Physics), Simran (Law). 7
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FROM THE SIXTH FORM
10th September 2021
After Thiago blazed a trail to the UK’s fourth oldest university, Glasgow, two have decided to go north of the border this year - Jess (International Relations) and Alexandre (French and Business). Taryn (Civil and Structural Engineering) has won a place at Newcastle University and Billy (Medicinal Chemistry) is going to Liverpool. Although not Russell Group universities, we have three highly prestigious overseas places that have been awarded: Eloise (Liberal Arts) won a rowing scholarship to Boston University - one of the top universities in the US. Nico (Business Economics) is off to the Netherlands’ number one university - Utrecht. And Danny (Medicine), who graduated from Holyport in 2020, is off to CEU in Valencia, Spain. Other amazing courses and universities: Whilst the Russell Group was an aim for many of our students, it’s not always the Russell Group that provides the best course for certain subjects and students. We have students going to some other amazing universities including, but not limited to, Bath, Kent, Lancaster, Swansea and Oxford Brookes. These are for a wide range of courses including everything from Marine Biology to Musical Theatre and from Criminology to Fashion Marketing. Simone is off to start an Art apprenticeship with the world famous art auction house, Christie’s.
Scholars speakers this term: Wednesday 8th September
Marcus Lilley, Marketing Officer for On Stage Productions at The Corn Exchange Theatre
Wednesday 15th September
William Hooper, Expert Witness and IT Consultant, Oareborough Consulting
Wednesday 22nd September
Shruthi Sivadasan, Subsea Engineer for oil drilling projects and exploration
Wednesday 29th September
Alex Cameron, RAF Chinook Crew
Wednesday 6th October
Tim Mollart, Diamond Maker at C6
Wednesday 13th October
Carly Schoepp, NHS England Project Manager
Wednesday 10th November
Yomi Ajilore, Project Success Manager at Investis Digital
Wednesday 17th November
Dr Estelle Moore, Broadmoor Psychologist
Wednesday 24th November
Brittany Davies, Institute of Economic Affairs
Wednesday 1st December
TBC 8
DIXIT 10th September 2021
FROM THE TVLP
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR TVLP STUDENTS: Online, live talk: Life as a Teenager in Jerusalem. Monday 13th September 2021, 6.30pm - 7.30pm. This will be an online panel discussion featuring teenagers from different communities in Jerusalem. They will talk about their daily lives within an often difficult and ever -changing political context, and you will have the chance to ask questions. Hosted by Eton College. To attend, send your name and school email address to info@tvlp.org.uk Online, live talk with Dr Alex George, UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador. Wednesday 29th September 2021, 8.30pm - 9.30pm. Hosted by Eton College. To attend, send your name and school email address to info@tvlp.org.uk TVLP Student Leadership Conference. Wednesday 29th September 2021. An all day event with an 8.30am arrival for a 9.00am start. End time: 4.00pm. Location: Slough & Eton C of E Business & Enterprise College (subject to Covid restrictions). Aimed at Head Boys/Girls, Prefects, and students with leadership roles at your school. For more information, email info@tvlp.org.uk TVLP Biodiversity Booklet. Writers wanted. We are producing a booklet, as part of the TVLP Biodiversity Project, and we want students from TVLP schools to contribute content. If you are interested in writing an environmental article, sharing biodiversity ideas or changes you've made in your own home or local community, producing a case study on your school, or helping to research and/or collate useful website links and resources for inclusion in the publication, contact Clare Matheson, TVLP Coordinator, by emailing info@tvlp.org.uk. An electronic copy will be made available on the TVLP website. Printed copies will be distributed across all 8 TVLP partner schools and provided to pupils for their future portfolios. TVLP Student Magazine: 2022 edition. Contributors wanted. If you are interested in contributing to this in November/December, either by writing an article (with my assistance, where required) or creating other content, please email info@tvlp.org.uk. An electronic version of the 2021 edition can be viewed here: TVLP STUDENT MAGAZINE, 2021 - Thames Valley Learning Partnership. Paper copies will be produced so contributors can include them in their future portfolio/CV. LAUNCHING SOON: TVLP Nature Art Competition, in conjunction with RHS Garden Wisley.
tvlp.org.uk/upcoming-events
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FROM THE COLLEGE
10th September 2021
Poppy appeal 2021 Can you knit or crochet? Would you like to help us put Holyport College on the map? This November Holyport College would like to raise more money than we have in the past for the British Legion by creating a large display of handmade poppies. Both the knitting and crochet groups will be taught how to do this and together with your help we hope to have at least 1000 poppies to display. Poppies can be made in any of the following 4 colours : red, purple, black or white. Please see the link below for what each colour means https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/45975344 There are many different poppy patterns on the internet and we are leaving it up to you to decide which ones you would like to use. This is just one of several links for patterns. https://www.gathered.how/knitting-and-crochet/crochet/free-poppy-pattern-for-remembrance -day/ If you are more of a visual learner there are some YouTube videos to watch. These are just a few. Knitted Poppy CROCHET: Poppy Tutorial | Bella Coco Remembrance Poppy Brooch Free Crochet Pattern | Crafting Happiness If you are willing to help (students, carers, parents, grandparents etc) please can you let Mrs Ellis know at l.ellis@holyportcollege.org.uk Please leave the ends on for tying.
These are the red ones I’ve made so far using the Crafting Happiness pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=0ffmzj7pWik&t=38 ➔
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FROM THE DAD’S CLUB
DIXIT 10th September 2021
Welcome to all the parents and students new and old, we hope you are settling in well. The Holyport College Dads’ Club is an offshoot of the Holyport College PTA, a group of Dads, Parents, Grandfathers & Guardians of children who attend the College.
It all started in 2014 with a small group of Dads who wanted to help raise much needed funds for the College, manning BBQs, running the bar at Quiz Nights, and putting on special events for the Children and Adults alike. To date we have raised over £100k for the College. We would love to see you at our next Dads’ Club meeting scheduled for the 23rd September at 7pm, to be held at Holyport College, the bar will be open, and for those wanting to continue to socialise afterwards and get to know each other we will head to the Jolly Gardener Pub in Moneyrow Green, less than a mile from the College. We hope to see you all there. The Dads’ Club 11
NOTICES
DIXIT 10th September 2021
Thanks to all our students for their support with in-school Covid testing this week. From next week, we would ask all day students to conduct tests at home every Sunday and Wednesday evening (boarders will do this in house). Don’t forget, we will never test a student without your/their consent! There’s been lots of noise in the press about in-school vaccinations for 12-16 year olds. As things stand, we have not been informed of any firm plans to vaccinate 12-16 year olds in school. If and when we do hear anything, we will let you know straight away. Please rest assured that we have no intention of vaccinating any student aged 12-16 on school premises without the direct consent of their parents.
We have launched an initiative with a company called "Beyond Equality" who work with men and boys towards gender equality, inclusive communities, and healthier relationships. This week we have shown the following video to all students in Years 8-13 in preparation for assemblies and workshops for boys over the next few weeks: https://www.ted.com/talks/ ben_hurst_boys_won_t_be_boys_boys_will_be_what_we_teach_them_to_be? language=en For more information about Beyond Equality, please click here
Uniform rules We would like to remind parents, carers and students of the following from our Rules on Uniform and Appearance: Make-up: No personal make-up is allowed on pupils and they will be asked to remove any make-up identified. This includes nail varnish, eye make-up, foundation, lip-gloss, lip-stick, glitter etc.
Bus passes Bus passes will be distributed next week by form tutors, so please make sure you have paid any remaining arrears from last term and the first payment of this term. ParentPay is all updated now and login details have been sent to all parents. Please contact the Finance Office if you need support in making payment. Fernhill drivers will be checking bus passes from Monday 17th September.
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FROM THE REFECTORY
10th September 2021
Next week’s lunch menus Week 3 Monday
Holyport College - Autumn 2021 Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
To the Right → Beef Lasagne & Gar- Crispy Fried Sweet & Traditional counter lic Bread Sour Chicken main choice
Pizza Day
Chipotle & Honey Chicken
Battered Pollock
Spinach & Lentil Lasagne
Pizza Day
Vegetarian choice
Tuesday
Quorn Stir Fry with Ginger & Noodles
Starch & vegeta- Herby Roast Vegeta- Egg Fried Rice & Stir bles bles Fried Vegetables
Cajun Wedges, BBQ Beans
Butternut & Cheese Tomato & Aubergine Crumble Layer Bake Champ Potatoes & Mixed Vegetables
Chips, Peas, Baked Beans
← To the Left Something different
Jacket Potato with RS Baked Beans Penne Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce
Jacket Potato with Jacket Potato with Jacket Potato with Jacket Potato with RS Baked Beans RS Baked Beans RS Baked Beans RS Baked Beans Pasta with Chilli & Pasta with Cauliflow- Pasta with Tomato & Spaghetti with Spicy Vegetable Sauce er cheese Sauce Vegetable Sauce Tomato Sauce
Sandwich & Snack Bar
Daily selection of fresh sandwiches, crisps and fruit
Daily selection of fresh sandwiches, crisps and fruit
Salad Bar
Main dessert
Cold Desserts
Daily selection of fresh sandwiches, crisps and fruit
Daily selection of fresh sandwiches, crisps and fruit
Daily choice of fresh- Daily choice of fresh- Daily choice of fresh- Daily choice of fresh- Daily choice of freshly made salad boxes ly made salad boxes ly made salad boxes ly made salad boxes ly made salad boxes
Sunshine Rice Pud- Steamed Marmalade ding Sponge Selection of cold desserts
Selection of cold desserts
Ginger, Honey & Lemon Cake
Banoffee Crumble
Choc-Ice
Selection of cold desserts
Selection of cold desserts
Selection of cold desserts
The Catering Department will make adjustments to the daily menus where possible to accommodate special dietary requirements, when this is not possible an alternative meal will be offered. If you have any queries please contact our Catering Manager Alan Cockerill on alan.cockerill@holyportcollege.org.uk or 01628 640154. 13
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FROM THE CALENDAR
10th September 2021
Some Dates for Your Diaries Wednesday 22nd September—Flu vaccinations for Year 7-11 students Thursday 23rd September—Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening Monday 27th September—Karl Hopwood online safety talk for parents—6.30pm Tuesday 28th September—Main school open evening—early finish at 2.15pm Thursday 30th September—School photographs
Thursday 7th October—Prizegiving evening at Eton College
Save the date! Karl Hopwood, one of the UK’s foremost speakers on online safety and young people’s behaviour online, will be talking to our parents and carers. You won’t want to miss this – Monday 27th September at 6.30pm. Links will be sent out nearer the time.
Mrs Morrey will be walking 10K this Saturday in memory of a friend who had exceptional care at Thames Hospice earlier this year. Any donations to this wonderful cause would be gratefully received. You can donate by clicking on the link below: Mrs Morrey’s JustGiving page
Parents’ Evening Dates 2021/22 Year 7 parents’ evening—Wednesday 17th November Year 9 parents’ evening—Monday 22nd November Year 1 parents’ evening—Wednesday 26th January Year 8 parents’ evening—Tuesday 8th February Year 10 parents’ evening—Monday 28th February Year 13 parents’ evening—Wednesday 23rd March Year 12 parents’ evening—Thursday 28th April 14
