here - Oswestry School

CommunityActionClearing diseased trees from around Chirk Castlehas been this term’s main activity for those takingpart in Community Action.The weather was not always kind but much funwas had and a great many trees were cleared bythe participants.Pupils at Oswestry School have long been keento get involved in all aspects of the community,providing a range of services to local projects andin return developing new skills and experiences.Cricket SquareOswestry School grounds maintenancedepartment has been commended by thetown’s cricket club for their excellent workin improving the square and outfield.According to the club, David Jones “washelped in this respect by the new covers,but we are also mindful of the considerablehard work he puts in to ensure that theground is in prime condition for everymatch”.James French is also to be commendedfor ensuring this season;s cricketers on theMaes y Llan have excellent turf to play on.For the fans of social media amongst you,Oswestry School has added to its use ofFacebook by embracing Twitter.It’s a free and simple way to follow themost up-to-the-minute news provided bypeople, organisations or groups whichmight be of interest.The School itself has its own Twitterpage which can be found by following@OswestrySchool – we are quite avid‘tweeters’ and already have more than 200followers who enjoy being kept abreast ofour news.All Old Oswestrians on Twitter areencouraged to follow @OldOswestriansto find out about the latest OO news aswell as giving you the opportunity to sharememories, items of news, thoughts andopinions.And to find out about the news and viewsof Headmaster Douglas Robb, you canfollow him on @OswestrySchoolH.7

BlencathraAs the sun came out in May, Years 6 and 7 set out for their annualtrip to Blencathra in the Lake District.A superb week was spent covering various aspects of ourGeography and Science syllabus together with having a great dealof fun learning new skills.Amongst other things, activities included village studies, hillwalking – including field work en route – canoeing, pond lifeobservations, team building skills and discovering small mammals.ClintBrockmanWe have been delighted to welcomeClint Brockman to Oswestry whohas helped us in many areas aroundthe School.Clint, who is from South Africa, isnot only the overseas professionalfor Oswestry Cricket Club but hehelps out every lunchtime with theOlympic activities at Bellan House,various PE activities and the afterschool clubs.8

B E L L A N H O U S EJubilee PartyIt was a right royal festive occasion at Bellan House wherepupils held their own Jubilee street party.All pupils had been asked to design their own crown and had the opportunity to wear it in the crownparade, before the lucky winners in each year group received a Booka voucher.Then it was on to the all important lunch which was finished off by a fabulous ‘Union Jack’ cake.Year 5 pupils were set the task of decorating and laying the tables which they did superbly.9

B E L L A N H O U S EBellanSports DayOn what was a very hot day, Swallows cameout as winners at the annual Bellan HouseSports Day.Everyone took part and gave their all,which was to be commended on sucha sweltering day.Proceedings followed something of anOlympic theme with medals – whichwere inscribed with the particular raceparticipated in – presented to the winnerson an Olympic-style podium, much to thedelight of those receiving them.10

B E L L A N H O U S EWheelchairBasketballIn honour of the forthcoming Olympicsand Paralympics, some of the Year 3 and 4pupils had the opportunity to take part in awheelchair sports activity morning.Once they had settled into the wheelchairsand had a couple of races (forwards andbackwards), it didn’t take long before theywere zooming around the hall, passing thebasketball, performing quick changes ofdirection and scoring baskets.NewKitA game of U9 tag rugby against Whittington Primary in the spring heldspecial relevance as not only was this the first time the boys had playedtogether but they were also wearing a brand new kit.Many thanks to the PA for donating the kit – everyone thought it lookedextremely smart and the boys clearly enjoyed wearing it.In the event, Oswestry put on a fine performance against a very strongWhittington team who eventually won the game 12-7.11

B E L L A N H O U S EPE Co-ordinatorMr Jonathan Miles has been appointed to the newlyrole of Bellan House Physical Education Co-ordinator.His excellent work ethic and his ability to forgeextremely positive relationships with young peoplemade him an ideal choice.The role has been introduced to maximise participationin sport across all age ranges within the prep schooland to establish a strong sporting presence as a directlink between parents, staff and the PE department.Mr Miles has been a popular cricket coach and PEteacher at the Senior School for some time and is alsoa professional cricketer. In the short time since he hasjoined Bellan House, there is a positive buzz in JuniorSports and pupils are responding to the department’srenewed dynamism and energy. Mr Miles is on handto provide parents, staff and pupils with informationregarding all upcoming and important events includingour summer sport camps.CommemorativePin BadgesBellan House’s Jubilee street party wasstarted by an assembly which includedthe PA presenting Oswestry School Jubileepin badges to commemorate the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee.12

B E L L A N H O U S EOlympicActivitiesAs part of the Olympic season pupils at BellanHouse and the Senior School have been given theopportunity to take part in activities or sports everylunch time – weather permitting – with the focusbeing on a different country and sport each week.The main emphasis has been on fun andenjoyment with the pupils learning new skills,and pupils have been bringing in nationalshirts, colourful T shirts, flag colours and otherappropriate items relating to the week’s theme.The sessions have been run by the school’steam of sports leaders, the gappies, Miss James,Mr Miles and Mr Leonard.JubileeMedallionsThere was much excitement at BellanHouse when the new Mayor, Cllr MrMartin Bennett, and Mayoress Cllr MrsElaine Channon, visited Bellan Houseand presented all the pupils with acommemorative medallion to celebratethe Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.13

B E L L A N H O U S EOswestry in BloomJubilee TilesPupils from Bellan House had anextremely enjoyable visit to HoneyPots topaint their Jubilee design tiles.Many thanks to the PA for subsidising theSchool’s visit and the finished articles willbe returned once they have been fired.Year 3 entered the annual Oswestry in BloomCompetition, run by the Town Council for localPrimary Schools, with the challenge of growingthe best plants as well as designing a winningplant pot cover.The winners of the best plants were 1st BenTidridge, 2nd Freya Regnart Butler, 3rd MichaelPhilbin, and the winners of the best designedplant pots were:1st Lola Kynaston- Evans,2nd Dewi Jones, 3rd Hector Robb. They wereawarded medallions and each child who tookpart received a certificate.Air AmbulanceBellan House pupils were introduced tothe work of the Midlands Air Ambulanceduring a visit by the charity in June.Equipment and an air ambulancesimulator were set up on the Maes y Llan,and during the morning classes took theirturn trying on helmets, sitting in the pilotseat and learning more about the workthat is carried out by the Air Ambulance.14

Oswestry1st XI CricketIt has been something of a stop-start seasonfor the 1st XI thanks to the erratic weatherthis summer.However, all things considering it has beena satisfactory season with possibly thestandout performance being the win againstShrewsbury School.Oliver Newman has been an excellent leaderas well as batsman and wicket keeper, andwe have had 18 players to call upon andthey have all contributed well.We would like to offer our very best wishesto our visitors Tinashe Munyoro and DennisSamunda who have done outstandingly well.U16 HockeyAnthem WinnerOur Director of Music, Julian Cattley, was thewinner of the Oswestry Games anthem competitionand his winning entry will be performed at thegames later in the summer.“I submitted my entry which is a powerful, stirringanthem for Oswestry and the sporting ambition ofthe Olympics,” said Mr Cattley.“The concept of a community choir beingdeveloped with this performance in mind soundsbrilliant and is a potentially powerful communityevent to celebrate the Olympics.”The anthem will be played at the opening andclosing ceremonies of the Oswestry Games and ashort fanfare, based on the anthem, will played atthe medals ceremonies.Isobel Adegboyegahas been selected forthe Midlands U16Birmingham regionhockey squad.Isobel has beenplaying countylevel hockeyfor three yearsand will nowbe training andplaying onSundays. Wewould like tocongratulateIsobel andwish her everysuccess.15

The annual fun-filled holidaytrip to Aosta in Italy was, yetagain, a great success. Snowwas excellent and each ofthe skiing and snowboardinggroups made good progressunder the skilful and expertguidance of excellentinstructors.There was great satisfactionthat Year 11 pupils MatteoO’Mahoney and JamieMcMurray were highlightedand filmed as potentialparticipants in the INTERSKIscholarship awards 2012.Ski trip to AostaOswestry School was delighted tosupport a fundraising bike ride fromJohn O’Groats to Lands’ End. Thetwo brave Army Cadet Force officerswho took part were cheered intoMaes y Llan as part of their journey.With guidance from School StaffInstructor Lt Jason Till, OswestrySchool’s Combined Cadet ForceABFCYCLERIDEwere the only school CCF in thecountry do give support to thechallenge which was set up to raisemoney and awareness for ABF TheSoldiers’ Charity (formerly The ArmyBenevolent Fund).The event started on May 22nd atJohn O’Groats and finished at Lands’End on June 1st.16

Collegeof MusicWe were thrilled to hear the newsthat one of our pupils has been invitedto further his musical skills at theprestigious Royal Northern Collegeof Music.Cameron Biles-Liddell, 15, will now begiven the opportunity to attend theSaturday School at the college’s juniorsection, where he will be studying jazzpiano and trumpet.This was quite an achievement forCameron – his letter of acceptancealso informed him that applicationshad been up 40 per cent this year andso competition had been very tough.SeniorSports DayThis year’s Senior SchoolSports Day had to takeplace over two days thanksto grim weather conditions.Athletics events went aheadon the first day while thefield events were postponedto the day after.However, it was a keenlycontested competitionwith Burnaby coming outas winners, followed byOswald in second, Spoonerin third and finally Donne.We are all hoping forwarmer weather next year!Help for HeroesA military charity is more than £500better off thanks to the efforts of twoOswestry schoolgirls.Caitlin Jones and Natasha Holmesorganised a ball in aid of Help forHeroes, the charity set up to helpservice men and women wounded incurrent conflicts.The ball was for Oswestry School’s Year10 students and the evening included ameal, raffle and performances.18

LlandudnoYear 5 set off for Llandudno where theyembarked on a mission to investigate the townand compare their findings with Oswestry.In order to make a full and thoroughinvestigation there was an overnight stay atLlandudno Hostel which allowed the team tomake excellent use of their time.When the group returned to Oswestry afterthe two day trip everyone was tired butextremely cheerful!YorkThe three day trip to York was much enjoyed by everyone who went on it. Acombination of culture, a boat trip, walks and retail therapy proved to be the perfectingredients to an excellent trip.21

New StaffWe have been delighted towelcome Cara McCabe to theteaching staff at OswestrySchool.Cara joined the Junior Sciencedepartment at Easter and nextterm she will be teachingBiology. Nick Derbridge will betaking on Cara’s role in JuniorScience.Cara previously taught at ColetCourt, the prep school for StPaul’s School, in London, andshe moves to Shropshire withher fiancé Tom who she ismarrying in the summer.We wish them both manyhappy years at Oswestry.Sculpture ExcursionYear 8 art students went tothe Liverpool Tate art galleryto see the DLA Piper Series:This is Sculpture to supportthe project that they havebeen working on this term.The exhibition displaysthe history of modern andcontemporary sculptureand shows new ways ofseeing and appreciatingsculptures.JuniorCrossCountryOswestry School’s junior girls and boys had the chance to competein the final round of the Primary School’s Cross Country held atQuinta. Over the four races the Year 3 & 4 boys came third overalland the Year 5 and 6 boys and girls came first respectively. Theywere awarded a trophy each for their efforts. This was a fantasticachievement, considering the number of primary schools competingin the local area. Pictured is the Girls Year 5 team.22

U13s XI CricketU14s XI CricketU15s XI CricketAs in almost all sports this term, the weather has put adampener on our cricketers’ programme.The best achieving team in terms of results has beenthe U14 XI who have enjoyed an unbeaten season.Perhaps the highlight of the U14 season was the matchagainst Shrewsbury School. The pick of the playersfrom the team were Jamie Jones, Elliot Blount-Powelland Oliver Renwick though there have also been usefulcontributions from several others.The U15 XI won two matches, beating Wrekin andShrewsbury, which is not a bad return considering thenumber of matches that they have played, and thereare glimpses of real promise for the future in the U13s.All in all, our cricketers have done very well after theweather’s disruption throughout the summer.23

Forthcoming EventsOswestry School Summer Sports Club9th July – 31st AugustFor further information or booking,please call the School on 01691 655711or email enquiries@oswestryschool.org.ukMichaelmas Term startsTuesday 4th SeptemberSenior School New Parents’ Wineand Cheese EveningWednesday 12th September, School HousePrep Department New Parents’Coffee MorningThursday 13th September, Bellan HouseParents Association AGMWednesday 19th September, Sweeney HotelOpen MorningSaturday 6th OctoberAn opportunity for prospective parents and pupilsto experience both the Senior and PreparatoryDepartments on a “working day”, meet theHeadmaster, pupils and senior staff and to tourthe school. An informal lunch will offer furtheropportunities to meet staff, pupils and currentparents – to book a place, or to arrange an individualvisit, please contact the Registrar on 01691 681104or email admissions@oswestryschool.org.ukHalf-termWeek beginning Monday 29th OctoberBonfire Celebrations (whole School)Friday 9th November, Senior SchoolSixth Form Information EveningTuesday 14th November,Peter Humphreys CentreThis evening will be open to studentscurrently in Year 11 and their parents.Visitors from other schools are also verywelcome. Discover the wide variety ofopportunities and support offered in theSixth Form at Oswestry School. TheHeadmaster, Head of Sixth Form andsubject Heads of Departments will be onhand to offer advice/guidance.Founder’s DaySaturday 24th NovemberFounder’s Day Service, St Oswald’s ChurchFootball 1st XI v Old OswestriansNetball 1st VII v Old OswestriansHockey 1st XI v Old OswestriansSwimming GalaOld Oswestrian AGMOld Oswestrian Society DinnerCharity Christmas FairTuesday 11th December,Peter Humphreys CentrePrep Department ChristmasService and Nativity PlaySenior School Carol ServiceWednesday 14th December,St Oswald’s ChurchMichaelmas Term endsFor details of these and other events, including a full sports fixtures list, pleasesee the School website or telephone the School.01691 655711www.oswestryschool.org.uk24