Good Morning all and welcome back. The Summer holiday is finally over and I am delighted to see the school come back to life once again. That’s not to say that we haven’t been busy here over the Summer – many of you will have seen the totally refurbished Medicine Room – a long overdue job, but one which will further improve both the medical and pastoral care at the school. The redecoration of the Pelicans means that we have completed the refurbishment of the dormitories and the Games Room has also been given an overhaul – we hope to have some new games in there soon too, although I am still saving for a Bar Billiards table.
The term has begun really well and the changes that have been made that I mentioned in my end of term letter seem to be working very well. Mr. Elliot has settled in happily as has Miss Sophia and the two new groundsmen, Nick and Matt.
Mr. Lyddon took some 6th Form boys to the Paralympics yesterday to watch some Rugby – apparently known as ‘Murder Ball’ – perhaps the only time in our lifetime that Woodcote boys will visit a ‘home’ Olympic / Paralympic games. We hope to have some photos on the website soon!
No matches today, but the coaches have been working hard, especially on fitness levels (theirs as well as the boys) and the teams are beginning to take shape. We test our mettle against St. George’s on Wednesday and Elstree on Saturday.
Tomorrow, the boarders are off to Mercedes World and there is also the Proprietory Prep School T20 Cricket at Hall Grove. We must make the most of the sunshine while it lasts!
Next week we have Instrumental demos during assembly each morning. The Royal British Legion are coming to a talk on Woodcote during the War on Monday evening. On Tuesday the Tatler Good Schools Guide 2013 is launched at The Dorchester – if you haven’t read our entry yet, go out and get a copy now! The 5th form are off to Warhorse on Thursday and we have a top music producer coming to talk to the boys on Friday night.
On Saturday evening I am taking to boarders camping in the grounds and hope to get the pizza oven fired up and on Sunday the 6th form are going paintballing and there is also a trip to Marwell Zoo for the younger ones. Sunday 16th is also our first proper Chapel service of term. It starts at 10am and I hope to see as many of you there as possible.
That is all.