Welsh House Blog

Weekly Newsletter

2012-02-07T09:28:00.001Z

Welsh House parents are, I am reliably informed, 'connected', 'in-touch' and 'up-to-speed'. They have their ears to the ground, their fingers on the pulse and they can sniff out a story at fifty paces.

However, it has come to our attention that some parents (surely from other Houses?) do not receive the College Weekly Newsletter, which contains a veritable smorgasboard of letters, news and other tidbits designed to delight and inform in equal measure.

Should you be unfortunate enough to come into contact with a hapless individual who does not yet subscribe to this eminent periodical, we advise fixing them with a benevolent, if somewhat disappointed, smile and passing them the address http://www.shiplake.org.uk/weekly_newsletter where they will be able to rejoin the ranks of the well-informed once more.

[On a more serious note, if you already subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter and it is not reaching you, it may be that your Junk Mail filter is being slightly over-enthusiastic, in which case do contact me and we will do our best to help you resolve the problem]

Dancing

2012-02-06T21:48:00.003Z

The ball at Queen Anne's was a great success by all accounts. Shiplake won the overall competition and various boys won individual prizes. Most importantly for the House, Cameron Foster won first prize for an excellent Waltz. Congratulations to all involved and many thanks to Matron for her organisation and extreme weather driving skills.

Mr Lowndes has put a number of pre-event photos online.

House Music

2012-02-06T21:38:00.000Z

We were very proud of the boys last Friday during the House Music competition. They performed very well indeed in both the House and ensemble pieces. We were just pipped at the post by Orchard for the overall prize, but the ensemble were deserving winners for their accomplished rendition of LIFEGOESON by Noah and the Whale.

Summer Exam Timetable

2012-02-06T12:45:00.001Z

Although it feels like we are in the depths of Winter, the Summer exam season is not that far from us! A link has been posted in the Useful Documents section which will take you to the timetable for all GCSE and A-Level examinations.

The Diamond Jubilee anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

2012-02-06T01:00:00.000Z

Falls today. Let joy be unabounded.

Uniform

2012-02-05T17:03:00.002Z

The Headmaster has decreed that:

"Given the thaw which should happen and the ensuing mess I think it prudent that pupils and staff should wear sensible, warm clothes tomorrow and not 'uniform'. The clothes must be smart: no T-shirts (collared shirts only); jeans are fine, with a belt if necessary; a sensible jumper and/or coat must be worn, no hoodies please; sturdy shoes/boots."

We are sure that Welsh boys will be able to rise to the challenge of being smart, despite the weather. We will revert back to normal uniform on Tuesday, unless the Deputy Head judges the conditions to still be sufficiently inclement.

Strictly Ballroom

2012-02-04T21:41:00.002Z

The year 12 boys are enjoying the company of the girls from Queen Anne's this evening at the annual ballroom dancing ball. Photos of the boys looking groomed and in their dinner jackets were taken hastily to take advantage of the moment and can be found in the Welsh House Gallery.

Snow

2012-02-04T16:36:00.002Z

It has just begun to snow here and the forecast is for significantly more over the next twenty-four hours. Parents should check the news pages of the College website for an update, if we find ourselves in the middle of a blizzard. Should there be any changes to travel arrangements during the school day, parents will be sent a text message via ClarionCall.

Scholarships

2012-01-31T09:06:00.001Z

The blog has been rather quiet of late. Apologies for that, we have been rather busy over the past few days. Normal service will resume in the very near future.

In the meantime, all boys in year eleven should be considering whether to apply for a Sixth Form Scholarship. Details of how to apply were sent out in last Friday's weekly newsletter. In the first instance, boys considering an application should see us to discuss the idea, before completing the application form and handing it in to the Registrar.

Scholarships are available for general academic ability and there are also specific scholarships for Art, Drama, Music and Sport. More details are available on the College Website.

Old Vikings

2012-01-20T18:35:00.001Z

We were delighted to welcome Mr and Mrs Whiteley to the House today. Mr Whiteley is an Old Viking who was head of Welsh in 1987. He had some interesting stories from that era; apparently, all staff left the house from 9pm and boys were left to their own devices until the morning! This seems like an excellent system to us and must surely be due for a return.

Charlie Foster took our visitors on an extensive tour of the College and did an excellent job, by all accounts.

We are always very pleased to hear from OVs. A House reunion is in the very early stages of planning, possibly for this Summer, and we would love to get in touch with as many former Welsh boys as possible.

House Singing

2012-01-19T21:36:00.000Z

The House Singing competition is a few weeks away. The song that we are required to sing as a House is Jail House Rock. Here are the boys enthusiastically(!) rehearsing:

Black Tie

2012-01-16T20:07:00.000Z

A number of the Lower Sixth will be attending the Ball on Saturday, 4th February in order to demonstrate their prowess at ballroom dancing. Where Welsh House leads, others follow and we would expect our boys to be the epitome of style and elegance during the event.

Some boys may have their own dinner jackets. If not, they can be hired from Matron for the evening.

The following guidelines will, I am sure, be nothing more than a quick refresher for the boys on the rules of correct Black Tie attire:

Jacket

The jacket should be made of black wool with satin or grosgrain facings. It can be single or double breasted depending on one's build. The lapels can be peak, shawl collar or notched in descending order of formality. Notched lapel jackets should perhaps be left to boys from other houses.

Trousers

Trousers should be made of the same material as the jacket, with a single braid along the outer seam to match the jacket facings. Technically, they should be cut for braces and have no turn-ups.

Neckwear

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Welsh House boy would rather be torn apart by wild horses than be seen in public wearing a made-up bow tie. Learning to tie a bow-tie is a life skill which every boy should possess. Those in need of a reminder should see the video below.

Shirt

White, obviously. Preferably a turn-down collar with a marcella or pleated front. Studs can add a touch of style, but hidden buttons will do. Cufflinks are vastly preferable.

Shoes

Patent leather dress shoes look good in low light and will highlight your dexterous footwork in the waltz, but a well-polished pair of black Oxfords will suffice. How to polish shoes has been covered in a previous post.

Cover the Waist

This is a Golden Rule of Black Tie and should be adhered to at all costs. Cummerbunds are fine; a black waistcoat is preferable. Opting for neither is utterly infra dig.

Colours and Accessories

Boys attempting to enhance their attire with 'fun' or 'exciting' colours should tread carefully. This is a dangerous activity, which should only be attempted by seasoned experts, such as Mr Lowndes. Black and white have stood the test of time and boys stray from the path at their peril. A white silk pocket square, inserted in the breast pocket with just the right amount of studied nonchalance, is well worth the effort.

Those in search of more detailed guidance should visit http://www.blacktieguide.com

Breakfast Duty

2012-01-16T10:21:00.001Z

...has some upsides.

Excellence!

2012-01-16T08:12:00.001Z

An excellent tally after the first week back! Well done to the following:

Cameron Foster
Harry Leeves
Ollie MacLaurin
George MacPhee
James Shraga
Thomas Harman
Nicholas Hayes
Tommy Moore
Conor Ozwell
Alex Ward
Cameron Stewart
Jack Sherman
Dom Rice
Sammy Hildred
Charlie Foster
Chris Gabe
Aamish Luna

GCSE Results

2012-01-12T20:07:00.000Z

We welcomed Mr Rowlinson today for his first night on duty in the House. Mr Rowlinson teaches DT and started at the College this term. As I write, he is already getting to know the boys and checking that prep. is being completed on time!

The big news of the day for Year 11 was the results of their GCSE modules in Science and Maths. The results seemed generally positive - well done to all involved, especially Dominic Rice who is out celebrating his newly acquired Maths GCSE this evening.

The quote of the day yesterday was "A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life", by Oscar Wilde. More to follow on that particular topic soon...

Hot Chocolate

2012-01-09T21:42:00.002Z

We treated the boys to hot chocolate and marshmallows this evening, on our first full evening duty together. The boys were convinced they were in trouble when we called a House Meeting at 8.45pm and were hugely relieved to find that we only wanted to dispense a few words of encouragement and talk about future plans for the House. There were lots of votes for redecorating some of the bedrooms as opposed to spending the House budget on new furniture in the day rooms and a request for a House Puppy was declined with regret. Charles Galligan was given an extra marshmallow for an excellent set of reports last term.

A band of keen VIth form boys helped us haul the suitcases and trunks up into the loft, with the incentive of more marshmallows and excellent slips. The table football also seems to be well received, with the XBox forlornly gathering dust in a corner.

Spring Term Begins

2012-01-08T22:02:00.000Z

Most of the boys have now returned to the House and have unpacked with varying degrees of success. It was lovely to meet so many parents and there was an impressive number of well-shined shoes!

We experimented with holding check in the Television Room, which was fairly cozy, but seemed to go well.

Year 11 start their mock exams tomorrow and Year 12 can also expect to be tested over the next few weeks. The rest will doubtless ease back into the normal rhythm of things very quickly.

A few parents mentioned possible absences in the coming weeks. For these, or any other communication, the address welshhouseparents@shiplake.org.uk will reach both of us.

SWB and LAB

Polished Shoes

2012-01-07T13:04:00.001Z

Welsh House boys have a reputation to uphold as leaders in the sartorial field (and if they don't yet, then they certainly will do). As every well-dressed gentleman knows, one can infer a great deal about someone's character by taking a good look at their shoes. Along with their last-minute packing and revision, the boys may wish to spend some time this weekend making sure their shoes are in tip-top condition and polished to a shine. This video, from the International Institute of Modern Butlers should prove useful for those boys in need of instruction!

River Swim

2012-01-06T18:57:00.001Z

Mr Balderson, Mr Armstrong and Mr Mackworth-Praed decided to go swimming in the river this afternoon for no obviously discernable reason. No one had a thermometer to hand, but Mr Mackworth-Praed estimated that the water temperature was somewhere between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius - which was rather chilly!

Mr Lowndes was on hand with hot chocolate, with Mrs Balderson and Toby cheering the swimmers on. Rumours are circulating that a Shiplake College Triathlon Club may be formed in the near future.

Day Room Refurbishment

2012-01-05T22:26:00.000Z

While pupils and parents have been enjoying the Christmas break, we have both been working hard to redecorate the day rooms. After many hours of scrubbing, painting and filling, the old 'Bunker' and 'James Bond' rooms have been transformed into a Television Room and a Games Room, which we hope will encourage the boys to spend less time on the XBox and more time interacting with each other!

We are delighted with the results, and we hope the boys will be too. The walls are a little bare at the moment and we would greatly appreciate any contributions of artwork from the boys. Do come and have a look on Sunday evening.

Before:

After:

SWB and LAB

New Year

2012-01-02T16:02:00.002Z

A very happy New Year to one and all. We hope you have had a relaxing and enjoyable break. We have been busy redecorating the day rooms and two of the bedrooms on the Sixth Form corridor have been fully refitted, including new windows to replace the old wooden frames. Photos to follow shortly.

Welsh House opens again on the evening of Sunday, 8th January. We look forward to welcoming you back!

SWB and LAB

Farewell....

2011-12-14T08:02:00.002Z

Shiplake has been such an integral part of my life for nearly 14 yrs. Amazingly I have been here almost exactly a third of my life. Wow! I was married while here. My son, Adam, was born while here and I have made so many friends here.
I will hold close the memories of the boys that have passed through Welsh House while I have been Housemaster. Some have tested my patience and I am certain I have tested the patience of many of them but I can honestly say it is the boys that have made the role so enjoyable, interesting and challenging. Watching nervous young boys arrive in Year 9 and develop into confident and ambitious young men has been a privilege.
I will truly miss the Welsh House and Shiplake College community in the months and years to come. I will miss the wonderful people I have worked so closely with, especially Julie and Keith.
If I gain half as much in my next role as I have in this one I will consider myself lucky.
Many, many thanks for the generous gifts and the kind words.
Best wishes to all.
Alex

Whole School Christmas Lunch

2011-12-13T21:51:00.002Z

503 people were served a 3 course Christmas lunch this afternoon in the sports hall. The school caterers did us all very proud and certainly set the boys up for a good festive period. Photos are in the Welsh House Gallery.

Excellence!

2011-12-12T14:45:00.001Z

The final round of Excellence for this year. Well done to the following boys!

Thomas Harman
Max Khazaneh
Ben O'Connell
Daniel Deakin
Matt Pollard
Alex King
Tommy Moore
Cameron McGuigan
Cameron Grossman
Cameron Foster
Aamish Luna

Senior Rugby Dinner

2011-12-11T21:44:00.003Z

Tonight the seniors enjoyed the Senior Rugby Dinner with lots of awards issued. Awards to Welsh boys were as follows:

James Shraga - Most Potential
Dom Rice - U16 Colours
Caleb Jenkins - U16 Colours
Zac Jones - Senior Half Colours
Jimmy Wright - 1st Team Player of the Season
David Plato - 2nd 15 Colours (and the Plato Plate!)
Alex Settle - 2nd 15 Colours and Player of the Season
Harry Leeves - Most Improved

Photos of some of the year 12s in their dinner jackets are in the gallery - unfortunately not all of them wanted to keep the suit on long enough for a photo!

End of Term Approaches...

2011-12-05T17:20:00.002Z

We are all really looking forward to the festivities and activities over the next 10 days. As a summary for parents and boys here are some details which may be useful:

Monday 5th - Junior Rugby Dinner
Wednesday 7th - Junior House Rugby
Thursday 8th - Opening night of Coram Boy
Saturday 10th - Final night of Coram Boy
Sunday 11th - Senior Rugby Dinner (19:00)
Tuesday 13th - Whole school Christmas lunch followed by Welsh House Quiz Night for the boys in the evening
Wednesday 14th - Christmas Service at St Mary's Henley-on-Thames (11:30)

Parents and boys are reminded that it would be a good idea to remove as many possessions from the house this weekend to avoid delays next Wednesday. The boys' rooms must be left empty next Wednesday and free of any rubbish. Parents' help in checking the state of rooms before the boys leave is much appreciated. If parents intend to collect their sons from the house prior to the service to take them to Henley, then please do email Mr Hunt in advance. We would suggest any time from 8am until 9am on Wednesday morning. Matron will be at the house throughout the morning.

Excellence!

2011-12-05T08:36:00.001Z

A much healthier looking list this week! Keep up the good work in the last 10 days!!

Callum Boyd
Hugo Squires
Matt Pollard
Jamie Westbrook
Henry Lewis
Conor Ozwell
Jack Sherman
Dominic Allen
Alex King
Tommy Moore
Cameron McGuigan
Dom Rice
Cameron Grossman
Paul Vanner
Harry Leeves

Carol Service 14th December

2011-12-02T09:13:00.003Z

Details on the forthcoming carol service at St. Mary's Henley can be found on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/189n6UI2_LbBV1UgLZTlbiR20tYwBiiUHmThBxxiA8EA/edit

Year 11 Mock Exams

2011-12-02T08:01:00.001Z

Year 11 Mock Exam timetables can be found by clicking on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15PAc-CKk2wtjVLF8BT2THXS_HQ5JhNpY9efHED-Up70/edit

Cross Country Finals

2011-11-28T17:22:00.001Z

The Cross Country competition reached its climax this afternoon with a thrilling, if slightly chilly, third and final round. As Mr Crisford stood with starting pistol held aloft, the boys of Welsh House did much sinew stiffening-and blood-summoning before diving headlong unto the breach once more. A passing tiger would have been remarkably impressed at the energy with which its action was being imitated.

Sadly, as a result of being posted on the finish line with a stopwatch, I am unable to give an accurate account of the events that followed. We may never fully know what heroic deeds and feats of bravery occurred in the interval between the excitable crowd rushing through New Field en masse and the lone individuals returning to the fold, forcing heart and nerve and sinew still to serve their turn.

We can, however, turn to statistics and be confident that, when it comes to putting one foot in front of the other with a reasonable degree of rapidity, Welsh House are (on average) better at it than anyone else. In both the Senior and Junior Standards, Welsh House reign victorious and, as ever, ad victorem spolias - or in our case points towards the Baldry Trophy.

Although we were not so successful in the Championship event, which takes the results of the fastest ten runners in each house, special mention should go to Will Keeler and Daniel Deakin, for coming fourth and eighth respectively in the Junior event. Caleb Jenkins covered himself in glory for the seniors, with a highly respectable eighth place.

Congratulations to all involved!

SWB

2011-11-28T15:39:00.001Z

A bit thin on the ground as we approach the end of term...keep up the good work Welsh!
Charles Galligan
Thomas Harman
Nicholas Hayes
Ben Allen
Tommy Moore
Hugo Squires
Conor Ozwell
Alex King
Ollie MacLaurin
Aonghus Van Raalte

Senior House Rugby

2011-11-23T18:11:00.000Z

"It is defeat that turns bone to flint; it is defeat that turns gristle to muscle; it is defeat that makes men invincible."
- Henry Ward Beecher

The senior boys took many steps towards invincibility today(!), with a series of results that went against them in the House Rugby competition. The results do not accurately reflect the quality of their play, nor the commitment shown by all the boys throughout a number of hard-fought matches.

Photos can be found, as usual, in the Gallery.

SWB

House Council

2011-11-21T22:04:00.002Z

Mr and Mrs Balderson took this term's House Council meeting this evening. There were a number of sensible suggestions from all the year groups and some good discussion about priorities.

House Council Meeting (21/11/2011)

Present:

SWB, LAB

Year 12: George MacPhee

Year 11: Cameron Grossman

Year 10: Jack Sherman, Cameron McGuigan

Year 9: Alex King

Year 9:

House bank open on a more regular basis, especially before pizza night
New microwave, current one not very powerful

Year 10:

New microwave
Tuck shop after games – 5pm (matron goes home at 3pm), could year 12s have a duty? Could be toast, but butter has usually run out by then. Main tuck shop also open at that time.
More cups in the kitchen - need to wash them up, could have personal mugs
Squash machine? Currently have squash at break. Maybe more squash at break
New remote in the day room?
New toasters
Could matron do house bank at the same time as tuck shop? - This might be too hectic for one person
New games for the X Box? Could be via contributions from pupils. What are the current subs spent on? Should level of subs be increased slightly?

Year 11:

Would like Sky Sports in the day room – cost would be an issue, other houses charge, seems unfair for those who are less interested
Kitchen to be open by default, before sport – disable microwave? Possibly open from 3 to 5pm and on Wednesdays
Another light on the other side of the tennis court

Year 12:

Sky remote for the day room – get lost on a regular basis
Another computer in the office
Wireless printer
Lockable fridge for year 12
More shelves/storage in bedrooms. Nowhere to hang shirts in top floor rooms.
Harry Leeves has a broken light
Poor lighting generally in rooms and around the house

Mr and Mrs Balderson

Painting the day rooms – to be done over Christmas
Merge day rooms? One TV room and one games room? Table Tennis, XBox etc.
Buy some board games - Jenga, Pictionary, Cranium

Welsh take the lead in the Cross Country

2011-11-21T20:02:00.000Z

The second round of the Inter-House Cross Country race took place today. This year has seen the introduction of a scoring system based on the average time of all runners, putting the pressure on everyone to perform. The boys have risen to the challenge admirably, building on their second place ranking last week to take the lead in both junior and senior categories this week. One final round remains, with the results counting towards this year's Baldry Trophy campaign.

More photos from Mr Balderson are in the Welsh House Photo Gallery

Excellence!

2011-11-21T09:30:00.001Z

James Shraga
Sammy Hildred
Jack Sherman
Conor Ozwell
Jamie Westbrook
Hugo Squires
Henry Lewis
Conor Ozwell
Dominic Allen
Alex King
Tommy Moore
Nicholas Hayes
Daniel Deakin
Thomas Harman
George MacPhee
Cameron Foster

Excellence!

2011-11-14T08:57:00.002Z

Matt Butler
Luke Forrest
Cameron Grossman
Thomas Harman
Edward Hildred
Will Keeler
William Laurenson
Aamish Luna
George MacPhee
Tommy Moore
Daniel Noble
Conor Ozwell
Hugo Reid
Danny Rumbelow
Hugo Squires
Cameron Stewart
Jamie Westbrook
James Wright

Year 9 Social

2011-11-12T08:01:00.002Z

Last night the year 9 boys enjoyed a social with girls from the Abbey School. They returned quite late looking flushed and excited, so I guess it was a good night all round. Lots of numbers were exchanged and the boys are keen to have another one soon! I'm sure they will be divulging all details to parents over the weekend...

Remembrance Day service

2011-11-10T12:00:00.003Z

The Remembrance Day service takes place this coming Sunday at 10.45am in the Great Hall. It is hoped that the boys in the CCF will attend if possible. As always families are more than welcome to join us on this very important day.

Junior Inter-House Football vs Orchard

2011-11-07T16:40:00.000Z

The Junior boys recovered from being 4-1 down at half time to a 4-4 draw against Orchard today in the Inter-House football tournament. An impressive display from Matt Pollard and a 'goal of the tournament' from a seemingly impossible angle by Ruairi Van Raalte saved the day.

Mr Balderson has put some photos from the match in the House Photo Gallery.

Excellence!

2011-11-07T09:22:00.001Z

A very impressive list this week. Many Congratulations to all of the following:
Charlie Foster
Harry Leeves
Daisy Gresswell
Hugo Squires
Henry Lewis
Conor Ozwell
Will Keeler
Jamie Westbrook
Max Khazaneh
Daisy Gresswell
Daniel Deakin
Trudi Lister
Dominic Allen
Ben Allen
Alex King
Tommy Moore
Cameron McGuigan
Nicholas Hayes
Thomas Harman
Charles Galligan
Danny Rumbelow
Dom Rice
Caleb Jenkins
James Shraga
Aonghus Van Raalte
Zac Jones

Fireworks

2011-11-03T21:22:00.003Z

Welsh House teamed up with Burr this evening to provide a Fireworks Extravaganza on the front field. Mr Hunt and Mr Settle did a sterling job setting off the fireworks from a custom-built launch pad, whilst Matron provided us with warming sausage rolls, doughnuts and drinks. More photos here...

Welcome back...

2011-11-02T16:54:00.003Z

After a long half term break the week has started well with the boys getting back in to the rhythm of life at Shiplake. The first rugby matches were being played today with more to follow at the weekend. Year 11 boys are working hard towards GCSE exams being held in the next few weeks and are focussing well within the house. As always staff are on hand to help these boys in the run up to their modules in the same way that they will be in the Summer. We wish them the best of luck in these and hope the rest of the house are supportive during the exam period.

Monday morning began with the sad news of Mr Hunt's early departure, but true to form he swiftly turned it around and announced that tomorrow night we shall be having a toastie evening (thanks Matron!) followed by lots of rockets and fireworks to celebrate fireworks night.

Return to Oz...

2011-11-02T16:50:00.001Z

Parents will have recieved the following by email, but for old boys who may be interested:

It is with much sadness that I write to you to inform you that Mr Alex Hunt will be leaving Welsh House and Shiplake College at the end of this term. Mr Hunt has been appointed Director of Boarding at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat in Australia. St Patrick’s is a boys only day and boarding school of 1,250 students and has an excellent reputation in the south of Australia. This is a prestigious promotion and one which is fully deserved.

Mr Hunt joined Shiplake College in 1998 and became Housemaster of Welsh House in 2002. Welsh House has developed tremendously during his tenure and I know that the current crop of Welsh boys will be very sorry that he is leaving. I believe the greatest accolade a Housemaster can be given is that he is “firm but fair”. Mr Hunt embodies this phrase and boys who have gone through Welsh House have developed terrifically well within a structured and clear framework. I know that he would be the first to acknowledge the contribution that his wife Joanne has made, both as a support to him and in a wider context of Welsh House. I know too that the boys will miss having Adam, their son, around.

Mr and Mrs Balderson, who were due to replace Mr Hunt in Welsh House at the beginning of the next academic year, were somewhat surprised that their responsibilities will begin two terms earlier! However, as Mr Balderson is a Tutor of Welsh House and will have a terrific right hand man in Mr Keith Settle I am sure that the transition will be relatively seamless.

There will be opportunities to say a proper goodbye to Mr Hunt and his family and I hope to see you at one of those occasions.

With warm good wishes,
Gregg Davies
Headmaster
Shiplake College

Year 9 Parents' Conference

2011-10-17T09:12:00.001+01:00

Year 9 parents have been invited to their conference on Wednesday afternoon. It is due to start at 1:30pm and is an excellent opportunity for you to find out exactly what your sons have been up to this half term. We look forward to seeing you there.

Excellence!

2011-10-17T09:11:00.000+01:00

A huge list this week! Well done everybody!

David Plato
Alexander Settle
Dom Rice
Danny Rumbelow
Thomas Harman
Max Wilson
Alex Ward
Matt Pollard
Daniel Noble
Will Keeler
Cameron Stewart
Hugo Squires
Conor Ozwell
Dominic Allen
Ben Allen
Alex King
Callum Boyd
Tommy Moore
Cameron McGuigan
Danny Rumbelow
Caleb Jenkins
Sam Shelley
George MacPhee
Cameron Foster
Charlie Foster

CCF Field Day

2011-10-13T09:00:00.003+01:00

The boys involved with CCF enjoyed a day out on Tuesday to an army base in Bramley. Year 11-13 camped out over night and were then joined by year 10 the following day. Boys in the navy section spent the night on a decommisioned navy vessel and then got to grips with team building activities the following day. Everyone had a chance to play with guns, camouflage and generally have a lot of fun. Thanks very much to Burr House for the photos more of which are in the gallery!

Juniors Draw House Football

2011-10-10T21:34:00.004+01:00

The Yr 9/10s came back from the jaws of defeat to a very respectable 4-4 draw against Burr House. Two fantastic late goals from Van Raalte and Deakin saved the game. A terrific effort from everyone involved. That makes it 3 draws in as many matches!

Excellence!

2011-10-10T09:14:00.002+01:00

Well done to the following for getting Excellence Slips in the last week:

Henry Lewis
Jamie Westbrook
Luke Forrest
Dominic Allen
Alex King
Charles Galligan
Dom Rice
Caleb Jenkins
Charlie Foster
Aamish Luna

Matron has been preparing goodie bags for the boys with the most excellence slips so look out for these! Our quota of excellence slips is a little thin on the ground this week compared to the other houses, so we need to get it back to normal as soon as possible!

House council meeting

2011-10-03T21:04:00.002+01:00

Reps:
Yr 9 - Will Keeler
Yr 10 - Charles Galligan
Yr 11 - Cameron Grossman
Yr 12 - George MacPhee

Issues raised:

More money available in House bank

More Xbox games

Another Xbox controller

Light broken in single bathroom

Fruit squash in kithchen at breaktime

Request for new Sky remote

Request for another computer in study

Mr Hunt asked reps to ask their yr groups for suggestions on this year's house kit
Anyone wanting to go gokarting this Sunday welcome to join us. They would need to be in by 3pm Sunday.

Maths Clinics

2011-10-03T17:39:00.002+01:00

Maths support sessions run from 5pm - 6pm Monday to Friday all year round. Boys wishing to get extra help or revision with the aid of a member of the maths department are more than welcome to drop in any time.

House football

2011-10-03T17:32:00.006+01:00

Juniors:
Everett 3 – 3 Welsh

Seniors:
Everett 4 – 5 Welsh

A full report from Hugo to follow.

History Clinics

2011-10-03T11:40:00.001+01:00

History Clinics will begin this week and run for the rest of the year.

These are an excellent opportunity to complete prep / APT or come and ask questions. Year 13 should think about using this time for AS re-sit revision.

The times are:

Tuesday 5.00 – 6.00, 50H

Thursday 5.00 – 6.00, 50H

Excellence!

2011-10-03T10:03:00.001+01:00

Zac Jones
Sammy Hildred
Trudi Lister
Daniel Deakin
Ben Allen
Matt Pollard
Alex Ward
Max Khazaneh
Jamie Westbrook
Cameron Stewart
Hugo Squires
Ed Crichton
Jack Sherman
Ben O'Connell
Thomas Harman
Charles Galligan
Luke Forrest
Caleb Jenkins
George MacPhee
Charlie Foster

Messing about on the river...

2011-09-27T19:21:00.003+01:00

It was a busy and sunny afternoon on the river today. Unfortunately I did not have a camera to hand but most of the year 9s got their first try at proper rowing in an octuple sculling boat. The CCF were also in action building rafts and paddling them out to a safety boat. All boys were accounted for at the end, if a little bit more wet than when they first started!

Touch Rugby on the Tennis Court

2011-09-27T19:03:00.002+01:00

The boys have been making use of the fading light by playing some touch rugby on the tennis court. Better this than being stuck in front of the TV!

Excellence!

2011-09-26T11:48:00.001+01:00

Many congratulations to the following! A huge list this week...

Jack Sherman
Zoe Ozwell
Cameron Stewart
Dominic Allen
Daniel Noble
Ben Allen
Alex Ward
Max Khazaneh
Jamie Westbrook
Ben Allen
Will Keeler
Hugo Squires
Conor Ozwell
Ed Crichton
Charles Galligan
Dom Rice
Cameron Grossman
Daniel Deakin
George MacPhee
Charlie Foster

Rugby information

2011-09-23T10:31:00.001+01:00

Directions and timings of rugby matches can be found at www.shiplake.org.uk/rugby_club
The name of each team directly links to the directions page of the opposition school website.

Housemaster's reception for Yr 9 parents

2011-09-23T10:12:00.004+01:00

The House reception is to be held on Thursday 29th September, at 7pm, at my house, Cedar Cottage, which is located directly behind Welsh House. As I am sure you have noted from the calendar, pupils are free to leave with parents afterwards, around 8.30pm.

All Yr 9 parents should receive an invite in the post in the next few days.

The evening is an ideal opportunity to meet and talk with House tutors, matron and other parents on an informal basis.

This is not an academic progress conference – we haven’t had enough time to focus on performance yet. There is a chance to do this on Wed 19th October, just before half-term.

I look forward to seeing you.

Kind regards

Alex Hunt

House Football Round 1

2011-09-19T20:07:00.005+01:00

Reports to follow but after round 1 we do have some room for improvement. Today we played Skipwith which resulted in a 4-1 loss for the seniors and a 3-3 draw for the juniors.

Thanks to Hugo Reid for the following match reports:

Junior Football report
The junior game kicked off with Welsh making all the running and the pressure told on the Skipwith defence when captain Matt Pollard slid the ball through to Ruairi van Raalte who finished past the keeper to make the score 1-0 to Welsh. Welsh defended well but on the stroke of half time Skipwith scored 2 to make it 2-1 to them at half time. After an inspirational team talk from Hugo Reid and Ed Marsh, Welsh came fast out of the blocks and scored 3 goals, two from Matt Polland and one from Daniel Deakin. Then Skipwith were given a penalty which should not have been given and then with the last kick Skipwith scored again to make the final score 4-4.
Senior Football report
Welsh knew that they had to put on a better show than last year when Skipwith won 10-2. Welsh started positively and could have taken the lead but some good Skipwith defending stopped them. The turning point of the game was when Hugo Reid was brought down by the Skipwith goalkeeper but the referee gave a free kick to Skipwith. Skipwith scored 3 goals before scored with a good finsh from Danny Rumbelow. The score at half time was 3-1 to Skipwith. After half time Skipwith played well and Welsh could not deal with them. The final score was 7-1 to Skipwith. The whole team were upset with the result but have to bounce back if there is any chance of wining the trophy.

Excellence!

2011-09-19T09:57:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to all of the following for gaining excellence slips last week!

Aamish Luna
Danny Rumbelow
Charles Galligan
Nicholas Hayes
Cameron McGuigan
Dominic Allen
Daniel Noble
Alex Ward
Jamie Westbrook
Cameron Stewart
Hugo Squires
Harry Leeves
Cameron Foster
Trudi Lister
Ruairi Van Raalte
Callum Boyd
Caleb Jenkins

Year 9 Capsize Drill

2011-09-13T16:56:00.003+01:00

Year 9 boys had a wet afternoon as they had to prove their skills in the water. Before boys are allowed to start rowing at Shiplake they must complete the capsize drill. This involves swimming a loop of the swimming pool followed by a controlled capsize in the river. The boys even had to show how far they could go in 4 minutes on the rowing machine so this really was an ultimate introduction to the sport. More photos can be found in the Welsh House Gallery (follow the link on the right). Congratulations to all the boys as they all passed despite the windy conditions down by the river.

U14 Rugby on Saturday

2011-09-13T12:34:00.002+01:00

Year 9 Rugby A, B and C teams are competing AWAY at Reading Blue Coat School on Saturday. Their matches are due to kick off at 10:30am. If parents wish to collect their sons from Reading Blue Coat after the match then that is fine, otherwise they will be returned to Shiplake by early afternoon. Team lists will be confirmed later this week by email to parents.

Young Enterprise Scheme

2011-09-12T14:40:00.001+01:00

Pupils from Year 7 to Year 13 are invited to learn about the national and highly respected Young Enterprise Scheme.

Thousands of business men and women throughout the country have launched their business careers at school through Young Enterprise.

Look at the link below and visit the Business Studies room in the stableyard at 1340 on Thursday 15th August or 1340 Friday 16th August.

http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/

Excellence!

2011-09-12T09:18:00.003+01:00

Many congratulations to the following boys who gained excellence slips in their first week back to school. I'm sure even more were issued but teachers are still adjusting to entering them on the system!

Grossman, Cameron
Jenkins, Caleb
Jones, Zac
Lewis, Henry
Plato, David
Sherman, Jack
Van Raalte, Aonghus
Wright, James

Karting

2011-09-11T16:56:00.015+01:00

60 members of Welsh House went Karting on Friday afternoon. There were a wide range of driving skills demonstrated.

Let us just say I would not be rushing to put some of the boys as named drivers on my car insurance policy just yet.

On our return to Welsh Matron had a delicious BBQ ready and waiting for us.

A great day all round.

Thanks to Miss Hampton who managed to take these photos...

Saturday pick up time

2011-09-09T18:57:00.002+01:00

Parents of year 9 boys may collect their sons from 3:30pm tomorrow once their rugby training has finished. This is the same collection time for the other boys once their sporting commitments are over. After week 1 the boys are looking quite tired and probably can not wait to tell you about everything that has happened this week!

Year 9 Island Adventure

2011-09-08T20:31:00.006+01:00

Tonight the year 9 boys are spending the night under the stars on the island. Earlier Mr Settle and Mr Hunt paid a visit to see the boys 'dens' and to see them cooking dinner on their barbecues. They are due back to the house bright and early in the morning and I am sure they will be more than ready for a full day of lessons!Here Mr Hunt can not help himself. Like a moth to a flame, here is an aussie to the barbecue.

Year 9 visit the Headmaster

2011-09-07T19:11:00.003+01:00

Year 9 were treated to a barbecue hosted by the Headmaster this evening in his back garden. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it was a very welcome opportunity to relax as a group and get to meet their new Headmaster.

More new boys!

2011-09-06T22:10:00.001+01:00

In addition to the new year 9 boys, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to Aamish Luna who joins us in year 10, and Aonghus van Raalte who joins in year 12. We hope they will be very happy in Welsh House and that everybody will make them feel at home here!

And the house is full again!

2011-09-06T22:05:00.003+01:00

Years 10 and 11 arrived today to complete the house. Now everybody is back and our new year 12 boys, complete with new suits have taken residence on the stairway at check. Today the boys were put through their paces on the rugby fields as training and team selections begin in earnest. Year 9 have completed their induction and year 12 completed their options choices and start of 6th form assessments. Apart from this, everyone has had a busy time catching up after the long Summer holiday and are now ready to get on with the serious work of lessons starting tomorrow morning.

RFU Entry Level Referee Award on offer

2011-09-06T18:26:00.002+01:00

It is open to boys who are 14yrs and over at the time of the course starting. There are only 4 spaces for Shiplake boys – first come first served.

Mr Beckett (sbeckett@shiplake.org.uk) will need names asap.....

Dates:
Monday 12th September 6.30 – 9pm
Monday 19th September 6.30 – 9pm
Monday 26th September 6.30 – 9pm

New Year 9 Boys

2011-09-06T07:56:00.005+01:00

We were delighted to welcome our new year 9 boys yesterday. The boys had a busy afternoon which included rugby training and a cross-country walk. The rest of the house arrives today, and we hope they will make them feel very welcome.

To help with welcoming our new boys were the new crip of year 13 prefects ably headed by David Plato our Head of House (centre) and James Wright (left).

Chapel Service - Sunday 11 Sept 7.30pm

2011-09-04T18:00:00.004+01:00

Our first full college chapel service of the year is on Sunday 11 September in the parish church.

It would be terrific to see as many members of Welsh House there as possible. Parents and siblings are more than welcome as well.

There will be refreshments served afterwards and a chance to chat with other parents and staff.

Shiplake boys and girls in school uniform please.

We are off Go Karting!

2011-08-31T08:28:00.002+01:00

On Friday 9th Sept our House trip will be Go karting at Teamworks Karting in Reading.

http://www.teamworkskarting.com/

We will be leaving Shiplake at 3.30pm and returning at about 7pm.

Congratulations and welcome back!

2011-08-31T08:26:00.002+01:00

A huge well done to all those boys and girls in Welsh House who achieved some fantastic GCSE and A level results. All the hard work and effort paid off.

I look forward to seeing you all next week and to welcoming our new Yr 9 boys.

One week to go...

2011-08-29T13:44:00.003+01:00

We hope you all enjoy the final week of the holidays! Undoubtedly most of you are now thinking forward to next week with a lot of excitement and anticipation. We look forward to welcoming our new year 9 boys and year 12 on Monday and the rest of the house on Tuesday.

If you have not done so already, then please have a look through the house hand book (which can be accessed via the link on the right hand side of this page) and perhaps start thinking about those last minute back to school haircuts!

Have a great week and we are looking forward to seeing you all next week!

Welsh Tutors in Kenya

2011-07-26T17:55:00.002+01:00

Not to be outdone, Miss Arnold and Miss Erasmus have accompanied the boys on their tour of Kenya. They are due back this weekend.

Welsh Boys up Mount Kenya this morning

2011-07-22T19:30:00.001+01:00

From Mr Hunt...

2011-06-30T15:15:00.002+01:00

Dear Parents, Pupils (old and new) and Friends,
I would like to thank all the boys for another very good year. There have been some excellent reports written about many of our number and many have put in a consistently good effort all year.
On the sporting front I am so proud that we were able to make it 2 years in a row as Baldry Trophy winners. We had a magnificent last day with wins in both senior and junior House cricket and then some superb individual performances in the swimming gala. Huge congratulations to all who competed for the House throughout the year!
House staff news is that we are also losing Miss Erasmus who is taking up the role of resident tutor in the new Gilson House. She will not be far away so I am sure she will pop in now and again and will still be tutoring Welsh boys. We are joined by Miss Emma Hampton who will be teaching English.
The year nines have made their mark again this year. They have had the usual settling in troubles but all now seem happy and comfortable. I would like to thank them all for the contribution they have made over the course of their busy first year and hope that they will all continue to thrive and work towards making Welsh House a great place to work, play and live.
A great debt of thanks needs to go to James Dobree-Carey, our outgoing Head of House. He has done an excellent job this year and has always been there for the boys, the tutors and me when required. He has been ably assisted by Joe Southwell and the House prefects who have all contributed in their own special way. I wish all the leavers the very best for the future and thank them for all they have done for the House and the College over the past five years.
Congratulations to David Plato who has accepted the role of College Prefect and Head of House for next year. David has all the qualities needed to lead the House and will do so in a very compassionate and quiet way. I am sure he will grow the role and truly make his mark. James Wright also deserves our congratulations on being appointed Head of College next year. It was a tough decision for the Headmaster but I know he has made the right decision in James.
Congratulations must also go to Max Wilson who has been chosen as Chapel Warden for next year. I am sure he will continue to be very supportive of all in the house over the next year.
Everyone in the house was given the chance to nominate an activity for the House trip on Friday 9th September so I will be getting on the phone and trying to arrange something exiting for the day from the myriad of suggestions.
On behalf of all members of the House and parents, I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our Matron, Mrs Knight. Her organisation is second to none and her patience is truly saintly.
I wish everyone a very happy summer break whatever you may be doing, especially the year 13 leavers who have so much to look back on but so much more to look forward to.
I look forward to seeing everyone again in September for what will be my last year as Housemaster of Welsh House. It has been an absolute privilege to lead Welsh. I hope my last year is as enjoyable as the previous nine!

Thank you for the many gifts - they are truly appreciated.

Best wishes and have a safe and exciting summer.

Alex Hunt

House Party

2011-06-28T23:07:00.002+01:00

The boys enjoyed a hog roast and a bouncy castle on their last night of the year. It was great to see all the year 13s return for a party in the back garden of Welsh House. Mr Hunt made several presentations. Amongst which was the announcement that for next year David Plato will be our Head of House and Max Wilson becomes the Welsh House Chapel Warden. Many congratulations to both of these boys and we wish them well for next year.

Also, for any parents who think their sons have grown too old for simple fun on a bouncy castle, just check out this video of the year 9s having a great time!

Baldry Trophy

2011-06-28T18:44:00.002+01:00

For the second consecutive year Welsh House hold the Baldry Trophy for being the most successful sporting house! Congratulations everybody!

Final Assembly

2011-06-28T18:41:00.002+01:00

The final assembly was amazing with so many boys and girls in Welsh collecting certificates, trophies or special awards. To many to mention all of them but here is a photo.

Swiming Gala

2011-06-28T18:37:00.002+01:00

Due to the heavy thunderstorms earlier the Tug-of-War had to be cancelled. However, after a short delay the swimming gala went ahead and the house was out in force to prove our sporting dominance over the other houses. Welsh Juniors and Girls won whilst the Seniors came a respectable third. Lots of photos in the gallery. Special mention to Max Khazaneh who broke his school record for the Butterfly event.

House Cricket

2011-06-28T18:31:00.003+01:00

Welsh dominated both the Junior and House Cricket today. James Wood was out on 44 and helped massively towards an 89 run victory over Skipwith House. Callum Boyd and Caleb Jenkins had no problem batting against Orchard house in the Junior Cricket final. This was an excellent display from the Welsh Cricketers! Lots of photos in the House Gallery!

Excellence!

2011-06-27T11:25:00.000+01:00

Well done to Zac Jones, Ollie MacLaurin and Ben O'Connell. Not easy to get these slips in the last week of term!

Yr 12 Work Experience

2011-06-23T13:52:00.003+01:00

All our Yr 12s are off for a week of work experience. Some destinations might not be glamorous but they do give an insight into what working life is like.

Events for End of Term

2011-06-21T14:15:00.002+01:00

With so much happening in the next week here is a simple breakdown of events:
Friday 24th - Year 10 Bronze DoE leaves at 1pm
Saturday 25th - Year 10 DoE returns at 3pm
Monday 27th - Summer concert in the marquee at 7:30pm
Tuesday 28th - Junior House cricket final, Book return deadline, year 11-13 return at midday, swimming gala, end of year assembly and house party.
Wednesday 29th - Prizegiving followed by house receptions

Speech Day Prize Announcements

2011-06-20T19:21:00.002+01:00

The following pupils in Welsh House will recieve prizes next Wednesday at the Speech Day Prizegiving Ceremony. Huge congratulations to them all, we are very proud of you.

Charles Galligan - Year 9 Prize
Jamie Westbrooke - Year 10 Prize
Max Khazaneh - Year 10 Prize
Charlie Foster - GCSE Art and Design
Cameron Foster - GCSE Music
Fiona Hildred - Economics
Sam Quelch - History and PE

Dan Noble - Eaton Prize for Academic Development
Joe Jenkins - DoE Gold
George Reeves - DoE Gold
James Wood - DoE Gold

Headmasters' Prizes are still to be announced on the day.

Year 9 Longridge Adventure

2011-06-20T19:16:00.001+01:00

Today Mr Settle took the year 9 boys to Longridge activity centre in Marlow. The boys had a great day out and turned their hand to Kayaking, Dragon Boating and Raft Building (not to mention playing in the swing park!). The boys ended up getting very wet and but needless to say all had a great time and lots of fun. Some photos in 'June 2011' in the gallery.

Excellence!

2011-06-20T19:12:00.001+01:00

Much better this week, well done!!

Ben Allen
Ed Crichton
Charles Galligan
Thomas Harman
Nicholas Hayes
Henry Lewis
Cameron McGuigan
Tommy Moore
Daniel Noble
Dom Rice
Danny Rumbelow
Alex Ward

Welsh 2011 Souvenir

2011-06-17T21:36:00.002+01:00

I have posted a link in the 'Useful Documents' section to a collage of photos taken throughout the year. It is great to be able to reflect on what has so far been an incredibly busy year, so hopefully you enjoy looking through it!

Tutor Changes

2011-06-17T21:29:00.002+01:00

At the end of this term we shall no longer be having Miss Erasmus as a visiting tutor as she is to become the new Resident Tutor in Gilson House. Although Miss Erasmus will continue to tutor the Welsh boys. The boys will certainly miss her no nonsense approach on a Wednesday evening. In her place, Welsh will be getting a new visiting tutor, Miss Emma Hampton. The following is a pen portrait and we look forward to getting to know her in September:

Miss Hampton will be joining the College, together with her partner, Mr Tom Armstrong, as maternity cover for Mrs Baker in the English Department. Miss Hampton is at present, a Freelance writer and editor. She currently writes for The Outdoor Adventure Guide, Bushcraft and Survival Magazine, Trail and Women’s Running and Women’s Health and Fitness. She has also been employed by Woodlore as a Course Leader and Outdoor Education Teacher and is a qualified wilderness medic and is well qualified for expedition supervision.

Junior House Tennis

2011-06-16T18:01:00.002+01:00

Many congratulations to Jamie Westbrook, Caleb Jenkins (A Team), Tom Harman and Ed Crichton (B Team) for making it a clean sweep and winning the junior house tennis, beating Burr in to second place.

Excellence!

2011-06-12T21:47:00.001+01:00

Caleb Jenkins
Danny Rumbelow
Ruairi van Raalte

Well done to these boys - but very thin on the ground this week. Final push as we head to the end of term is needed, especially if we want to retain the Bevan trophy for being the most academic house!

Music Gala Evening

2011-06-11T09:08:00.003+01:00

The music gala was held in the Great Hall last night. The music was absolutely amazing and a tribute to our music department. Many Welsh boys took part and performed admirably. Cameron Foster performed a piece called Circus Pony on his Clarinet, Henry Lewis and Miss Andrew sang Bohemian Rhapsody with the chamber choir and Dan Noble performed his own composition of a Flamenco Dance on his guitar. Dan practically stole the show when he began to wow the audience as he took the tempo up and get all sorts of noises out of his guitar. Heads were craning to see how he did it - very well done!

Athletics Championships

2011-06-11T09:03:00.004+01:00

On Friday afternoon. in between the heavy showers we had the Athletics Championships. The best athlete in the house for each track and field event is put forward to compete and earn points for the house. Due to the absence of many year 12 and 13 boys, years 9, 10 and 11 stepped up tot he mark to do the house proud culminating in a school record for Caleb Jenkins in the junior long jump, as well as a double win in the junior and senior 4*100m relay race. Lots of photos now up in the Welsh House Gallery. Overall the Juniors came 3rd and the Seniors came 4th.

Dan goes up in a Helicopter

2011-06-10T08:54:00.002+01:00

Dan Noble was lucky enough to be given a ride in a helicopter on Wednesday courtesy of one of our Old Vikings. He flew over the school and went to look at his house as a treat for doing so well in Learning Development this year. Mr Settle was also lucky enough to get a ride as well. He chose to go and look over Henley and the regatta course.

Welsh at National Schools

2011-06-01T10:35:00.006+01:00

Over the bank holiday weekend there were many fine performances from Welsh boys racing at the National Schools Regatta. This regatta is the peak of the racing year for many crews and is where all the hard work and training really pays off. Welsh had representatives in all 3 of the J14 octos, and this year was the first time Shiplake has ever sent 3 octos to National Schools. Notably, Tom Harman racing in the B crew won Silver in the B crew event (the Dulwich Cup). This was the first time a Shiplake crew had medalled in this event.

Matt Butler steered his J15 crew in very harsh conditions to a competitive time in the time trial for J15 8s. Adam Roels was in the Championship 8 which finished 4th in the final of this Blue Ribbon event. This is the strongest performance any Shiplake crew has ever achieved at National Schools. To come 4th behind Eton, Abingdon and Radley is a significant achievement for our small school.

Finally, George MacPhee became a national champion in the J16 1st 8s event. His crew got Gold winning a very handsome trophy, the Shawcross Cup. A well deserved achievement after battling in an extremely competitive final against King's Wimbledon and King's Chester.

The crew coach, Mr Settle, was very pleased with his crews performance.

Excellence!

2011-05-22T17:15:00.001+01:00

Ben Allen
Thomas Harman
Nicholas Hayes
Cameron McGuigan
Matt Butler
Henry Lewis
Ben O'Connell
Edward Hildred
Alexander Kallipetis
Ollie MacLaurin
Paul Vanner
Ruairi Van Raalte

House Athletics

2011-05-21T11:47:00.003+01:00

The results are in and Welsh have won the House Athletics!! A fantastic effort from all involved.

Juniors: 3rd
Seniors: 2nd
Girls: 1st
Overall: 1st

Hopefully, some very valuable Baldry points in the bag!