Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Hesperus Muster

Hesperus Muster

Praise
  • Well done to the 15A and B cricket teams who beat Dauntsey's on Saturday. A special mention to Luca van der Wyck who scored 53.
  • Mo Rizwan took 8-17 for Finchamstead on Sunday!
  • Well done the boys who had success at Regattas on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Good luck to the 1VIII who are qualifying for Henley on Friday.
Notices
  • Form 3 have revision during Core Skills.
  • Today is Lower 6 interview day - this will be useful preparation for Promotion interviews next week.
  • Good luck to Ben, Toby and Will who leave for the D of E Gold Expedition on Thursday.
  • We have an Exeat Weekend - we finish at 3pm on Friday.
Merits

The list of pupils who received Merits last week is below.

Flag Awards

This week it is a 2XI Cricket special - well done to these four Hesperoids who travelled a long way to play Dauntsey's on Saturday and in doing so displayed selflessness and integrity: Hugo Dwerryhouse, George Lacey, Ollie Newcombe, Charlie Riley.

Student of the Week

After four years at Pangbourne we are saying goodbye to Hesperus legend, Nathan Wang, on Thursday. He has made huge progress in his time here and we wish him well for his new school in London. We hope Nathan comes back for a parade next year.

Thoughts for the Week
  • We discussed the tragic killing of MP Jo Cox last week and the brilliant humanitarian work she dedicated her life to.
  • The EU referendum - There will be a discussion in the Gun Room tonight from 8pm about the referendum. We will watch some of the debate on TV (which Ollie Newcombe is attending) and try to make up our minds!
Promotions

Pupils were given a voting slip and asked to nominate their top three candidates for Hesperus Chief next year.

SCH

Merits

Hesperus
  Pupil Name Year Merits
Bowden, Joe 9 2[2]
Day, Aldwyn 9 4[4]
Evans, Jake 9 2[2]
Fitchett, William 9 1[1]
King, Charlie 9 2[2]
Morrison, Oliver 9 1[1]
Nash, Ed 9 2[2]
Pan, John 9 1[1]
Dent, Christophe 10 1[1]
Doyle, Harrison 10 4[4]
Ellison, Finn 10 1[1]
Holloway, Sam 10 3[3]
Pearson, Cameron 10 1[1]
van der Wyck, Luca 10 1[1]
White, Nick 10 1[1]
Winter, Louis 10 3[3]
Xu, Kenny 10 2[2]
Li, Rylan 12 1[1]
Nash, Tom 12 1[1]
34[34]

Monday, 20 June 2016

Rowing Report


It has been a busy fortnight for the Boat Club. A week ago, our younger crews competed at Marlow Town Regatta, where several finals were reached and a win recorded, in women’s Under 14 quads, our top boys’ quad losing the final to Radley by just a canvas. At Reading Amateur, the Senior girls’ quad beat a Henley Rowing Club crew, only to lose to another Henley crew in the semi-final, who went on to be convincing winners. The boys’ development eight won three races to reach the final of Intermediate 3 eights, were they were outgunned by Groton School, USA. However, the following day, while Groton went on to win Intermediate 2 eights, Pangbourne won a further three races to win Intermediate 3 eights, beating Bedford School in the final. Rory Harris won both Senior and School Junior single sculls to move his status just one point short of Elite, the highest possible.

This weekend, three girls’ crews raced at Henley Women’s Regatta. A development combined Lower Sixth and Form Five four did well in their Under 18 four time trial but did not qualify for the side-by-side racing and neither did our Under 16 four in their time trial, but only narrowly missing out. However, the Senior girls’ quad did qualify and in their heat were involved in the closest race of the day, losing by just 3 feet to a Henley Rowing Club crew, having led them off the start but being almost a length down half-way through the race. The nature of their spirited, narrow loss should give them heart going into the Henley Royal regatta qualifiers on Friday, as it is over a considerably longer course. Also, as a result of the large entry for their event, the Henley Stewards have doubled the number of places in their event from 8 to 16. This gives the girls’ prospects a major boost but they still have to finish in the top seven of thirty seven crews in the time trial.

At Marlow, for their final regatta of the season, the top two boys’ Under 14 quads combined to race in an octuple and take on the big schools at Marlow Regatta. They raced well in their time trial to reach the A Final, where, although they lost to the likes of Radley, St Paul’s and Abingdon, they beat Westminster, one of the current powerhouses of schoolboy rowing and sculling. With Rory now joining the boys’ eight for the first time, the crew did well at Marlow Regatta to be placed half-way in a field of over thirty crews in the time trial for Intermediate 2 eights. This ranked them third of the crews in the C Final, which they duly won, beating three crews that have avoided the qualifiers for Henley but our strengthened eight still not doing enough in the Stewards’ eyes to avoid the time trial themselves. As a result, Rory will be racing twice over the Henley course this coming Friday, there being a record entry of 41 for the Diamond Challenge Sculls, compared to a normal figure of about 17. With thirteen international scullers, including reigning Olympic champion, Mahé Drysdale, given direct entry, Rory faces a time trial comprising 28 scullers with just 3 to qualify. Whatever the outcome, he has the distinction of being the only schoolboy in the event.

Finally, at Thames Valley Park regatta yesterday, crews from our Under 14 and 15 girls’ and Under 15 boys’ squads raced well but did not return with any silverware. Girls’ Under 15 and Under 16 fours were third in their finals, a girls’ Under 14 quad lost to the eventual winners in the semi-final, and a boys’ Under 15 quad came closest, finishing second in the final by just half a length in a very tight race between three good crews.

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Muster 14/06/2016

Hesperus Muster

Notices
  • The Dove Body Confidence presentations take place for Forms 1-4 on Thursday.
  • Orchestral Fun Day is today and well done to Ollie Morrison for his involvement.
  • Music exams begin this week - good luck!
  • Lower 6 - welcome back - have Taking Responsibility this week.
House Council
  • SCH went through last week's House Council notes (see posts below).
  • We have School Council and Food Committee today.
Flag Awards

Awarded to: Charlie King (Selflessness), Ed Winter, Seb Bearn, John Pan and Jake Evans (Integrity, Kindness and Selflessness).

Student of the Week

The Elvis Trophy was awarded to Ross Maclean for his efforts and progress since half-term.

Tom Nash is a (half) Iron Man!

Congratulations to Tom Nash who completed a half Iron Man on Sunday in an incredible 6 hours and 4 minutes. He came 3rd in his category.

Ramadan

With Form 3 Hesperoid, Mo Rizwan, observing Ramadan this month the boys found out more information Ramadan and why it happens:

http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/what-is-ramadan-and-why-do-muslims-fast-all-day/

Exams

Forms 3 & 4 should now have begun their revision and preparation for end of year exams. Work hard boys!

SCH

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

Rowing report from National Schools' Regatta


Rowing Report for School Assembly on Monday 6th June 2016

At the start of Half Term, crews from all age groups, both boys and girls, competed at the National Schools’ Regatta, held at Dorney this year. Although the weather was generally bright and pleasant for spectators, a cross-wind made for unfair lanes with the initial time trial crucial to obtaining a good lane, an opportunity missed by some of our crews.
Unsurprisingly, the J14 boys and girls – still recovering from their Bronze D of E expedition – did not quite perform to their full potential but still raced well, both boys’ quads reaching their ‘B’ final, with the A crew just pipped for 1st place in the race to the line.
The J15 crews also raced well with the boys’ eight vying for the lead at half-way in the C final until a crew member blacked out.
At J16 level, the girls eight finished 6th in a straight final against the powerhouses of girls’ rowing, then a four from this eight reached the A final and were also placed 6th with a very determined row. The boys’ four snapped a footplate in their semi-final, giving them an unfavourable lane in the B final where they finished 7th.
At J18 level, the girls’ eight drew lane 6 in their semi-final and duly finished 6th in the race, a pattern too familiar in the weekend’s racing overall. In a large field, the quad reached the B final and did well to finish 4th in it, to rank 11th overall. With injury having interrupted their training over Easter, they can build on this result in preparation for Henley Women’s Regatta. The boys’ development eight was ranked 12th of school 1st eights, behind a further 11 Championship eights, but will be strengthened for Marlow and Henley when Rory Harris joins the boat. Our top four raced well to reach the A final of Championship coxless fours to be placed 7th overall. Rory kept up our proud record of winning Championship medals at the regatta by taking the Bronze medal in Championship Single Sculls in a field of 40 scullers – a first for Pangbourne. At Peterborough Regatta he added to his collection of medals and tankards with a further two wins to elevate him to Senior status and just two wins from Elite, the highest status possible. Just over a year ago he was a novice sculler with no wins. Now, he is eligible to compete in the Diamonds – the prestigious single sculls event  at Henley Regatta.
Many thanks to the parents for hosting the refreshment marquee at the National Schools’ Regatta and at the Boat Club barbecue at the end of Half Term, where rowers and their families, totalling over 100, enjoyed a beautiful afternoon’s weather messing about on the river.

Charlie Riley - Video

Well done to Charlie Riley for  this excellent drone video of the Pangbourne Classic Car Show!
 
 

Hesperus House Council


Hesperus House Council

7 June 2016

Here are the minutes and Mr Cane-Hardy’s responses from Tuesday’s House Council.

3 Form

Comment
Mr Cane-Hardy’s response
 
Can we have another toaster?
Yes – I forgot that one broke just before half-term so will speak to Gail about ordering a new one.
 
Can we have house cheese?
Probably not because it will just be eaten within the first 5 minutes (Josh Orton will grate it all over his massive bowl of pasta.)
 
Can we have house football?
Good idea – I will organise for this Tuesday or next Tuesday.
 
The plastic bins are broken – can we have metal bins?
Don’t break the plastic bins.

 4 Form

Can we have air fresheners in the bathrooms?
I’ve asked Gail to put air fresheners in every bathroom.
 
Curtains in rooms are falling down.
Gail has checked all of the rooms and doesn’t think any were broken. Can you let her know which rooms please?
 
Can we have more posters downstairs?
You’re never happy – we have loads of posters, new carpet, Gail’s room and the Galley have been painted. There’s always something!
 
On a serious note I am not going to spend any more of the budget on decorations because Mr Cheney will want to decorate the house for next year.
 
I think Hesperus is looking pretty good at the moment.
 
There should be more opportunity to order Domino pizza
No – a Wednesday evening is enough. They are so unhealthy!
 
Can we have a dishwasher in the galley?
We don’t have the plumbing for it so probably not. However, I know Mr Cheney is keen to improve the Galley facilities for next year and he might have ideas on how this can be done.
 
Food: Better pasta, more curly fries, more toppings, pulled pork more often.
Good suggestions – Adam Cook will take this to the Food Committee next Tuesday.
 

 6 Form

New juice machine
You ask for this every time. The current one was fixed at the start of term and seems to be working well.
 
House cricket and rowing events
Mr Phillips was organising a Hesperus Cricket match (although now he is leaving he probably isn’t bothering!) I’ll speak to him.
 
Not sure about rowing – can some of the Rowers help with this?
 

 

Merits

Hesperus
  Pupil Name Year Merits
Evans, Jake 9 1[1]
Nash, Ed 9 2[2]
Doyle, Harrison 10 1[1]
Hessian, Tomas 10 1[1]
Pearson, Cameron 10 1[1]
Grieve, Jon 13 1[1]
O'Sullivan, Alexander 13 2[2]
9[9]