Extra News Feed

I've added a section on the left hand side for "News about Shiplake" - a Google-powered rolling search, which for today is quite flattering about the College, as well as picking up the Henley Standard's coverage of the flooded river.

Concert

There was a great concert in the Parish Church last night - I enjoyed sitting at the front with a camera - there's an album at Picasa Web

One of the highlights was the appearance of the Headmaster's Choir - and his duet with the Head of College.

Hockey success

Many congratulations to the 1st XI ! We gave the two Burr players a round of applause at the house meeting last night.

On Wednesday the 1st XI beat Reading Blue Coat School 4 – 1, which was a well-deserved victory. On Thursday afternoon they played Bloxham, the current U18 Oxfordshire County Champions, and achieved a marvellous 3 – 2 win. Our outstanding performance was based on great team spirit, a tremendous work rate and a thoroughly determined attitude. Under Jack Broome’s excellent captaincy, each player tried his very hardest and deserves your congratulations.

Well done, the 1st XI.

1st XI Squad: Jack Broome, Ross Ritchie, Anthony Kay, Sasha Burgess, David Hawes, Charlie Sampson, Ed Bowers, James Wood, Adam Davies, Olly Gould, James Black, Olly Watkins-Murphy, James Luscombe and Callum Thomas.

Mr Gould
1st XI Coach

Fire Drill

Each term we practice evacuating the House in the event of a fire. We did a drill this morning which saw everyone outside the House in 2 minutes and 12 seconds -cold, sleepy, but safe !

Slush and rain

What a miserable afternoon ! The Astroturf is still covered in snow, the river is flowing too fast for rowing - the Head of House was working on technique, tied to the bank. (Is the battery providing his power ?)

But many thanks to parents for getting everyone back last night.

I had a lovely weekend, planning lessons - year 12 ICT students are enjoying something I tripped across, called Ubiquity - a useful add-on to browsers like Firefox.

Meanwhile there are lots of music rehearsals for the spring concert on Thursday - at 19:30 in the Parish Church. There'll be refreshments in the Great Hall afterwards - and a chance to see some of the Art Department's work.

Burr Barbecue

We decided to sneer at the cold, and celebrate outdoor cooking with a moonlight barbecue on the Burr courtyard this evening. Huge thanks to cooks Qahir and Ed, burger preparation manager Shinsuke, bar staff Tom and Sami and everyone else who helped.

It was good to be joined by friends from Everett and Skipwith.

Combine senior and junior sport ..

Mr O'Brien took the entire school for sport this afternoon ... all thirty-something boarders who were in for the weekend were involved in a three-way basketball tournament.

Peaceful

I think there are about three dozen boarders left in the school - 20 or so in Burr. We're looking forward to a peaceful and fun weekend. The forecast tonight is for clear, cold, weather tomorrow; with sunny intervals.

Helpful

Thanks to Duncan and Ben for helping tidy up the slush piles this afternoon.

House Music Competition

That time of year is here again, and I realise the Burr House Blog has been going for more than a year now.

This year's Director of Burr Music is Freddie Greaves.

Bunty's pink wellies could well be the deciding fashion items this year.

Investigative journalism

Henry Robinson is one of the journalists working for the new College newspaper - one of the targets of his gentle but determined questioning is the Head of College.

He managed to put Adam into the position of refusing to answer at least one line of enquiry.

The Burr blog hopes to bring you the complete article before too long !

Good luck, oarsmen

Several Burr oarsmen are involved in the racing scheduled at Henley on Saturday, including Sam and Richard in the J16 crew who did so well at Hampton recently.

6 FEBRUARY 2009 - EARLY CLOSURE FOR THE WEEKEND

The Headmaster has decided that ........


The Met Office forecast for the Henley area suggests freezing conditions tonight of -5°C which may make travel tomorrow morning very difficult. All hockey matches on Saturday have already been cancelled and there will also be no lessons. Pupils may be picked up from College from 3.00 p.m. onwards today (Friday). We will run Saturday’s lessons on Wednesday next week, instead of the normal timetable.
Some forecasting websites are suggesting further snow falls on Monday and therefore, I would be grateful if all boarders could return to school on Sunday evening before 8.30 p.m. in time for Compline.
Any boarder is, of course, welcome to stay at the school over the weekend. The dining hall will be fully functional.
The Henley Fours Head is still on and therefore, our 1st VIII and Under 16 VIII will be racing. Coach Sally Satch is keen for the Under 15 VIII to row as well but will contact parents individually. Further details for these rowers can be found on the Boat Club website.

AGS Davies 6th February 2009
Headmaster

============

Therefore anyone who wishes to go home may do so any time after 3pm today, Friday. Burr, like the other boarding Houses, will be open for business as usual and I and other Housemasters are looking forward to planning activities for tomorrow, after a late breakfast.

I have in mind indoor fitness training for those who like that sort of thing, a chess tournament, and practice for the inter-House air rifle shooting competition (the range is under cover and even has a heater).

Still it snows

We had more snow during the night, which meant that most outdoor sports had to be cancelled today. Two exceptions are rowing ("the river is just perfect" - Mr Mackworth-Praed, Senior Rowing Coach and Burr tutor); and snowball fighting which is rapidly becoming the major sport this week. Photo: Mr Starr.

Watch this space for details of what's happening on Saturday afternoon.

Hospitality

Year 12 enjoyed a pizza session with Mr and Mrs Starr last night - and also some thoughts on how and why to embark on the application process to be a College Prefect. Thanks to Adam, Jamie and Alex - all of whom survived the sequence of written application, first interview, presentation and second interview last year - for sharing their thoughts with the next generation.

Decisions

Headmasters have to make tough calls sometimes. I enjoyed this email exchange, and hope the authors don't mind me quoting them:


To: Davies, Mr AGS
Subject: Periods 8 and 9 - Monday 2nd February [Scanned]

Dear Mr Davies

I am writing to you not as one voice but the entire voice of Shiplake College to miss Periods 8 and 9 to have fun in the snow.

I am sure when you were our age you would have wanted to the same. The Orchard boys have been allowed home after lunch so I think it is only fair if you let the borders have fun as well. Don’t you agree?

I think we deserve this as we have all worked very hard this morning. All other schools in the local area have been given the whole day off. I am sure the teachers would support you in this responsible decision.

We must be allowed out in this white wonderland. You cannot say s’no!

Regards,

English Set 3 Year 9.

====================

Dear English Year 9 Set 3

I appreciate you taking the time to email me with this request. To be clear, not all Orchard pupils will be going home. Certainly those who live some distance away will have that opportunity, others have asked to board overnight.
I can certainly remember enjoying some fun when it snowed but I can not remember ever being allowed to miss school. You will have an opportunity at 3pm to go to the New Field to play. Also I have asked Housemasters to select a snowman-building team to go on the front field. This will be judged by the Art Department and a prize given.
So, sorry, it seems I can say “No”!

Regards Gregg
A.G.S. Davies
HeadmasterShiplake College
www.shiplake.org.uk

==========

PS Burr seemed more interested in practical ballistics, so our snowman remains a dream.

Snowballing

The risk assessment was that there was a greater risk in not allowing everyone onto the new field to play.

Thanks to Mrs Foakes for the pictures.

Weather

When I lived in Cologne, in Germany, local laws required all householders to sweep the snow off the footpath outside to provide a safe walkway. As we had a large house on a corner, this involved about half an hour's good shovelling each morning. But the bus and tram services seldom stopped.

Burr are doing something to keep up the tradition - thanks to James and others for good work.

Mark Long is sensibly spreading some salty grit further uphill.