From the Second Master
Dear all,
Ahead of this weekend's Exeat, please complete the Exeat Arrangements form for 08-10 March 2024 by clicking on the Parent Portal link below.
“Flexi” Weekends
A reminder that Leave on Saturdays for a "Flexi" weekend (JP to VI:2 pupils) begins at 5pm or after a pupil's school commitments have finished on Saturday, whichever is the later. In all cases, boarding pupils should return in time for Preces in House on Sunday evening
Parent Survey
Thank you to all those who have completed the Parent Survey so far. For those parents who have yet to do so, please follow the link below.
With best wishes for a dry and sunny Exeat...
Events
What's On
Parents are welcome to join us for College events. Events taking place over the coming weeks are highlighted here, but please find the full schedule at the link below.
Parents can also book tickets to our upcoming musical, My Fair Lady, free of charge, here.
Academic
Kenneth Clark Prize Final
On Friday, the College held the finals of the Kenneth Clark Prize.
Sir Timothy Clifford, former director of the National Galleries of Scotland, had the unenviable task of selecting gold, silver and bronze medal winners from a group of VI Book pupils, each presenting on a work of art.
In front of a packed audience in New Hall, Dominik (H) won gold with a thought provoking presentation on the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry (2003), narrowly beating Maya 's (K) analysis of the Portrait of Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas (1905) and Alex's (I) examination of Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, att. to Peter Breughel the Elder, oil on canvas, c. 1560.
Congratulations to the medal winners, and all pupils who took part in the competition.
You can view the full gallery of photos from the competition via the link below, using the password found in your covering email.
Academic
Iodates, fuelomycins, and gadopiclenol in the Chemistry Olympiad
On Thursday, 25 January, 85 pupils sat Round 1 of this year’s Chemistry Olympiad, hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It was a record number of entries for the school, and the first time that over 10% of the pupil body took part in the competition. This year’s paper included questions on iodates, such as the mineral salesite, bacteria known as “fuelomycins”, that can produce molecules with the same energy density as rocket fuels, and the MRI contrast agent gadopiclenol.
The results achieved this year were outstanding with 23 golds (top 8.2% of 14,915 entries), 32 silvers, and 24 bronzes won for a total of 79 certificated results. In particular, three Middle Part pupils, Winston (X), Oliver (X) and Holly (I) won gold medals; a remarkable achievement given that the exam questions are designed to stretch even the most able A-level chemists.
Two VBk 2 chemists, Sam (X) and Peiyan (X), placed in the top 34 of all candidates and have been invited to take part in Round 2 of the competition; we wish them the best of luck.
Sport
Sport Report
This week's sport report features recaps of hockey fixtures against Eton, swimming in the Bath Cup, netball against Bryanston School, badminton against Wellington College, and more.
Trips
Presenting at the Tonbridge Science Conference
On Friday, 1 March, 9 Wykehamists travelled to the Tonbridge Science Conference.
Hosted at Tonbridge School, the theme of the conference was ‘From Atoms to the Stars’ and featured three eminent keynote speakers: Professor Stephen Rauschenbach from the University of Oxford, Professor Neil Alan from the University of Bristol, and Dr Graham Turnock, advisor to the European Space Agency. Topics ranged from imaging at the atomic level to sustainabilty in space.
Thirteen schools took part, with 62 students involved in giving presentations and submitting posters on their research.
From Winchester, Peiyan (X), TonTon (X), Zachary (X), Brian (C), Dominic (C), Johnny (C), Josiah (F), Ethan (I), and Bob (K) all gave presentations.
The Wykehamists were able to make valuable contacts and converse with the keynote speakers and other presenters. They also had a constructive dialogue with the Young Scientists Journal, and hope to get further involved with them in the future.
Partnerships
Inaugural Science Symposium
On Tuesday, 20 February, the College's Science Society welcomed UTC Portsmouth, Midhurst Rother, Peter Symonds, St Swithun's, Charterhouse, and City of London School for its inaugural symposium .
Sci Soc president, Brian (C), explained “This year’s symposium centred around ‘Life Sciences,’ covering diverse topics from sustainable biotechnology to medical breakthroughs."
The busy day comprised of a research poster forum in Musa, delegates' presentations in the Science Lecture Theatre, a medicine lecture from guest speaker Prof John Wood FRS (UCL), and a competitive histology practical in the Biology Department.
Partnerships
Design Technology Competition
Last Tuesday, 27 February, pupils from Hamble School, Midhurst Rother College, Park Community School, Westgate and Winchester College each entered two teams into our annual Design Technology Competition.
They were challenged to build a water tower, using limited materials, that could measure a specified volume.
Westgate were the proud winners this year with their innovative design scoring highly on the accuracy of their measurements and aesthetics.
Academic
Wilson Pot
Last Thursday, the College held its annual inter-house science competition, Wilson Pot.
In a close run competition, the junior quiz came down to a tie break between College and Beloe's, with College providing the nearest answer on the relative atomic mass of gold to clinch victory. College completed a clean sweep and brought home the Wilson Pot by winning the senior quiz, the first time since 2021. Last year’s winners Cook’s came 2nd, and after a strong finish, Freddie’s finished 3rd.
All scores are out of 46, and the senior questions are considerably tougher, with the teams battling each other over rounds on pictures, people, general knowledge, multiple choice and a “connecting wall” section.
Results
Junior Quiz: 1st: College / 2nd: Beloe's / 3rd: Furley's
Senior Quiz (Wilson Pot): 1st: College / 2nd: Cook's / 3rd: Freddie's
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