MONMOUTH SCHOOL BOYS 11-18 NEWS Lent Term Week 6 January 2017 A note from the Monmouth School Headmaster As you can see from this newsletter, there has been a tremendous amount of activity in School as we approach the half term break. I would particularly like to congratulate our CCF climbing team, who achieved great success in the National Climbing Championships. Our swimming team continues also to excel, winning another gala. I hope that you all have an excellent and enjoyable half term. Top Stories NATIONAL CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 - DEFENDING CHAMPIONS GIVE IT THEIR ALL On Saturday our junior and senior cadets competed in the Welsh National Cadet Climbing Championships which was held at Boulders Climbing Centre, Cardiff. As we were last year s defending champions, the pressure was defintiely on! Despite only five training sessions to prepare for this event, all team members gave 100% and climbed with grit and determination to finish as the first CCF team as well as being runners-up in the overall competition. Another wonderful all-round team performance also saw our cadets as runners-up in the speed-climbing category. Charlie possibly got the biggest cheer of the event for his final dino move in which he launched himself for the last hold and secured a place along with Harry in the Junior final climb-off. Charlie was the only cadet to finish this route which was an incredible performance with only 5 climbing sessions under his belt. With holds becoming smaller and further apart and the route considerably overhanging, Harry performed impressively to finish runner-up in the Junior technical climbing event. A massive well done to our CCF Climbing team from Lieutenant Peake.
AGINCOURT SOCIETY PROVIDES MORE IMPASSIONED DEBATE Sixth Form historians from both schools debated the topical motion This House believes that the history of the United States is the history of white males fighting to hold onto power. Using examples from the first colonists through to current events via the Founding Fathers, the arguments over the Constitution, lead up to the Civil War and the progress of the civil rights movement Natasha, Kitty and Caroline s arguments overcame those of Evan, Henry and Lucas with a narrow victory for the motion with strong interventions from the audience. A suitable mixture of idealism and scepticism informed this even and impassioned debate. INDIA 2018, TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT: If any student in the current 4th, 5th or lower 6th is interested in the India 2018 Expedition to be led by Dr Pascoe and Mr Stentiford please contact Mrs Kate Potts for further information: kpotts@hmsg.co.uk or 01600 711101. An initial deposit should be submitted by Friday 24 February please. CONFIDENT KAYAKERS TAKE TO THE CHILLY WATERS Because on a day when temperatures were a chilly 4 or 5 degrees, last Sunday eight students from the canoe club practiced their leadership skills on the Upper River Wye above Rhyader. They led each other down (or past) difficult rapids such as the Chinese Gardens, Iron Man and Letterbox in preparation for taking their BCU Three Star Award in due course. Water levels were low and manageable for this increasingly confident group and they enjoyed a challenging day in the spectacular scenery.
EYE-OPENING UNIVERSITY VISITS FOR ASPIRING MEDICS Pictured are Toby, Hamad, Tim and Monty, four of the 11 students in VI.1 who have visited Cardiff University Medical School this term to attend Clinical Skills workshops aimed at fourth year Medical undergraduate students. This represents a wonderful opportunity for our aspiring medics, dentists and vets to experience the atmosphere in a teaching hospital. Our boys acquitted themselves extremely well, practising lumbar puncture procedure and inserting a naso-gastric tube (on inanimate models, it should be pointed out!) The boys described the experience as awesome, eye-opening, and an extremely valuable insight into the world of studying and practising medicine. CAKE SALE PILES ON THE POUNDS! Congratulations to the Form III boys from Town House for their charity fundraising which came to the amazing total of: 151.45 As you can see from our picture their cake sale was a huge success with almost nothing being left at the end! The boys are currently deciding which charity they are going to donate their money too and we ll report that here as soon as they ve decided. Well done to both the sellers and the buyers! EVENTS AT THE BLAKE THEATRE Click on the image to buy tickets for these events Live on stage: Pam Ayres Saturday 11th Feb at 7:30pm Tickets: 23 How to book tickets: Call us on: 01600 719401 or visit our website. Live on the big screen from The Donmar Warehouse: Saint Joan Thursday 16th Feb at 7:00pm Tickets 16 (Adult) 15 (Concesssions)
SWIMMING NEWS - NARROW VICTORY FOR JOINT TEAM The HMSG and MS swimming team took part in a senior gala v Clifton College at home (HMSG) on Thursday afternoon. Swimmers took part in races in the U18 and U16 categories, over a wide range of events. The Monmouth teams showed resilience and commitment, with stand-out individual swims from Izumi, Robbie, Dominic, Oscar and Raymond. Both age categories excelled in 4x25m Freestyle and 4x25 Medley relays. Charlie and Oscar, swimming captains who took part in their final senior fixture for the school. The winning team for U18 freestyle was Oscar, Charlie, Zelig and Dominic and the U16 Medley team was Izumi, Raymond, Harrison and Raymond. The final race, a 4x25 Canon was an exciting finish to the fixture, with two swimmers from each age category and gender taking part to form a team of eight swimmers. The boys Canon team was Oscar, Harrison, Robbie and Izumi who, together with their HMSG counterparts, swam to a nail-biting victory. The final score was Clifton College 94; Monmouth School & HMSG 109 There will be fixtures for junior swimmers after half term. FRIENDS OF MONMOUTH SCHOOL - LATEST EVENT
FOOTBALL NEWS: MORE GOALS AND TIGHT DEFENSE ROUND OFF THIS HALF OF TERM Saturday saw a tightly competed block fixture against Clifton College and last Thursday saw the first XI pick up their first win of the season against BGS. We welcomed BGS with blustery conditions on our astro but they were quicker to adapt scoring three early goals. However, Monmouth fought back through a penalty combined with a long range effort from skipper Dan and goals from Matthew and Nathan. This left it 4-3 at half time. Monmouth came out and dominated the second half with most of possession and with 10 minutes to go Asanji hit a wonder strike from 30 yards to ensure that the result was in no doubt. The local rivalry with Clifton provided many eventful games serving up several excellent matches for the spectators. At home there was a win and a loss for the U14s and the U16s rose to the many physical challenges posed by the opposition to eventually run out 4-0 winners. Away from home the U15As put in a convincing performance winning 4-0 whereas the Bs just lost out in an enthralling 4-2 loss. The 2nd XI once again put in a dominant display winning 5-1 with a hat trick from Ben including a debatable 40 yard free kick and a long range volley from Adam. The 1st XI once again came up against a physical side that employed what can only be described as route one tactics. However, our defence proved strong with goalkeeper Ross putting in a commanding performance. Despite several promising attacks Monmouth were unable to capitalise and were hit on the break making it 1-0 to Clifton mid-way through the first half. Yet this did not dampen our spirit and after some tasty challenges from a Clifton midfielder which left Vice-captain Nyasha with a considerable lump on his head; Dan was then able to position his body perfectly so that the referee had no choice but to award a penalty for a clumsy challenge from the same midfielder. This made the game 1-1 after he converted from the spot. Despite going down to 10 men later on in the game when James selflessly took one for the team, Monmouth looked the most threatening to score the winner but the game ended as a tie. Click here to see all of our news stories on the website. Calendar Dates: Fri 10th February Mon 13th February 1.50p.m. Briefing for all prospective Form V Oxbridge applicants (H3) 10.30a.m. School Committee (HMSG) 4.00p.m. HALF TERM BEGINS 4.15p.m. Boarders Coach to Newport Station Half Term : 6.00a.m, Forms IV VI Nantes work experience trip departs Fri 17th February Half Term : 11.00p.m. Form IV VI Nantes work experience trip returns Sun 19th February Mon 20th February Boarders return from 5.00p.m. 7.00p.m. Boarders Coach departs Newport Station 8.35a.m. Day boys return GCSE Choices to Tutors: Form III 1.45p.m. - 2.30p.m. Forms III - V PSHE Talk: Tackling Homophobia Nick Lewis, Umbrella Gwent (Blake Theatre)