The Flagpole

We have great pleasure in unveiling the OPs events calendar for the forthcoming academic year.

After the excitement of the Golden Jubilee year some established OP events are being reintroduced including the OPs Summer Supper on Friday 22 June (this year celebrating the leavers of 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008) which always attracts a large number of OPs and former staff. 

We have rejigged the timings of the London and Leamington meets with a spring pub meet in Leamington in the upstairs function room of the Star and Garter on Friday 2 March and an early summer gathering in London at the Old Mitre, a very historic pub in Holborn, on Friday 18 May.

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Click here to download the calendar or visit the Old Princethorpians section at www.princethorpe.co.uk for more information on Old Princethorpians.

Saturday 2 September - 10.45am to 6.00pm

We are gearing up for the 7th annual Old Princethorpians' Sports Day (and 9th John Shinkwin Trophy Match) on Saturday 2 September. 

Building on the success of the sport at Princefest, for this year we have introduced some new elements, namely an OPs vs Staff Football Match to kick off the day and an OPs vs OPs Rugby Match to round off the proceedings!  We will also be looking to make the day a relaxed affair with music, a BBQ and a pay bar on offer.

As in previous years points will be accumulated throughout the day, with the Alex Wallis Memorial Shield being awarded to the victors at the end of the day.

Format of day:

10.45am to 12.00pm Football OPs vs Staff

12.00pm to 1.00pm Hockey Princethorpe College 1st XI Girls vs OPs XI (x 2)

1.15pm to 2.15pm Hockey Princethorpe College 1st XI Boys vs OPs XI (x 2)

1.30pm to 2.30pm Netball Princethorpe College 1st VII Girls vs OPs VII (x 2)

2.30pm to 3.45pm Rugby - John Shinkwin Trophy - Princethorpe College 1st XV Boys vs OPs XV (leavers of 2017 and 2016)

3.45pm to 5.00pm Rugby - OPs XV vs Kenilworth Babas

5.30pm - After Match Awards 

We are keen to get as many OPs from across the generations participating. If you are interested in playing in any of the sports please contact Neil McCollin, Director of Sport as soon as possible.

All are welcome to come along and support the teams!

Sunday 10 September 2.00pm - 4.00pm

The Heritage Open Days scheme was established in 1994 as England's contribution to European Heritage Open Days and is now this country's largest heritage festival. Around 40,000 volunteers arrange 5,000 events at historic sites, most of which are not normally open to the general public.

Princethorpe College has participated in the Heritage Open Days programme for many years. Our archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 10 September from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. Areas open include Pugin’s magnificent chapel, the cloisters, nuns’ cells, library (former church) and roundhouse. No booking is required; just turn up and join the next available tour. Entrance is via the glazed link off the North Car Park. Admission is free and there is complimentary tea and coffee available. We would be delighted to see you!

And if you are coming to Princethorpe why not also visit our local parish church.  St Anne's Catholic Church in Wappenbury has a long affiliation with the College and is participating in the Heritage Open Days scheme. The church can be found at CV33 9DW and will be open from 9.30am - 4.00pm.

Wednesday 13 September 2017 at 7.30pm

The Parents’ Reading Group is a group of keen readers who meet once a month in the library to discuss a book that is always decided on the month before.  Our first meeting of the term is on Wednesday 13 September in the library at 7.30pm.  On this occasion, we will be discussing Hot Milk by Deborah Levy and The Allegations by Mark Lawson, two very contrasting books that reflect the diversity of our reading tastes. 

Do please come along whether or not you have read these particular novels.  We are a friendly group of readers, looking forward to welcoming some new faces this year.  We would be interested in new recommendations of books and authors others have enjoyed so come and share your reading interests in the beautiful setting of the library; light refreshments and plenty of good conversation are provided.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English 

Sunday 24 September 2017 - 2.00pm - 5.00pm

The annual College Open Afternoon takes place on Sunday 24 September from 2.00pm - 5.00pm. All are welcome to visit the College and for our younger visitors there will be many fun subject related activities organised by the departments.

The Headmaster will address visitors during the afternoon and refreshments will be available. 

As usual we'll be looking for existing pupils to help out around school, talking to visitors and taking part in activities in the various departments.

Monday 25 September - 7.00pm

What a piece of work is a man

There are 92 naturally occurring elements in the Periodic Table but how many of them would you need to make a human? The chemical formula for a human has some surprising inclusions and the recipe to make a fully functioning person is carefully balanced. The next science Matters talk looks at some interesting facts about the elements that make us what we are.

The talk is to be given by Dr Kathryn Harkup who has become a regular and very popular contributor to Science Matters events.

You can hear all about the ‘Chemistry of the human body’ on Monday 25 September at 7.00pm in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre. There will be refreshments and a chance to talk with the Kathryn Harkup after the talk.

All parents and pupils are welcome. This is a free event but to help us cater efficiently please reserve places with Lisa Gardner by clicking here. 

Gill Smith
Head of Science

Friday 29 September 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Parents of pupils new to the school this year are invited to the Headmaster's Quiz, which will take place in the College Dining Room.  Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.  Tickets for the Parents’ Quiz, including a curry supper, are £10 per head.

The PTA will be running a bar and my quiz will hopefully not be too testing! 

It should be a very enjoyable evening for all and enable you to meet a number of other parents new to the College, as well as some staff and members of the PTA.  

If you would like to reserve your place, and to enable us to plan our catering, please click here to complete and submit a brief form by 9.00am, Monday 25 September.

Year 7 Social

At the same time, there will be also be a Year 7 Social organised by the Parent Teacher Association and school prefects in the Sixth Form Centre.  This is a fun evening for our newest pupils, at which there will be a disco and a ‘chill out’ area.

Tickets for the Year 7 Social are free of charge but you do need to reserve a place; to do so, please click here.  We recommend children bring approx £3 pocket money with them to purchase drinks and treats. Children should have eaten their evening meal before attending. 

Children can attend the Year 7 Social without their parents attending the Quiz, however parents are required to sign them in and sign them out. Drop off is at 7.00pm and collection no later than 9.00pm.

I very much hope you are able to attend and I look forward to meeting you on Friday 29 September; if you have any queries please call 01926 634200 or email, post@princethorpe.co.uk

Ed Hester
Headmaster

Monday 2 October 2017 - 9.30am to 3.00pm

For current Year 7 and 8 pupils (children born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006 and 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005 respectively), who are interested in admission to the College in September 2018, a Taster Day will be available on Monday 2 October.

The Year 6 Taster Days in September and October are now fully booked.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your child's place telephone the Registrars on 01926 634262 or email helenmorgan@princethorpe.co.uk.

Thursday 5 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Thursday 5 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Angela Barnard on 01926 514444 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crackleyhall.co.uk/

Friday 6 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, the Foundation's junior school for 4 to 11 year olds in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Friday 6 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 521595 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crescentschool.co.uk/