The Flagpole

Qualifying Expeditions

The qualifying expeditions are fast approaching after the half term break. I would like to encourage all to consider completing some walks with a rucksack over the next few weeks to further prepare for the physical demands of the trip. In addition, please could all participants continue to log hours and sign off their physical, volunteering and skills sections. I am delighted to see the quality of the evidence and assessor reports being uploaded onto the eDofE website. Any pupils requiring help with this element should please attend the weekly DofE clinic, 1.05pm on Tuesday lunchtime in LG02. Useful resources can be found on MySchoolPortal here.

Bronze

Pupils have a pre-trip meeting scheduled on Wednesday 5 June at tutor time, in the Clarkson theatre. Following this, full final expedition details will be distributed via email.

Group A – Cotswolds - Friday 21 June, 7.30am – Saturday 22 June, 5.00pm.

Group B – Cotswolds - Sunday 23 June, 7.30am – Monday 24 June, 5.00pm.

Silver

Thank you to pupils for attending the qualifying expedition assembly on Friday. I will send an email to you early next week with the presentation confirming full final details for the trip. 

Good luck in your preparations.

Peak District – Dark Peak - Thursday 6 June, 6.30am – Saturday 8 June, 6.00pm.

Individual kit will be handed out on Monday 3 June at 3.45pm in the Limes Atrium.

Gold

Pupils have a pre-trip meeting scheduled on Friday 14 June at tutor time, in the Clarkson theatre. Following this full final details will be distributed via email.

Snowdonia – Friday 28 June 9.00am – Tuesday 2 July, 9.00pm.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education - DofE Manager

Warwickshire Libraries are looking for young people who are outgoing and love talking about reading to volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge.

Follow these links to view the job description and submit your application. 

Job Description 

Application Form

The closing date for applications is 31 May 2024.

Year 10 pupil, Arun Bilkhu, has been developing his engineering skills and interest in mechanics by spending his spare time restoring a 1993 Mercedes 190e car.

Arun has spent hours bringing the old car back to life and this resulted in him being the youngest finalist in the Pride of Ownership category at the NEC Classic Car and Restoration Show, which took place back in April. Arun was interviewed by lots of people about his work on the car including with an American TV station and met experts and presenters from the car industry such as Ant Anstead, pictured with Arun and his car here.  

Arun commented that:

‘The car arrived at our house from Glasgow on a trailer. We were shocked by the condition of it. It wasn't what we thought we bought, as the condition of the paint was terrible and needed full paint restoration. My dad was very tempted to sell it and get rid of it but I stopped him from doing that as I thought it would be a good investment and hobby for me and him. Ever since then I have done all the work on the car such as paint restoration, new parts for the engine and keeping it in good condition.’

What a fantastic experience for Arun, we are all very impressed!  

It is always great to hear about our pupils' successes that take place outside of school; please do keep us updated if your son or daughter has won a competition, raised money for charity, is performing in a show or competing at a high level with a sporting team outside of school.

We would like to invite parents to submit this information to us via a nomination form by clicking here so we might celebrate these achievements in school too. Please be aware that due to the upcoming exams, Year 11 and Upper Sixth will not be able to attend.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Pupils are invited to enter the Brilliant Poetry Competition to write a poem (maximum 40 lines) about science. Brilliant Poetry is an international competition that invites people from around the world to express scientific wonder and discovery through verse.

Please see Mrs Lindsay or Mr Lee for more information or advice, the link here or from the STEAM Channel in the Whole School Team.

The deadline for entries is 21 June 2024.

The first Prize is £1000, Second Prize is £500, Third Prize is £250.

Good Luck!

It is always great to be able to share news of pupils' co-curricular sports successes outside of school.

Many congratulations to Year 8 Issey Cleary and Year 9 Charlotte Gower on successful outings at the recent West Midlands Summer Championships. Issey swam personal bests to win Gold in the 100m and 50m Breaststroke events and Silver in the 50m Butterfly. She also finished 4th in the 200m Breaststroke and fifth in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, setting club and West Midland records along the way. While Charlotte swam superbly and brought home a bucketful of medals, one Gold, three Silver and two Bronze medals. Both girls are on course to qualify for the invitation only British Summer Championships and the Swim England Summer Nationals, which take place at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Pool in July. A huge well done to Issey and Charlotte we are incredibly proud of you.

Then, seven Princethorpe pupils were part of the winning team on the Broadstreet Tour, winning all four of their games to be U15 tour champions. They beat Salisbury in the semi-finals and Canterbury in the finals at Ivybridge Rugby Club in Devon for a fantastic end to their season. Congratulations to Year 10s, Dan Tomlinson, Zach Rose, Harry Gallagher, Leo May, Fintan Bucke, Will Colledge and Year 9, Joe Harcourt. 

Year 7, Will Shaw, was sailing his Optimist dinghy over the Bank Holiday weekend at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, at the National Optimist Selection Trials. Will was the only Oppie from the Midland’s to qualify for this national sailing event, which comprised 75 boats from all over the UK who raced over four days, and ten races across the weekend.

Will finished 25th overall in a fleet of 75 boats, finishing the final race of the weekend in an amazing 3rd place. This was the qualifying event for the Optimist GBR team for 2024 and Will is now waiting to hear if he has a place on the GBR Oppie team in 2024. A huge well done to Will!

There's lots going on in the Library at the moment!