Lent term: Week 4 News 29th January 2021 A note from the Headmaster It was a joy to see boarders snowballing and building snowmen on the school lawn last Sunday – a reminder of the importance for boys to be able to let off steam outdoors, which is more important than ever, given the restrictions that lockdown has imposed on us. Next week is Mental Health Week and we are encouraging all the boys to take time away from their screens and do something creative, indoors or outdoors, in line with our “Express yourself” theme. The options for creativity are boundless and we ask that boys take a photo or two of their endeavours and share them with their tutor and tutor group for discussion during the week. The Rotary competitions are also a great chance for our boys to submit some of their creative work for a prize. Of course, there is so much creative endeavour going on already, as this week’s newsletter shows. I loved the first edition of The Happy Times; well done to the Wye Dean boys! Top stories SNOW BLANKETS MONMOUTH AND BRIGHTENS UP THE DAILY EXERCISE Snowfall lent a particularly picturesque look to the school site last weekend and the crisp downfall certainly brightened up the views on everyone's daily exercise. Whether it was snowball fights at Chapel House or a frosty run on the Kymin, it was yet another reminder of what a lovely part of the world Monmouth is in. OLD MONMOTHIAN PICKED FOR WALES’ SIX NATIONS SQUAD Former Monmouth schoolboy, Hallam Amos, has been picked in Wales’ rugby squad for this sea- son’s Six Nations campaign. The former Head Boy at Monmouth School for Boys is among the 36-man squad selected by Wales head coach, Wayne Pivac. Hallam, 26, has scored six tries in 22 appearances for Wales since making his full international debut on the wing versus Tonga in November 2013. “We are absolutely delighted that Hallam has been picked in the squad to represent Wales in this season’s Six Nations championship,” said Headmaster at Monmouth School for Boys, Mr Simon Dorman. “Hallam is a wonderful ambassador for the school, an inspira- tion to our boys, and we cannot wait to follow his progress and to cheer him on. We wish him and the Wales squad the very best of luck.” The Old Monmothian is also studying medicine at Cardiff University School of Medicine. The versatile Cardiff Blues player, who can slot in at full-back, wing or centre, has plenty of Test experience and will be hoping to add to his caps. Hallam’s last appearance for Wales was against New Zealand when he scored his side’s opening try in their World Cup bronze medal match defeat in Japan in November 2019. Wales begin this season’s championship at home to Ireland on Sunday 7th February (3pm kick-off) Hallam, who hails from Cross Ash, made his professional debut, aged 17, for Dragons against Wasps in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in October 2011. He was selected as a member of Wales’ Rugby Sevens squad for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. MATHS CHALLENGE SUCCESS In November, 41 students from year 12 and 13 at Monmouth School Sixth Form, (together with Kit in year 11) sat the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. The UKMT Challenge papers encourage mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems, all of which are designed to make students think. They are all recognised as a mark of mathematical thinking by Universities. This year due to the Welsh lockdown all the pupils had the added challenge of taking this online. Of the 41 pupils, 12 received a Gold certificate, 14 Silver and 9 Bronze. Gold Emma C, Charles G, Ally L, Janice L, Iain L, Rose L, Martin P, Robin S, Kit S Claire T, Carys W and Vivian Z. Silver Edward B, Nick C, Jonah H, Hinson H, Sabrina P, Joshua M, Che T, Maria T, Zebedee B, Rhys H, Edward K, Ben R, Teddy S, Lillian Z, Bronze Ethan C, James C-S, Dickson L, Hazel L, Nicole L, Simran S, Jodie T, Roy W and Nerys Y. Robin S achieved ‘Best in School’, and along with Kit S and Charles G they took part in the tough British Math- ematical Olympiad Round. All three boys successfully achieved a Merit Certificate. Emma C, Carys W, Ally L, Rose L and Martin P qualified for the follow-on ‘Kangaroo’ round, with Rose L achieving a Merit certificate. All of these are fantastic achievements. Example question from the Senior Mathematical Challenge, answers later in this newsletter. Finally we have some results from last academic year but, due to the pandemic, we only received the results just before Christmas. Back in March, just before Lockdown, Kit S and John Z had a gruelling two hour paper having qualified for the follow-on Olympiad rounds from the Intermediate Maths Challenge back in February. 11 others qualified for the follow-on ‘Kangaroo’ round. Both John and Kit received Merit certificates, which considering they were among the top 600 students in each of their age group is a fantastic achievement. The results of the Kangaroo papers were as follows: Grey Kangaroo Alex H - Merit Pink Kangaroo Iain L - Merit, Isaac W-M -Merit We now look ahead to the next round of the Intermediate challenge on the 3rd February. Example question from the Senior Mathematical challenge, answers later in this newsletter. GOOD NEWS PAPER BRINGS SOME CHEER Well done to the boys in Wyedean for their latest edition of the Happy Times, which was sent out to the school community this week. The paper was set up last year by the boys in WyeDean and it has its own editorial group, who collect good news stories from our school community, locally, nationally and internationally, with the intention of spreading a little happiness. They also include puzzles and quizzes. Due to lockdown, this Michaelmas edition was a little later than planned, but the boys were determined to get it done. This edition includes some really helpful Health and Wellbeing pointers and also handy links for pupils who are, once again, remote learning. Well done to all involved. Michaelmas Issue #3 2020-2021 THE HAPPY TIMES THE WYEDEAN HAPPY NEWSPAPER. BRINGING SMILES TO YOUR FACES. Alec Scales First Iron Man with down syndrome New World Record! Clocking in at 16 hours; 46 minutes; nine seconds (just 14 minutes shy of the 17-hour cutoff time), triathlete Chris Nikic didn’t finish with the fastest time when he recently completed his first Iron Man race—but he did set a new world record. This past Saturday, after swimming Left: Sam Badcock getting ready for home learning Right: Sleep in fundraiser event 2.4 miles, the 21-year-old Floridian cycled 112 miles, and then ran a 26.2-mile marathon to become the first competitor with Down’s Bobby Edwards Syndrome to successfully cross the finish line in the 42-year history of Badcock Beats Cancer the Iron Man Race. “You have shattered barriers while This Terms Best Story proving without a doubt that Recently Sam Badcock from the photo he is taking anything is possible,” tweeted the official Ironman Triathlon miraculously beat cancer his school work very Organization. “We are beyond after a year of radio and seriously dressed in his inspired, and your accomplishment chemo therapies. His doctor school uniform as he works is a defining moment in Ironman history that can never be taken told him this roughly at the from home. Thank you for away from you.” beginning of the half term. your support for our Sleep For his awe-inspiring efforts, Nikic Soon Sam will be returning in event for Sam, which also earned himself a place in the to school in January. I hope raised over £3400 for Guinness Book of World Records as the first person with Down’s you will be looking forward Southampton Hospital's Syndrome to become an official to Sam coming back. Sam is Children's ward and for all Iron Man. working remotely from of your prayers and kind With hopes of competing in the home and as you can see wishes. 2022 Special Olympics scheduled on his home turf in Orlando, it Alec Scales looks as if Chris Nikic has plenty of big dreams yet to come true. ‘Free letters for friends feeling blue’ As for that medal he won for In the face of worry over the coronavirus pandemic and all the stress it completing one of the world’s most has placed on New Yorkers, a Brooklyn-based performance artist and grueling triathlons? He gifted it to English professor Brandon Woolf came up with the idea of reviving the his loving mom. letter-writing tradition to reach out and comfort one another. Knowing that people have lost loved ones, jobs and businesses, and given up simple pleasures like hugs from a friend, Woolf began to ponder how to help people make meaningful connections. Using a vintage portable typewriter and seated on a folding chair alongside a mailbox, his sign says, “Free Letters for Friends Feeling Blue.” Woolf spent several hours, a few days a week for four weeks, typing letters for his Park Slope, Brooklyn neighbors. The 37-year-old New York University teacher dubbed his “post-dramatic” While helping with his laces moments before his street performance “The Console”—short for consolation. run, Nik Nikic told his son he was "almost an “Let’s not mourn our mailboxes, Maligned As vessels of civic futility,” he Ironman" wrote on Facebook in a poem, as a project manifesto.