Friday 5th February 2021

Dear Parents,

We were very fortunate this week in having, as our preacher at Cathedral Assembly, The Right Reverend and Right Honourable the Lord Chartres. Of all our bishops in recent years, he was the one who attained a truly national profile. He was everything that a bishop should be in the public imagination. His words never failed to move or to say something of real significance. He was seen, every year, at the Cenotaph where he conducted the national commemoration of those who had died fighting for their country with real dignity, and he preached on several occasions of national significance, including at the memorial service for the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 2007, the funeral of Baroness Thatcher and at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. He was a campaigner on environmental issues and, having spoken against making unnecessary plane journeys, he gave up flying for a year, despite a busy travelling schedule as part of his role as Bishop of London, a fact which meant that he had to make some very long-distance train journeys.

He spoke today about the importance of service, mentioning the example provided by Her Majesty the Queen, the anniversary of whose accession falls tomorrow, quoting her moving words delivered so many years ago on her 21st birthday: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.” He mentioned Captain Sir Tom Moore and his recent service to the country and went on to quote the passage from St John’s Gospel which had been read earlier by Thomas Sear, our Head Boy, “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends,” remarking that Love is not so much something that blows hot and cold but is “self-giving service”. I am certain that these words will have made an impression upon all those who heard them.

Christ Church Meadow was completely flooded this week. The Cherwell had burst its banks and the main MCS playing field, known as The Island, was a lake, their beautiful pavilion completely surrounded by water. The river itself, normally a slow running, gentle stream, was flowing with frightening speed while the Thames had also burst its banks. The raised paths around the Meadow had become barely elevated ridges, reminding me of the causeways of old, stretching across the Somerset Levels. As a result, the circuit around the main meadow was fenced off. I was relieved, given our plans to build a new pavilion in the very near future, that our end of Merton Field was dry - but our Woodland School had been transformed into a woodland lake, or more appropriately given Nursery’s decision to visit it, a Lake School. Miss Nicky, Miss Rachel and Miss Kat took the children to the Lake School to test out their boats on the broad sheet of water. I was thrilled that we were taking full advantage of the unusual conditions – very much a sign of the times I think, where we have to make the most of the difficult situations in which we find ourselves.

The flooding was another reminder to me that we humans will have to be adaptable in the future and will need to take action against the effects of climate change. Life will never be absolutely as we planned it and indeed, we will face many challenges in the years ahead, particularly environmental. I am determined that the pupils should come to realise that the human capacity to adapt to situations, even to very difficult ones, and to act decisively where necessary, is tremendous - the vaccine, developed here in Oxford, is a prime example of that, of course. An education such as ours should ensure that our pupils are prepared for such a future and are able to face these challenges.

Talking of adaptability, we have sent out surveys to the pupils about online learning. The responses for the Prep School survey have now come back and it is good to learn that pupils are, by and large, very positive about their online learning. There are, of course, ways in which we can change and improve our offering and these surveys will help us to continue to refine what we are doing for the benefit of our pupils. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any reflections.

Mr Murray Headmaster Lockdown Learning

Nursery News

Keeping fit, Kicking balls, Kiwi printing, making and flying Kites, decorating a crown for a King and cooking Kedgeree. Just some of the activities we have enjoyed in Nursery this week around our 'Sound of the Week - K'. When we visited the Woodland School we were in for quite a surprise.

The Meadow was flooded and the river had burst its banks. Despite wearing boots we got very wet socks in our Woodland Lake! We had a lot of fun sailing boats, blowing bubbles and paddling in the deep water. Our pallet bug hotel had a new visitor - a large heron was enjoying a dry perch! NE

Cookery Club News

Una Pizza Fiorentina, per favore.

Yesterday, the boys prepared dinner for their parents. Fresh dough and home-made sauce were created. The boys certainly surprised us by baking at lunchtime, ready to continue with their pizzas during Cookery Club, later in the day. Mozzarella, olives, basil, several types of cheese, pepperoni… The boys had fun chopping and arranging their ingredients to make the best pizzas ever. We understand that dinner was quickly over.

The main question was, can you put too much cheese on a pizza? Our chefs were unanimous… “The more, the better!” Mme Loyer &Mme Williams Out of the Art Rooms...

I think it would be true to say that, during this most unusual of years, many of us have become much more aware of the natural world that surrounds us. I am sure that many of our pupils have been able to engage their interest in what is happening beneath their feet and in the skies above. I am blessed by the most wonderful natural alarm clock every morning as a male blackbird sings to the new day at the top of a tree in my back garden; he returns in the late afternoon to sing goodnight at dusk… It is a very special part of my day and I always pause to appreciate the mellifluous sound. The blackbird and robin are two birds that continue to sing throughout the year.

In the Virtual Art Rooms much drawing, colouring and painting has been going on apace, interspersed with discussion and a shared love of knowledge and learning. I have been delighted by the enthusiasm our boys have shown for their work. Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to be opening the first of this academic year’s Virtual Art Galleries in which much of this new art work will be displayed, with a great deal of (justified!) pride. In the long term, of course, we have the prospect of our Annual Art Exhibition in the William Walton Hall next May to look forward to. I think this will be on the 15th.

As ever, if any of our pupils have a picture, painting, photograph or other artwork, which they would like displayed in our Virtual Art Gallery, please send a photograph to me at [email protected].

I am always absolutely delighted to see the wonderfully inventive work our pupils create. DC

A Rocha

This year, to support our school charity, A Rocha, a Just Giving page has been set up to enable people to make donations more easily.

We would encourage donations to be made through Just Giving. To make a donation, simply copy the link below and follow the instructions.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cccsarocha

Childline

Below is a reminder of the link to Childline that children can access.

The link was sent to us from the Education Safeguarding Advisory Team, Oxford.

https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/

Online Services

The Cathedral continues to hold online services.

These can be accessed using the following link: www.chch.ox.ac.uk/onlineworship.

Services also continue at Worcester College Chapel.

These can be accessed online using the following link: worcesterchapel.org/online. CCCS Poetry Writing Competition

With our best intentions to unite the parents and staff of the CCCS community, we are launching a poetry writing competition. You may be a poet and you just don’t know it, yet.

Our judge and Headmaster, Richard Murray, has kindly risen to the challenge and started the ball rolling with his take on the youthful poetry of John Betjeman, who wrote about places such as Oxford in a lyrical rhythm, as well as adopting a gentle sense of humour in his subject.

Our theme will be Lockdown - the highs, the lows and the everything in between. The intention is that as many people as possible enter, using different styles, including free verse.

Please see below for entry details. Now find a quiet space in the house to enjoy Richard's poem.

Lockdown Life - Richard Murray

1. The login is typed on computer 2. From darkness emerges a fresh face, And Teams is prompted to run; Under Park Town’s immaculate sky, My image appears through the router He greets me with charm and amused grace I wish I had had some more sun. As his kitten emerges close by. I have sat with my screen since the weekend, Another from Jericho’s tight streets Head and shoulders addressed to the world, Close by the ash-lined canal , The rest of my body redundant The voice from North Oxford competes Hidden, reduced and tight-curled. With the sound of his Summertown pal. 3. From Wheatley’s flat fields there emerges 4. In London’s East End there’s a scholar A boy who has slept through the night, Who tunes in with last minute haste, From Grandpont and Iffley converges The warm air is hot under collar A class of young minds to excite. In Thailand where lessons are aced! The curtains are drawn in the Cotswolds The view is complete with bright faces Under rooves of honey-hued slate, Dispersed, but together on screen, The laptop the child gingerly unfolds They come from disparate places The lessons fall onto his plate. One world-wide communion is seen!

5. Commuting is done through the keyboard Conversation occurs on the Chat. In Assignments prep tasks are now stored Three dimensions can leap from the flat. Our lives are missing the formal We travel without leaving home - We embrace with excitement “New Normal!” But to Brewer Street our hearts sometimes roam.

Entry Details:

 Poems must be entered anonymously, so we are suggesting you hand-write or type your poems, and post them to the School address, which will allow the receiver to look forward to the postman arriving every day  A suggested donation to A Rocha of £5 or more for each entry  You may enter more than once  All parents and staff are encouraged to enter  Further details to follow each week  Closing date for entries is Monday 22nd February

CCCSPA News

This week’s Meet and Greet:

Anna Brunton - About-to-retire Teacher of Double Reeds at CCCS

What did you want to be when you grew up and what are you doing now? I remember falling in love with the theme for ‘Tales of the River Bank’ when I was three years old, so it was always going to be something to do with music. I now teach oboe, bassoon, recorder and piano, and in normal times I travel the world examining for Trinity Music Exams.

If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why? Back to Lake Baikal. I did the trans-Siberian Railway 13 years ago and thought the lake and its environs were breath-taking.

Who is your idol and why? My mother, who engendered an attitude of endless curiosity about the world. Since my music degree I have studied art-history, literature, and Earth Sciences with the Open University. Now I am doing a part-time D Phil at Oxford.

Favourite city or town and in which season? Oxford, all year round.

One thing you would change in the world if you could? Bring back state funded classical music lessons for those who wish to learn. When I started learning, music lessons were free in the state sector - can you believe it?

Is there a family trait/habit that you or your child/family member have? To my shame, I do tend to leave used coffee cups around, and so does my adult daughter.

Favourite book? Anything by William Golding. His writing creates a wholly believable world in which you can lose yourself. The Inheritors really gets you into the mind-set of Neanderthal man under threat from a new species - humans!

If you could start something new (hobby/interest or sport) and were not limited with time/age/ money what would it be? I did start to learn etching techniques last year. However the wonderful London Print Studio has now shut down, so I would love to find somewhere else to continue this.

Any advice on how you relax at the weekend? Poirot, Miss Marple, Morse, Lewis, Endeavour. The common theme here is that all these detectives have integrity, and evil gets its just desserts - if only life were so simple.

I always think it is a shame that dedicated teachers have to retire. Thank you so much Anna, I am sure you've left a long legacy of talented musicians behind you.

Have a lovely weekend.

Kathryn [email protected]