Dear Parents th 18 December 2014 Some good news at the end of term: • Following the final interviews last week for the post of Craig Beeston 10P and I am sure that next year, of Headteacher at Watford Grammar School for with the continued dedication that they all show, Boys, the Governors have appointed Mr Ian the results will start to turn their way. The U14s Cooksey, currently Headteacher at Dr Challoners under Mr Williams and Mr Samarasinghe have also High School for Girls, with effect from 1 st September had a tough season but managed to get some good 2015. wins against Queens, University College School • I will continue in my role as Acting Headmaster for and St Columba’s. They, like the other age groups, the remaining academic year and will lead the have never shirked away from the challenge, transition. I would like to take this opportunity to always turned up with good numbers to training thank you for your incredible support so far this year. and have been unfortunate with some close games not going their way. If they continue in this manner Sports News again next season, I am sure will be different. • This term over 160 Rugby fixtures have been played • The U13’s under Mr Jelski and Mr Davies have with 20 teams representing WBGS from A to D had a frustrating season. Unfortunately the A - teams. Team haven’t managed to ‘kick on’ as they would • With the pavilion works taking place at the New have hoped from last year’s successes. However, Field and the disruption that this has caused it is a they did have some highlights with impressive simply outstanding achievement and thanks must go victories over St Georges, Magdalen College and St to all for making this happen. Columba’s. A special mention must go to the U13 • The rugby club’s fixture card once again was B’s who were the ‘outstanding school team’ this bolstered with a pre-season fixture against season winning 7 out of 10 fixtures. Well done to Northampton Grammar and block fixtures added them! against Merchant Taylors and St Benedict’s Ealing. • The U12’s have had a good start to their rugby • The 2nd XV under Mr Jacobs have had a hard fought lives at WBGS with early victories over Queen season with some impressive wins, especially against Elizabeth Barnet, Bishops Stortford, Verulam and Cokethorpe, St George’s Harpenden and St even the very strong Aylesbury Grammar and are Columba’s. I have been impressed with their eagerly awaiting next terms full Saturday fixture dedication and resilience even when tight fixtures card! • st have gone against them. The 1 XV have had a very tough and • The 3rd XV have had six fixtures this season under disappointing season with a playing record of the final tutorage of Mr Welch, including Played 21 Won 5 Lost 16. There were moments to Haberdasher’s Aske’s, St Albans and Berkhamsted savour with impressive wins against local St School. Although many of the results didn’t go their Columba’s, Queen Elizabeth Barnet and Chesham way, they were all dedicated to the team and proud to Grammar. However, despite the continued represent the school on the rugby field A particular willingness from the team to train and apply mention must go to the Captain Alex Crawford U6N themselves, they couldn’t quite turn the narrow who has worked tirelessly to chase around the boys losses into victories. This, I am sure will be and get a team out. The Rugby club would just like to different next season under the continued excellent say a big thank you to Mr Welch for all of his years leadership of Julian Manieson L6P. The leaving dedicated to school rugby teams and he will be upper sixth boys must be thanked for all of their greatly missed while enjoying his retirement on a efforts in the teams over the years at Watford Boys. • Saturday morning! Finally special thanks must go out to all of the • The U16s under Mr Beere, and Mr Creak who we coaches who willingly give up their time after welcome from the DT department, have had an school and at weekends to give the boys the excellent season, winning well over two thirds of opportunity to play for the School. Those not their fixtures and once again proving to be a very mentioned already are Mr Gould and Mr Evans. • Representative honours this year went to:U18 cohesive unit. Let’s hope that their camaraderie and th Julian Manieson L6P (Herts U18); U16 Luke application continue into the 6 form next year when they link up with the current lowers. It certainly is an Benton 11T (Herts U15);U15 Craig Beeston 10P, exciting proposition. Euan Wiley 10P, Mike Onyekuru 10P (Herts U14); U14 Max Brown 9P, Tom Walsh 9G (Herts U14). • The U15s under Mr Dawson and Mr Dyson have had • The Cross Country squads have continued to a really tough season and been blighted by some improve this term with excellent performances serious injuries to key players at key stages. They locally and against the independent schools. have always rallied behind the outstanding leadership W: www.watfordboys.org T: 01923 208900 @WBGSExcellence E:[email protected] • In the District competition , WBGS were crowned 10C and Tyrone Muriithi 11B. In the tournament team champions at Senior Level, team 2 nd in Year 11 so far, they have beaten RGS High Wycombe and and 3 rd in Year 9. Outstanding individual John Hampden School and lost a competitive performances came from James Foley 7N 4 th , Oliver match against Haberdasher’s Aske’s. This should Griffiths 8N 1 st , Danny Figg 11P 2 nd and Jonny Hill ensure they qualify for the plate competition, where U6th 1 st . Oliver Griffiths has been chosen to they will endeavour to progress beyond the semi- represent Hertfordshire in the South of England final – the hurdle at which the school has fallen for Inter-Counties competition . the last two years! • The senior relay team were top state school finishers • Congratulations to all who were awarded at RGS Guildford with a respectable 10 th and 8 th at St certificates in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge Albans Boys. in November. James Ackerman U6B achieved the • There are more fixtures next half term so all are best score in the school (104/125) and, alongside encouraged to attend training on a Thursday after Muhammad Manji L6G, qualified for the British school. Mathematical Olympiad. 11 students qualified for the Senior Kangaroo, among them Luke Ashford Music News 10C – a remarkable achievement given that the Senior Challenge is aimed at Sixth Formers! The Congratulations to all students who took part in the th two wonderful Autumn Concerts towards the end of Intermediate Challenge takes place on 5 November. Wednesday evening showcased the February 2015, so members of the tops sets in talents of the Brass Ensemble, Guitar Group, Years 9-11 will have their turn then. • Saxophone Group, a Year 8 Ensemble, Senior Choir, Also in November, Muhammad Manji L6G, Oliver The Big Band, Crescendo Strings and Senior Lee L6T, Nimesh Patel U6F and Joshua Blake U6F Windband, whilst Thursday evening drew impressive participated in the UKMT Senior Team performances from the Brass Band, Junior Brass Challenge . They were disappointed not to have Ensemble, Friday Band, Senior Strings and Senior given a better account of themselves, but still Orchestra. It was a real highlight of the term to see so achieved a respectable mid-table finish. many boys involved and producing high quality • In December, the four top Lower Sixth performers performances. Thank you to all parents and friends in the Senior Challenge attended a Problem- for supporting the Music Department and creating a Solving conference at the Centre for great atmosphere in the Clarendon Muse. The next Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge . They were large scale concerts are scheduled for Wednesday introduced to University admissions test questions 25 th and Thursday 26 th March. and given guidance on how to prepare themselves • On Tuesday evening, the traditional Festival of to rise to the challenge these present! Lessons and Carols took place at St. Michael’s • Teeren Mistry 9F, Luke Hardy 9F, Ayodele Church in Mildred Avenue. Many thanks to all those Andrews 9C and Khushal Thobhani 9T competed involved in the Senior Choir, Brass Ensemble and in the school’s debut to the First Lego League . Senior Strings and to all those who attended this The standard of the regional competition was very special occasion, which was a fitting end to this high as many other schools have taken part in the term’s musical activities. competition for a number of years. Despite this the • Many boys have been taking music examinations team put in an exceptional performance and won during this last week of term and everyone will be the Robot Design competition and with spirits high able to find out their results in the New Year. Please they hope for better things next year. let Mr Hussey know about any exam entry requests for the Associated Board and Trinity Guildhall as • Politics students have had a busy couple of weeks soon as we return in January. with attendance at a politics conference where • The music timetables for the Spring Term have been they had the opportunity to quiz politicians such as issued during the last few weeks so any student who William Hague, Tristram Hunt, Simon Hughes and finds himself without one should see Mr Hussey as Nigel Farage. With an imminent general election soon as possible, or check the details on the school’s looming, it was the Liberal Democrats who have VLE Moodle, where they are available to be been making the biggest effort to woo the youth consulted or printed off if necessary.