450 Diary
By way of marking Oundle 450, a number of different events and projects are taking place in addition to the Key Events of the year. The aim of these events, collected together as the 450 diary, is to provide opportunities for all areas of School life to contribute to the celebrations, and to highlight in this Anniversary year the wealth of opportunities presented at Oundle, and the diverse activities undertaken by the School's staff and its pupils.
It is expected that many more events will be added to this list as the year progresses. Some of these events are internal, and open only to pupils and staff. Parents, friends and visitors are very welcome, however, to attend all those events headed with blue text. Unless otherwise stated, entry is free and not ticketed. Please contact the relevant people as listed if you require more information
Chinatown trip
Sunday 29th January
The Chinese department travel to London’s Chinatown to celebrate the
Chinese New Year. Read the brochure here
(large file: 3 MB .pdf), and the report here.
Religious Studies Conference
Wednesday 22nd February
A conference that aims to bring together prep schools and senior schools to
discuss the issues raised within the Religious Studies Curriculum, with particular
reference to Common Entrance.
Oundle’s Foundation, the English Reformation and Music
Tuesday 7th March
7.45 p.m., Arthur Marshall Room, Oundle School
A recital lecture, featuring live performances of the works discussed. The lecture, which will include music by Tallis, Byrd, Tye and Mundy, will investigate the music that was being written in England at the time of Oundle School’s foundation. Alastair Tighe explores the cultural, social and musical impact of the fallout from Henry VIII and Catharine of Aragon’s tempestuous marriage bed. More info available from music@oundle.northants.sch.uk
6 a-side football tournament for charity
Sunday 12th March
Open to all OOs, parents and existing senior boys. Contact either Colin Baxter (cab@oundle.northants.sch.uk) or Chris Piper (cjp@oundle.co.uk) to enter the competition.
OSCAR radio broadcast
24th April to 7th May
Love and War in Virgil: A Classics Department
Talk
Tuesday 9 May
5.30 p.m., Cecil Lewis Room, Oundle School
A talk given by Dr William Fitzgerald, currently Director of Studies of Caius College, Cambridge University and formerly Professor of Classics at University College, Berkeley.
British Schools Dinghy Racing Association
Eastern Team Racing Championship
Saturday 13th May
Middle Nene Sailing Club (click for directions)
Rossini's The Barber of Seville: Presented
by Opera East
Productions
Friday 9th June, Great Hall, Oundle School at 7:30 p.m.
Rossini’s great comic opera will be performed in the Great Hall as part of the School’s 450th anniversary celebrations. Packed full of tuneful and vivacious tunes, the opera tells the story of thwarted young love redeemed by the aid of sharp-witted Figaro, one of opera’s best-loved characters. Sung in English with orchestral accompaniment, this production by one of England’s leading touring opera companies, is guaranteed to have you tapping your toe in time to some delightful music. Tickets and more details available from music@oundle.northants.sch.uk.
The Walk to Rome 2006
July
A party of recent OOs will walk the ancient forgotten paths that compose the final 180 miles of the Via Francigena: the route of mediaeval pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome. The trip is established, organized and led by Mr. Timothy Watson who has been guiding groups on foot to Rome every year since 1988.
AfricaLink Community Aid Project in Mozambique
July
23 pupils travel to Africa to continue work on a project begun in Mozambique in 2004. The project will help build a hydroponics farm to be taken over by members of a local community to provide them with a self-sustaining source of income. It is very difficult to grow crops in the poor beach sand of the area, and this scheme involves intensive irrigation and fertilization with minimal environmental impact.
2006 TSM Workshop for Mathematics Teachers
Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th July, Oundle School
This successful workshop for teachers has sold out for the past 4 years and last year there were 125 teachers taking part, from 16 countries. Teachers all over the world are struggling to come with terms with the potential of using ICT in the classroom, and this workshop gives them the chance to get to grips with software and hardware over three days, using the superb IT facilities of Oundle School, led by a team of internationally renowned tutors. For more information visit http://www.tsm-resources.com/July06.html
Cars at Oundle: An automobile exhibition
Saturday 16 September, Patrick Centre
To coincide with the Festival Day, the Oundle School Design and Technology Department (Patrick Centre) is arranging an exhibition of cars and ‘off-road’ buggies completed over the last five years in the workshops. Oundle School has had many O.O.’s connected to the automotive engineering industry and the tradition continues. More information available from Clive Humphreys, Director of the Patrick Centre (cdh@oundle.northants.sch.uk)
European Literature at the time of Oundle’s
foundation.
Tuesday, 26 September or Thursday, 28 September
An evening looking at the main trends in European literature from 450 years ago, with extracts from a variety of languages.
A Week long display of OOs books.
September
Cripps Library, Oundle School
A Week long display of OOs books in print.
September
Oundle School Bookshop
Display of Coins and Pots in Library.
September
Cripps Library, Oundle School
A display organized by the Classics Department and featuring items from the School collection.
Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten
Tuesday, 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, October
5.30 p.m., St Peter’s Church, Oundle
A celebration of the music in Laxton Junior School and Oundle School and the links with the local community. The event draws on pupils and staff from both schools as well as members of the church community. More information available from music@oundle.northants.sch.uk
Requiem for Deceased Benefactors of Oundle School
Sunday, 5th November
7.45 p.m., Oundle School Chapel
A combined choir of the Oundle Schola Cantorum and Oxbridge Choral Scholars perform Duruflé’s Requiem in a liturgical setting to give thanks for past benefactors of the School. More information available from music@oundle.northants.sch.uk
OSCAR radio broadcast
18th November to 13th December
Chinese Department Trip to Oundle’s Exchange School in Beijing
December
Oundle Charity Venturers
Throughout 2006
A home-grown pupil-run company, Camel Cards, will be marketing specially
commissioned playing cards to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. The
product will be endorsed by two celebrity OO card-players, Anthony Holden
and Al Alvarez.
Read more.
A second company, Roller Coaster, will be producing and marketing drinks coasters illustrated with Oundle scenes throughout 2006 to mark the School’s 450th anniversary.
Great Oundle Read: One Great School, One Great Book
Throughout 2006
To celebrate 450 years of books at Oundle, the Library has organised the
Great Oundle Read. Pupils and Staff have been involved in drawing up a shortlist
of books, which reflect the experiences of the past or present a vision of
the future for Oundle pupils. Three books will be chosen and distributed to
pupils in Forms 1 and 2, Forms 3, 4 and 5, and the Sixth Form. The final selection
will be announced in April so that everyone can enjoy some summer reading.
Back at school in September, pupils and Staff will be encouraged to talk about
their responses and opinions at the dinner table, in classes, on the sidelines
of the sports fields – anywhere and everywhere! With informal and formal
discussions, reviews, quizzes, competitions and exhibits, it should be fun
and invigorating. By reading the same book, the Oundle School community, with
all its diversity of interests, will have the unique opportunity to share
the same reading experience and discover and appreciate what Sanderson called,
“humanity’s story”.