16th December 2016

The Headmaster writes: The Headmaster writes: The Headmaster writes:

It only seems two minutes ago when we were sitting in Charterhouse chapel for our brilliant climax to the Christmas term. The singing, readings and music was breath-taking, and the event not only allows us to retell the nativity story, but to gather together as a community of boys, staff, parents, siblings, grandparents, governors and often yet more extended family and friends. I’m reliably informed that the chapel was the fullest it has ever been, so a huge thank you to you all for turning up to support the ever growing community. This wonderful Christmas edition of the Aldrolink comes hot on the heels of the earlier one this term, where we celebrated so many wonder-ful achievements of the boys, but we packed so much into the final week of term that it merited its own entire edition for you to enjoy with your Christmas dinner. Having previously waxed lyrically about our incredible parent body, and the work of the FoAA in building community here, I must now extend my enormous gratitude to the huge contribution of all the staff in bringing the term to such a successful close, but especially want to recognise the dedicated boarding team who put on such a fun boarders’ Christmas weekend culminating in the traditional

annual boarders’ feast. I know the boys who joined in for the first time or the sixth time thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, and our quizzes told us some very exciting facts about some of our staff. My favourite ones being the member of staff who was smuggled over the Syrian border in a UN vehicle, and just who is our resident UK ballroom dancing champion? If boarding experience wasn’t enough to keep us occupied, the second team I really want to thank are the music department – not so long ago heavily involved in our junior production, but they have worked every hour going to deliver a spectacular Christmas concert and competition, with two really special carol services either side of it. If you were lucky to come to any of our Christmas celebrations, you surely will agree that the boys performed brilliantly, and we are so proud of all of them. Enjoy this very festive edition of the Aldrolink Jenny and I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New year,

We hope you enjoy the latest Aldronian!We hope you enjoy the latest Aldronian!We hope you enjoy the latest Aldronian!

Hopefully all the boys will have brought home a copy of the new Aldronian. We do hope that you enjoy reading this over the Christmas holiday and as you can see from these photographs the boys had already started before the holidays!

Aldro Carol Service

The Aldro Christmas Carol Service was a wonderful way to end the term. Whether it was Forms 3 and 4 singing ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart’, Forms 5 and 6 ‘do you hear what I hear’ or chapel choir processing in with Toby Pascoe singing the opening solo for Once in Royal David’s City, and then some beautiful singing from the boys for ‘Carol of the children’, ‘Still, still, still’, ‘Infant Holy, Infant Lowly’ and Chamber Choirs ‘Coventry carol’.

Christmas Lunch

On Thursday 8th December David McCoy and his catering team once again pulled together to give us the most delicious Christmas lunch. Turkey, roast potatoes and all the trimmings was followed by cinnamon pudding and custard and satsumas. Crackers were pulled, jokes were told and everyone left feeling well fed and full of Christmas spirit. Many thanks to our catering team for a wonderful meal and for all the exceptional food they have produced this term, both at lunchtime and all the other numerous events. We are extremely lucky to have them.

Beach Hut themed Birdhuts

These beach hut themed ‘Birdhuts’ were created by 7C who have mastered a range of skills. Their first project with Mrs Matthews saw them learning how to read a working drawing, accurately measuring and marking out, precision cutting and drilling using a range of hand tools and machinery, assembling using panel pins (without any hammered thumbs!) and PVA, and finally sanding to a smooth high quality finish before finishing with an exterior grade paint for outdoor use. Each boy has personalised the basic shape by selecting his own unique colour scheme and adding individual features. Mrs Matthews and the boys are very pleased with the outcomes and we hope they will be adorning gardens across Surrey as soon as they have spent a few weeks being shown off in school first!

Aldro Chess Championships & Squad Competition 2016

The Squad competition is always a great way to finish the term and this years’ competition lived up to expectations with some great games and more than the occasional shock result. Age group winners; U13 Jack Finnis U12 Henry Hickey U11 Benji Bushnell U10 Jonnie Lake Coghlan U9 Ben Hickey and Scott Hume U8 Eddie Hewitt SQUAD COMPETITION It was a very close squad competition with the top 6 scoring players from each squad counting towards the final result. 1st India 19.5 points 2nd NZ 16.5 3rd Australia 15.5 4th WI 14.5 5th Africa 11.5 6th Canada 10 Congratulations to the India team Well done to all 57 players.

Musical NotesMusical Notes Christmas Concert & Aldro Musician of the YearChristmas Concert & Aldro Musician of the YearChristmas Concert & Aldro Musician of the Year

Wow, what a term! As we approached this term I was slightly apprehensive. When so many Form 8 musicians leave in the summer and of such a high standard then any department is bound to feel a great sense of loss. My initial apprehension left during the first weeks of this term as the present Form 8’s stepped up to the plate for the FoAA’s drinks evening, the first rehearsals for the ensembles took place and we were soon into the music competition with the singing heats. The music competition was to be the highest overall standard in my time at Aldro with so many boys performing superbly and as we approached the concert and final I was very pleased that an independent adjudicator would have to make the decisions! As he said on the night, many of us would have chosen different boys and performances due to our personal musical preferences and congratulations are rightly deserved for all the boys who performed. Our winners - Jack McKenzie and Henry Rix deserve a special mention for ‘blowing’ us away on the night with focussed and confident performances and we all left feeling much the richer for the evening.

Musical NotesMusical Notes Christmas Concert & Aldro Musician of the YearChristmas Concert & Aldro Musician of the YearChristmas Concert & Aldro Musician of the Year

A huge number of boys have again taken exams this term and the focus and maturity with which they approached these were noticeable and resulted in some excellent results so again well done to all for these. As well as some excellent marks it is always encouraging when an external examiner comments so positively on the boys deportment, preparations and performances. Our ensembles have had several opportunities to demonstrate their hard work and enjoyment of their music making. None more so than during the final weeks of term whether it was Mr Coltarts thanksgiving service, the Christmas Concert and Final or our end or term services and again I was very impressed with their work during the term and their attitude in performing. The candlelit service was again a highlight of the year and well done especially to chamber and chapel choir. The boys, staff and parents have worked hard and been very committed this term to their musical endeavours and can I thank you all for your continued support and wish you all a very restful, peaceful and Happy Christmas. Mr T Rainer

There was great excitement in the boarding house when the school Christmas tree arrived. Our Junior boarders thoroughly enjoyed decorating the tree for the Vestibule and Dining Room.

After a typical Saturday morning, all the boarders had lunch and then prepared for an outing to Gravity force. We piled on to the buses driven by Sir James King, Mr Rainer and Mr Rose. When we arrived, we checked in and after a thorough safety briefing started our bouncing. We had a great time but it was over far too soon!

Christmas in the boarding house...Christmas in the boarding house...Christmas in the boarding house...

Boarders’ NewsBoarders’ News

In the evening, we all played Irish bingo in the common room with Mr Margesson while the matrons and Mr Rainer judged the dorms for the annual dorm decorating competition. There have been giant reindeers, paperchains a mile long, and enough fairy lights to create a landing strip! Mr Rainer said this had been the best year of decorating he has ever seen in the boarding house. After Irish bingo, it was then time to make our way downstairs to collect our guests and be seated for the Boarders’ Feast. The wonderful kitchen staff never cease to amaze us with their wonderful cooking. They produced the most delicious traditional Christmas dinner of turkey with all the trimmings. Not only did we have food but TWO quizzes made by members of staff. Mr Hanson then made a small speech and led the three cheers for the kitchen staff and at that point most of the boarders and staff members went to the boarding house, but the Form eight boys did help clean up in the dining room.

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As the enthusiasm of the feast died down, there was some more excitement about the movie as all the boarders scrambled to get first class seats in front of the television with their duvets and pillows. Finally, after the movie finished, all the boarders settled down and got a good night sleep.

In the morning we had an amazing breakfast at which the winners of the decoration competition were announced – Townsend and Elkan! From 10am we were engaged in activities including ping pong and badminton. Whilst some of the boys were collected from school, many of us embarked on the journey to the City of Winchester. The Christmas songs were playing and the weather was perfect. It was a cold but bright day which made ice skating so much fun. All of the boys seemed to start off well but lots struggled to stay on their feet on the rink! Lots were helped by Mr Crafter who often fell over in an attempt to rescue the boys. There were smiles and lots of laughter all afternoon, with chocolate and marshmallows over lots of sticky faces. The boys did us proud as they walked around the busy market and bought their weight in festive foods. All in all a fantastic time was had by all, we cannot wait to do it all again next year!

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Aldro, Lombard Street, Shackleford, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 6AS.

Telephone: 01483 810266; Fax: 01483 409010

Email: schoolsec@aldro.org www.aldro.org

Dates for your diariesDates for your diariesDates for your diaries

QUIZ NIGHT

FRIDAY 3rd February 2017

7PM—FIRST ROUND TO START

PROMPT AT 7.30PM

Spring Walk

Thursday 9th March - 8.30am

Cake Sale

Wednesday 29th March

The Aldro Summer Party

Saturday 24th June

Aldro says GoodbyeAldro says GoodbyeAldro says Goodbye

At the end of this term we have said a sad farewell to our two student masters, Mr Crafter and Mr Bragg who both return to Australia to start their University courses. We will miss them all and we wish them every success in their future lives and hope they keep in touch.