... but actually last week. Some low-resolution tasters from photographs taken by the boys - I think all of these by C McKay (12.05) - of last Saturday's House Athletics. Will be some high-quality versions available for free download or ordering through the school. There are lots of them, so it will take a few days.

It has been a busy day at Caldicott. Normal lessons for much of the morning, then the House Party (only for Jenkins, the Winning House, of course), and activities and games for the others, packing up for some, and Caldicott's Got Talent for the 1st-3rd Forms.

Assembly took place in the Sports' Hall, which is set up for tomorrow's Speech Day. As is usual, the final awards of term were preseented:

Mr Doggart then presented the Certificates for the Drama examination awards, taken recently. As everyone had done so well, he just presented the numerous Distinctions:

• Grade 1: S Ramezani
• Grade 2: J Awdry, O Barnes, G Bracken, A Eglinton, J Grewal, C O'Shea, E Pycroft, A Randev, O Roberts, A Shoff, C Temple, C White, J You

The group which won the 'Lord Alan Sugar Award' for the highest amount of money for their Fete stall was H Laing, S Morrisroe, L Stalder and E Taylor. the Headmaster congratulated them, and shook their hand.

Junior Declamations Winners:

• 1st Form: 1st A Harris, 2nd T Ward, 3rd H Starey
• 2nd Form: 1st B Andreae, 2nd W Hobbs, 3rd R Peel
• Overall winner: B Andreae

This afternoon had also seen the final of Caldicott's Got Talent. The winners were:

• 1st: F Heffer
• Equal 2nd: J Fennel, H Pooley & F Watson-Smyth (singing/dance group)
• Equal 2nd: G Oakland
• 3rd: J Oakland

These were presented in reverse order with Ma'am Anderson pausing fior a very long time before the name was announced, just like they do in the actual event! Just before teh winnder was announced, the Headmaster then brought the house down by reciting a strange poem from memory. It was a considerable tongue-twister, and when I can find it I will put a link on.

After F Heffer had heard his result, it was announced that there would be a dance activity, with a visiting teacher, next year. It will even involve break dancing!

When Ma'am Anderson had finished, Mr Doggart wished her and Mr Anderson the very best for the future. They have had five good years here, and they will be missed. He presented them with a book of memories prepared by the boys.

He then presented the Caldicott Challenge Awards. This is a scheme similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, covering a range of disciplines and activities.

• Silver went to M Arzt-Jones, F Eglinton, F Reding-Reuter, W Swift
• Gold went to M Adcock

Bookitch winners were Jenkins: R Vakharia collected the cup.

AWESOME won the Fantasy Football competition. They were M Mirzan and M Temple.

Then came the new records made at the House Sports on Saturday. Quite a lot of them:

4th Form
Discus A Shoff 23.13m

3rd Form
Discus N Andreae 15.83m

2nd Form
150 metres G Green 24.83s
300 metres W Hobbs 53.57s
600 metres W Hobbs 126.41s
Cricket Ball C Sellers 42.33m

1st Form
300 metres T Ward 57.51s
600 metres T Ward 137.77s
Long Jump W Morley 3.24m
Cricket Ball T Ward 34.26m
Junior School 4 x 100m relay - Cooper Team 66.98s (G Green, T Ward, C Sellers, M Akhtar)

House Cricket winners were Jenkins (both Junior and Senior), and A Shoff and G Blandford-Newson received the presentation.

• C Bracken collected the Work Shield for Jenkins
• A Masih Collected the Discipline Shield for Jenkins
• E Rowell collected the Hawley Cup for guess who? Correct: Jenkins!
• H Lloyd collected the Ingram cup (overall winners). Can you get this one right? Yes: Jenkins!

Mr Chapman (French) awarded Colts Cricket Colours to A Eglinton, W Heywood & T Wildblood.

Three appointments were made for next term::

• Head Chorister: H Weir
• Head Sacristan: B Nunn
• Captain of Rugby: H Guy

A Smith received the medal below for getting the highest 6th Form total in the House Athletics on Saturday.

This is what he did to win it:

On Sports Day I was in the 100m, 400m, High Jump and Discus finals.
100m: I came 1st with a time of 13.26 which was slower than my heats time of 12.86.
400m: I came 1st again. There were no heats.
High Jump-I came 1st, jumping 1.40m after my opponent knocked the bar off three times.
Discus: 2nd in discus.
The points system is: 7 points for 1st, 5 points for 2nd, 4 points for 3rd. Overall I got 26 points.

Picture below of A Song, who appears to be quite good at waterskiing! More information and this week's menu, ASAP Monday.

Not too bad!

It might not be quite as good as this act, but at 0900, after the House Meetings, the Juniors and Third Form watched the final act of 'Caldicott's Got Talent'.

Here is just one photograph of a really good routine. Picture taken by C Blampied:

They even threw a boy - and caught him!!!

Today's was a most unusual Assembly, as you can see from the picture below:

The Headmaster (left) leading an open-air Assembly. Much safer!

First the awards were presented, with the Headmaster going to each boy to shake his hand.

Mr Doggart then said how pleased he had been with the Junior Concert. All of the boys were impressive, and I think that he particularly enjoyed C Sellers' duet on the recorder with Mr Stratton!

A good duet. C Sellers (9.09) with Mr Stratton.

After the cricket results, A Marsh and C Ybarra were presented with the match ball for taking three or more wickets in a match.

Mr Hamilton-Smith reminded the boys in the tennis tournament to play their games, and checked possible numbers for fencing, rowing and karate next term.

Mr Wild praised all of the boys for last Thursday's Middle School play, and echoed what the Headmaster had said about the Junior Concert. He reminded them to be quiet around the music block today as grade examinations are taking place until about 1700.

Finally - possibly the best bit of the Assembly - Mr Williams said how proud he and the Headmaster had been of the boys in last Saturday's Open Day. The visitors had paid them many compliments, and the Sixth Form obviously did a great job as hosts and guides.

Today the Common Entrance Candidates returned for CE, which starts tomorrow and finishes at lunchtime on Thursday. Another academic year for the another 6th form is almost at an end - after their examinations, there will be lots of educational and fiun activities until the end of term four weeks later.

Below is a picture of today's 'settling down' session. I won't describe the talk - the advice is, of course, similiar each year, but always new to that group of boys. Here is the one from 2008 (will open in a new window).

Mr Smith with some words of advice

They say you shouldn't blow your own trumpet, but Mr Starey's comments, below, about the Burnham 5K this week, reflect the success of the event. Thanks to us, of course, for our beautiful grounds and facilities! However, thanks most to Burnham Joggers - definitely their trumpet! - for their fantastic organisation of this event. We look forward to their Half Marathon, also starting, finishing and the whole family using our fantastic facilities. Comments in italic from Burnham Joggers and Mr Starey.

To Start:
You should find the results in a few days at:  http://www.maidenheadac.co.uk/TVARC/tvarc.htm
We are very privileged to be able to use Caldicott School.

Later:
I saw the race noted on the Caldicott website and in the school timetable.  I forward Burnham Runner's chairman's comments above, as it notes their thanks in being able to use Caldicott to host the run.

It was an extremely well-organised and enjoyable event; H (see bottom line - Richard Starey's son) showed great pride in showing me where to go! I ran as a guest of Burnham Joggers, but wasn't sure if any other parents or staff ran.

Even Later:
I'll probably run their 1/2 marathon at Caldicott later on in the summer, which is meant to be a beautiful run. The 5k (3.1 miles) yesterday had excellent marshalling and safety.  I finished in 20min 28secs (Crown Lane hill stealing a 20min target!), followed by a splendid outdoor banquet they had laid on.

Seeing the wonderful grounds on a summer's evening and H's obvious pride and excitement as a boy there caused a slight lump in the throat, I admit!

This morning we had a brief visit from a helicopter. It was a mother's birthday, and she was coming to Caldicott for a surprise treat arranged by her family. Arriving by car, she and a friend then left for Oxford by helicopter!

Just arrived

Just left