Though not an expert, I admit to being rather impressed with the boys at their pre-season training today. Their coaches all seemed to smile as they came in, too!

G Blandford-Newson with some nifty footwork

H Weir, with a safe catch

A speedy A Masih

Working well together

C McKay, new boy, already part of the school, though he doesn't start until Wednesday!

As I start writing this, it is almost 1120, and the boys are already working hard in lessons. Until about 1030, time had naturally been spent with organisational matters, and the distribution of timetables and Calendars. Of course, in the Senior School there were also tutor meetings and a meeting with each Head of Year.

Break began after Assembly, taken by the Headmaster. I must say, all the boys seemed very happy as they came into the Centenary Hall, though it must be very new to those just starting, and particularly to the youngest boys. No problem: I'm sure they will almost be old hands within a week, and if there are any problems there are lots of friends, experienced boys, and teachers willing to help.

To begin with, after welcoming the boys, Mr Doggart introduced the new staff:

• Mr Morgan. He is the older brother of Tom, who left two years ago. Mr Morgan (Max) left in 2004. Both went to Harrow, and links to their results are on the left. It is good to see old boys coming back to help out.
• Mrs Lones, a Teaching Assistant in the Junior School.
• Mrs Axtell and Mrs Hounslow, our new School Nurses.
• The new Housekeeper, Ms Sharplin.
• He also introduced Mrs Stanforth, who many will remember as Ma'am Isaacs: congratulations to her on her wedding during the summer.

The various activities which had taken place during the holiday were also described:

• Cricket Festival. Caldicott won the competition, which involved three other schools.J Doggart scored over 200, including a century on the first day.
• Bushcraft Course (apparently much of it taking place in the rain!).
• The Activity Week, involving both new and experienced boys.
• The Fitness for Rugby Course, also involving new and experienced boys.
• Kayaking in the Ardeche. This will be described in much more detail in the next Assembly, and on this website.

The Headmaster then shook the hands of all of the boys who had passed their music examinations, taken at the end of last term. It was another great set of results for the music at Caldicott. Special praise also went to O Atkins, who shared the Cavett Dunsby cup with L Wright, for the highest mark in Grade 1 piano.

Mr Smith ended the Assembly by telling the boys to look after each other. He told them to read page 59 of the printed Calendar, which advises what to do if anyone is worried about anything: TALK TO SOMEBODY: the tutor, any member of staff. As he said, "It's good to talk." Very true ...

ADDENDUM:

Actually, boys no longer at work - but potentially even more important. A fire practice. Picture below taken at 1200.

Today some 5th Form boys used Dreamweaver to create a web page about the current state of the House Competition. They had to insert an image (a cropped screenshot of the scores) and write a sentence about it. Of course, boys wanted to criticise the other Houses, but they were not allowed to do that - they were told that they should be polite and encouraging to all of them. Here is a good one - and definitely very encouraging to all Houses!

Cooper are doing well. McArthur are next: they are still good. Jenkins are very good, and Wood are winning - but that can change!

by E Bagger (11.07)

As is usual at Caldicott, this first weekend is 'in'. Tonight (Saturday) is the Boarders' barbecue, and E Pycroft (10.05) borrowed a school camera to take some photographs. Here are just four of his pictures, showing returning boarders, transfer boarders and new Caldicott boys all looking very happy.