Pocklington School Newsletter Summer Term 2019 | Page 6

Friends of Pocklington School continue tradition of giving back First Year Big Breakfast The Friends of Pocklington School (FOPS) have enjoyed supporting the school this year by holding social events, fundraising for school projects, and welcoming families to events such as parents’ evenings, open mornings and sports day. The newly-launched Big Breakfast, when year group families eat together one Saturday morning for £1 each while chatting to other families, the Headmaster and teachers, has been a huge success and will continue. Our Christmas Ball at The Principal York, raised £1500 towards school projects. This year we donated to the following: Boarders’ Fireworks, an event which FOPS have been long-standing supporters of A clay slab roller for the Art Department A LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Robotic Building Kit for use in the Science, IT and Design Department Hire of a mobile planetarium, a fantastic educational unit for pupils…and parents may get a peek too! These educational resources will benefit pupils across the school years in Prep and Senior School and FOPS are looking forward to seeing them in use next term. Parents automatically becomes members of FOPS when they join the school. Attending FOPS events, or giving your time, services or skills, will make a real difference to our pupils. Please join us at our AGM on Tuesday 8 October to see what we do and meet the committee. For more information, email [email protected] CCF update The Lent term finished with an overnight exercise for our Fifth Year Army cadets who have now finished the Cadre programme; designed to prepare them to lead and instruct our younger cadets next year. It was an exciting evening and early morning filled with recce patrols, section attacks and everyone seemed to enjoy the 24hr ration packs too! The Fourth Year have taken part in blank firing exercises this term, putting their fieldcraft and skill at arms training to the test. The RAF have been equally busy; 24 cadets completed their ground training and blue wings training package at RAF Topcliffe, with many achieving bronze wings too. In addition to this, 23 RAF cadets completed the Heartstart first aid training course and Esme Littlewood has qualified as an instructor cadet, gaining her gold lanyard. 5 Top digital retail consultant shares insights at Network event Our Careers and Business Network held its latest event at The Farmers Club in London recently, with the focus for the evening on digital strategies and ecommerce. Our guest speaker was Will Treasure OP 74-79, who joined the two founders of Javelin Group and built it up into the UK’s leading digital retail consultancy. In the course of his work Will has advised over 100 retailers and brands, including Gucci, Marks and Spencer, Aldi, ASOS and Waitrose, and continues to advise clients world-wide on the growth of their digital retail businesses. Toby Seth, Headmaster, said: “We are deeply grateful to Will for his time spent with us at our event. What struck me as most important was his view that it is the quality of people with whom he has worked that has to a large extent dictated the success (or odd failure!) of his business decisions. His belief in working with clients and colleagues who share the same values is a conviction we share. Our values of Courage, Truth and Trust reflect what we want to develop in all members of our Pocklington community and to hear this mirrored by one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs is immensely affirming.” Within the first few weeks of the summer term, we said farewell to our Upper Sixth cadets as they directed their focus on their external exams. The Seniors, ably led by Cadet CSM Henry Foster, have been superb role models throughout the year, demonstrating a high level of knowledge across the training disciplines and they have instructed with enthusiasm and patience. Our Adventurous Training expedition to Keswick took place during the Easter break and included an overnight canoe and bush craft expedition for the first time. It was a fabulous week of training including climbing, mountain biking and ghyll scrambling. 35 cadets now look forward to taking part in the Army Summer Camp at Warcop and RAF Summer Camp at RAF Halton. Sam Cheadle - Contingent Commander