Inter House Cross Country

Over the last three weeks, Inter House Country has been held over three races! Orchard performed in their usual "run hard" approach, giving us a 3rd overall and 2nd in the Championship race. Well done, boys!

House Football results

Junior results
Skipwith 2 - Orchard 1
Orchard 6 - Burr 1
Orchard 5 - Everett 4

Orchard have one more to play, vs Welsh House. Good luck to our boys!

Senior results
Orchard 3 - Everett 1
Orchard 4 - Burr 2
Orchard 4 - Skipwith 3
Orchard 4 - Welsh 2

The champions! Well done Orchard, fantastic results.

Visit to the Chiltern Centre

On the 17^th October 2011 matron and I went to the Chiltern Centre for disabled children which is our chosen house charity. We went to see the unveiling of the new extension. This was done to provide additional space so that more children can be accommodated both, on a daily basis and for overnight care, this would cost the Centre £350,000 to construct. A number of people including Orchard House in Shiplake, have been actively fund-raising in support of this project. Two key people that were attending were Mr Darren Garner who is the CEO/Group Finance Director of The Social Enterprise Investment Fund which donated £269,000 towards the project. Philip Schofield, who is a major supporter of the charity, cut the ribbon declaring the building open. Mr Garner unveiled the plaque.

The Chiltern Centre is a charity funded by the South Oxfordshire District Council. However, the centre receives a constant flow of donations including Orchard House’s large contributions annually. The centre’s single largest donation, given by The Social Enterprise Investment Fund, came with a condition; it had to be spent within three months. The chairman of The Chiltern Centre described this donation in his speech as “winning the lottery” when the donation was made.

The main aim that the Centre was working towards was more space. This would greatly increase the number of children visiting daily and staying overnight. The extension has increased the space from managing six day-care children to eight. The building also increased the number of rooms. The new building increased the number of bedrooms from three to five (some of which bed two children). Many new offices and a state-of-the-art disabled bathroom which consist of the newest technology available.

We were very surprised to see how much technology was added to the Centre. They had flat-screen televisions, interactive white boards, projectors and a large outdoor play area. The outdoor play area consisted of a large climbing frame and a large trampoline.

Overall, the Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children’s new extension was down to the community giving donations to the fund and was helped by volunteering to aid the construction and interior decoration of the building. It was good to see that the money raised by Orchard House is going to such a worthy cause.      

By Harry Chapples, Yr 10

Introducing: Orchard House

Apologies for this being a little late in the term; if you don't know who's in charge of Orchard House by now then there may be a distinct lack of communication from our end! But I thought I would just do a little informal introduction of those people you should know and hopefully be seeing from time to time; Also to help me - of course I have lived on site for 5 years now with Mr Curtis, but I don't have anything directly to do with the house so all this is welcome stuff!

Housemaster - Richard Curtis

Richard took overall responsibility for Orchard House in September . He lives at 2 Rose Garden with his wife, Rosie, and their two sons, Jack, 2 and Billy 8 months. He also has a very friendly white Staffy called Jessie. He has fulfilled a variety of academic and pastoral roles at Shiplake since arriving in 2006 and also has twenty-five years of teaching experience behind him. He is also Head of Mathematics at the Shiplake College.

Assistant Housemaster - Doug Seymour

Head of House - Ollie Smith

This is my final year at school before I go off into the big wide world. Although I've spent my whole school life wishing I didn't have school, I must admit I know I will miss it once I've left. I am currently studying Media, Biology and Theatre Studies.

I'm hoping to have a year out before continuing my education at University, where I want to study wildlife conservation. On my year out I want to travel round the world hopefully going to Madagascar for a while where I can actively follow my dream of becoming a wildlife photographer. 

I am currently involved in the College production of Coram Boy, which we will be performing a before we break up Christmas.

Chapel Warden - Zahra Govani

I’m currently in year 13 and am a chapel warden for Orchard House. I’m studying French, Music and History – and hope to read Law with French Law at University. Being a singer and musician, Orchard is a great house as it’s quite musical and we always win the House Music Events. Also, the house is really welcoming (the girls’ house is separate) and there is lively, yet close-knit atmosphere.

 

Mr Seymour has been the Assistant Housemaster for the past twelve months. He is married to Charmaine and is also a father of two boys, Dennison, 4 and Gabriel 18 months. Originally from Durban, South Africa, Mr Seymour loves the outdoors and coaching sport; rugby and cricket are his areas of expertise. Doug's specialist subject is English and he will also be in charge of that department for the forthcoming year.

House Matron - Jane Burtt

Mrs Jane Burtt plays an integral role in the running of Shiplake College. Not only a long serving and much loved Matron for many years, she is also the College’s Domestic Bursar, helping sort out staff accommodation, fixtures and fittings. She has an office in the House which is often full of boys at break and lunchtime; a measure of the affection in which she is held. She is on duty in Orchard from 0810-1400 Monday to Friday and 1030-1200 on Saturdays. Jane is there to provide care and concern as well as the odd piece of spare games kit whenever the necessity arises. She also keeps the boys fed with extra chocolate spread, jam and a small tuck shop. Fanatical about cricket, Jane is a key member of Harpsden Cricket Club.  In addition, she sings in both her church and the College’s choirs and we often hear her in fine voice practising in the corridors of Orchard House…

House Football 2011 - now this is serious competition!

Orchard Rugby players

First day of school

The first day of school was a very nervous day for us all, I struggled to hide my intense excitment as I walked down the yellow brick road for the first time.

My nervousness was in vain and I needn't have worried at all because it was so easy making new friends and becoming part of the Shiplake community. Everybody was incredibly friendly and we had a great time.

By Charlie, Year 9

Island Adventure

On the 8th September, Orchard and Welsh House went on their Island Adventure. After we had collected wood for the fire, we packed our bags and got told what we had to do. We went over on a boat and after found somewhere to camp. We then grabbed our ponchos and made a roof out of them.

We made a barbeque nearby to cook our food on. It was really nice. Later we had to go and tidy up and then lie down and get ready for the night ahead. At about two o'clock in the morning it started to rain and unluckily our shelter broke and we started getting wet drip by drip! After two minutes we were drenched so we ran out and slept under a big tree which had just enough cover to keep us dry. Even though we got cold and wet we still had a great time and had a good chance to make lots of new friends.

Charlie Sichel
Year 9