The start of the Autumn term meant that new and existing boarders were welcomed into the different houses of Shiplake College. Along with a roster of new lessons and sporting fixtures, the Housemasters and staff were keen to create as friendly an atmosphere as possible for boarders, and so arranged a whole host of different activities in order to welcome pupils to (or, indeed, back to) the College, and show them the various adventures one can have at the school. From House parties and barbeques to trips out paintballing, the first two weeks of term have flown by in a haze of fun-filled events.
Year 9 boys had the opportunity to spend the night in an island on the middle of the Thames, owned by Shiplake, which was organised by Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Steve Macpherson. Loaded with fruit and snacks, the teams jumped in a boat to sail out to the island. The pupils’ good spirits were unfortunately no barrier against the bad weather, and the rain and wind gathered momentum for the nights spent out camping on the island. However, it did little to dampen the spirits of the adventurous boys and tents were erected, campfires built and stories swapped as the students had an unusual return to school! Pupils from Orchard and Skipwith made up separate groups, whereas pupils from Burr were joined by those from Welsh and Everett for the event, and it provided an excellent chance for inter-house socialising.
House parties all took place throughout the evenings. Orchard’s party involved a rotation of different team games, along with a face-painting stall that proved to be a hilarious bonding experience; the boys were subjected to bright red lips and giant eyebrows! An ice cream van provided delicious refreshment for the evening. Skipwith House also favoured the ice cream van, but supplied a hog roast and a ‘summer fete’ style event, complete with ring toss to bond the lower and higher years. Teams were formed from pupils across the different years, giving everyone the opportunity to meet newcomers and give them a warm welcome to the College. Not to be outdone on the adventurous activities, Welsh and Everett took pupils for a very messy paintballing session, whilst Burr opted for a slightly cleaner bowling match!
As if the social diaries weren’t already packed, Everett Housemaster Mr Tom Armstrong came up with a ‘selfie challenge’. Both new and returning Year 12 boarders were put in mixed teams with Year 9 boarders, and set the challenge of taking selfies, as a group, at sites all across the College, in the quickest time possible. Boarders were racing from the Swimming Pool to the Chapel and many places in between, in total taking 24 selfies! All the posing had created quite an appetite, and so pizza was ordered once the boys were back in-house.
All the boys thoroughly enjoyed the evenings and bonding with other years, and look forward to more events like this to come!
