APS News No. 22

abingdon.org.uk/prep 7 Abingdon Prep In School Whizz! Bang! Pop! Aah! After one of the wettest firework nights we have ever had last year, it was a relief that the rain just about held off for our event this time. The better conditions meant we could all enjoy our food and drink outside in the dry, and that the boys could let off steam playing with light-sabres on the field before moving over to the sports field to watch the fireworks. The display by Titanium fireworks was superb, full of whizzes, bangs, and colour (many of the boys had done flame-testing in science earlier in the week and were shouting out the metals that gave the different colours). A huge thank you to all the parents and staff who helped on the night, and to the Titanium fireworks team who gave us a fabulous display. In early December, Abingdon Prep held its annual Public Speaking and Debating Competitions. First, it was the turn of the Middle Section Public Speaking Competition. Entrants were given five minutes to persuade the audience of their arguments, which this year included banning the sale of fireworks for private use, the importance of the UK leaving the European Union with a deal and expanding nuclear energy. Well done to our Year 5 winner Laurie who argued that the sale of tobacco should be banned. Then it was the turn of the Senior Section. This featured two debates, one on the influence of social media and the other about the monarchy. Both debates featured some strong questioning from the audience for each speaker. The winner was George from Year 7, who argued that social media was a positive influence on society. Many thanks go to Dr. Burnand, Head of Scholars at Abingdon School, Mr. Scott, Teacher of English at Radley College, and to Glynne Butt, an Abingdon Foundation Governor, for forming the judging panel for both events. Rob Shaw Five Year 7R boys from Griffin House introduced last year’s Griffin House Charity, Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS), by sharing the work they do in Sumatra to protect the habitat in which the orangutans live. We were then treated to some wonderful pictures of the Sumatran rainforest, courtesy of Rachel from SOS, and an insight into its importance along with some interesting facts about Great Apes. SOS was also able to share a camera shot of a Sumatran tiger, one of only 600 left in the world, triggered as it explored a newly planted rainforest. Debating and Public Speaking Competitions Franz Marc Art Workshop At a weekend workshop, Year 7 and 8 boys worked in the style of Expressionist painter Franz Marc, whose iconic style of colourful, dreamlike animal painting was influenced by the devastation of WWI. The boys chose their own ‘spirit animal’, and using acrylic paints on an A3 canvas they threw themselves into the contrasting colours and textures found in Marc’s work, producing such striking paintings. Griffin’s Orangutan Assembly