APS News 29

abingdon.org.uk/prep 3 AbingdonPrep News Fond Farewells We also say goodbye to Jane, our unflappable Head of Marketing (below left at an Open Morning) who, after many years working for the Foundation, is returning to the freelance world. We wish her every success. Jacob Brownrigg Jacob has been a gap student for just over a year. His talents as a swim coach have been put to good use as he has led swimming sessions in our Other Half programme and supported during lessons. Jacob's willingness to get involved in everything and his administrative prowess have been, to coin his own phrase, 'legendary'. We will greatly miss his cheerful disposition around school, support of colleagues and pupils and his ability to respond to an email almost while it is still in the ether. Thank you Jacob for all you have done and we wish you every success with your degree. Rachel Pairman Jane Warne November saw the return of our fireworks night for school families. Held on the sports field, the evening began with the boys letting off steamwith glowing lightsabers. Street food stalls did a roaring trade supplying everyone with gourmet burgers, kebabs, waffles and barista made coffee. When it was time for the super display by Titanium Fireworks, you could hear the oohs and aahs in the crowd as the fireworks fizzed, whizzed and banged in gorgeous colours. Our thanks go to all the Prep staff who acted as marshals, Jacob for the photos, and not least to Sally and her team of helpers from the parents’ association – some of whom returned on Saturday morning to ‘pick the field’ of firework debris for the rugby matches later. Thank you! Annabel Gaskell The boys in the Middle Section had a true taste of democracy this month when voting for their class representatives. Each class in the school elects a class representative, chosen anonymously by their peers, to join the school pupil council. Abingdon Prep highly values the pupil voice, and the school council meets regularly to discuss all the ideas that the boys in each class bring to the table. The boys in Years 5 and 6 experienced this election as though they were voting for an MP in the outside world. Boys received a polling card with their name and the address of the polling station. They were escorted to the station where they presented their card and, after confirming their full name, received a ballot paper with the names of all the candidates. They then took these to their private polling booths and, careful not to spoil their paper, put an “X” next to the candidate that they wanted to choose, before folding their paper and popping it into the secret ballot box. The winners were announced by the Headmaster in assembly. Having spoken to several of the boys, they say that they now feel more prepared for what an election is really like, and will certainly vote when they are older. It’s not too scary really! Democracy in action - voting for class reps Firestorm is back!