Abingdon News No. 60

2 April 2022 It has been a delight to see a return to ever greater normality as we bounce back from the various restrictions imposed on us by Covid-19. This includes a return to hymn-singing in the Chapel, making for a joyous and uplifting start to the day. Although the return to normality has given us a spring in our step, it has of course been impossible to ignore the sad events unfolding in Ukraine, which we have reflected on in assemblies, Chapel services, tutor groups and lessons. Our thoughts have also been with our friends in Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine and which has been flooded with refugees fleeing from the conflict. This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our link with the charity Agape which is based in Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, and every year, until recently, Sixth Formers have visited to help run summer camps for children. To mark the anniversary, our Charity Committee organised a fund-raising campaign which inspired the school community to raise over £15,000 - taking the total raised since the beginning of our association to over £100,000. These funds have been passed on to Agape to support their ongoing work, which the emerging crisis has only made more challenging. Let us all hope that peace and justice can return to eastern Europe soon. Abingdon News Message from the Headmaster Since 2000, Abingdon School has enjoyed a partnership with Agape, a charity working to improve the lives of young people in Moldova. Our most recent fundraising event in October, which saw record numbers of staff and students take part in a sponsored walk, achieved the phenomenal sum of £15,200, taking the total amount raised for Agape by the Abingdon community since 2000 to over £100,000. Agape used some of this latest donation to source and deliver beautifully decorated Christmas presents containing gifts of books, school supplies and sweets to 100 disadvantaged children in Laloveni and the nearby villages of Vasieni, Ulmu and Floreni. Total raised for ‘The Moldova Project’ surpasses £100,000 One of the key features of the Chemistry teaching at Abingdon School is the amount of practical work that is completed by all students across the full age and ability range. This 4th Year practical explored the displacement and redox chemistry of halogens - group VII elements - with the products having distinct colours. Having the opportunity to explore this topic experimentally really helps develop the students’ subject knowledge and understanding, hopefully inspiring them to further studies in the subject and careers in STEM. Chemical reaction... One Friday evening in March, Crescent House had a five-a-side football competition, followed by pizza. On an otherwise rainy day, the sun came out just in time and around 30 boarders and day pupils took part, with the winning team taking home a very handsome trophy. Following the football, everyone decamped to Cobban Games Room, where the pizza was demolished in record time! Football and pizza