2020 has been a very different year to the one most of us imagined it would be.  There have been moments of difficulty and challenge for most and yet, there have also been some positive outcomes and many of our OEs have embodied our School values of social responsibility and lifelong resilience.

The School was closed for the majority of pupils during the first lockdown in the Spring, remaining open only for the children of key workers and a small number of staff who remained on site. After the Easter holidays, the School launched virtual lessons on the Microsoft Teams platform, which enabled our teachers and pupils to continue with lessons, ensuring course work was completed on schedule.  The School site gradually opened up throughout the Summer Term, but Government restrictions meant we could only bring back one Year Group at a time, so as to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

External GCSE, BTEC and A-level exams were cancelled, results awarded firstly by an algorithm and then replaced by the Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs) with subsequent confusion over university places.  Our Year 13 students bravely awaited their results and set off for universities and colleges in October having achieved the School's best ever results.  We wish them all well.

As England starts its second lockdown, now might be a good time to catch up on some reading.  If you're looking for inspiration, why not take a look at books such as Franz Kafka's The Castle, first published in 1926, the same year that Ewell Castle School opened.

End of Term Reviews

If you're interested to see what the School has been up to, the End of Term Reviews provide a snapshot into the activities of that term. Click here 

 

Keeping Safe & Wellness

Tips for everyday living

This year has proved particularly challenging for many people.  There are a number of charities such as Mind offering specialist support on mental health and wellbeing issues.  For more information see https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/

OE Events 2021

Sport & Social Events

Government restrictions permitting, we are still planning on holding our yearly OE Golf Day (April), Netball Match (March) and Cricket Match during 2021 and exploring other ideas such as a Cocktail & Mixology Evening.

 

New School Video

A glimpse into School life

We are delighted with our new School promotional video and hope you will take a look.  To view it just click on this link https://bit.ly/3p2JtMn

We'd love to read your stories of your school days at Ewell Castle, email them to Carol  at oldewellians@ewellcastle.co.uk and the most entertaining will feature in the next ebulletin.

 Get Involved

Make a Virtual Contribution

The Old Ewellians Association Committee normally meet three times a year to plan and organise OE events and reunions.  The committee also generates ideas and support for connecting our alumni with Ewell Castle School such as with the Careers Department, School sporting events as well as contributions and suggestions for this OE E bulletin and the OE pages of the School website.

We need a few more OEs to get involved, particularly from OEs who left School in the last 5 or 6 years.  You don't even need to be able to attend the meetings (if this is not possible), you just need to be enthusiastic and provide some ideas.  To get involved email Carol at oldewellians@ewellcastle.co.uk 

 

Walks & Trees

Surrey: the most densely wooded county in England

The woodland area in the United Kingdom in 2020 is 3.2 million hectares; 1.39 million hectares (43%) are independently certified as sustainably managed.  [Forestresearch.gov.uk] Did you know that Surrey, home to Ewell Castle School, is the most densely wooded county in England, with more than one-fith of its land area covered by trees. The south-east corner of Britain has always had more trees than the rest of the UK. If you have a garden then there's a tree to suit your requirements. Share your favourite walk with us. https://bit.ly/2TWBDWq

 

Digital Archive - Video

Run For Your Wife

There are a number of School drama production DVDs on the School's digital archive, including the 2013 production of Run For Your Wife by Ray Cooney.  The cast list included: Louis Tait, Kavien Sribalakrishan, Sam Conibear, John Duggan, Chris Stevens, Callum Cunningham, Jack Stace & Ollie Rickus.  If you have some extra time on your hands this November check out the archive 

https://www.ewellcastle.co.uk/old-ewellians/archive/ & email Carol at oldewellians@ewellcastle.co.ukfor a username and password.

 

OE Tributes

Angus McLellan

Just before sending this bulletin we were advised of the unexpected and sad death of Angus McLellan who was a pupil at Ewell Castle in the 1960's and played for the OE's football team for many years.   Our thoughts are with his family and a full tribute to him will be published in the next bulletin as well as on the Tributes & Obituary page of the OE section of the School website.

We would also like to pay tribute to the other OEs who we have lost this year.  Get in touch and let us have their details and we will include them in future tributes.

 

Movember & Men's Health

Mr D'Souza & Movember

Movember is a charity that raises money and awareness specifically for men's health - from cancers to mental health.  Despite a few years in the 1980's when a handful of girls joined the Sixth Form (after their convent school closed), girls weren't part of the Senior School again until 2013 when just 3 brave girls joined the Sixth Form. Numbers have grown since then, but the majority of OEs are still male, which is why this November, with a number of male ECS teachers (incuding Mr D'Souza) growing moustaches to fundraise for Movember, it seemed appropriate to promote the charity - please consider donating https://uk.movember.com/?home

 

OE Receives PM's Award

Congratulations to Zakaria Dada

We're absolutely delighted that Old Ewellian @Zak_Dada not only won a @JPFoundation community award earlier this year after setting up @MertonMutualAid and volunteering tirelessly for Merton since the start of the pandemic, but he is now a recipient of the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award. A truly inspirational young person. 

Zakaria left Ewell Castle this summer and is now studying Law at UCL.  https://bit.ly/3oXBAI9

 

Share Your Good News

Stay Positive

We're always keen to share Old Ewellian good news stories, so feel free to email Carol at oldewellians@ewellcastle.co.ukwith updates on any sort of good news story