The Week Ahead 2 March 2017

 
Dear Parents,

Last week I introduced a new publication from Wellington College which focuses on two questions: ‘What does it mean to be a Wellingtonian’ and ‘What is the Wellington Community?’  In his introduction to this publication, Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College, answers the first question in terms of the ‘Five I’s’ of the ‘Wellington Identity’.  If you missed last week’s column, this developed what we mean by the Wellingtonian aspiration for our graduates to go forward through life as inspired individuals, who are independent, intellectual and inclusive.
 
The concept of the Wellington Community, as also developed in the new publication, is to enjoin all Wellingtonians and friends of Wellington – current students, alumni, parents, staff and friends of any of the Wellington family of schools – to use and strengthen their Wellington links both for both mutual benefit and potentially for the benefit of wider society as well.  The forthcoming ‘WeConnect’ platform will, accordingly, facilitate and enable all members of the Wellington Community to connect and network for the following core purposes:
 

• Educational Enrichment – examples of this will include the sharing of professional expertise; establishing skills training courses; and developing links encouraging work placements, entrepreneurship and enterprise.
   
• Careers Networking – to help our students with careers advice, guidance and opportunities.
   
• Business Networking – peer-to-peer professional networking for Old Wellingtonians and parents, both past and present, creating business opportunities.
   
• Social Networking – for a wide coverage of social events, and to support life-long links and friendships
   
• Philanthropic Networking – including the development of wider community access to the opportunities which Wellington can provide, and the supporting of charitable projects.

 
The last of these purposes in particular exemplify the Inclusive ‘I’ of the Wellington Identity ideal: ‘Wellingtonians will leave the College, not in a bubble of elitism, privilege and exclusivity, but with the moral values and social conscience to serve others and do good in life…’
Wellington will be in touch again this academic year with next stage developments for ‘WeConnect’. 

Finally from me this week, I hope you are finding our new expanded ‘Week Ahead’ format both interesting and informative.  There is much purposeful activity happening across the School as we look forward to the visit of the Wellington Annual Review Team next week.

With best wishes to all our Wellington families.

Michael Higgins,
Master