House Meetings

Every Friday morning, the House gathers in the Common Room for the weekly House meeting. This is a chance for rewards and recognition of effort to be handed out; great sports result to be mentioned etc etc. Every now and then, one of the 6th Formers is asked to say a few words as a 'Thought for the Day'.

Last Friday, it was Sam Castle's turn and the topic was leadership. His short speech is below...

Leadership

Today we have many idols, whether they are sports players, music stars or actors, they are people we idolise and look up to. However, are all our heroin’s leaders?

Leadership is a key asset to all forms of life, whether it be on the sports field, in the classroom or out on the lash with some boys, in all of these situations a role model is needed to guide and encourage us to perform our best in all situations, no matter how successful the outcome is.

A good leader must have the discipline to work towards his vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct their actions and those of the team towards the main goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader is someone who does not suffer, but is always doing something in pursuit of a vision, that is inspiring others to do the same. A leader must be confident, dedicated and most importantly positive, because without that positivity who will be there to carry your team-mates over the line?

 Within a school community leadership is imperative. These particular leaders are so important as they are there to aid people towards their goals, simply by doing what is necessary and right, in order for the community as a whole to be happy, and function properly. Without leaders at school who’s going to be there to stand up to bully’s? Who’s going to be there to make that massive hit in the first minute of a rugby match? Or more importantly who’s going to be there to lift up those who are down and upset? It is clear that we need leaders.

Therefore, this weekend I want you to take one for the team. Encourage and lift your teams spirits if you go 1-0 down. Display those great skills of manliness by taking your friends to that big party on Saturday night, rather than staying inside gazing at Cheryl Cole on the X-factor. But more importantly, be that role-model that we look up to by being positive at all times, no matter what you are feeling. And by displaying these qualities I can guarantee you will guide you and your team to a massive victory, just like Andrew Strauss is doing against the kangaroos down under.

Sam Castle

New Prefects...

Before the snow descended on Ardingly, a second round of Prefect Interviews was held in Mertens House to recognise the growing leadership shown by various 6th Formers in the House and at House events. I am very pleased to announce four new House Prefects who have stood out this term by their outstanding contribution to House events and leadership within the House.

They include...   Moritz Bongartz, Marcus Large, Sam Castle and Jordan Dudas.

I know they will do a fantastic job as prefects and add to the great team that we already have.

Mr Curran

Snow Days...

Mr Hilton

Cedric Surmann

Zakir and Assad sandwiching Will Spence..

and the result...

Cedric, Moritz and Jordan

The Mertens Igloo...



..and again 10 seconds later...



Mertens House Mascots...

The Mertens House mascots getting ready for Xmas!!

Snapshots from the Steepo - Mertens take the Honours!!

James Eagles looking very intense!

The leaders of the Steepo

Mertens House Steepo 2010

Largey, Maynard and Moritz

Mike, and the Two Henrys

A well earned reward...

Mertens House House Music Competition

Jamie Monks, Zakir Ramani, Sam Castle, Marcus Lau, Jordan Dudas, Marcus Large, Calvin Lam, Tom Prosser

Mertens House A Capella Group

Such Rhythm!

Zakir, Jordan, Marcus



Marcus Large performing a duet with Jamie Monks



Michaelmas Term – Mertens House

Life in Mertens House this term has been full of action and new beginnings; a new Housemaster, a new Lower 6^th and a new Shell. The house motto is ‘Possunt Qui Volunt’ – which loosely translated means ‘Those who want to are able’. The Michaelmas term 2010 has certainly provided everyone in the house with the opportunity to engage in all that the Mertens community has to offer.

Mr Curran, his wife and two young sons have settled into life as Housemaster and have been welcomed into the house by the great support of Nick Tester, Assistant Housemaster and Marian Moore, Matron and warm and welcoming face of Mertens.  Jack Curran (1) is now a regular feature welcoming faces as they arrive at Mertens!

The new prefects have taken on their roles enthusiastically, meeting regularly to discuss and debate how to take the House forward. Shaun Lam accepted the role of Head of House and is a respected and popular boy in the house. We have a House Council, comprised of selected representatives from each year and the Council has met twice, ensuring all voices in the house are heard.

With Mr Curran’s competitive nature at the helm, Mertens rose to the challenges of the   inter-house competitions; beginning with the Steepo in October.   After a couple of early morning practice sessions (a sight to behold with most of the boys up at 630am in the early Autumn  mist),  Mertens  won the Youd Cup for the six best senior runners (1st Alan Taffinder U6; 2nd Ben Scott U6; 3rd Josh Higgins U6; 4th Cedric Surmann L6; 5th Leo Ko 5^th; 6th Rob Key U6). Overall, Mertens was ranked 3^rd.

In November, all Mertens boys proudly supported the House Music Competition, which was led for us with a piano-solo by Marcus Lau (Céline Dion “My Heart will go on “). Marcus was also brilliantly supported by Marcus Large (vocal) and Jamie Monks (guitar) playing “For the first Time” by The Script. Our Lower Sixth boys took to the stage with ease and an ensemble starring Marcus Large, Jordan Dudas, Sam Castle, Tosin Afalobi, Jamie Monks, Zakir Ramani, Calvin Lam and Tom Prosser got a fantastic reception (being asked to perform again at the main school assembly!). Everyone trained hard under the supervision of the musically talented Mr Tester and got some great feedback from the panel.  The boys, many with very little musical experience, are to be praised for putting together an amazing programme.

In addition to the inter-house competitions, the boys themselves arranged smaller fund-raising events including a pool and FIFA tournaments to support some of the school's charities.  For Children in Need, several boys in Mertens House, ably led by Tom Prosser and William Salt managed to stay awake for 24 hours playing Xbox and PS3. Overall,  they have raised over £275 which is a credit to them and their determination.

Mertens is more than just a boarding house where the boys keep their belongings, work and sleep. It is a community of which all people connected to the House from Housemaster to Assistant, Tutors, Matron, Cleaners and boys are part.  Overall this Michaelmas Term was a great and promising start to the new school year and we hope that the next terms will be as great as this one.

Cedric Surmann, Moritz Bongartz & Mrs Curran

Mertens House Positions of Leadership 2010-11

Head of House
Shaun Lam


Prefects
Will Hand
Jamie Monks
Tom Prosser
James Robertson
Seb Spence
Sam Castle
Moritz Bongartz
Marcus Large
Jordan Dudas

Congratulations to the boys above who have been selected to represent the House as prefects and to Shaun Lam who is Mertens HoH this year. They have been doing a fantastic job so far and I am sure that will continue throughout the year.

1st XI Football vs Hampton

1st XI vs Hampton 18th Sep 2010
Lost 2 - 3 (HT 0 - 2)



The equaliser...



Mr Tester

Jordan Dudas

Mertens U6th Josh Higgins delivers a corner...

Jon Dollery

Fire Alarms, Early Morning Runs and Freedom...

Week 3

Yet another week passes and it was another jam packed eventful week. To start the week off we started are activity choices. On Tuesday shell went on a trip to Lancing and Shoreham which was very interesting and enjoyable. On Wednesday we was rudely awoken by the fire alarm and then to rub salt in the wounds we was made to run the STEEPO AT 6:30am and we also had Crypt in the afternoon we had the College Mass and it was enjoyable. When Thursday came we and we all had tutor period and we also had a very enjoyable games lesson. This Friday Seb Spence gave a very informatics speak about freedom and added some very funny humour.

                                                                                                 Henry Howard

West German Hockey Championships

Saturday 11/09/2010 and Sunday 12/09/2010:

It was an amazing weekend at home. I just went to play hockey for my German club; we had a match on Sunday in the afternoon against Cologne.  The final result was 7:0 , my team won. The match was quite balanced in the first 20 minutes. The opponents were even better, but in the last 15 minutes of the first half we scored triply. So we led 3:0 at half time. In the second half we were dominating and you could see, that Cologne got tired. We had lots of chances to score more goals, but it took 10 minutes to score the fourth goal. Our aggressive game was much to fast for the defenders, so we scored three more goal in the end of the match. We played very well, not just because of the final score, but also because of the way, we played. To understand a hockey match is two times 35 minutes.

I didn't score any goal, because I am center midfield, but I did a very good defensive work, my coach told me.

I really enjoyed playing for my old German team, so I am looking forward to play in the Westgerman championships next weekend.

Cedric

Discovering Nathaniel Woodard

Shell trip to Shoreham and Lancing College

 

First we travelled to Shoreham to see the original site of Ardingly College and Lancing College in which Nathaniel Woodard created to use his high church ways to teach young men to pray and respect the Lord to have a better way of life through the Church.

 

This is the original site of Ardingly College its amazing how much a school can change from it original state that it started from.

 

 

 

Now off to Lancing College

When we arrived everyone on the bus was so amazed by the size of the chapel is unbelievable because it is the minster church of the Woodard corporation. Our church is called St Saviour which is Jesus and at Lancing they have a Great tapestry with St Saviour is the main person on the tapestry so our school is just or maybe more important than Lancing College. Nathaniel Woodard once described Ardingly College as the Jewel in the Woodard crown.

 

In conclusion the trip was a great experience to know that we as Ardingly College are part of the famous Woodard schools and I am very proud to represent Ardingly College not just on the sports field but also in the classroom and also to be an ambassador outside the school.

 

    Henry Howard Shell

Match Report 14B's

Saturday 4th September


Was the first football match for the under 14 it was an enjoyable event because we were representing a top school. The game started a bit late because the other team had to come a long way. The game started straight away after they arrived we started well but the pressure was getting to some of us to empress the school in front of our proud parents. We scored first with a lucky deflection off the keeper from a penalty. Just before the half the other team scored. After the half we came out really well and was playing really well but could not score and when it was near the end the ball came to me from the corner and we scored and that was the winner it ended up 2:1 to Ardingly.

Henry Howard

Football at Nine Acre...

Here are some photos of the first football matches held this morning down at Nine Acres.

Seb Spence before the 4ths vs 5ths match.

Marcus Large  - 4ths vs 5ths

Latif, Assad and Zakir - Mertens 6th formers

Nicholas Neizert in action in defense.

Oli Clarke-McCullagh about to make HUGE tackle!!

Survivors of the 4ths vs 5ths Clash of the Titans...

The 14C's..including Mertens boys Oli Clarke-McCullagh, James Wright, Henry Hinder and Matt Burke!!

Mertens House Week 1 - Fast and Furious

Week 1 is nearly over and Mertens House is off and running. The first few days have been fast and furious, yet all Mertens boys seem to have taken the bull by the horns and are coping well with the demands of Ardingly College. The new Shell boys have adapted well to the adversity of being away from home but its never easy as I know myself. Its been fantastic to see the boys look out for each other as well as some of the 6th formers keeping an eye on the young ones too.
The weekend ahead starts with activities tomorrow morning and then the all-important football trials leading into the first major games next weekend. The plan for Saturday night is a movie in the common room with the distinctive Aussie smell of a barbie just outside.
Good luck in the football, boys.

Mr Curran