St John's House Handbook 2022-23

St John’s House Handbook

SEPTEMBER 2022

Welcome to St John’s House Welcome to St John’s! It is a great pleasure to welcome you as one of the members of the House. This booklet has information that will be useful for you as you prepare for life at Ampleforth, but please let your parents also read it, as it contains information that will be useful to them as well. In addition, your parents will be sent information by our Admissions Office.

Each one of you has his own part play in the life of this House, and my aim is that you shall grow in your independence and resilience during your time here.

In St John’s we try to form a community inspired by the words of St Benedict: a community in which leadership is given more by example than by words (Rule of St Benedict 2.12); a community in which equal respect and love is shown to everyone and the same discipline is applied to all (Rule of St Benedict 2.22); a community in which faults are corrected and love is safeguarded (Rule of St Benedict, Prologue 47); in short, a community in which we are supported in our weaknesses, but at the same time are stretched to fulfil our potential (Rule of St Benedict 64.19).

These are challenging ideals, but if we achieve them then the qualities that you will develop living in this House will be every bit as important as the information that you learn every day in the classroom. With respect for those around you, you will develop strong friendships and values that will endure long after you have left Ampleforth. St John’s has a reputation for being a friendly House, and we all have a responsibility for making sure that this continues.

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History of the House St John’s is the newest of the boys’ houses at Ampleforth, being founded in 1957 and placed under the patronage of St John Fisher. The House coat of arms are his from when he was made a Cardinal.

St John was born in Beverley in 1469 and educated at Michaelhouse, Cambridge, where he was appointed Master in 1496. He was one of the great scholars of his day, possessing a fine library. In 1504 he became Chancellor of Cambridge University and Bishop of Rochester. Rochester was a small bishopric, but it was strategically placed near Dover, and John came to know many European scholars attracted by the reputation of Henry VIII as a forwardthinking Catholic monarch.

St John was, in many respects, a model bishop. He lived an ascetic life and had the reputation of being a good teacher and a fair administrator in his diocese.

When the king decided to seek a divorce from Catherine of Aragon by appealing to the universities of Europe, because his earlier request for a divorce had been refused by Pope Clement VII, he was opposed by John. Part of the king’s case rested on his assertion that he was head of the Church in his realm.

John refused to accept this royal supremacy over the Church in England; he was the only bishop to do this. As a result, he was committed to the Tower of London, tried as a traitor, and executed on the 22 June 1535. He was canonised together with his friend, Thomas More, by Pope Pius XI in 1935.

You can find out more about the life of St John Fisher, here:

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St John’s House has always been in the centre of the school, though its precise geography has varied over the years. The founding Housemaster was Fr Benet Perceval (1957-1980). He was followed by Fr Timothy Wright (1980-1997) and Fr Cuthbert Madden (1997-2005), both of whom were elected Abbot; Fr Wulstan Peterburs (2005-2008), who was Headmaster; Dr Moses (20082016); and Paul Curran (2016-2019). I joined the House in January 2020 having been Deputy Housemaster in St Hugh’s.

When the new science block was opened (2000), St. John’s was extended and refurbished and now forms a house for up to 60 boys. We believe we have the best of all possible worlds: a house of the centre of the school, in a robust building designed by Gilbert Scott, but rebuilt within to give us the possibility of some of home’s comforts. You can find out a lot more about St John’s in our video, here:

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House Staff Role

Name

Housemaster

Mr Chris Starkey

Assistant Housemistress

Miss Chesca Atkins

Chaplain

Fr Cedd Mannion OSB

Tutors

Dr Jane Weston – Year 9 Lt Col Miles Blackford – Year 10 Mr Alex Rough – Year 11 Mr Neil Dodds – Year 12/13 Mr Michael Emsley – Year 12/13

Matron

Miss Louise Johnson

AS YOUR HOUSEMASTER, I take an interest in everything that you do. I will keep an eye on how well you are settling into life in the House and will have an overview of your academic studies and co-curricular commitments. If you have a question, a concern, or a decision to make, then I will help you to sort it out. I am usually based in the study and have a flat on the first floor. Just ring the doorbell if you need me – whatever the time of day or night.

Your teachers will tell me when things go well or if they are worried about you for any reason. It is always better to speak to me as soon as you have a problem. I am here to help you – but you make the job much easier by being open and communicative.

Your parents will probably find that I am the best link to your teachers and tutor. If they are worried about you in any respect I am likely to be the person that they contact. I will always make sure that they are well-briefed on everything that is going on in your lives.

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THE ASSISTANT HOUSEMISTRESS is an essential member of the House. Her flat has a door on to the first floor and top floor of the House, and she is on duty on two nights each week. Miss Atkins is a trained nurse and you will get to know her well.

THE TUTORS assist the Housemaster and Assistant Housemaster in caring for the House. Each tutor is assigned a year group in the House and will monitor their academic work. They will be the person to whom you should go directly if you have any problems concerning your studies. As well as having a duty day in the House, each tutor meets with their tutor group every week and reports back to the Housemaster. They are happy to meet with your parents when they visit and will update them on your progress.

Fr Cedd is the HOUSE CHAPLAIN. He works with me on the spiritual development of the House. You will get to know Fr Cedd very well as he is a regular presence in the House.

Matron Johnson is our MATRON. She will help you settle into the House and will help you with all sorts of things on the domestic side of house life, such as helping you to sort out your clothes, laundry and so on. All medications should be given to Matron, who liaises with the College Infirmary about your medical needs. You should not keep medications in your room. Matron has a room on the first floor and is always happy to have a chat and a cup of tea. She works closely with me to make sure that your time at school is as happy and positive as it can be.

We are fortunate to have a good team of staff who work hard to ensure that the House remains clean, and I expect you all to help them by keeping your own areas tidy.

JANIS MENNELL and MARK FULCHER, are our housekeepers.

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Safeguarding Your safety and happiness are very important to us. You will get to know a broad range of staff who you will form positive relationships with and who you should feel comfortable talking to if you have a problem or a concern. Usually this will be members of the House Team: me or Miss Atkins, Matron, your Tutor or Fr Cedd. There is also a central designated safeguarding team who you are always welcome to speak to. Posters with their names and faces on will be put up on the House noticeboard along with their contact details. Dr Dunn is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Medical Needs It is vital that Matron and I are made aware of any medical needs that you have.

We need to collect any medication that you have so that it can be dispensed to you safely – do not keep medication in your room.

If you feel unwell or have a medical need, then speak to a member of the house team in the first instance. There is an Infirmary at Ampleforth too, where you can go at any time. A Doctor visits Ampleforth each day to meet students.

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The Monitors HEAD OF HOUSE AND DEPUTY HEAD OF HOUSE are senior boys, chosen late in the summer term, to serve the House in the coming year. In St John’s we try to ensure that the young men who fill these senior positions in the House are chosen for their good character and common sense. These two qualities matter much more than whether they are sporting heroes or superb academics. Their job inevitably has a bit to do with organising things in the House and making sure that more junior boys do as they are asked, but this is not the most important part of their task. We expect them to set an example of good behaviour and kindness, and we hope that they will be young men you can turn to for advice or help if there is a problem in your life here, which you do not think needs the immediate help of the Housemaster or his assistants.

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One of the primary roles of the House Monitors is to assist in the integration of new pupils and to make sure that all of you make a positive start to your time at Ampleforth.

I hope that you will find all the boys welcoming and friendly – you should certainly not be frightened of anyone in the House - but remember that the senior boys are now young adults on the threshold of university. We all show some respect to those who are older and more experienced than ourselves and this usually leads to a good and helpful relationship.

Several boys will have responsibility for the House Chapel, and you will be encouraged to take a full part in the religious life of the House. We have prayers every morning and evening, and you would normally attend Mass in the House once a week. Several boys in St John’s are involved in leading lectio divina (the prayerful reading of the Scriptures) and others have helped as catechists, preparing others for the sacrament of confirmation.

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Deaneries St John’s boys are proud of the fact that the older and younger boys in the House all get on so well. One of the ways we instil this culture is the deanery system. Deaneries are groups of boys from different year group who come together at certain times. We have discussion groups in deaneries at least once per fortnight.

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The Beginning of the Academic Year Please arrive at the House as detailed in the Introduction to Ampleforth College booklet, which you have been sent.

You will be welcomed at the House by me and Miss Atkins, your Tutor, and Matron. The House Monitors will show you to your new room. The remainder of this first day of term will be occupied with a tour of the campus so you know where things are, and an opportunity to straighten out your belongings before prayers and bed.

The second day will begin with organised activities for different year groups and then we begin to settle down to academic life. You will receive your timetable from your tutor, get logged in to the school IT systems, receive your iPad, and discover who will teach you and where their classroom is. You will have your first classes on Wednesday morning, Games will also begin on Wednesday.

Ordinary life will be established very quickly, and there will be an opportunity for you to sign-up for activities. I know that, day-by-day, you will find life more straightforward and enjoyable so that the first term passes very quickly.

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What You Need to Bring The Admissions Office will supply you with a list of clothes and other essential items. Your laundry should be put out on Tuesday lunchtime and is returned the following Friday morning, so it would be helpful to have sufficient clothes to cover nine to ten days. Please bring a small laundry basket to enable you to keep your rooms tidy. Extra name tags are also useful to leave with Matron.

The school provides pillows, pillow cases and sheets, but you will need to provide a duvet and duvet covers.

It is also important to purchase a small padlock to secure your lockable cupboard. If you have two keys it is sensible to leave one with me in case you lose the other.

The House provides crockery and cutlery.

FIRST YEAR DORMITORIES

The amount of space in the first year dormitory is limited, so please do not bring too many odds and ends.

All technology will be collected in at lights out in the dormitory and will be returned the following morning.

You are responsible for your area in the dormitory. If you damage something, you should come and talk to me or Matron.

SECOND AND THIRD YEAR ROOMS

All second and third year boys are in twin rooms with their own bathrooms.

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SIXTH FORM ROOMS

Each member of the sixth form in St John’s has a single room. It is very important that these rooms are respected. Whilst I allow rather more liberty in a single room than is permitted elsewhere, please remember that you are living with many other people, and it is important to ensure an atmosphere where work is possible. I would ask that you keep music and other noise under control.

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Daily Routine Morning 07:30 & 07:45

Morning bells

07:45-8:30

Morning prayers and breakfast in House

08:35

Depart St John’s

08:40

Lessons begin

Afternoon 12:35

Quiet time in St John’s

13:20

Lunch together in the Refectory

13:50

Afternoon lessons

17:00

Check-in on Monday and Wednesday

Evening 17:00 – 18:00

Clubs and activities

17:30 – 18:30

Supper in the Refectory

18:30 – 20:30

Prep

21:00

Prayers (Mass on Thursday)

21:30 – 21:45

1st Year bedtime

21:45 – 22:00

2nd Year bedtime

22:00 – 22:15

Remove bedtime

22:30

Sixth Form to bedrooms

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Dormitory and Gallery Rules The dormitories and galleries are private and secure areas for those who live there. Juniors may not visit the sixth form galleries without the permission of a member of staff. Seniors may not enter the dormitories or junior boys’ rooms without the permission of a member of staff. Second- and third-year boys may not enter the first-year dormitories.

Sports are to be played outside the House.

The Common Room and Pool Table

The Common Room and pool table are for the use of everyone in the House.

Be considerate of others when using this communal space, for example by sweeping and recovering the pool table after use and tidying up your mess.

Please ask permission to use the PlayStation 4.

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House Kitchen All main meals are served in the Refectory and you must attend these. The House Kitchens are for any extra meals / snacks you might like to prepare. I stock pasta, bread, milk, eggs and cereal for use by everyone.

Anyone who uses the kitchen is responsible for cleaning up after himself. Plates, cutlery, saucepans and so on must be washed and put away after use. The person using the item is responsible for it, and may not impose this task, or delegate it, to anyone else. All cooking must be done in the House kitchen.

Cooked food may not be taken upstairs.

House Jobs There are number of jobs which help in the smooth running of the House and I will allocate one of these to you each term. If a job causes a problem for any reason, please let me know.

Bathrooms We all have a part to play in keeping the bathrooms clean and tidy. It is important is to leave the showers clean, to ensure that the lavatory has been properly flushed, and the wash hand basin is clean after use. All of us appreciate a clean bathroom.

Linen Room Your laundry will be returned to a specific place in the linen room. Mending and name-taping should be arranged with Matron. If an item of your clothing does not return from the laundry, please see Matron who will do her best to help you track it down.

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Name Tapes You should not bring clothes to school that have not been named, and it would be helpful if the name tape had St John’s on it as well as your name. Matron has ordered some spare name tapes so that any games kit you buy here can be named.

Computers The Quiet Room has five computers with access to e-mail and Internet as well as the ordinary College network. There is also a wireless network, which is accessible in all parts of the House. If you try to access inappropriate sites you will find your computer log-in blocked. If this happens see me. Sometimes the automated system has got things wrong, but on other occasions you will have made wrong decisions in your choice of sites.

Electrical Equipment The mobile phone network which works best in our area is EE or Vodafone.

At the beginning of term, I shall ask for your mobile phone number. Remember that you should not have mobile phones in class and you should not be using the phone after lights out or during prep.

Many of you will undoubtedly arrive with multiple devices. It is important to remember that they can be broken by inquisitive fingers or borrowed or misplaced. If this happens you must tell me as soon as possible. Remember to talk to your parents about the things you bring to school, because they will need to ensure that some items are insured.

It would be very helpful if iPads, mobile phones and similar items of equipment could be clearly named and appropriately insured.

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Please remember that all electrical equipment in your room will be PAT tested.

You should not try to “mend” any electrical equipment which is not working – bring it to me and I will arrange for an electrician to examine it.

You are not permitted to have refrigerators (unless there is a medical need), kettles, electric fires, electric blankets, and other similar electrical equipment. If you are in any doubt whether something is permitted, please ask me.

It would be a very good idea to bring an alarm clock that is not your phone!

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House Subscription and Pocket Money A small subscription, paid by each member of the House, is levied on the school bill. This pays for the newspapers, socials and birthday parties (when these occur during the term), the Sky subscription, and other expenses (generally associated with House social events).

You can take out small amounts of money from the House bank, which can either be credited in advance by your parents, or added to the bill. In my view, £1.50 per day for a first-year boy would be a generous allowance. I will not charge more than £25 to the school bill without checking with your parents first. If you will need to withdraw more than that from the House bank, then ask your parents to be in touch with me.

Most expenses such as stationery, toiletries, and games kit can be purchased using a chit signed by me. The cost of school trips and other such events is charged directly to your parents’ bill.

You should give all cash and valuables to me so that I can keep them in the House safe.

Tuck Shop I run a small tuck shop in the house, which stocks basic snacks and soft drinks, as well as some toiletries. This again can be added to the school bill, though I will let your parents know if you are likely to spend more than £25.

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Visits from your Parents In your first term it is important to get the right balance between parental visits and settling into the House and School. I would be delighted if your parents were to visit, though sometimes I will advise them not to take you out if there is a social event or other commitment. You will, of course, have games or activities on a Saturday afternoon, but you may go out with your parents after these and you may stay out overnight provided you are back for Mass on Sunday morning.

Your parents should email/ring me to say that they are coming, and this is especially important if you are asking to take other boys out over the course of the weekend. We allow you to invite up to three other students out, though I will need to get permission from their own parents.

When your parents come for a weekend it is very good that I should see them and give them a brief report on your progress.

Homesickness and Contacting Home Homesickness is a totally normal experience and most boys will feel homesick at some point. When this happens – do not worry! The staff team are very experienced and will know how to help you. Speak to a member of staff straight away about how you are feeling.

Parents are often concerned about how frequently they should speak to you. I find that it varies from person to person, so do not overthink this. Your parents should be reassured that ‘no news’ often means ‘good news’, though in the first few weeks it is likely you will want to contact home a lot. I suggest you find a regular time for this – many boys like to call home from the Quiet Room in the evenings, 8.30pm-9.00pm.

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House Academic Life You are at school to learn, and one of the great things about boarding is that the learning can continue throughout the day. We have good routines in St John’s for prep time, so that you can work quietly and productively, and tutors will help me to ensure a working atmosphere exists in this time. We are fortunate to be able to use the classrooms in the English Department in the evenings, as they are within the same building as St John’s; many boys like to work in a classroom environment. Tutors are available to provide academic support – you will find this useful during the prep time – and older boys will be able to assist as well.

You should expect me to ask you often about your learning as I like to hear how you are getting on; I can also intervene to help you iron out any difficulties, of course. As well as the school ‘Ampleforth Points’ system, we have our own rewards in House for excellent academic performance.

House Religious Life Daily prayers are an important part of our life together in the House. We will also have Mass together once a week. You may like to read or undertake another role at these services. Many boys find the spiritual side of life at Ampleforth to be central to their time here, and as a student at Ampleforth you are invited to a life lived with Christ. Please talk to me or Fr Cedd about your spiritual growth.

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House Voice An important part of your education is learning to express yourself to others.

It is a huge advantage in life to grow-up alongside those you live with in the boarding house – you will learn a lot from your peers, and they will learn from you too. Sometimes, of course, there will be disagreements. It is important that you tell me about those – not to get people into trouble – but so that I can ensure everyone is safe and help to put things right.

You will find excellent advocates in the House Monitors. We will have regular House Councils, where you can give feedback on your experience in the House and work with the other boys to improve the way we live together.

You can come and speak to me at any time, of course, and some of the best ideas in recent years have come from St John’s boys themselves. If you like, once of the House Monitors would be happy to help you to articulate what you want to say.

Activities and Sport I will expect you to get involved in a full range of activities and sport, matched to your interests. I like St John’s boys to be ‘joiner-inners’ who do pursue interesting things. We are well-represented in all the main school teams and even helped to invent some of the clubs that exist! Expect to be asked by me what it is you are contributing to school life – I want to ensure you are making the most of your time at school. Your tutor can help you sign-up to things in your first week here.

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House Events There are inter-House competitions throughout the year, which are great fun. St John’s has recently performed very well at these, but that is not the point – I am far more interested to see St John’s boys volunteering to take part, getting stuck in, and supporting their House. Make sure you keep your house shirt safe for these occasions. It goes without saying that sportsmanlike and gentlemanly conduct is a must at inter-House events. House Monitors will lead the way!

Weekends and Socials Many of your happiest times will be at weekends or at social events. Sometimes there will be ‘down time’ when you are not in lessons or at a formal activity.

These are times when you can mix with other students at Ampleforth – enjoy it! - and be sure to be the best version of yourself as you do.

On Saturday evenings there will be organised socials led by staff where you can mix with your friends. We will host many of these in St John’s.

Sunday afternoons are a change to get a break from normal routines. There are fun activities and trips to sign-up for, so look out for those. Do not be worried about being the only person amongst your friends who wants to take part in an activity or trip – if you let me know, I can usually find or encourage others to join you!

Many boys like to visit the village shop in Ampleforth on Sundays. This is a nice things to do, but be sure to sign-out with me before you leave and be on your best behaviour.

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Communication My study direct line is 01439 766751 and boys can use this phone if necessary.

I also have an e-mail address chris.starkey@ampleforth.org.uk The Assistant Housemistress can also be contacted on the House number 01439 766751. Her email address is fla@ampleforth.org.uk Miss Johnson has a direct line which is 01439 766456. Her e-mail address is lj@Ampleforth.org.uk

Useful Telephone Numbers School Office:

01439 766800

School Infirmary:

01439 766760

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St John’s House Ampleforth College York YO62 4EX

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