Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTERENTRANCE TESTS
Freezing conditions and snow forced an early closure of the school on Friday 26th January. Worse conditions still were forecast for Saturday 27th, the day of the entrance tests. The punctual arrival of 133 of the 146 candidates seemed miraculous. The worst problem was a floor awash with slush brought in on all the boots. Dr Jackson's impressive skill with a mop soon dealt with that.
INTERNET
We are discovering more and more of the many facets of the Net. In particular Mr Raine has obtained some very impressive satellite pictures from the World-Wide Web pages of NASA, whilst Dr Hill has searched through German and French news sources to find up-to-the-minute material for his language courses and Mr Falconer has used some university materials with his Year 13 History group.
I have established contact with Mary Basson, the Academic Dean at the University School of Milwaukee. She is enthusiastic about a twinning project between USM and DGSB. At the end of last term the lower sixth computing group sent a message containing brief details about themselves to USM. This term Mary will be nominating some of her upper-school computer students to take part in the project by exchanging e-mail with members of my group.
Where do we go from here? We are currently looking into "file-transfer", "gopher", and various "user groups". As soon as we know how to do it, we shall set up a Pharos user group for past and present DGSB people. It would also be nice to have a DGSB page on the Web - before a certain other local school!
The Latest Internet Update
The Lower Sixth computing group are using Email to correspond with students at the University School of Milwaukee. The substance of the messages is still at the introductory gossip level but we hope to develop beyond the "keypals" stage when the novelty begins to wear thin.
Already there is an exchange of learning about our respective school systems and eventually we intend to set up studies into joint curriculum projects and consider more global issues.
TESCO'S COMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS
It became clear that the little printers from the Tesco offer were not robust enough to cope with the volume of work we will expect them to do. This will include photographs from CD-ROM's and high-quality images down-loaded from the Net. It is my intention to put the proceeds from their sale towards the cost of a more robust and faster colour printer. The PFA have also made a generous contribution to the cost of this.
DOVER YOUTH THEATRE PROJECT
Seven boys from this school are currently members of the Dover Youth Theatre Project and give regular performances of drama at the United Reformed Church Hall, and other venues during and at the end of each term.
Shortly before Christmas the Mayor's Prize for Drama was awarded to Jonathan Howlett (Year 7). The Youth Theatre particularly welcomes boys and young men from all years of the school to join the group. Classes run concurrently with the school term leading to a termly performance.
Places are currently available in Level 3 (age 13 - 15) and in Level 4 (age 16+). Fees are £30 per term.
Members of the Youth Theatre have also participated in Street Theatre and the specialist workshop SHAKESPEARE AND THE MUSIC THEATRE which led to a performance in Dover Town Hall in October. Rehearsal facilities were generously provided by DGSB for the workshop.
For further details either contact Mr Thomas - Head of English at DGSB or Marie Kelly-Thomas at the Youth Theatre (01304) 202544.
TERROR TOWERS
Jamie Fagg of 7SW and Sarah Allen, from Dover Grammar School for Girls, were on ITV's Terror Towers televised on Wednesday 17th January. They represented us very well and had a thoroughly good time.
SKIING TRIP
A group of 24 (21 pupils and 3 staff) will be leaving on the evening of Friday 16th February for a weeks ski trip during the half term break. We are all looking forward to spending a sun drenched, action-packed week snow-ploughing and schussing down a variety of snow covered mountain slopes in the Valais region of Switzerland. The big questions are: what colour outfit will Mrs Gabriel be wearing on the slopes this season and does Mr Blakeley wax his own skis?
SIXTH FORM STUDY TRIP TO PARIS
The second study trip to Paris took place at the very beginning of term. The group left Dover in the school minibus on the 3rd of January and stayed in Paris for four days. As previously, the time was split between visits to museums and monuments and the exploration and preparation of A Level coursework topics. Guided visits of the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de Cluny were supplemented with the less intensely cultural pleasures of the Eiffel Tower and a boat trip on the Seine. One innovation was following a trail of clues to discover the treasures of Montmartre - this was highly interesting and enjoyable despite the sub-zero temperatures. The hotel was, again, right in the centre of Paris which made getting to all the sights that much easier and an enormous amount was packed into a very short space of time. Now it remains for Y13 to show us with their A Level results how valuable the trip was. A big thank you to the PFA for financing the travel.
DIARY DATES:
Non-Contact Day - Friday 16 February 1996
Spring Concert
Wednesday 20 March 1996 7.30 pm in the School Hall. Refreshments will be provided.
Summer Ball
Saturday 13 July 1996 7.00 pm - 3.00 am.
Further details will be available soon.
PFA
The PFA would like to thank everybody for their support of the Christmas Daw - almost £500 was raised. Winner of the first prize was Mr G Mercer.
Over half-term the PFA are running a "Questions for Quids" sheet. Sheets of questions will cost £1 each and will be sold in School on Wednesday 7th February. A prize of £50 will be given to the sheet with the most correct answers and it is hoped all boys will join in. The next Committee meeting will be on 15th March at 7.30 pm
200 CLUB
The winners for the month of January are as follows:
Mrs J Thomson (107) wins £25, Mrs A Stewart (114) wins £15 and Mrs T Guy (170)
wins £10.
SPORTS NEWS
International Judo Competition
Craig Ruffles of 10CA represented England in the above competition. The other countries taking part were Holland, France and Belgium. Craig gained GOLD in the under 50 kg and BRONZE in the under 60 kg.
Football
Friday 19 January - Year 7 lost in the fourth round of the County Cup Football at home against St. Anselms, Canterbury. The score was drawn 2 - 2 at half-time but the school's defence eventually cracked under continuous pressure from a strong St Anselm's attack and the team eventually lost 6 - 2 in a well fought contest.
Rugby
An excellent win heralded the first game of the rugby season for the 1st XV in an outstanding result against Simon Langton Grammar School away. In a biting easterly wind the side showed some fine running rugby in particular Jonathan Coates and Daniel Holdsworth were outstanding. The final score was 52 - 5 in our favour.
Congratulations go to Gareth McCarthy, Adam Husk, Ben Parkin and Tom Scrivener for being chosen to represent the Kent Clubs Under 15's rugby team.
Rugby Fixtures: Wed. 14 Feb. 1st XV -v- Oakwood Park G.S. Maidstone. Away. Thurs. 29 Feb. at 4.00 pm. YR 10 XV -v- Dane Court G.S. Away.
Cross County
Some good running was seen in the local schools cross country league at Astor school on the 17th January in cold conditions. Good performances came from Daniel Trenowden, Neil Trenowden, Michael Fuller, Michael Roberts, Ross Gaffney and Chris Wash. The next league match is at St Edmund's, Dover, on Tuesday 6 February at 4.00 pm and it is hoped that more boys will participate, particularly from Years 7 and 8. (The reserve date is Tuesday 13 February)
