Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTERTWINNING WITH THE COLLEGE ST PIERRE. CALAIS
As an extension of our link a 3-day exchange was organised for Year 9 pupils jointly with the Girls Grammar School. The party of French pupils and teachers arrived on Thursday 1st February. The boys came to our School whilst the girls went to the Girls’ School. They were welcomed with refreshments, collected by their penfriends at break and then taken to lessons (English. German and even PSE with a talk on alcohol and drugs!). The afternoon was spent in the Computer Room learning about Internet and doing an exercise which certainly required the pairs to work together as it was using unfamiliar software.
On Friday the French party went on a trip to Greenwich. Saturday was “good bye” time at the Eastern Docks and everyone was pleased with the experience.
This was the start of a busy schedule of visits so watch this space!
DOVER GRAMMAR INTO EUROPE
The School is involving itself with Europe in a big way at the moment with a number of new initiatives.
First, a lunchtime taster course in Russian starts this month. courtesy of one of our Year
11 parents. Mr Courtney. We hope this will just be the beginning of expansion into languages other than French and German.
German is really thriving in the School, and an important step forward is the setting up of an exchange with a fine
school in the ancient city of Aachen - the first place across the frontier with Belgium. Pupils studying GCSE German
will be able to participate in an exchange this year, run in co-operation with Dover College. with the Kaiser-Karl-Gymnasium in Aachen. More details will be available
soon.
This month also sees two language related projects on the Internet getting
on the ground. Year 12 ‘A’ Level French students will he reporting back on the French press and the
Year 11 GCSE German group will be putting together information about DGSB in German as part of the
School’s home page on the ‘Net’.
SKI TRIP
Yet again the DGSB ski trip was an exhilarating and enjoyable experience with everyone hitting the slopes,
both physically and metaphorically. Snow conditions were very good and when visibility was somewhat limited
the beginners group had “Rudolf’ Causer to follow down the slopes whilst being chased by Steven “Abominable
Snowman” Scott. The snow boarding trial sessions were a “wicked” success, although Peter Nightingale never did
master the “Matthews turn”.
Off the slopes everybody enjoyed the spectacle of the “carnaval” animals and “straw men” in the village, the
open air swimming pool excursion and the sixth formers were a great hit with the chalet girls.
Finally, information regarding next year’s trip should be appearing in the next few weeks. I am hopeful that a full
weeks snow boarding course will be on offer. Until then don’t forget to “wax your board”.
LENTEN APPEAL WEEK (18th - 22nd March 1996)
For those who are new to the School, Lenten Appeal Week is the annual five day event when the whole school
raises money for local, national and international charities. Incorporating the Powell Cup (please get lots of sponsors)
every form, in all parts of the school, should organise whatever it can to raise money for the good causes
selected by the School Council.
This year’s good causes have been set, in the first instance, as The Teenage Cancer Trust and The Demelza
House Childrens’ Hospice (in Kent) for terminally ill children. Last year we raised close to £2,000 and we hope
to raise at least that, or more, again.
The 19th-22nd March have been assigned as non-uniform days, when for £2.00 students may attend in any clothes
they like (note: earrings are still banned) and I understand Dr French’s form are planning another Cola and Questions
Evening for pupils. There may also be a showing of new X File Stories in the Hall - look out for the posters
advertising this. A prize will be awarded to the form raising the most money - so pupils, please get organised
to make this a fun and charitable week. Anthony Hook. School Council Secretary.
P.S. Would all pupils try to persuade their teachers and favourite prefects to take part in the slave auction which can only take place if adequately supported.
COMPUTER TRIP TO FRANCE
To compare the range and prices of similar computing equipment between France and the U.K. a group of A-level students made a trip to France on 13th February. The weather conditions made it impossible to keep the timetable so there was only time to visit the “Cite Europe”. All the students were able to compare the merchandise against the British market and were pleased to report that the U.K. came out favourably. A good time was had by all and even the bad weather conditions on the return journey didn't dampen the spirits. It was a long but very good day. (Written by Johannes Merkel)
TESCO COMPUTER VOUCHERS
The season the collecting Tesco computer tokens will soon be upon us again. The scheme will run for a ten-week
period starting on Monday 18th March, with the last day being Sunday 26th May.
As in previous years one voucher will be issued for each £25 spent in a
single transaction at a main checkout in Tesco stoics, including the Tesco drinks superstore in
Calais! Please make a point of asking for the tokens if they are not offered to you.
During the four previous years of the scheme the range of items available has
broadened considerably. We could now collect for a multi-media computer, a set of
note-pad word processors. or a fast-text television and other audio-visual
equipment. When the decision is made you will receive a letter giving details of our choice and the target
number of vouchers needed.
In the mean time we should like to hear from anyone who could set up a collection point on our behalf. Shops, pubs,
and dentist surgeries have all played host to computer voucher boxes in the past. but please remember that the
rules of the scheme do not allow canvassing for tokens on Tesco premises.
POETRY
Congratulations to 31 boys in the junior part of the school whose poems have been accepted for publication by Poetry Now Young Writers 1996. The book containing their work, called ‘Carousel Kent’, will be published at the end of May 1996.
PAINTING COMPETITION - Key Stage 3 Winner
Our Year 7 pupils recently took part in an Art Contest, organised jointly by Dover District Council and Kent County Council, in celebration of this year’s Festival of Dover. Participants had to produce work on the theme of 'Spirit of the Sea'.
As well as an overall 1st prize winner of all the participating key stages each key stage had a separate
winner. Our congratulations go to Mitchell Bryant of 7SW whose design was praised by the judges as being
“bold and well-designed”. and won the Key Stage 3 Category. For his efforts
he, his family and his classmates
will he given free tickets to one of the Festival’s events, and Mitchell will see his work printed in the Festival
Brochure. Thanks to all our pupils for such a good
performance.
MUSIC - Spring Concert
On Wednesday 20th March at 7.30 pm we will be presenting our annual Spring Concert in the School Hall.
The programme to be performed by the school’s musicians will include a variety of instrumental music
ranging from classical through jazz to pop. Music presented by the Brass, Woodwind, Chamber and Jazz
Groups will be interspersed with solo items featuring violin, clarinet, trumpet, piano and the school organ,
together with performances of original compositions by
our own students.
During the interval a choice of cheese and wine or light refreshments will be served, included in the admission
charge of £2.00 for adults and £1.00 for students. Tickets will be available on the door.
Please make this concert known amongst family, friends and others who may be interested. You are
warmly invited to attend and we hope you will be able to join us.
ON RECHERCHE
We are often asked by French people to find an English
family to welcome their son or daughter.
At the moment we are looking for a family to welcome Jean Christophe as a paying guest or as part of an
exchange between a French student and an English one. Jean Christophe lives in the Oise department and will be
14 in April. He loves sport (he belongs to a judo club and plays in a football club). He has studied English for 5
years and was selected for the “Classe Europeènne” in his school, that is to say a class with a heavy language input.
Jean Christophe would like to come to England to stay with a family this Easter for his two weeks
holiday or the best part of it (i.e. between the 7th and 21st April).
If you can help please contact Mrs Hargrave at the school.
We have a similar request for another boy of the same age but he would like to come this summer, or later.
PFA
Thank you to all who took part in the “Questions for Quids” organised by the PFA. Several entrants got 49 out
of 50 and five managed to get all fifty correct. A draw was made for the winner and congratulations go to Paul
Tutthill who wins the fifty pounds prize.
Both Mr Falconer and Dr French. who entered as staff members, need extra homework!
200 Club
The winners for the month of February are as follows:
1st - Mr D Bull (55) winning £25. 2nd - Mrs L Yates (152) winning £15
and 3rd - Mr R Hopkins (68) winning £10.
A reminder for those of you who pay half yearly - £6.00 is now due.
The next PFA Committee meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 13 March at 7.30 pm.
CCF
The CCF would like to express its thanks to the school for assisting with
funding of a visit to RAF Brugen by 3 members of the RAF Section. The visit will take place
during the Easter holidays.
Interest has been shown by some members in a Venture Trust Scheme, totally funded by the Home Office. The
scheme involves working alongside young offenders on a visit to Scotland. The activities would involve
abseiling, canoeing. rock climbing etc.
Work is nearing completion on the refurbishment of offices within the CCF Signals Room.
SPORTS NEWS
Rugby
On Sunday 28 January 1996 Dan Holdsworth of 12 Castle captained the Kent Under 17 XV ‘B’ team
against Surrey playing at centre. It was a good win with Dan scoring a try and a
conversion.
On Sunday 18 February, following his good performance against Surrey Dan was promoted to the Kent U17 XV A
team, the senior sidle, for their match against Herts. Kent won the match 30 points to nil.
Years 7, 8 and 9 played rugby against Norton Knatchbull last Saturday
morning and the results were as follows:
Year 7 - drew 5-5
Year 8 - won 46-13
Year 9 - won 29-10
On Monday 4th March the same year sides played rugby against Dane Court G.S. away and the results were as
follows:
Year 7 - won 27-12
Year 8 - lost 27-7
Year 9 - won 63-0
Rugby Fixtures: Tues. 12 March Years 8 & 9 XVs v Sandwich High School at Home and on Wed. 27 March
1st XV v Dane Court GS at Home.
Football
The District Cup Football matches have just started and to date four First Round matches have been played with the
following results.
Year 7 played well against Sandwich High School at home just before half-term and won their match 3-2.
Year 9 played away against Castle High School, Deal losing 3-2.
Year 10 played Sandwich High School also at home and outplayed the opposition to win 9-2.
Year 11 played against Sandwich High School at home and put a useful team performance together to win 5-1;
four goals being scored by Lee Neiles and one by Paul Johnson.
Year 8 played St Edmunds at the The Danes and won the match 6-0.
Please note that there is a Staff Development Day on Thursday 4th April.
The next First Thursday will be sent to you on Thursday 2nd May 1996.
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SUMMER BALL
Saturday 13th July 7 p.m. - 3 a.m.
Don't miss it!
An electronic Weather Reporter station, recently installed on the School roof, has
been purchased with the profit made from the first Summer Ball, held in July 1994.
Apart from being valuable fund-raising events for the School, our two Summer Balls
have also been thoroughly enjoyable evenings.
