THE "FIRST THURSDAY" NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2000 No. 68

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

It has come to our notice that some pupils are arriving at school very early, well before the official arrival time (08.35). Whilst we have no wish to discourage keenness, it must be noted that the school can accept no responsibility for pupils who arrive on the premises early, as there are no staff "on duty" at that time. At present we are prepared to allow pupils to enter the school to avoid bad weather etc. and to allow them to work etc., but this concession depends on sensible and good behaviour from all those who arrive early before the official start of the school day.

Headteacher

DEPARTMENTS OF ART & DESIGN AND MODERN LANGUAGES TRIP TO PARIS
18th - 22nd February 2000 (inclusive)

Day One
The Sixth Form's joint Art and Modern Languages trip took us to scenic Paris. The trip started on an unforgettable high, with a certain member forgetting to bring his passport (no names, Peev!).
On the way to Paris we stopped at Anvers sur Oise, a pretty village where van Gogh spent his last few months. We visited the graves of him and his brother Theo, and saw some of the places Vincent had so memorably depicted, such as the Town Hall and the church. It was interesting to see the field in which Vincent shot himself and the house in which he died from his wound. It is hard to believe that Vincent sold only one painting in his lifetime, yet now his works go for £25million plus.
Our hotel, just to the north of Paris was a good quality one, called Hotel Clarine. Our evening meal was taken at the nearby Flunch restaurant where we all took advantage of free second helpings of chips and vegetables.
Day Two
We visited Montmartre, famous for its quaint streets and squares, its caricature rip-off merchants, and the magnificent Sacré Coeur Cathedral. Dozens of souvenir sellers people the steps of this building, selling bags of flour and other useless items.
After lunch we visited the Rodin and Picasso museums, both containing amazing collections of these artists' work. Rodin's "The Thinker", "The Kiss" and "The Gates of Hell" made the biggest impressions, while Picasso's sheer inventive power was stunning. Mrs. Lloyd took the linguists off for a guided tour of the area.
Our evening meal was taken at The Casino restaurant, near the awesome Arche de la Defense. Well thought of, this restaurant caused four of our party (the tour guide, Mr. Almond and two Year 13 pupils) to go down with food poisoning, putting Mr. Almond out of action the
following day. We all decided that we should prefer to go back to Flunch.
Day Three
The day started well, with the coach refusing to start. A battery problem was diagnosed. Mrs. Lloyd and Mr. Thompson took us into Paris, using the superb metro. We arrived at the Bateaux Mouches, thankfully without our joke-cracking tour guide Gordon, thereby being spared a string of "in-Seine" jokes. The boat trip took in many famous sites of Paris such as Notre Dame and the Musée d'Orsay. However the trip was too much for Chris Wright who fell asleep for most of the trip.
Following this we went to the Musée d'Orsay which contained an exceptional collection of paintings and sculptures from the 19th Century.
With the previous night's eating disaster in mind we strongly urged the tour guide Gordon to take us all to the nearby Pizza Hut. At least nobody suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous cuisine this time.
Day Four
During the morning we visited the Eiffel Tower and travelled to the top. The day was slightly hazy but the view was still worth the effort.
The language students had a wander around Paris and visited the British Institute. One of our Year 13 students has been offered a degree course place in Paris for next year.
Our visit to the Louvre was jam packed, taking in the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and all sorts of wonderful treasures. The glass pyramid entrance is a bold, highly successful modern addition to the Louvre.
Our next stop was the Pompidou Centre, full of modern art (1400 works on display), with works by such as Picasso, Dali, Kandinsky and Miro. The square outside it is full of performers and caricature artists.
We finished our sightseeing with a short visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, famous for its gargoyles, stained glass windows and Quasimodo.
Our supper was again at the Flunch in Cergy Pontoise. We finished the day with a few games of ten-pin bowling, the teachers playing particularly well. By the time we got back to the hotel most of us were exhausted, and Darren Piper fell asleep with the television remote up his nose.
Day Five
On our way to Calais we had a brief stop at Vimy Ridge, with Gordon and Mr. Almond giving us some thought provoking information about the heavy losses in WW1.
We had a short shopping trip to Cité Europe before we caught the ferry back to Dover.
We, the students, should like to give our thanks to Mr. Almond, Mrs. Lloyd and Mr. Thompson for such a hugely enjoyable trip.

R. Kennett and D. Phelan - Year 12

YEAR 9 HISTORY TRIP TO LONDON

On Friday 11th February at 7.30am members of Year 9 gathered in Northbourne Avenue waiting to board coaches to London to see "Doomed Youth". We finally left at 7.35am, five minutes late due to latecomers. It was a long journey but boredom was avoided due to pocket games, gameboys, radios, magazines and chants!
We arrived at the Bloomsbury Theatre at 10 o'clock, early for once! After a 40 minute wait in the cold wind (broken by trips to the toilet and shop) we finally took our seats in the theatre. After 15 minutes the play started. The play was set in the year 3000 when archaeologists are excavating a twentieth century museum which had been destroyed during a Cultural Revolution in the 23rd Century. The archaeologists do not know what the objects are and the only way to find out is by scanning them with an unstable imager. This brings the story to life and we see the lives of four people during the Great War.
The play ended at ten past twelve and we went to Gordon Square (adjacent to the theatre) where groups took over benches to eat their lunches. After feeding the pigeons with half our lunch we boarded our respective coaches. 
Coach 2 then took 9 Port and 9 Castle to the National Army Museum where they had a lecture and looked at the exhibits. Coach 1 took 9 Priory and 9 Channel to the Imperial War Museum where they saw two educational films from the BBC series "The Great War" covering the Battle of the Somme. Armed with the usual worksheets we were let loose among the First World War exhibits to find the answers to the questions. Everyone tried to finish 5 to 10 minutes early to leave time to see some of the other exhibits in the museum.
We were all to meet up again at 3.40pm to board the coach home but as usual there were latecomers and a row broke out over who ultimately delayed us - Richard, or Richard! We finally departed at 4.50pm and arrived back at Northbourne Avenue at about 6.20pm after having dropped people off at Whitfield and the Girls Grammar School.
Our thanks go to Mr. Falconer and Mr. Gaskell for arranging the trip, and to Mr. Jolliffe, Mrs. Watson, Mr. Sewell and Mrs. Rose for accompanying us.

Thomas Munford - 9 Priory

As said above, half of Year 9 visited the Imperial War Museum after watching the play - the other half visited the National Army Museum. Here is their experience:- 

When we arrived at London we went to the Bloomsbury Theatre to watch a fictional production about the First World War. The plot was mainly about people who were in their teens working for king and country. There were also women working in men's jobs, and the explanation about how there was hardly any gun fighting, but the fighters sat in the trenches most of the time.
After we went to the theatre we had a 40-minute bus ride to the National Army Museum. We were given a lecture about what happened in the trenches. The lecturer then showed us most of the equipment used by the British Army. Kitson Keen of 9 Castle dressed up in all of the equipment, including carrying a Lee-Enfield rifle, apart from the trousers. After the lecture the group then went up to the area where the displays were. At about 15.30 we left the museum and went home.

Nik Willson, 9 Port

MUSIC

A Level Music Conference
On Monday 7th February our A Level Music students under the leadership of Mr Baldock travelled up to the University of London for an A Level Music Conference. This matched the GCSE Music Conference which twenty seven of our present and prospective candidates had attended with Mr Davies on Thursday 27th January, both events proving most valuable to all concerned.
Sponsored Practice
Over the February half-term break the school's musicians have been taking part in a Sponsored Practice to raise money for Music Department funds which will benefit both class music lessons and extra-curricular activities alike. Similar events in 1998 and 1999 each raised several hundred pounds and it is hoped to reach the same target again this year. Participants are asked to hand the money they have raised in to the School Office by Friday 10th March. It is intended to award the prizes to the three pupils who raise the most money, with a first prize of £30, by the date of the Spring Concert.
Spring Concert 
On Wednesday 22nd March at 7.30 pm in the School Hall our musicians will be presenting their annual Spring Concert. A wide-ranging programme of instrumental music will include performances by the Training Band, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Group and Big Band interspersed with a variety of solo items. During the interval a choice of wine and cheese or light refreshments will be served, included in the adult admission charge of £3.00. The Spring Concert has proved to be the most popular of our three termly concerts and you are warmly invited to attend.
Choral Concert 
On Saturday 1st April at 8.00 pm the School Choir and friends will be presenting a Choral Concert in the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Charlton, Dover. The programme will include choral favourites familiar to singers and audience alike - Bach's Jesu, joy of man's desiring, Handel's Zadok the Priest, Mozart's Ave Verum and Exsultate Jubilate, and Fauré's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine There will be a dress rehearsal in the church on the afternoon of the concert from 1.30 to 5.00 pm and any experienced singers who would like to join us for this event would be most welcome to contact Mr Davies. The programme will also include an organ solo from Mr Baldock and Renaissance music played by the School Brass Ensemble. Tickets will be on sale at the door on the night priced £4.00 for adults and £2.50 for senior citizens and students. Please make this concert well known amongst family, friends and others who may be interested. We hope you will be able to join us.

Mr R S Davies - Director of Music

PARENTS' AND FRIENDS' ASSOCIATION

Our thanks to everyone who support the Wine and Wisdom evening last month which raised £277. Congratulations to the team called Norman Wisdom's Friends who won - but only just - with Old Speckled Hen in second place and Well Lit Italian Car third (where do they get these names?).
Now we are preparing for our next social event, which is always very popular. It's a Barn Dance with music (and instructions) supplied by the live band Desperate Measures. They really are a superb group of musicians who help to make these evenings very successful and enjoyable. The Barn Dance is being held at the school on Saturday 18th March, from 8 to 11pm, and doors open at 7.30pm. Bring your own food and drink. Tickets are £4 and will be available from the school soon. A letter will be sent home to you in the next few days with a tear-off slip which you can use to book your tickets. Places are limited, to make sure we have enough room for dancing, and they are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. So send your booking slip back as soon as you receive it if you want to make sure of tickets for you and your friends.
Second hand uniform is on sale from the School Office after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it will also be on sale at the Parents' Evenings on 14th and 21st March.

Mrs J Tutthill - Chairman

200 CLUB

The results of the February draw of the 200 Club are as follows:
1st Mr D Fullarton (127) £25, 2nd Mrs M Betts (165) £15 and 3rd Dr J Bulmer (26) £10.

OLD PHAROSIANS

The latest edition of the newsletter, published in January, has already brought a number of responses from former pupils throughout the world.
The lockers, provided by the Old Pharosians' Association, are now installed in the new sixth form centre and in the prefects' room.
Archivist Peter Burville and his team continue to work on information sent in about old boys for the school archives which are a valuable resource to the school. As you are probably aware, the Old Pharosians provided a computer in the library area for use for the archives, and also by the boys when the archivist and his colleagues are not using it. We hope the present-day students appreciate the facilities that are provided for them by the Association.
Some of the ways we contact former pupils after losing touch for a number of years can be quite strange. One of the latest coincidences concerns one of our new members of staff Mr. Andrew Burkert who has joined the mathematics department. He noticed a photo of the school's 1953 football team on the wall of the maths office, and the name of one of the players, T. Heaver, caught his eye. Could it be the same T. Heaver he had met at the University of British Columbia? A quick e-mail across the Atlantic proved that he was right, and Dr. Trevor Heaver was delighted to hear from the school after all this time. He was just about to leave for Hong Kong, but is currently on his way back from Europe to Vancouver and may call in at the school sometime this week.
We're always on the lookout for old boys of the school, so if you know of any former pupils who have lost contact with us, do let us know.

Mr G Tutthill - Assistant Secretary

CCF

Since our last entry Cadets from the CCF have taken part in many activities including: various shooting days and an exercise on local training areas.
Recently the CCF has had a recruiting 'boom' with numbers reaching in excess of ninety. Much of the new intake has been made up of pupils from the Girls' Grammar School. The link between the CCF and the Girls' Grammar School has only recently been laid in place and has steadily helped the Contingent to grow dramatically.
The CCF looks forward to a busy second half of spring term 2000 with activities such as a leadership course, a week long activity course, more shooting days and in the near future Adventurous Training 2000, Contingent Summer Camp in Hohne, Germany and a summer full of Bulldog Aircraft flying.
New recruits are always welcome at the unit and if anyone wishes to join they should come to the CCF hut during any lunchtime for more information.

RSM Ryan Parmenter - Contingent Senior Cadet

SPECTACLE COLLECTION

Many thanks for sending in your used spectacles - we were able to get 45 pairs to the charity Vision Aid Overseas who provide people in developing countries with otherwise unobtainable glasses.
This will be an ongoing collection by the school so whenever you want to dispose of any of your old spectacles, please send them in to the School Office.

Mrs J Luckhurst - School Secretary

SPORTS NEWS

Rugby
Year 9 
So far the team has met with great success. We have entered and played in two Rugby Festivals. The first was at Canterbury on 7th February when we won our three matches with some excellent rugby played in dreadful weather conditions: the Festival had to be abandoned. 
At Ashford RFC on the following Monday, again in very poor conditions, we played and beat Angley School and more impressively had two excellent wins over Tunbridge Wells GS. Again due to weather and pitch conditions the tournament had to be abandoned.
Due to our success in the two Festivals we are now invited to take part in another Tournament at Aylesford RFC on Tuesday 28th March (2 - 6pm).
On 28th February we travelled away and put on another excellent performance, overcoming St. Anselm's at Canterbury 85-0.
Year 7 played St. Anselm's at home on Monday 28th February.
A determined performance saw an exciting game on Leney's with the school team winning 25-20. A lot more work is needed on our scrums and in running with the ball straight rather than across the field. 
Training sessions are held every Monday lunchhour. Any boys from Year 7 are welcome to attend.

Mr. M.R. Grant - Head of PE

Fixture:
Mon. 6th March 2.00 pm Year 7 at Dover RFC

TABLE TENNIS

Year 7. On completion the results are as follows. (Please note that although 82 boys took part in the leagues only those who played a minimum of fifteen matches are shown in the averages).
The Dover Closed Table Tennis Tournament will take place at Dover Sports & Leisure Centre on Sunday 19th March and is open to ALL registered table tennis players in the Dover League who have played a minimum of six matches.
There is also an Under 12's and Under 14's for boys to be arranged. Players must be aged under 12 and 14 on 1st July 1999. The cost will be £2.50 for either event or both events, if applicable, payable to D.T.T.A. Please see me for details.
Average Points per Team
Position FINAL TOTALS - 18th February 
1st 7 Priory METRO's 10.41 
2nd 7 Priory JAGUAR's 10.09
3rd 7 Channel BENTLEY's 9.30
4th 7 Port McCLAREN's 8.78
5th 7 Channel LAMBOURGHINI's 7.99
6th 7 Channel JAGUAR's 7.30
7th 7 Castle MERCEDE's 6.50
8th 7 Channel LOTUS's 4.84
N/A 7 Castle ROVER's Withdrawn 
N/A 7 Port LOTUS's Withdrawn 
N/A 7 Port JAGUAR's Withdrawn 
N/A 7 Port FERRARI's Withdrawn 
N/A 7 Castle BMW's Withdrawn
N/A 7 Channel DODGE VIPER's Withdrawn 

Strokes per minute per team
Position FINAL TOTALS - 18th February
1st 7 Priory METRO's 57.89 
2nd 7 Port McCLAREN's 49.43
3rd 7 Channel BENTLEY's 49.27
4th 7 Priory JAGUAR's 48.91 
5th 7 Castle MERCEDE's 28.57
6th 7 Channel JAGUAR's 26.25
7th 7 Channel LAMBOURGHINI's 20.48
8th 7 Channel LOTUS's 18.38
N/A 7 Castle ROVER's/MERCEDES Withdrawn
N/A 7 Port LOTUS's Withdrawn
N/A 7 Port JAGUAR'S Withdrawn
N/A 7 Castle BMW's Withdrawn
N/A 7 Port FERRARI's Withdrawn
N/A 7 Channel DODGE VIPER's Withdrawn

Paul Skelton - Workshop Technician