Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTERHERITAGE PATH FLAGSTONE COMPETITION
As many of you will have seen in last Thursday's Dover Express, Dover Grammar School for Boys has been selected as one of three Dover schools whose choice of a significant date for Dover's history were chosen to be used on a flagstone in Pencester Gardens, Dover.
Our choice of date was 1535 - marking the dissolution of Dover Priory, a key event in the history of Dover. The wording on "our" flagstone will be:
1535 Dissolution of Dover Priory
Dover Grammar School for Boys
The other successful schools were St Mary's Primary School (who chose 1789, the date their school was founded) and Dover College (who chose 1861, the completion of the first direct rail link from Dover to London).
LENTEN APPEAL
The annual Lenten Appeal is fast approaching and the School Council has chosen three charities to support. This year some of the money we raise will go to Esther Haines, the adopted daughter of Mr and Mrs Haines. She is profoundly deaf and the aim is to purchase a video-subtitling machine to help her education. We are also supporting the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.
There are already a variety of fundraising events and ideas planned, including the Powell Cup, where boys are encouraged to get sponsored to run in the cross-country race. Forms can be obtained from the School Office, where their famous raffle will also be available. The Library quizzes are also becoming renowned and this year's should be no exception.
Forms are now being encouraged to think up other ideas to raise money as we finalise the week's events so that we can make this year's Lenten Appeal a great success.
Jonathan Pascoe - Chairman of the School Council
Note for New Parents: The Lenten Appeal is the School's major fund raising event for charity. The School Council, representing all forms in the school, organise the event and decide on the charities to be supported. Usually, as is the case this year, the money raised is divided between a local, a national and an international charity. As well as the various fund raising events put on by individuals or forms, the Headteacher has given the School Council the rights to nominate five 'non uniform' days per school year in order to raise money for charity. One was held last term, the other four will be Tuesday-Friday of the Lenten Appeal week. The amount requested for those who want to take part (it is voluntary) will be decided at the School Council meeting today (1st March).
YEAR 11 FRENCH TRIP TO PARIS
On a cold and misty 1st February twenty Year 11 boys, along with Mrs Hargrave and Mr Falconer, embarked on a 'motivational' GCSE trip to Paris from Ashford by Eurostar.
The journey was amusing with most of the noise and entertainment being provided by eight boys from 11 Channel. None of the twenty boys had ever travelled by Eurostar before and we were all amazed at the speed and the journey time to Paris.
Craig Jacobs and Glynn Myers were also amazed to hear Mrs Hargrave say that Pot Noodles were banned in France; but it was too late! Having said that she was impressed with our organisational skills; flasks of boiling water, forks and of course, coffee.
On arrival at Paris North Station we immediately headed for the Metro. However, due to another strike in France the Metro was closed and so we had to travel across Paris on one of the few buses running - which proved to be quite a squeeze.
After what seemed like an eternity we finally squeezed off of our bus and headed for the Eiffel Tower where we were met by a hoard of very dodgy salesmen. Sadly the top level was not open but we did take the lift to the intermediate level. Several boys, particularly Mark Artis and Simon Shepperd were shocked by the immense height at which we were standing. From this vantage point we could see most of the city which provided us with many photo opportunities.
Whilst at the Eiffel Tower we decided to stop for lunch, mainly consisting of chocolate waffles and cappuccino which despite the height everyone managed to stomach except Chris Knight who somehow managed to choke on his waffle leaving a distinct mess amongst a roar of laughter.
After descending to the ground floor we embarked on the long walk to the Arc de Triomphe. We finally arrived at this amazing monument which contains the tomb of the Unknown Soldier whom Craig Jacobs was desperate to know the identity of. More laughter and mockery from the group met this act of stupidity. This was swiftly followed by Alan Blanchflower's brush with the police for eating in public!
We took the lift to the top of the arch and looked down on the Champs Elysées and the manic driving below us.
After taking the 286 steps down to the ground level we took a very brisk, long tiring walk along the Champs-Elysées, past the obélisque, the Place de la Concorde where so many French people were beheaded and onto the Louvre with the glass pyramid.
Sadly it was getting late so we could only spend several minutes in the pyramid. However, this was long enough for Glynn Myers and Cameron Ward to have yet another Pot Noodle outside.
We then embarked on another long walk, this time to the Centre Pompidou. It was getting dark but we were astonished by the structure looking more like a colourful building site than a modern centre of art and culture. We were hoping to go up the outside escalator but this was only possible if we visited the art galleries. We were given the option to visit them but chose to spend sixty minutes free time absorbing the atmosphere and above all heading for the nearest McDonald's!
Our hour 'on the town' was very enjoyable as we were let loose for the first time! However time ran out and before long we were all walking (again!) to the station.
On arrival at Paris North we boarded our colourful '102 Dalmatians' Eurostar to head back to Ashford. We had a great laugh and the 11 Channel boys enjoyed a good game of cards - even if some of us were cheating! We finally arrived back on English soil and headed home for a good night's sleep.
A memorable and enjoyable day was had by all and we would like to thank Mrs Hargrave for organising the trip.
Chris Knight - 11 Channel
VISIT TO DOVER MUSEUM
1st February 2001
On the 1st February the AS and A level History students visited Dover Museum, where Mr Joe Klein, a survivor of the Holocaust, gave a personal account of his life during the Second World War. Mr Klein lived in Lask, a town in Poland twenty miles from Lodz. He spoke of the intimidation he felt living in Poland and of how he felt when workers in his town were taken away to the concentration camps.
Many non-workers were also taken away by the Germans in lorries, along with mothers and children. The latter were killed halfway into their journey and thrown into ready-made graves.
Mr Klein lived in a ghetto for most of the Second World War. The people in the ghetto had no contact with the outside world and life was hard - there was little or no food and the living conditions were terrible.
Mr Klein's description of life at that time was very moving. He visits many schools and talks about his life which sounds to have been very interesting.
James Garlick - 12 Castle
YEAR 9 HISTORY TRIP TO "DOOMED YOUTH"
On Friday 9th February we set off to go to the theatre to see the play "Doomed Youth". It was all about the horrors that happened in the First World War. The name came from the title of a poem also about the First World War.
We left school around 9.20 am and got on the coaches at the top gate. The journey was not very interesting and everyone concentrated on playing snake on each other's phones.
Eventually we got there and went into the theatre. Then we went into a bar area inside, waiting for the seating area to open. Whilst we were there, everyone stocked up on a large amount of sweets each, but they were quickly eaten before the play had even begun.
The play itself started off about two archaeologists, who had gone into the remains of a 20th century museum. There they found a pack of cards, a white feather, a chopped up newspaper, a football clapper, a mangle, a container of rum, a gas mask, a pair of shrunken gloves and a model pigeon attached to a parachute. They did not understand these objects because there had been a revolution in the 25th century and a lot of knowledge about the past had been destroyed.
Through the play however we discovered what each object was for. The pack of cards was the headmaster of the time's way of giving someone a caning. For example if you got the six of spades you got six strokes of the cane.
The chopped up newspaper was what the people at the time used for loo paper if they could not afford it.
The mangle was for squeezing the water out of clothes. This was the servant's task. The white feather was given to men who hadn't joined up and since it was a chicken feather it meant that those who were handed it were considered chicken.
The gas used by the Germans in the war shrank the gloves. This gas, as we learned, would blind you if it did not kill you. The gas killed many men, but a few survived due to the gas masks being used. The football clapper was used to sound the men, warning them that a gas shell had just landed and that they had to put on their masks straight away.
The container of rum was to boost morale just as they were about to go over the trenches to "no man's land" to meet their deaths.
We also found out that pigeons were put in harnesses attached to parachutes and dropped over enemy lines. The local population of towns near the German lines would write a message about where the Germans currently were and the pigeon would fly back to England with the message.
Some people did not like the play but some did. I feel that we learned a great deal from the play about the First World War and that it was worthwhile.
David Harper - 9 Channel
HUMAN RIGHTS? WHAT ARE THEY?
Year 12 Government and Politics students were privileged to welcome Mr Patrick Glencross, a solicitor from the Kingsfords Group in Ashford who delivered a talk on the Human Rights Act and the implications for the legal profession and UK citizens.
The talk enhanced the groups' knowledge and appreciation of the issues and has given them the opportunity to better understand and use case law in their examination answers.
Some time was spent considering the anticipated challenges to the law, for example whether a prisoner has the right to vote and also the potential conflict between, say, the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression.
Mrs P Harrison
SCHOOL LIBRARY NEWS
Thank you to all parents for continuing to collect and send in the various token vouchers and ink cartridges. We are still collecting these so please keep up the good work, it really does help to improve services and add resources.
Today your son will have received his World Book Day Voucher which is valid in the shops until Saturday 10th March. Details of limitations are printed on the token.
Please note that during the week of 12th March the Library will be operating a School Bookshop, giving pupils the opportunity to purchase books throughout the week and also providing some new titles for the School Library. The bookshop providers assure me that the World Book Day vouchers can be taken as part exchange.
When a book is purchased your son will automatically be entered into a raffle with a chance to win a title of his choice from the chosen collection at the end of the week.
Reminders will be given of this event during assemblies and in Form registers.
Mrs L George - Librarian
MUSIC
Spring Concert. On Wednesday 14th March at 7.30 pm we will be presenting our annual Spring Concert in the School Hall.
The programme will include a variety of instrumental music played by the School's musicians ranging from classical to jazz. Music presented by the Big Band, Brass Ensemble, Training Band and other groups will be interspersed with solo items featuring a wide range of instruments.
During the interval a choice of wine and cheese or light refreshments will be served, included in the admission charge of £3.00 for adults and £1.00 for students.
The Spring Concert is one of our most popular musical evenings. Please make this event 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.
Choral Concert. Please note that a date for this event which appears in the School's Spring Term Calendar, Saturday 31st March, is incorrect and that this event will take place later in the year.
Mr R S Davies - Director of Music
CHESS REPORTS
On 14th February five members of the DGSB Senior Chess Gang were slaughtered by five members of the Judd Gang of Tonbridge; no prisoners were taken. Tricked into believing a competitive quarterfinal awaited them, the Dover boys were ruthlessly slain by some rapid-fire play from the young Judd quintet; even the Dover Bishops lay prostrate at the end as the school minibus screeched away into the night.
(Apologies to the Moran Gang)
Kent Cup Quarterfinals
In reaching the quarterfinals of the Kent Cup Malcolm Montgomery, Steven Taylor, Joseph Messiter, Michael Long and Vahe Aliev did themselves proud and I'm sure the school appreciates their final efforts. Unused to playing competitive chess under timed conditions the boys nonetheless proved themselves to be the best team in their qualifying group, only to fall to a school with a great chess tradition and considerable experience. Thus tinged with green, the senior team hope to go one better next year.
Well done boys!
Mr J Gaskell
ARCHAEOLOGY CLUB REPORT
The archaeology boys have been working hard on completing their Boxgrove Man projects (based on work done during club time in school and a successful visit to the Department of Palaeontology at the Natural History Museum in London). In times of a crowded curriculum the boys have had the opportunity of studying a fascinating and formative period of our past that the less well informed continue to deny. A panel of judges including Daniel Knox (7 Priory), Matthew Goodbun (7 Castle) and Arian Beqiri (7 Port) awarded the prize for best Boxgrove Man project to Luke Douglas of 7 Castle for a piece of work that exhibited considerable knowledge and understanding and also included some fine drawings. Well done Luke!
The next Archaeology Club outing is a weekend trip to Cambridge at the end of March.
Mr J Gaskell
TORNADO WORLDS 2001CATAMARAN RACE
Richards Bay, South Africa
Hugh Styles, Old Pharosian of the School, and his partner May (apologies for not knowing his first name) have taken part in the above race. Hugh has kept us up to date on their progress through e-mail messages and we are pleased to say that they finished in third place. So our congratulations go to Hugh once again.
PARENTS' AND FRIENDS' ASSOCIATION
There is still time for you to book a table for the Wine and Wisdom evening which is being held tomorrow (Friday 2nd March). Even at this late stage why not gather some friends together and come along for a very enjoyable evening? Please phone Ian Munford on Dover (01304) 820421 by 2.00 pm on Friday to book a table.
The next committee meeting is on Tuesday 27th March at 7.00 pm. (Please note the time is 7.00 pm not 7.30 pm).
200 Club
The results of the February draw are as follows:
1st £25 Mrs S Chivington (199), 2nd £15 Mrs M Miles (39), 3rd £10 Mrs N Powlter (4)
OLD PHAROSIANS
The next committee meeting is on Tuesday 13th March at 7.00 pm
SPORTS NEWS
SWIMMING
During two weekends at the beginning of February the school took part in the Kent Schools' Swimming Gala.
On the first weekend at Gillingham, Adam Patterson (11CA), swam in the 100 metres backstroke. He had an exciting swim-off to secure a place in the final. He then came 5th in the final in a time of 1 min. 8.68 secs.
On the second weekend at Canterbury the school entered two junior relay teams, a medley relay team and a freestyle team. James Bates (7Ca) swam backstroke in the medley relay. Alastair Walker (7Py) then took over and swam breaststroke. Chris Keen (7CA) swam butterfly and after that Tom Disbury (9Py) swam front crawl in the anchor leg. In the freestyle relay the order was Alastair Walker, Ben Patterson (8Ca), Chris Keen and then Tom Disbury.
On the same day James Bates also swam in the 200 metres Individual Medley for the school and came 6th in the final with a time of 3 mins. 4.3 secs. In the other individual events Chris Keen swam in the 100 metres butterfly, Alastair Walker swam in the 100 metres breaststroke, Ben Patterson swam in the 100 metres backstroke and Tom Disbury swam in the 100 metres front crawl.
I think we all did very well particularly as the juniors were swimming against 14 year olds.
Alastair Walker - 7 Priory
FOOTBALL
1st XI Premier League Rescheduled League Match -v- Oakwood Park G.S. Wednesday 7th February
This was a game which we never really appeared to want to win. In our last encounter we had won 5-0 in the Cup (also played at home) way back in October. From the start Oakwood took control for long periods of the first half scoring a goal through our defensive errors and a mistake by the keeper. Jason Laird equalised in the second half with a nicely hit free kick and we had several attacks which could have put us ahead. However, under increasing pressure from the Oakwood Park forwards, we eventually yielded a nicely hit goal from the right side of the field just on the edge of the box. We lost Neil Brinicombe in the last quarter of the game and Alex Gough came on as the replacement.
This was not a pleasant spectacle to watch with much illegal and aggressive play from both teams throughout the match which largely passed the referee by.
Our next match is another game that has to be rescheduled versus Harvey Grammar School at Folkestone. The date has yet to be announced. We are all looking for a better and more cohesive team performance.
Mr M R Grant - Subject Leader for PE
Year 7 County Cup Football -v- Sandwich. Friday 2nd February
This was a good overall team performance with many goal opportunities being taken and some excellent interpassing. The team proved to be far too strong for Sandwich and won in convincing style. Nine goals were scored and Sandwich scored 2 in reply, both as a result of defensive errors.
Sammy Brannan and Lloyd Stevenson both made outstanding contributions.
Year 7 County Cup Quarter Final -v- Maplesden Noakes - Saturday 10th February
DGSB 4 Maplesden Noakes 3
Played on a fairly heavy pitch this was a game of two phases. The school team in the first half dominated most of the play, some errors were made in defence and Chris Keen in goal made several excellent saves. Stephen Grant scored two goals; one in particular from 25 yards away that he struck beautifully with his left foot to easily beat their keeper. Our third goal was from a nicely hit corner that Nick Shaw slotted in with his head. At half time we were leading 3-0 and it looked as though more goals were going to come. However, our opponents had other ideas and put us under a lot of pressure, particularly our defensive four, and with 10 minutes to go the scores were level. Ryan Powlter was sent away down the left wing and after 50 yards of running with the ball, slotted away a superb left footed shot into the top of the net - WE HAD WON 4-3.
Areas that we need to improve on are communication, ball retention and better awareness in defence of fast breaks by our opposition.
Our semi-final match is due to be played against either Harvey G S at Folkestone or Chaucer Technology School at Canterbury on Saturday 3rd March 10.30 am kick off.
If you are able to come and support the team please do so.
Mr M R Grant - Subject Leader for PE
STAFF -V- PREFECTS FOOTBALL MATCH
Following the 10-nil drubbing the previous game I was under pressure from certain colleagues to radically change our team's fortunes (Mr Jolliffe even had gone as far as to suggest the sack!). Thus a revolutionary Erikson-eat-your-heart-out formation was adopted; 3-1-5-1 confused the staff but, more importantly, confused the prefects even more. With Mr Ralph between the sticks, Roy the coach as sweeper, and Mr Turner up front the staff team shook off its invertebrate ancestry and looked a match for anything the upstart prefects may offer.
James Hutchison of 10 Port, a budding referee currently on the FIFA wanted list, volunteered to officiate (apparently the prefects tried to bribe him prior to the match with the promise of unlimited access to the sixth form pot-noodle machine; a clear sign perhaps that the prefects had heard that Mr Ralph has allegedly shared ancestry with Fabien Barthez).
The match itself was easily forgettable for the sixth formers as they struggled throughout to get a foothold on the game; Ritchie Hulks (Captain) appeared particularly lost in midfield as the young blood of the staff engine room ran amok with ever greater effect (even the usually athletic Geoff Keen looked subdued as he cut a lonely figure up front). Due to the prefect's overly-defensive approach the match had to be decided, though be it emphatically, on penalties and this is where Mr Ralph was to prove that there is more to the humble geography teacher than meets the eye. Diving low to both left and right Mr Ralph proved the difference on the day as the prefects continued that great English tradition of fluffing their penalties.
The next game will be before the Easter holidays, giving time to Ritchie Hulks and colleagues to regroup and consult their faith healers.
Mr J Gaskell
RUGBY
Year 9 Tournament - Thursday 25th January
Due to illness and injury a very weakened side travelled to the Developing Schools Rugby Festival at Ashford R.F.C.
We lost two games to strong sides from Harvey G S and Simon Langton G S who were the eventual winners. The next three games we won playing against Channel, Archbishops and The Abbey School to come a creditable third in the overall competition.
Our main weakness lay in our ineffective tackling at times. Special mention must be made of the fine performances of Andrew Arter and Sam Fields both players from Year 8.
Mr M R Grant - Subject Leader for PE
CROSS COUNTRY
The Powell Cup Inter House Cross Country will take place on Friday 23rd March.
CONGRATULATIONS
Our congratulations go to Ricky Stanley (11CA) and Ben Vick (11PT) who have been picked to play for the Kent Under 17 Squad this season.
This is a significant achievement and one which may be a stepping stone to higher representative honours including possible England selection next season.
