THE "FIRST THURSDAY" NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER MARCH 2002 No. 90

LENTEN APPEAL WEEK

Murder at Whitmore Manor
As you may have heard, Thursday 7th March (today) is the date of our second annual Murder Mystery.
It has proved to be a lucrative fund-raising event in the past, so the Murder Mystery Committee has decided to run another evening this year.
The entrance fee is £3 for adults and £1 for children. We begin at 7.30pm, although the doors will open at 7pm. You are welcome to come along tonight and pay on the door.
Tea and coffee will be provided and everyone is welcome! 
Robert McKay and Daniel Nash, Event Organisers

NATIONAL SCIENCE FAIR ACHIEVEMENT - 1ST PLACE

Last month, I reported on the science successes of myself and Matthew Vassey of 13Ch. This month, my achievements have gone even further.
I exhibited my project at The BA National Science Fair at The Royal Society in London during half term. It was the most prestigious event in the science calendar; guests included top scientists, teachers and members of Parliament.
Many hundreds of students had applied to exhibit at the Fair, and only 36 were selected for the two day event. It was a success to exhibit my research among the best scientists and guests from around the country. Judges from Intel Communications, The British Association and The Royal Society spent one afternoon assessing each student's ability in understanding and communicating their advanced science projects. It was a friendly but difficult competition.
The award ceremony came. I had no intention of winning any prizes; therefore it was surprising when I was announced as the First Prize winner.
I have won 'The Intel Science and Engineering Prize', one of only two given out at the Fair this year. I am about to represent Great Britain in a holiday to ISEF - The International Science and Engineering Fair in Louisville, Kentucky. Forty countries will be represented with around 1200 projects. There are awards available in many categories from many companies and universities from around the world.
It's an honour to be selected from Britain's best, and the Intel judges believe I have a good chance of taking home some of the $2million prize of cash and scholarships. For now, I'll just prepare for a good holiday and celebration at the 'Science Olympics' in May. I will write yet again if I bring any more success back to Britain and back to DGSB. Watch this space.
Nick Hayward - Head Prefect

FIRST PRIZE IN LOGO COMPETITION

We are pleased to announce that Daniel Shaw and John Neal Roberts (both Year 12) have been placed 1st and 3rd respectively, in the Secondary Section of a competition to design a logo for Dover Athletic Supporters' Society. Astor School finished second, with Whitfield School winning the Primary Section.
At a major meeting of the Society at Dover Town Hall on Thursday evening, 28th February 2002, Daniel Shaw was presented with a framed signed shirt by Neville Southall, the DGSB received a metal plate to commemorate Daniel's winning design.
Congratulations to all our participating pupils and best wishes to Dover Athletic for its future.
Mr. S.M. Almond - Subject Leader for Art and Design

"once you have been told, you become a witness too" -

Holocaust Survivors' Talk for Year 13 History Students

On 25th February, the History students of Year 13 were told of this event at Castle High School, to which we were welcomed less than two hours later! However, our journey in car-convoy to Deal was extremely worthwhile.
Susan Pollock and Janina Fischler-Martinho were the two Jewish survivors of the Shoah (more widely known as the Holocaust) who talked to us. Both had experienced the inexpressible extremes of anti-Semitic prejudice in the 1930s and 40s yet they both had very different stories to tell. Susan had grown up in Hungary, only thinly and briefly separated from Nazi Germany by Austria. Hungary's Jewish population of 800,000 was centuries-old, accompanied by anti-Semitism that was not much younger. A far-right ruling party arose in that country and so Hungary began to shift into the Axis led by Nazi Germany even before the war. Nevertheless, the Hungarian Jews were the last Jews in Europe to experience German occupation and the Holocaust's full force, in 1944, when the German army was in retreat before the Russians.
Janina, however, experienced it from the start. She was born to a footballer and his wife in Krakow, Poland, another country with native anti-Semitism. Yet even greater fear and segregation began when, in 1939, the Germans invaded the country - she was nine. Her parents and immediate family were poor but most of them enjoyed reading. Therefore, she told us, it was a particular shock to her when, within seven weeks of the invasion, the occupying forces banned the Jews from the libraries. The Jews in her town were forced into the town's walled ghetto in March 1941. The town's tram ran 
through it and the ghetto had both a grocer and a lunatic asylum. However, the area was horribly overcrowded and insanitary and the lack of heating was particularly noticeable in the awful winter which followed. Almost all of the inhabitants of the ghetto had already lost their occupations, so Janina, at 11, became the family breadwinner by smuggling other Jews' belongings out of the ghetto to sell, so long as she could keep a proportion of the money she had gained from the sale to buy food for her family that she could smuggle back in.
However, on 31st May 1942, the SS, "never removing their gloves", surrounded the ghetto and, for 8 days and nights, selected those who were to be "resettled" - a cynical cover for taking those felt to be too old or young for continuing use as slave labour to the extermination camps. Her parents, in their late 40s, along with her younger brother, fitted into this category. "The cordon was so tight that not a cat or dog could get out", she told us, but she and her elder brother, on the very day the ghetto was liquidated, escaped to the outside world. Although accidentally separated at one point (from which comes the title of her book "Have You Seen My Little Sister?"), they both just about managed to survive until the end of the war. However, their initial wait for news from their parents' new home remained in vain - they were the only two of their large family to escape the camps and survive.
Susan, like Janina, experienced academic segregation and the yellow star worn on outdoor clothing for years. Then, in 1944, the Hungarian Jews who remained after the deportation of the men a year earlier were, like those in Poland, informed that they were to be 'resettled'. There had been little but propaganda in the way of news. Therefore they knew no better and so, taking only what could be carried on their backs (including Susan's sewing machine), they marched to a ghetto, then a muddy internment camp, and finally to the cattle wagons to Auschwitz. There, under the eye of the infamous Doctor Mengele, only those who, like Susan could be used for slave labour were not sent to the gas chambers. After this, she was involved in the 'death march' of 1945 across Germany, during which she recalled no sympathy or open anger, to Bergen-Belsen, the camp liberated in April 1945. Yet even then, she recalled, the survivors were too exhausted to show any outward signs of jubilation. 
Nevertheless, in the midst of these anecdotes and personal observations on the horrific cruelties inflicted across a continent all too recently, glimmers of hope remained. Individuals who had given some escape or momentary relief from suffering were mentioned. Both have managed to all but overcome their past through studying or researching it and watching documentaries on it, although they of course do not wish to visit exhibitions or revisit the actual locations relating to their experiences. Susan later married another Holocaust survivor and interestingly she feels that her own children often found that the persecutions of their people put them off attempting to be Jewish. Therefore, she said, the greater hope often lay with others, like us, who listened and talked to her. All of us who did so are very grateful for the talks and are in full agreement with the quote in my title, taken from a poem by Judie Cohen, another Auschwitz survivor.
Edward Smith - 13Pt

ART TRIP TO LONDON

On Friday 1st March 2002 pupils from the present GCSE, AS and A2 Art groups (Years 10 & 11, 12 & 13) visited two very major temporary exhibitions in London.
We visited the Royal Academy showing 'Paris', capital of the arts 1900-1968 including Picasso, Braque, Robert Delaunay, Mondrian, Matisse, Leyer, Brancusi and Modigliani. As well as admiring the work we took some pens and paper to do some copies of the work for our coursework.
After we had covered all of the first gallery we took a 'long' walk to McDonalds restaurant where we dined in style and Alan Coates managed to eat 40 chicken nuggets in under 5 minutes and still felt hungry.
Finally, we got to the Paul Klee show at the Hayward Gallery, South Bank during the afternoon. I think that these works of art, in my personal opinion, are very simple, but this art isn't for looking at to see how realistic or detailed it is; it's simply about expression, colour and tone. The Paul Klee Exhibition gave us a rare opportunity to analyse in depth how one artist achieved so much using the formal elements of art and design by using colour, pattern, tone, shape and form, line and texture very simply.
The trip was successful as we all found something to interest us, and was also very enjoyable.
I would like to express my thanks to Mr. Almond and Mr. Thompson for organising the trip.
Max Beresford - 11 Channel

INTERACT QUIZ NIGHT

On Friday 1st March the Sixth Form Interact group in conjunction with the South Foreland Rotary Club held a quiz night in the Hall. Approximately 100 people, ranging in age from 14 to somewhere the other side of 60 enjoyed a fun evening of puzzles, food and entertainment. Nobody was surprised when the teachers' team won, or were they? 
The event raised £260 for meningitis research and the group is looking forward to planning its next venture. We desperately need additional members to join the group in order to be fully recognised by the Rotary Club. Anybody in Years 11, 12 or 13 can join and help organise fund raising events of this kind.
Credit for the success of this event goes to Chris Luckhust, James Garlick, Edward Smith, Ben Bridges and Alan Hayden, with special thanks to Mr. Terry Westwater of Dover Rotary Club for his continued support and involvement.
The next meeting of the group will be this Monday 11th March in S1 at 1.30pm. Please speak to any of the Sixth Form students named above or Mr. Thomas or Mr. Harrison if you would like to become involved.
Mr. M.G. Thomas - Head of Sixth Form

LAW REPORT

Congratulations to all the participants from Year 9 who entered the Magistrates Court Mock Trial Competition on 2nd March at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court. It was great fun and an excellent effort from our team who came second. Hope you all enjoyed the experience - next year let's win boys! At least we beat Folkestone School for Girls. Roll on to 2003.
The next event/competition coming up is the National Bar Mock Trial Competition open to the Sixth Form commencing in September with the final round in April 2003. Any Year 11 who will be studying A/S Law in September will be welcome to participate in this highly prestigious award. Further information will be announced in the next Newsletter.
Forthcoming outside speakers
Two lawyers from the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) will be coming into school within the next week or so. Furthermore it is anticipated that the local Police will also give a talk on Police Powers, open to any interested students. Please see the noticeboard in the Sixth Form for dates.
In the summer term it is hoped that the Rt.Hon. Michael Howard QC MP will similarly come to the school to give a talk on Judicial Review and the Legislative Process.
A further visit to Canterbury Crown Court is anticipated at the end of term for A/S Law students - any interested students are welcome.
Finally, Steve Sullivan, an ex Dover Grammar School student, who is now a Solicitor in London would like to come to the school and give a talk to the Sixth Form in the summer term about a career as a Solicitor - open to any interested student. Again please see the noticeboard as to when outside speakers will be coming.
Mr. V.P. Crofts - Subject Leader for Law

PFA

Hi everyone. Just a quick reminder of these dates for your diary:-
13th March. Spring Concert 7.30pm. The PFA will be providing Wine and Cheese at this event.
14th March. Year 8 Parents Evening 4 - 7pm.
21st March. Year 9 Parents Evening 4 - 7pm.
The PFA will be selling good quality secondhand uniform at these events.
26th April. Wine and Wisdom evening. The last wine and wisdom evening was a great success with the Hall packed with teams. Please book your table early. A letter will be coming home with your son just before the Easter holiday telling you how to book your table. Teams consist of 8 people. However if you don't have 8 in your team don't worry as you can join up with others. It is very important you let us know if you are coming and your numbers to help us organise the tables, chairs and papers. We are hoping to raise at least £500 which will give our school minibus fund a great boost.
The cake sale on 22nd February proved to be a success with the sum of £32 being raised. Unfortunately there weren't many cakes donated for sale which restricted the amount we could raise. A big thankyou to the secretarial staff for their assistance on the day and to Marion.
As there will not be a First Thursday Newsletter in April due to the Easter break this is early notification that the next PFA Committee meeting will be held in the Headteacher's study at 7.00pm on 16th April. Everyone is most welcome.
Mrs. J. Gambrell - Chairman

PFA - 200 CLUB

The winners of the February draw are as follows:
1st - Mr. J. Petts (140) £25. 2nd - Mrs. E. Keen (32) £15. 3rd - Mrs. C. Hill (166) £10.

COMBINED CADET FORCE

As ever the CCF has been very busy over the last few months. At half term many of the cadets attended a training exercise in preparation for Exercise Final Fling II which will be happening after the Easter holidays and is expected to be a stunning weekend for all involved.
In just a few weeks the RAF section will be travelling to RAF Uxbridge to take part in the Ground Training Competition and we all hope that their strict training and preparation will pay off on the day.
At Easter the cadets can attend an Adventurous Training Camp in Weymouth. Here they will participate in activities including rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing and trekking.
Friday 22nd March is the annual Hand Over Parade when the most senior NCO's hand over their responsibilities so that they can focus on their exams. This year the hand over is slightly unconventional, as Sgt Goreing of DGGS has already taken the position of i/c Army Section from her predecessor S/Sgt Martyn who left last Friday to join the Royal Corp of Signals. Both of these fine NCO's should be congratulated and wished luck in their new positions. We will also be losing Cpl Shrubsole who is the dedicated i/c Stores and CWO Thomas i/c RAF section who has been a great asset to the unit helping with GTC training, exercise planning and recruiting presentations.
As many pupils will know the CCF tuck shop is open every lunchtime. We request that the steps and not the bank are used for getting to and from the club and that all litter is placed in the bins.
Finally congratulations are due to Flt Lt S and D Masters who announced on Friday that they are expecting a baby.
UO Blanchflower - Contingent Senior Cadet

SPORTS NEWS

FOOTBALL
U16 County Cup Football v. Simon Langton Grammar School - 25th January. Lost 2 - 1
This was played into a howling gale on a wet and muddy pitch. Despite a great deal of pressure on the Simon Langton defence and several clear chances we were unable to secure a goal in the first half. A quick breakaway by the Langton striker found our back four overstretched and we gave away a goal after 25 minutes. Turning around after half-time, with the gale and rain behind us, we felt a win was in the bag.
We put a lot of pressure on their defence and hit the upright once with several shots going just wide. An excellent attack set up down the left wing saw a good passing move on the edge of the 18 yard box and Paul Mulhearn slotted a first time shot beautifully in past the keeper. Several further attacks found us unlucky and in the last few minutes we gave away another goal to a fast breakaway Langton attack. Despite great pressure and several scrambled saves in the Langton goal we lost 2 - 1.
This was an excellent team performance and we were just unlucky in the final analysis.
County Cup Semi-Final - Saturday 2nd March
Dover G.S. 3 Tunbridge Wells G.S. 1
An outstanding win for the school team after a long drive to Pembury F.C. pitch. The first goal was a superbly struck shot from Calum McGeehan about 25 metres from the Tunbridge goal. This was followed 10 minutes later with a fine header from Nick Blackman off a corner by Calum McGeehan.
Going into the second half we were confident in our ability to gain a win. Several promising attacks gave us nothing although Nick Blackman came close. However Calum McGeehan made another fine break from the right corner and our third goal was slotted home. Tunbridge came back strongly pressing our defence with several attacks which came close but they failed to score. Mike Magrino in goal made some fine saves and a defensive error after a lot of pressure on our defence saw a goal by Tunbridge in the last 3 minutes.
Overall this was a fine team performance. We now play the Howard School from Gillingham at a date and venue yet to be decided in the COUNTY CUP YEAR 7 FINAL.
Mr. M. Grant - Subject Leader for P.E.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday 13th March
Spring Concert in the School Hall
Wednesday 27th March
Term ends
Thursday 11th April
Summer Term begins