THE "FIRST THURSDAY" NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER JAN 1999 No. 55

ANOTHER LEAGUE TABLE SUCCESS

The school appeared in the list of the top 50 schools in the country for improvement in the GCE Advanced Level. We were 27th and the highest Kent School. Dover Grammar School for Girls was 38th.
Mr N A Slater - Headteacher

CAROL SERVICE

On Wednesday 16th December at 8.00 pm the School Choir presented the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight in Charlton Church before a large congregation. Five Christmas hymns for all to sing accompanied by the School Brass Ensemble were interspersed with some fourteen carols sung by the choir ranging in style from medieval plainsong through old favourites such as Harold Darke's "In the bleak midwinter" to works by contemporary composers such as Benjamin Britten. The traditional nine Bible lessons telling the story of Christmas were read by staff, parents, Old Pharosians, governors and three current pupils - Lawrence Williams, Louis Myers and Tom Scrivener, the Deputy Head Prefect. The organist was Mr Paul Baldock and the music was conducted by Mr Richard Davies. After the service coffee and mince pies were served in the Church Hall by the Parents and Friends Association and thanks are due to them and to all those who were kind enough to send in mince pies to help with the refreshments. The school is also grateful to the Revd. Nick De Keyser for leading the service and to Mrs Cynthia Sinclair of Charlton Church who arranged the candles this year. Congratulations are due to all the musicians who took part for their excellent performance and all the hard work they put in to make the event a great success.

Grade Examinations

Once again all candidates were successful in the Graded Music Examinations taken just before Christmas and congratulations are due to Thomas Smith, 8PY (Grade 1 Theory with Distinction and Grade 1 Trombone), Michael Quinn (Grade 5 Theory), Thomas Munford (Grade 2 Flute with Merit), Stephen Taylor (Grade 2 Flute), Daniel McLean (Grade 2 Cello), Joseph Burman (Grade 2 Saxophone with Merit), Thomas Smith, 8CH (Grade 2 Saxophone), Michael Green (Grade 3 Saxophone) and Stephen Moloney (Grade 8 Clarinet)

Music this term

The main event this term will be the Spring Concert to be given on Wednesday 24th March at 7.30 pm in the School Hall.

Mr R S Davies - Director of Music

YEAR 13 HISTORY TRIP

On Wednesday 9th December the Year 13 A Level History group attended a study day at the national Army Museum, Chelsea, London. Lectures were given by Mr A Robertshaw and Dr G Sheffield from Sandhurst Military Academy.

Mr G Falconer - Head of History

EUROPEAN WORK EXPERIENCE

The school is running a European Work Experience in conjunction with another secondary school in Brittany, The Institut Notre Dame. Four of the French students taking part in the exchange will not have an English partner. We are therefore looking for four host families willing to provide accommodation for one French student, or more, for 2 weeks from 8th to 21st March. Please contact Mrs Dukes if you are able to help and support us in this initiative.

Mrs S Dukes

DRAMA

A group of forty-five pupils from Years 10,11,12 and 13 attended a performance of 'An Inspector Calls' by J B Priestley, performed by Playcraft at the Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury on Thursday 24th November.

There was general agreement from all in attendance that it was a most enjoyable evening.

The production was performed in Edwardian setting and costume which is appropriate to the play. As part of the GCSE English course this was both an entertaining and educational evening.

Drama Production - March

The English and Drama Department are presently in the process of rehearsing our latest drama production which is to be presented in March.

I should be grateful if anyone would be willing to offer their services with regard to helping in the making of costumes or make-up and dressing during the performances. Please contact me, Mrs Lynne Watson, at the school as soon as possible.

SCHOOL LIBRARY

Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year. Appeal time once more!

On behalf of the school I have registered us in the 'Free Books For Schools' Scheme being funded as an initiative by The Times, Sun, News of the World and Sunday Times newspapers and Walkers Crisps to support the National Year of Reading.

More details are printed in the letter on page 4 of this newsletter.

Collection points will be at the School Office Reception and the Library. The appeal is set to run until April.

Please begin collecting now, unless you have already begun as I have. ALL donations however large or small will be welcomed.

Library renovations

The corridor area and adjacent rooms to the main Library are presently undergoing redecoration and conversion which means that access has been limited and will continue to be so until work is completed and the new shelving and systems set up and operational.

This will not affect the Sixth Form studies but the younger pupils will be starved of fiction books until later in the month and the free access they have become used to. But it will all be worth it and reap dividends for the school as a whole.

Thank you for your help and co-operation.

Mrs L George - School Librarian

SECONDHAND/LOST PROPERTY SHOP

The school's policy regarding lost property is that any item brought to the office which has a name in it is returned immediately to its owner. If after three months an unidentified item has not been claimed it then goes to the PFA for cleaning and pricing and is resold from the shop.

The PFA are present at most Parents' Evenings with secondhand uniform for sale. Starting from Tuesday 12th January the Secondhand/Lost Property Shop will also be open at school on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons only from 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm for any parent who wishes to purchase items of uniform.

PFA

We would like to thank everyone who supported the Christmas Draw which made £1,163. There were several prizes but the main prizewinners were:-

£100 R Chivington
£50 D Collins
£50 Mr Gardiner
£25 B Morgan

Form 9CH won the Form Prize of £100 for selling the largest number of raffle tickets.

We are very grateful to Midland Bank for donating an extra £50 prize.

Please keep 30th January free for the school Barn Dance - you will receive details very soon.

The next Committee Meeting is on 19th January 1999 at 7.30 pm.

200 Club

The winners of the December draw are as follows:

1st Mr J Roberts (72) £25, 2nd Mrs J Beech (183) £15 and 3rd Mr & Mrs T Hughes (23) £10.

The special £100 prize was won by Mrs S Greenland (81).

SPORTS NEWS

FOOTBALL - 1st XI Match Report

Saturday 5th December 1998

Dover G.S. 1 Harvey G.S. 2

From the heights against Maidstone to the depths against Harvey! Yet again Harvey spoiled our ambitions to be League Champions and, to be fair, we didn't really play well enough to win the match, though a draw might have been fairer. We probably had more possessions, but didn't create enough chances. Harvey were, as expected, very strong at the back and quick up front but surprisingly strong in midfield. The pitch was semi-frozen and it was a credit to both sides that the standard of play was so high.

Harvey took the lead towards the end of the first half with a 'route one goal' through the middle. Marc was unlucky when the ball popped up over his head and Tom saved the first strike well, only for the ball to stay alive and the striker followed up. As usual we raised our game and one of the Harvey midfielders was booked. Unfortunately, Harvey scored again early in the second half when a fine through ball was well converted. Gradually we came back into the game and Ben Mackenzie scored a fine goal (with his left foot!) in reply. At this stage we seemed to be on top and I felt that we might grab an equaliser but in truth we just didn't put enough pressure on Harvey's back four.

I have no criticisms about our commitment and desire but we didn't support our front runners as well as we did against Maidstone and I can only remember the Harvey keeper making one save from a free kick. Our defence played well and as a consequence Tom had a quiet game.

A special thank you to Dan Brown for running the line and not complaining about not getting on! Well done Dan.

Mr S Bailey

Sports Fixtures:

Basketball:

Mon. 11th Yrs 8 & 10 v Harvey Grammar (A)
Mon. 18th Yrs 8 & 10 v Channel High (H)
Mon. 25th Yrs 8 & 10 v Pent Valley (A)
Mon. 1st Feb. Yrs 8 & 10 v Sandwich Technology (H)

Rugby:

Sat. 16th Yr 7 A's & B's v Oakwood Park
Sat. 23rd Yrs 7 & 9 v Tunbridge Wells (A)
Sat. 23rd Yrs 8 & 10 v Tunbridge Wells (H)
Mon. 1st Feb. Yr 11 East Kent Rugby Festival, Ashford
Wed. 3rd Feb Yr 10 Mid Kent Rugby Festival, Canterbury

TABLE TENNIS

It has been decided to start the Junior Table Tennis Coaching and Junior League again at the Dover Sports and Leisure Centre from Saturday 9th January, 10.00 am to 12.30 pm. ALL WELCOME. All those who are interested, whether you are part of the Grammar Table Tennis teams or not, should see Paul Skelton (Workshop Technician) in the workshops at morning break for further details. There will be a number of players from other schools in the district in attendance along with table tennis players from the Dover and District Table Tennis Committee who will be pleased to help you improve your strokes and general table tennis skills. It has also been decided to restart the popular Ladder League, which will give anyone the chance to play everyone.

Table tennis matches and coaching in the gym will commence on Mondays only this term. They will be held from 3.25 to 4.45 pm and will be extended to all other years as well as Year 7.

It is also planned that each year will play house matches i.e. Castle, Channel, Port and Priory on a league basis. Final format to the confirmed. Further information will be posted on the Lower School notice board and in the form registers as soon as they are available.