Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTERINVESTOR IN PEOPLE
We have just been notified that the school has been recognised as an 'Investor in People'. To achieve this we had to meet an exacting standard in the field of professional development for staff.
In keeping pace with change and in maintaining continuous improvement all staff need to be constantly updating their skills. Achieving 'Investor in People' status indicates that our processes for doing this are good.
The staff have worked hard in achieving this accolade, particularly Mr Giles Falconer the Senior Teacher who as Professional Development Co-ordinator has had the most to do. A special congratulations to him!
Headteacher
OFSTED IS COMING
The Office For Standards in Education have arranged an inspection of the school to take place in the week of 26th to 30th April 1999.
The associated Parents' Meeting will take place on the evening of Tuesday 20th April. At that meeting the Registered Inspector and probably the Lay Inspector will listen to the views of any parents who care to attend. I hope many of you will do so.
Further details will be sent to you later together with a questionnaire. I thought you would like advance notice of this event for your diaries.
Headteacher
SWIMMING SPORTS
Swimming sports this year will be held on Wednesday 10th February from 9.00 - 11.00 am at Dover Leisure Centre. (Please note the change from the date shown in the Termly Calendar). Teams from all Years 7-13 will be taking part, winning points for their Houses. Due to space restrictions only Years 7-9 will be able to watch; on the balcony (Years 8-9) or at the poolside (Year 7). However any parent of a swimmer will be very welcome.
Organisational details - all those in Years 7-9 (and swimmers in Years 10-13) should arrive at the Leisure Centre at 8.40 am (buses have been asked to drop the relevant pupils off at Dover Girls' Grammar School). Those pupils in Years 10-13 not swimming should go to school as usual - registration and lessons 1 to 4 will be as usual. At the end of the event coaches will be provided to take all pupils back to school.
GOVERNING BODY
A meeting of the Governing Body will be held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 10th February.
YEARS 8 & 9 EXCHANGE VISIT WITH COLLEGE ST PIERRE, CALAIS
The school is in an embarrassing situation because of the lack of support for the Year 8 and Year 9 exchange with the College St Pierre. This exchange has been running for 10 years and has always been an enjoyable and profitable part of studying French at DGSB. This year only very small numbers are taking part and there are considerably more French boys wanting to join the exchange than English ones. As a result the French teacher is faced with having to decide who can and can't come. To avoid this I wonder if anyone could help out by accommodating one of these students so that they can at least come to England. The dates are as follows:
Year 8 French students will arrive on Friday 12th February and return home the following day. I am therefore looking for families to host the French boy from Friday 3.30 pm until Saturday 5.00 pm when they will need to be taken back to the Eastern Docks.
Year 9 French students will arrive on Thursday 4th March to return on Saturday 6th March. I therefore need families to host the pupil from Thursday after school until 5.00 pm on Saturday. Please note that they will go on a day trip to London on the Friday.
In both cases, if the looking after the French boy on the Saturday is a problem, I will still be grateful for your offer of accommodation and will arrange something for the Saturday.
Do contact me as soon as possible if you can help out.
Mrs M Hargrave
YEAR 11 GCSE FRENCH DAY CONFERENCE
The visit due to take place on Wednesday 10th February had to be cancelled because of unforeseen circumstances.
Parents of boys who had returned the slip together with a £5 deposit will be refunded the money in cash within the next couple of days.
Mrs M Hargrave
FRENCH WRITING COMPETITION
This competition will be held for Years 8, 9 and 10. Required is 'une histoire ou un poeme en français' - a story or a poem in French. The 1st prize will be a dictionary or 1 ticket for a day trip to Calais.
Entries must be with me (word processed please!) by 12th February.
Mrs F Lloyd - Head of Modern Languages
YEAR 11 HISTORY TRIP
The Stay Theatre, Sevenoaks, provided the setting for a Year 11 History Conference called 'Hitler on Trial'.
After arriving at the theatre, thanks to Roberts Coaches, we settled down accompanied by a free leaflet which was designed to help us when it comes to revision.
Chris Culpin an experienced chief examiner talked to us about how to set about answering certain questions for our exam. He provided us with very useful information of how examiners mark History papers which I hope I will be able to remember!
Now came the centrepiece of the conference, the play 'Hitler on Trial'.
This play was to try and let the audience decide whether or not Hitler was solely responsible for starting the Second World War.
Set in a courtroom, both the defending and prosecuting lawyers were able to call upon witnesses to give evidence, some of whom were: the entertaining Mussolini, the master of speechmaking Winston Churchill and, of course, Adolf Hitler himself.
When the trial had finished the audience were asked their opinion. The result of which was overwhelmingly in favour of Hitler being not guilty.
The conference was very interesting and the information given will I am sure be useful come the summer.
Ritchie Hulks - Form 11B
ADVANCE NOTICE OF THEATRE EVENTS
As well as our own production of The Wind in the Willows in March, the school will be hosting two visiting theatre groups. On the 24th February we shall welcome The Shakespearean Young People's Theatre Company who will perform shortened versions of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet to members of Year 9 and some pupils in year 10. Each performance will be followed by opportunities for questions to the actors and displays of skills such as stage fighting. In order to cover some of the costs involved in bringing a professional company into the school it will be necessary to ask for a contribution of £2.00 per head for those classes who will see the shows.
Shortly after that on Wednesday 3rd March we have what looks like a very exciting event when a Zulu theatre company from South Africa come to the school to perform their hour long show entitled 'The Mighty Zulu Nation'. This will be during the afternoon and will be open to all boys in Years 11, 12 and 13 not involved in sports teams or matches. Boys further down the school will be able to attend according to availability of places. There will be a workshop opportunity probably during the lunch house for up to 40 boys to work on Zulu singing and dance. Again a £2.00 contribution will be asked for.
Further information about these visits will be available from members of the English Department.
Mr M Thomas - Head of English & Drama
DRAMA PRODUCTION
Performances of Wind in the Willows will be held on Thursday 11th/Friday 12th & Saturday 13th March at 7.15pm.
Tickets will be available after half-term.
Mrs L Watson
SCHOOL LIBRARY NEWS
Free Books for Schools
The appeal has got off to an encouraging start. Orders for books will not be made until later.
Tesco Voucher Appeal 1999
Information was received only last week relating to this year's appeal.
Vouchers will begin circulation on 1st February until 11th April.
Last year we beat all previous records with our school collection claiming a computer and printer for the Library.
I have been asked to co-ordinate the appeal again this year and we already have 302 vouchers banked (from last year) giving us a good foundation on which to build.
No firm decision has yet been made about a specific target but it may well be decided to acquire a selection of smaller items.
Watch this space!!
Library Alterations
Work is still continuing although an end is now in sight. After half-term all library services should be up and running as usual.
Thank you for your continued support in all these projects.
Mrs L George - Librarian
SCHOOL LIBRARY & ENGLISH DEPARTMENT - JOINT VENTURE
To encourage and heighten the pleasure of reading Mrs Gabriel's class of Year 8 pupils last year took up the challenge to review books of their choice for a national children's promoter of literacy and a reading magazine, Books for Keeps edited by Rosemary Stones. We are happy to present the finished results as displayed on the back of this newsletter.
Eighteen months ago we had a double page spread in Puffin Books Post Magazine. The search will now begin to find other hosts for such ventures.
Well done boys. Keep on reading there is a mountain of books still to be explored and enjoyed.
MUSIC
The main event this term will be the Spring Concert on Wednesday 24th March at 7.30 pm in the School Hall. There will also be a Lunchtime Concert at 1.30 pm on Tuesday 9th February which will feature programmes by the Brass Ensemble, Training Band, Jazz Group and Big Band.
Musicians will be taking part in a Sponsored Practice over the February half-term to raise money for Music Department funds. Sponsors welcome!
Mr R Davies - Director of Music
PFA
The PFA would like to thank everyone who supported the Barn Dance last Saturday. "Desperate Measures" provided us with a good evening's entertainment and ample exercise.
If you need new or second-hand uniform please ring Sandra on Dover 820709 or visit the school shop which is open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3.30 to 4.00 pm.
The next PFA Committee meeting will be held at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 23rd February.
200 Club
Winners of the January 200 Club Draw are as follows:-
1st. £25 Mrs T Ward (24), 2nd. £15 Mrs R Kirk (179) and 3rd. £10 Mrs J Miell (153).
CCF
The new term has been busy from the word go. Apart from our normal training programme Cadets enjoyed a day's flying activities at RAF Manston on the 8th January. A Range Day happened at Hythe on the 17th when several Cadets gained their "Marksmen" badges, whilst others succeeded in earning the rank of "1st class" shots.
January ended with an overnight exercise on a military training area near Etchinghill.
During February an NCO Cadre will take place at Napier Barracks, Folkestone. This is a major event in our training calendar as the Cadre aims to hone the skills of cadets hoping to achieve senior rank.
Another Range Day is scheduled for the 27th. Cadets are becoming very proficient at target shooting, which bodes well for our chances in various competitions taking place this year.
Mr D Horsley - CCF
WORKSHOPS
The Engineering Club continues with mainly boys from Year 7 taking on various projects in metal including name tags (stamped, electro-plated & polished), screw-drivers (forged, hardened and tempered with cast aluminium handle, plastic dip coated) and a tin plate working model of a steam ship. The Club is open after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Bolt Croppers
These have been borrowed from the Workshops Store Room and not returned. Please can they be given back to the Technician as soon as possible.
SPORTS NEWS
Rugby
The School rugby season has got off to a great start this term.
Year 7 impressed with two victories over Oakwood Park Grammar School. Gareth
Hewer, Simon Pearson-Wood and David Fagg should be commended for their
performances.
Year 9 also gained an excellent victory over Tunbridge Wells by a narrow margin
of two points thanks to Matthew Carley's conversion.
Year 11 won a District Tournament held at Dover Grammar School.
After a close victory against Brockhill the team went on to beat Archers Court and Castle High convincingly. Ben MacKenzie should gain a special mention for scoring two well worked tries from the half-way.
Mr J Duke
Rugby Fixtures
Feb: Sat 6th. Years 7, 8 & 9 Rugby A's & B's v Howard School.
Tues. 9th East Kent Rugby Festival, Crabble.
Wed. 10th 2.15 pm 1st XV Rugby v Oakwood Park G.S. (A)
Thurs. 25th Year 8 East Kent Rugby Festival at Ashford RFC
March: Wed. 3rd 2.15 pm 1st XV Rugby v Simon Langton G.S. (A) and Mid Kent Rugby
Tournament at Canterbury RFC.
Basketball
Basketball continues to go from strength to strength at Dover Grammar School.
The Year 8's have taken a strong position near the top of the league after successive victories over Harvey Grammar School, Channel High School and Brockhill.
The Year 10's, after an indifferent start to the season have turned it around with a spectacular win against Channel High who hadn't been beaten for three years. The game was won in the last seconds by 21-19 after two crucial free throws from Michael Sterrow. After the game Mike put the win down to divine intervention after Mr Haines had prayed for the team at Christian Union. Who can possibly stand in our way now?
Mr J Duke
Swimming
KSSA Secondary Schools' Championships - 30.1.99
Venue: Black Lion Leisure Centre, Gillingham
A junior team comprising Thomas Gimber (8CA), Paul Hill (8PY) Kitson Keen (8CA)
and Adam Patterson (9CA) joined 102 other Kent Schools in this championship
gala. The four boys took part in two relay events reaching the finals in both
and received medals for 2nd place in the 4 x 50 Medley Relay (time 2.15.51) and
4th place in the 4 x 50 Freestyle Relay (time 2.03.25).
The boys each swam an individual event with further medals being awarded to Paul
Hill, 4th place in the 100m Breaststroke (time 1.20.89) and Adam Patterson, 4th
place in the 100m Freestyle (time 1.04.94).
Well done to the boys, a great improvement on last year. Thanks to Mrs D
Patterson, Team Manager, for her efforts.
Mrs Keen
Table Tennis
Matches between the four Houses for those in the first three years will commence after half-term. Four members of each House in each year will be chosen to represent their Form. Paul Skelton needs to know as soon as possible the names of those hoping to take part.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Half Term Monday 15th February -
Friday 19th February inclusive.
