THE "FIRST THURSDAY" NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER SEPT 1999 No. 62

    
Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTER SEPT 1999 No. 62



WELCOME
As we start the new school year we welcome the 119 boys who are joining the school in Year 7, boys who are joining other years and we also welcome nine new members of staff:-
Mr Andrew Burkert has joined us as Teacher of Mathematics. He is a graduate of University College Cardiff. Before coming in to teaching he was a Mining Engineer in South Africa and also spent time in British Columbia with the Department of Mining and Mineral Process Engineering.
Mrs Julie English has joined us as part time Teacher of Science having completed her teaching practice at the school three years ago. She is a graduate from the University of London
Mr Jonathan Gaskell has joined us as Teacher of History and Games. He is a graduate from the University of Sheffield and has done some very eminent and successful work in archaeology.
Mrs Jennifer Jung joins us as Teacher of Mathematics. She is a graduate of the University of Kent and whilst bringing up her four children has been a school governor and worked as an OfSTED Lay Inspector.
Miss Hélène Martin joins us as Teacher of Modern Languages. She has trained at three universities, gaining her First Degree from Lille and a Masters Degree from Arras and Boulogne in conjunction with training at Canterbury Christ Church University College.
Mr Jeremy Michaels has joined the school as part time Teacher of Physical Education. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic and has previously taught at Westcliff High School for Boys and Chaucer Technology School.
Mr Keith Onions is joining us as Teacher of Physical Education and Sports Studies. He comes from Staffordshire having graduated from Loughborough University.
Mrs Adele Owen joins us as Teacher of Design & Technology having previously taught at Astor School. She is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University.
Mrs Lesley Taylor is joining us as Teacher of English. She is a graduate from the University of Kent and was previously teaching at Clarendon House Grammar School in Ramsgate.
We are pleased again to welcome Mr Ernie Riley who is re-joining the staff as part time Teacher of Modern Languages whilst Mr Stephen Thompson has moved from teaching part time to full time.


STAFF LEAVERS
At the end of the Summer Term eight members of staff left the school:
Mr Noel Boardman, Teacher of Mathematics, has left to work in the Middle East having been at the school since 1992.
Mrs Maria Clarke, Laboratory Technician, has left the school having been here since 1985 to work at the Duke of York Military School as Housemistress.
Mrs Kate Curtis, temporary part time Teacher of Mathematics, left after completion of her one year contract.
Mr Jeremy Duke, Teacher of Physical Education and History, has left to take up the position of Head of PE and Games at Derby Independent Grammar School for Boys. He had been with the school since 1996.
Mrs Sylvie Dukes, Teacher of Modern Languages, has left after 2 years at the school. Her husband has secured a position at the International School in Toulouse and therefore Mrs Dukes has returned to her native country.
Mr Alistair Gardiner, Teacher of Design & Technology and Games, has retired after having been with the school for seven years. Mr Gardiner is at present on his travels in Thailand and then on to Australia.
Rev. Dr Charles Hill, Head of Upper School, who had been with us since 1995 has left to take up a very eminent position in the Church of England as European Secretary for the Council for Christian Unity.
Mr John Moore, Teacher of History, English and Games, left us after one year to take up a post at a school in Suffolk.

EXAMINATION RESULTS
The results emerging in August at 'A' Level and GCSE both showed an improvement in the overall value of the grades achieved on average by each student. The average point score at 'A' Level rose to 22.1 and at GCSE it rose to 55.7. Both these scores compare well with the other grammar schools in Kent. More importantly the vast majority of the students got the grades they needed to go on to the next stage of their career as they had planned.
Mr N A Slater - Headteacher

GOVERNING BODY
As a result of the school's new Foundation status from 1st September the Governing Body has been reconstituted and we are pleased to welcome the following new Governors:


Parent Governors:
Mrs Eunice Collins lives in Dover and has one son at DGSB, Joshua, in Year 9
Mr Ian Munford lives with his family in Whitfield. His son Thomas is in Year 9 and Mr Munford has recently been elected Treasurer of the Parents and Friends Association.
Mrs Barbara Stubbs lives in Dover and her son, Jonathan, is also in Year 9.
Teacher Governor:
Mrs Françoise Lloyd, Subject Leader of Modern Languages, lives with her family in Folkestone and joined the staff at DGSB in 1998.
Staff Governor:
Mrs Marion Pardoe is the school's Finance Officer and also lives in Folkestone. Mrs Pardoe joined the staff as the school took on Grant Maintained status.
Co-opted Governor:
Mrs Susan Couchman now lives in Walmer, having lived in Deal all her life. She is a Business Consultant and owns a care and domestic agency. In her spare time Mrs Couchman is Vice President/Treasurer of BPW Deal & District, is on the board of the Dover & District Chamber of Commerce and is Business Advisor for the Princes Youth Business Trust.
We are grateful to all seven for volunteering to serve the school in this way.
We also express our gratitude to Parent Governor Alan Bostock; Past Chairman Graham Tutthill; Teacher Governor Alistair Gardiner; and First Governor David Spink who have retired from the Governing Body, for all their valuable contributions to the school during its Grant Maintained period.
Last but not least of course we thank the following Governors for continuing to serve the school:
Parent Governors:
Mr John English, Rev. Fr. Nick De Keyser, Mr Milford Lingard, Mr Philip Lynes.
Teacher Governor:
Mr Dave Murray
Partnership Governors:
Rev. Fr. Graham Batten, Mrs Suzanne Dawson, Mr Bob Joslin, Mr Jim Murray.
LEA Governors:
Mr Walter Robertson, Mr Robin Terry
Co-opted Governor:
Mr John Hogg.
Vacancies exist for one Partnership Governor and one Co-opted Governor.
The new Governing Body meets for the first time on Wednesday 15th September 1999 at 7.00 pm when the new officers will be selected and new committees established.
Please make a note of the Governing Body's Annual Meeting on Wednesday 13th October 1999 at 7.00 pm when parents have the opportunity to meet the new Governing Body and question how the school is run. The meeting will be followed by an instrumental concert. The school enjoys one of the highest attendances to an Annual Meeting in the area so please come along to add further to the numbers and share an important event in the life of the school and Governing Body.
Mrs S Barham - Clerk to the Governors

WHOLE SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH
A photograph of the whole school will be taken on Monday 20th September. It would be most helpful if parents can ensure that their sons attend school dressed very smartly with their full school uniform. This is a special event that is only carried out every five years to ensure that all boys will appear at least once. Copies will be available and we will notify you in due course of the price.

UNIVERSITY SUCCESSES
We are very pleased to hear of the following successes among former DGSB students:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
Stephen Durrant - achieved his Master with Honours in Geography and International Relations. He will be staying on at the University for one year as he has just been elected President of the Student Association of St Andrew's for 1999/2000.
University of Kent at Canterbury
Andrew Berridge - achieved Bachelor of Science with Honours (First Class) in Computer Science with a Year in Industry.
Stuart Deveson - achieved Bachelor of Science with Honours (Lower Second Class) in Chemistry.
Tony Goodwin - achieved Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Lower Second Class) in Public Administration and Management.
Paul Hearn - achieved Bachelor of Science with Honours (Upper Second Class) in Mathematics.
Adrian Stewart - achieved Bachelor of Science with Honours (Upper Second Class) in Social Psychology.
Stephen Wills - achieved Bachelor of Science with Honours (Upper Second Class) in Biochemistry with Cell and Molecular Biology.
University of Leicester
Jonathan Clark - achieved Class 2 : 2 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry / USA.
Martin Petts - achieved Class 2 : 1 BA in European Studies.
Richard Spink - achieved Class 2 : 2 BA in Business Economics.

MODERN LANGUAGES
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes a Modern Languages help/clinic for French and/or German will be held in Room 17.
Mrs F Lloyd - Subject Leader of Modern Languages




PFA
The PFA committee meets at the school next Tuesday, 14th September at 7.30 pm when any new members will be warmly welcomed.
The Annual General Meeting takes place on Wednesday 29th September at 7.30 pm and we hope to see as many parents as possible at the meeting. We will be reporting on the past year's activities giving an up to date financial statement, and we would welcome your support.
The first of the new school year's Wine and Wisdom evenings is on Friday 8th October at 7.30 pm. These are always very popular evenings and we are always pleased to welcome new teams. So, if you haven't been to one of these events before, especially if you are new parents at the school, we would be very pleased to see you. A letter with full information will be sent to you very soon.
The PFA has a good stock of second-hand uniform which is on sale at the school office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.30 to 4.30 pm, along with new T-shirts and aprons.
Mrs J Tutthill - Chairman

OLD PHAROSIANS
The Old Pharosians' Association (the old boys of the school) will be holding their annual meeting, football match and dinner at the school on Saturday 25th September.
The meeting is at 11.00 am when the Rev. John Philpott is due to become President of the association for the coming year. He will succeed Tony Bradley who has held the office for the past year.
The annual football match between the Old Pharosians and the School's 1st XI will take place at 2.30 pm when spectators will be welcome!
Former pupils from many parts of the country will be travelling to Dover to meet up with their contemporaries at the annual dinner in the evening when much reminiscing will take place and "Forty Years On" will be sung.
We hope they all have a successful day.
Mr G Tutthill

CCF
Before taking our leave for the summer the unit was involved in many activities. The RAF section visited RAF Northolt for their annual camp. Whilst there, cadets were involved in activities such as raft building, at an outdoor pursuits centre and cadet Michael Weatherley was even lucky enough to visit the Channel Island of Guernsey with 32 Squadron, the Royal Flight. The Army section found themselves at Warcop, Cumbria, for their annual camp, with activities such as adventure training, fieldcraft exercises and obstacle course competitions.
During the summer break, cadets were involved in an exercise at Chattenden, Rochester, and various rifle shoots in preparation for the 1999 Cadet Skill at Arms Competition, Aldershot. Other courses undertaken in the summer holidays included two different leadership courses, flying scholarships, a pilot observer course and a gliding course. The last allowed those who attended to fly gliders solo.


During September the cadets will be involved in more shooting days, including the Unit's Annual Range Day.
CSM Ryan Parmenter - Contingent Senior Cadet

SPORTS NEWS
Football Fixtures:
1st XI: Wed. 22nd -v- Maidstone G.S. (A). Wed. 6th Oct. -v- Howard School (A).
2nd XI: Wed.15th -v- Simon Langton (H). Wed.22nd -v- Maidstone G.S. (H). Wed. 6th Oct -v- Harvey G.S. (H).
Cup Games:
Year 11: French Cup. DGSB -v- Whitstable C.C. (A) To be played by 25th September.
Invicta Trophy. DGSB -v- Pent Valley (H). To be played by 23rd October.
Year 10: Portex Cup. DGSB -v- King Ethelbert's (A). To be played by 2nd October.
Year 9: Amory Trophy. DGSB -v- Homewood (A). To be played by 2nd October.
Year 8: Kent Messenger Shield. DGSB -v- Dane Court G.S. (A). To be played by 6th November.
Year 7: Kengate-Beasley Trophy. DGSB -v- Brockhill Park (A). To be played by 4th December.
Table Tennis
The Dover Table Tennis League starts on Monday 13th September. The school boasts six teams this year in two leagues, three in each. After school practice commences on Tuesday 14th at 3.30 pm and the school teams play their home matches on the same evening at 7.30 pm.
Year 7 are invited to practice and receive coaching from 3.30-4.45 pm every Monday. If anyone is interested then please see me as I need to formulate a practice league. If there is enough interest I will also run house matches between the four houses at lunchtimes, 1.05-1.45 pm, again.
Paul Skelton - Workshop Technician


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The Staff Development Days for the academic year 1999/2000 are as follows:
Monday 6th September (1st day of term)
Friday 22rd October (week before ½ term)
Tuesday 4th January (1st day of term)
Monday 10th / Tuesday 11th April (last 2 days of term)