THE "FIRST THURSDAY" NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER DEC 1999 No. 65

GOOD NEWS IN THE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE TABLES 1999

These 'league tables' came out last week and brought us very encouraging news. Both at 'A' Level and at GCSE we have the highest average point score per candidate for any boys' grammar school in eastern Kent (i.e. this side of Maidstone and Medway). At 'A' level we are third out of the sixteen in all of Kent whilst at GCSE we are seventh.

To compare ourselves with the mixed schools (girls do quite a lot better everywhere) we have taken a look at the combined results of the grammar schools in each town. Again Dover is best for any town in eastern Kent at both 'A' level and GCSE. In fact at 'A' level it is the very best for any town in all of Kent whilst at GCSE it is fifth.

The average point score per candidate is the most important measure of performance for the school.

Headteacher

EXCHANGE WITH COLLEGE ST PIERRE IN CALAIS

Year 7 have now been individually twinned with French pupils and will soon write their first letters. Next term we will plan our one day visit.

Year 8 and Year 9 pupils have all received letters inviting them to take part in two day or three day exchange visits (respectively) in conjunction with Dover Grammar School for Girls. We do need to know who is taking part before the Christmas holidays. Boys always enjoy the exchange even if they are hesitant at first. It certainly is a worthwhile experience and an opportunity not to be missed.

Mrs M Hargrave

YEAR 11 MILLENNIUM ENTERPRISES

Year 11 are producing CD clocks for their Barnardo's Enterprise Scheme. The wall clocks are priced at £4.50 each. If you would like to place an order please see Miss Shafi in Room 18. Remember all profits go to Barnardo's.

Ms Shafi - Subject Leader for Economics & Business Studies

1st PRIZE IN NEPTUNE RADIO ART COMPETITION

Neptune Radio recently ran an Art contest for all Key Stage 3 pupils in its area of coverage. The theme was to design a Christmas card incorporating to some degree the Neptune Radio logo and/or frequencies.

We are delighted to announce that one of our pupils, Kenneth Birmingham, 8 Channel, has been awarded first prize for his strong design using Christmas decorations as the main subject matter. Our congratulations go to all our pupils who entered work.

The following statement has been received from Neptune:
"Neptune Radio is pleased to announce the winner of our competition to design a Christmas Card for the final Christmas of the millennium.

The response to this year's competition exceeded our expectations with some stunning designs from schools across Shepway and White Cliffs Country. After two days of judging, the winning card chosen by Neptune Radios Managing Director Mark Browning was a card designed by Kenneth Birmingham of The Dover Grammar School for Boys.

Mark Browning said, "This is the second year of our Christmas Card Competition run in conjunction with our local schools and I was very impressed with the standard of work and thought that has gone into some of the entries. It's a shame that in the end we have to choose just one winner!"

An interview, prize presentation and photo call will be arranged with Kenneth.

Mr S Almond - Subject Leader for Art & Design

SCHOOL LIBRARY NEWS

Thank you to all those who already have or are steadily continuing to send in the tokens for Free Software For Schools run by The Times and the Cereal Box Tops Appeal by Nestle. Although our minds now turn to the festive season could I please ask that you continue your support as it really does make all the difference. Both token collections continue into the next millennium.

Such collections do allow extra additions to Library stock through the year and benefit the boys directly.

I can now confirm that the new computer, courtesy of Tesco, is installed and up and running. This now makes a grand total of seven on which the boys can access CD Roms, Internet, word processing and careers programmes in the Library Resource area.

Best wishes for the festive season and the millennium to come.

Mrs L George - School Librarian

MUSIC
Lunchtime Concert

On Thursday 25th November at 1.30 pm the school's musicians presented a Lunchtime Concert before an appreciative audience in the School Hall. The Big Band and Jazz Group presented a selection of well-known numbers including Lennie Niehaus' "Fantasy for Saxophones" (featuring Xavier Taylor, Thomas Smith (9CH) and Toby Auld) whilst the Brass Ensemble playing two arrangements by Mr Baldock of renaissance Christmas melodies gave the concert a more seasonal flavour, a theme continued in the immaculate performances by the Training Band which concluded the concert with "Winter" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, "The Snowman" and a selection of Christmas carols.

Jazz

The DGSB Jazzmen will be providing the incidental music to the Girls' Grammar School drama production "Daisy pulls it off" to be performed there on Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December starting at 7.30 pm. Tickets will be on sale at the door.

Carol Service

On Wednesday 15th December at 8.00 pm we will be presenting our annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight in the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Charlton, Dover.

The service includes favourite Christmas hymns for all to sing accompanied by the School Brass Ensemble and the traditional nine Bible readings telling the story of Christmas read by pupils, staff, parents, old boys and governors.

The carols sung by the School Choir will range from medieval plainsong through traditional favourites including Harold Darke's "In the Bleak Mid-winter" to pieces by contemporary composers.

The Service will be sung by candlelight and afterwards coffee and mince pies will be served in the Church Hall.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight is one of the highlights of the school year and you are warmly invited to attend and to bring family and friends. We do hope that you will be able to join us.

Mince Pies

The mince pies served after the Carol Service along with the refreshments provided by the PFA are kindly donated to the school each year by the pupils. If you can help in this way please bring your mince pies in to school on either the Monday Tuesday or Wednesday of the last week of term and hand them in at the School Office. A retiring collection in aid of charity is taken at the end of the Carol Service and your contribution to the success of this event would be very much appreciated. A total of some 300 mince pies are needed in all.

Mr R S Davies - Director of Music

PARENTS' AND FRIENDS' ASSOCIATION

Please make sure you return all the counterfoils and unsold tickets for the Christmas raffle which takes place on Wednesday 15th December.

PFA members will be serving refreshments after the Carol Service at Charlton Church, also on 15th December.

We have agreed to pay for the Music Ties which are awarded to boys who make a significant contribution to the musical life of the school.

Please make a note of these dates:
Another Wine & Wisdom evening will take place on Friday 18th February and a Barn Dance will be held on Saturday 18th March.

Our next committee meeting is on 18th January.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

Mrs J Tutthill - Chairman

PFA 200 Club

The results of the November 200 Club draw are as follow:
1st £25 Mr L Tutthill (101), 2nd £15 M Brodie (98) and 3rd £10 Mr N Devonport (58).

The Christmas 200 Club draw will take place on Wednesday 15th December.

Mrs P Brown - 200 Club Secretary

OLD PHAROSIANS

When the committee met in November it was decided to spend between £2,000 and £3,000 on equipment to furnish the new sixth form common room area. This may include sufficient lockers for the boys as well as other furniture. The committee hopes the boys will appreciate that these items will have been paid for with a significant amount of money from the association's hard-earned funds and they will treat the furniture with respect.

Members also agreed to include a copy of the Support Kent Schools leaflet with the next edition of the newsletter, due to be published in January.

Mr G Tutthill - Assistant Secretary

SUPPORT KENT SCHOOLS

Our school is represented on the local group of Support Kent Schools and the latest meeting was held at Sir Roger Manwood's School on Tuesday. It is still not clear exactly what is happening on this front although we know a petition has been triggered in Kent. We will keep you up to date as the situation develops. The next meeting of the group is in February.

Mr G Tutthill

SPORTS NEWS
Football

Year 7 County Cup Football - Thursday 25th November 1st Round -v- Brockhill

An excellent win for the Year 7 side took place against Brockhill School, Saltwood last week.

Very muddy conditions on the Brockhill pitch tended to reduce the effectiveness of our attack. We scored an early goal and then Brockhill countered with a successful shot showing up our rather flat defence. Two substitutions at half-time and some stronger passing saw the team finish worthy winners 5-1.

County Cup Update

Year 9 and Year 10 school football sides are still in the respective rounds of their County Cups.

Staff 2 Prefects 1 - Friday 26th November

The Staff & Prefects 'revenge match' took place on a blustery top field last Friday lunchtime.

A determined staff team, left gutted after its defeat earlier in the term, seemingly started from where they left off: a corner from the right was flicked on at the near post leaving Dan Trenowden the simple task of heading in from two yards out.

One nil down was perhaps not a fair reflection on a suprisingly energetic staff team. The staff did indeed deservedly draw level after Mr Burkert expertly slotted the ball home from about ten yards out.

The game was never short of action. Mr Gaskell, who later went on to flatten a first year, spurned a glorious chance to draw level when he blasted over the target.

With Mr Rhodes performing miracles in the middle of the field this was a much improved performance. In spite of this the prefects put up a valiant display, hitting the post through David Turgoose and Stephen Key wasting two chances.

After a scrappy period of play it was the staff who had the final say. Mr Gaskell's cross just evaded Mr Burkert and fell to Mr Turner who with great composure lobbed the helpless Paul McMullan. Revenge had been obtained.

Ritchie Hulks - 12B

1st XI Match Reports written by Mr Bailey Wednesday 3rd November 1999

Dover G.S. 3 Rainham Mark G.S. 2
After a dominant first half when we gained a 2 - 0 lead, we struggled in the second half and were quite fortunate to hang on to a 3 - 2 lead.

The pitch was soft, but very bumpy, making it difficult to run with the ball, and with the grounds contractors piling all of the bush cuttings into the Astor corner of the field so that corners were impossible, conditions were hardly ideal. We looked 'rusty', and with Kevin Doughty, Neil Brinicombe and Luke Stockdale all injured there was little continuity.

In the first half we reverted to our old system of 4 .2 .4 and it worked reasonably well with Adrian Bailes and Ben Mackenzie creating havoc up front. Ben scored the opener after latching on to a through ball, and Jason Laird toe-poked the second just before half time. Although Chris Wash was rarely troubled, the defence started to come under pressure from the long through-ball, and so we changed back to having a sweeper in the second half.

My last words at half time were "Don't let RM back into the game by giving a silly goal away", and true to form we immediately conceded a sloppy goal when the defence failed on several occasions to clear the ball, and a shot bobbled through Chris Wash's dive. Ben Mackenzie then restored the two goal lead with a clever cross-shot into the top corner. We sat back and invited RM to attack - and they did. The midfield stopped closing down and the defence stopped coming out after clearing, and it was only a matter of time before we conceded another goal. It duly came from a shot which Chris Wash saved but he was unable to block the follow up. For the last 10 minutes we just hung on for the win - a win we barely deserved!

3rd Round of County Cup

Saturday 13th November 1999 Maidstone Grammar School 4 Dover G.S. 0
It seems that Maidstone are the best team in the County this year and it was our bad luck to play them away in both the League and the Cup. They are the only team to have beaten us emphatically but in both matches I think we can consider ourselves a little unlucky. In both matches the referees were unable to control the uncompromising attitude of the MGS side who are clearly a very talented side but with a mean streak.

In this match we pressed them back for the first 30 minutes and had several half chances including a good penalty bid and two or three clear shots. Gradually MGS gained the initiative and scored just before the break, when their captain broke through from midfield and his shot was half stopped, only for the ball to rebound off a post to hit the covering player, Adrian Bailes, and rebound back into the net. At the half time team talk I cannot remember one of my teams complaining so much about the opposition - verbal intimidation, nudges off the ball, nasty follow-throughs and so on. I urged them to keep their discipline but was concerned about the second half.

My worries were confirmed shortly after MGS scored their second goal. David Edwards asked me to be substituted, but before we could bring on Dan Brown, he was "studded" down his shin after another appalling tackle and promptly got up and kicked the tackler. The referee had to send him off, gave us the free kick, but did nothing about the original tackle - often the case. For someone as mild-mannered as David to lose his cool showed the extent of the provocation. Obviously 2 - 0 down with ten men, is not a good situation, but to the team's credit we pressed on playing good football. Dan Trenowden was scythed down just outside the MGS penalty area, no free kick was given, and they swept to the other end and scored before we could treat his injury (he had to come off). MGS scored another near the end to complete the 4 - 0 victory, but by then we had started to go through the motions.

We were obviously beaten by a better side but we came away with an unpleasant taste. All of their goals were scored by midfielders, we defended well, showing that we need to look at the player "holding" the centre to avoid this. I was quite pleased by our performance, and I know which team I would rather be associated with, after all, winning isn't everything in representative football!

Wednesday 21st November 1999
Queen Elizabeth School 0 Dover G.S. 2

This was a very good win against a strong QES side in very difficult conditions - a strong crosswind and really bumpy and small pitch. Mike Sterrow replaced Chris Wash in goal with real competence, and with Dan Brown dropping out through injury, we were forced to reorganise the defence - and it worked! Darren Piper played as sweeper, with Neil Brinicombe and David Edwards in front of him, and they virtually snuffed out the QES attack.

In the first half we kicked up the slope and found it hard going but still created several good chances with Tom Evans and Jason Laird posing problems for the home defence. As soon as we turned round the game changed as we scored two excellent goals in a five minute spell. Firstly Luke Stockdale hit an outstanding first time right wing cross into the path of Tom Evans who gave the QES keeper no chance with a powerful volley. Then Adrian Bailes scored the type of goal he has been threatening to score for some time. He won a strong tackle just outside our penalty area and set off on a mazy run beating five QES defenders before planting a firm shot beyond the keeper. It was an excellent solo goal which gave us the breathing space to see out the game. There were a few narrow escapes but I was pleased with the team's self control as QES, without a member of staff present, lost their discipline (Dean Scoggins was unlucky to have a superb strike disallowed for offside). One of our best performances of the season (so far!)

Wednesday 17th November 1999
Dover G.S. 2 Astor 3

I waited to write this report until after the England - Scotland match because I wondered if our match was a portent of what was to come. And it wasn't too dissimilar!

We were 2 - 0 up at half time thanks to goals from Jason Laird and Chris Stanford, and bossing the game, and then lost our way during the second half. I think losing the game was a little unlucky, but Astor, cheered on by a large crowd, gained the upper hand and scored three quality goals in a five minute spell during the second half.

We were at least five regular players short but Astor took their opportunity well. We really should have wrapped up the game in the first half when we missed several good chances. Again, we probably defended too deeply (just like England!) but I was satisfied that the team didn't give up and kept its shape.

Two firsts in this match:-
(i) the first time in 20 years (since I started taking the 1st XI) that we have lost to Astor,
(ii) not one Upper Sixth player on the field.

Wednesday 24th November 1999
Oakwood Park 2 Dover G.S. 3

Another good League win - but we made hard work about it! We clearly dominated the game and for the first 20 minutes played the best football of our season. During this purple patch we created numerous openings and knocked the ball around with real flair. Luke Stockdale scored expertly from one opening but we should have had more. Gradually Oakwood woke up and started to press us back but didn't really create anything dangerous. We seemed to sit back again and sure enough OP equalised when we failed to clear.

As soon as the scores were level we stepped up the work rate again and scored with ease when Neil Brinicombe chipped a through ball for Ben Mackenzie to chase and lob the outcoming keeper. Then we sat back again; the defence got into a mix again with three going for the same header and OP equalised again with a fine strike by their right winger which gave Chris Wash no chance. I thought we might settle then for a draw but skipper Kevin Doughty capped a fine game by bursting through from midfield and beating the OP keeper. It was so close to the end that we didn't give OP the chance to equalise again!
Moral of the story - we must finish off teams and stop being so considerate!

Saturday 27th November 1999
Dover G.S. 0 Harvey G.S. 1

How we lost this game will go down as one of the great mysteries of the millennium. Just occasionally in football this kind of result occurs, but it is still difficult to rationalise. The game was completely one-sided with goalkeeper Chris Wash a virtual spectator - he touched the ball ten times in ninety minutes, once to pick the ball out of the net.

From the kick-off it became obvious that Harvey's ambitions were limited with a deep six man defence, and the concession of midfield. I was very pleased with our all-round game but the final pass or cross, and our finishing, were poor. Full credit to Harvey for their defending but we cannot just blame bad luck - it is up to us to create and score. I won't catalogue the number of chances that we created but we had over twenty corners to Harvey's one and I should think their centre backs had headaches from the number of clearances they made!

Sometimes it is important to lose games like this in order to appreciate how to win, and hopefully the great God of Football will remember this game next year when he gives out his fortunes. At least we played well and lost, rather than the other way round! Harvey's goal was their only real chance.

2nd XI Match Report written by Matthew Fisher
Wednesday 20th October (late result)
DGSB 3 -v- Maidstone G.S. 2

DGSB had to play against a team who had thrashed us 8-1 in the league with an understrength side. The most notable injury was to our keeper Mike Sterrow who was able to play in the outfield in our changed formation of 4-5-1. Jeremy Childs was a late replacement in goal and James Kearns was left up front on his own as Steve Key had a neck injury which meant he had to settle for a place on the bench. Morale and expectations were low to say the least but as the game got underway we found ourselves containing them and our confidence grew. The first fifteen minutes saw Maidstone have more possession but our defending meant that they could only shoot from far out.

After this early pressure had passed we started to realise that we should go for goal also and changed our formation to a 4-4-2 with Bob Turgoose going up front. With this added aerial presence the Maidstone defence had trouble in dealing with high balls and we almost scored from a Mike Sterrow header when the defence were concentrating on Turgoose.

However, Maidstone were first to score when a great through ball split our defence and Jeremy Childs had no chance with the shot. In previous games this would have resulted in the flood gates opening, but we were spurred on and almost straight away equalised. Craig Ruffles passed to Dan Trenowden on the right who then crossed in a perfect ball which left the defence standing. Mike Turner was the first to react to it, flew himself at the ball as it bounced and lobbed the keeper. The half time whistle blew soon after and DGSB went in feeling that the game was for the taking.

The second half saw us take the game to Maidstone and after a couple of attacks 'Lucky' Mike Turner got his second, blasting a shot through a packed area. With the goal cushion we played within ourselves and tried to shut Maidstone out. A tactical change saw Steve Key come on for Mike Sterrow and straight away scored from a through ball by Matt Fisher. After this we were in control and cruising until Dan Williams, who had been a rock at the back, gave away a penalty which was converted. With only ten minutes on the clock left Maidstone went all out but Jeremy Childs surprised everyone by saving shots from all angles.

The final whistle saw mass celebration from DGSB and was definitely the performance of the season so far. Now we wait to see who our opponents are in the next round but should feel confident no matter who it is.

Fixtures:
2nd XI Wed. 8th -v- St George's (A)
1st XI Wed. 15th -v- Chaucer (A)

Table Tennis

The Year 7 house matches are well under way now, attracting fourteen teams of four players plus reserves and so far seventy eight members of the four houses in Year 7 have played at least one game. The league tables are published every Friday and appear outside the Lower School Office as well as being placed in each form register. The league is about half way through at present and it is at this stage when I am able to ascertain who will be good enough to play for the school team in the Dover Table Tennis Divisions next season when the boys are in year 8.

The school has currently six teams in the two Dover Divisions, three in each and they are playing some good games. For the B and C teams this is their first time in the top division and they are learning fast from the experience. The D and E teams have played one season already in the second division and are holding their own. The F team are also in their first year and although not winning many games have been commented upon by a member of The Fire Brigade team as being one of the most enthusiastic teams he has seen for a number of years, which is very encouraging.

Fund Raising

New tables are desperately needed for next season if the Grammar School teams are allowed to play in the leagues. The tables currently in use were first brought into the school when Mr Richard Kemp was in charge of table tennis in 1976 and they were second hand then. I am therefore hoping to raise some cash for new tables, so if anyone has any ideas I would be pleased to hear from you.

I aim to raise cash myself by selling custom designed posters on any subject, from portraits to pets, aircraft to landscapes, that you care to give me. The posters will be printed using the Photo Montage program. Examples of these can be seen in the corridor outside the old computer room. They comprise of one large poster being made from thousands of small photographs. From a distance the poster looks like the original photograph but close to it can be seen that it is indeed made from random photographs.

From any photograph, I will scan, Photo Montage, print, and encapsulate at a cost of £1 for A4 size. A3, A2 and A1 sizes are also available at a pro-rata cost. (A3 = 2 A4, A2 = 4 A4 etc.) For further details, please contact me. These posters really do make ideal and unique Christmas presents. All profits will be put into a Table Tennis fund to buy new tables next year.

Paul K Skelton - Workshop Technician

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

End of Term: Friday 17th December

Please note that the school buses will collect the boys on Friday 17th at 1.30 pm.

Start of Spring Term (for boys): Wednesday 5th January

Staff Development Day: Tuesday 4th January