THE "FIRST THURSDAY" NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2001 No. 84

WELCOME

STAFF LEAVERS

At the end of the Summer Term five members of staff left the school:
Mr Andrew Burkert, teacher of Mathematics, has left the school to take up a new post at Seaford College in West Sussex.
Mrs Pauline Harrison, part time teacher of Business Studies / Economics, will be taking up a new position as Head of Sixth Form at Hartsdown Technology College.
Mrs Jennifer Jung, teacher of Mathematics, is taking up a new post at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone.
Mr Ernie Riley, part time teacher of Modern Languages, has retired after several years of teaching at the school.
Mrs Lynne Watson, teacher of English / Drama, has left to take up the position of Head of English at Archers Court School.

EXAMINATION RESULTS

The 'A' Level results were excellent. With an average point score of 26.8 we are very high indeed in the league tables. The pass rate was 97%. The percentage of A and B grades was close to 50%. CLICK TO VIEW
The highest scoring student was Arnab Banerjee who got four A grade passes and one B. He is going to Girton College, Cambridge to read Electronic Engineering.
The new AS Level examinations in the Lower Sixth also went very well. Being a new examination there are no previous figures with which to compare but the results are very sound.
At GCSE too there was an improvement in average point score which rose to 57.8 and met our target for this year. The top scorer was Neil Morgan achieving three A*s, six As and two Bs. CLICK TO VIEW
At both levels the candidates and their teachers are to be congratulated on achieving these advances.
Mr N A Slater - Headteacher

JUNIOR PRIZEGIVING - Wednesday 18th July

This annual celebration of work and achievements in Key Stage 3 took place as usual in the Hall just before the end of term.
Over 100 pupils were awarded certificates or prizes for a wide range of activities, academic, sporting and extra-curricular.
The Guest of Honour, Mr Bob Joslin (former Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board and former Chairman of PFA) spoke warmly about the success of the school and music was provided by the Woodwind Group, the Big Band and Christopher Leach (who played a piano solo). As usual Mr Richard Davies, Director of Music, organised this part of the proceedings.

GUEST EVENING

A reminder that Guest Evening for last year's Year 13 leavers will be held on Friday 14th September starting at 7.30 pm. School certificates will be presented to all in the year. Prizes will be awarded to those who achieved the highest mark in each subject, along with other prizes for particular achievements or special endeavour.
Mr G M Falconer - Assistant Headteacher

SCIENCE YEAR AT DGSB

Science Year is launched on Friday 7th September 2001 with the entire scientific community of Great Britain involved in organising existing activities to demonstrate the importance of the sciences in our lives.
The government, DFE & skills, Royal Society, Association of Science, Royal Society of Chemistry, Institutes of Biology and Physics plus scientific and technological industries e.g. Pfizers at Sandwich, are planning on making Science Year a success and memorable.
For example, Britain is set to rock 'n' roll as students across the country take part in a national scientific experience, THE GIANT J...U...M...P, in an attempt to create a new Guinness World Record. The Giant JUMP launches Science Year and will leap into action on Friday 7th September at 11.00 am. Everyone taking part has to jump up and down for one minute while earthquake detectors monitor the impact it has on the Earth.
When the rock band Oasis played in London's Earl's Court in 1995, people from up to 1.5 km away contacted Scotland Yard claiming they felt a mini earthquake! There were only 20,000 fans jumping around then, so imagine what millions of students will do. Don't think about a billion plus Chinese! Watch, listen and read the news on Saturday to catch up on the process and results - first homework!
So what can we look forward to at DGSB through Science Year?
Firstly, last academic year Mr Slater was successful in gaining a government grant to refurbish the main chemistry laboratory. The £25,000 refit was begun in mid-July and will be completed by late September. The delay was unavoidable because both science / music / geography corridors were being refurbished late August. However, the school deserves more than one new laboratory and we are determined to gain funding, perhaps from industry, to up-grade other laboratories soon.
The staff believe that the more scientifically professional the working environment the better our drive to improve the quality of teaching and learning will be. The new laboratory will be a totally new designed room with industrial standard scientific bench tops with electric, gas, water and waste services arranged with thought and ease of access. The lab will be 'landscape' design with the student benches arranged semi-circular style facing the teacher's/lecturer's dias supporting the demonstration bench with whiteboard and video screen behind. Every student and teacher will benefit from this new facility which will need to be developed with regard to ICT etc.
To welcome our new Year 7 students the first homework competition will be to design a laboratory code of practice for Health & Safety purposes and Years 8 and 9 will have a competition to name the laboratory over it administrative Junior Chemistry Laboratory. Perhaps a famous chemist or, something scientifically abstract - it's up to you.
Finally, we are very pleased with our 2001 'A' Level Science results but need to keep raising the standard at GCSE. Therefore, let us during Science Year renew our interest and seek commitment to do our best knowing the support of improving facilities and resources is just begun.
Mr S Nugus - Subject Leader for Science

NGfL - 30 NEW COMPUTERS

The school computing facilities were upgraded during the summer holidays by the installation of thirty new PCs in Computer Room 1 (the old drawing office).
A government grant of £20,000 was spent to improve the ratio of "pentium" PCs to students. The money had to be spent on this.
The new PCs provide internet/multi-media facilities for cross-curricular use. Computer Room 1 will not be timetabled and will therefore be available for bookings throughout the week.
The new full time ICT Technician is based in Computer Room 1 and will support computer use there.
The old pentium 120 computers move from Computer Room 1 to Computer Room 3. They have been upgraded to support specialist ICT and Computing lessons.
Mr P Woolger - ICT Co-ordinator

YEAR 12 PSYCHOLOGY TRIP TO THE SCIENCE MUSEUM - Thursday 5th July

The trip started from Dover Priory Station with the train being caught without incident and soon enough we were walking through the subway from the tube to the Science Museum.
The purpose of the trip was to visit the "Mind Your Head" exhibition, detailing the history of psychology from the early nineteenth century to the present day. The group however seemed somewhat distracted by an surprisingly comfortable leather couch, which proved to be the most praised item in the museum.
The exhibition showed many psychology artefacts from IQ tests to interactive games, and it was these that proved to be the undoubted highlight. We all took the opportunity to find out whether we think like a man or a woman and how good our memory is. The results were certainly unexpected.
To end the day we took a trip to watch the 3D Simpsons at the Imax cinema in the museum, one of only two in Britain. The screen is bigger than five double-decker buses and it certainly makes you feel part of the action. With the 3D glasses the characters looked like they were jumping out of the screen and it was a suitably mind bending end of the day.
"Mind Your Head" would be a good day out for anyone interested in science and certainly proved to be an interesting introduction to the A2 Psychology course.
Nick Bannister - 13CA

ARCHAEOLOGY CLUB TRIP TO SUSSEX AND HAMPSHIRE - 13th - 15th July

The Archaeology Club went to Sussex on Friday 13th (we all thought it would be a bad omen) and came back on Sunday 15th July. We were accompanied by Mr Gaskell and Mr Ralph.
On Friday we were all anxious to leave school but we ended up on a treacherous three hour trip. We arrived at the youth hostel at 5.15 pm and sorted our bags. Then we ate a lovely spaghetti bolognaise dinner. After dinner we went outside for a good game of catch with Mr Ralph. At 9.00 pm we played pool and then we all watched South Park. We were then told to go to bed by Mr Gaskell.
Saturday's breakfast was a bowl of Frosties or toast and then we were on our trip to Butser Ancient Farm by 8.30 am! We arrived at Butser at 9.15 am.
Jonathan, our guide, took us into a round house and told us all about the Iron Age houses and how to build them. Then he took us to actually build part of the wall of another round house. After lunch in the minibus we were taken down to the round house to make copper rings, bracelets and necklaces.
We left Butser at about 7.45 pm to head for the Mary Rose Museum. We went into the room with the Mary Rose inside it! There we learnt all about what rooms would have been on each floor from our 'magic wands'.
After the Mary Rose we went for a tour of the HMS Victory with our guide Peter. We learnt all about the canons and the crew.
On Sunday we had to wake up at about 9.00 am (undoubtedly painful for all of us!) to leave for Arundel Castle. We needed to pack our bags for 10.00 am when we would be leaving the youth hostel. It only took about five minutes to get down there and we were allowed an hour to wander around the shops and buy sweets.
There were lots of things to see as we went round the castle including the gold rosary beads Mary Queen of Scots wore when she was executed, a lion skin rug accompanied by a lioness skin rug and an enormous Japanese execution sword.
The last place we visited was Fishbourne Palace, the best-preserved Roman palace north of the Alps. There were dozens of mosaics there including a near perfect mosaic showing a dragon like creature. There was also an example of a hypocaust there as well; a type of Roman heating system, hypocaust meaning burning under. We also saw a slideshow/video that told us all about the palace and that an important citizen would have lived there. The roof of the original palace had been burnt down in a great fire and was rebuilt when Fishbourne became open to the public. There was also a small museum that told us all about the palace as it would have been in Roman times and there was a real skeleton near the end of it.
We had a safe journey home and arrived back at 6.00 pm. We would like to thank Mr Gaskell and Mr Ralph for organising the trip and making it so enjoyable.
Tom Flower & Richard Biggs - Year 8

VISIT FROM THE RAPTOR CENTRE

On Friday 20th July Mr Eddie Hare of the Tunbridge Wells Raptor Centre came to the school and showed some of his birds from the Centre to pupils of Years 7, 8 and 9.
The first bird Mr Hare displayed was a dark breasted Barn Owl called Shadow. Shadow was bred at the Raptor Centre in 1992.
Shadow flew round the school hall showing lots of energy and collecting rewards of bits of dead chicks.
The second bird was a Tawny Owl called Fudgecake. Fudgecake did not want to fly much but still liked to have the bits of dead chicks to eat. Fudgecake was bred at the Centre in 1993 but for many years lived in an aviary coming back to the Raptor Centre in 1999.
The third bird was a female Lugger Falcon called Yappy. Because Yappy was a Falcon she was not allowed to fly round the room as there was just not enough room but it was the first time that Yappy had been to a school. She had only been at the Centre a few days.
The fourth bird was a Harris Hawk called Friday. He flew really well and was not afraid of anyone. He even jumped on top of people's heads. He hopped from head to head following the piece of food that Mr Hare was holding. It took only four days to train Friday. The final bird we saw was an African White Backed Vulture called Grizwald. Grizwald was sent to a zoo in this country but was not required so he went to the sanctuary. "Grizwald", Mr Hare said, "is by far the most intelligent bird I have ever encountered and the speed at which he learns has amazed me". Although Grizwald is not keen on flying he walks very well indeed!

We would like to thank Mrs Hargrave for organising the visit and the school for paying for an enjoyable end of term treat.
Adam Chivington and Craig Lawrence - Year 8

LAW REPORT

On Thursday 19th July the Year 12 Law students presented three pleas in mitigation. This is the process where a defence barrister or solicitor tries to reduce the sentence of a defendant who has pleaded guilty or been found guilty.
Mr Crofts drafted the briefs based on similar cases he dealt with as a barrister. Incidentally, he was successful with these cases.
Daniel Webb and Michael Long acted separately as the defence for Joseph Soap and Paul Savage acted as defence lawyer for Peter O'Flanaghan. All three were successful.
After these had finished, Ross Lacey and Harry Grist presented a court case on a driving offence. Ross acted as the prosecution and Harry acted as the defence. This case was again based on a previous case, but unfortunately one that Mr Crofts had lost. Ross successfully prosecuted the defendant.
These cases were decided in front of a Bench consisting of Mr Slater, Mr Thomas and Mr Falconer. We thank them for the work they did. We would also like to thank Mr Crofts for writing the briefs and for bringing in his barristerial wig and gown.
Paul Savage - Form 13PY

SUMMER SCHOOL

During the final two weeks of August the school played host to the Dover Grammar Schools' Summer School for the highly able. Thirty pupils from Years 7 and 8 from both the girls and boys grammar schools participated in a cross-curricular programme of activities and field trips. Highlights included a two-day trip to Arras and Vimy Ridge and an activities day at a Celtic farm in Hampshire. The purpose of the school was to further challenge the highly able pupil during the vacation period. I hope this was achieved and the pupils enjoyed their experience. I would like to thank all participating teaching and administrative staff who helped make the school run so successfully.
Mr J Gaskell - Summer School Co-ordinator

MUSIC

There will be a Musical Instrument Demonstration / Workshop in the School Hall for all of Year 7 on Wednesday 19th September from 9.30 until 11.00 am.
The school's visiting instrumental teachers will be demonstrating a wide variety of instruments and student will be introduced to the Music Department's Instrumental Tuition Scheme.
Mr P Baldock - Music Department

SCHOOL LIBRARY

Welcome back to another busy academic year.
Later this month the Library will take delivery of another computer for the resources area from Tesco. This brings the number of computers up to seven with Internet access. Last term saw the arrival of 20 new CD titles to add to the ever-growing collection thanks to "Free Software for Schools". A cheque was also received via the "Box Top" coupon campaign and spent on fiction titles to support the Carnegie Shadowing Book Awards Team.
Thank you to everyone who has given support for some, or all, of our collections over the past year. It does make a difference. 
The Carnegie Shadowing Group got off to a good enthusiastic start with boys ranging from Years 7 to 9. There were some excellent fiction titles up for nomination. Unfortunately examinations and other commitments hampered progress and its full potential for promoting literacy and reading was not met this year. Thanks for the boys who did take part and we will try again next year.
The winner of the award was Beverley Naidoo with "The Other Side of Truth", a powerful novel about asylum seekers. A special thanks to Michael Pearce and Joseph Hurling of 8PT for their excellent reviews.
Other nominations were:-
Heaven Eyes by David Almond
The Ghost Behind the Wall by Melvin Burgess
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
Coram Bay by Jamila Gavin
Troy by Adele Geras
Shadow of the Minotour by Alan Gibbons
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
I can recommend all these titles which are now part of Library stock. The authors are well respected and have written many titles between them for younger children and teenagers.
Mrs L George - School Librarian

UNIVERSITY SUCCESSES

We are very pleased to hear of the following successes among former DGSB students:
University of Kent at Canterbury
Simon Moseling - obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours having studied Mathematics.
University of Lancaster
Daniel Judah - obtained a 2:1 degree in Religious Studies.
University of Bristol
Colin Swain - obtained a First Class degree in Aerospace Engineering.
UCL
Anthony Hook - obtained an 2:1 degree in History.

SCHOOL WEBSITE

A new school web site is being developed. It is far from completion but it is up and running and can be found at the following address:
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/dovergramboys/
Mr P Skelton

PFA

The next meeting of the PFA Committee will be on Tuesday 11th September at 7.00 pm and the AGM will be held on Tuesday 25th September 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. Letters will be sent home shortly with the pupils.
Mrs J Munford - Secretary

PFA 200 CLUB

The results for the 200 draw are as follows:
July:
1st Mrs K MacMillan (196) £25, 2nd Dr A French (168) £15, 3rd Mrs S C Smith (111) £10.
August:
1st Mr & Mrs Horne (157) £25, 2nd Mr S Hughes (45) £15, 3rd Mrs E Seddon (77) £10
Mrs P Brown - 200 Club Secretary

OLD PHAROSIANS

Our oldest former pupil, Mrs Lily Turnpenny, died in July at the age of 108.
As Lilian Vass she attended what was then the Dover County School at the start of the 20th century before going on to Bedford College, London, where she obtained a degree, something of an unusual achievement for a woman in those days.
A skilled needlewoman, she married Sydney Turnpenny of the Dover Furniture Company, and they had two children.
Mrs Turnpenny maintained an active interest in the school all her life and we express our sympathy to her son John, daughter Suzanne and other members of the family.
Her funeral service was conducted by our former Headteacher, the Rev. Dr. Michael Hinton.
Mr G Tutthill

NEWS OF HUGH STYLES

Tornado Europeans Championships 2001
We have received several emails from Hugh (Old Pharosian) about he and his partner's (Adam May) progress in the above championships. These were held in Silvaplana, Switzerland.
Hugh and Adam finished in second position.

SPORTS NEWS
TABLE TENNIS

The Dover & District Table Tennis League starts in the week of the 10th September. All home matches are on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 pm till end. The format has changed a little this year inasmuch as the games are now played over 5 legs to 11 points. Our school has five teams in two divisions. The 'A' and 'B' teams are playing in the First Division and the 'C', 'D' and 'E' teams are playing in the Second Division. Will Team Captains please collect their handbooks at 11.30 am on Friday 7th September from the Workshops where there will be an important meeting for ALL team members playing in the above teams.
I may be running table tennis house matches and coaching for any member of Year 7 during lunch breaks from 13.10 to 13.50 in the gymnasium. I would like to know who is interested so would you please ask your form tutor to post a list into my pigeon hole by no later than Friday 14th September to enable me to formulate a rota of play. Further details will be available when I have all the relevant information.
Mr P Skelton - Workshop Technician

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

PLEASE NOTE:
Despite appearing in the School Planner there are no development days on Monday 4th/Tuesday 5th February 2002. 
The development days for the coming academic year are:
Thursday 18th/Friday 19th October 2001
Monday 18th/Tuesday 19th February 2002
Monday 15th July 2002 (this date to be confirmed)