Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTERSTAFF APPOINTMENTS
The following one year appointments have been made:
Mr. M. J. Harrison - Acting Assistant Headteacher to pursue Business and Enterprise Specialist Status and to co-ordinate ICT development throughout the school.
Mr. P. Nazir - Acting Assistant Headteacher to co-ordinate Assessment/Reporting throughout the school.
Mr. R. S. Davies - Acting Director of Student Support Services to co-ordinate Citizenship, PSHE, Healthy School Initiative, Special Needs and Child Protection.
Mr. P.H. Baldock - Acting Subject Leader for Music.
Mrs. M.A. Pardoe - Acting Bursar
Headteacher
THE 2003 LENTEN APPEAL - 10th - 14th March
A big 'thank you' to all pupils, parents and friends, who helped
raise money for this year's Lenten Appeal. At the time of writing the amount
collected has reached £2,392.96. The three charities who will benefit from this
year's appeal are:- The True Colours Foundation, Tearfund.org (Christian action
with the world's poor) and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Among the events that took place were:
· Battle of the bands
· Mothers' Day Cards
· Penalty shoot-out
· Teachers v Prefects football
· The Powell Cup
Boys were invited to wear their own clothes from the Tuesday through until
Friday at a cost of £3.50 and if a crazy tie was worn on the Monday they paid an
extra 50p.
Well done everyone!
ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION
Dover Grammar School for Boys is looking to further improve the
standard of teaching and learning amongst our pupils. One of the ways the school
plans to do this is by applying for specialist school status. If the school can
raise £50,000 the government will invest £500,000 into the school over a 4-year
period. Without doubt the implications of the increased funding and the
specialist status will be fundamental. Therefore, an information evening will
take place on Thursday 1st May commencing at 6.00 pm in the Great Hall. All
parents are welcome to ask questions or to offer support. I would appreciate as
many representatives from local and national business as possible to attend.
This is an exciting opportunity for businesses to become involved in their
community whilst raising awareness of their organisations.
Mr M Harrison - Assistant Headteacher
PARENT GOVERNOR ELECTION
I am pleased to announce that Denise Hadfield, whose son is a
pupil in Year 9, has been elected as the new parent governor. Ms Hadfield's term
of office will be for a period of four years and commenced on Thursday 27th
March 2003.
Mrs S Barham - Clerk to the Governing Body
BUSINESS STUDIES - ProShare Portfolio Challenge
Vortex, our Year 10 procure Challenge Team, successfully
completed the quarter final stage of the competition by producing an essay
outlining their choice of share portfolio. James Wash, Dan Keenan, Joe Laycock
and Chris Saunders then had to attend the semi final of the competition in
London where they competed against five other regional teams. They had to give a
presentation about shares as an investment and undertake a group task designing
a web site. Sadly they did not go through to the final but they certainly did
their best.
The next day Dan Keenan and James Wash were interviewed on Radio Kent about the
competition. Well done and good luck next year.
Mrs. J. Ash - Business Studies Teacher
YEAR 7 HISTORY VISIT TO DOVER CASTLE
On Friday 21st March 7 Castle went to Dover Castle to help with
their research for their castle project. They went at lunchtime 1.05pm until
3.25pm. They learnt that the Normans built the castle, walls were at angles for
protection against cannonballs. The English built tunnels under the keep in
1216. The windows were all up high and some were tiny so only arrows could get
through. We went to the top of the keep and it was very windy; we could see the
whole of Dover.
Sam Cooke, 7Ca
MATHS CORNER
Results: As we suggested, last month's puzzle turned into a race
to find the six numbers - by fair means or foul! The first three correct entries
were from Mr T Wheeler, Mr S Horsler and Mr D Knox, each of whom receives £5 for
swiftly calculating the six bus numbers to be the red as 149 and the five greens
as 263, 587, 195, 267 and 438. No great mathematical wizardry was called for
here, but a bit of basic prime number knowledge certainly eased the drudgery of
the number crunching.
April's Challenge: "There were these two poles ……"
Two mobile phone masts are to be erected on a level field. To the naked eye they
will appear to be about the same height, each being an exact number of inches
high. By way of support, a steel cable will run from the top of each mast to the
base of the other. The two taut cables are planned to cross eleven feet above
the ground. How high is each mobile phone mast?
Back to our usual rules - £10 for the first correct solution received by the end
of the month.
Maths Department
MUSIC
A very well attended Spring Concert was held in the school's
Great Hall on Wednesday 19th March. Performances were given by the School
Orchestra, Big Band, Training Band, Piano Quartet and String Quartet
interspersed with solos from pupils ranging from a traditional folk song to an
electric guitar solo. Soloists were represented from each year group of the
school and it was particularly pleasing to hear performances from pupils in Year
7.
Congratulations to the following pupils who were all successful in recent
Associated Board Grade Examinations:-
Peter Horner Trumpet Grade 4
Daniel Howes Clarinet Grade 3
Jack Perry-Cockings Alto Saxophone Grade 3
Zak Fisher Alto Saxophone Grade 2
Andrew Gibson Clarinet Grade 2
Freddie Reay Alto Saxophone Grade 1
Graham Savage Alto Saxophone Grade 1
Thomas Fitzpatrick Trumpet Grade 1
Mr P Baldock - Acting Subject Leader for Music
SCHOOL LIBRARY NEWS
Collection of Tesco vouchers is progressing well but we still
have ground to make up. Our aim is 13,000 vouchers to procure a computer. At
present the total stands at around 7,000. The end of the week will see the end
of voucher distribution, so please go and buy all your Easter Goodies this week!
Please send in any saved vouchers you have; the final count will take place
during May.
Nestle "Box Tops" tokens has ended this week and tokens sent off.
Thank you for all your help with both collections.
Lenten Appeal Library Quiz Results
1. Darren Jarvis and Nathan White, Year 12
2. School Office and Mrs. S. Clough
3. Thomas Harvey, Year 12
4. Richard Dadd, Year 8
Thanks for all your contributions to the Appeal and your friendly rivalry and
bantering completing the task. The Library raised £27 for the chosen causes.
Mrs. L.K. George - School Librarian
COMBINED CADET FORCE
The CCF have had a busy time of late. The contingent has started
its training for the Nijmegan Marches. These are Military marches that take
place in Holland in July every year, and most of the world's Forces take part.
They consist of a 25 mile march each day for four days, with a parade through
the town and a Military medal awarded to each person completing the march. Only
those who are fit and have trained enough will be allowed to go, and they will
need to pass a 75 mile march over three days in May in order to qualify. The
team have started well and spirits are high. They will train for a weekend a
month until July.
Also over the half term those wishing to be promoted attended a NCO Cadre. This
was a joint course with cadets from Maidstone Grammar School and William Parker
School in Hastings. Dover CCF did us all proud, again running off with four
awards this time round. On the Junior Cadre Cdt Swanborough who is in the Army
Section gained the award for Most Improved Cadet. On the Senior Cadre L/Cpl Amos
Army Section gained Most Improved Cadet, Cpl Loritz RAF Section gained the award
for Best Effort, and J/Cpl Hurling RAF Section gained the Best Overall Cadet on
the Senior Cadre Award. Overall 12 cadets from Dover completed the course. Well
done to everyone.
On the academic front the RAF Section ran its Part One and Part Two examinations
just before half term and the marks will be out soon.
Looking ahead the Contingent has a busy time, with its first external drumming
display on Easter Saturday. Then the following Tuesday those going to Oakhampton
on Adventurous Training will leave to have fun abseiling, hillwalking, kyaking
and canoeing. Also not long till summer camp!
Sarah Masters
PFA
Disappointingly the Race Night in March had to be cancelled due
to lack of support and the Hall being double booked. It was a new event planned
to raise funds for the school and because it did not go ahead it is hoped that a
Wine and Wisdom evening can be held in the next couple of months to replace it.
Tomorrow there will be another Cake Sale. The last one was successful but
unfortunately there weren't enough cakes. Please will you give your support and
donate cakes, either shop bought or home made for Friday. The boys certainly
enjoyed eating them and a few were disappointed because the cakes ran out so
quickly.
Mrs. J. Gambrell - Chairman
SPORTS NEWS -
TABLE TENNIS
After receiving a bye in the first round, we had to play a tricky
game against West Langdon C away in the Ron Edwards trophy (this is a handicap
knock out cup). After beating them twice, narrowly, in the League we knew it
would be a difficult game with the handicaps but the handicaps favoured our team
but we did not take advantage of this, with Langdon playing well. We only won by
winning the last match, after a victory from veteran John Bird. Final score:
West Langdon C 4 - 5 Grammar B.
We then discovered we would be making a return trip to Langdon to play West
Langdon B in the quarter-final, with whom we had recently drawn 5 - 5. The
handicaps were rather controversial with the best player in the League (playing
for them) not having the worst handicap. We went down 2-0 down early on and we
knew we would have to play well to win. We then went on to win 5 - 2 with R.
Quilter (of Grammar B) winning all three of his matches playing some excellent
table tennis; Kush Boparai and Tom Bird picking up a victory each. Final score:
West Langdon B 2 - 5 Grammar B.
We now have to wait and see who we will be playing in the semi-final - if it
will be Whitfield D, who knocked us out of the competition two seasons ago, or
if it will be a return trip to Langdon, against West Langdon A, who knocked us
out of the competition last season.
Tom Bird - Team Captain
CRICKET
Deal Victoria and Barns Close Cricket Club are looking for pupils in Years 9 and 10 to play cricket at Under-15 level. Anybody interested please speak to Cameron Ward or Matthew Carley in Year 13.
RUGBY
Year 7 Rugby v Astor - Tuesday 11th March
Our first match of the season saw the team win 5 - 0 against an understrength
Astor side. As was to be expected the game did not flow at all and both sides
showed many areas which they need to work on over the term. There were some good
individual runs but all team players need to improve their tackling in
particular. Gareth Phillips scored an excellent try in the second half and had a
good game at scrum-half.
Year 7 Rugby v St.Edmund's Dover - Tuesday 25th March
This match was again played on a fast dry playing surface at Crabble. The game
started well with an early try and good pace was shown by Moamen Nasr and Dale
Mercer. Both these players scored six tries between them. This was a much better
team performance than our first match with some good ball being one by our
forwards. Despite some interesting refereeing decisions the final score saw us
well in front at 44 points to 10.
Year 8 Rugby v St.Edmund's Dover - Thursday 20th March
In general this was quite a good performance especially as we were not at full
strength. Some excellent individual tries were scored and we looked especially
useful when moving the ball along the line rather than looking for inside
breaks. We still need to work further to improve our tackling and play
continuity from breakdowns. This was a good overall result with the final score
being 34 - 7 in our favour.
Year 8 Rugby v Norton Knatchbull G.S. - Thursday 27th March
This match was played away at Ashford on a dry rather sloping pitch. As a team
we never really got into our stride and the whole match did not flow at all. Our
play lacked continuity and we did not really move the ball out over our wings.
David Close our captain scored and converted an excellent try which gave us a
close win at 7 - 5.
Mr. M. Grant - PE Department
DATES FOR DIARY
Spring Term Ends Friday 11th April
Summer Term Starts Monday 28th April
Key Stage 3 Tests Tuesday 6th/Friday 9th May
Years 7 & 8 Exams Monday 19th/Friday 23rd May
Year 9 Exams Monday 2nd/Friday 6th June
Under 19 Kent Cup Final Reminders
Thursday April 10th, kick off 7.00pm at Tunbridge Wells FC
The PE Department has arranged a supporters coach for this match. It will leave DGSB at 4.30pm. We anticipate that the coach will start its return journey at approximately 9.30, arriving back at school at approximately 11.20.
If you haven’t given your names yet please do so ASAP. As the numbers so far are less than 50 we do not need a second coach.
The team will be travelling in a separate 21 seater – this will be leaving at 4.00pm.
If you need to discuss any aspects of the arrangements please contact W Howe at the school.
We look forward to your company on what will hopefully be a very successful evening.
RUGBY UPDATES DOVER LEAGUES
Year 7 Results
MAR 13 DOVER GS 5 V 0 ASTOR
MAR 11 DOVER GS W/o V 0 WALMER
MAR 25 St EDMUNDS 10 V 44 DOVER GS
APR 1 N KNATCHBULL 45 V 0 DOVER GS
APR 8 2nd PLACE PLAY OFF FINAL
Year 8 Results
MAR 6 DOVER GS 83 V 0 ARCHERS CT
MAR 13 MANWOODS 7 V 20 DOVER GS
MAR 20 DOVER GS 34 V 7 St EDMUNDS
MAR 27 N KNATCHBULL 5 V 7 DOVER GS
APR 10 PLAY OFF FINAL DATE TO BE REARRANGED
Year 9 Results
MAR 7 ASTOR 19 V 41 DOVER GS
MAR 11 WALMER 5 V 41 DOVER GS
MAR 25 DOVER GS W/o V 0 St EDMUNDS
APR 1 DOVER GS W/o V 0 BROCKHILL
APR 8 PLAY OFF FINAL
Year 10 Results
MAR 6 CASTLE 28 V 36 DOVER GS
MAR 13 DOVER GS 33 V 7 N KNATCHBULL
MAR 20 MANWOODS 7 V 22 DOVER GS
APR 10 PLAY OFF FINAL DATE TO BE REARRANGED
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PLAYERS CONCERNED.
THE PE DEPARTMENT ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
I still haven’t had details about where the Finals will take place – when I get these I will let the teams know.
The Year 8 and Year 10 Finals need to be rearranged because of the clash with the U 19 Final.
Wayne Howe
Subject Leader for Physical Education
