"The First Thursday Newsletter No. 106."

The boys returned to school last week and I hope they told you of some of the work that had been done in the school over the Summer break. It must be said that most of what was done was cosmetic rather than structural - painting, repairing and replacing furniture. However, we are part of the county's capital works programme for 2004/5 and 2005/6, so I am very hopeful that the toilets, the changing rooms, the gym and the Maths/Art block will be structurally improved. Nevertheless, the school now has a building development plan in which improvements are outlined and which will ensure that, in time, every corridor, every classroom will be decorated and/or refurbished. I would like to record my thanks to Mrs Pardoe, Mr Chatfield and Mr Powell for all their hard work over the summer.
Problems with the timetable hampered the crisp start to the boys' learning which we had hoped to achieve, however each one is being solved and we are hopeful of having everything sorted within the week. My thanks go to Mr Callacher who has worked so very hard, under extreme pressure, to solve each issue.
Congratulations to all the boys in last year's Year 9, Year 11, Lower and Upper Sixth on their efforts in the public examinations. Many achieved more than they had expected and I am sure that they will build on that success as they undertake their new courses.
I would like to welcome the following staff to the school
Jean-François Andrieux Modern Languages
Marie Mangenot Modern Languages
Patricia Durning English
Lisa Grilli English
Catherine Dawson Science
Bernard Johnson Science
Adrian Greenwood Subject Leader for ICT
Susan Faulkner Psychology
Paul Powell Assistant Caretaker
and to wish them great success in the partnership for learning between parents, staff and pupils. I am delighted that such excellent colleagues have chosen to join our community.
Finally, I would like to say how proud I am to have been asked to head the school for the next two to three years. I can assure you that I will do all in my power to ensure the best learning experience for your son in the best environment we can achieve working with the best teaching and support staff. I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming months.

Julia Bell - Headteacher

Last term Year 9 went on a trip to the Imperial War Museum. Once we got there we were allowed to explore in our own small groups. There were mainly displays on World War I and World War II showing old weaponry and protective gear. There were many tanks and artillery pieces including a V2 rocket.
Later we were taken to the holocaust exhibition. This had greatly moving displays, showing the cruelties of Hitler's regime in World War II. The display included a model of Auschwitz and a can containing the poison used in the gas chambers. Only three pellets could kill everyone in the room! Afterwards we were allowed to put our questions to a lady who was in the war as a little girl and had had to hide to escape the German SAS.
After a day of saddening, but interesting, displays at the Imperial War Museum Year 9 headed back to Dover.
Daniel Knox - 10PY

On the 17th July 2003, two classes from year 9 went to London to the Imperial War Museum. We had been studying the Holocaust in the summer term and made the visit to the museum to see the Holocaust exhibition as well as other famous war exhibitions such as the Vietnam War and World War II.
When we arrived at the museum, the two classes were split up and were allocated two teachers each. My class, 9 Priory, went round with Mr Gaskell and Mrs Gabriel. In the morning we were given worksheets on different weapons from different times of the 20th century and we had to go round the museum in groups of four to find the relevant information. Once we had finished our worksheets and if we had any time left, we were allowed to explore the rest of the museum. Meanwhile 9 Port were looking at the Holocaust exhibition.
We had lunch and then swapped activities. Our group made our way to a room where a lady told us about the Holocaust and how six million Jews were massacred by the Nazi Germans. She then told us a very moving story of how the Nazis were searching for Jews and they found a mother and baby daughter who were hiding. She then told us that that little girl was her, which shocked everyone in the room. It felt special to be told about the Holocaust by an actual survivor. We were given headsets to tell us more about the Holocaust as we walked around the large exhibition looking at the appalling things the Nazis did to the Jews. It was very upsetting to see the pain that was caused just 60 years ago. We went back to the room and the lady asked if there were any questions. She told us what happened to the rest of her family. The whole story really hit me hard as it did many other people and made me wonder what I would feel like if I was treated like the Jews.
We headed back to the coach at about 3.30 pm and made the journey back to Dover. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and learned a lot about the Wars of the 20th Century and the Holocaust
Michael Schlamm - 10 PY

A Summer School took place during the last two weeks of the summer holidays for 30 top Year 7 and Year 8 pupils from both the girls and boys grammar schools. It was designed to stop their brains switching off during the long break and focused on History, French and Art. There was a mixture of school and class work and fun trips to the Imperial War Museum in London, Dover Museum and an overnight stay in France. In France we visited the World War I trenches and the memorial Vimy Ridge, the World War II Museum in Calais and the V bomb construction sites in Mimoyecques and Boulogne. The trips were much better than watching a video or reading a book because the experience of being in the trenches made you feel how the soldiers felt fighting the enemy in the wars.
We had a really good time in France going to the beach, practising our French when we bought food for the picnics and staying in the youth hostel. Mrs Lloyd, Miss Mangenot and Mr Thompson were great fun and we all enjoyed it. The last day involved a presentation of folders, artwork and prizes in front of parents.
Finally, a big thanks to Mr Gaskell and all the teachers who were willing to give up their summer holiday for us!
Lloyd King - 8 Port

Welcome to all our new school members. I hope everybody enjoyed their summer break.
The Library is now able to offer a wider selection of new fiction titles for all years and levels, this includes two new collections covering 'Travel and Adventure' and 'Tales of the Past' that I am hoping will wet some appetites and transport you to new horizons. Please note that suggestions of new titles are always welcome and purchased when funds permit.
The Scholastic Book Club will soon be circulated to all Year 7 and 8 pupils and other interested parties. This term I am also introducing a newly marketed Puffin Book Club magazine aimed at the teenage market. This works on very similar lines. Participating in these schemes helps boost new fiction titles over a period of time rather than one bulk order.
Calling all Year 7's.
Do come and visit your Library and see what it has to offer. Books can be borrowed immediately.
Don't forget to read for leisure and pleasure as well as to help you with homework and assignments.
The Library is open 9.00am - 3.15 pm Monday to Friday.
Mrs L George - School Librarian

Instrumental Demonstration and Workshops
An Instrumental Demonstration for Year 7 students took place on Thursday 4th September when a number of different instruments were played by students and visiting instrumental teachers. Following this on Saturday 6th September from 10 am - 12 noon Year 7 students and their parents were invited to the school to meet the Music Department staff informally and try some instruments. Both of these events were organised for the first time this year. The Saturday morning workshop was very popular with a good number of students and parents attending. As a result, many students have decided to take instrumental lessons at the school.
If any students in year 7 and their parents were unable to attend the workshop but are still interested in finding out more about instrumental lessons please ask me for an information sheet and application form.

Grade Examinations
Congratulations to the following students who were successful in recent Associated Board and Guildhall Grade Examinations:
Thomas Punton Trumpet Grade 8
Ben Bulow Piano Grade 6
Joel Wade Drum Kit Grade 5
Aaron Hobday Theory Grade 5
Robert McKay Theory Grade 5
James Jolliffe Drum Kit Grade 4
Tom Rostron Drum Kit Grade 4
Patrick White Drum Kit Grade 4
Toby Kember Clarinet Grade 3
The school's musicians were involved in two events towards the end of last term. A very well attended Summer Concert was held in the School hall on Wednesday 9th July. Performances were given by the School Orchestra, Big Band, Training Band, String Quartet and Vocal Quartet together with solos from students and staff. Among these were oboe and Cor Anglais solos performed by Mr Slater. The concert ended with an excellent and very well received performance of two movements from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition played by the School Orchestra.
The following week on Wednesday 16th July the String Quartet and Viola Soloist Michael Schlamm gave highly polished performances at the Junior Prizegiving in the School Hall.
Mr P Baldock - Director of Music

Welcome back to another year of the Maths Corner column. We hope to build on last year's success and bring you a whole host of challenges both new and old. Just to remind the old hands as well as initiating our new readers, we offer £10 to the sender of the first correct solution to our monthly teaser - more if we think it's especially hard work!
The last problem of the academic year just gone was won by Mr J Knox. Entitled "A Roman Holiday" it was a cross-number puzzle with the added twist that it was compiled in Roman numerals. The answers were as follows -
Across A multiple of XXXVII was MCX
A multiple of LXXIII was DXI
A non prime factor of 1 down had to be CLX
Down A square was thus MDC
A multiple of VII had to be CXL
So Ptolemy's age must have been XIX (19).

September's Puzzle: Addressing some early snow
One morning it began to snow and kept on snowing at a constant rate. A snow-plough began to plough at noon. It ploughed clean and at a constant rate in terms of volume per unit time. From one o'clock until two o'clock it went only half as far as it had gone between noon and one o'clock.
When did the snow begin falling?

(You may make any sensible assumptions in order to simplify this problem but you should state precisely what these were when you send in your solution).
Maths Department

The PFA will be holding their first meeting of the new school year on:
Tuesday 10th September at 7.00 pm in the Headteacher's Study.
The AGM will be held on:
Wednesday 24th September 6.45 pm for 7.00 pm start in the School Hall.
All parents are most welcome to attend either or both meetings. We are always looking for new committee members, especially from parents of the new boys, to ensure all years are represented. If you have any ideas for a fund raising event, or just want to get involved, please come along to one of our meetings.
Mrs J Gambrell - Chairman

1st £25 Mrs D Wash (86), 2nd £15 Mrs S Carroll (45), 3rd £10 Mrs J Miell (153)
August Draw:
1st £25 Mr I Thomas (174), 2nd £15 Mr J Allen (39), 3rd £10 Mrs D Kellers (176)
Mrs P Brown - 200 Club Secretary

WIN £25!!!

This competition is open to all pupils at DGSB.
We are looking for the best name to be given to a new half-termly newsletter.
This will replace the existing First Thursday.
If you wish to take part then please put your suggestion/s in an envelope, clearly marked with your name and form, and bring it along to the School Office.

DEADLINE:
Friday lunch time on 19th September 2003.

Good luck to you all.

Should anyone still be without a school planner, you can obtain one directly from the Reprographics Office by giving your name and form to Paul Skelton at morning break on any day.
Mr Paul Skelton

The table tennis season has started and we have three teams in the Dover League. They all play in the 4th division and will be playing each other as well as Dover Harbour Board "B", and new teams to the league Whitfield "H" and East Langdon.
The usual fee of £5 to help pay for registration to the league is now due and should be paid as soon as possible please by all registered players in the three Grammar School teams. Please pay direct to Paul Skelton in the reprographics room during morning break and make cheques payable to D.G.S.B.
Mr Paul Skelton