FOCUS

Half-Term Newsletter

Issue 3 - February 2004

The spring term has started very well with some excellent academic achievements by boys in Year 11 – the Mock Examinations have shown we have some exceptional students.

Similarly, the Sporting Achievements (detailed in this edition of Focus) are something to celebrate. Congratulations go to all the boys involved.

Year 11 students are attending interviews with Senior Staff to ensure that they are getting all the support they need to be certain of exam success this summer. There will be some extra classes during the Easter holiday and certain boys will be selected to attend, where spaces remain then the classes will be open to anyone who has expressed an interest. Similar arrangements are being made to support Year 9 as they approach SATs. Parents will receive letters about these courses early in the second half of this term.

I’d like to thank parents who made an extra special effort to get their sons to school on 29 January – I know it was difficult but we did manage to run a normal school day after break, once all the staff were in. Congratulations go to the boys too for ensuring they attended.

During the half-term holiday we are continuing to redecorate and refurbish more areas of the school and I am grateful for the work the caretakers have done. We should hear from KCC soon with details of the amount of money they are prepared to give us for capital works and we can then look to improving the toilet, sport and science facilities in the school.

Finally I would like to update you all on the arrangement when I am still head of Dover Grammar School for Girls and acting headteacher for Dover Grammar School for Boys. Having spent six months in the post, I have advised both sets of Governors that I believe more joint working is possible but that I also feel each school needs its own full-time headteacher. The Governors will, therefore, be seeking a substantive head to take up the post in September. Until that time I will continue as head of both schools. It’s been a real pleasure working with the boys and the new colleagues here. I have found it to be a terrific challenge and I look forward to continuing the work we’ve started.

Mrs Julia M Bell
Headteacher

Achievements, Congratulations and Thanks

Charity for 7 Channel:

On the 16 December 2003 the school canteen was closed at break time to prepare for the Christmas dinner. At break the canteen is a very popular place and the question on everybody’s minds was, ‘where will we get our snack or drink?’ 7 Channel decided to put everyone’s minds, and stomachs, at rest – they were going to hold their own canteen. When everyone heard this a sigh of relief went through the school.

An event like this for more than 800 people would take loads of preparation so every member of 7 Channel made a contribution of food and drink. Everything was in order; the canteen was to open in the Great Hall at break on the 16 December and was to be held by 7 Channel. The sale was a great success and £160 was raised to support a child in Iran for a year’s education.

Many thanks to Ms Grilli, it could not have happened without her and to 8 Channel for their help in setting up the hall. Also, thanks to Philip Martin’s Mum, Mrs Martin, for her baking of at least 30 tremendous cakes, and I can assure you all of them sold. We hope to hold events like this in the future to help other children or maybe the same one!

By Jake Clapson of 7 Channel

Success of Former Student:

Former student Sean Harrison Nayes has recently left Coventry University with a BEng(Hons) in Automotive Technology.

Grade Examinations:

Congratulations to the following students, who were successful in recent Associated Board Grade Examinations:
 

Daniel Howes – 11 ST
Clarinet
Grade 4

Freddie Reay – 9 Priory
Trumpet
Grade 2

Stage Struck!

Two Year 7 boys got into the final for the musical ‘Oliver!’ at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.

Richard King (7 Priory) and Jake Clapson (7 Channel) made it into the final 12 out of 669 hopefuls who attended auditions this month. They were auditioning for the roles of Oliver and the Artful Dodger.

Unfortunately they did not get the parts but it was a tremendous achievement to get so far.

‘It was a great experience – the biggest thing I have done so far in acting and singing,’ said Jake.

‘It was exciting and interesting to know what goes on behind scenes in the theatre,’ said Richard. ‘Of course we were disappointed after getting so far.’

Well done Richard and Jake!

Mrs SM Clough – English and Drama

- More dates to follow -

*All Subject Teachers and Form Teachers can be seen by appointment, 4.00 to 7.00 pm

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2000:

The FoI Act received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000. The primary object of the legislation is to confer a right on individuals to obtain disclosure of information held by public bodies, including schools, rather than leaving public bodies to confer access to the information they hold as a favour. This is achieved in two ways:

• By imposing on public authorities a positive duty to make information available through the publication of schemes setting out what information it has decided to make routinely available and how/where the information is available to an interested individual.

• By giving the individual who makes a request for information the right to be told whether the body holds such information, and if it does, the right to have that information communicated to them, subject to exemptions. This individual right of access to information will be brought into force for all public authorities (including schools) in January 2005.

The Governing Body have adopted a FoI policy. The policy outlines the information available in school and for your interest and information this is detailed below.

• School Prospectus
• Governors’ Annual Report
• Instrument of Government
• Home – School Agreement
• Curriculum Policy
• Sex Education Policy
• Special Education Needs Policy
• Accessibility Plans
• Race Equality Policy
• Collective Worship
• Careers Education Policy
• Child Protection Policy
• Pupil Discipline
• Published Reports of Ofsted Referring Expressly to the School
• Post-Ofsted Inspection Action Plan
• Charging and Remissions Policies
• School Session Times and Term Dates
• Health and Safety Policy and Risk Assessment
• Performance Management of Staff
• Staff Conduct, Discipline and Grievance
• Curriculum Circulars and Statutory Instruments
• Complaints Procedure
• Minutes of Meeting of The Governing Body and it’s Committees

Mrs Sue Barham - Clerk to Governors

Jeans for Genes:

During October 2003, thousands of people across the nation ‘Did it in Denim’ and donated £1 in support of the eighth national Jeans for Genes Appeal. The charity have informed the school that their target of £2.5million has already been exceeded and tell us that this year’s Jeans for Genes day will be Friday 1 October. They also tell us that their website, www.jeansforgenes.com, contains all the information you need to know about the appeal.

Mrs Françoise Lloyd – Subject Leader for Modern Foreign Languages

School Library News:

World Book Day 2004 will take place on Thursday 4 March. I have registered the school to participate. £1 book vouchers have been received, one per pupil, and will be distributed nearer the date. Please note you must comply with the rules as printed on the voucher when redeeming them. They can only be used in participating bookshops. World Book Day is a joint venture between The Publishers Association and The Booksellers Association.

Can You Help?
If you have any fiction books suitable for pupils aged 11 to 18, which you no longer require, the library would be happy to give them a new home. The only criteria is that they would need to be in good condition for inclusion into stock. The boys are all encouraged to read for pleasure and welcome recommendations from friends and family. Circulation is high so any new titles are always welcome.

Nestle Cereal Vouchers
Please could we take a last look for any stray Nestle Cereal Vouchers still in circulation, as this collection will end in March.

Tesco Computers for Schools is due to commence on 23 February, half-term week, and will run until 2 May inclusively. Please ask all your friends, neighbours and work colleagues to collect them for us. We have successfully procured a new computer for the past four years for the Library Resource Area. Every voucher counts. Vouchers can be handed in directly to me in the Library or at the School Office. Thank you for your support.

Mrs LK George – School Librarian

Examination Invigilation:

Are there any parents or friends who may be interested in considering becoming an Examination Invigilator?

You may be required to come in for either a full day, or part of a day, generally commencing at 8.45 am and finishing at 4.15 pm. The hourly rate would be paid at £8.00. Parents would obviously not be chosen to invigilate any exam their son may be taking.

The examination period will cover Friday 14 May until Friday 25 June 2004.

Further details can be obtained from Mrs Sue Barham, Headteacher’s PA on 01304 216810.

Music News:

The main musical event last term was the School Carol Service held by candlelight in Charlton Church on Wednesday 17 December 2003. The congregation, who filled the church to capacity, joined with the school choirs in the singing of well-known Christmas Carols. Illumina made their first appearance at this service. They are a 35-strong singing group founded this year by Mr Baldock consisting of boys in Years 7 to 9. They performed two pieces on their own and joined with the Dover Grammar School for Boys Singers for the remaining items. There were around 60 singers taking part together with the School Brass Ensemble and Organist Stephen Yarrow.

As a result of the Carol Service, Illumina and The Dover Grammar School for Boys Singers have been invited to present a concert at St Mary’s Church, Dover, this term. This has been arranged for Thursday 1 April at 7.30 pm. The concert will also feature the School String Quartet with solos from A Level and GCSE music students.

The school’s Big Band, Orchestra, Junior Wind Band and Training Orchestra will be performing at the Spring Concert to be held in the School Hall on Wednesday 17 March at 7.30 pm. In addition there will be solos performed by students on a variety of instruments including electric guitar, saxophone, flute and piano.

Dover Town Hall has been booked for a joint Summer Concert between the two Dover Grammar Schools to be held on Friday 9 July at 7.30 pm. It is anticipated that musicians from both schools will work together to produce a Dover Grammar Schools Orchestra and Big Band to perform at this concert.

Mr P Baldock – Director of Music

Tai Chi/Chi Gung:

Classes will be held on Wednesday lunchtimes between 13.00 and 13.30 in the Gym. Sports kit/trainers must be worn. Any one who is interested is welcome.

Mr S Thompson – Art and Design, Design and Technology and Games

Year 8 Parents’ Evening:

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE to the above event. It has been scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10 March, 4.00 to 7.00 pm. All Subject Teachers and Form Teachers can be seen by appointment. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by the change of date.

Chocoholics Please Read!

On Thursday 4 March from 7.30 pm onwards there will be a chocoholic’s party held in the school hall.

Please support this PFA fundraising evening. Come and get your Easter and Mother’s Day presents early!

Children, grandparents and friends are welcome to come and help sample the chocolates. Catalogues are available from the school office to pre-order if you are unable to come on the night. As well as the chocolates there will be a raffle and refreshments.

Please come and support the PFA and help them fundraise for your boy’s education.

Raffle prizes would be gratefully welcomed and should be given in at the office as soon as possible.

The PFA Committee look forward to seeing you at this fundraising evening and thank you for any support you can give this event.

The PFA have also arranged a forthcoming trip to a brewery on 25 March 2004. This trip will be limited to 30 people and will cost £15.00 to include transport and buffet. Details to follow after half-term.

With kind regards,
Suzanne Jay – On behalf of the PFA Committee

GCSE Oral Examinations:

The GCSE Oral Examinations for German will take place on Monday 26 April. The GCSE Oral Examinations for French will take place on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 April.

Year 11 pupils will be able to have further opportunities to practise for these examinations every day in L8 from 1.00 pm until registration.

Bonne chance, viel Spaß.

Mrs F Lloyd – Subject Leader for Modern Foreign Languages
 

MOFO Games:

The Young Enterprise Company MOFO will be selling five PC games on 1 CD for £3 every lunchtime outside the Sixth Form Centre while stocks last.

The games are:
Alpha Lunar 1 - An Electrifying 2D Space Shooter
Gem - A Fast 3D Platform Game
It’s a Lemon - Slot Machine Game
3D Tile Swap - 3D Puzzle Game
Invader - An Action Packed 3D Space Shooter

History

Richard Ferrell of 9 Castle won December’s history prize for completing the questions on Pearl Harbour. Richard has won a modern history textbook and will join the History Forum next month, as will James Hargrave and Michael Hills of 7 Castle and Lloyd King of 8 Port and Jack Williams of 8 Castle. The two Year 7s will be taking on the Year 8 boys in a debate on the legacy of William I. If parents are keen on their son getting involved please let me know.

On Thursday lunchtimes, Mr Morrissey and Miss Grilli (realising that history is more interesting than English!) are running a history club for Year 7s and 8s – they are currently looking at Britain during World War II.

I would like to thank Alex Libby, Jonathan Fullerton and Paul Skeggs for presenting the school assembly on Holocaust Memorial Day. The History Forum debated the controversial issue of the role of the Allies during the Holocaust. Below you can read the views of Dale King (9 Port), Daniel Robinson (9 Castle) and Michael Schlamm (10 Priory). Unfortunately no student was able to complete the questions on the Holocaust for January’s quiz – so there is a roll over! Get to the February History Quiz Board first!

Mr JD Gaskell – Subject Leader for History


The Holocaust – Should we have done more to prevent it?

The Holocaust is one of the worst atrocities in human history. The massacre of six million Jews by Adolf Hitler’s Nazis shocked the world and raised many debates about why the allied forces did not do more to stop it. We are going to attempt to answer the question in the title above and try to defend the actions of Churchill, the greatest ever Briton, and President Roosevelt.

The Holocaust was a plan devised by the Nazis to kill or deport as many Jews as possible. One idea was the Madagascar Plan, which involved deporting all German Jews to the island of Madagascar. In the event, many Jews from Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were sent to ghettos in Warsaw or Lodz. One man heavily involved in these events was Adolf Eichmann. In 1960 he was found guilty of “crimes against Jewish people, crimes against humanity and war crimes”. He orchestrated it and was personally responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews. Concentration camps were set up across Germany at Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and the infamous Auschwitz.

There is no doubt that these actions were some of the cruellest ever performed. What is debatable is whether we should have done more about it. Ideally we would have but, due to the mitigating circumstances that we were in, we were unable to take a fully justified course of action.

At the time of the Holocaust the whole world was preoccupied with the war, not just Europe. With all military resources, finances and men obviously supporting the war effort the allied forces did not have the necessary time to deal specifically with war crimes against Jewish people. The war was not looking very good at the time, after the retreat from Dunkirk, with the Germans seeming to be an unstoppable military force. Millions of lives had already been lost and winning the war was our top priority. If we lost the war then Hitler would have been able to kill even more people than he did and commit crimes beyond imagination.

Even if the allies had time to consider the Holocaust, which evidence suggests they did, what could they do about it? Germany had ‘kicked’ us out of Europe and now had full control as other countries had surrendered, while we were also retreating in Africa. Codebreakers informed Churchill of Hitler’s plans to kill the Jews as early as 1941 but Churchill thought that the war was his top priority. So long as Hitler remained in power these atrocities would continue. Only an invasion of Germany would stop the Holocaust and that was the Allied aim during the war. Concentration camps could not be bombed for the risk of killing all of the ‘workers’ was too high. Maybe the commandos could have parachuted in but not in great enough numbers. Even if they did succeed they would have to fight their way out of Germany. Twenty men against the German military, who would win? Easy question.

When the Allies eventually invaded Germany the concentration camps were liberated. One of the worst chapters in human history was brought to an end. Many Jews were rescued, others were less fortunate. It was a persecution of one set of people by another and hopefully one that won’t be repeated ever again.

By Dale King (9 Port) and Daniel Robinson (9 Castle)


Britain and the Holocaust

Historians fiercely debate Britain’s policy towards the Holocaust and in particular whether more could have been done to prevent the mass genocide of 6 million Jews. Often it is argued that with the benefit of hindsight that British policy may well have been different. If it had been known what Hitler and his Nazi regime were really doing then more could have been done. This does not seem to be a viable argument.

Hitler was elected to power on an ‘anti-semitic ticket’ made clear since his publication of Mein Kampf. From the moment he gained power, anti-semitic laws were passed at first restricting the lives of Jews and culminating in physical attacks on Jews such as Kristallnacht and imprisonment in concentration camps. His policy leads logically to the horrors of extermination in the gas chambers. These politics were evident to all, as his ideas had been clearly shown to the world in Mein Kampf.

Britain’s immigration policy however placed restrictions on the number of ‘foreigners’ allowed to enter the country. There was no ‘asylum’ policy recognising that people may need to escape from religious, political or racial persecution. Rather as Hitler’s discrimination became more overt, restrictions on entry to Britain were increased. Though there were people and organisations sympathetic to the plight of Jews, there were others, e.g. Mosley’s Fascists, who supported the Nazis whilst others feared for their jobs and that Britain would be swamped by Jews. Kristallnacht did see the British government allowing an extra 10,000 Jewish children into the country in the Kinder transport but these children had to leave behind their parents and all that they knew!

Britain also placed restrictions on Jewish immigration to British Palestine despite its promises to create a Jewish state in the Balfour Declaration.

Britain’s policy of appeasement and its refusal to prevent Hitler’s expansion in Europe led directly to World War 2. This placed more Jews under the control of the Nazis, e.g. in Belgium, France and Holland, to which German Jews had fled and more numerically the Jews of Poland and Eastern Europe, the main victims of the so-called ‘Final Solution’.

Jewish organisations and individuals demanded that the camps should be bombed and be made clean of the atrocities going on in them. However, the British Government argued that the horrors of the extermination camps were exaggerated. They further claimed that they did not have the technology to bomb the camps and in any case it would be at the cost of Jewish lives. It has also been proven that Britain had photographic evidence of the camps as photos had been taken by reconnaissance planes during World War 2. It is clear that there were excuses and justifications for Britain’s other priorities in its conduct of the war.

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said in a letter to his sister, Hilda, ‘No doubt Jews aren’t loveable people. I don’t care about them myself’. With this sort of sentiment at the top of the British Government then it is not surprising that there is evidence that Britain could have done more to help the Jews of Germany and the rest of Europe.

By Michael Schlamm (10 Priory)

Sports

FOOTBALL RESULTS

* Date to be confirmed

KENT CUP PROGRESS

Most of these matches will be played over the next few weeks. If our teams get through to the Finals 4 out of 5 of the Finals will be at home. Fingers crossed!

INTO THE FINAL

Congratulations to Year 10 Football team on reaching the Kent Cup Final. Dover beat Valley Park on 12 February 4-0. Tom Cakebread, Craig Higgins, Matthew Wraight and Sammy Brannan scored. Man of the Match was Aidan Gregory, who was making his debut.

KENT CUP FINALS

Year 10 are through and their final is away – probably at a ground in the Bromley or Dartford area. The school will be running transport. Details of costs will be known sometime in March. If you wish to book a seat please contact Mr Howe at the school as soon as possible. We may also get through to 3 other finals – all of these are ‘home’ so they will be in this area.

ENGLISH SCHOOLS TROPHY PROGRESS
 

• The players are disappointed to go out at this stage but they must take great pride in knowing that they are in the Top 5% of the Country.

• The PE Department and the school are extremely proud of the boys’ achievements. Both teams have taken some notable scalps in their campaigns and Dover Grammar is now recognised nationally as a school to watch for the future.

• Now they have to concentrate on trying to win their Kent Cup Semi Finals.

• On behalf of the students I would like to thank the staff for their cooperation in covering Mr Howe and Mr Grant for these games and for allowing students to miss lessons. I’m sure the students fully appreciated it and caught up with any missed work.

DOVER & FOLKESTONE CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

9 schools compete in this League

Well done to all the runners in each age group. In particular, Years 7, 8 and 9 are proving unbeatable this year. With 1 more race to go, on home soil, Dover Grammar looks set to win 3 of the 4 Leagues this year – 1 more than last year.

Individual results are listed below:

RACE ONE at BROCKHILL PARK SCHOOL
 

RACE TWO at POLO GROUND, FOLKESTONE

Full school results will be in the next Focus, after the 3rd and last race on February 18th.

HOUSE MATCHES

The continuation of our school football team successes has delayed these yet again. Many school matches still have to be played over the next few weeks – hopefully leading to some Kent Finals. This makes it impossible to stagger matches, training, cross-country and House matches.

The extreme wet weather has made our pitches almost unplayable. The PE Department is proposing to play the Football, Rugby and Cross Country matches next Half Term. At this stage the grounds will be in better condition and the school football matches will be almost over.

SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

This is out of action so that new heating and ventilation systems can be installed; the inside of the roof can be boarded; fixed apparatus can be removed; the floor can be stripped and resealed and rebound boards can be put on all walls. When this work is completed we will be able to offer indoor football and the room for basketball will be increased. The floor markings will include basketball, indoor football and a badminton court. This work will also pave the way for badminton and indoor volleyball – albeit on smaller courts than normal.

ORIENTEERING

The PE Department is in the process of creating 5 new graded orienteering courses on the Whinless Downs. This is a Curriculum area that we will be expanding in the near future so that pupils can become proficient at the invaluable skills of map and compass work.


PARENTS INFORMATION REGARDING EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS AND TEAMS

All teams are selected in advance and posted on the Upper and Lower corridor PE notice boards. The team information sheets include the date, venue and times of leaving and returning to school. If your son is involved in any of these sporting events they will have all the information available. Please can you remind your son to look at the information and make a note of it in their planners.

The PE Department will be shortly issuing a ‘Blanket Consent Form’ to cover all PE trips each Term. If your son competes for the school in any sport please could you ensure this Form is completed and returned as soon as possible.

Wayne Howe – Subject Leader for Physical Education

Adapted Match Report
By Liam Friend:

Round 3 Kent Cup – Dover GS v Westlands

The game started reasonably well for the U16 team on a boggy pitch. The early chances came Liam Marsh’s way but he couldn’t convert them. A corner 10 minutes into the game gave Dover their 1st real chance with Liam Friend thumping the cross bar with a header from a well directed ‘Bert Hill’ corner.

As the game progressed so did Westlands. With the opposition getting more and more possession the Dover midfield and defence became increasingly more edgy. Dover started playing long balls when easier short passes were on. With around 10 minutes remaining of the 1st Half, the defence, which had looked much unified became unlocked. A Westlands midfield player was given too much time and was able to give a perfect pass that just squeezed through the legs of the centre halves. Their forward coolly rounded James Chainey in goal and scored in some style.

This was very harsh on Dover as wingers Sam Gore and ‘Bert Hill’ had been working tirelessly up and down the flanks. A few more chances came and went with ‘Bert’ and ‘Marshy’ just missing. At half time a very tired Dover team were pleased to hear the whistle. With some stern words from Mr Howe and the threat of substitutions within a few minutes of the start of the 2nd half the team spirits lifted because no one wanted to go off. The Dover team took the game to Westlands but the ritual substitutions were made anyway. The double substitution of David Oxenham and Stephen Grant swung the game Dover’s way. Liam Marsh shot just wide when one on one with the keeper after a great solo run. As Adam ‘Dynamo’ Horne hadn’t been having one of his most inspirational games, when Steve ‘The Machine’ Law came on – the team was lifted greatly.

Within 2 minutes of this substitution Steve spotted the run of Captain Liam Friend and played a blinding 40-yard drive straight onto Liam’s chest. ‘Friendy’ didn’t disappoint as he chested it down and tucked it majestically past the distraught Westlands keeper. The team went wild and celebrated with a mass bundle on the edge of the pitch whilst shouting “What a gooooooaaaaaal!”

The ‘Dynamo’ then started to pick up the pace and was involved in everything as Dover went in search of the winner. Dover almost got caught out when they left the back door open but the calm heads of Jamie Phillips (Back in the team after some begging from someone!) and Mark ‘The Magic man’ Ambrose cleared up any threat from the opposition.

The minutes were ticking away as Dover pegged the Westlands defenders in their own area. Right at the death the ‘Dynamo’ gave a great through ball – via ‘The Machine’s’ ear onto the feet of Liam Marsh who had been given so many chances that he had to score eventually. He did so with some panache – from just outside the penalty area with a fizzing low drive. It was inevitable. The rest of the game was played out by Dover in the opposition half just to make sure no late goals would be conceded.

The Final score 2 – 1 to Dover GS.