FOCUS

Half-Term Newsletter

Issue 5 - MAY 2004

The most important part of my contribution to ‘Focus’ this half term is to wish all the very best to all of our examination candidates. This is a busy and stressful time for them and I want to assure them all that we will do anything we can to support them to future success.

This half term the school has had many visits from a variety of KCC people as they and we begin to plan for the huge amount of capital works. There is much in the school to be updated and whilst there will be inevitable disruption it is so good to get these projects moving at last.

I am delighted to inform you that Mrs Lees will be joining us after half term, not quite on a full time basis but she will be here for a large part of the week. I am grateful to her current school, Maidstone Grammar, for releasing her. This will mean that Mrs Lees and I can work together for the next seven weeks, which will ensure a very smooth handover.

Finally I would like to re iterate my good luck wishes to all examination candidates and wish the rest of the school an enjoyable half term holiday.

Julia Bell
Headteacher

Diary Dates

Library News

Tesco Computer Vouchers

Although distribution has now ceased I am aware that many of the pupils have vouchers at home. The order needs to be placed before the end of term, so it is not too late for you to add your contribution. Please hand vouchers in at the office or to the Library direct.

Box Tops for Education

Having finished the initial drive for 2004, Nestle Cereal have now decided to run the scheme into 2005. So watch out for cereal packets in the supermarkets carrying ‘Box Top’ vouchers. Collection points are again the office or the Library direct. We have already received a cheque to the value of £25.

Boys In Print

During the last term Miss Grilli, in collaboration with myself, submitted a disc full of book reviews from Year 8 and 9 pupils to the popular, bright and trendy ‘Teen Titles’ magazine written for and by teenagers. All the boys in Year 7, 8 and 9 enjoy fortnightly reading slots and we thought it would further inspire and encourage the importance and value of reading for pleasure.

Jackie Henri, the magazine review coordinator, praised the boys highly who submitted entries and stated that the standard was of a high quality. Unfortunately they were not able to include them all.

All the boys listed below received a complimentary copy of the magazine. Well done!

Library Lenten Appeal Quiz

Thanks to all who took part and supported the Library contribution this year. The winners were:

With the top two groups of winners leaving us this summer it will leave the field wide open next year.

Library/Resources Area Refurbishment

At the end of June the library closes to staff and pupils as work is undertaken in the Careers Library and half of the main library area. Redecoration and new shelving will be the main change and focus.

Overdue Library Books

Due to some disruption over the past month many Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils have overdue books. As circulation is a key factor to the service being successful I would ask that bags and bedrooms are searched and books returned after half-term. This gives everybody a better all round selection and variety of choice.

With thanks,
Mrs LK George – School Librarian

Music News

Grade Examinations

A large number of students have taken instrumental grade examinations recently. Most students learning an instrument with a member of the school’s peripatetic teaching staff are entered for practical music exams through the school. Some students in the following list have private instrumental lessons and are entered for grade exams by their teacher. Congratulations to all the following students on their exam success:

Forthcoming Musical Events

Saturday 3 July – 7.30 pm
A Recital of Music for Organ and Strings
St Clement’s Church, Sandwich
Music by Bach and Vierne performed on the
1995 Nicholson Organ by Richard Davies.
Music for strings and organ performed by students and staff from
Dover Grammar School for Boys.
Admission: £5 (£3 concessions) by programme on the door.

Friday 9 July – 7.30 pm
A Summer Gala Concert
Dover Town Hall
A joint concert featuring musicians from the Dover Grammar Schools.
Combined Orchestra, Combined Big Band and Combined Choir.
Solos and ensemble items performed by students.
Admission by ticket available from the two schools.

Mr P Baldock – Director of Music

Art News

John Downton Awards for Young Artists Exhibition, County Hall, Maidstone

In April this year, five of our pupils had their work exhibited in County Hall, Maidstone. Only nine of the 40 participating schools had five or more paintings selected for the show. Our exhibitors were:
Edward Roberts (11 FL), Oliver Mousoli (11 RF), Kyle Glanville (8 Castle),
Ben Reay (12 JS) and Kenneth Birmingham (12 DR).

Edward’s large landscape of a mountain scene reflected in a lake missed winning a major prize by just one judge’s vote, with three of the five judges having to vote for a particular work for it to be awarded a prize.

An unofficial ‘Peoples Choice’ was held and the show’s organizer has informed us that Kenneth’s realistic depiction of a country road tied with a figure work from another school for first place. The organizer is considering making this category official from next year.

Congratulations to all our participants who very nearly added to our prize winning record in this prestigious competition.

Jim Petrie Memorial Arts Competition

We are very pleased to announce that two of our pupils have been awarded prizes in a major contest. Open to all Kent pupils aged from 13 to 18, a painting, drawing, essay, poem or musical composition could have been submitted.

Many of our Year 9 pupils took part, producing strong paintings and drawings, well constructed and full of details.

Kyle Griffiths was awarded 2nd prize and Alex Baker 3rd prize, both pupils entering dynamic work on the theme of ‘In Praise of Birds’.

Congratulations to all our participants who greatly impressed the judges and who succeeded in maintaining our prize winning record in this competition.

Mr S Almond - Subject Leader for Art and Design

Centenary Book

The year 2005 will be the 100th year that this school has been educating local pupils, although not always on this site and during its early years, fee paying. We are now on our third site and have survived two world wars and various other political initiatives.

As you may know I have been involved with the school web site since September 2001, and have been part of this school man and boy since 1972, and during that time have had access to all manner of archive material, most of which is already posted into the archive section of the web site.

Due to the significance of 2005 for this school, (first day September 11th to be precise, although the pupils didn’t really start until the 12th), and with the help of one of the librarians from the Kent and Canterbury University, (Suzanne Duffy), who has kindly offered technical and editorial help, the material is being edited, compressed and formatted into a year by year history of the school, hopefully about two pages for each year; there is certainly more than enough material available for this.

Utilising the reprographics facilities, I will be manufacturing and publishing this book (application for an ISBN number, pending). The book will be bound in hardback using the excellent equipment in the schools reprographics department so the cost will be kept to an absolute minimum. I can envisage this book to contain over 200 sides on A4 quality paper including photographs where appropriate and hopefully costing less than £20.

There will be facilities to pre-book and pay for these books at a later date, but anyone prepaying for this book before its release will be mentioned as helping with its initial financial setup and success. Further details will be given in future Focus newsletters once I am fully aware of the total costs involved. In the mean time, should anyone have any archive material not already shown on the web site, or have any questions regarding the book, I would be happy to receive your correspondence at the school address of D.G.S.B. Astor Avenue, Dover, Kent. CT17 0DQ. or email at the following address

Paul Skelton – Reprographics Department

Mathematics News

Readers will remember that three of our students were invited to take part in the international mathematics competition run by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust.

Both Joe Grilli and Shaun Meadows have received Certificates of Participation having been amongst the 4000 UK entrants in the European Competition.

Kye Westgarth, who was invited to enter the even more challenging International Olympiad (only 1400 UK participants), did even better, being awarded a Certificate of Merit. As I explained last time this competition is open to pupils up to Year 11 and the fact that Kye is only in year 9 shows the standard of his mathematics.

Well done to all involved.

Pupils who have internet access and who wish to get a life rather than play space invaders, might be interested in checking out www.rn-maths.co.uk Whilst aimed at advanced mathematics pupils, this site, set up by the Royal Navy, provides interactive tools, problems, practice questions and revision guides ranging from simultaneous equations through to kinematics, vectors and calculus. All problems use real naval scenarios to help pupils practice advanced mathematics as it’s used in real life.

(I’m sorry to have to break this to you boys but if you want a proper job you had better sort out your sums!)

‘Ubi material, ibi geometria’ – Johannes Keppler (1571-1630)

Bob Frost – Mathematics Department

Lenten Appeal

The total money raised for the Lenten Appeal was £1570.36. 9 Channel raised the most money as a form - £287.90, 10 Priory raised £174.95 and 7 Channel £114.02. Well done to all the boys who took part.

Sports

Football Results

Rugby – East Kent Leagues

Year 7
Play off 3rd/4th

Year 9
Play off Final

Year 11
Play off Final

I’m still waiting for the reports of these Finals from the team Captains. These will be included in the next Focus.

Kent Schools Under 19 Football Cup Final

The 1st X1 Final had been rearranged for the 6th May at VCD Stadium, Crayford – Kick Off 6.00pm. This was to be a day of surprises. Firstly, the Motorway was blocked which meant both teams arrived late. One of the Officials arrived even later. The KSFA never arrived at all. Therefore, there were no programmes available; no medals and no Trophy. What a start.

The game had to be reduced to 35 mins each way in order to leave enough time for extra time if needed. This was shrewd of the referee.

During the warm up it was obvious that the Captain, Robbie Guy, was still injured and unable to run freely due to his recent injury. Consequently he was named as sub. This meant that the midfield had to be changed.

Kelsey Park started very brightly and looked as if they were going to be a hard team to beat. Nevertheless, Dover went in front early on when Liam Marsh headed a clever cross from Ryan Wilson over the keeper.

Kelsey came back strongly throughout the rest of the half and eventually went 2 – 1 up. Close to the end of the game, Dover were awarded a penalty after sub Luke Cochrane knocked a speculative ball into the box. The penalty was was coolly converted by Dover’s deadball expert and man of the match, Peter McCarvill. Robbie Guy was brought on just before the end of normal time and asked to goal hang as he was unable to play in midfield. It almost paid off as Robbie lashed a shot just wide of the post. The game went into normal extra time. This was just as well, as Kelsey scored midway through the first period of extra time. Just before the end of the period the inventive Liam Marsh again clawed Dover back into the game to make it 3 – 3. The 2nd period of extra time was very tense with lots of players suffering from cramp in the very hot weather. With 2 minutes remaining, Kelsey Park scored to make it 4 – 3. Dover never gave up and mounted many attacks but all to no avail. With 1 minute to go Kelsey broke and looked like they might score another but their forward was offside.

He deliberately kicked the ball away to waste time and was rightly sent off as it was his 2nd offence. Straight from the goal kick Ryan Wilson knocked the ball into the box where Ed Close was lurking. Ed slammed the ball towards the goal and within a fraction of a second the ball was shooting along the ground behind the net. It looked as if the ball had hit the side netting from the Managers dugout but it finally dawned on many of us that the ball had actually gone past the keeper and under the net for the equaliser! Kitson Keen was off the blocks like Linford Christie, racing across the pitch to congratulate the team. The game was restarted but the final whistle went 30 seconds later. The Final was shared between the two sides.

It seems strange to share the Cup but these are the rules. Well done to all the team on a very gutsy performance – you deserved your medals. The defence of Ryan Wilson, Lee Westgarth, Liam Friend and acting Captain, Ryan Doel were magnificent, having to deal with countless onslaughts by the quick Kelsey Park midfield and forwards. Gary and Paul Mulhearn worked tirelessly in midfield whilst Adam Horne covered the gap to the defence expertly. Liam Marsh scored two goals from midfield. The ever-safe Dan Ashby played another super game in goal. The versatile Tom Harvey never got on – sorry Tom but you were a real part of this team throughout the season and thoroughly deserve your medal.

South East Kent Athletics Championships

Intermediate Boys Results

District Champions

Individual Results

Well done to the team on a well deserved victory.

TSB English Schools Athletics Cup – Round One

Junior Boys Results

INTERMEDIATE BOYS RESULTS

Well done to all the boys who took part in atrocious conditions – which did not favour our field event athletes. The team has qualified for the Kent Cup Final on 17th June at Ashford. Hopefully, the weather will be fine – allowing our specialist field event athletes the opportunity to show how good they are.

OTHER ATHLETICS MATCH DATES

The Powell Trophy, for Years 8 – 10 are on the 16th June at Duke of Yorks. We may not be able to go to this as the TSB Cup Kent Final is the day after. The District Year 7 Championships are on 6th July at Astor.

Wayne Howe – Subject Leader for Physical Education