September 6, 2019 | Issue no. 139
Head Master's Notices
The new school year is always an exciting time and it has been great to welcome back familiar faces and to greet new ones too this week. Every Friday throughout the year, this weekly bulletin will come out via email and I hope that you will find it helpful to have all school notices and reminders in one place. Do please keep an eye on our website too for regular news stories.
I hope that everyone, pupils and staff settle quickly and easily and I look forward to seeing you at school events over the course of the year. The first Mercers’ Lecture is coming up on Wednesday 25 September, when Amanda Owen will kick off this year’s programme.
A short introduction today as I attach a letter to you all here.
Whole School Notices and Reminders
Mercers' Lecture Programme 2019-2020
Please find detailed information here on the Mercers’ Lecture Programme which I do hope you will find of interest.
Booking for Amanda Owen, (Wednesday 25 September), is open, please use the link below.
Booking for Ant Middleton (Monday 14 October) is now open for parents, pupils and staff. Please do book your place quickly as we anticipate this will be a very popular lecture. As soon as bookings open to the wider community next week, we expect to be fully booked within a matter of days.
Thank you for your support
Jo Sagers, Registrar
j.sagers@dauntseys.org
Amanda Owen, shepherdess, writer and photographer
Wednesday 25 September 2019
Amanda Owen is a shepherdess, farmer’s wife, mother to nine children, a passionate photographer and a Sunday Times bestselling author. Amanda and her family live on a remote, 2,000 acre hill farm
in Swaledale, North Yorkshire.
Since first coming into the public eye in ITV’s 2011 series The Dales, Amanda began documenting the fascinating story of her farming life, before publishing to bestselling books The Yorkshire Shepherdess and A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess.
In 2018 Amanda and her family featured in a Channel 5 series, Our Yorkshire Farm.
Please book online here
Ant Middleton, former soldier, adventurer and TV presenter
Monday 14 October 2019
Ant Middleton is best known for his role as Chief Instructor on Channel 4’s hit TV show, SAS: Who Dares Wins. He has become a much-loved and admired master of survival and endurance on and off-screen, spurred by his formidable career in the UK’s elite forces, including the Marines, 9 Parachute Squadron and SBS.
His book First Man In: Leading From The Front was published by HarperNonFiction and reached No. 1 on The Sunday Times Best Seller List. In 2018 Ant was filmed for a Channel 4 documentary climbing Mount Everest, an adventure which tested him further than ever before
Please book online here
The School Intranet: Firefly
You should now be able to access the School Intranet, Firefly, and see your children’s details including timetables. If you have any problems with this please contact Caroline Jones, Database Manager, at c.jones@dauntseys.org
DSPA
DSPA Macmillan Morning
Friday 27 September
The DSPA is hosting its World's Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on Friday 27 September from 09:30 - 11:00 in the Pavilion
All welcome! Perfect timing to meet up with other parents before the cross country or exeat pick up. Come along for a cup of tea or coffee, great chat with parents and something delicious to eat. Donations gratefully received and all proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. Please donate biscuits or cakes at 09:00 on the 27 September to the Pavilion. Many thanks!
DSPA Helpers List.
We need your help to continue providing drinks and snacks at the various functions. Please sign up if you are able to help at the occasional function.Please sign up here.
DSPA Digital Noticeboard
Sharing opportunities from within the Dauntsey’s family. Have a look at what is on offer here.
Careers
Gap Year Event
Thursday 12 September, 16:15 - 17:15 in the William Dauntsey's Room
A Gap year presentation covering Ski jobs and African volunteering opportunities. Open to all in the Fourth Form and above.
Careers for Girls in STEM
Thursday 26 September
Sandhurst is hosting an event to highlight CAREERS in STEM. As well as showcasing STEM in HM Armed Forces there will be representatives from a vast array of industries including pharmaceutical, communication, transport, power generation. This event is for girls in the Fourth Form.
Absence from School owing to Illness
If your son or daughter is ill and unable to attend School, please contact Reception (01380 814500) by 8.30 am that morning.The details will be taken and the message forwarded to the relevant House.
Saturday School Fixtures
Please may we remind parents that pupils are expected to play for teams on Saturday afternoons if selected. If leave of absence (for an important family occasion or the like) is required, then it would be helpful if you could contact the Head Master well in advance so that the games staff can be kept fully informed. Last minute absenteeism not only destroys team morale but it also puts fixtures at risk.
Dance Notices
Ballet lessons will commence on Tuesday 10 September for Beginners, and Thursday 12 September for Advance pupils.
All of the details are in the letter attached, and please email Emily Wilkins if you have any queries.
Sixth Form Events
Welcome Back Party: Saturday 7 September, 19:30 - 22:30
In the 17 Club
Sixth Form Activity Day: Sunday 8 September, 10:00 - 13:30
Organised by ‘Fun Matters’, and will involve a huge range of different activities including, amongst others, The Big Challenge (a giant inflatable assault course), a bungee run, a surf board and inflatable jousting. Over the past few years it has not only been great fun but also an excellent way to bring a large number of the Sixth Form together.
Early departure / late return at end or beginning of terms
The Head Master would be grateful if parents seek prior permission from him for early departure or late return from, or to, School at the beginning and end of terms. It is appreciated that there are occasionally insurmountable difficulties over holiday arrangements, especially regarding flights, but the Head Master would particularly request that parents try to keep to the advertised dates.
Lower School Notices and Reminders
Manor Matters
On Thursday, The Manor welcomed our 45 new lower school boarders. There was a real buzz of excitement in the House, and after unpacking, arranging and re-arranging their belongings in their new dorms, the new pupils and their parents enjoyed a super lunch before departing for Main School and an afternoon of administration and a treasure hunt.Later in the day, many of our new boys and girls displayed their skills during a game of football.
We are all looking forward to this weekend when we will enjoy a Saturday Film and Popcorn Night, followed by our Activity Day on Sunday where the children will be mug-painting, playing Zorb Football and doing outdoor challenges and a scavenger hunt…amongst other things!
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.
Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.
Lower School Funfair and BBQ
Friday 13 September, 17:30 - 20:00
Please find attached information for the Lower School Funfair and BBQ here.