October 4, 2019 | Issue no. 143
Head Master's Notices
Our First Formers enjoyed an overnight stay in Brenscombe at the start of this week. Undertaking adventure and team building activities together, they seemed to have had a good time and will hopefully have grown in confidence and forged new friendships.
Last week, the 1st XV rugby team took on Marlborough College, in the first round of the NatWest U18 Schools’ Cup. They performed superbly and, despite trailing at half-time, ran out 35-21 winners. I am looking forward to the second round match against Abingdon next Thursday afternoon here at school. The 1st XI hockey team also enjoyed an excellent week and defeated a strong Red Maids High School team to progress to the second round of their cup competition.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Form have been getting their first taste of life aboard the Jolie Brise, while the Lower Sixth get their chance next week.
Tomorrow we have another busy afternoon of sport with the girls’ hockey teams playing Warminster and Bradfield College, while the boys have fixtures with King Edward’s, Southampton.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Whole School Notices and Reminders
Mercers' Lectures - Autumn Term 2019
Ian Robertson, Rugby commentator
Thursday 7 November 2019
Ian Robertson is a former BBC Rugby Commentator and Former Scotland International. He joined the BBC in 1972 and, after covering some of the greatest matches around the world for 47 years, finally hung up his microphone in 2018 and retired.
Some of Ian’s most iconic on-air moments include Scotland winning the Grand Slams in 1984, against France, and in 1990, against England, plus Jonny Wilkinson dropping the World Cup goal in 2003. He has appeared regularly on BBC TV and has been the Rugby Correspondent for The Sunday Times. He has also written 30 books including the autobiographies of Bill Beaumont, Andy Irvine and Gareth Edwards.
Please book online here.
Alison Weir and Siobhan Clarke, Historians, author
Wednesday 20 November 2019
Alison Weir is the biggest-selling female historian in the United Kingdom. She has published twenty-three titles and sold more than 2.7 million books. She has written extensively about the Tudor period, focusing in particular on Henry VIII and the lives of his six wives.
For this event Alison will be joined by fellow historian, Siobhan Clarke, to present a lecture based on their book A Tudor Christmas. Siobhan is a Guide Lecturer for Historic Royal Palaces and her second book, The Tudors was published in 2019 by Carlton Books.
Please book online here.
Ant Middleton, former soldier, adventurer and TV presenter
***New Date*** Thursday 21 November
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
Due to great demand this lecture is fully booked, and we have no additional space on the waiting list. Many thanks for your understanding.
DSPA
Thank you!
A huge 'Thank You!' to all parents who came to our Macmillan Coffee morning last Friday. A great turnout, lots of delicious cakes and some very generous donations too. We raised £351.50! It was lovely to see so many parents there, old and new.
Joining the DSPA
The DSPA has two main purposes: to raise money to provide equipment and activities for the pupils, outside of the budgeted curriculum; and to arrange social events for parents to meet and make new friendships. We strongly encourage parents to join the DSPA and become more involved with the Dauntsey's community - Year Representatives will then keep you informed of upcoming events and after joining you will be provided with a contact form for other parents in your child's year group. There is a one off charge of £25 per pupil.
If you have not yet signed up to join the DSPA then please do so here.
If you are not sure if you have already joined then please contact Pip Wall, Membership Rep at pipsjwall@gmail.com
Please follow us on Twitter here @DauntseyDspa
Scholarships and Awards for Sixth Form and Third Form 2020
Closing date for entries: 21 October 2019
A range of Scholarships and Awards are available for those entering the Third Form and Sixth Form in 2020. These include: Academic Scholarships, Performing Arts Awards, Sports Award, Boarding and Head Master's Awards. Day pupils considering a move to boarding for Sixth Form are encouraged to apply for a Sixth Form Boarding Award.
Those interested in applying for either a Scholarship or Award should first discuss the merits of an application with house staff, and/or relevant department heads.
The closing date for entries for Sixth Form Scholarships and Awards is 21 October. The Sixth Form Academic Scholarships are held on Wednesday 6 November and auditions/assessments for other awards during the week commencing 11 November.
The closing date for entries for Third Form Scholarships and Awards is 21 October. The Third Form Academic Scholarships are held on 20 November and auditions/assessments for other awards during the week commencing 18 November.
Further details and entry forms can be found on the website and the links are below. Entries should be returned to the Admissions office, together with the £100 entry fee.
Information on Third Form Scholarships and link to entry form here.
Information on Sixth Form Scholarships and link to entry form here.
Jo Sagers, Registrar
j.sagers@dauntseys.org
Music School Notices
Lower School Music and Soloists’ Competition
Tuesday 22 October at 18:30 in the Memorial Hall
Heats are on 14 & 15 October in the Old Hall at 14:00
Careers
Dauntsey’s Careers Fair
Friday 18 October, 13:15-16:00 in the Memorial Hall
This is open to pupils in Third Form upwards, and we are aiming for about 15 representatives from a variety of companies and organisations, more details will follow.
Investin Education Career Insight Programmes
We have become a ‘partner school’ of the Investin Education organisation which specialises in immersive career experiences for pupils aged 15-18 years. It offers one day insight programmes, generally in London, from November to January, including Investment Banker, Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Business Leader, Political Leader, Journalist, Computer Scientist, Architect and Psychologist. They also offer internships and multiple day programmes which take place next summer.
If you book, please use the discount code DauntseyPS19, which gives you 10% off any programmes (cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount.) If a pupil has been booked on a course, please let us know, and we would be pleased to hear feedback following the course. We are unable to offer transport to the programmes.
They also offer a 2 day course for 12-14 year olds who want an insight weekend into medicine/law/engineering/investment banking. More detail here.
A Physics and Classics Society Lecture: Antikythera Mechanism
Professor Mike Edmunds, Monday 7 October at 19:30 in the Pavilion
Over 100 years ago, divers discovered a hunk of bronze off the Greek island of Antikythera. It was to change our understanding of human history.
The Physics and Classics departments welcome Professor Mike Edmunds, Emeritus Professor of Astrophysics at Cardiff to discuss his work on the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project
“The Antikythera mechanism is the world's first analogical computer, used by ancient Greeks to chart the movement of the sun, moon and planets, predict lunar and solar eclipses and even signal the next Olympic Games.” The Telegraph, May 2017
The Lecture is free of charge. It would be appreciated if you could email your intention to attend to James Johns, Head of Physics, on j.johns@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk
Lower School Notices and Reminders
Manor Matters
The Manorites returned happily to House on Sunday evening following the Exeat weekend, and there was much excitement among the First Form pupils as they prepared for their overnight stay at Brenscombe on Monday. Bags were packed, checked, and checked again before they left for what proved to be a very enjoyable 24 hours away. The Manor felt a little quiet without our youngest boarders, and it was lovely to see them return, a little weary, but full of stories of adventure on Tuesday evening.
House Prefect roles have been announced in House this week, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Prefects rise to the challenge of leading their peers and setting a good example to all. Competition for the roles was fierce this year – many congratulations to those that were appointed.
This weekend, weather permitting, we will be having our Campfire Evening on Saturday. This event always proves to be great fun and there will no doubt be many marshmallows roasted after an evening of outdoor games.
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.
Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.