Head Master's Notices

Next week we are looking forward to the drama production of ‘Division’, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday, and the twenty-four hour ‘Runathon’, in aid of the Virunga National Park. This starts at 11:00am on Thursday morning and more information about the event is detailed below. 

We have fixtures tomorrow against Lord Wandsworth College, KES Southampton, Canford, Clayesmore and Downside, before the Sixth Form’s Valentine’s Ball in the evening. I would also like to wish our table tennis players the best of luck in their Wiltshire League matches on Sunday.

With best wishes to you all for an enjoyable weekend.

Whole School Notices and Reminders

Mercers' Lectures - Spring Term 2020

The Marian Consort, award winning vocal ensemble
Thursday 5 March 2020

The Marian Consort is a Gramophone Award-nominated vocal ensemble, recognised for its innovative presentation of a broad range of repertoire. Led by founder and director, Rory McCleery, The Marian Consort performs across the UK, Europe and North America, and features regularly on BBC Radio 3.

The Marian Consort’s repertoire encompasses music from the fifteenth century to the present day, with a particular focus on exploring lesser-known works. The group is committed to creating new music, and has commissioned leading British composers including Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Gabriel Jackson, Cecilia McDowall, and Matthew Martin.

You can book online here.

Drama Programme - Spring 2020

Division: 11-13 February in Annabel's

What keeps us together and what tears us apart?  Continuing on from Dusk and Datum, Matthew Herring’s new play “Division” explores the break down of a family and the consequences therein.
Tickets can be booked online here

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: 18-20 March in Annabel's

The hilarious musical comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin
Tickets can be booked online here

Attached is a copy of our Drama Programme for the full year which includes more detail on each production.

Examination Leave

Please read the attached letter detailing Examination Leave times and guidelines for Fifth Form and Upper Sixth.

Many thanks.

Music School Notices

Gilliat Final
Wednesday 12 February

In the Old Hall at 19:30

Rockfest
Monday 2 March

In the Memorial Hall
14:00: Lower School
16:20: Upper School
*Pupils to sign up in the music department 
(Rehearsals: Sunday 1 March from 11:00)

*Reminder* Lower Sixth Form Parents' Evening

Tonight, 18:30 - 20:30

The Lower Sixth Form Parents’ Meeting takes place this evening from 18:30 - 20:30 in the Memorial Hall. I hope you can make it and please do see me if I can help with anything.
Jon Tyler, Deputy Head (Academic)

DSPA

Fifth Form Coffee Morning 
Tuesday 10 March from 10:00 at Mipo-Plank's 

Please RSVP to Simone davissimone@hotmail.com 

DJ & Prom Dress Sale
Saturday 14 March 13:00 - 15:00

Any parent that would like to sell an item, either a DJ, trousers or dress can email dspacontact@gmail.com to register, and then an invoice will be sent to them for £5, payable by PayPal prior to Saturday March 14
Parent seller details & prices must be included with the item, and please can items can be brought to the Pavilion at 12:45 & collected at 15:00. Many thanks!

Well-Being Area

The DSPA well-being area on Mercers field is now taking shape and 60 trees were planted in December by pupils of all ages as well as parents and families who had donated trees. There is still an opportunity to sponsor a tree! Please read the attached letter for further information.

DSPA Noticeboard

Please have a look at our digital noticeboard here. It is our own online community to connect Dauntsey's parents and businesses in order to buy, sell and advertise to each other in one trusted place. If you'd like to place an advert here, please email dspacontact@gmail.com

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

Dance Notices

GCSE and Dance Scholar Showcase
Monday 10 February at 16:20 - 17:20 in the Dance Studio

Showing a selection of the Fourth and Fifth Form GCSE exam performances alongside some of our Upper School Dance Scholars.

All parents are welcome to come and support, there will be no tickets issued. Any Third Form pupils considering GCSE Dance are encouraged to come and watch the show.

Any enquiries please contact Emily Wilkins e.wilkins@dauntseys.org

Fifth Form Post GCSE Programme

Parents of the Fifth Form are reminded that we are offering a similar selection of Post GCSE opportunities this year. These will take place during the week commencing Monday 22 June which is the week after most of the GCSE examinations finish.

You should have received an email with details but if not you can see the options on the intranet here.

The deadline for applications is 13:00 on 27 March 2020 - then end of this Spring Term. Shortly after the start of the Summer Term we will let pupils know which programme they will be taking part in. If we receive any applications after that date, we will do our best to accommodate them, but it is unlikely there will be spaces on every programme.

Please select the three in which they would most like to participate, in order of preference, by completing the online form on the School intranet which you can find here.

To complete the form, you will need to log in as usual. If for any reason you cannot do so, you can email your selections to s.moore@dauntseys.org

Many thanks.

24 Hour Runathon: Please support our runners and donate!

13 - 14 February

Our annual Runathon will start at 11:00 on Thursday 13 February, continue throughout the day, into the night, and finish at 11:00 on Friday 14 February.

Runners can run the course alone or in pairs and we aim to have at least one pupil running at any time on a 1km loop around the school grounds. Last year, we raised over £1000 altogether, so this year we hope to run further and raise even more money!

In the spirit of community and camaraderie, we hope that our pupils enjoy the event and that our supporters donate generously to our School charity, The Virunga National Park, via our Virgin Money Giving Webpage here.

Auction and Dinner in support of the Nightingales Children's Project

Saturday 14 March from 19:30

Our major fundraising event in support of the forthcoming trip to the Nightingales Children’s Project in Romania is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 14 March 2020 between 7.30pm and 10pm.  It will take the form of a dinner and an auction. Please read the attached letter for more information, and we really hope that you are able to attend. 

Please read here for more information about the Nightingales Children's Project

Jolie Brise Summer Sailing Programme

This year’s summer programme is really varied. Starting down in Southern Spain with some racing and cruising, heading all the way back to Normandy and France and then some slightly gentler cruises in our home waters and the West Country. There is something for every student.

Full information about this years' Summer Sailing Programme can be found on Firefly here.

Swap Shop

10-14 February sees this year’s ECO WEEK! During this week there will be events run by the BGT (Big Green Thing) to raise awareness of Climate Change as well as promoting sustainable living.

We will be running a ‘Swap Shop’ for the Lower and Upper School and we need your help. It is really simple, if you would like to donate items to our ‘Swap Shop’ please bring these in to school in a bag and leave them in the donation boxes in the Glass House. If you would rather bring clothes to swap on the day, then that is also fab!

Entry is £1.00. If you swap an item it is free, but if you do not bring something to swap, each item will cost £2.00.

We ask that all clothes/items are clean, undamaged and have any personal name tags removed to avoid confusion.

No swimwear, pyjamas or underwear please.

The Lower School ‘Swap Shop’ will take place on Monday February 10 during long break in the William Dauntsey Room, and the Upper School ‘Swap Shop’ will take place on Wednesday February 12 during long break in the William Dauntsey Room.

Any items left over will be sent to a company who recycle unwanted clothing and donate money to our chosen charity.

All proceeds go to this year’s School Charity, The Virunga National Park.

Any questions, please email Miss Seager: a.seager2@dauntseys.org or Daisy Maunder: d.maunder@dauntseys.org

Swimming Lessons at Dauntsey's

We are now offering after school swimming lessons for children aged 3-11 here at Dauntsey's on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (term time only). Lessons will take place between 17:15 – 18:45, with group sizes not exceeding 3 swimmers. Please note that swimmers will be grouped with those of a similar ability by reference to the Swim England/ASA levels (Stages 1-7).

Lessons will cost £15 per lesson.

To book, or for more information, please contact Shannon at s.cooke2@dauntseys.org

Lower School Notices and Reminders

Manor Matters

Our younger boarders enjoyed a fantastic trip to Splashdown last Sunday and returned to The Manor full of good cheer, and very ready for their supper!  An early night followed House Meeting, and everyone was grateful for the opportunity to recover after their busy day. 

This week the Manorites have taken advantage of the brighter weather and the lighter evenings, and it has been fantastic to see so many of them having fun playing outside after School; the daffodils are starting to flower and the grounds are looking beautiful…not that many of the children seem to notice their stunning surroundings as they score the ‘winning goal’ on the football pitch!

Our Lower Sixth Prefects ran a baking session last night after prep, and the smell of delicious cookies wafted through the House, making everyone feel rather peckish before bed! 

This weekend we will be doing our annual night hike on Saturday evening; after supper, the Manorites will be taken to an ‘unknown location’ and will then walk back to The Manor where hotdogs and hot chocolate will be served.  Hopefully, the weather will be kind and there will be some super star gazing opportunities along the way. 
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.

Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.

GCSE Options Presentation

Friday 14 February at 12:00 in the Memorial Hall

A reminder that Third Form pupils and parents are warmly invited to the GCSE Options Presentation on Friday 14 February. It begins at midday in the Memorial Hall and the formal part of the event will finish in time for the start of half-term at 12:45.

Please note that there will be a light lunch for parents and pupils after formal proceedings in the Memorial Hall. I hope you can make it and I look forward to seeing you there.
Jon Tyler, Deputy Head (Academic)

A notice to all Third Form Parents: Moonrakers Camp Forms

Please could you ensure that you return your son or daughters' Outward Bound Moonrakers Camp form to Mrs Tatiana Geen at Dauntsey’s: t.geen@dauntseys.org

If you need a spare copy you can find it on the Intranet here