March 6, 2020 | Issue no. 159
Head Master's Notices
As you are aware, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is making life at School a little tricky at the moment and we continue to monitor the situation closely. The letter that I sent out yesterday is attached to this bulletin here. We are trying to limit the risk of infection finding a way into School and have cancelled a number of non-essential events. I am sorry that we have chosen to do this and hope that it has not caused you too much inconvenience. I would be grateful if you would check the website on a regular basis, since we are aiming to make decisions on whether events should go ahead four or five days in advance. For the moment, sporting fixtures continue, albeit with precautions around them as mentioned yesterday, but they are likely to be increasingly subject to change.
In other news, Rockfest, earlier this week, was a fantastic success; it was great to see so many bands and soloists on stage and the results from the online vote can be found below. I also congratulate some seventy Lower School pupils who put themselves forward for auditions for Treasure Island this week.
Colston’s, Canford and Kingswood are on the fixture card for tomorrow and I wish all of our teams the best of luck.
Have a good weekend.
Whole School Notices and Reminders
Drama Programme - Spring 2020
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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.
Rockfest 2020
Many thanks to all pupils and staff who took part in Rockfest. It was a wonderful afternoon of music.
Best Overall Performance
Painkillers – You’ve Got The Love
Best Band
Painkillers
Best Solo or Duet
Freya
Best Dressed Band
Apollo 7
A big thank you to all who voted and special thanks to the staff and pupils who worked so hard to make this a very special event. This year’s competition was an extremely high standard
A special thank you to Cosmic Lightshow who were the only band to play original material and came very close second in both Overall Performance and Best Band.
Congratulations to all who performed.
Careers
Post Dauntsey’s Planning
Saturday 7 March from 10:45 - 12:15 in the Memorial Hall
Post Dauntsey’s Planning for all Lower Sixth pupils
Dauntsey’s Mentor Network
Dauntsey’s Mentor Network (DMN) was established in 2014 and is populated by parents of pupils, Old Dauntseians and friends of the school. It provides a human resource of individuals from a wide range of professions and industries, who are keen to share their knowledge and the journey they have taken to reach their career goals. There is no fixed expectation, or time commitment, of what a Mentor will undertake to provide for current and past pupils, it merely allows the Careers Department to invite them to take part in specific events that are run from time to time by the school. Through the Careers Programme of events, in particular the Sixth Form Speed Networking held in June, pupils benefit in career choice, improvement of soft skills, university applications and employability.
If you are interested in becoming a Mentor please complete this brief form here. We look forward to hearing from you! The Careers Department
Upper Sixth Parents' Evening
Friday 13 March, 18:30 - 20:30
The Upper Sixth Parents’ Meeting takes place on Friday 13 March 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
Third Form Parent Coffee Morning
Friday 13th March from 10:30 at The Rowdey Cow Farm Shop.
Please RSVP to Anne amalcurry@yahoo.co.uk or Praji prajip@gmail.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!
DSPA Fly Fishing
Sunday 31 May from 09:00 - 13:00
Please see the attached letter for further information.
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
The Great Dauntsey's Chocolate Cake Bake
To raise money for the school charity – The Virunga National Park – and for a bit of fun, we are running a chocolate cake bake competition.
The two winners of each heat will bake their winning chocolate cake again to be judged against STAFF bakes in first half of the summer term.
Lower School Competition: Monday 9 March in the Pavilion at 16:20
Upper School Competition: Monday 16 March in the Pavilion at 16:20
Look out for STAFF Competition after Easter.
Each entry will be charged at £3. This represents the three great ape species that The Virunga National Park protects. ALL WELCOME TO WATCH JUDGING!
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.
Auction and Dinner in support of the Nightingales Children's Project
Saturday 14 March from 19:00 - 22:00
Tables are still available to be purchased for £100 and seat up to 10 people. This includes a drink on arrival, food throughout the evening, a live band and a chance at winning some amazing prizes in the raffle and auction. Raffle tickets can be purchased in school from any of the Romania Team. For more information about the evening and charity, please email Emily Wilkins: e.wilkins@dauntseys.org
Dauntsey's Junior Invitational Table Tennis Tournament
Sunday 22 March at 14:00
This new event is open to Wiltshire boys and girls of all standards. Entrants will be grouped by ability and not by age.
Please email Mark Neve if you would like to play: m.neve@dauntseys.org
Dauntsey's Parent Boot Camp
Dauntsey's boot camp is now open to parents every Saturday until the end of term. It costs £10 per person for a session. The boot camp will take place on the athletics track and will run from 11:30-12:30.
Please contact Bex Milton for information bex@librafit.co.uk
Family Photography Experience
As part of our fundraising for the girls’ hockey tour to Malaysia and the boys’ rugby tour to Portugal we are once again teaming up with Imagine Contemporary Portraits Ltd to offer you a ‘Family Photography Experience’ for £20. The experience normally costs £75. Should you wish to have this experience for just £20, Imagine Ltd will then donate £20 to the school for the tours.
The Family Photography Experience has a 6 month validity and includes a photo session, a viewing and a 10x8” print. At the viewing the family has the opportunity to buy other pictures if they’d like to, but there’s no pressure or obligation to do so. If you would like to purchase a voucher please e-mail me at m.olsen@dauntseys.org and the ‘Experience Pack' will be sent to you, it includes a voucher, letter and leaflet with information on how to book.
Many thanks for your support
Marcus Olsen, Director of Sport
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
A group of intrepid Manorites set out on Sunday for an afternoon of ice-skating and, thankfully, all returned unscathed! There were many tales of daring spins on the ice, but several of our younger boarders enjoyed the stability of a ‘penguin’ to help them find their feet on the slippery surface.
This week, when the sun has shone, the pupils have taken full advantage of the great outdoors at The Manor and have enjoyed games of Manhunt and football. Last night, our super Lower Sixth Prefects made pancakes with most of the First Form pupils (and a few lucky Third Form pupils too!), and the aroma of the delicious cooking still filled the corridors at bedtime.
At the weekend we are looking forward to our inaugural ‘FilmFest’ – requests for films have been taken, popcorn has been ordered, and the big screen is on its way! We are also planning on making some Mothering Sunday gifts by ‘upcycling’ old items – I can’t give too much more away, or I might spoil some surprises for Mums later this month.
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.
Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.