September 11, 2020 | Issue no. 174
Head Master's Notices
I hope that your sons and daughters have enjoyed their start to the term and are now adjusted to the daily routine. Our new pupils seem to have settled well, and it has been truly wonderful to see our campus come alive again.
This weekend sees another full afternoon of sport on Saturday, of which there are further details from our Director of Sport below. Please can I ask you to read his directions about watching sport safely and responsibly tomorrow.
In addition, I would ask you to look out for an email from the Second Master regarding the wearing of face masks inside buildings from Monday. Have a wonderful weekend.
Whole School Notices and Reminders
Next Week's Calendar of Events
Each week we intend to publish here the calendar for the following week. This may be updated slightly during the week itself, and these changes will be shown on the calendar that is displayed on the website.
Calendar for Week 14 - 20 September
Clubs and Societies
Please find attached the timetable for the Clubs and Societies currently on offer here.
Sport: Saturday 12 and 19 September
After a very enjoyable afternoon of sport last Saturday, where it was fantastic to see so many pupils in School enjoying sport with their friends, we now have a plan in place for the next two Saturdays. This will complete Block 1 of our programme. Please note that both Saturdays will be compulsory for all pupils in the Lower School and for those pupils selected in the Upper School Cricket & Hockey matches. Both weeks will be optional for the remainder of the Upper School.
Parents are welcome to come and support again this Saturday. However, please can I ask that all parents really do ensure that they socially distance by standing on the perimeters of the sports pitches and do not gather in groups. With government regulations set to change from Monday it is essential that we do everything that we can to ensure that our protocols work since I am desperate that we can continue to allow parents to come and support in the future. Saturday afternoon sport is so important at the present time and if we all work together as a community, I am convinced that we can make it work. Tea and coffee will be served outside the pavilion this week, but please can I request that you move to the boundaries of the pitches as soon as possible after collecting your refreshment. Please feel free to bring your own refreshments and ‘set up camp’ around the boundary if you prefer. Apologies if this sounds slightly officious, but it really is imperative that we get this ‘right’ if we are going to be able to continue. Many thanks for your support both in terms of coming to watch the sport, and in terms of ensuring that the correct ‘social distancing’ protocols are followed as closely as possible. Your support in both is much appreciated.
Saturday 12 September
1.30 – 3.00 (Compulsory for Lower School)
First Form Girls & Boys – Netball, Outdoor Dance, Football or Swimming – free choice
Second Form Girls – Hockey
Second Form Boys – Touch Rugby
Third Form Girls – Tennis or Athletics
Third Form Boys – Cricket or Athletics
1.30 – 4.30
Fourth Form Boys – Cricket Match – T20 – teams selected
3.00 – 4.30
Fourth Form Girls – Hockey Match – teams selected
Fifth and Sixth Form – Tennis - optional
Saturday 19 September
1.30 – 3.00 (Compulsory for Lower School)
First Form Girls – Hockey
First Form Boys – Touch Rugby
Second Form Girls – Tennis or Athletics
Second Form Boys – Cricket or Athletics
Third Form Girls & Boys – Netball, Outdoor Dance, Football or Swimming – free choice
1.30 – 4.30
Fifth and Sixth Form Boys – Cricket Match – T20 – teams selected
3.00 – 4.30
Fifth and Sixth Form Girls – Hockey Match – teams selected
Fourth Form – Tennis - optional
Marcus Olsen, Director of Sport
Inter-House Cross Country and Minor Sports Festival
Unfortunately the ‘Inter-House Cross Country and Minor Sports Festival’ will not take place on Friday 25 September, on the morning of Exeat. Hopefully we will look to run it at a later point in the academic year.
Therefore on Friday 25 September we will have Saturday Lessons 1-5. These will end at 12.35pm, at which point the Exeat will start, and School transport will depart at 1.15pm
DSPA
Welcome to Dauntsey’s. As a parent of a new pupil, I’d like to introduce the Dauntsey’s School Parents’ Association (DSPA) – part of the Dauntsey’s community. The DSPA, is a charity foundation that has been set up to enhance our children’s school experience. It enables all pupils to benefit from the wider areas of the curriculum. By being a member, you help to provide experiences and materials that the school would not necessarily offer. The DSPA ensures that those little extras are available for all students to enjoy throughout their time at Dauntsey’s.
The membership subscriptions are our main means of fundraising. This is a one off (optional) life membership of £25 per pupil, which equates to £3.60 per year.
We usually raise funds through social occasions within the School, mostly drama and music events and productions. A bar is always on hand with wine, beer and snacks. At larger events we offer food and interval refreshments. Of course, during these unprecedented times, we unfortunately cannot provide this.
The children benefit from 100% of the profit, which is generated from your kind support. Over the past nine years, the DSPA has donated more than £73,000!
Being a member does not require you to help the DSPA, but parents are welcome to go a little further & become a DSPA Committee Member or helper. Some members find that being more involved in the community enables them to see a different side of the School. We warmly welcome new members to the DSPA to contribute as little, or as much as you like.
With Best Wishes
Simone Wilmot, DSPA Chair
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
LAMDA Lessons
LAMDA lessons are coming to Dauntsey’s! From January, lessons for all year groups will be available on a first come first served basis, with lessons starting later in the Autumn Term for the Upper Sixth.
Taster sessions will run in Annabel’s for each year group on a Friday this term. In addition to a practical Drama workshop, the session will also feature a brief chat on what LAMDA lessons include and why working towards LAMDA grades could be beneficial.
Taster sessions can be viewed here.
Further information on LAMDA lessons and how to register will be featured on the parent bulletin soon.
Mrs Chambers, Head of Speech and Drama
School Shop
The School Shop is now accepting uniform items for Second Hand sale.
Cashless Payment
A cashless payment system is now in place for the Tuck Shop and the 17 Club. Pupils ‘tap’ their identity card when purchasing items and the total at the end of each term will be charged to their bill. Pupils can see their overall spending balance when they purchase an item. It is possible to limit a pupil’s spending ability by allocating either a daily or termly allowance. Regrettably. the daily allowance if unused cannot be rolled forward, therefore a termly allowance is recommended.
If you would like to have a limit put in place for your child please email Andrea Purbrick: a.purbrick@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk
Cookery Courses
Due to a huge demand for the Vaughan’s Cookery Course for Fourth and Fifth Forms, we have been able to add two additional courses and there are a few spaces remaining on the Fifth Form course on a Monday.
There is one course from 4.15pm -5.15pm and a second from 5.30 -6.30pm. Both courses cover the basic cookery skills and pupils will learn how to prepare vegetables, meat, sauces, cakes, bread and pastry and by the end of the course will be competent cooks, able to prepare a two course dinner for their families!
The cost is £180.00 for 16 sessions which are spread over the Autumn and Spring Terms.
Please email Jen Parker if you would like a place on j.parker@dauntseys.org
Lower School Notices and Reminders
Manor Matters
It’s certainly been a busy week for the new Manor Family! Tutors and pupils alike have been getting to grips with new timetables and routines. Evenings in the Manor have been alive with the sounds of chatter, ping-pong and impromptu piano practice.
Wednesday brought the first bed linen change over, which I am very pleased to say seemed to go without too much difficulty, even our new First Formers coped with the challenges of duvet cover wrestling! Friday evening brings the very welcome return to supper at The Manor.
This weekend will provide pupils with a chance to unwind and take a breath. Mr and Mrs Reynolds are on duty and their plans include icecream and tennis!
Peter Guille, House Master.
Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.
First Form Parents' Reception: Saturday 19 September
This years' First Form Parent Reception will take place online.
The Head Master would like to take the opportunity to address any questions that you may have and as such, he and Eleni Conidaris will be available to take questions via an online Q&A forum next Saturday 19 September. There will be four separate sessions: Rendell at 11.00am; Scott at 11.30am; Forbes at 12.00pm and the Manor at 12.30pm.
Please click here for further information as well as the instructions and format for the Q&A forum.
Many thanks.