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January 22, 2021 | Issue no. 188

Head Master's Notices

Another week of remote learning brings us to our exeat weekend and I congratulate everyone on their efforts so far.  Online learning is very demanding on pupils and staff – not to mention the rest of the family too(!) - and I hope that this weekend sees a break from screen time.  We are looking at Saturday school at present and will also be sending out a questionnaire to pupils – please look out for it and if you can persuade your children to fill it in honestly and openly, we would be very grateful.  As always, if you have any feedback for us on our remote provision, please let me know directly on headmaster@dauntseys.org

We are actively working to open up more clubs to pupils; please do encourage your children to look through our Lockdown Clubs timetable below.

My thanks to all of you for your continued support. As always, I hope that you all remain safe and healthy, and I hope to see you soon.  Have a good weekend.

 

 

Whole School Notices and Reminders

Lockdown Clubs 

Please find attached the timetable for the Lockdown Clubs currently on offer here.

 

 

Free Audible Books 

A reminder that for as long as schools are closed, Audible is open to children to access books for free. Books are also available in six languages so pupils could practice their language listening skills as well.

Visit Audible Here

All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.

 

 

Teen Tips: Wellbeing Hub

Creating an environment that nurtures pupil mental health and wellbeing is a key priority for us at Dauntsey’s.

To help us to do this, we have invested in a ‘Wellbeing Hub’, developed by child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing experts, Teen Tips. I am delighted to let you know that, as a Dauntsey’s parent, you are entitled to free access.

The Wellbeing Hub is an interactive online portal, designed to help you guide your child as they grow up. We believe it will be an invaluable source of information and support for our whole school community.

As a member, you benefit from:

  • Complete Parenting Teens Audio and Video Courses
  • Weekly Updated Resources - podcasts, blog posts, interviews, tips and articles
  • Weekly Live Q&A with a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
  • ‘Inspiring Futures’ Careers Mini-Podcasts to play to your child
  • Ask the Expert Q&A Service
  • Q&A Library
  • Parents Forum
  • Member Offers
  • Access to Specialists (paid service)
  • 25% Discount on Teen Tips Open Webinars

Our agreement with Teen Tips covers our whole school community and delivers a wealth of support and resources for staff and pupils too.

Instructions on how to register and links for accessing the Wellbeing Hub are detailed here on Firefly.

We are so pleased to be able to provide this enhanced level of pupil support and we hope you find the Wellbeing Hub beneficial for your family.

 

 

Elevate Education Webinars

Over 4000 parents joined Elevate Education on Tuesday for their webinar on increasing and sustaining student motivation. A recording link and a summary sheet has now been sent to all parents that registered. If you didn't register you can still watch the webinar back here. You can also download a summary sheet of the main points here.  

The recording will be available until 9th February, which is when the next webinar is taking place. This webinar is on Stress and Wellbeing, focusing on how to establish and maintain good routines during lockdown, how to manage stress levels, and what to do when stress gets overwhelming. 

Stress and Wellbeing: How to establish and maintain good routines during lockdown
Date: Tuesday 9 February 2021
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Registration link: https://get.elevatecoaching.info/uk/register

This webinar will be suitable for parents of Years 7 through to 13

Coming up as part of the Elevate Education programme, the schedule of webinars for this term to support parents as much as possible during lockdown are:

  • Tuesday 9 February: Stress & Wellbeing
  • Tuesday 2 March: Preparing for Assessment
  • Tuesday 23 March: Managing Technology and Distractions

Parents will be sent a replay link if they have registered so if you miss it live, you can still access it.

 

 

Lockdown Adventure Film Festivals.

The Adventure Education department has been hosting Lockdown Adventure Film Festivals.

Normally from 19:00 - 21:00, the festival is via a Teams meeting where the films are introduced and then a link to a YouTube or Vimeo video is shared, which we all start at the same time. Pupils can then watch the film and comment and chat in the Teams chatbox.

We normally have six or seven films of between five to twenty minutes from a range of adventure sports. They are curated to ensure a range of styles and to make sure there is nothing inappropriate included. Some are inspirational, some impressive, some funny and some showcase adventures that our own pupils can access.

It’s a nice chance for them to feel part of the adventure community while we can’t meet in person. Popcorn and snacks are recommended and a healthy discussion about them always happens!

It is very informal and pupils can come and go if they wish, especially if bedtime calls! Pupils are welcome to chat if they wish, or to simply watch in “company”.

If you would like to be notified when the next Adventure Film Festival is happening, please drop Mr Moore an email on s.moore@dauntseys.org.

 

 

Drama Notices

The Drama Department is proud to release The Crossing - a devised, binaural audio performance created by twenty, Sixth form pupils. The work is created in response to a true story about human trafficking and therefore, is not appropriate for those under the age of 14. It was created before the Christmas holidays adhering to social distancing guidelines and whilst we did not get a chance to polish it completely, the cast is very happy to release this version of the performance. We hope it provides a unique and dramatic listening experience and an opportunity to hear our talented performers in a new way.

You will need Headphones to enjoy the production. The link to listen online is below but it can also be found on the Soundcloud app (recommended) by searching 'The Crossing Dauntseys Drama' - a free account is required. 

The Performance can be found on SoundCloud here, with a short introduction.

The digital programme can be found here.

A reminder that we now have access for all students to Drama Online, an online library resource featuring thousands of plays, books, articles, and filmed productions of popular shows. I would encourage all Drama students to log in and get reading! 

Perhaps you would like a night at Theatre with your family but from the comfort of your own home? Then Drama Online has a huge range of recorded performances from the National Theatre to the RSC which are sure to entertain the whole family. From the fantastical Treasure Island and Peter Pan to the gritty Titus Andronicus and the timely Small Island there is something for everyone. Please either ask your children, or email Mr Walker, for the log in details. www.dramaonlinelibrary.com 
Chris Walker, Head of Drama

 

 

British Dyslexia Association: Free Webinar

The British Dyslexia Association are hosting their next Free Webinar in a series of free parent webinars on Wednesday 3 February from 19:00- 20:00. This edition focusses on writing skills with guest host and British Dyslexia Association ambassador, Sally Gardner a dyslexic multi award-winning novelist.

As many people with dyslexia do not enjoy writing, we have designed this webinar to explore how we can create stories both with and without words. We will learn different ways to organise our thoughts and look at how to make a picture board of ideas to help us tell vivid and exciting tales. Aimed primarily at Secondary school children, this webinar would also be beneficial to anyone struggling with writing or supporting a learner that is

Please register online here

 

 

Debating Society

Calling all Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Form debaters. If you are interested in the Debating Society, use the link below to sign up. You will then be contacted by Mr Brown who will invite you to the session. Signing up just means that you will be invited to the debates; you are not committing to anything! 

If you would like to make a speech at one of the debates, contact details can be found are on the sign up form here.

The titles and dates of the debates are:

  • 27 January - “This house believes that buildings named after slave traders should be re-named.”
  • 3 February - “This house believes that On-Earth laws should apply to celestial exploration.”
  • 10 February - “This house believes that people over the age of 70 should not be allowed to vote.”
  • 3 March - “This house believes that all new buildings should require a net-0 gas emissions rate.”
  • 17 March - “This house believes that UK history curriculum is too whitewashed and should be updated.”
  • 24 March - "This house believes that conspiracy theorists should be banned from facebook and twitter.”

Debates will take place between 4.20pm and 5.00pm on Wednesday afternoons.

 

 

DSPA

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 where we will keep you updated with news. We hope to host some Zoom events until we can meet again and will share details here. We would really love you to share any photos of past DSPA events with us and tag us with the hashtag #dspafun 

In these times it is more important than ever for everyone to keep in touch. If you would like to sign up, in order to network & keep in touch with year groups, then the year group reps would love to hear from you. 

 

 

New Railway Station for Devizes - Have Your Say

Parents in the local area may be interested in responding to a survey regarding a potential new railway station for Devizes.  The Department for Transport is funding a study into a potential new station and this survey forms part of that study.  This would be a significant development for the local area and if any parents would like to respond, a link to the survey can be found on the following link here.

 

 

Lower School Notices and Reminders

Manor Matters

The Manor pupils continue to approach this period of remote learning with positivity and resilience.

The 2021 Manor Miles Challenge is well underway. At time of writing, we have already reached a quarter of our fundraising target of £2021! A huge thank you to all who have supported so far and a reminder of the just giving page found here for those who would like to support us and the NHS Charities. The total number of miles run/walked is a slightly grey area, mainly due to a lag between the miles being completed and uploaded. They do seem to be more or less keeping up with donations though, with nearly 300 miles under our belts so far!  

The content on the Remote Manor 2021 Firefly pages has been steadily growing all week. I would encourage all pupils and parents to send in their photo/videos of any activities or challenges they have taken part in, so we can share our lockdown experiences together. 

Supper Club

The second Manor Lockdown Supper Club will be at 5pm on Thursday 28th January. The recipe has already been sent out, you can also find it here. We will be visiting sunny Spain this time and look forward to seeing you there. The first event on 14th January had thirty families taking part and we are hoping that even more can join in this time. Any questions please contact Mrs Reynolds j.reynolds@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk. 

1st and 2nd Form Book Club

With the excellent help of Annabel and Eva we are excited to launch the Manor Book Club! Information has gone out to pupils today, which can also be found here, and they should express their interest in joining to Annabel by the end of Monday.

Manor's Got Talent

Our Performing Arts House Reps. Oliver and Isabel have come up with the great idea of launching a remote 'Manors Got Talent'. Details have been sent out to the pupils, so we look forward to receiving impressive or silly videos of all of your amazing talents! The same applies for parents too as we are also launching 'Do Manor Parents Have Talent?' From Dad dancing to Abba karaoke, we want your videos please!

I hope you all have a restful exeat away from your screens.

Stay safe and keep smiling.
Peter Guille, House Master.

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

 
 

 

First and Second Form Creative Writing Club

To include Poetry, Stories, Descriptions and more…

Starting on Wednesday 20 January, and taking place every other Wednesday via Teams at 4:15 – 5:00pm. All First and Second Form are invited.

Please email Mrs Sampson if you would like to attend: a.sampson@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk

 

 

 

First Form RSPB survey

In Design and Technology, the First Form complete a bird box project, where they research and build a bird box.

Together with the Biology department we would like to encourage the First Form and their families to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend of 29th - 31st January. 

The link provided can be used to register your family before the weekend, then you can return to the website to enter your results on the day you undertake the survey. 

The survey can be found on the RSPB website here.

The survey itself takes an hour and can be done from inside your home. The RSPB website contains many useful resources including bird identification posters.

Thank you for helping with this survey and we look forward to hearing about the birds that the pupils have spotted.

 

 

Baking Club

After last Monday's roaring success, a reminder to all First and Second Formers that Miss Bradley and Miss Saville are running a baking activity every Monday afternoon at 3:00.

This coming Monday is Cupcake Week and you will need the following:

Ingredients list:

150g soft cake margarine (e.g. stork)
150g caster sugar
150g eggs (once broken; approx 3 large)
150g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (completely optional)
1 teaspoon of glycerine (completely optional – this can make your cakes a bit more moist)

You will also need:

12 x muffin cases (cupcake cases are fine if you do not have muffin cases)
A muffin tin with 12 holes (a cupcake tin is absolutely fine)
Electric whisk and bowl (if you do not have an electric whisk, a wooden spoon and mixing bowl is absolutely fine – this is what I will be using)

Then decorate as you wish… for buttercream you require 250g icing sugar and 125g soft butter. Decorations will be judged!