March 12 2021 | Issue no. 194
Head Master's Notices
It has been wonderful to see your sons and daughters back at school, and to feel our buildings and grounds come alive again. The testing regime has continued seamlessly throughout this week and I would like to express my gratitude to the nursing staff and bursarial team for their hard work in ensuring that school remains a safe place for all of us.
If your son or daughter is in the Upper Sixth or Fifth Form, please look out for an email from Jon Tyler this afternoon with details of summer exams and assessments.
We are looking forward to a full afternoon of sport tomorrow and details of this are below. I am just sorry that we cannot invite all of you back on site for the moment.
Have a great weekend.
Whole School Notices and Reminders
Sport Notices
Below is the sports programme for tomorrow and next Saturday. We have focused it on the 'Spring Term' sports and made it open to all; therefore, all those pupils who wish to participate are more than welcome to do so.
Those Upper School pupils who are likely to be involved will be spoken to in the week building up to the Saturday, in order to confirm if they wish to participate. Any Upper School pupils outside of those groups can also opt in by speaking to the relevant member of the Sports Staff.
All the Lower School pupils will be involved, unless you as parents contact me to opt out at m.olsen@dauntseys.org
School buses will depart each Saturday at 3.30pm
Unfortunately, at the present time parents are still unable to come and support. Therefore, if you are collecting your son or daughter, please could I ask that you make arrangements to meet them in one of the car parks at the end of their session.
Hopefully the sun will shine!
Marcus Olsen
Director of Sport
Saturday 13 March
12.15 - 1.15
Fifth Form Girls - Netball
Fifth Form Boys - Hockey
1.15 - 2.15
Fourth Form Girls - Netball
Sixth Form Girls - Netball
Fourth Form Boys - Hockey
Sixth Form Boys - Hockey
Fourth Form Girls - Dance
1.45 - 3.15
Sixth Form Boys - Football
2.15 - 3.15
First Form Boys - Hockey
First Form Girls - Netball
Second Form Boys - Hockey or Football or Dance
Second Form Girls - Netball (Sports Hall) or Dance
Third Form Boys - Hockey or Football
Third Form Girls - Netball
1.00 - 3.15
Gym available to all Upper School Pupils (programme published in Sports Centre)
Saturday 20 March
12.15 - 1.15
Fifth Form Girls - Netball
Fifth Form Boys - Hockey
1.15 - 2.15
Fourth Form Girls - Netball
Fourth Form Girls - Netball
Fourth Form Boys - Hockey
Sixth Form Boys - Hockey
Fourth Form Girls - Dance
1.45 - 3.15
Sixth Form Boys - Football
2.15 - 3.15
First Form Boys - Hockey
First Form Girls - Netball
Second Form Boys - Hockey or Football
Second Form Girls - Netball
Third Form Boys - Hockey or Football or Dance
Third Form Girls - Netball (Sports Hall) or Dance
1.00 - 3.15
Gym available to all Upper School Pupils (programme published in Sports Centre)
'Dauntsey's Strava Running Club'
This is open to pupils, parents and staff and attached is a document on how to set it up. I know many of you already have a Strava account and can I please ask you to check you have your own privacy settings set up. The Running Club is a locked account, and we will only let in members of the School Community.
Link - https://www.strava.com/clubs/Dauntseys
You can find the Strava How To Guide here.
Clubs And Activities
New Program
Please find attached the new Spring timetable for the Clubs currently on offer here.
Speech and Drama
Registration now open!
We are now taking new bookings for Speech and Drama lessons to commence in the Summer Term. In addition to the Acting and Devising courses already on offer, pupils can now opt to study Shakespeare or work toward a Certificate in Speech and Drama (open to Sixth Form only). To view the Speech and Drama brochure and access the registration page, please click here.
Speech and Drama Parents’ Meeting
Parents of current Speech and Drama pupils will receive a letter with details of the Speech and Drama Parents’ Meeting that will take place remotely on Friday 19 March, from 18:30 - 21:00. Parents and pupils alike are warmly invited to attend. Mr Madeley and I look forward to seeing many of you there!
Mrs Elise Chambers
e.chambers@dauntseys.org
Nightingales Children's Project
Each year Dauntsey’s School visit the Nightingales Children’s Project in Romania with a team of Lower Sixth pupils. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit last year, and it looks like it will be the same case this summer, but we are determined to continue to raise as much money as we can for the charity.
We have come together with Nightingales to put together a short charity single to give you some more information about what work the charity do, how Dauntsey’s support them, and how you can help. The film is available to view here.
We hope you enjoy the video and if you would like to make a donation please follow the link below, where 100% of all funds raised will go directly to Nightingales Children’s Project.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DauntseysSchool
Thank you in advance,
Dauntsey’s to Romania Team 2021
Teen Tips: Wellbeing Hub
Nurtures pupil's mental health and wellbeing.
Developed by child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing experts, the Wellbeing Hub is an interactive online portal, designed to help you guide your child as they grow up.
I am delighted to let you know that, as a Dauntsey’s parent, you are entitled to free access. Instructions on how to register and links for accessing the Wellbeing Hub are detailed here on Firefly.
This Week In The Hub - Please remember to register before you access any of the below
Podcast with Sexual Health Nurse, Alex Fryer
In part two of our podcast with Alex Fryer, we discuss how to talk to young people about STI's; contraception and where to find support; consent and vulnerability; and sexting. This is a really open and honest discussion, and one that we hope you will find useful when it comes to initiating conversations on all of the above.
Listen to the podcast here
Inspiring Futures Podcast
This week in Inspiring Futures, we talk to Laura Barlow about her role as the former head of corporate banking at Natwest.
Access Inspiring Futures Podcasts here
Inspiring Stories Podcast
This week in Inspiring Stories, two pupils share their short films on wild swimming and living with a speech impediment.
Access Inspiring Stories Podcasts here
Webinar
Friendships & Relationships Webinar - Wednesday 17th March, 6:30pm
£5.99 Hub Members / £7.99 Non-Hub Members
There can be few things parents find more upsetting than seeing their children and teenagers struggle with friendships and relationships, and this might be particularly true right now as they are reintegrating into school and re-establishing peer groups. This talk looks at why relationships can be particularly challenging between 8 and 18 and how we can help young people develop the skills which will make all social interactions easier and help them with any social anxiety they might be experiencing.
Register via the Hub Homepage
Elevate Education Webinars
A recording link and a summary sheet for the recent webinar "Preparing for Assessment" has now been sent to all parents that registered. If you didn't register you can still watch the webinar back here.
The recording will be available until 23 March, which is when the next webinar is taking place.
Managing Technology and Distractions
Date: Tuesday 23 March 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 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.
Debating Society
This week Izzy proposed, and Hal opposed the motion “This house believes that all new buildings should require a net-0 gas emissions rate.” Both presenting well-informed and well-organised arguments. The results can be found on the Upper School Debating Society page here.
If you would like to join in with this or future debates, contact 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 on the sign up form here.
The titles and dates of upcoming debates are:
- 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.
If you would like to know the results of previous debates, take a look at the Debating Society page here.
Teen Yoga with Konnie
TeenYoga 'together'
Fridays 6-7 pm
Starting from 20th March
Free or offers of donations accepted
Currently on Zoom
A fun relaxed class using movement, breath & deep relaxation to take us into the weekend. A beautiful way to let go of stress, have some fun and be present with our teens - anyone is welcome.
For information contact Konnie: 07956983154 or konikasn@gmail.com
For information on other sessions on offer, a flyer can be viewed here.
DSPA
DSPA Noticeboard
In these times it is more important than ever for everyone to keep.jpg)
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.
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 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
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
Lower School Notices and Reminders
Manor Matters
I am pleased to report that the pupils seem to have taken the switch back to life here and at school amazingly well. It has been so great to have the house full of fun and laughter again. Bob has certainly enjoyed getting to know everyone too. A special mention and welcome to Poppy and Daisy who are settling in really well and I already know are both great additions to the community.
This weekend we have some low key, relaxed activities planned, after a busy and doubtless tiring first week back. I am sure that the six nations will be enjoyed as many of us are keen to see how our fantasy teams perform in this round. For the creative and aspiring creatives, I will be launching a designer-maker club, and pupils have been helping Mr Reynolds collect firewood to fuel his firepit for marshmallow toasting on Saturday evening!
Wishing you all a super weekend, especially all the amazing mothers of the Manor community for Mother's Day.
Peter Guille, House Master.
Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.
Medical Centre Notices - Third Form Vaccinations
Rescheduled to Wednesday 24 March
Your Third Form child is now due routine vaccinations Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) and Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY). The aim is to deliver these vaccinations to children during their school day, however, if they are not present on the day community clinics will be offered by the Virgin Care team to ensure your child/ren receive these important vaccinations. To consent for your child to have this vaccination please follow the link below, please read the consent form carefully to ensure you have completed this as accurately as possible. This link also contains a frequently asked questions element, please take time to read this and also discuss the vaccinations with your child to ensure fully informed consent.
If you have any problems or queries or do not have access to the internet please don’t hesitate to contact us on: 0300 247 0082.
https://schoolimms.virgincare.co.uk/dtp/2020/wilts