Head Master's Notices

With every week that passes we move one step closer to normality and we are very pleased to now be able to invite parents back into school to watch fixtures at Dauntsey’s. I know this will be welcome news to so many of our parents.  This is not, however, the case at all schools, so please take note of the detail in the sport section regarding regulations for away fixtures this weekend.

Half Term is now in our sights and will be a welcome break for all pupils who have been working hard towards their exams and assessments.  We wish the Lower School the best of luck in their exams next week and look forward to marking the Upper Sixth’s end to their time at Dauntsey’s with the Leavers’ Concert and Leavers’ Breakfast.

Thankfully the break in weather allowed for some super fixtures on Wednesday against Beechen Cliff and St Mary’s, Calne.  We hope for another busy weekend of fixtures against Canford, Bryanston and Reading Blue Coat School.

I wish you a good weekend.
 

Whole School Notices and Reminders

Half Term Arrangements

The arrangements for the start to Half Term on Friday 28 May are as follows:
-  Pupils will have lessons until 4pm
-  School transport will depart at 4.30pm

Calendar of Events

The Summer Term 2021 calendar is now live and can be accessed on the right hand link of the Calendar page here.

Please note, however, that the calendar is subject to change.

Lost Emails

We have had reports of an increasing number of emails from Dauntsey’s being filtered into Junk Mail. Please ensure that you check your junk/spam folders and adjust settings if necessary.

Sports Notice

​

Starting this coming Saturday (22 May) spectators will be allowed to attend fixtures at Dauntsey's. The full Covid Protocol For External Fixtures can be viewed here. I would like to draw your attention to three points in particular, detailed below:

SPECTATORS – Spectators will be allowed on site from May 17th in line with government regulations. Spectators will not be allowed in buildings unless it is to use the toilets upstairs in the Pavilion. Parents are asked to socially distance around the perimeters of the pitches and not congregate in large groups. Tea/Coffee will be served on the balcony of the Pavilion. Spectators at away venues will be determined by other schools' protocols and we will inform parents each week via the weekly Bulletin of any schools that are not allowing spectators.

COLLECTION OF PUPILS FROM DAUNTSEY’S – Pupils from Dauntsey’s and visiting schools are able to be collected from the Pavilion car park; please enter from the B3098.

COLLECTION OF PUPILS AT AWAY SCHOOLS – This will be determined by other schools’ protocols. We will publish in the Bulletin any school who will not allow Dauntsey’s parents to spectate or collect at an away venue. If pupils cannot be collected from an away venue, they will need to return to school on the team bus.

Please could I also politely ask that you adhere to the protocols that other schools have in place regarding spectators. For this coming Saturday, this means:

Bryanston – Spectators allowed.

Canford & Reading Blue Coat School – No spectators allowed but pupils can be collected from there. Parents MUST remain in cars.

Thank you so much for your support as always and fingers crossed for the weather!

Marcus Olsen, Director of Sport
 

Half Termly Grades

Half termly grades for all year groups will be available in Firefly on Friday 28 May, with the exception of the summer assessment results for Fifth and Upper Sixth Forms which will be available on Saturday 29 May.

Careers Notice 

The Upper Sixth will be taking part in their post Dauntsey’s training days on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.  We are conscious that during this year we have not had the time to cover all aspects that one perhaps needs to consider as you migrate from West Lavington to the wider world, from Dauntseian to Old Dauntseian.

 The 1½ day programme will include the following: 

• Navigating Results Day
• ODs and their gap year - we will be joined by a selection of ODs who have returned from their recent travels 
• Milly from The Leap - What to expect in your gap year Q&A & Leap VIP
• Transition to University - ODs experiences in recent years Q & A
• The graduate recruitment market & how to enhance your chances…from this Autumn – James Austen Cohesion Recruitment
• Teen Tips – Alicia Drummond - Healthy Relationships: Everyone’s invited
• It Happens – Zoe Shuttleworth – Sexual Health, Drugs and Addiction
• From Dauntseian to Old Dauntseian
• Springboard – Getting things off to a great start
• Plans for the Upper Sixth enrichment programme
• The Guild of Mercers Scholars
• What to wear and how to accessorise for the summer ball….top tips from JFOH! 😊

Training Days

After Half Term, following on from the post Dauntsey’s training days, the Careers Department are co-ordinating a varied enrichment programme for the Upper Sixth, from days out on the Jolie Brise to a Scuba Diving taster, from cooking on a student budget to employability, or take part in a Runathon to name but a few! 

This week all Upper Sixth have been emailed a full list of possible options, together with a survey, to help us gauge interest.  Replies are non-binding and merely a way for us to establish what will be feasible to run.  We feel there is something for everyone which will be useful both in their immediate future over the summer or further ahead as ODs.

Working in the World of TV & Film

We will be hosting a "Working in the World of TV & Film" talk followed by Q&A for all Upper School pupils on Wednesday 26 May during prep in the William Dauntsey room.

We will be joined virtually by Patrick Irwin (film producer) and Lucy Bailey (documentary director/producer) who will chat about their career paths and roles followed by a Q&A session. 

Pupils should contact Mrs Haywood if they are planning to attend this event as places will be offered on a first come first served basis.

Head of Careers, James O’ Hanlon

Covid-19 Testing at Home

We ask that pupils test twice a week and they (or their parents) report the results of their tests online (www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result) every time they take a test, even if the result was negative or void.

All test results must also be reported to the School as set out below:

• Pupils should report the results to the School by sending an email to the following address: pupilcovidtesting@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk
• If the test is positive – Please type “Positive COVID test” in the email subject line and press send. Please also cc your House Master / Mistress and Mr McFarland on this email.
• If the test is negative – Please type “Negative COVID test” in the email subject line and press send.
• If the test if void – Please type “Void COVID test” in the email subject line and press send.

If the test is positive the pupil, and the household they are part of, should self-isolate immediately in line with NHS Test and Trace guidance for 10 days. They should also order a confirmatory PCR test. If this PCR test result is negative, then it overrides the result of the lateral flow test conducted at home. In addition, a negative lateral flow test result does not guarantee that pupils are not carrying the virus and so they should continue to follow social distancing and other measures to reduce transmission.

Clubs and Activities Summer 2021

​The new timetable for the Clubs and Activities on offer during the Summer Term can be found here.  This can also be found on the website and Firefly.

School Uniform

We are anticipating a return to the school’s normal uniform policy at the start of the next academic year in September.  We would therefore encourage parents to visit the school shop before the end of this term to purchase any additional or replacement items needed for September. 

Teen Tips: Wellbeing Hub

Nurturing 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. 

Please remember to register before you access any of the below, instructions and links for accessing the Wellbeing Hub are detailed here on Firefly.

May's Theme - Child and Adolescent Nutrition

Two-Part Podcast: Adolescent Nutrition & Mental Health
We talk to Tilly Spur, a nutritional scientist specialising in adolescence and sport. Tilly works in schools advising staff and students about nutrition and she lectures twice a week at the Chichester Institute of Sports. In part 1, we discuss the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet during adolescence, and how to encourage young people to form good nutritional habits. Part 1 focusses on nutrition for sport and exams, while part 2 dives deeper into the relationship between nutrition and mental health.

Listen to the podcast here

Register via the Hub Homepage

DSPA Noticeboard

Vacancies

Unfortunately, Kate & Pam will be stepping down as Fifth Form Year Reps from the end of this term. They have been a strong & active part of the DSPA for 5 years & we will miss them dearly. This does now mean that we will be in need of Year Reps for the new Lower Sixth. If you are interested on taking on this role, please email  dspacontact@gmail.com. 

Second Form Summer Drinks Party

We are thrilled that we are once again able to meet up face-to-face and our Year Reps are currently busy organising events for you!  Watch this space for more details.  In the meantime, our Second Form already have plans in place for their Summer Drinks, please see here for details.

Joining the DSPA

If you would like to sign up, in order to network & keep in touch with year groups, then please do so here, the year group reps would love to hear from you.

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. 
 

Lower School Notices and Reminders

Manor Matters

We were lucky to have had a window of fine(ish) weather this week to allow the Walk on Wednesday event to take place in support of the National Walk to School Week. Pupils were able to enjoy the health and sustainability benefits of a woodland walk, a really excellent way to start/end the day.

Many stayed in last weekend to attend the first proper trip of the year to Aquaventure in the Cotswold Water Park. Many thanks to Miss Seager and Miss LeCamp for taking the trip and to the pupils who were all great ambassadors for the school and enjoyed what must have been some pretty chilly conditions, even with wetsuits!

The Veg Patchers were given the week off shovelling gravel for the paths and attention was diverted to planting and weeding. Courgettes and beetroot plants are now in.

While many staying in this weekend may be thinking of revision ahead of exams next week and after Half Term, there will be the usual HIIT session or dog walk, and Mr Fulling will be running a Tennis Tournament to make sure everyone gets out for some exercise and fresh air.

Finally, a reminder of the email I sent out regarding Manor Hoodies. Please use this link https://dauntseys.fireflycloud.net/the-houses/manor/manor-hoodie-orders to let me know what size and colour your child would like, by Monday lunchtime. A sizing guide can be viewed here. Many thanks again to Lyndsay, Mum of Third Form Oli, for the excellent artwork of the Manor doorway, which adorns this year's hoodies. 

Peter Guille, Housemaster