Head Master's Notices

The Lower School Dance Show was the undoubted highlight of this week and I congratulate everyone involved. It was wonderful to see our pupils working so happily together and the pieces were highly imaginative.

Looking ahead, our Mercers’ Lecture series resumes next Tuesday, with Nigel Owens visiting, and our twenty-four hour ‘Runathon’, in aid of Malayaka House, starts at 10.45am on Thursday morning. Please do support the runners and more information about the event is detailed below.

We have fixtures tomorrow against Hampshire Collegiate, Abingdon, Prior Park College, West Hill Park, and Sherborne Girls and then the Sixth Form’s Valentine’s Ball in the evening.

With best wishes to you all for an enjoyable weekend.

Whole School Notices and Reminders

New School Website

After some months work behind the scenes we are delighted to launch our new-look online. We hope that you enjoy exploring the new website and for guidance have provided a few suggestions.

Feedback is very welcome, so please do let us know if you have any questions or comments by sending an email to Mary Connor at m.connor@dauntseys.org or Amanda Gaylard at a.gaylard@dauntseys.org

Mercers' Lectures - Spring Term 2017

Nigel Owens
6 February 2018
19:30 in the Memorial Hall

*Please note* As you may know, bookings closed on this lecture some time ago due to significant demand. Please can we therefore advise all Dauntsey's parents and pupils who have already secured seats / given names to House Staff to arrive promptly to secure a seat, and to please not bring any additional guests to the lecture. Many thanks.

Nigel Owens MBE is recognised as one of the world’s best rugby referees. Born and bred in Mynyddcerrig, he first picked up the referee whistle aged 16. Nigel officiated his first international game in 2005 between Ireland and Japan in Osaka and made his World Cup debut in 2007 refereeing the Argentina versus Georgia game in Lyon. He is the first openly gay man to referee at the highest level.

Drama Productions

Black Comedy and The Railway Children

Tickets are now available to book for these two productions online. Please follow the link to our Drama Productions booking page.

*Change of Date*

Lower Sixth Post Dauntsey’s Planning
Scheduled, and in the calendar, for Saturday 3 March

Owing to the U18 Schools Rugby Vase Semi-Final on the above date, this event for Lower Sixth pupils and parents has been moved forward to Saturday 24 February between 10.15 and 12.15

Apologies for any inconvenience that this causes, but it was felt that a large number of pupils and parents would be affected by the clash with the Rugby.

Please find attached a letter from our Head of Careers, James O'Hanlon, detailing the event. Many thanks.

24 Hour Runathon

Thursday 8 February at 10:45

If you are in the Fifth or Sixth Form and fancy taking part in a fun, challenging fundraiser, sign up to Dauntsey’s 24 Runathon.
Sign up for one (or more) half-hour slot in The Glasshouse.
You pay £10 to enter and encourage family and friends to sponsor for the whole event via our Just Giving Webpage.

All money raised goes directly to Malayaka House.

DSPA

Second Form Coffee and Cake
Friday 9 February from 10:30

Inviting all Second Form parents to coffee and cake at Three Daggers Farm Shop, Edington from 10:30 onwards.

First Form Coffee Morning
Friday 23 February from 10:30

First Form parents please join us for a coffee morning at The Peppermill, Devizes from 10:30 onwards.

Pot Luck Supper for all Lower School Parents’ in the School Pavilion
Wednesday 7 March, 18:00 - 20:00

Please bring a plate of food to share – Sweet or Savoury! Water will be provided but feel free to bring other drinks along!

First Form Parents Countryside Walk
Saturday 28 April

First form parents countryside walk, exact details to be confirmed. It will start and finish within 5 miles of school, and we are planning to be back at school for pick up / matches.

Careers

Visit to Ben Thompson Events, Marlborough
Fifth and Sixth Form Pupils
Tuesday February 20, 13:45 - 17:15

Please see further information here about an event on Tuesday 20 February for Fifth and Sixth former's. Many thanks.

The World of Politics and Current Affairs
Guest Speaker: Rt Hon Claire Perry MP
Friday 2 March
16:15 - 17:15 in the William Dauntsey Room

Please see further information here about this event on Friday 2 March for Fifth and Sixth Former's. Many thanks.

Music School Notices

Music Department Parents' Evening (by appointment)
Thursday 8 February at 19:00

A chance for parents of all pupils taking instrumental lessons to meet with the Visiting Music Teachers

Upper Sixth History Trip to Paris Itinerary

9 - 12 February, 2018

The full itinerary for the Upper Sixth History Trip to Paris can be found on the Intranet here. Many thanks.

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 25 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 download a copy from the intranet here.

The deadline for applications is 1700 Monday 19 February 2018, the day after half term. Shortly after which 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 or complete the printed slip and return it to me via the Adventure Education pigeon hole in the Glass House.

Bahamas Scuba Trip Information Evening

Wednesday 7th February
18:00 in the William Dauntsey Room

There will be a presentation on the proposed Bahamas scuba diving expedition, July 2019. The presentation will cover a 9 day ‘liveaboard’ option as well as a potential island based alternative.

If you would like to attend the presentation or would like further information about the trip, please email Mr Johns at j.johns@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk

The trip is open to our current Third Form pupils up to our Lower Sixth pupils.

Autumn Term Sports Team Pictures

Sports team pictures from the Autumn Term are now available to view and order on the Intranet here.

Lower School Notices and Reminders

Manor Matters

This week we have had many children involved in the Lower School Dance Show – the glitter still adorns the bathrooms, bedrooms and pupils in the House! We all enjoyed watching the performance on Tuesday evening and the pupils who took part in the Show came back full of excitement and chat about the various Dances on both of their performance nights.

A slightly quieter evening was enjoyed by eight Third Former's who joined Mrs Sampson and Miss Seager for supper on Monday evening; topics of conversation ranged from burglars to regional accents and everyone devoured the lasagne, pavlova and cheese that was on offer.

We have some visiting ‘Friends on Friday’ joining us tomorrow evening; our weekly fun swim will take place on Friday, and this weekend we are looking forward to a trip to Salisbury on Sunday before returning for Candlemas in the evening.
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.

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

GCSE Options Presentation

Friday 9 February
12:00 in the Memorial Hall

A reminder that Third Form pupils and parents are warmly invited to the GCSE Options Presentation on Friday 9 February. It begins at 12:00 in the Memorial Hall and the formal part of the event should finish in time for the start of half-term at 12.45. There will be a light lunch available after formal proceedings in the Memorial Hall.

I hope you can make it and I look forward to seeing you there.
Jon Tyler, Deputy Head (Academic)