November 30, 2018 | Issue no. 115
Head Master's Notices
We are all eagerly anticipating next week’s production of Our House. The seating has arrived, the set is looking impressive and the cast and crew are very busy with their final rehearsals. I hope that everyone involved in the production enjoys the experience and has a fantastic week.
I also hope that we enjoy success on the sports fields this weekend, with the girls playing King Edward VI, Southampton and the boys Bryanston.
Meanwhile, Christmas is clearly approaching: the trees and decorations are up and I am told that some are beginning to feel a little festive!
Whole School Notices and Reminders
Mercers' Lectures - Spring Term 2019
Frank Gardner OBE – BBC Security Correspondent
Tuesday 5 February 2019 at 19: 30 in the Memorial Hall
Frank Gardner is the BBC’s security correspondent reporting for TV and radio on issues of both domestic and international importance. A fluent Arabist with a degree in Arabic and Islamic studies from Exeter University, Frank spent nine years as an investment banker before switching to journalism and becoming the BBC’s Middle East correspondent based in Cairo.
In 2004, while reporting in Saudi Arabia, he was shot and left partly paralysed in an attack by al-Qaeda terrorists. Now dependent on a wheelchair, he has relearned to ski using a bob ski and is currently President of the Ski Club of Great Britain.
Due to very popular demand, we have had to close all bookings to this lecture. Many thanks for your support, and if you have any enquiries please contact Amanda Gaylard on a.gaylard@dauntseys.org
Alison Mitchell – Award-winning sports broadcaster
Thursday 7 March 2019
Alison Mitchell is a leading sports commentator and the first woman to commentate regularly on the BBC’s Test Match Special. She has now toured to every Test playing nation in order to cover the England team. She has a breadth of sports broadcasting experience having covered cricket World Cups, the Ashes, Wimbledon, the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, the World Snooker Championships, the Open golf, international hockey and artistic gymnastics.
As well as cricket, Alison has commentated on and presented live from Wimbledon and the Australian Open tennis, the Open golf, international hockey and artistic gymnastics.
Please make sure that you have reserved your seats online here.
Summer Term 2019
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
Thursday 25 April 2019
We will be opening the bookings for this lecture in January 2019. We expect it to be very popular so please ensure you book early to avoid disappointment.
Many thanks, Jo Sagers, Registrar
Drama Programme - Autumn 2018
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Our House: 4 – 8 December in the Memorial Hall
The December musical is always a much-anticipated highlight and we hope the energetic choreography and colourful staging of ‘Our House’ will be a popular and feel good choice – for pupils and audience alike.
Seat numbers for Our House have all been emailed now, if you have not heard from us please contact Rikki Jackson directly.
Attached is a copy of our Drama Programme for the full year which includes more detail on each production.
School Carol Services
Please find attached a letter giving details of the Carol Services taking place in December.
If you would like to attend one, or both, of the Carol Services, please contact Reception either by e-mail at reception@dauntseys.org or on 01380 814500, stating clearly the number of tickets required and the day; please do NOT include your children in your overall number since they will be included in their House numbers. Many thanks.
Please note that School transport will depart at 16.30 on both the 13th and 14th December
Careers
Visit by Royal Navy / Royal Marines School Liaison Officer
Wednesday 12 December from 12.30 in the Careers Room (in the Library)
Please let us know if you would like to meet the Royal Navy/Royal Marines Liaison Officer when he visits. He can meet pupils individually or in small groups.
They have 5 services that you can join: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/whats-right-for-me/services-an-introduction
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles-and-specialisations/branches. Branches include warfare, medical, engineering, logistics, aviation, chaplaincy, Royal Marine Band, catering, and Royal Marines and Navy Reserves, thus a huge range of possibilities.
The Royal Navy is made up of five arms: the might of ships in the Surface Fleet, the aerial strength that is the Fleet Air Arm, the covert Submarine Service, the elite and amphibious Royal Marines, and the civilian fleet central to their effectiveness, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Royal Marines
The Royal Marines are the amphibious troops of the Royal Navy, acknowledged as one of the world's elite commando forces. Held at a very high readiness they can respond quickly to events anywhere around the globe.
Any queries, please come and see Mr O’Hanlon or Mrs Watson in Careers.
DSPA
Our House - Food and Drink Pre-Orders
Freshly made Lovett pies and a pint. Order to have ready for you at interval from the DSPA shop. www.dspa.org.uk
Interval is just 20 minutes and instead of queueing you can be enjoying your food and drink! PayPal payment only accepted. PLEASE ORDER ASAP to allow us to cater..
We need helpers, short shifts and a great way to meet other parents – please sign up here.
DSPA Helpers List.
We need your help to continue providing drinks and snacks at the various functions. Please sign up if you are able to help at the occasional function.Please sign up here.
DSPA Digital Noticeboard
Sharing opportunities from within the Dauntsey’s family. Have a look at what is on offer here.
Upper School Mock Exams Dates 2019
Fifth Form: Wednesday, 9 January to Thursday, 17 January.
Upper Sixth: Monday, 25 February to Friday, 1 March.
Lower Sixth: Monday, 29 April to Saturday, 4 May.
Detailed timetables will be sent to students via their school e-mail accounts a week or two before the Mocks start. The examinations intranet site at Firefly which can be found by following this link also contains useful information about both Mock and Summer GCE & GCSE exams.
If you have any queries about exams at any time feel free to contact Mr Blumsom on 01380 814677 or examsmanager@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk
Dauntsey's Charity Christmas Cards
Congratulations to Molly Turner, Poppy Harris and Lottie Henwood who won the Charity Christmas Card Design Competition. Their designs have been made up into cards that are for sale in the School Shop and in the School Reception area. Each mixed pack of 6 cards costs £5, or you can buy 3 packs for £10, and all proceeds go to our School Charity. Many thanks.
Card designs can be viewed here.
UK Bebras 2018
The Bebras Computing Challenge introduces computational thinking to pupils.
It is organised in over 40 countries and designed to get pupils all over the world excited about computing.
Some of our pupils have achieved a top 10% Bebras score in their age group nationally and are invited to participate in the TCS Oxford Computing Challenge in early March 2019 at Oxford University. Please see the attached poster to see who has qualified. Many Congratulations!
Senior Maths Team Challenge
Congratulations to our Senior Team Maths Challenge squad of Rachel Wo, Robert Bourne, Ann Xu and Macy Tai who won their regional heat in Chippenham on Tuesday against 17 other schools from Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset for the second year in a row. They now progress to the National Final in London in February.
Lower School Notices and Reminders
Manor Matters
Preparations for Christmas have continued at The Manor this week, and the Manorites were all very excited to see the enormous Christmas Tree arrive on Tuesday afternoon. In addition, this weekend we shall be ‘Christmas Baking’ and preparing gift bags of cookies, mince pies and other festive goodies; the Christmas Cake decorations are going well and one brave baker is constructing a ski slope to use in a snowy scene to decorate her cake – Mary Berry (and Eddie the Eagle) would be most impressed!
It has been a busy week for ‘Tutor Group Trips & Treats’, and some of the Manorites enjoyed a great evening of ice-skating on Monday – they even saw some reindeer too! Another group went out for a hugely popular meal at Nando’s on Tuesday, and on Wednesday night some pupils were treated to a ‘takeaway & film night’ at The Manor.
Plans are underway in preparation for our Advent Concert which takes place in just over a week – Manor families are warmly invited to join us at this lovely event on Sunday 9 December at 19:00.
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.
Please do follow us on Twitter @ManorDauntseys to keep up to date.