Head Master's Notices

The First Form entrance examinations and interviews for 2019 have taken place this week and I am delighted to report another large entry. The candidates were well looked after by our Third Form pupils who were wonderful hosts.

There have been some good wins for our teams this week.  The 1st VII netball team have won every match so far, the 1^st XI hockey team recorded their first win of the season and the Under 14A hockey team were crowned county champions.  There was also an excellent Vocal and Instrumental Recital on Tuesday evening.

Next week there are hockey, netball, football and basketball fixtures, as well as the Senior and Intermediate Boys’ Inter-House swimming competitions.  We also look forward to the Middle School Music Competition Final on Wednesday and the Choral Concert on Thursday evening.

Have a restful and relaxing Exeat weekend.

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 after half term. We expect it to be very popular so please ensure you book early to avoid disappointment. 
Many thanks, Jo Sagers, Registrar

Drama Programme - Spring 2019

We have four productions in the pipeline this term which offers a large variety for everyone to get involved with, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Delta: 12 - 14 February in Annabel's

A new play written and directed by our Technical Manager, Mr Herring

The Pillowman: 6 - 8 March in Annabel’s

A play by the Irish, Oscar and Olivier winning playwright Martin McDonagh

Dance Showcase: 11 - 12 March in the Memorial Hall

A celebration of Dance at Dauntsey's

Danny, Champion of the World: 19 - 22 March in the Memorial Hall

The Lower School will conclude the term with a production of Roald Dahl's much-loved story.

Attached is a copy of our Drama Programme for the full year which includes more detail on each production.

Tickets for all productions can be booked here

Music School Notices

Middle School Music Competition 

Wednesday 30 January at 19:30 in the Old Hall

Choral Concert

Thursday 31 January at 19:30 in the Memorial Hall (Free admission and tickets are not necessary)

Petite Messe Solennelle by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The Choral Society and Senior Choir. Soloists: Elizabeth Donovan, Karina Lucas, Edward Goater and Edmund Saddington.

Chamber Recital

Friday 1 February at 14:00 in the Old Hall

Music Department Parents’ Evening

Thursday 7 February at 19:00 in the Memorial Hall

Reminder to pupils to book your appointment with the Instrumental Teachers

Careers

The World of Performing Arts
Friday 8th February 2019 in the Pavilion
Fifth Form and above

During an afternoon event on Friday 8 February, we intend to assemble a variety of professionals from the world of the Performing Arts and will put on a number of presentations, workshops, a career carousel and networking. We anticipate the event running from 12:00 - 16:00, and it will be broken into several parts, so we can accommodate flexibility of timing for our pupils and guests. We would like to convey to the pupils not only the skill, commitment and opportunities they will need if they wish to become a performer themselves, but also how many other options there are in that world. As we know there will be various pupils coming along who would not consider themselves naturally drawn to the performing arts in terms of being an artist themselves, and we want them to realise that if their work skills involve business, IT, design, tech, budgeting, marketing, events, art, personnel, planning, teaching etc that they should understand that those skills can fit well with many fascinating jobs within an environment they might have not previously considered.

More details to follow!
James O’Hanlon and Carrie Watson, Careers

Gap Year Fair 2019
Wednesday 13 February 2019, Memorial Hall, 12:30 - 14:30
Fourth Form and above, parents welcome

We are very keen for all upper school pupils to consider taking a year out, if it is carefully thought out, researched and planned, as it can be a fantastic opportunity for growth, development, and confidence-building for the pupil, a time to learn new skills, open their mind and think about the wider world, challenge themselves and have an adventure. It can be used to gain work experience, improve their CV and employability skills, or just pursue a hobby, skill or sport to a higher level. Not only do we want them to consider what they could gain from a gap year, but also how they could use the very long summer after A’Levels and university holidays to their best advantage, so, we will also offer insight into opportunities for summer learning, volunteering and working programmes.

Our biennial Fair 2019 will have have at least 15 exhibitors from the worlds of: travel, the arts, volunteering, skills, cookery, skiing, languages, internships, marine science, teaching, history of art, business and media training, conservation etc.

Pupils and parents are most welcome to drop in to speak to any of our many exhibitors to find out more about the opportunities available.

James O’Hanlon and Carrie Watson, Careers

Post Dauntsey's Planning for Lower Sixth Pupils & Parents 
Saturday 2 March, 11:00 - 12:30 in the Memorial Hall

The Careers department will outline options open to pupils for when they leave Dauntsey's. This will include how to identify which route is most appropriate and the selection processes involved.

24 Hour Runathon: Please support our runners and donate!

14 - 15 February

Our annual Runathon will start at 10:45 on Thursday 14 February, continue throughout the day, into the night, and finish at 10:45 on Friday 15 February.

Runners can run the course alone or in pairs and we aim to have at least one pupil running at any time on a 1km loop around the school grounds. Last year, we raised over £1000 altogether, so this year we hope to run further and raise even more money!

In the spirit of community and camaraderie, we hope that our pupils enjoy the event and that our supporters donate generously to our School charity, The Jemima Layzell Trust, via our Just Giving Webpage here.

Fifth Form Options Forms

A reminder that all Fifth Form A level options forms are due in on Monday. Thank you.

DSPA

Lower & Upper Sixth parent BYO Supper and Drinks
Saturday 9 February, 19:30 - 22:30 in the Pavilion 

While our children are dancing the night away at the Valentine's Ball and we are on taxi duty, why not come and join us for a BYO Supper and drinks in the Pavilion.
Lower Sixth Parents: to bring main courses and a drink option; soft included.
Upper Sixth Parents: to bring puddings and a drink option; soft included.
RSVP - Tory Nelson  - tory.nelson@yahoo.co.uk

Fourth Form Coffee Morning at Mipo (Plank's)
Tuesday 12 February from 10:00

RSVP to Simone Wilmot Davis at davissimone@hotmail.com

First Form Tea and Cake Morning
Friday 15 February at 11:00 in the Pavilion

The DSPA warmly invites you to a tea and cake morning. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with other parents and find out more about what the DSPA has planned.

If you could bring along cake and buns it would be greatly appreciated.  Any queries please email Michelle Duckworth (duckworthfamily7@gmail.com) or Lulu Lawson-Johnson (lucy@plumuk.com).  Hope to see you there.

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.

Reels for Romania
Saturday February 2, at 18:45 in the Memorial Hall

The ‘Reels for Romania’ evening is fast approaching and we hope that many of you will be able to attend.

The aim of the evening is to have lots of fun whilst reeling. Everyone is welcome regardless of your age or ability. I hope that this evening will provide novice reelers with the opportunity to learn something new and for those of you with some experience, a chance to strut your stuff!

We will be reeling to The Dashing White Sergeant, The Eightsome, Reel of the 51st, Hamilton House and The Duke of Perth. 

We will all be bringing our own picnic suppers. To allow for as much time for reeling as possible, please limit your picnics to main course only. There will be a break for pudding where we will be selling cakes, brownies etc. for a donation, all proceeds going to the charity. 

Unfortunately, because of the school licensing rules, you are not allowed to bring your own alcohol. However there will be a bar.

We will provide tables, chairs and jugs of water but please ensure that you bring all other required cutlery, cups, plates etc. The trestle tables seat a party of 10 but can be combined to accommodate for larger parties. Smaller parties can be joined to fill tables as well.

Attached is a flyer with all other details of the evening, including booking and payment information. 

Lower School Notices and Reminders

Manor Matters

Our Italian themed evening, last Saturday, was enjoyed by all of the Manorites  – we started off sipping delicious ‘mocktails’ and after some very tasty pizza and ice-cream (complete with MANY toppings!), the children took part in a quiz and then constructed some impressively tall ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ models out of spaghetti and marshmallows. On Sunday, some of the pupils went on a shopping trip to Devizes, while others relaxed in House and watched films, or played table tennis. 

The much awaited annual ‘Pub Quiz’ took place on Wednesday night and, as always, competition for the top spot was fierce. The quiz rounds varied from ‘Name the Sportsperson’ to ‘Dingbats’, and ‘History’ to ‘Emoji Speak’!  At the end of the evening, the top three teams were separated by only 3 points and you could feel the tension mount in the air as the winners were announced. Many congratulations go to Oli M, Griff, Arabella, Saffron, Sophia G, Poppy and Emily for being crowned the champions of the 2019 quiz.

The children are looking forward to the Exeat, and I hope that you all enjoy a very relaxing weekend.
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.

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

Lower School Parent/Pupil Clay Pigeon Shooting Trip

Barbury Shooting School, Wroughton 
Sunday, 3 February 2018

Please find attached letter with further information on the clay pigeon shooting trip. If you and/or your son or daughter would like to attend this trip, please could you kindly confirm this via email e.conidaris@dauntseys.org by Friday, 25 January. Many thanks.

A notice to all Third Form Parents: Moonrakers Camp Forms

Please could you ensure that you return your son or daughters' Outward Bound Moonrakers Camp form to Mrs Sarah Budd at Dauntsey’s: s.budd@dauntseys.org

If you need a spare copy you can find it on the Intranet here

Lower School Ski Trip Information Evening

Thursday 7 February, 18:00 in the Pavilion

For any parents of those pupils going on this year’s trip, you are welcome to attend an information evening about the trip. There will be a chance to meet staff travelling on the trip, hear details of the itinerary, watch a video of previous trips, and try on rental ski clothing (should you require).

Tea and coffee will be served, and the event will last no more than one hour.

If you cannot make it on February 7, don’t worry. All details will be sent out electronically a few weeks’ prior to travel.  

Pupils should head to the Pavilion at 17:30 to meet their parents. Boarders on the trip may attend and transport back to the Manor will be arranged if required.

Lower School Valentines Disco

Tuesday 12 February, 18:30 - 20:30 in the Memorial Hall

In aid of the Nightingales Children’s Project, a group of Lower Sixth pupils are hosting a Valentine’s Disco for Lower School pupils on Tuesday 12 February in the Memorial Hall. Day pupils can remain at School after the end of prep at 17:20 (when they can change and have supper) and the evening will finish at 20:30.

The cost per pupil for the evening will be £5 (including food with a non-alcoholic glass of punch on arrival). There will also be a tuck shop selling soft drinks and snacks as well as a number of activities for the children to participate in.

We hope to see your son/daughter there, for what promises to be an enjoyable evening.

Please find attached booking form to return to house staff. Many thanks

Dauntsey's Spring Hockey Camp

8 - 10 April 2019

Please see attached flyer for details about a Spring Hockey Camp at Dauntsey's from 8 - 10 April. To book your spot, please visit our booking page here.