Head Master's Notices

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the Mercers’ Lecture by Frank Gardner. He was both engaging and candid, and provided a powerful insight into the Middle East. It was an absolute privilege to sit amongst the audience of just under a thousand.

Next week we are looking forward to the drama production of ‘Delta’, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday, and the twenty-four hour ‘Runathon’, in aid of the Jemima Layzell Trust. This starts at 10.45am on Thursday morning and more information about the event is detailed below.  While on charity fund raising, congratulations to the organisers of the ‘Reeling’ evening, which was very well supported and raised around £1,500. There have also been some wonderful individual efforts too

We have fixtures tomorrow against Lord Wandsworth College, KES Southampton, Canford and Clayesmore, before the Sixth Form’s Valentine’s Ball in the evening. I would also like to wish our table tennis players the best of luck in their Wiltshire League matches on Sunday

With best wishes to you all for an enjoyable weekend.

Whole School Notices and Reminders

Mercers' Lectures - Spring Term 2019

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 on the Friday of half term. We expect it to be very popular, and would like to ensure that all parents have first option on bookings, so please ensure you book early to avoid disappointment. As always we will be allocating enough seats for all our pupils that would like to attend.
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. Friday night is now sold out. If you would like to go on a waiting list please contact Rikki Jackson.

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

Gilliat Prize (for singing)

Tuesday 12 February at 19:30 in the Old Hall

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.

*Reminder* Lower Sixth Form Parents' Evening

Tonight at 18:30 - 20:30

The Lower Sixth Form Parents’ Meeting takes place this evening from 18:30 - 20:30 in the Memorial Hall. I hope you can make it and please do see me if I can help with anything. Jon Tyler, Deputy Head (Academic)

Upper Sixth Mock Exams

The Upper Sixth Mocks commence on Monday 25 February, the first day after half-term and will run until Friday 1 March. Pupils will be sent their individual timetables shortly.

Any queries please contact the exams office at examsmanager@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk or 01380 814677.

Summer Examinations and Study Leave

Please see the attached Study Leave Notice, if you have any queries regarding this or any other exam related matter, please feel free to contact Mr Blumsom, the Exams Officer on examsmanager@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk or Mrs Jones on l.jones@dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk

You can call the office on 01380 814677 but please note the office will not be open during the half-term break.

DSPA

Lower & Upper Sixth parent BYO Supper and Drinks
*This event has been cancelled*

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.

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

Nothing beats a day at School when the snow arrives!  Excitement levels in the House were high as the Manorites enjoyed an action-packed few days in the snow last week! On Friday, we held a snowman building competition, followed by sledge races and then after a walk to school for fish and chips, and some basketball in the Sports Hall and water polo in the Pool, we returned to the House for more fun in the snow. Fortunately, some children decided to do some baking in the afternoon, and we all gobbled up the delicious freshly baked cookies with hot chocolate later that day. Saturday saw even more snow arriving, and Mr Sampson decided it was time to dust off the skis and head out to the slopes on the golf course – I’m not sure if it was the children, or the Staff, who had more fun! 

On Sunday the snow cleared enough for us to go on our planned shopping trip to Southampton; all of the Manorites enjoyed the opportunity to top up on necessities (and some treats!), and they returned back to The Manor complete with many shopping bags.

This weekend we have a ‘Night Hike’ planned on Saturday evening; the children are hoping for clear skies as they set off from a mystery location and make their way back to The Manor – there will be hot chocolate and snacks waiting for them on their return, and I’m sure they will all enjoy a lie in on Sunday. 
Anne Sampson, House Mistress.

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

GCSE Options Presentation

Friday 15 February at 12:00 in the Memorial Hall

A reminder that Third Form pupils and parents are warmly invited to the GCSE Options Presentation on Friday 15 February. It begins at midday in the Memorial Hall and the formal part of the event will finish in time for the start of half-term at 12:45.

Please note that there will be a light lunch for parents and pupils 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)

Lower School Valentines Disco

Tuesday 12 February, 18:30 - 20:30 in the Memorial Hall. 
Deadline for getting booking forms in is Monday 11 February.

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

Lower School Wide Game and BBQ

Tuesday 5 March, 17:30 - 20:00 at the Manor 

On Tuesday, 5 March, from 17:30 - 20:00, there will be a Wide Game and BBQ for all Lower School pupils.
A wide game is an outdoor activity, usually between two or more teams which have to achieve specific objectives in order to win the game. This might be simply preventing the other team(s) from finishing or collecting certain items. Wide games are organised within a given geographical area and usually have a theme or storyline which helps set the scene. Apart from having fun, wide games provide an opportunity for the participants to develop teamwork, planning skills, endurance, resourcefulness, initiative, and physical fitness!

Further information can seen here, and if you would like your son and/or daughter to attend this activity please could you kindly confirm this via email to e.conidaris@dauntseys.org by Friday, 1 March. Many thanks.