Rector's Newsletter - May 2013

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words, a phrase I first heard expressed by that seventies cultural icon Telly Savalas. Since the arrival of the astro surface, one of the sights of summer term at Dollar Academy has been seeing all nine tennis courts choc-full of pupils every lunchtime and evening. It is wonderful to see so many girls playing, in all weathers, and we have been running as many teams as possible to encourage them. Meanwhile our cricketers, despite the rain, have managed to play most of their games and the 1st XI match against Merchiston certainly proved that a good game of cricket is anything but boring. At the start of the last over Dollar needed four to win with the last pair at the crease – anything was possible. In the event the match finished in a thrilling tie, with both sides having made 106.

The photographs accompanying Bethan Scott’s excellent article in the news section of our website, describing her experiences of the joint hockey and rugby tour to South Africa, paint a very different picture to that of life in Dollar. They are worth seeing. On the field, the boys produced their best rugby of the season, finishing unbeaten in four matches, and the girls also excelled with their performances in a very high-quality tournament. More importantly our pupils conducted themselves extremely well and had a wonderful time both socially and educationally.

Words rather than pictures were the order of the day for those pupils involved in this year’s school play, Mary Queen of Scots got her head chopped off, and I have to say that they were brilliantly delivered by an excellent cast. This production, with its moving twist at the end, was unquestionably one of the best school plays I have seen. No less impressive was the music at our Spring concerts and all involved can feel proud of their efforts.

Having attended several rehearsals over recent weeks, I am already looking forward to attending the Senior School musical, Footloose. If it has one advantage over Cats, it is that we will save a good deal on money on costumes this year! Debate has been raging amongst the cast over whether the 1984 original film is better than the 2011 remake, with the original winning comfortably. Tickets are already selling quickly (details are on our website) and with its combination of music, dance, acting and humour this will truly be a show with something for all the family.

Finally, having focused on co-curricular activity in this newsletter, I should compliment our senior pupils on the industrious atmosphere around the school at the moment. I wish them all the best of luck in their SQA examinations. 

Kindest regards

D J Knapman
                       

PUPILS

Art
The Royal Scottish Academy Art Competition Intermediate prize has been won by Imogen Stevens (III).

Athletics
Congratulations to Robert Henson (V) who has been nominated as Club Captain for Perth Strathtay Harriers.

Biology
Two Dollar pupils took part in this year’s British Biology Olympiad.  Sidhant Seth (VI) won a Gold medal and Julian Camilleri-Brennan (VI) won a Silver medal.

CCF
Cadets Sula Douglas and Scott Williamson (both III) were awarded RYA Level 1 certificates and CCF RN badges following their attendance at a sailing course at HMS Raleigh.

Chemistry
Having won the regional section of the “Top of the Bench” competition, a Dollar team of Duncan Cooper (IV), Sula Douglas, Isla Banerji (both III) and Darwin Douglas (II) took part in the UK finals at Loughborough University.  After a written test of Chemistry knowledge and two experiments analyising substances, the Dollar pupils were highly commended by the Royal Society of Chemistry for their teamwork.  In addition, Sula Douglas was awarded the Jacqui Clee Prize for Outstanding Individual Contribution.  This is the second year in a row that a Dollar pupil has won this award.

Cross-Country
Dollar teams took part in the 2013 Scottish Primary Schools’ Cross-Country Championships.  Around 150 competitors took part in each race and there were many excellent performances.  Particular mention should be made of Lucy Smith who finished third in the Junior 1 Girls’ competition, leading her team to fifth place overall.

Eco Committee
Dollar’s first Eco Trash Fashion Show was a great success and was very well attended.  The winning outfit, worn by Miss Langley, was designed by Imogen Stevens and Rachel Hubbard (both III) on the theme of Alice in Wonderland, with the outfit worn by Ms Hussain, which was designed by Elizabeth Ireland, Kaya McConnell, Annabelle Muir and Olivia Young (all I) on the theme of train travel, finishing a close second.  The event was organised by Maria Tatulea-Codrean (VI), Anya Kaufman, Jemma Hulbert and Connor Hall (all V).

Equestrian Events
Congratulations to Anna George (VI) who was recently selected for the Scotland Dressage A Squad.

At the first British Equestrian Vaulting competition of the season, Emma Paterson (IV) was a member of the Scottish Junior team which took second place.  The following weekend, Emma was joined by Joanna Wilson (III) at the CVI International competition in Belgium and the Scottish team beat eleven other nations to finish in first place.

Football
The Scottish Independent Schools Football Association team against England included Jack Cousin (VI).  Scotland was defeated 3-2 by a last-minute goal in an excellent game.  This is the second time that Jack has played against England, having played in the 4-4 draw at Dunfermline FC the previous year. He is the sixth Dollar boy to play in this annual fixture over the last five years. 

The Dollar Form I squad did well to win their Central Scotland section of the national Cashback Sevens tournament, thus making it through to the semi-finals. 

Golf
Following two days of intensive golf at Royal St George’s, in the Independent Schools National Golf Finals, the Dollar team of Richard Johnston (VI), Eilidh Watson (V) and Robert Watson (III) finished tenth in the Team competition with Robert finishing a very impressive sixth overall in the Individual championship.

Gymnastics
Congratulations to Daisy Morby (P4) who has been selected for the Scottish Prep squad.

Hockey
Congratulations to Amy Hogarth, Bevhan Trevis (both III) and Georgia Smith (I) who have been selected for the Midlands U-15 Hockey squad.

Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet
Cadet Drum Sergeant, Joe Armstrong (V), has been appointed by Sir George Reid, Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire, to be his Cadet for the coming year.

Mathematics
Our Form I and Form II Mathematics team comprising Charlie Worsley, Jonty Haywood, (both II) Angus Macleod and Cameron Keys (both I) won the Edinburgh Regional Final of the UKMT Team Maths Challenge, thus qualifying for the national final in London in June.

Nuffield Bursaries
Three Form V pupils have been awarded Nuffield Bursaries to carry out work at university over the summer.  They are Christina Fairley at St Andrews University, Cerys Barratt at Stirling University and Emma Buchanan at Edinburgh University.

Sailing
One of our boarders, Nic Vetta (II) has been selected to be part of the British team at the World Laser 4.7 championships in Hungary in July.

Schools Challenge Quiz
A Dollar team comprising Jonty Haywood, Charlie Worsley, Alistair Ward and James Barlow (all II) reached the final of the Schools Challenge Quiz competition.

Shooting
The Dollar Academy shooting team won the CCRS Country Life Competition for the second consecutive year.  This event attracts entries from 146 teams throughout Britain.  In total, 684 cadets took part and only two perfect scores were recorded in the competition, both by Dollar pupils - Seonaid McIntosh (V) and Lindsey McKerrell (VI).  Along with Seonaid and Lindsey, the team comprised Calum Macdonald, Laura Thompson, Louis Stewart (all VI),

Danny Dineen (V), Isla Cubitt and Ewan Scougall (both IV)

Tennis
Congratulations to Sophie Williamson (V) who qualified for the UK U-18 Regional Tennis finals in March.

World Education Games
Pupils in Forms I and II took part in the World Education Games competing against millions of children from all over the world in competitions of spelling, mental arithmetic and science knowledge.  Our pupils answered almost 50,000 questions during the five days of the games and special congratulations go to Angus Macleod (I) who was the highest scoring Dollar pupil in all three categories.  Special mention should also be made of Tom Keely who managed to answer 61 questions in one minute in one of the contests during World Maths Day.

STAFF

On Easter Sunday, Mr Johns (Physics) completed the Perth Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km race which consisted of 42 laps of Perth’s North Inch Park on flat tarmac.  In May, he ran the 53 mile Highland Fling from Glasgow to Tyndrum in a time of nine hours – good enough to claim a podium place (third) in the Veterans’ section (and 24th place overall of 650 entries). 

HELP  PLEASE

Parents are requested to ensure they are considerate of others when dropping and collecting their children both before and after school and particularly on Back Road.

CHARITIES  EVENTS

This year’s annual Prep 5 Enterprise Project had a Roald Dahl theme with pupils and teachers working together to create games and activities, stock bric-a-brac and bookstalls and organise raffles.  All of the Prep pupils and teachers were invited to dress up and enter a variety of competitions.  Eggs were decorated imaginatively and the artwork of Roly-Poly birds, giant peaches, upside down Twits’ houses and enormous crocodiles raised many smiles as well as £1,450 to be shared amongst the World Wildlife Fund, the Malindi Project, CHAS, Help for Heroes and Marie Curie Cancer Care. 

Dollar’s first Eco Trash Fashion Show raised over £200 for the Marine Conservation Society.  The event was organised by the school’s Eco Club:  this is a fairly new club, which has enjoyed great popularity and enthusiastic attendance.  Thanks are due to the many members of staff who kindly (rashly) agreed to act as catwalk models. 

FORMER  PUPILS          

Stephanie Dick (2011) recently represented the Great Britain U-19 Rifle team on their international tour to South Africa.  She was the only Scot in the squad.  In addition to the cultural and social experience, the team performed exceptionally well, winning three separate events on consecutive days – the first time the GB team had managed this for several years.

Campbell Tait (2004) graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh with an MRCS Ed.

MAIN  DATES  FOR  YOUR  DIARY

Thrift Shop Opening 2.30pm-4.00pm (2nd and 4th Thursday of the month)
Thursday 23 May                                                                  

Thursday 13 June

Wednesday 21 August (day before term starts)                 

Thursday 22 August
Thursday 13 September                                                              

Thursday 27 September

In addition the Thrift Shop will be open from 10 30am until Noon on the morning of the open day for new pupils – Monday 17 June and again from 2.30 to 3.30pm that day.

Following a stock inventory at the recent stocktake we will no longer be taking the following items:

• Boys’ trousers (long and short)
• Ski wear and related equipment
• SQA revision guides/past papers for Standard Grade exams
• White rugby tops (replaced by new rugby and hockey team shirts Autumn 2011)
• Old style 3-in-1 winter coats (Prep and Junior School) (replaced Autumn 2011)
• Hockey skirts (replaced by skorts Autumn 2011)
• Old style tracksuits (new tracksuit introduced in 2010)
• Riding boots and associated items
• Golf and cricket shoes

We also have stocks of the new school umbrella – a vented version, ideal for our windy Dollar weather (£17).

The Thrift Shop is always happy to welcome new members to its friendly, committed team.  If you feel that you are able to donate two afternoons a month to this important, parent-run service, please pop in next time the Thrift Shop is open and have a chat to the volunteers.

Further information about the Dollar Academy Thrift Shop can be found in the Parents section of the school website.

SPORTS WEEKEND 2013

Thursday 20 June
2.00pm                           Prep School Sports
7.30pm                           Musical: Footloose (Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline)

Friday 21 June
12.30pm                         Junior School Sports
7.30pm                           Musical: Footloose (Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline)
7.00pm for 7.30pm         DARFC Annual Dinner

Saturday 22 June
11.30am onwards           Marquee open for Former Pupils, Parents and Friends
11.30am – 4.30pm         Coffee, tea and biscuits in the marquee
11.00am – 5.00pm         Art Exhibition in the Maguire Building
11.00am – 5.00pm         An exhibition of paintings by Peter Nelson in the Playfair Building
12.30pm – 1.15pm         Sandwiches and cold drinks available in the marquee
1.20pm   – 2.00pm         Pipe Band opens Athletics Championships
2.00pm   – 5.00pm         Athletics Championships
2.30pm   – 4.30pm         Dollar Academy open for guided tours
5.00pm   – 5.20pm         Award of sports prizes at the Boys’ Pavilion
5.00pm   – 7.30pm         Marquee closed
6.00pm   – 7.30pm         FP Sherry Party in the Library
7.30pm   – 12.00am       Supper and Music in the Marquee (admission by ticket only)
                                         with music by Dr Bob and The Soul Kings

Sunday 23 June
9.45am                           Parade for Service in Dollar Parish Church
10.15am                         Service in Dollar Parish Church
11.00am – 5.00pm         Art Exhibition in the Maguire Building
11.00am – 5.00pm         An exhibition of paintings by Peter Nelson in the Playfair Building
12 noon (approx.)           Pipe Band Display in front of marquee
12.30pm                         Parents’ Association Family Barbecue (by the Junior School)
2.00pm                           Cricket 1st XI v The Rector’s XI
                                      Tennis matches against the FPs
3.30pm                          Art & Design Prize Giving in the Maguire Building