Rector's Newsletter - February 2012

Many years ago, I knew all the words to The Tremeloes hit Silence is Golden. My parents played that record a good deal. Silence is not really something I instinctively associate with Dollar Academy however and, judging from the Junior School Burns Competition, some of our pupils could talk - or at least recite - for Scotland. Verse after verse was performed brilliantly by the entrants. The judges had an unenviable task and I was very relieved to be present only as an impartial observer.

The following day I was walking along a corridor after school when I happened upon one of the longest queues I have yet seen at Dollar. It turned out to be a large group of thespians waiting patiently for audition material for this year’s Senior School play, Pride and Prejudice. I am looking forward to it already, but I trust the cast have no intention of trying to match the dramatic shrieks and cries of the young actors and actresses in this week’s Form II play, Room 13. Mr Darcy’s moody silences will be a welcome respite.

Following the visits last term of Scottish rugby legends Chris Paterson and Gregor Townsend to conduct coaching clinics, ex-Samoa international Freddie Tuilagi arrived in Dollar on the morning of the Calcutta Cup match to take a session with our Junior School players. Freddie needed to say relatively little:  his torso and biceps were sufficient to command instant respect from the boys and his coaching drills focused very simply and effectively on basic skills – something Scotland’s players struggled with later the same day. There are occasions when too much talk can get in the way of productive activity, but Freddie had the balance exactly right.

On the other hand, there are times when only talk will do, all of which brings me to Ruth Cameron. Following a wonderful run of debating success, during which she and Calum Worsley (both Form VI) won no end of prestigious university-run competitions, Ruth was selected for the Scotland team at the 2012 World Schools Debating Championships in South Africa. This was her second world championship having, with Calum, taken part in the 2011 event in the slightly less glamorous location of Dundee (I realise that there will be readers who disagree with this proposition). Ruth played a key role in Scotland’s ultimate success and, in the final, was required to debate in favour of the proposition that “This house regrets South Africa's decision to use the Truth and Reconciliation Commission rather than prosecuting perpetrators of crimes committed under Apartheid”.  Backed by an enthusiastic South African crowd, her heartfelt and moving delivery received a prolonged ovation with many of the audience being reduced to tears. The team manager, a lawyer, wrote to us last week describing it as the best speech he had ever heard. He added that he had been even more impressed, at the conclusion of all this, when Ruth had rather nervously asked (in typical Dollar fashion I would suggest) whether her speech had been “OK”. He was too moved to reply. Sometimes, silence really is golden.

Kindest regards

D J Knapman

PUPILS

Badminton
Gayle Watson (VI) represented the Midlands in a recent regional tournament organised by Badminton Scotland.  Gayle was particularly complimented on her enthusiasm, effort and sportsmanship.

Biology
Following her excellent Biodiversity project on Pandas, Eve Miller (III) was invited to Edinburgh Zoo as a special guest to meet the bears.

Book Reviews
A number of our younger pupils had their book reviews published in the magazine Teen Titles.  Congratulations to Amy Hogarth (II), Mira Vladimirova, Joshua Cramb, Robyn Maitland, Daniel Cosgrove and John Moore (all IV).

Debating

Debating

Ruth Cameron’s (VI) achievements in South Africa are detailed on the front page, but there have been many other successes over the last couple of months.  Andrew Taylor (VI) and Tom Clarke (III) won the Scottish round of the Cambridge Union Competition, narrowly defeating Anna George and Tom Clode (both V) in the final.  Calum Worsley and Ruth Cameron (both VI) won the St Andrews University Debating Competition for the second year running. 

Our Form I debating team recently participated in the Glenalmond Cup.  Keir Fairley, Charlie Worsley, Jamie Price, David McIntyre, Athol Stronach and Darwin Douglas all performed well and particular congratulations go to Guy Stewart and Anna Glasgow who reached the final. 

Golf

Jennifer Duncan (V) has been awarded a scholarship by the Gleneagles Golf Academy, entitling her to play on all of the Gleneagles golf courses as well as receiving professional coaching.

Junior School Burns Competition
The Junior School was a hive of activity as it played host to this year’s annual Burns Competition on Tuesday 31 January.  51 finalists drawn from the seven classes took part, performing with valour and enthusiasm.  The standard was exceptionally high and the works chosen extremely varied, including a number of songs, sung solo and unaccompanied.  Mrs Kate Murray, Head of English, Mr Graham Pearson and Mr David Murray from the Dollar Burns Club, had the difficult challenge of selecting the finalists.   After an engrossing afternoon, the judges picked nine winners:  Sophie Chandler (J2) sang ‘Ye Jacobites by Name’;  Sophie Ferguson (J2) recited ‘To a Louse’;  Morven Garrick (J2) sang ‘Ye Jacobites by Name’;  Georgia Garry (J2) recited ‘To a Louse’;  Imogen Hubbard (J2) sang ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’;  Isaac Lowry (J2) recited ‘Man was made to Mourn’;  Katie Robertson (J1) recited ‘Scots Wha Hae’;  Erin Stevens (J2) sang ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’ and  Jenny Walls (J2) recited ‘Death and Dr Hornbrook’.

The overall winner of the Quaich, for the second year running, was Jenny Walls.  Her emotional and energetic recitation captivated the judges for twelve minutes and consisted of 31 verses.  Congratulations go to all who took part and who spent many long hours learning their poems and songs by heart.

Mathematics
Following their success in the Edinburgh Regional Final of the UK MT Senior Mathematical Team Challenge, Calum Worsley, Lewis Macdonald (both VI), Adam Shannon and Maria Tatulea-Codrean (both V) took part in the national final in London.  With a total of 63 of the top schools in the UK taking part, the Dollar team performed very creditably finishing in twenty-sixth place. Their picture appears elsewhere in this newsletter. 

Prep and Junior School Assembly
The photograph on the last page of this newsletter is of Mrs Harewood’s Junior School class following their brilliant Assembly which dealt with the sinking of the Titanic.

Prep 5 Book Group
After reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prep 5 Book Group members were asked to enter a competition by drawing what they would like to have at the back of their wardrobes.  There were some magnificent drawings and the winner was Gracie Shearer, who drew a very busy and colourful fairground, with Finlay Johnston as runner-up with his drawing of a magnificent “dinosaur land”.

Rotary Youth Leader Award
Alloa Rotary selected two pupils, Alice Green and Robyn Maitland (both IV), to attend the annual Rotary Youth Leader Award camp in July this year.

Rugby
The visit of ex-Samoa international Freddie Tuilagi is covered on the front page and Freddie is picture with some of the Junior School players in the newsletter.  Finlay Johnston (P5) was delighted to be selected by Hillfoots Rugby Club to be a mascot for Scottish Rugby at the Calcutta Cup match against England at Murrayfield.

Shooting
Julia Melling (VI) has been selected for the 2012 British Cadet Rifle Team (The Athelings) for their annual tour to Canada.  This is a highly prestigious honour and all at Dollar are very proud of Julia’s achievement.  Also going to Canada this summer will be Robbie Jones (V) and Duncan Smith (III) who have been selected for the Rocky Mountain and Argonaut camps respectively.  Lindsey McKerrell and Calum Macdonald (both V) have been selected to attend the United Kingdom Cadet Rifle Team trials in March. 

Swimming
Several Dollar pupils took part in the Central Schools Swimming Championships at Grangemouth in November.  Dollar Academy won the shield for the overall Best Primary School, as well as winning the U-12 Boys and Girls Relays.  In addition, at their age group, Fiona McCall (P4) won the 25m Girls Backstroke, Harry Gray (P5) won the 25m Boys Backstroke, Deborah Meikle (I) won the 50m Girls Backstroke, Amy Salmon (P5) won the 25m Girls Backstroke, Kara Shiels (P5) won the 25m Girls Freestyle, Aisla Gordon (II) won the 200m Girls Freestyle and 100m Girls Butterfly, Callum Lawrie (II) won the 200m Boys Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley as well as the 100m Boys Breaststroke, Lucy Thomson (II) won the 200m Girls Individual Medley and the 100m Girls Breaststroke and the 100m Girls Freestyle, and finally, Craig Coull (V) won the 200m Boys Backstroke.

At the Scottish Schools Swimming Champipnships at East Kilbride in January, Callum Lawrie (II) was selected to represent the Central Schools area and he won a Gold in the 100m Breaststroke and a Silver in the 200m Individual Medley.  Deborah Meikle (I) finished a very creditable seventh in the 50m Backstroke.

STAFF

Many congratulations to Mrs Heather Moore (English) who ran the Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon in October completing the course in just over four and a half hours and raising well over £500 for the charity Children 1st. 

NEWS 

Careers Convention 2012
The school will be holding its biennial Careers Convention on Wednesday 14 March 2012.  Many dozens of presenters from a wide range of professions and careers will be in school to give parents and pupils the chance to learn more about what is on offer in the world of work.  There are a number of careers as yet unrepresented and parents are asked to contact the Deputy Rector, Geoff Daniel, if they are able to offer help themselves, or if they know anyone who would be prepared to meet pupils to discuss their professions. There is no requirement to give a presentation or supply resources: the point is to be there and willing to talk one-to-one about life in the career.  Currently, we are seeking help in: Fire Service, Social Work, Law, the Armed Services, Banking [retail and investment], Diplomatic, Translation, Human Resource management, Photography, Archaeology, Marine Biology and the Civil Service.

DAPA Open Evening (Geography Department)
Linked with the Form II Charities Disco, DAPA Open Evenings provide an opportunity to meet with other parents and staff over a glass of wine to discover more about the work of the department, with the opportunity for hands-on experience.  This year it is the turn of the Geography Department and the events will take place on Thursday 23 February 2012 from 7pm to 9pm, meeting initially in the school library. 

Form II Play
This year’s Form II play was an adaption of a thriller called Room 13. The entire cast and backstage team deserve great praise for putting together this excellent production.

Gymnastics and Dance Display 2012
This year’s display will be held on the morning of Thursday 15 March.  Parents of performers are welcome to attend and we are delighted to announce that former pupil David Croxford, the current Scottish Open Mens Gold Medallist (Floor), has agreed to perform at this event.

Internet Safety
As part of the activities for Safer Internet Day 2012, CEOP (The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) have launched 'Keeping up with the Joneses', a short 1950's style trailer that aims to get parents and carers thinking about their children's online lives - the trailer can be found at www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/parentsguide/ and also on CEOP's Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/ceop#p/u/6/ytcAf2-yIFc.

Also released in the last few days is The Parents and Carers Guide to the Internet, described as an entertaining and light-hearted look at what it takes to be an online parent, available at www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/ and also at www.youtube.com/ceop.  It includes interviews from experts including Dr Tanya Byron and Dr Linda Papadopoulos, as well as from key industry players, and most importantly, from children themselves. This TV-style show aims to answer all of the tricky questions parents may be afraid to ask.

The CEOP video resources used in school can all be found at www.youtube.com/ceop, and our own Internet Safety Leaflet can always be accessed on our website at www.dollaracademy.org/assets/pdf/internet_safety_leaflet.pdf

Language Exchanges
It is heartening to see the very healthy numbers becoming involved in our language exchange trips, with over 70 Dollar pupils now signed up for the various summer term programmes involving our French, German and Spanish partner schools.  Our new link with the Colegio Santa Maria in Toledo should prove to be an excellent opportunity for those involved and we are looking forward to welcoming over twenty Spanish youngsters to Dollar in May.  The linguistic and cultural experiences are very valuable and our pupils usually have a wonderful time in the process. 

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
It may be worth repeating the notice given in the last newsletter that the school will be closed on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 June 2012.  The boarding houses will remain open.

FORMER  PUPILS

Dr Martin Nimmo (2003), an Associate working in general dental practice in London, has been elected to chair the British Dental Association’s Young Dentists’ Committee.

All at Dollar, and the Prep School in particular, would like to thank the North of England Club for their kind donation of £500 towards the purchase of outdoor play equipment for our younger children.

HELP  PLEASE

It would be greatly appreciated if all parents using Back Road for dropping off and collecting their children would do so with great care and with suitable consideration for local residents.

MAIN  DATES  FOR  YOUR  DIARY

Friday 10 February                                           Mid-term break begins at 3 25pm
                                                                        Boarders leave by 5pm
Sunday 19 February                                         Boarders return afternoon/evening
Monday 20 February                                       School resumes at 8 40am
Wednesday 22 February                                  Junior School Science Fair
Thursday 23 February                                       DAPA Open Evening (Geography Department)
Wednesday 29 February                                  Junior School Cross-Country Championships
Monday 5 March                                             Form V Parents’ Evening
Wednesday 7 March                                       Senior Cross-Country Championships
Wednesday 14 March                                      Careers Convention

THRIFT  SHOP  OPENING  – 2 30pm – 4 00pm  (2nd and 4th Thursday of the month)

Thursday 23 February                                                Thursday 8 March
Thursday 22 March                                                    Thursday 26 April
Thursday 10 May                                                       Thursday 24 May

Parents were invited to bring girls’ party dresses into the Thrift Shop after half-term for the Christmas party season.  Parents who brought in party dresses are asked to call into the Thrift Shop during January 2012 to collect any unsold items.  Any dresses still in the Thrift Shop in February will be donated to charity.

The Thrift Shop is also happy to take specialist items for co-curricular activities such as:

We are always in need of the following items:

Due to recent changes to the school uniform list we will no longer be taking the following items:

           
We also have a new school umbrella - a vented version, ideal for our windy Dollar weather - still at the same price of £16.00.

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.