Rector's Newsletter - June 2010

The long spell of dry weather continued almost to the end of term, and a memorable Sports Weekend was bathed in sunshine from beginning to end. 

The junior musical Rats in early June showed the talent of the Musical Director, Mrs Mairi Leggatt, and the Producer, Miss Sally Horne, as the children enjoyed exploring the pathos of this particular version of the Pied Piper story.  The brightly coloured sets and costumes contributed to the visual appeal.  Pathos was again at the heart of the quite exceptional senior musical, Evita, as the tragic life of Eva Perón was acted out on the macrobert stage.  Mr McGonigle and Mrs Robb produced a show which combined athleticism, outstanding musicality, stylish acting, and sharp political insight.  The final night brought a standing ovation from the whole house – the first I can recall in a Dollar Academy Senior Musical.  

The curtain then rose on a Sports Weekend which combined reunions – the 10, the 20 and the 50 year events – with the wide range of opportunities to see Dollar at work and play.   The Paulin Exhibition was a memorable addition to the traditional events.  The Art Exhibition which included the Time Capsule display was of its customary magnificent standard;  the tours of the school showed Dollar Academy ready for the new opportunities of next session;  the athletics competition provided the chance for our young athletes, many straight from the musical, and a morning pipe band competition, to demonstrate their prowess;  the pipe band displays on the Saturday and Sunday were very well crafted and full of imagination;  and on the Saturday evening, it was learned that the Dollar A band, already Scottish CCF Pipe Band Champions, had just won for the first time the British Championships competed for in Annan on the Saturday morning.  On the Sunday, despite some rain, the 1st XI narrowly overcame the Rector’s XI in their final match of a good season.

Mary and I should like to thank the many colleagues and friends, parents and pupils whose support has made our time in Dollar so enjoyable, and particularly so in the recent hectic weeks.  We join in giving our best wishes to the new Rector and to the Academy from 2010-2011 onwards.
                                                    

PUPILS

Athletics
In the Scottish Schools Athletics Championships held in mid-June, Emma Donoghue (VI) won the O-17 Girls Javelin;  Nicole Abel (V) came second in the same event.  Kathryn Gillespie (II) won the U-14 Girls 800 and 1500m races, and also the “Outstanding Girls” 800m trophy.  In the Forth Valley Athletics Championships, Dollar Academy won the overall title under the leadership of Robyn McAree and Adam Gilbert (both III).    

Chess
In the final of the Scottish Schools Chess Competition, the Dollar Academy team finished as runners-up in a close match with James Gillespie’s.  The achievements of Jamie Hookham and Clemens Winter (both VI), Adam Shannon (III) and Ian Tait (I) in reaching the final was most commendable, and the first time Dollar has reached this final in over twenty years.

Computing Competition
The Form II team of Harris Aslam, Ewen O’Donnell, Jack Smart and Calum Sreenan won the Strathmore Trophy Computing Competition run by the University of Dundee.  They had to design a concept which incorporated RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, and then present their idea to four “dragons” and fifteen other schools.  Their i-shopper concept received a total backing of £25,000, £5,000 more than the runners-up.  They also won £250 for Dollar Academy’s Computing Department. 

Cricket
There have been some outstanding performances by cricketers throughout the school this summer – and not one match has been cancelled because of weather, for the first time in living memory.  The 1st XI Captain, Peter Ross (VI), has been selected for the Scotland U-17 team and U-18 World Cup Qualifier team for the next U-19 World Cup.  A number of the senior cricketers scored heavily this season, and the most notable performance was Peter Ross’s 103* in a partnership of 160 with Scott Weir (VI) when the 1st XI beat Watson’s by 10 wickets.  A number of other cricketers, including Scott Bell and Hamish Tester (both IV), have been selected for regional squads. 

Dance
Becky Webb (V) has successfully auditioned for the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance based at The Space in Dundee, and she has gained an unconditional offer to study BA Honours in Performance Dance.  She has also passed her Royal Academy of Dance Intermediate examination, which is the first step to becoming a registered teacher.  Becky is one of a group of twenty students from all over the UK and Europe who have been selected for the Dundee course. 

Debating
The final of this year’s school debating competition took place in the Captain’s Room on Friday June 25th.  4 teams had won through from several earlier rounds – over 60 pupils entered the competition – and wrestled with the motion “This house believes that parents do not have enough power in schools”. The proposition consisting of Michael Lang and Michael O’Connell (both VI) coupled with Jessica Smart (V) and Carol Roberts (VI) claimed education would be improved with greater parental influence and involvement. Opposing, the teams of Ruth Cameron (IV) and Gavin Woolman (V) alongside Joanne Cubitt and Lizzy Walker (both VI) claimed that education was best left to the experts and that parental involvement was too often motivated purely by self interest. In the end, after a tremendously hard fought contest the judges decided that the first opposition team of Ruth Cameron (IV) and Gavin Woolman (V) had marshalled their arguments more effectively and convincingly than the other competitors. Congratulations to Ruth and Gavin on their well deserved victory.

Equestrian Championships
In this year’s Kilgraston Championships, Rosie Keith (IV) won Best Individual in the Combined Training arena. 

First Aid Competition
In the national competition held at Drumshoreland, over 120 cadets from ACF, ATC and CCF competed.  For the first time ever, Dollar won the Best Overall Team prize along with the Best CCF Team.  The team comprised Bethan Collier (V), Robbie Jones (III), Robert Henson and Gail Scott (both II). 

Football
Blair McWhirter (VI) has been signed by Dunfermline Athletic FC on a full-time contract.  He is deferring entrance to university with a view to concentrating on his football career. 

Golf
At the Scottish Schools Golf Championship, the Forth Valley Schools Girls’ team, comprising Alison Goodwin (V) and Eilidh Watson (II) came third overall – an outstanding achievement.  Nearer home, Alison successfully defended her Ladies’ Scratch Club Championship at Glenbervie, while her younger sister Catherine (I) won the Ladies’ Handicap Club Championship on the same day.  It is thought that this is the first time in the club’s history that two members of the same family have won a Club Championship in the same year – even more of an achievement when both are Junior members.

The Galley
Dollar were runners-up in the School Magazine Awards recently in the Best Editorial Content competition, and the Academy was highly commended for the very high standard of articles throughout the magazine.  The editorial team also won the GTC Scotland Correspondents Competition.  Eilidh Hargreaves (VI) showed initiative in interviewing Judy Murray, mother of Andy, and Eilidh was presented with a digital voice recorder to help with the reporting and journalistic skills next session. 

Green Eco Blue Peter Badges
Georgia Garry (P5) and her sister Lara (P3) are to be commended on their recent winning of Green Eco Blue Peter Badges.  The Editor of Blue Peter was most impressed by their green initiatives at home.  They have a poly-tunnel, and they also have chickens.  They have planted trees and special plants to attract bees. 

Heads and Deputies 2010-2011
The following appointments have been announced:  Nicole Abel (Head Girl);  Grant Blair (Head Boy);  and Louise Cunningham, Alex Kirby, David Barcroft and Alastair Fenwick (Deputies).

Hockey
The office bearers for session 2010-2011 are:  Nicole Abel (Captain);  Rachel Mills (Vice Captain);  Louise Cunningham (Secretary).

Rugby
The 1st XV office bearers for 2010-2011 are:  Adam Dearden (Captain);  Ruaridh Cameron (Vice Captain);  Donald Sutherland and David Barcroft (Secretaries).

Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet
Ruth Clarke (V) has been appointed Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for next session.

Lifeguard Course
A large number of senior pupils are to be commended on their completion of their Lifeguard qualifications.  Tom Haddow (VI) was singled out by the examiner from the group who had successfully completed the Standard course;  David Johnstone (VI), as one of those who went through the Fast-track course, scored full marks in the written examination.

Pips Band Results
Summer term has again brought a string of successes for Dollar Academy’s pipe band.  In the Scottish Schools CCF competition held against the magnificent backdrop of George Heriot’s School, Dollar’s pipe band won the competition for the eleventh year in succession – undefeated therefore this century. 

Apart from the overall performance, a range of individual prizes was won and these are listed as follows: 
Intermediate Piping - Lucy Ferguson (I) won the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cup,  David Barcroft (V) took the second place shield;  Senior Piping - Fraser Stewart (VI) third;  Junior Drumming - Laura Manson (I) second;  Intermediate Drumming - Beth Waters (IV) second;  Senior Drumming - Louise Carson (V) collected the CCF Schools Cup, Erin Stanhope (V) third;  Bugling Competition:  Edward Torrance (IV) first;  Drum Majors’ Cadre - Kerr Wishart (VI) won the Ron Ackroyd Quaich,  Matthew Orr (V) was third;  Drill and Turnout -  Dollar Academy first;  Bass and Tenor Competition - Catriona Jardine (VI) collected the CCF Rose Bowl;  Best Drum Corps - Louise Carson (V) collected the Bob Montgomery Cup. 

Fraser Stewart (VI) collected the OTC Challenge Cup, and special mention was made in Assembly of the fact that Tom Hogarth and Fraser Stewart (both VI) had now completed eight years with the A band.

Swimming
Zoe Mitchell (II) reached the finals in all the events she entered in the Scottish Age Group Swimming Championships this year and she achieved the Bronze medal in 1,500m Freestyle.  Alyshia McCracken (II) in the same Nationals was a member of a four girl relay team who took Silver in both 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay and 4 x 100m Medley Relay.  The team are also West District record holders and champions in the 4 x 50m Freestyle and Medley Relay.  Alyshia herself became West District champion by winning Gold in the 800m Freestyle, Silver in the 200m, and Bronze in the 400m.

Quiz
Over fifty years ago, Dollar Academy established a national reputation for general knowledge as a result of a team victory in the final of the BBC radio Top of the Form.  Now, Dollar’s name is once again the answer to a quiz question – Who won the UK National Junior Schools Challenge?  In mid-June, in Winchester, four regional champion schools came together to compete for the much prized trophy.  Dollar’s winning team, David Verghese - Captain (II), Duncan Cooper, Jack McNicol and Calum Weir (all I) won the competition by the largest margin in the fifty years of the tournament.  Calum Weir, incidentally, is now the fourth of the Weir brothers to be a Scottish quiz champion – but the first to be British Champion too.

Tennis
Sophie Williamson (II) and Hannah Worsley (I) won the Kilgraston Invitation Junior Tennis Tournament, dropping only three games in total against Glenalmond, Kilgraston, Ardvreck, Strathallan and Craigclowan.  In the Senior Tournament, played the following day, the Dollar team of Emma Donoghue and Kirsten Duff (both VI) were runners-up. 

Thai Boxing
Michael Russell (II) won the Scottish title in his Thai Boxing at 50 kilos.  This goes along with the British title he achieved last year.

STAFF

The George Henry Paulin Exhibition
Mrs Janet Carolan (Archivist), and Mr Ryan Welsh (History and Modern Studies) are to be congratulated on their excellent organisation of the George Henry Paulin Exhibition which took place in Dollar Academy over Sports Weekend.  We were delighted that the sculptor’s daughter, Mrs Mary Witherow, was in attendance and large numbers visited the exhibition itself. 

Scotland’s Health Living Award
Mr Paul McGurl, Dollar’s Catering Manager and Mrs Susan Kerr the Head Chef recently won Scotland’s Healthy Living Award at the Beardmore Hotel in Clydebank. 

Chemistry – RSC Award
The Royal Society of Chemistry has recently made a Schools Education Award to Dr Bill Beveridge.  During the past two years, Dr Beveridge, who is Head of Chemistry here in Dollar, has been working as an Education Representative for the RSC, and he is currently developing the new Higher and Advanced Higher Chemistry. 

Staff Golf
Once again, the Dollar Academy golfers retained the Robertson Rose Bowl which is presented for the annual match with the staff of Stewart’s Melville.  Mr Blezard and the Dollar squad are to be congratulated on their achievement. 

NEWS

From the Bursar
The vast majority of parents paying fees to Dollar Academy now pay by direct debit.  It has been agreed by Governors that from the start of next session, parents of new pupils joining the Academy will pay fees by direct debit unless specifically exempted by written permission from the Bursar.  Arrangements for existing parents will continue unaltered, although it would be appreciated if all parents were to consider moving on to the scheme.    Further information will be available from the Bursar.

Form VI Italian for session 2010-2011
Having successfully introduced Italian last session, the Modern Languages Department is keen to build on the interest shown in the language.  A number of members of Form V are likely to be studying Italian at a higher level in Form VI.

Visit by Salahuddin Ahmed
A number of Form II cricketers relished the opportunity to bowl to a former Pakistani test cricketer who visited Dollar in mid-June.  Sallu, who played five tests for Pakistan in the 1960s, sent his son to Dollar a decade ago, and father and son paid a nostalgic visit to the Academy.  Sallu, who was also for many years a Pakistan Selector and Chairman of Selectors singled out three cricketers for particular praise – and they have been individually informed.

Visit by Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning
As a result of Dollar’s involvement in the Scottish Baccalaureate and in the development of the science curriculum in innovative ways, members of staff and pupils had the opportunity to discuss the successes of our approach directly with the two politicians at the centre of education in Scotland.  Dollar’s wider links with the University of Strathclyde for example were explored, and the successes of our first Scot Bacc pupils praised. 

Stars and Stripes
Dollar Academy was privileged to be presented with the US flag which was flown onboard the Camp Bastion Role III Hospital, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  The father of two Dollar pupils had been invited to enable his sons to make the presentation to the school, and the two boys made individual presentations in the Senior and in the Prep and Junior Assembly.  The flag fluttered over Dollar Academy that day.  The boys’ father is an Army Surgeon.

Seismology
Since the installation of a seismograph in Dollar, there has been much pleasure taken from the discovery of earthquakes long before they appear on the news websites. 

Form II Mathematics Activities Day
The philosopher Wittgenstein once said “With my full philosophical rucksack, I can only climb slowly up the mountain of Mathematics “.  On Tuesday 2 June, in contrast, pupils in Form II experienced a morning of non-stop, fast-paced mathematical activities outside amongst the leafy trees of the campus as well as in the classroom.  There were number puzzles, logic problems, shape challenges and games involving team strategies.  Pupils tackled all the activities with energy and determination, resulting in Form Class 2FC as the overall winner with 1009 points.

Time Capsule Exhibition
During Sports Weekend, a highly imaginative exhibition was mounted of the objects which will be placed in the time capsule which will be buried under the front steps during the course of the summer break.  There are cross-curricular projects set up for the future, and some particularly moving letters from young Dollar pupils to future generations.  The project was slow in taking off, but by the end was an extraordinary resource for imaginative exploration of a range of subjects and ideas.

CHARITIES

Charities Week has raised over £1,700 this year as a result of various activities which took place during the week of the Evita performance.  Dollar’s Got Talent on its own made almost £1,000, and over £200 was raised in the Custard Pie Auctions.  The charities which will be supported are CLEFT, Teenage Cancer Trust, and Mercy Ships.

SUMMER  PROJECTS

During the summer holidays, the Academy remains open throughout normal office hours.  There will be many projects undertaken at this time and visitors should be aware that there will be numerous contractors in operation.  Aside from the usual major preparation of pitches, including sanding and re-seeding of grass areas, the following works are scheduled:

FORMER  PUPILS

Recent FPs Samantha Adamson, Cameron Ferguson and Amy Brenkel gained Distinction in their final year of the Dundee University Medical examinations, and will graduate at the end of June.

Graeme Carlyle is to be congratulated on gaining a 2.1 in Classics from the University of Edinburgh.

Ben Thomas obtained a First Class Honours degree in Mathematical Physics from the University of Edinburgh and has secured a position as a trainee actuary with Scottish Widows. 

Lauren Gibson gained an LL B (2.1) from Edinburgh. 

Jennifer McIntosh has been representing GB in the World Cup in Shooting and has recently set a new Scottish Senior record – at the age of 18.  She finished tenth in the final ranking, a wonderful result in her World Cup debut. 

Amanda Fisher has gained a 2.1 in English Literature from Edinburgh. 

Robyn Daniel was awarded an MBBS with Merit from Newcastle University and takes up a post in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.

Rory Houston has been competing in a London to Paris – Arch to Arc – Charity Triathlon Challenge in support of the creation of a scholarship at Oundle School in memory of Thomasin Purbrook who died tragically of Meningitis at the age of 18.

Thrift Shop Opening – 2:30pm – 4:00pm  (2nd and 4th Thursday of the month)

Wednesday 25 August                                              Thursday 26 August
Thursday 9 September                                              Thursday 23 September

We currently have plentiful supplies of the following specialist items:

So do come in and find yourself a bargain!

Please note that we will no longer be taking the following items from 2010:

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.

The hymn book used in Senior School Assemblies, the red CH3 book, is available second-hand from the School Office priced £3.50.

MAIN  DATES  FOR  YOUR  DIARY