Headmaster's Newsletter
August 2005
Dear Parents
It was a wonderful start to the official school year to have our new teachers into school on Thursday and sense their energy and excitement at joining the DCPS staff. Equally uplifting was the reception that same evening in the Mayor of London's parlour overlooking the Thames with the Tower and the city beyond to celebrate the Lower School's London Landmarks project. The pictures the boys took and the tapestry they created were in pride of place for a month in the foyer and seen by up to 10,000 people according to the officials in the building. Term for me certainly started full of hope and expectation.
The most important ingredient that is new at the start of the year are the staff who join us. We have one new teacher in the Nursery, Kylie Brewster, who has already impressed as she has helped prepare her classroom in the temporary Nursery with her cheerful approach.
The Annexe welcomes Ashlea Spammer and Beth Williams who were teaching in the Lower School last year. Gemma Peaple is the new classroom assistant. Last year she was working in the school office, so you will certainly recognise her voice if you do not recognise her in person.
The Lower School has one new class teacher, Felicity Ashton. She has just completed her training at Homerton College, Cambridge. She is taking a Year 4 class.
In the Upper School there are five new faces. Our new Head of ICT is Kieron Norris. He has been teaching overseas and he previously taught at Millfield Prep School. Jonathan Spowart joins the PE Department. He is still playing rugby and joins us from The Blue Coat School, Birmingham, where he gained a first class teaching qualification. Kit Perona-Wright is our new recruit into the Music Department. He has been working at the Royal College of Church Music and has been heavily involved in running a successful church choir. I am looking forward to hearing him play our new organ in Assembly. Joyce Silverman, a former Prep mum, is strengthening our Mathematics and Science Departments. Finally, Sally Mincher is doing two days a week in the Art Department to help Mr Smart maintain the high levels of achievement in that area of the curriculum.
As I reported at the end of last term we have a new Bursar, Nicholas Holliday. He has been very busy this summer managing our two building projects and all the regular maintenance. More of this later. We have a new receptionist, Cathy Kreinczes who was a Prep mum so she will be able to help you when you ring with those little concerns as she has been through them herself. Finally, I am delighted to be able to tell you that Sara Robotham has accepted the position as my secretary. The search for a replacement was a long one but I am convinced, and so is Angela Jackson, that Sara has all the qualities necessary to look after me! Please remember that she is new and schools work on a year long cycle of events so it is not easy for anyone taking over.
There are two major building projects under way which is very exciting. The old Nursery building is no more. It came down very easily indeed, almost as if it was the paint that was holding it up. I hope that the new building will soon begin to take shape on the footprint of the old Nursery. I cannot let talk of the Nursery pass without thanking Helen Strange in particular for her tireless work this summer to make the Nursery a move a success. She has been into school virtually every day to oversee matters. All her staff have been supporting her and the fact all is ready for the boys and girls is a credit to their professionalism.
At the Upper School, the sports hall is also underway with foundations going into the ground. The boys will be able to watch the buildings rise this term as they move to and from lessons in the Betws Building. However, the building site means that we have lost the use of the "cage" next to the Betws building and we have created a new one outside the dining hall, where the cricket nets used to be. Much else has gone on as well, though most of it not as obvious but equally important. One other very clear addition to our facilities is the Lower School play equipment, which looks very exciting. Staff have been seen enjoying it, it is so tempting! The Annexe downstairs classrooms have been repainted and new furniture purchased to brighten up the building and we hope the roof will now not leak! Similarly the Lower School roof has been repaired and refurbished. All this work and myriad of other minor repairs and renewals has to be planned so I owe a big thank you to the Bursar and his team, in particular to Glenn Purdy, Ray Overington and Frank Tarrant who lead our maintenance team. Coming along behind are Shirley O'Loughlin and her ladies who have the job of making sure the school is clean and tidy for the start of term. They have done this once again. We are so lucky with all our support team; without them life would be very different for us teachers.
Parking is always a difficulty at the start and end of the day. I would like to comment on parking on site. We have two disabled bays, one in the Lower School and one in the Upper School car parks. Can you only use those bays if you are disabled. We do have parents who need them. If you are parking on the road can you avoid parking or stopping on any area where there are yellow lines. The lines are put down to protect children by giving them and Bob, our crossing supervisor, a clear view. It is tempting to stop "only this once" but that may cause the accident. The entrance and exit to the Upper School building site is at the southern (Paxton Green) end of our site. Can you please not park over or near this entrance. Equally, big lorries need large turning circles and so please do not park opposite this exit. My final plea on parking is do not park over any gateway ever. We have tolerant neighbours but they have every right to be able to get in and out of their drives without hindrance. We all need to be civil and set an example.
This year we are continuing our attempts to stop boys carrying too much in their bags around school. They are supposed to load their bags with the books for three lessons at a time. Some boys carry all their books around all the time. Wheelie bags have helped them, but they still have to carry these up stairs and in buildings. The result is boys carry up to half their body weight around and this is not good for them physically. This term we will clamp down and not allow boys to wheel their bags around school. The benefit will be twofold, to the boys physically and to our ears! The move at a lesson changeover can sound like the M6 in rush hour, disturbing double lessons to a significant extent. I have no problem with boys using wheelie bags to bring their equipment to school, but once in school they will carry their bags.
I am often asked about who can come to what event. The answer is that any Prep parent or pupil can come to any event. If tickets are needed, just apply for them or just turn up if it is non-ticket. Plays, Carol Services and the like are school events.
May I end by wishing you and your families a really productive and happy year.
Yours sincerely
George Marsh
