The Open Morning (thank you for your very positive feedback on the move to the morning rather than whole day, I think it was appreciated by everyone!) was barely over when we seemed to enter the flurry of Christmas festivities…and such a flurry: nativity plays; snow falls; Christmas lunches, with mandatory screeching balloons; the Christmas Concert; the Lower School’s panto; carol services …it is one of the unique beauties (and challenges) of DCPS…things come in multiples thereof!

Being my first DCPS Christmas I was captivated from start to finish, although certain highlights stand out: Oliver Black’s (7T) solo opening verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City,’ performed at the Sparrow Carol Service and again, in duet with James Pye (8A), at our own carols ; the donkey in one of the Nursery nativities who became fascinated, in turn, with his swishy tail, his floppy ears and then the straw in the stable…priceless; the music scholars’ comic rendition of the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas,’ as seen through the eyes of an increasingly exasperated Emily and, of course, Mr. Aitchison’s marvellous reading from Joyce Grenfell’s classic, Nativity Play. A huge thank you to the staff, the boys, and Nursery girls, who in so many ways brought the season of goodwill and cheer to life, and to you, our parents, for supporting any ( or many!) of the events.

Without doubt, the highlight for me was the PTA’s, ‘Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party,’ an event steeped in tradition and which I approached with a certain trepidation. I need not have worried, for bands of willing parents, and boys, and our appreciative guests carried the day. I loved the fun, the good humour and the warmth of the occasion, as I am sure did our local elderly residents and of course, as tradition has it, I got to call the bingo: DCPS has offered no end of ‘firsts’ for me! One lovely lady, upon leaving, informed me that she was 98 years of age and that this was her 31^st Christmas Party at the school…she added she was looking forward to next year’s already…so am I! A huge thank you to all, especially the boys, who gave up those few hours to brighten the lives of others…it represented the true spirit of Christmas, and of DCPS.

And for me that spirit of DCPS, two terms in, is becoming ever clearer.

At the beginning of the term, way back in the days of hazy, autumnal sunshine, I asked the boys to, ‘Think Happy, Be Happy!’ and we looked at various ways in which we, as individuals and collectively, could make that happen. We could be more polite and appreciative, more focused through setting goals and targets, more supportive of our peers…we could simply smile more…and we have!

Well, I have!

At half-term, I smiled as I watched our 1^st XV win a hard-fought, bruising encounter against the Under 14s from the local side, Loule, in the final match of the tour to Portugal. The 1^st XV remained unbeaten for the rest of the season.

In early November, I smiled (grimaced actually!) as I languished in the ‘stocks’ in the medieval village in York and was pelted with wet straw for being ‘an unshaven woman.’ No wonder the Year 6 York trip proves so popular!

Just a day later, I smiled as I sat beside George Marsh at the School’s Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and listened to our Big Band, the majority now ex-pupils, enthral an audience of nearly 5,000 people.

At the end of the same month, in Friday’s Middle and Upper School assembly, I looked out upon a sea of moustaches, some real, most fake (but infinitely better looking!) The boys looked brilliant, the ladies fantastic and amongst all this frivolity we had raised an enormous sum of money (£5,000) for the men’s health charity, ‘Movember.’

Ever since the announcement of William Boys-Stones as Head Boy for the term, ably assisted by Tribe Captains Archie Ward, Freddie Neden, Bonar McGuire and James Pye and prefects: Edward Barrett, Eugene Daley, Robbie Ellison, Joe Froud, Ben Gruenberg, Guy Joseph, Raffy Marshall, Alex McFadden, Bonar McGuire, Alex Montague, Harry Patchett, Alex Rackow, Olly Smith, Chris Stone, the school, led by the Year 8s, the senior boys, has sought to live up to the motto, “Think Happy, Be Happy”, and a wonderfully positive tone has been set. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all the senior boys for the contribution they have made and will, no doubt, continue to make in the term ahead.

Week after week in assemblies throughout the school, heartfelt applause, (sometimes near deafening applause!) has cascaded through the corridors in recognition of a peer’s performance, or achievement or contribution, or of a collective job well done. And, as is right for a school of this size and of this standing, we have much to recognise and reward. For example, congratulations to:

Dominic Beardmore (6S) for entering his mini-movie, ‘No News,’ into a Blue Peter competition and then having it submitted for a Children’s Bafta!

Henry Kitchen (8A) for being offered a place with the National Children’s Orchestra. Henry plays trombone (grade 8,) ‘cello (grade 7) and piano (grade 8) and is taking a music and academic scholarship to Westminster School;

Joe Froud (8M) and George Gibbs (8J) for being selected to play rugby for the ‘South of England’ against the ‘North of England’ in the final trial for the UK Preparatory Schools’ Barbarians XV, which will tour Ireland next term. Congratulations also to George for winning a Sports’ Scholarship (rugby) to Millfield School;

The Ceilidh Club for raising a substantial amount of money by busking as part of the Thames’ South Bank Festival;

Finlay Saeger, Hugo Cheyne, Oliver Black, Eugene Daley, Henry Kitchen, Dhruv Gupta, Mark Gall, James Pye, Ashley Austin, William Boys-Stone and George Popov for winning double honours certificates during the last term.

Twenty seven boys in the Upper School who were in receipt of ‘Good Citizen’ awards over the course of the term. Three boys; Campbell Gaston-Penny, Henry Kitchen and Noah Clancy deserve special mention as they each received two awards. These awards are given to boys who have shown acts of kindness, or consistently put the needs of others first;

Alexander Bridge (8A) for winning the Buckhurst Trophy for Public Speaking;

One hundred and sixty-eight ‘Good Show Ups’ were awarded to Upper School boys this term, ‘Good Show Ups’ being the formal recognition by a member of staff of an exceptional piece of academic work. The highest earners were Sam Warren-Miell (7J) with 8 and Thomas Lambert (7T) with 6, whilst David Hintze (7W) deserves a mention for earning 4 in total, 3 of which were awarded in maths! In Middle School three boys led the way, each earning 6 ‘Good Show Ups’ they were Dominic Beardmore (6S), Dominic Kemp (6S) and Alexander Popov (6J);

James Mwendra (5B) has had his book review of The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John published in ‘Aquila’ the children’s literary magazine.

There are simply too many wonderful achievements to bring to your attention in my letter, so please, as a new year’s resolution, could I ask you to log on to the website on a regular basis and share in our successes.

One member of staff who made a success of everything she touched was Miss Anna Sephton, who taught for three wonderful years in the Annexe. At the end of term Anna bade farewell to DCPS and returned home to North Island, New Zealand. We wish her every success as she starts her new adventures. What awaits?…The last we heard, Anna was scallop diving with her father and brother, for the Christmas BBQ!

The school concluded the term in fine, festive fettle…with an almost tangible feel-good factor. We aim to pick up where we left off and so a fabulous working term lies ahead.

Although we are still in the depths of winter (snow is apparently on its way, again) crocus bulbs are already pushing through. Springtime is just around the corner and with it longer, brighter days…there is much to look forward to, not least our own 125^th anniversary celebrations, more of that to come!

 

 

Happy New Year!