July 2009
Dear Parents,
My first term at DCPS ended in a marvellous whirl of report writing, speech days, musical and sporting events and social occasions. As one would expect, the pace of life at DCPS did not ease until the very last afternoon of term and even then, with the boys on their well-earned break, there was much work still to be done to close off the year and to prepare for September.
Some eleven weeks ago, I stood in the headmaster’s office with George Marsh, just a matter of days before the start of this term. Despite my experience, or, possibly, because of it, I was a little overcome with emotion, as was George. I felt enormously privileged to be given the opportunity of leading DCPS, whilst, at the same time, I was somewhat in awe of the challenge, responsibility and opportunity that lay ahead.
George sensed. Without fuss, he handed me his own set of school keys. He then walked to the office door and stopped. ‘Enjoy,’ he said, before leaving and closing the door behind him.
What will the staff be like? How will I put names to faces? How will the boys be? What should I say on my very first morning’s assembly? What of the parents? How will I ever get to know everyone and what on earth shall I speak about on the sessions entitled, ‘Meet the New Headmaster’? My mind was filled with questions…few answers!
I need not have worried. Within the opening hour of my initial meeting with staff I felt an immediate warmth and connection. Within minutes of addressing the boys in my first assembly I began to feel an awakening sense of collegiality; the opportunities enormous. And within seconds, such was the level of attendance, (thank you for giving up your time), I understood and appreciated the support you, the parents, give your sons and the school.
George said, ‘Enjoy’.
Apart from the odd hiccup and the continuing threat of Swine Flu, I don’t think I could have enjoyed the term more. My introduction to school life, and home life, in SE 21 has been everything I had hoped for, and for that I have everyone in the school community to thank. It has been enormously busy, which I expected…but the pace, energy and enthusiasm is the catalyst for truly exciting levels of collective endeavour and, at times, individual brilliance. My term has been punctuated with numerous highlights.
‘Stuff and Nonsense’... one such gem!
‘Stuff and Nonsense’ is very much a DCPS tradition, firmly embedded in the end of year ‘culture’. It is a performance platform, encouraging Upper School boys to dream-up, write, or research, then rehearse and audition for a ‘slot’ on the evening schedule. It may be dance, song, mime, irreverent comedy; there is nothing (within reason) that is not considered, and it is firmly ‘pupil driven’ and enormously good fun!
At the Lower School’s Prize Giving, Miss Nicola Collette-White, Head of the Lower School and, like me, new to DCPS this term, said, ‘Boys, I have had a great term..I have been overwhelmed, surprised, worried...’
As Nicola was speaking I was thinking.....all three of the emotions that Nicola has been experiencing over the course of the entire term…I experienced in one evening, over a period of two hours, whilst watching ‘Stuff and Nonsense’.
Overwhelmed...how brilliant an interpretation of Paul Young’s, ‘Wherever I lay my Hat’, by David Conceicao. Simply staggering mime: sublime theatre.
Surprised...Baven Balendran’s dance ‘moves’. ..energy, with edge…a real revelation. Eton will be wondering what has hit it!
Worried...I had been told of last year and so throughout Harry Hancock’s electrifying rendition of Dame Shirley Bassey’s, ‘Hey, Big Spender’, I was absolutely petrified he was going to slink off stage to come and sit on my knee. Thank you, Harry, for sparing me!
Other gems and highlights which indicate that DCPS is far stronger than the sum of its parts:
- The Summer Serenade: The Big Band… and many, many congratulations to the boys (not forgetting Mr. Street!) for their winning performance at the ‘Music for Youth’ national finals held in Birmingham; the marimbas; the African drumming; Alec Cadzow’s haunting pipes
- The first XI’s performances with bat and ball...and their never say die spirit! It looks as if the England Ashes squad has been secretly watching and learning from our lads!
- The Nursery Sports Day...which many will have experienced, but a very, very unique ‘first’ for me. Patriotic flag waving and marching (straight from the London Olympics 1948), accompanied by music from the World of Disney, then the races, followed by lollies…a true spectacle…the format of which I have thoroughly recommended to Lord Coe
- Motoy Kuno-Lewis, one of this year’s Music Scholars, who captivated the Upper School ‘s ‘Prize Giving’ with his violin solo, playing ‘Adoration’ by Borowski .
- The Upper School’s ‘Book Week’, the initiative of Mr. Aitchison and Mrs. Fletcher (our librarian), was a resounding success. World-renowned visiting authors and Murder Mysteries in the library at break times held many captivated, but for me, the highlight was Mr. Glenn Smart’s assembly reading from ‘Brideshead Revisited’...accompanied by music and his teddy bear...pure performance art
- The receipt of a phone call from Winchester informing me that the Stern twins, Arthur and Christopher, had scored exactly the same in percentage terms in their scholarship exams, and so both were to be offered ‘Election’
- Spike Gleave’s (1T) wonderfully controlled playing in the Abraham’s Piano Competition finals...especially as his feet could not reach the pedals. Overall, an evening of musical performance unlikely to be bettered at any prep school in the UK
- Nick Chudzynsky’s Annexe Swimming Demonstration on their Open Morning...almost synchronised swimming by 5 year old boys…a true feat of organisation and discipline. Clearly there will be boys who in future years will hope to rival Y8’s Marlon Gasparotto’s phenomenal performances in the pool; this year Marlon set five individual school records
- Robert Good’ s presentation of money raised through his request to his friends to forgo bringing presents to his birthday party; instead, Robert asked them to make a donation to The Sparrow Schools Foundation. Putting others first, helping those unable to help themselves, looking to serve…the ovation Robert received from his peers in assembly was a reflection of how highly they regarded his gesture…a true highlight of the term.
This is what ISI said about us this year:
‘DCPS provides an outstandingly broad and stimulating range of experience for all its pupils, who love their school and develop into highly confident, balanced, informed and thoughtful young people, ready for the next stages of their development.’
Although not quite as rigorous an assessment, I was met at The Annexe ‘Open Morning’ by a gentleman clutching ‘Tatler’ magazine’s, ‘Schools Guide’. He thrust it forward with the question ‘So, is it right what they say?’...I had no idea we were in the guide...so I had to ask him, if, first, he would let me read what it said.
To quote: ‘Dulwich College Prep is not for layabouts or precious flowers. It’s looking for boys who are prepared to get involved and push themselves. ‘
Absolutely right, our boys do look to push themselves…and they’re supported in doing so by a superb staff, brimming with enthusiasm and talent.
Enthusiasm and DCPS staff...it’s a little like apple crumble, with vanilla ice-cream…they complement each other, they are perfectly matched! I have never worked with a more gifted, committed and fun-loving staff.
Our teachers are the engine room of the school, they set and maintain the pace (relentless!) and they spread enthusiasm into the hearts and minds of us all. This year we say farewell to several teachers who have provided the inspiration, at various stages, for many of our boys; Al Delafield, Felicity Ashton, Simon Ashton, Jon and Tessa Besley , Lucy Otway, Andrea Portbury, Marianne Groom and Kate Roe. Our thanks and best wishes go with each as they embark on new adventures.
A special thank you and our best wishes go to our swimming guru, Mr. Andy O’Loughlin, who this summer returns to Australia having elevated DCPS swimming into the national rankings; a superb feat. In true Aussie style he has motivated, driven and cajoled our boys to give of their best and they have responded, brilliantly: the hallmarks of a great coach, and we will miss him.
I would also like to make note of the tremendous contribution made to school by two true stalwarts of DCPS; Thomas Noble, our Deputy Head (Curriculum) and Miss Irene Costaras, who teaches in The Annexe. On concluding this term, both Thomas and Irene have completed twenty-five years of unbroken service and commitment to the school; a significant milestone! On behalf of all the boys they have nurtured over the years, and their parents, I thank them most sincerely.
Another DCPS stalwart, Mrs. Shirley O’Loughlin, the school’s catering and domestic supervisor, retired this summer having worked for thirty five years, and for three headmasters, at the Prep. Shirley’s work has mostly been behind the scenes, but has not gone unnoticed! Such dedication is hugely appreciated and we wish her many happy years, when time will now be her own!
This first term has been hugely enjoyable and massively rewarding. DCPS is a wonderfully successful school with a national reputation; the envy of many.
Successful, yes; but, certainly, never complacent! We are looking to improve and to do even better, collectively and for each individual pupil:
I have taken to heart the comments made by ISI in their report;
I have solicited the views of teachers and support staff;
I have sought the views of the pupils through the School Council;
And, shortly, I will be approaching you for your views on many aspects of the school.
In essence we are driving forward towards the creation of an outstanding school that recognises the ways in which each of our pupils is unique, consistent with contemporary understanding of multiple intelligences and rich individual differences. While we will appreciate traditional notions of academic potential and achievement, equally we will recognise and celebrate each child’s physical abilities, creativity, compassion, sense of responsibility, ability to perceive and create beauty, capacity to feel and express empathy, good humour and strength of character.
We hope the atmosphere we will create fosters the ability to take academic risks and to value strengths and differences in others. We will work hard to uphold an atmosphere of high challenge and mutual support.
I want DCPS to be recognised as a school which supports each pupil’s emerging aspirations for life, rather than distilling childhood into a race to complete the next stage. We will help the boys savour every moment of their time with us. We will help them excel.
Already, we have identified initiatives that will improve our provision for the boys and we will implement these for September. I am enthused by the prospect of the new academic year and look forward to sharing the detail of the changes with you at the start of term.
New initiatives take time to ‘bed in’...Rome was not built in a day…but, with such strong foundations…DCPS is brilliantly placed to embrace change and seize the opportunity. I conclude this letter as I concluded my first,
‘These are challenging times: exciting times.’
Enjoy the summer break!
Very best regards,
Michael W Roulston