Parents Half Term Letter - Summer Term 10


28th May 2010


Dear Parents/Students

Summer Term Update
As many of you will know this coming half term, the last of the academic year, is the busiest with a huge number of events and activities taking place alongside day-to-day teaching. As well as learning from their experiences the idea is to ensure that our students have fun and gain some life-long memories. In many cases parents are invited to many of the events so do come along, join in and support your child and the school.

Staffing News
Mrs Lucy Holgate will be joining us as our new Kindergarten Form Tutor after the half-term holiday. Our original plan was for Mrs Holgate to take over the teaching of K2 as she was a replacement for Mrs Lilleyman who left us at Easter. Indeed many K2 parents will remember meeting Mrs Holgate over coffee one morning just prior to the Easter break. However, you may also recall in my letter to parents at Easter that I mentioned that Mrs Grimes our J3 tutor would be leaving at the end of the summer term. At the time of writing we had not appointed a replacement for Mrs Grimes. In the event we were able to appoint Ms Jodie McGee, a graduate of the University of Southampton and joins us from Greenwich Council where she has worked as a Behaviour Support Worker. Luckily Ms McGee was able to join us quickly and commenced work at Gad’s on 10th May. Since then she has been teaching K2. The K2 children will be going into Ms McGee’s J3 class next September so it actually makes more sense for her to carry on teaching the K2 children for the remainder of the term so that she gets to know them better and develops some continuity ahead of her teaching them in J3 in the new academic year. As a result Mrs Lucy Holgate will not now take over K2 for the remainder of the summer and will instead help out in a variety of roles during what is a busy period of trips and events.

I hope that this all makes sense to you and you agree that in the circumstances it is the better option. If any K2 parents have any concerns about this please let me know.

Mrs Holgate is a graduate of the University of Warwick and joins us from Hillcrest Grammar School, Stockport.

Our Head of Maths Mr John Goodban will be retiring from his full time post at the end of the academic year though he will be with us a couple of mornings per week next year in a part time teaching role. In the meantime Mr Richard Harris will be taking on the role of Head of Maths and we have appointed Mrs Bridget Ostrehan as Teacher of Mathematics from September. Mrs Ostrehan is a graduate of the University of Natal and gained QTS at Canterbury Christ Church and joins us from Walderslade Girls’ High School. She does all sorts of seriously sporty things in her spare time including marathons, triathlon competitions. She will also assist with CCF.

I mentioned in my Easter letter that we will also be joined in September by Mr Paul Savage as our new Head of French and Mrs Stephanie Burke as teacher of Geography. They will be taking over from Mrs Elkins and Mr Bertwistle who will still continue to teach but will be devoting more time to their senior managerial responsibilities.

Also we were joined by Sgt Andrew Lavery (Ex PWRR) as our new Teaching assistant for PE and CCF instructor and who replaces Mr Malcolm Marsh who left us at Christmas.

I trust you will all make our new colleagues very welcome.

Headmaster’s Question time

He never listens, he’s out of touch! Just two examples of frequent complaints about Headmasters. Well not many Head’s are happy to stand in the school hall and for parents to come along and to ask whatever they like. But that is precisely what Headmaster’s question time is all about. On Wednesday, 23rd June I will be in the school hall and this is an opportunity for you to come along and ask questions and find out more about what we do and why and to provide me with some feedback.

Have you ever wondered why we do things the way we do here at Gad’s? Would you like to know more about our exam results? The new school building project? School uniform? How pupils influence decisions, rules and regulations? How we monitor progress? How we set our school fees? These and a myriad of other questions can be answered at the annual Headmaster’s question time.

This is your opportunity to come along and to do-what-it-says-on-the-tin: to ask questions. Hopefully I’ll be able to answer them all and this will enable parents to have their say, to learn more about why things happen and to even influence future policy. If nothing else you might learn that car-park gossip is not always the most reliable or accurate source of information!

Cathedral Evensong / 9th June
The school choir has been invited to join the Cathedral choir sing evensong on the eve of the 140th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens on Wednesday, 9th June at 5.30pm. Dickens, as many parents will know, loved Rochester and based the scenes in many of his books on locations in the Medway towns. And indeed it was his wish when he died that he be buried in Rochester Cathedral. A grateful nation, however, had him buried in Westminster Abbey and each year on 9th June two Gad’s Hill pupils are invited up to the Abbey to lay a wreath on Dickens grave.

This year we aim to celebrate the memory of the great man by holding a very special service in Rochester Cathedral. If anyone wishes to join us please ensure that you are seated in the quire of the Cathedral by 5.20pm. After the service a wreath will be laid at the Dickens memorial in the south transept by pupils from the school.

School Bus
Several years ago we canvassed parents for the interest in us organizing a school bus to pick up children each morning and deliver them to school. In the event there was insufficient support. However, in response to parental enquiries I am happy again to ask whether parents would wish their children to get a bus to school. I would envisage that the coach would follow a route each morning either a, Dartford, Gravesend to school, or b, Rainham, Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester, Strood to school or c, Vigo, Meopham, Cobham, shorne to school. The bus would collect pupils from designated points / bus stops at a flat cost per day or term. Much will depend on the number of parents who are interested as to whether it is financially viable. Given that most children finish their school day at a variety of times I do not envisage that the bus would make a return journey at the end of the school day.

If you are interested in this scheme please complete the attached form and return it to the school office.

Battlefield Tour to The Somme
On Tuesday 13th July , to help enrich their history curriculum, we shall be taking our U4 students to France on a visit to the First World War battlefields. The reason I mention this is that we shall be travelling by coach and we have about ten spare seats on the coach which I would like to offer up to any parents who may be interested on joining us for what will be a very informative and fascinating day out.

We plan to depart school at 7.00am returning at about 9.00pm travelling by coach and Eurotunnel. We shall be visiting Vimy Ridge, site of some remaining trenches and of a Cadnadian assault during 1915. Also the Theipval memorial in the centre of the Somme assault and a memorial to the many tens of thousands of soldiers whos bodies were never recovered. We shall also take in the South Africa museum & memorial at Deville Wood and also see some of the remaining trench systems at the Newfoundland memorial. We will also have time for a wander around the town of Albert around which many of the battles raged.

If any parents would like to join us for the day please give the school office a call (on 01474 822366) and register your interest. I will then get in touch on our return after half term with more specific details and itinerary. The cost will be £49.50 per head and includes all transport and group admission charges.

Sports Days
All parents are warmly welcome to come along and to cheer along their children at these events. As ever you are also invited to provide some entertainment for the children and embarrass yourselves during the annual “parents tug-of-war” competition, held immediately before the presentation of prizes. Please note the “alternative dates” in event of poor weather on the day.

Kindergarten Sports Day 2pm Monday, 28th June

Junior Sports Day 2pm Tuesday, 29th June

Senior Sports Day 2pm Wednesday, 30th June

Prize Giving Services
Parents are very much encouraged to attend our end of year prize giving services to help celebrate their children and the school’s successes over the past year. Prizes are presented by a special guest and there is entertainment provided by the children. Parents are also welcome to join, staff, guests, and Governors to refreshments afterwards.

Kindergarten School 6pm Wednesday, 14th July at the Royal Dockyard Church, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham. The Revd John Prior, Governor will present the prizes.

Junior School 6pm Thursday 15th July at the Royal Dockyard Church, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham where Dr Gary Holden, Headteacher of Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School will present the prizes.

Senior School 7pm Friday 16th July at the Royal Dockyard Church, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham. Mr Keith Williams JP recently retired Headteacher of the Maths schoolwill present the prizes.

Summer Ball
The Senior School Prom takes place 7-10pm on Thursday 15th July for all Senior students; Shell to L5th.

The Kindergarten Ball takes place from 4-6pm on Friday, 16th July for all Kindergarten children.

The Junior School ball will commence at 7-9pm later that same evening.

The annual black tie Summer ball for parents, staff, Governors, guests and Year 11 leavers takes place on Saturday 17th July 7.30pm – 1.00am with four course dinner and dancing with disco. Parents interested in organizing a table of 8 to 10 or just coming along to THE social event of the year should contact the chair of Friends Audrey Cavalier Tej or Alison Acey.



Forthcoming Events
Please make a note in your diary. In most cases a letter giving more details of the event will circulate nearer the time for the parents of those children involved.
 L5th Work Experience week w/c Mon 7th June
 CCF Field day (L4 – L5) Wed 9th June
 KG Sports Day 2pm, Mon 28th June
 Junior Sports Day 2pm, Tues 29th June
 Senior Sports Day 2pm Wed 30th June
 Induction Day Thurs 1st July
 CCF Camp Sat 3rd – 10th July
 KG Activity Week w/c Mon 28th June
 Junior Activity Week w/c Mon 5th July
 Senior Activity Week Mon 12th – Wed 14th July
 KG Prize Giving 6pm Wed 14th July,Dockyard

 Junior Prize Giving 6pm Thurs 15th July, Dockyard
 Senior School Prom 7-10pm Thurs 15th July
 KG Ball 4-6pm Fri 16th July
 Junior School Ball 7-9pm Fri 16th July
 Senior Prize Giving 7pm Fri 16th July,Dockyard
 Summer Ball (Adults & Leavers) 7.30pm Sat 17th July
 Autumn Term 8.40am Wednesday, 1st September

Yours sincerely

DGC