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A message from Mrs Knox

Welcome to the Summer Term! We have had a wonderful week and the pupils and staff are to be commended on hitting the ground running, with excellent teaching and learning underway in all areas of the School. I hope you were able to enjoy a cup of coffee from The Little Coffee Pod today. I know Lizzie was extremely busy on her first morning!

I am excited to be joining Year 9 on the Battlefields trip, leaving this Sunday, not only to practise my French, but to share the experience with pupils as we remember the sacrifice and bravery of so many and hear really personal stories. I am sure it will be a reflective experience for us all.

Finally, I would like to share the news with you that Helen Ward, teacher of mathematics, will be leaving us at the end of this term. Helen has been appointed to an Assistant Head position at Cobham Free School and, whilst sad to be leaving us, is very excited about her new role. We wish her much success for the future.

Have a lovely weekend. Good luck to all of those running the London Marathon on Sunday. We shall be cheering you on!

Mrs Knox

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Study Skills Day

On Thursday, pupils across Years 7-10 took part in a dedicated Study Skills Day, designed to equip them with essential tools and strategies for effective revision and academic success.

We were delighted to welcome Evie, who came from a leading organisation in study support skills called Elevate Education. She delivered a series of engaging workshops covering topics such as effective revision techniques, time management and memory skills.

Pupils responded positively to the interactive style of the workshops, with many commenting on how practical and easy it would be to implement her advice. Evie shared real-world examples and strategies that pupils could start using immediately as they prepare for the upcoming exams just before half-term.

The Learning Development Team are always available to support pupils who want to develop their study skills further – pupils are warmly encouraged to attend our lunchtime drop-in sessions, where individual advice and guidance are available. Please do tell your child to pop in if they want any help.

To help parents support their children at home, there will also be a webinar hosted by Elevate Education on Monday 28th April at 6.30pm. Please check the Study Skills email sent out earlier this week for the webinar link. This session will give parents an overview of the strategies covered during the workshops and offer tips on how to reinforce them at home.

A huge thank you to Evie from Elevate Education for delivering such an inspiring and impactful experience!

Caroline Instone and the Learning Development Team

London Marathon

Best of luck to those runners in the Duke of Kent School community who are taking part in the London Marathon this weekend! Those we are aware of include maths teacher, Miss Ward, sports assistant, Miss Walters, former pupil Tom Hunt and pupil Amelie C’s aunt, Rebecca Holburn. Miss Ward, Tom and Rebecca are supporting SarcomaUK, our School’s chosen charity. Unfortunately, this rare form of cancer has directly impacted our community, so it’s a charity close to our hearts. Miss Ward is also supporting Boost Charitable Trust and Hope4Malawi and Miss Walters is raising money for Multiple Sclerosis Society. Please find links to their donation pages below if you would like to support them.

Miss Ward

Miss Walters

Tom Hunt

Rebecca Holburn

Also, let us not forget former Duke of Kent School bursar, Chris Finill. Chris has run in every London Marathon since it started in 1981. Sunday will be his 45th London Marathon!

We will be cheering for you all on Sunday!

Junior riding team success

The junior riding team were out competing over the Easter holiday with great success. The team of Seren G, Logan N and Roman N took a win to qualify for the Grassroots finals, to be held at Hickstead in August. All three riders were also individually placed. Logan N then individually won the next class, also qualifying for the championship.

The next competition is Grassroots showjumping on 27th April – good luck to them all!

 
Mrs Browning

In assembly, on our first morning back, we heard several examples of things pupils had done for the first time over the holidays. Some had had a go at skiing, someone had tried their hand at some home DIY (with parents' permission!) and we even had a pupil involved in a mass duckling rescue. What an intrepid bunch – I very much look forward to hearing what new things the children get up to this term. 

So far, Year 3 used the pillar drill for the first time to continue the construction of their toys in DT and Year 6 made casein plastic in science, using warm milk and white vinegar as part of their studies of reversible and irreversible change. Nursery focused on Earth Week and created some wonderful terracotta masterpieces with leaf imprints. Reception welcomed caterpillars to live in the classroom and Year 2 were introduced to the Great Fire of London, using their five senses to consider what civilians would have experienced. Year 5 began their newspaper report-writing unit in preparation for creating their own about the outbreak of WW2. 

Next week, Years 1, 4 and 6 all have excursions to look forward to and much more besides. Do collect a calendar from the School office, if you haven't already, or keep a close eye on the online calendar to stay informed of all upcoming events. Have a lovely weekend.

Mr Wright

As we begin the Summer Term, there is a real sense of excitement in the air. After a well-deserved Easter break, everyone has returned refreshed, revitalised, and ready to embrace the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead.

In our first assembly back on Wednesday morning, we took a moment to reflect on the hugely successful ski trip. It was a time of making lasting memories and celebrating the remarkable progress achieved by every pupil, regardless of their previous experience on the slopes. More than just skiing, the trip was a brilliant display of the values we hold dear: perseverance in the face of challenges, the courage to step outside comfort zones, mutual support, and kindness. We saw real personal growth, not just in ski ability but in confidence, resilience, and teamwork.

I highlighted how these qualities are equally important as we head into the final leg of the academic year. We also tackled the ever-present challenge of procrastination, discussing how we can reframe it into motivation and purpose as we move into a busy and exciting term.

Continuing this theme, pupils in Years 7 to 10 enjoyed a study skills presentation on Thursday. The session offered practical advice and useful strategies to help them prepare for the upcoming summer exams. Many pupils found the techniques particularly helpful and are now equipped with new ways to approach revision.

We ended Wednesday's assembly with a simple but powerful message to carry with us through the weeks ahead:

"Push yourself. Back yourself. Make it count."

Finally, special congratulations to the following pupils who have already been recognised this week for their hard work, with several reaching the milestone of 25 merit points: Jay J, Lewis S, Eddie C, Harvey R, Monty L, Dom K.

A special mention goes to Alex B, Lucy P and Chester B who have exceeded 200 merit points and were awarded their well-deserved badges.

Mr Wyllie

Our brass teacher, Mr Nash, popped into Prep Assembly this week to give a brass demo. He talked about the different instruments in the family, showed the pupils all the different sounds they can make and also brought a few of his pupils with him from the Senior School (Eddie and George), and Henry from Year 6, to play their instruments (French horn, trombone and tenor horn).

The pupils loved hearing all the different sounds and Mr Nash played Darth Vader's theme from Star Wars for them on his trumpet. A few of the Prep Pupils even had a go on the cornet and the P-Bone.

We are offering a free trial lesson if any pupils are interested – Mr Nash has space on a Friday morning for new pupils and we would love to see more brass played in the School! Please email nrye@dokschool.org if you are interested.

Mr Rye

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Search Engines

Search engines are a routine part of everyday life, giving instant access to billions of web pages; however, this also increases the risk of children encountering harmful, untrustworthy, or illegal content.

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators quickfire information about the risks of search engines and practical steps that can be taken to safeguard children online.

Click the link to learn more about "Search Engines".

***Also, Internet Matters is a great website that can help you deal with online issues, give you advice for different age groups, and give you step-by-step guides for setting controls for various devices.***

Mr Boden
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Please can Year 9 pupils attending the Battlefields trip remember to take their morning medication at home before coming to School early on Sunday morning. It's especially important that those who need travel nausea medication take this at home so that it is working in time for the outward journey.

Next week it looks like summer will arrive in earnest with forecasts of warm sunny days (perfect for cricket!). Please can pupils attend School appropriately prepared with a full, named water bottle, a named bottle of sunscreen (preferably applied at home before School), and a named sunhat. Pupils who suffer from hayfever are advised to take antihistamine medication at home before School each day.

The Summer Term also brings the challenge of ticks, which are very common in our grounds. Please keep a close eye out and remove these as soon as you can (see link below).

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

It's also worth noting that snakes (including adders) have on occasion been seen in our grounds in summer months in the past. Something also for Year 10 pupils attending the Silver DofE Expedition next week to keep an eye out for on the South Downs. See the advice below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/snake-bites/

The School Nurses

PADoK News

We trust you have all had an enjoyable Easter holiday. We are looking forward to a busy term. Our first PADoK meeting is on Monday 28th April at 08.30. If you are interested in coming to the meeting, then please do ask your class rep for the details. You are most welcome. We would welcome some more dads to drop in (or join) as we are keen to hear their ideas for events or clubs.

Save The Date ***Saturday 14th June***

***Viva La Fiesta*** PADoK Summer Event

PADoK are putting on a Mexican-themed summer party, so please put the date in your diary. Tickets will go on sale soon.

PADoK Clubs:

PADoK Walk – Friday 2nd May 08.30

Hurtwood Control Car Park 3, Pitch Hill. Please do join us for a walk. Everyone welcome.

PADoK Book Club

The book we will be reading this term is Graham Norton’s Holding. Here is a brief summary of the book:

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel.

As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

We will announce a date for our meet up soon.

Duke of Kent School Flyers – Netball training 

Monday at 5:45 – 6:30pm & Wednesday morning 08.20 – 09.30 – weather-dependent/Ness Hall availability.

DoK School Flyers are looking for new players to join in the summer term, lots of laughter, exercise and fun. No experience necessary, everyone welcome! Please do come along if you would like to play netball. All welcome. Contact Tara on 07734 888326.

Duke of Kent School Singers

Thursday at 08:20 – 09:00am

Calling all singers great and small!

We will begin this term on Thursday 1st May, please do join us or just come to listen to see what it is all about.

Please feel free to come along any time and join in… you’re so warmly welcome as a one-off drop in or if you’re interested in coming more regularly. Drop me a message any time (Cathy Williams - 07813 282910) or turn up on the day. Every Thursday morning from 8:30-9am in the Meeting Room off Old Hall.

Important Note: please always park at the bottom of the site and walk up to Old Hall.

PADoK Core Control

Strengthen your body, improve your health with our Physio-Led Stability Group. Friday morning at 08.30 in Ness Hall. From this term there will be a £5 fee for each week.

Do you have new fitness goals for the summer or want to build on what you are already doing? Julia is a physio who will help build your core strength and help your fitness training.  

Please contact Julia direct to complete a medical form.

Julia Rowe (julia@therunningspecialists.com)

Mrs Phillips and Mrs Horsburgh

Senior School optional hoodie

The Senior School hoodies have been redesigned by members of the School Council and the finished product can be seen below. They have done a fantastic job at putting this design together and now finally getting to see the finished product.

This new hoodie is available from Stevenson's on their website: https://www.stevensons.co.uk/.  There is also the option to have your child's initials printed onto the front of the hoodie for a slight additional cost, something we would advise, to avoid mixing up tops with other pupils. This hoodie is not an essential item of School uniform, so there is no expectation for pupils to have it.

If you wish to see the sample, please pop into the Main Office and have a look.

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School social media

At Duke of Kent School we have three social media platforms; Instagram (dukeofkentschool) and Facebook (Duke of Kent School). All of our social media accounts are public.

We recommend following all three accounts to receive push notifications with news, updates, educational articles, interactions with other schools, communities and public figures.