|
|
A Message from Mrs Knox
 It has been another busy and enjoyable week with lots happening both inside and outside the classroom. Outdoor Learning Week has seen many lessons being taken outside. Whether pupils have been exploring, investigating, creating or simply approaching their learning in a different environment, there are real benefits to learning beyond the classroom. We have also been celebrating National Poetry Day, with pupils across the school writing and sharing their own poems. Well done to all of our budding poets!
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our Harvest Festival appeal. We are always incredibly grateful for your generosity and the donations will make a real difference. We had a wonderful assembly this morning celebrating Harvest and it was lovely to acknowledge all that the season represents and the importance of giving. We also joined together in song, which made for a particularly special start to the day.
Finally, good luck to all of our bakers this weekend as we look forward to Round 1 of the incredibly popular House Bake Off competition on Monday! I am looking forward to seeing, and indeed tasting, some of the entries!
Mrs Knox
|
|
|
European Day of Languages
Friday 25th September was a fantastic celebration of European Day of Languages! The MFL Department brought the school to life with a packed day of languages, music, dance and culture. From assemblies, a brilliant flamenco workshop and our lunchtime photoshoot, to baking, dancing and creative crafts for our younger pupils, there was something for everyone.
It was fantastic to see pupils from Nursery to GCSE joining in, trying something new and celebrating the wonderful diversity of languages and cultures across our school!
Mme Fellous
|
|
|
|
GCSE History Trip to Imperial War Museum
On Monday the GCSE Years 10-11 History students embarked on a trip to the iconic Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London. The visit linked directly to their GCSE topics of WW1, Stalin, the Cold War, and Diversity and Equality in the UK. In small groups, using IWM phones, clapper-boards and microphones they made documentaries on events and objects from WW1 in the museum's extensive First World War gallery. One of the more chilling exhibits was an officer's glove which had shrunk to the size of a doll's hand after exposure to mustard gas.
The students also analysed a T-34 tank and appreciated its ruggedness, sloped armour and wide tracks which were ideal for the winter warfare associated with WW2 in Russia. Lockie also correctly identified the handles on the turret were for soldiers to hang on to as they travelled into battle! Students were also fairly awed by the giant V2 rocket and (ironically) much smaller atomic bomb on display. Mr Seeley and Mrs Punter accompanied me on the minibuses, trains and walks required and thanks are also due to a multitude of supporting staff elsewhere in School.
Mr Lodge
|
|
|
|
Year 8 Gothic Trip to Strawberry Hill House
On Tuesday, Year 8 pupils spent the day immersing themselves in the birthplace of Gothic Literature: Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham. The day began with an eerie tour of Horace Walpole’s Gothic revival villa, complete with jump scares and the odd scream! Year 8 then had the opportunity to use the atmospheric setting and archaic props and costumes to create some supernatural inspired comics, followed by some excellent creative writing, inspired by Walpole’s novel ‘The Castle of Otranto’. Well done to all pupils, they dazzled their workshop leaders with their excellent Gothic knowledge, creativity and wonderful manners!
Mrs Southee
|
|
|
|
Year 3 Trip to Nower Wood
Year 3 enjoyed a wonderful sunny day at Nower Wood to support our outdoor learning curriculum. We spent the morning being 'plant scientists' playing fun games which explained what is necessary for plants to germinate and what can prevent this from happening naturally. We explored the leaves, bark and seeds of different trees to help us with identification of the different species and created sticky strip pictures to present our findings. During the afternoon, we also had a session searching for minibeasts in the woodland habitat and observed these closely under magnifying glasses, once they had been sorted into different categories. Once we had learnt all about the different creatures, we released them back into the wild with a minibeast Olympics running race. Congratulations to the victor - a rather magnificent violet ground beetle!
Mrs Nicholson
|
|
|
|
Year 4 Trip to Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden
Year 4 enjoyed a fantastic visit to the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, linked closely to our class reader, Varjak Paw. During the trip, the children explored a range of unusual and abstract sculptures and were encouraged to think creatively about what they could see, imagine and infer. The visit provided a wonderful opportunity to develop rich and exciting vocabulary, which the children then used to create descriptive sentences featuring expanded noun phrases and prepositional phrases. It was a brilliant way to bring our English learning to life and inspire imaginative writing through art and the natural environment.
Mrs Kay
|
|
|
|
Outdoor Learning Week
This week saw the return of Outdoor Learning Week. Thankfully, the weather cooperated with lots of sunny weather (and only the occasional spot of rain!), staff and pupils embraced lots of opportunities to take learning outside the classroom.
Across the school, pupils have been putting their learning into practice in creative and engaging outdoor environments, from Year 2 looking for pieces of a map to learn about the oceans around the UK, to Year 5 practising calculating intervals in the Burrow and Year 6 recreating scenes from the Dark Horse using woodland objects. Outdoor learning also featured across the Senior School, with Year 7 investigating amoebas that might be found in the pond in our wildlife garden and Year 8 applying their poetry while writing Gothic haikus in Junior Jungle.
These activities are just a small snapshot of the many lessons taking place outdoors across the school. It has been fantastic to see the creativity and enthusiasm of staff and pupils, demonstrating how our outdoor spaces can become an extension of the classroom.
Mr Gritton
|
|
|
|
Year 4 Social Evening
 Last Friday evening, Year 4 congregated for their Social Evening. The festivities began with the children challenging themselves to eat a doughnut without using their hands!
We then played Cross the Golden River, as requested by Grisha, followed by a few rounds of Capture the Flag.
It was then time for dinner, where we enjoyed creamy chicken pasta and profiteroles!
To give our dinner time to settle, we enjoyed a relaxing game of Sleeping Lions before following a Just Dance routine to Shakira’s Waka Waka. To finish off the evening, and at the request of Year 4, we played Hide and Seek in the teaching corridor in the dark!
A huge thank you to Year 4 for getting so involved; lots of fun was had by all!
Mrs Green
|
|
|
National Poetry Day
On Thursday this week, the nation celebrated National Poetry Day. The theme this year is ‘wonder’. Here at Duke of Kent School, we have spent the week running outdoor poetry workshops in the beautiful sunshine, admiring the views from the bell tower and taking inspiration from our peaceful woodlands. It has been lovely to see a wonderful range of faces from Prep and Senior School exploring the things they ‘wonder’ about in poetic verse. The week’s efforts culminated in a poetry slam at lunchtime on Friday, where our budding poets beautifully showcased their wordcraft. A huge thank you to Year 11 leaders Jasper T, Theo C and George S for volunteering to help with the workshops.
Mrs Southee
|
|
|
|
Year 5 have been working up a sweat in Science this week, measuring their heart rates and comparing their bpm at rest and after exercise. In Maths, Year 1 have been exploring the properties of 2D shapes and Year 6 took their learning outside to practise division, multiplication and angles. The DT workshop saw Year 4s attaching the resistor and diodes to their circuit boards and Year 5 officially launched their bridge building projects. Initial designs have been sketched, company logos drafted and the team accountants have begun to experience the joy of income tax! Reception's commercial nous was also on show as they read 'The Elves and the Shoemaker' and created their own (very busy) show shop, and in Nursery, the children learnt the sound 'a', explored balance scales and had great fun with gloopy glue!
Lastly, a polite request that Pre-prep children not be allowed up on the grassy bank anywhere between the Pre-prep gate and car park. We do not permit this during the School day, as the slope is steep and uneven in places, and there is also a pond at the top (hidden from view of the path) and only accessible to the pupils under close staff supervision. Your help keeping the children close to you before drop-off and after pick-up is much appreciated in keeping everyone safe.
Swimmer of the Week
August C for such wonderful enthusiasm in your lessons. You carefully listen to instructions and are making great progress.
Star of the Week
Reception
Felix B for always trying your best in everything we do. Your writing is really improving and you are now reading books with words!
Year 1
Indie S for putting so much effort into her work. Including writing all her bonds to 10 in Maths.
Year 2
Cooper C for super focus this week and great contributing during lessons!
Mr Wright
|
|
|
With September behind us, it has been wonderful to see the school community settling into the new academic year with such energy and enthusiasm.
Last Saturday saw the return of our annual Open Morning, and what a fantastic occasion it was. The day would not have been possible without the many pupils who volunteered their time. From welcoming prospective families and helping with tours to supporting individual departments, our pupils were fantastic representatives of the school. Their confidence, enthusiasm and pride in our community really shone through, and we are incredibly grateful for their support.
There has also been plenty happening in and around the classroom. To mark National Poetry Day, the English Department has been running poetry workshops for pupils during lunchtime, encouraging them to find inspiration in the world around them and explore their creativity. The week culminated in a poetry slam today, giving pupils the opportunity to perform their work and celebrate the power of poetry.
We also came together for our annual Harvest Assembly, providing a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect on the things we can be thankful for, while marking the changing season. A particular thank you goes to our Year 11 pupils who helped to organise and run the Harvest Quiz. Their efforts ensured that the assembly was both entertaining and thought-provoking.
This week there are a number of students who have passed another milestones of 25 Merit points and joined today for Celebration Snack Break, well done to:
Felix B, Heidi B, Harrison H, Ben W, Alex M-C, George S, Adam T, Poppy F, Molly F, George S, Max S, Tansy B-T, Alex W.
A special congratulations to Max M for exceeding 200 Merit Points and receiving his recognition badge, to Ruby W, Ethan G and Bob P for surpassing 300 Merit Points and earning their recognition badges and finally to Henry O'B for gaining over 400 merit points.
Mr Wyllie
|
|
|
ISA National Skiing Competition - congratulations to all four of our skiers who took part in the ISA National Competition at Hemel Hempstead on Monday. Elfie G and Ruby W competed in the girls races and both made great second runs to blitz their first run times. This showed great determination and improved confidence on the day. Thibaut J was unlucky not to win a medal, finishing 4th in the U16 Boys race. Freddie G competed excellently and was rewarded with the gold medal in the U14 Boys category. Well done to all who took part!
The U11 Football Team took part in the London South ISA Regional Tournament last Friday. Although they did not qualify for the knockout round, all boys who played showed amazing skills and great team work on the day. Well done to Jasper B, Arthur Mc, Alfie A, Finn H, Henry P, Max Mc and Felix B!
Mr Herbert
|
|
|
|
What Parents & Educators need to know about Looksmaxxing
Looksmaxxing encourages people – particularly young men – to 'improve their appearance' through everything from grooming, skincare and exercise to far more questionable techniques. As this trend becomes increasingly visible on social media, this guide explores how appearance-focused content can affect boys’ confidence, self-worth and body image, while exposing them to misleading or potentially dangerous advice.
The guide also examines how looksmaxxing content can become increasingly extreme, with links to obsessive behaviours, mental health difficulties and harmful online communities. It offers practical advice for parents and educators on spotting changes in behaviour, recognising looksmaxxing terminology, understanding what young people may be seeing online and opening supportive conversations about appearance, influencers and unrealistic expectations.
Click the link to learn more about "Looksmaxxing".
|
|
|
Yesterday, nine of our Year 9 pupils gave up their evening for the first of their training sessions to become Peer Mentors. I was so impressed by their enthusiasm and the considered responses in regard to the skills and qualities a good mentor requires, as well as understanding what their values are and how these may be different from others. It is as important to gain an understanding of themselves as it is to develop their own communication skills which we also worked on.
I look forward to seeing the pupils meet their Year 5 mentees after the half-term break.
Next Friday, we will be marking World Mental Health Day in school by supporting the Young Minds’ initiative of Hello Yellow. The initiative seeks to show the importance of standing out by wearing yellow to represent that it is important to be seen and heard as your authentic self.
There will be an assembly and lunchtime activities for pupils to take part in. They are also invited to wear a touch of yellow on Friday the 9th of October. They should wear their full school uniform as usual and accessorise with a touch of yellow - socks, ribbon, tie, hairband, for example.
Mrs Douglas
|
|
|
We've had a few pupils across the school experience tummy symptoms this week. Pupils with vomiting and or diarrhoea are reminded to stay at home for 48 hours after the last episode of either (for infection control purposes). Thank you. Tummy aches (as well as nausea and headaches) sometimes are a way of expressing upset, stress or anxiety, and not due to physical ill health. Please communicate with your child's form tutor if your child is experiencing any pastoral concerns that we can help with at school.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month UK. As such, year 10 pupils will be taking part in PSHE lessons on cancer with the School Nurse Chloe Sarjant on the 8th and 15th October (email to follow with full information for Year 10 parents). As a school, we are keenly aware that with cancer affecting 1 in 2 of us in our lifetime, many of our community have personal experience of cancer treatment or bereavement among loved ones. Please keep us informed of any scenarios which may impact our pupils at school. We are keen to support anyone who is impacted by this disease.
Historically, as a school, we have had close links with the Sarcoma UK charity; one of many excellent cancer charities. Please see the link below for more information on what they do and how to support them.
https://sarcoma.org.uk/
The School Nurses
|
|
|
We'd love to see you at the PADoK clubs, a great chance to meet other parents and have some fun. Any questions, please contact us at padok@dokschool.org
PADoK Clubs:
Pilates
Pilates with Alicky - Monday morning 08.30am at Ewhurst Rec.
PADoK Walk
Join us for our next walk on Friday 9th Oct, 08.30 at Hurtwood Car Park 3 (Pitch Hill).
Duke of Kent School Flyers – Netball training
Mondays 17.00 – 18.00 in Old Hall. Please contact Tara at padok@dokschool.org if you are interested in playing. Any experience welcome.
Duke of Kent School Singers
Tuesday - 08.20 – 09.00 in the Meeting Room with Mr Rye/Mrs Williams.
 Come sing with us, all welcome & very relaxed.
Contact Cathy Williams at padok@dokschool.org.
PADoK Book Club
Watch this space, a Christmas title will be promoted soon.
|
|
|
|
