Ditcham
Newsletter - Friday 3rd May 2024
Dear Parents
Congratulations to all Juniors who took part in the Young Musicians Competition and the Junior Concert last week - some amazing performances. Likewise, our Year 11 GSCE artists spent two days creating some impressive art work which will contribute to their overall grade - you can see some of these in the Seniors section of the newsletter.
The cricket season has got underway, despite the typically fickle British weather. Please enjoy reading the reports in the Sports section.
Looking ahead, we have our Whole School Open Morning next Saturday, please continue to promote that to your family and friends.
Wishing you all an enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend - we look forward to seeing you back on Tuesday next week.
Graham Spawforth Headmaster
Junior Merit Awards
Congratulations to all the Juniors who have been awarded a merit this week - some excellent work to be seen!
LAMDA Results
Huge congratulations to all the pupils who have taken LAMDA exams recently. A whopping 210 children from Years 3 to Year 11 took exams from Group Introductory Stage One up to Devised Acting Grade Six Bronze Medal. EVERYONE achieved either a Merit or Distinction with the average Junior mark being 85% and the average Senior mark being 82%.
Incredible work by all involved.
Dragonflies Pre-School
The VERY hungry Caterpillars
This week our little Dragonflies have been learning about the lifecycle of a caterpillar - they incorporated caterpillars into their numerical work and made amazing balloon-print drawings too. The children used different types of pasta to represent the different stages which they all really enjoyed. They took their learning outside into the woods to hunt for bugs and any signs of caterpillars that they could find.
The children also focused on balance - making little obstacle courses in their garden to balance on and also creating structures inside that they could balance different things on - they did brilliantly!
The BIG excitement was their own caterpillars starting to go into their cocoons - they can't wait to see them grow into beautiful butterflies.
Have a great Bank Holiday weekend!
Kylie and Claire
Juniors
Transitions' Trip to The Hillier Gardens
On Wednesday Transition visited Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey to learn more about plants as part of their Science topic. The weather was kind to us and the rain stayed away whilst we were there. The whole day was spent outside and was led by our amazing guide Stefan.
The children took part in a number of plant based and life activities which included, pond dipping, seed dispersal, tree identification, light meter work and a drama based activity about how trees. The day began with pond dipping much to the delight of the children. A variety of species were found in the ponds including, newts (some children even found baby ones), dragonfly and may fly larvae, pond and water skaters and much, much more.
The next activity involved identifying trees using their leaves and deciding whether they were evergreen or deciduous. Our guide Stefan talked to the children about how to identify whether trees are deciduous or evergreen by feeling and observing their leaves. After lunch we played a game called seed dispersal. This involved the children starting with 20 seeds and making their way through the meadow reading information about seeds and what can affect their survival chances. Lots of the children thoroughly enjoyed this game and they certainly learnt some new facts.
One of the children’s favourite activities was a drama based activity whereby the children had to act out what different parts of a tree do. This was lots of fun! Our final activity involved using light meters and the children had to work out where in the gardens would be a good place for a plant to grow based on the readings from their light meters. Our guide Stefan had a wealth of knowledge
which he imparted on to the children and I’m sure all the children have come home having gained some new facts about plants and trees! A huge thank you must also go to Mrs Probert and Annalisa Alexander for supporting Transition on this trip!
Mr Livingston and Mrs Newton
Laila hits the Big Screen!
Our very own Laila-Rose has been out and about starring in a short feature film called The Barn - led by Chichester Film Makers and under the support and guidance of local super star, Kate Winslet. We hope you've got your red carpet ready for the Premier Laila!
Edwin is a Voice In a Million at the Wembley
Back in March, Edwin C was one of only 18 children chosen out of over 400 to represent his Dramatic Arts Academy at the VIAM Concert (Voice In A Million) at the OVO Arena in Wembley. It is a very worthwhile cause, raising awareness of the plight of children in care and the importance of adoption
and fostering. It was a wonderful experience for Edwin and one that he won't forget for a long time! Well done Edwin!
Uppers read 'Katie' stories to the younger children
During the Spring term, pupils in Upper juniors visited the National Gallery, London where they learnt more about the finest collection of masterpieces in the World.
From this visit, pupils returned to school and enjoyed learning about the illustrated ‘Katie’ books written by James Mayhew. This formed a short English unit when pupils created their very own Katie books. Uppers’ amazing 'Katie' books were read to our younger members of the school, who were transported to magical underwater worlds, lands in the clouds and many more adventurous places.
I would like to extend my thanks to Reception, Pre-prep and Prep who made the reading session so much fun, as well as Uppers for sharing their creativity in such an enthusiastic way.
Please enjoy looking at the photographs and spot the smiling and engaged faces.
Julie Mothersele and Roly Ainsworth
Middles become Botanists
This term we have been looking at the life cycles of living things. Over the last two weeks we have been learning about the different parts of a flower and the job that they have in reproducing the flower. With a partner, Middles spent time looking at a flower before slowly and carefully dissecting. When they had successfully done this, they then had to think about how to display the different parts of the flower whilst adding labels. All the children thoroughly enjoyed the activity, cutting the flower delicately and precisely.
Mrs Vaughan-Carpenter
ISA Musical Theatre Finals, LVS Ascot Wednesday 1st May
Congratulations firstly to Laila-Rose B for getting through to the finals of this competition. Huge credit to her for reaching this far.
These musical theatre finals took place on Wednesday this week in Ascot where we watched 38 KS2, KS3, KS4 and KS5 finalists out of c.300 entries from ISA schools across the country compete for 1st and 2nd places and a special judges award in their Key stage. The judge was actress/singer, Kate Playdon.
Our very own Laila-Rose opened the whole day of competition against 9 other fellow KS2 students. She performed ‘Good Girl Winnie Foster’ from Tuck Everlasting with a ‘great confident approach to the story, strong acting and movement choices.’ Although she did not come away with a certificate on this occasion, she should be very proud of her performance. I very much hope she will go for it again this time next year. Laila-Rose is definitely one to watch. Congratulations to her for all her efforts.
My thanks to those who travelled all the way to Ascot to support her.
Mr Williamson
Junior Concert: Tuesday 30th April in the Martin Pryce Building
On Tuesday this week in the Martin Pryce Building, we witnessed yet another tremendous display of musical talent by our Junior children. The whole junior section of the school from Dragonflies right through to Upper Juniors took part and for all of us present, we were once again given a real treat!
The concert, in true Ditcham style, was hugely varied, showcasing numerous instrumental and vocal performances. We had performances by our Junior Choir, Junior Windband, Junior Orchestra Lowers’ cornets and trombones, Middles’ flutes and clarinets, Uppers violins, Transition handbells and recorders, KS1 classes, as well as Dragonflies, singing and playing an array of different instruments. There were some solo and group performances by our Upper Juniors instrumentalists and vocalists as well as our KS2 Junior Young Musician winners – Isla Davey, Polly Robinson and Laila-Rose Berry, our overall winner. It was a full and entertaining concert. Well done to everyone who took part!
We are very lucky that we have had the concert recorded so we will be able to hear it all again, thanks to Kevin Hodgson. CDs will be on sale via the School Office – please place your orders as soon as possible should you wish to purchase one. These will I hope be available in time for collection by half term.
Without the help and support of many, a concert of this size cannot happen - I would like to thank Julie Leighton for all her hard work in taking on the role of preparing Dragonflies through to Transition classes, and the Junior Choir and Orchestra. I am very grateful to her for all her effort and support in producing this concert. I would also like to thank all the peripatetic staff for their hard work and dedication in preparing the pupils behind the scenes, with particular mention to Gemma and David Billington who took control of the brass and woodwind performances. My thanks also goes to Luke Megeney, who looked after the sound for us again. We simply could not do an event like this without him.
Finally, I would like to thank all the parents and staff for your unending support which is hugely appreciated.
Mr Williamson Head of Music
Junior Young Musicians Competition: Friday 26th April
On Friday 26th April, we enjoyed a whole day of music making by our juniors. Over 30 pupils from KS1 and KS2 performed their entry into this year’s Junior Young Musicians Competition. The heats took place in the morning and were well supported by all in their Key Stage and every single pupil who performed should be really proud of their efforts. Each pupil has received a Certificate of Participation.
13 pupils made it through to the final which took place in the South Downs Hall in the afternoon with the whole of the Juniors watching. Congratulations to the following who all receive a Finalist Certificate and a number of House Points:
Lower KS2: Ada H (voice and piano), Isla D (voice), Ottilie M (piano), Benji L (electric guitar), George H (drumkit)
Upper KS2: Piers T (piano), James F (drum kit), Polly R (recorder), Freddie B (piano), Laila-Rose B (voice), Yasmin P (Guitar) Pippa (Flute) and Natalia M (recorder)
We were delighted to welcome Mr Steve Dunning, a local musician and parent of Cody in year 10, who adjudicated the final for us, and he read out his comments announcing the winners of each class at the end of all 13 performances.
CONGRATUALTIONS to the following who received a winners’ trophy and certificate, and the Junior Young Musician 2024 winner received the Elizabeth Steggall Cup:
• Lower KS2 (Transition and Lowers):
Winner: Isla D
• Upper KS2 (Middles and Uppers):
Winner: Polly R
• Junior Young Musician 2024:
Winner: LAILA-ROSE B
Congratulations to Laila-Rose – hugely deserved overall winner.
Thank you to all who took part and to Mrs Leighton for everything she has done in putting this event together. Couldn’t have done it without her! See you next year.
Mr Williamson
Head of Music
Pen Licence Awarded!
Congratulations to
• Emilie J
• Phoebe W
• Alexander M-C
for achieving their pen Licence this week. We look forward to seeing how your writing develops!
Seniors
GCSE Art Pieces
Our Year 11 students have been working extremely hard on their final 10-hour GCSE exam pieceswell done to everyone! Please enjoy looking through these incredible pieces.
Helen Drake Head of Art
Fifteen Year 10 pupils packed everything they could fit, and few things they couldn’t, into oversized rucksacks, and headed for their practice Silver Expedition on Friday afternoon.
Silver DofE Expedition in the New Forest
We met our instructors at Wilverley Enclosure campsite, put up the tents, set up the Trangia stoves and enjoyed our first al fresco dining experience of the season. A session of route planning followed, with our walking broken down into small legs, making it easier to keep track of timings and distances.
The night was a cold one, with temperatures dropping to just above freezing, but it was dry. Some chilly looking faces emerged from the curtains of unzipped flysheets at around 6:30am and breakfast was soon warming us all up.
A long day’s walking with heavy bags ensued and it was a weary crew who made it to Saturday night’s camping spot at Ferny Croft. A wooded camp ground gave us a little protection from another cold night and we were rousingly serenaded by an industrious band of singing Scouts around their camp fire, as we cooked our suppers. Later that evening we planned our September expedition routes in Purbeck, on the Jurassic Coast.
Sunday saw the sun on our backs and we could occasionally forget the chilly wind which blew through us. This was a shorter day’s walk however and the prospect of a return to the minibus saw several teams running in to the end.
Our two instructors for the weekend spoke to me at the end of the expedition to say how impressed they were with the attitude and camaraderie of all three groups; there was not a single moan all weekend. Indeed, they were impressed enough to request that they be the assessors for the groups in September.
We all left the New Forest feeling very weary but satisfied with our progress. I really couldn’t have been prouder of this excellent group of tough, resilient young people. Well done to you all.
Mark Philips
Adventure Sports Coordinator
Sports News
Fixtures for the Coming Week
Please come along and support our teams as they take part in sporting events. Hopefully the weather will be a little better next week!
PE Department
Havant Hockey Success for Joe
Year 7 sports scholar Joe O-D has been achieving some great things for the Havant U12 Hockey Team over the last few weeks. The team have won the In2Hockey regional finales in which they competed against the best teams from Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and secured a place in the National Finals in Nottingham in May. Good luck in the next round and great work!
Mr Walton
PE Department
U15 Boys Cricket get their season off to a strong start!
On Tuesday the U15 boys cricket team started their league campaign with a strong showing against Bedales. DPS won the toss and elected to bowl in good conditions. The opening pair of Archie and Thomas J bowled well early on and Archie managed to get a ball to nip back through the gate and bowl the Bedales opener. Bedales made steady progress and hit some big boundaries, this was until the introduction of Will B who got a wicket with his first ball for the school. Again, Bedales went hard
but Reece L stepped up to the plate and got two wickets in his first over. He then returned and took a third wicket. Bedales ended their innings on 150-8. This was going to be a really tough chase but openers Elliot and Charlie started well against some good Bedales bowling. Elliot was caught and point and this brought Year 7, Alfie Hitchens to the crease. Who put on a partnership of 45 with Charlie. Alfie was caught behind but Charlie kept dispatching the ball to the boundary, finishing on 41*. The lower order just fell behind the rate and after a valiant effort Ditcham finished on 139-5. A super start with lots to improve on. Player of the match- Reece L
Mr Walton
PE Department
The British summer strikes again....
On a very wet Wednesday the U13 had their first home game of the year against Dunhurst. Alfie H won the toss and elected to bat. We got off to a really strong start with Joe OD smashing anything short to the boundary, his hockey skills being put to good use. He was eventually removed, but this meant Barnaby took on a key role and rotated the strike well. Alfie and Barnaby took the team to 861 before both players retired. Callum and Harrison ran well at the end to leave DPs on 100 off 14 overs. Dunhurst started the chase well but lost two wickets quickly to leave them reeling at 30-2 before the heavens opened (even more) and we had to abandon the match as a draw. A great start from all and the game was played in the right way with superb encouragement across the board.
Well done everyone
Mr Walton
PE Department
U11 cricket v Dunhurst
On a wet afternoon more suitable for rugby, Ditcham lost the toss and bowled first on a damp wicket. The boys bowled well, consistently finding a good line and length, causing the Dunhurst batsmen difficulty throughout. Dunhurst made a respectable 105-5 off 20 overs. Olli ‘Bairstow’ H was reliable behind the stumps and Seb I bowled a good line and length.
Ditcham came into bat and got off to a good start making 52-1 off the first 10 overs. Bang on the required run rate and with wickets left in the pavilion, the sensible batting of Josh S, Gus G and Piers T had laid a strong foundation. Unfortunately the rain got stronger, making the wicket more skiddy and the outfield slower. The runs dried up (unlike the weather!) and once captain Ben Stokes aka Gus G departed the required run rate steadily increased. Unfortunately we fell 17 runs short after our 20 overs.
A great start to the season though boys, with lots of positives to take from the performance. A very enjoyable afternoon.
Roly Ainsworth
U13 Cricket vs PHS
DPS (284 runs for 1 Wkts) defeated PHS (258 runs for 2 Wkts)
On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, the girls travelled down to Southsea for a fixture against Portsmouth High School. All the girls bowled really well considering it was their first match of the season. Gracie batted brilliantly achieving two 6's. We need to continue working on our fielding and catching.
U13 Cricket vs Boundary Oak
DPS (243 runs for 4 Wkts) defeated BO (236 runs for 4 Wkts)
On Wednesday, the girls played in very different conditions as the rain came down for most of the match. Despite this, we did some solid batting and good fielding. However, coming into the last two overs Boundary Oak had just taken the lead. Thanks to some fantastic bowling by Nancy and Molly, who got three wickets, Boundary Oak's runs were reduced by 15. Players of the match: Mackenzie and Nancy
Miss Small
PE Department
U9 Cricket at Frensham
On Thursday the U9 boys travelled to Frensham for their third cricket game of the season. DPS won the toss and chose to bat first, the first few pairs struggled to hit some of the wayward bowling but they concentrated and managed to put away the bad ball. The boys finished on 276 off there allotted overs. Frensham got off to a good start but wickets from Rupert and Atticus slowed the run rate some good fielding and some good death bowling from Jacob MI saw Ditcham take the win by 14 runs. A good team performance and a good win on the road. Well done to all players for not only the impressive cricket on show but also for the colossal collection of Match Attax that kept us entertained on the journey
Mr Walton
PE Department
Mountain Bike Club
It was very much a 'make it up as you go' day at MTB Club on Thursday, with only Fergus and Mark available to coach. We had some focussed coaching available for those who wanted it, while other riders chose to have a fun session on the trails.. which is what MTB riding is all about! It's always good to practice both basic and more advanced skills as you ride - things like rolling over obstacles in the 'ready position', manual front wheel lifts and for those who've nailed the basics the fun-to-use bunny-hop... and even better to take those skills to the trails where you can choose the best skills negotiate whatever obstacles come your way. As usual, we saw lots of riders practicing their jumping, with a number of riders taking advantage of instant slow-motion video to help them hone their skills. We have lots more coaching video available on our private MTB Club Facebook Group (speak to Mr Philips for access) - and you can also follow us on Instagram @dps.mtbclub
Fergus O'Loughlin (Volunteer Ride Leader and Coach)
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/GKjswSCbKco8Fv0M#content=x1EYvib6rNtCKB
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/GKjswSCbKco8Fv0M#content=jlpcW1YWS986zf
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/GKjswSCbKco8Fv0M#content=YC0ZCN08U7b3SI
Notices and Events
Uniform Shop Notice
From 9th May to 21st June, the Uniform Shop will be closed because the room is being used for exams.
If you have any uniform orders, please email Ali and she will deliver items to the classrooms or cubby holes during this time.
Many thanks!
Half Term Tennis Camp
Bookings are now live for our May Half Term Tennis Camp! Secure your child's place now to avoid disappointment as places are limited. As an added incentive, if you book all three days in Half Term, you can claim back one free day over the summer holiday tennis camps.
Book your place here!
New Tennis Sessions!
We are delighted to announce that starting this week, James Vaughan will be running a Senior's Tennis session (from 4pm to 5pm) on a Thursday and then an Adult Tennis session (from 6.30pm to 8pm)
To book, head over to our dedicated Ticket Source page and book your places now!
Open Morning - Saturday 11th May
We are delighted to be able to open up our beautiful school campus to prospective parents and families. We know that word of mouth is the best recruitment tool so please do spread the word. We currently have over 60 families registered but there is plenty of space for more!
The Open Morning will run from 10am to 1pm and at midday, we would love to welcome current families up to tour the site and buildings. Lets keep our fingers crossed for some warm late spring sunshine...
We look forward to seeing you there!
We Need YOU!
Thank you so much to all who have kindly offered their time on Saturday 11th May to run the Friend's Cafe at the Open Morning. We are still in need of a few more helpers so if you are able to give an hour or so of your time, please contact Tess
Many thanks
The Friends of Ditcham Park School
