DGS - Junior School Chronoicle - Spring 2019

Junior School

Chronicle Spring term, 2019

In this issue: Trips Charitable work Achievements Sports

World Book Day Year Group Winners, 2019

Rounding Off The Autumn Term Christmas Theatre Junior School travelled to Nottingham Playhouse to see Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in December. They were treated to an excellent performance, the highlights being the sword fighting (which the boys loved), the delicious ice creams and as part of the finale Year 3 pupil, Charlie, was chosen to go up on stage!

Representing DGJS Charlie sang a hearty rendition of ‘Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree’ complete with actions, and received a goody bag for his efforts. He said “When I went on stage I was nervous but then became excited!” A star is born….

House Carol Competition The Junior School House Carol Competition saw polished performances all round in the week before Christmas.

Blackton performed Rockin’ Robin, Derby gave a personal and heartfelt performance of All I Want For Christmas Is You, Atkinson performed Santa Is Da Man rap and Bemrose finished up with Merry Christmas Everyone. Congratulations to the winners, Blackton.

Introducing Some Of Our Team Senior School Staff We have a number of staff from Senior School who join us on a weekly basis to teach the boys in Junior School: Miss Ciarvano teaches French to all years and Latin to Years 5 and 6.

Mrs Riddell teaches Computing to Year 6.

Midday Supervisor, Julie Lawley Julie has recently relocated to Derby from the West Midlands where she had worked for 24 years at a local primary school as Principal Midday Supervisor leading a team of 12.

She says: “I’m trying hard to learn every boy’s name as quickly as possible. Everyone has certainly made me feel very welcome.

What’s your favourite pudding? It has to be treacle sponge and custard.

What’s your favourite memory from school? I went to school in Dudley and I remember it had a huge garden and big trees. I loved to play there.

Miss Sweet teaches DT and Computing to all year groups.

Page 2

What was your favourite subject? There were two.

Art was one of them and the other was learning silly rhymes in poetry.

Junior School Chronicle | Spring 2019

Y3 - Sandwich Snacks

Y4 - Cannock Museum

In our DT topic we’ve been learning about sandwich snacks. We studied nutrition and how to make sure we eat a balanced diet. We sampled some shop-bought sandwiches, wraps and baguettes, evaluating them for appearance, flavour and nutritional content.

We got to touch 80 year old artefacts and had a mock air raid. A few of us dressed up as a family. When the air raid siren went off, we hid under the tables that acted as shelters.

Next we designed, made and sampled our own. These ranged from a simple cheese and cucumber sandwich to a chicken, ham, cheese and tomato gluten-free wrap garnished with pineapple. Mrs Monk

We went to a 1940s room which had an old piano, fireplace and stove. We saw an old record player that you had to wind up to play. We learned about rationing and about evacuees by performing a play about foster families and leaving parents. Adam & Musa

The Curriculum Y5 - Baking Bread in DT

Y6 - Fairtrade

I learnt how bread rises with the yeast feeding on the sugar and being activated by the hand-hot water.

We arrived at the Co-Op and met Tanya. We had challenges to complete which included things like spotting logos, including Fairtrade.

We stirred it up with the flour and salt and then it was ready to knead. After a while of kneading we put it on a tray as eight separate dough balls.

The yeast worked by making the dough rise. Next, we put it in the oven and it came out beautifully.

Fairtrade is when the people who produce the item get a fair price. We were also taught how to manage shops and how cocoa bean farmers and chocolate sellers work. We then had a competition to design a poster which James won. Joshua & Ali

Nicholas

Junior School Chronicle | Spring 2019

Page 3

Rev Paul’s Ramblings I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Easter and to personally thank you all for your support with the YMCA shoe box appeal at Christmas and all the other items that you so generously give.

Working as I do with your amazing children, it makes me realise how important it is that the School regularly supports our two charities that work with disadvantaged young people, in this country and in Tanzania.

One of the positive outcomes of teaching the boys the value of good education and having much to be thankful for is that they become more appreciative of the world around them. However, there are times when all of us find life difficult and challenging and I take this opportunity to remind you that, as School Counsellor, I am here for both parents and children.

Rev Paul with Tanya who led our Fairtrade sessions

Earlier this term we set up the new Christian Union for the Junior boys, meeting fortnightly. This is an opportunity to explore in more depth the stories and ethics of the Christian faith, and is open to all. This term has also seen our Fairtrade lessons with the Co-op which is much looked forward to by Year 6 and there is now an established tradition of eating free chocolate! We have also visited a number of Christian denominations with the aim of explaining differences and similarities of the things that people value.

As always it is a great privilege to work at DGS, especially being based in the Junior School where I feel very much at home and part of the team. I am about to start my 14th year here, how time flies!

Bring and Buy Sale On 26 January the whole Junior School had a Bring and Buy Sale from 2.30pm to 4pm.

The Year 6’s had everything covered, from a tuck shop to a hundred square competition.

The main event had everything from a used jigsaw to a PS2. Thank you to the generous parents willing to give used toys a second life. And a great big thank you to Mrs Genders who organised it and the parents who came in to help.

Hamza

The Year 6 boys created some amazing stalls at the Bring and Buy Sale which took a lot of hard work to plan. Thank you for all of the donations. We raised over £500 for less fortunate and needy people in Tanzania. Danny, Dhruv and Tharusan presented Mrs Baldwin with her prize for winning the ‘Wanted Poster’ competition.

Tom

Page 4

Junior School Chronicle | Spring 2019

Charity

Raising Money For Royal Derby Hospital The Jingle Jog happens every year. It is two laps of running around Markeaton Park.

Ted and I did it so we could raise money for Royal Derby Hospital. Lambie, the RDH mascot, was also there. He also came to an assembly at School about Christmas Jumper Day which also helps to raise money for the Children's hospital.

On the day we wore our jumpers and had a special lunch with Christmas crackers.

Just before the end of term we had a tour around the hospital when we visited to hand over the money we had raised.

Daniel

Trips & Visits Young Voices On 17 January most of the Junior School boys headed off to Birmingham to take part in one of the largest children’s choir concerts in the world: Young Voices.

On the night, over 5000 children from schools all over the Midlands performed as a single choir to a sold-out audience of family and friends.

We left school at midday, rehearsed all afternoon and performed in the evening. Prior to this we’d spent months practising the many songs we had to sing, some complete with actions. We all had a fabulous time. Mrs Sly

Drumming Masterclass Ex-pupil Ed Richardson returned to treat Junior School boys to a drum masterclass back in January.

“I was super-impressed when Ed did some drumming. He was brilliant.

Ed was like a drumming machine! I did some of my singles, doubles and paradiddles to show him.

I might be a drummer when I’m older.”

Bill

Junior School Chronicle | Spring 2019

Page 5

Sports

Hockey We have had a superb Spring term of hockey this year with some outstanding team performances across our Junior School sports programme. As always, the boys have been working hard on developing their core hockey skills and game understanding.

Our Year 3 and 4 boys have been working on their knowledge and rules of the game, as well as their dribbling, passing, tackling and close stick skills. The ‘senior boys’ within the Junior School, Year 5 and 6, have been developing and improving their overall skillset, as well as their game management and understanding.

We have had a busy term of fixtures with Year 3 and 4 boys participating in their first round of competitive hockey matches, performing superbly well with some energetic performances against Worksop Prep and Lichfield School.

Year 5 have had an immensely impressive hockey season with some outstanding team performances against St Edwards CoE, Lichfield School, Nottingham High School and Worksop Prep. And Year 6 have also had some superb team performances against Worksop Prep, St Edwards CoE and Lichfield School.

Our after-school sports club has continued to grow in numbers and I am delighted to say that we have had 32 boys participating in our Hockey Club this year, which has been fantastic! I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon for the cricket season. Mr Smyth Collecting for

What Is A Sports Prefect? the

The Big Pedal

Copper Trail

My role is to invest in sport. I love doing it and I like to share it with others. In my role I have to sort out rotas, sign out and in equipment every break and have fun. On the playground I have to make sure no hard balls go on there.

In PE and Games I am used for Wet demonstrations or handing out sponging things, or being a leader of the warm-up group. I have enjoyed being this Prefect and am grateful for being picked. I only have one more thing to say….GO DGS! Joshua It has been an honour to have been picked to be the Sports Prefect with Josh. I feel it has given me more confidence. I am glad to have the opportunity to share my love of sport with others. Also being Sports Prefect is just a fun role. Alex

Connect4 Final

Page 6

As part of the Derbyshire schools Bid Pedal campaign we had a visit from Leigh Timmis who spoke to the boys about his cycling adventures.

The 20 minute talk quickly turned in to much longer as it was so interesting! The boys were fascinated, learning Aladdin first about his experiences travelling the world - they particularly enjoyed guessing the names of the wild animals and we now know how to outrun a bear!

The major lesson though was around his record breaking experience. It was so much more than just being physically fit. We all wanted to listen for longer!

Aladdin

Sponsored Swim

Sponsored Swim

Junior School Chronicle | Spring 2019

Achievements Achievement Assemblies this term have celebrated all of the fantastic accomplishments by our pupils, both inside and outside of school. Here are just a few of our amazing boys: 

Abhi and Alex who have been out litter-picking in their local park.



Eisah and his outstanding project on the Greek Gods.



Srujan has taken part in his first public performance on the piano, playing In The Distant Forest.

Read more at derbygrammar.org/news

Golden Table January

December

February

September

Class Assemblies

In January Year 3 performed their first ever class assembly at DGS. Taking inspiration from their English topic of Myths, Legends and Fables, the boys performed their own version of the Greek myth, Theseus and the Minotaur. To everyone’s relief, the terrifying monster was eventually defeated, the heroes of the story escaped from the labyrinth and the Prince even wriggled his way out of marrying the pushy princess!

Mrs Monk Mrs Jackson organised a WW2 class assembly. We had to audition for the parts. We had one week to learn our lines. We all had parts and most of us were ladies because the men had gone off to fight. Because the cities were being bombed, children had to be evacuated to the countryside. The evacuees were lined up outside a building. There they would be adopted by people in the town. Ted & James

Honour Points Honour Point race for this term: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Derby Atkinson Bemrose Blackton

2018 1676 1662 1324

Junior School Chronicle | Spring 2019

Congratulations to our class high scorers: Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 (Results as at 21.03.19)

Abhi George F Iósaif Krishan

214 98 86 112

Page 7

A Final Word From Mrs Sly It has been a busy term, not least for me because I have been heavily involved in the planning for the new facility of Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 for the next academic year.

Many people have asked if we would offer this to girls too. We would more than likely increase our numbers in doing so but both Dr Norris and I feel very strongly that having a boys only education is our unique selling point. I always feel ‘we do boys well’. We offer them the things they enjoy, not only in the extra-curricular provision we offer but also within the classroom in subjects such as English, which is traditionally not a subject boys always excel in.

I have been delighted this term that many of our boys have taken part in Young Voices and the Society of Heads Sing event. Singing can be seen by boys to be ‘uncool’ but it has been very obvious to the staff that they have thoroughly enjoyed these two events. At the latter event the Directors of Music from different schools got the chance to network and there were many suggestions about how to make singing more popular. I will certainly be sharing these ideas with Mr Wilford. Of course, having Ed Richardson (an ‘old boy’) back with us was a great advert for not only how well we nurture individual talent here but also a fantastic role model for our Junior boys.

The clubs we provide reflect the fact that it is the boys themselves that have suggested them. All boys in the Junior School contribute to ideas that their School councillors bring to meetings and there are always endless suggestions for clubs. I wish we had enough staff to be able to run them all! And what is most pleasing is that many of these clubs are actually run by the pupils themselves - Minecraft, Warhammer and Coding at present, with Art & Craft to come in the summer term. Doesn’t that say it all about how actively involved our boys are in their education?

The staff at Derby Grammar Junior School never cease to be amazed by your sons. It is a fabulous place to work because of them. Have a lovely Easter break.

Mrs Sly, Head of Junior School

Exciting Clubs Coming Next Term Spaghetti Maths: Tuesday 4-5pm. Find out more about this exciting new club at www.spaghettimaths.co.uk Art & Craft Club: A brand new club which is being run by our Year 6 pupils Eisah, Elliott and Tharusan Performance Sports Club: Friday 1-1.30pm. This new club is run by Mr Smyth and focuses on performance analysis, tactics, match play, technique and how athletes prepare for performance.

We continue to run Forest School (Tuesday 4-5pm), Soccerstars (Thursday 4-5pm) and Street Dance (Friday 4-5pm) as well as our old favourites.

Watch out for the summer term full club information which will be available soon.

Reminders for Summer term 

All boys need playing-out trainers as we will be on the field.



Please ensure uniform is up-to-date. DGJS caps are available from Reception.



The summer games lesson is cricket.