Kent Mountain Centre 2015

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Written by Mr M Alderson

Published: 12 November 2015

On the last day of the Autunm half term holiday 36 lucky year nine students embarked on our annual trip to the mountains and sea cliffs of North Wales.

Table tennis girls reach regional tournament

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Written by Mr R Pugh

Published: 17 January 2017

For the third year running the Dane Court Girls, now playing as Under 16's, have reached the Regional Finals of the Butterfly National School Team Championships after clinching the Runners Up place in the Zonal tournament held at the Morpeth School,Tower Hamlets on Sunday 15 January 2017. This was definitely the toughest of the Zonal events both in terms of the number of schools taking part (6) and the standard of the opponents Dane Court had to play later in the competition.

The 6 schools were split into two groups of three and Dane Court breezed through both their matches starting with an 8-0 victory over the Essex Champions, Chelmsford High School, and then repeating the same result against Parmiter's School from Garston. Hertfordshire. Then the pressure really mounted for the girls in the Semi Final against a strong Christ the King College team from Newport, Isle of Wight who were the Hampshire County Champions.They had a really strong number one player who beat both her two Dane Court opponents and after the first six games the score in matches was 3-3 but then two fantastic wins from the Dane Court number 3, Annabel Cole, and the number 4, Angel Foster, saw the Kent Champions squeeze home 5-3 in a contest that saw all eight girls produce some very high quality play.

Amazingly the final saw the two best teams in the competition reach even higher standards and an even closer result. Again the Willingdon Community College from Eastbourne, the East Sussex Champions, had a top number one girl who won both her games but Dane Court never gave up and forced a battling 4-4 scoreline. However Willingdon had won two sets more over the whole contest so they were declared overall winners with Dane Court taking the Runners Up spot.
Once again all four Dane Court girls, Catherine Banks, Tayla Bayley, Annabel Cole and Angel Foster, deserve tremendous credit for the level of their play and their determination to never give up and fight for every point. Annabel in particular deserves a big pat on the back for remaining unbeaten throughout the whole event winning each one of her eight games.

So now it is on to Bristol for the Regional tournament in March where the opposition will be tougher still but the Dane Court team continue to improve and should be confident of giving anyone in the Girls Under 16 category a run for their money.

Sports Day 2016 - picture story

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Written by Mr M Alderson

Published: 25 July 2016

Final House Positions

First: Sorrento
Second: Tallinn
Third: Neuchâtel
Fourth: Barcelona
Fifth: Helsinki
Sixth: Delphi

E-safety

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Written by Mrs S Snaydon

Published: 30 April 2015

We encourage students to make use of their digital devices to support their learning. However, there are occasions when they can be used inappropriately and there have been incidents of cyberbullying that have been brought to our attention.

The minimum age to open an account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Kik, and Snapchat is 13.
For Vine, Tinder and Yik Yak it's 17. YouTube requires account holders to be 18, although a 13 year-old can signup with a parent's permission. But according to The Social Age Study by knowthenet.org.uk, approximately 59% of children have already used a social network by the time they are 10.

As a school we have a duty to safeguard our students and while we cannot police their social networking we can try to encourage responsible use. Support from parents and guardians is essential to our success in keeping our students safe, and we know it can sometimes seem an uphill task to keep up with the expansion of social networking.
The following are very useful sites for every one who has the interests of young peoples’ online safety at heart, and we would encourage you to take some time to explore them:

• thinkuknow.co.uk
• ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
• support.twitter.com/.../tips-for- parents
• internetmatters.org/online- reputation

Parent Info provides high quality information to parents and carers about their children's wellbeing and resilience.

Parents may also wish to take advantage of www.parentsprotect.co.uk
It is a comprehensive resource designed to raise awareness about safeguarding children, answer questions and give information, advice and support with particular reference to child sexual abuse and internet safety. Anyone working with or looking after children will find topics covered very helpful.

The children's charity, NSPCC and mobile 'phone service provider, O2 have created a useful up-to-date reference for parents and carers.
The website lists all the social networks popular with children along with the results of surveys and advice.

Top award for a top team

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Written by Mr M Alderson

Published: 09 December 2016

Pictured is Dane Court Grammar School PE Department who have deservedly been awarded Thanet Sports Awards Secondary School PE Department of the Year.

Head of Department Ian Wallace said, “I would like to think the award is in recognition for the breadth of opportunity we offer our students and the significant success they have as a result. I would like to thank my department colleagues for their enthusiasm, commitment, and professionalism as well as the school staff for their support in all we do and of course our wonderful students who engage so readily in all that we offer’’.

“The past 12 months have seen a continuation of Dane Court's philosophy of instilling technique, understanding and a sense of fun into all that is offered on the curriculum, and we thank the Thanet Sports Awards team for their acknowledgement of this. The Department has maintained its high level of extra-curricular involvement across a large range of sports with increasing success at District, County and National level, thereby ensuring Dane Court's name is well respected on a wider stage.”

Year 10 student Catherine Banks said “I think PE at Dane Court is good as there is a variety of different sports to try out and learn during PE lessons and clubs outside of school. There are also lots of opportunities to play sports for the school and I enjoy taking part in competitions with the support from the department.”
Blake Leahy, also in year 10, appreciates the time and effort the PE department put into arranging fixtures and transporting the Dane Court teams. He was particularly proud to have been a part of the boys rugby team which have reached the finals of the last two of the Kent Cup contests.

Left to right: Mr McGuirk, Mr WHite, Mrs Van Hinsbergh, Mr Wallace, Mr Towe, Mrs Christensen, Ms Thompson

Around the world in 90 minutes with Year 7

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Written by Mrs J Baker

Published: 14 December 2016

One hundred and eighty year 7 students at Dane Court Grammar school invited their Parents and teachers to sample a vast array of dishes from around the world. The annual International Food Evening is now in its 21^st year and each year the food seems to get more and more exotic. The students selected their countries and practised their dishes in Food Technology lessons, working together in groups. They made displays and leaflets which contained information about life, food and culture in the countries they had chosen. This project is cross curricular and the students were given the challenge of using food to educate the visitors.
The event was supported by local businesses.

Students entertain elderly residents

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Written by Mrs J Baker

Published: 15 December 2016

A group of our year 12 students performed a Nativity play for two residential homes for the elderly in Thanet this Christmas. The students organised the play, sang Carols and made a selection of food for the residents to eat as well as arranging a pass-the-parcel, which was greatly enjoyed. These sixth formers are studying for a Level Three Diploma in Health and Social Care and as part of the course they to learn to work as a team, in preparation for professional life. One elderly resident said “It is so nice of these young people to do this for us. It was great fun, makes a change and we really enjoyed it”.