Courage and determination

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Published: Monday, 08 July 2019 21:30

Written by Mrs M Linton

Kurl-Ann joined us in January 2018 shortly after arriving in the UK. She enrolled on our International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme studying on the Health and Social Care pathway. Over the last eighteen months Kurl-Ann has studied IB subjects Psychology and Biology, as well as completing voluntary work, studying Japanese culture and an internship at Age UK in Margate. She was able to complete her studies in Health and Social Care a year early and has been accepted on a place at Kingston University to study BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing.
Kurl-Ann is courageous young woman and we wish her every success in the future.

Edward lays wreath at Somme battlefields

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Published: Tuesday, 02 July 2019 16:09

Written by Mr M Alderson

Year 9 student Edward Thompson has visited the Somme battlefields, after being invited to lay a wreath at the annual service at the Lochnagar Crater by the site's owner Richard Dunning MBE. The service focuses on themes of peace and reconciliation.

It is the third time Edward has visited the crater, which was caused by mines blown by the British under the German lines as the opening act of the Battle of the Somme. The mines were blown at 7:28am on the 1 July 1916, and the act is remembered at the same time every 1 July, in a service that starts with trench whistles being blown around the crater, which is 30 metres deep and 100 metres wide. Edward has previously had the honour of being allowed inside the crater bowl, which - as a war grave - is closed to the public.
After laying a wreath for the Grimsby Chums, who signed up together and died together at the Somme, Edward visited the British Cemetery at Hailly Station, the site of a major field hospital. The cemetery contains over 3000 bodies, including those of German soldiers.

Edward also visited the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's newly opened visitor centre at Beaurains, to see new gravestones being carved and the sword from a Cross of Remembrance being repaired, and visited a vast underground V2 rocket base from the Second World War.
Edward has chosen to study history at GCSE.

Girls in rugby national finals tournament

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Published: Saturday, 25 May 2019 16:20

Written by Miss E Downes

Dane Court Grammar School’s sporting girls came so close to a National final when both their year 9 and year 10 Rugby League teams lost hard fought semi-finals in Warrington last Tuesday (21 May). For a few years now, Dane Court has entered the Rugby League Champion Schools competition with increasing success.

Initially doing well in the county tournament they often qualified for the South East regionals and the, last year, one team gained entrance to the National Finals tournament finishing 5th - outside the semi-final qualifications. However, this season years 8, 9 and 10 all won county titles and then reached the National tournament following success at the Regionals in Roehampton. This meant a trip to either Leeds (year 9) or Warrington (year 8 and 10), both hotbeds of Rugby league competition in the country. Fantastically, both the older year groups gained entry to the semi-finals playing against vastly more experienced and bigger schools. They did this with skilful, determined and courageous play to surprise their northern opponents.

At the semi-finals, again in Warrington, the stakes were higher and the teams tougher as you would expect. Although Dane Court were ultimately defeated every girl gave everything they had for the team and caused their opponents more than a little anxiety.
In the end experience of regular competition told as Dane Court succumbed to quality play by Castleford Academy year 9 and St Peters school Manchester year 10. The year 9 game in particular was a on a knife edge until the final 2 mins when Castleford, unbeaten for 2 years in the competition, scored the winning try. Their coach a former professional Premiership player, gave lavish praise to the Dane Court girls for their unrelenting efforts.
Also, in both semi-finals a Dane Court student was awarded player of the match, albeit in a losing cause, those being Keira Hulks for year 9 and Holly Enright for year 10.

All the staff and helpers who aided the preparation and travelled with the students can, and do, feel proud of all the girls who lived up to Dane Court’s never-get-up, everything is possible attitude.

Ben walks the walk for breast cancer charity

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Published: Sunday, 19 May 2019 10:26

Written by Mrs C Pope

On the weekend of 11 and 12 May 2109 Ben Pope took part in the Walk the Walk Moonwalk in London. It is run by the charity Walk the Walk and it is about raising money and awareness of breast cancer. It involves walking (absolutely no running is allowed) marathon (26.2 miles) through the night around London along with 15,000 other men and women (10,000 women & 5,000 men) in decorated bras (or dressed as a superhero in the case of Ben and his friend Paul) - from about 11:00pm until however long it takes. The minimum age to take part in the event is 13. Being 13 they could only be registered for the Half Moon plus 2 (15.1 miles) and not yet for the Full. This is the same event but for just over half of the route.

We trained since January and built up the distances gradually and the longest walk we did was 14 miles - Ramsgate to Sandwich and back via the nature reserve. We did a fundraising quiz night to help with building up our donations which was very successful and this all boosted their confidence in completing the Half Moon. On Thursday 9 May we received an email from Walk the Walk to tell us that out of 15,000 people there were 36 13 year olds taking part - 33 girls and 3 boys (Ben, Paul and one other). On Saturday evening the 13 year olds were called to the stage in the huge pink 'tent' where the impact could be made that when they are middle aged (in 2050) there will be a cure for breast cancer. They raised awareness that men get breast cancer too (worryingly not that many people know this) and they put themselves through mental and physical endurance challenge to achieve this. They saw the London Eye and Marble Arch lit up pink for the night to mark the event. Ben showed great stamina and willingness to put himself through this challenge for others. Up until Saturday night our team of four had raised £875. This has contributed to the total of £2.8 million which is incredible for 15,000 people.

Netball invitation tournament

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Published: Saturday, 04 May 2019 11:40

Written by Ms G Bolt

On Thursday 25 April 2019 the year 7 and 8 girls netball team attended the Kent Netball Invitation tournament at Rainham School for girls. We are extremely proud of both teams achieving some amazing results; year sevens came first and year eights came second. Well done girls.

CAT supports Porchlight

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Published: Monday, 01 April 2019 20:59

Written by Mr M Alderson

In the last week  before the Spring holiday, Dane Court Grammar School joined forces with other members of Coastal Academies Trust to raise awareness of and money for Porchlight, a charity helping homeless people in Thanet.

Students supported Porchlight through the following activities:
Monday - Bake sale in the school theatre at break and lunch time
Wednesday - Hot dog sale in Food Technology at break time
Thursday - Bring in donations for food bank to be collected in mentoring
Friday - Pyjama day (wear pyjama, slippers or dressing gown) donate a £1

In total, Dane Court raised £1541.17 for the homeless people in Thanet. We also collected food, goods and bedding for this very worthy cause.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed cash, cakes for the bake sale and items for the food bank.

Donated items included:

• Toiletries – deodorant, toilet paper, shower gel, shaving gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, tooth paste, hand wipes
• Household items – laundry liquid detergent, laundry powder, washing up liquid
• Feminine products – sanitary towels and tampons
• Baby supplies – nappies, baby wipes and baby food
• Cereal
• Soup
• Pasta
• Rice
• Tinned tomatoes/ pasta sauce
• Lentils, beans and pulses
• Tinned meat
• tinned vegetables
• Tea/coffee
• Tinned fruit
• Biscuits
• UHT milk
• Fruit juice

Japanese cooking lesson

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Published: Wednesday, 10 April 2019 17:44

Written by Louisa McDonald

In our last lesson on 21 March 2019, we made two different Japanese noodle dishes. The one my group made was a dish called Soba noodles. It was very technical to make but it was worth it. The food was very delicious and we had great fun making them.
Our peers made a dish called Udon noodles. This was different to ours as it included chicken and leeks. They said it was easy to make and great fun. Some even said that they would make it at home for friends and family.
We were very lucky to be able to take part in this lesson. Thank you, Ms Myers!