dcca parent bulletin

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DCCA Parent Bulletin Friday 15 th October 2021 MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR OF GOVERNORS I’m delighted to introduce myself as the new Chair of Trustees of DCCA. I have been a Member at DCCA for two years and worked closely with Dr. John Moss who retired as chair in July. I’m sure that all members of the DCCA community know that John worked tirelessly for the academy for many years. He will be a very hard act to follow! But I too am committed to making sure that DCCA can provide the very best education and opportunities for all pupils each and every day and in the months and years to come. I thought that it would be helpful to write a short resume of my background. I retired from being an Executive Headteacher in Gravesend in 2017. Previously, I taught in a variety of schools in North Kent. I was born and educated in Wales before completing my teaching training in Kent. I was appointed chair of the Kent Association of Headteachers and Kent Association of Special Schools. Since retirement, I have been a chair of governors at a Medway school, a trustee for two National educational charities and also a governor at CCCU. I support and work with Headteachers and governors in Kent, Surrey and Westminster. I look forward to meeting you in the near future as I work with fellow trustees, Members, Jamie and the leadership team to ensure that DCCA provides the best educational opportunities for your children and young people. Pam Jones OBE

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Page 1: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR OF GOVERNORS

I’m delighted to introduce myself as the new Chair of Trustees of DCCA. I have been a Member at DCCA for two years and worked closely with Dr. John Moss who retired as chair in July. I’m sure that all members of the DCCA community know that John worked tirelessly for the academy for many years. He will be a very hard act to follow! But I too am committed to making sure that DCCA can provide the very best education and opportunities for all pupils each and every day and in the months and years to come.

I thought that it would be helpful to write a short resume of my background. I retired from being an Executive Headteacher in Gravesend in 2017. Previously, I taught in a variety of schools in North Kent. I was born and educated in Wales before completing my teaching training in Kent. I was appointed chair of the Kent Association of Headteachers and Kent Association of Special Schools.

Since retirement, I have been a chair of governors at a Medway school, a trustee for two National educational charities and also a governor at CCCU. I support and work with Headteachers and governors in Kent, Surrey and Westminster.

I look forward to meeting you in the near future as I work with fellow trustees, Members, Jamie and the leadership team to ensure that DCCA provides the best educational opportunities for your children and young people.

Pam Jones OBE

Page 2: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

UPCOMING EVENTS

16th – 31st OctoberHalf Term holiday

3rd – 4th NovemberFlu and Covid vaccinations

11th NovemberY11 Parents’ Evening

18th NovemberY13 Parents’ Evening

I am sure you will want to join me in congratulating Jamie MacLean who has this month been awarded the title of Kent Headteacher of the Year for the Dover Area at a ceremony at the Ashford International Hotel.

This is a well deserved honour for Jamie but also reflects well on all the staff both past and present at the school, who have worked so hard to make DCCA a successful academy.

Jamie’s leadership throughout the pandemic has been exceptional as he and staff did go over and above to keep everyone’s wellbeing and learning at the forefront of their decision making. At the same time ensuring that the academy was as well prepared for Ofsted and securing such a positive outcome following the inspection in July.

I’m delighted that Wayne Newbon was also recognised as the best support staff in the Dover district at the same event. I’ve been impressed with the learning environment of DCCA and would like to take the opportunity to thank Wayne and his team for making DCCA such a great environment.

MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR OF GOVERNORS

Page 3: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

DCCA READING CHALLENGE

Please encourage your son or daughter to take part in the DCCA Reading Challenge. There are

prizes to be won! See the poster below for all the details.

Mrs Boxall

Page 4: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

WALK WITH AMAL

Little Amal, a 3.5m tall puppet will be arriving in Dover on Wednesday 20th October to walk the ancient pilgrim route to Dover Castle. Little Amal is raising awareness of the plight of child refugees and is making the journey from Syria to Manchester.

The community will come together to join a fantastic procession of 500 star lanterns that will light Little Amal’s way to Dover Castle where she will discover and illuminate an incredible light house designed by a Syrian artist.

A group of Year 8 students have taken part in the lantern making process and will be part of the procession. From Dover, Amal will travel to Canterbury to meet the Archbishop and on to London and Oxford, finishing in Manchester on November 3.

Miss Langston

IBCP GO APE!

The Year 12 and 13 IBCP classes went to Go Ape recently as part of their development of the Learner Profiles. We had lots of students demonstrate the risk-takers in themselves being very open-mindedto the challenge. Lots of caring and good communication helped all students, (not staff), complete the course.

Mrs Wallis

Page 5: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

BUSINESS BREAKAST

On Wednesday 29th September, we held a business breakfast within school. It allowed for a positive and informal forum for students and businesses from the local community to come together and add value to our student's education. We had over 20 businesses attend the event, creating a fabulous atmosphere with lots of shared ideas and experiences. There was such a buzz in the room, and I was very happy to be part of it. A special thank you to George Curry in Year 11 who took the time to speak with the local businesses about what he gained from his work experience that took place in July. We are planning for our next business breakfast event to take place in Term 3.

I would like to say a massive thank you to all the local businesses who attended the event.

Mrs Mercer

WATER SPORTS AND IBCP TOUR TO LLORET DE MAR, SPAIN

Parents should all have received an email regarding the above trip taking place between 9th and 15th

July 2022. Please scan the QR code or contact Mrs Wallis for more information. The cost of the trip is£650 and the deposit needs to be paid after half term.

Take a look at the resort online with this QR Code.

Mrs Wallis

Page 6: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

FOOTBALL FIXTURES

06/10 – Y10 football - in what was a hard game for them, with no subs and against a very good Sandwich tech side. 0-0 at half time and ran out of steam in the second half, losing 4-0. Despite the horrendous weather and the game going against them, I didn't hear one negative comment, their attitude and effort again did not disappoint.

12/10 – Under 13s football - Our U13s played against DGGS and played extremely well and came out with a win and the final score was 10-2 to us!

12/10 – Y7 football – congratulations on their 2nd round cup win against Charles Dicken School. They won 4-3 against a very good side.

13/10 – Y8 football - congratulations on their 6-3 Cup win against Charles Dickens School. All played

very well & conducted themselves in a manner to be proud of, both on & off the pitch.

Mr Durrant

Head of PE

YEAR 7 AND 8 DISCO

It was fantastic to see Year 7 and 8 dressing up and having a lovely time on Wednesday at their disco. A massive thank you to the team that made this happen, including some P16 students providing snacks from The Hatch.

Mrs Tomkins

Page 7: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

YEAR 9 WRITERS’ TRIP AND WORKSHOP

We consider ourselves very lucky to have such imaginative writers in our school, and we are always

looking for ways to inspire our young writers. This week, a group of Year 9 students participated in a

creative writing trip to Canterbury, to find inspiration for short stories involving the cathedral. The trip

was very aptly called ‘The Canterbury Cathedral, Ghosts and Grisly History Tour’, and for good reason!

We explored how sometimes history simply refuses to stay ‘buried’ (excuse the pun) when visiting St.

Margaret’s Street: infamous for being the most haunted street in Canterbury. Other grisly attractions

included the ‘ducking stool’ on the River Stour. The cathedral tour was extremely insightful regarding

the gothic architecture, the dark cloisters, the ghostly presence of ‘Nell’ in the ‘Dark Entry’ and the

tragic fate of Thomas Becket.

All through the day, our students were amazing: engaged, courteous and the perfect ambassadors for

the school. It was a pleasure to be in their company. And so, with workbooks full of notes, loaded with

pictures of Canterbury Cathedral, and heads full of sparkling, imaginative ideas, we embarked upon

our writers’ workshop the following day. The writers’ mission: to produce a piece of creative writing

connected to Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral. I was honestly amazed by the fervour in which

students wrote.

Oh…. and as to the finished stories I have had the pleasure to read- WOW. You are just going to wait

until we have them published. Believe me- the wait will be worth it! Amazing work from the D.C.C.A.

Writers’ Society!

Mrs Colton

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DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

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DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

Page 10: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

Subject Day Time Room Theme StaffMaths Monday Lunch F22 GCSE Grade 7-9 club Miss Letchford

Music Monday Lunch Music room Music Miss Langston and

Mr Williams

Humanities Monday Lunch M3 Game playing and

general interest

Mr Grantham

STEM Tuesday Lunch S2 STEM activities Mrs Braham and Mr

YatesMusic Tuesday Lunch Music Room Music Miss Langston and

Mr Williams

PE Tuesday 3.10 – 5.30 Field or at

another

school

Game play/competition Mr Durrant

PE Tuesday 3.10 – 4.30 Sports Hall or

MUGGA

Netball Miss McGeehan

Humanities Tuesday Lunch M6 Geography Mrs BarnesScience Wednesday 3.10 – 4.10 F5 Homework support club Miss Williamson

PE Wednesday 3.10 – 4.30 Field Football training Mr DurrantMusic Wednesday Lunch Music room Music Miss Langston and

Mr Williams

Maths KS3 Thursday Lunch F21 Homework support club Mr Standen

English Thursday Lunch F16 Homework club Mrs BoxallMusic Thursday Lunch Music room Music Miss Langston and

Mr Williams

Science Friday Lunch F5 Seneca homework club Mrs McHugh

Music Friday Lunch Music room Music Miss Langston and

Mr Williams

LUNCH AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

Page 11: DCCA Parent Bulletin

DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

POST 16 OPEN EVENING

Last night we hosted our first event in the series for P16 Option choices. Following the revision fair earlier in the term for the Y11 students, this term has ended with an opportunity for students to discuss their future aspirations, intended destinations and future pathways and be introduced to our wide range of subject offered at DCCA Post16. We welcomed 91 of our Y11 students into the building along with other students from the local grammar schools and Canterbury schools. I will be sending out the information to all parents in due course, and we welcome you to speak to your ward about their onwards journeys. Without a clear understanding of what they want to achieve it can be difficult to find the drive and motivation to work hard for the impending GCSEs. We are here to help you and you must use the staff members in DCCA to help you with your choices!

Mrs Tompkins

Assistant Vice Principal

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DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

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DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021

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DCCA Parent BulletinFriday 15th October 2021