A Message from Mrs Knox

A highlight for me this week was listening to Year 1 as they read out their delightful Christmas letters to Father Christmas. I think he is going to have a lot of mince pies this year! Their Christmas present list was charming as they asked for fairy and hedgehog houses, aircraft carriers, electric nerf guns and a drone! I think Father Christmas will be very busy. We also entered into the Christmas spirit with the first of our wreath making workshops which was just wonderful. The wreath I made now adorns the front door of the school! Thank you to Mrs Woolgar for organising such a lovely event and to Jess Hogan-Smith for guiding us so skillfully. Of course, tonight is the opening night of The Addams Family. Having watched the dress rehearsal on Thursday, you are in for a real treat. I send my very best wishes to the cast and crew for a fabulous performance. Enjoy!

Mrs Knox

An Inspector Calls

On Thursday, 24th November, Year 10 went to see Stephen Daldry's multi-award winning production of J.B. Priestley's moral play An Inspector Calls at the Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford. 

Many thanks to Mr Boden and Mr Lodge for accompanying Year 10 on the trip!

Miss Anand

In Reception this week, pupils have been feeling flush, getting to learn the different coin denominations, and using their knowledge to be savvy shoppers - just in time for Black Friday! Year 1 have also been thinking about gifts, but more from the perspective of receiving than giving; having written letters to Father Christmas, they visited Old Hall and gathered around the fire to read them aloud to Mrs Knox before 'sending' them up the chimney.

Nursery have also been looking ahead to Christmas, learning about the Nativity story and, of course, everyone in the department has been working hard on rehearsals for our Christmas Show in the last week of term. The Prep pupils have been preparing for their own upcoming events with gusto, excited to welcome parents back to our Christmas Fayre and, of course, the Prep Concert next Friday. Do please keep an eye out for emails providing more details about all the events in the final two weeks of term. 

Amidst all the festive spirit, Year 3 pupils have been learning all about the food the Ancient Greeks ate. It seems the bread and honey were very popular; the feta rather less so. They've also been considering the properties of different drinking containers, deciding that the most important was that they are all waterproof, though they also acknowledged the importance of them being made from recyclable material. Elsewhere in Science lessons, Year 6 have been drawing diagrams of series circuits, using the correct electrical symbols, and Year 5 have been investigating the varying air content of a range of soil types. Year 5 were also treated to a visit from Surrey Fire Service in PSHE. Our guest spoke to the children about fire safety in the home, stressing the importance of having working smoke alarms (we should be testing them weekly), and agreeing an escape route to safety - something we all do in the workplace, but rarely discuss as families in our own homes.

Reading Certificates: 

Lola C, Rowan B, Bea TR, Oliver T, Evelyn C (Bronze) & Jasmine W (Silver)

Aloud & Proud Readers:

Hubert S & Henry H

Mr Wright

Stars of the Week

Nursery: Charlotte D for being helpful and kind in class and for working with greater independence, and following instructions.

Reception: Oli T for displaying spontaneous acts of kindness and for thoughtful and kind comments in class.

Year 1: Archie H for his amazing enthusiasm to everything he does!

Josh B for his lovely letter to father Christmas.  Josh was very thoughtful, he even included a joke to make Santa laugh!

Year 2: George D for making a conscious effort to use his cursive writing.

Daniel L for consistently being a kind and caring member of the class!

Mrs Henry

As the school gears up for the senior performance of the Addams Family it has been wonderful to see the various costumes being worn and hear the magnificent sounds coming out of the PA Hall. Whilst Years 7 and 8 have been lucky enough to see a dress rehearsal, the final showings will undoubtedly be an even greater spectacle and those attending are in for a real treat.

Mr Wilson

The Addams Family

The Senior Production of 'The Addams Family' hits the stage tonight! Huge congratulations are due to the entire team of pupils who have worked so incredibly hard to get this entertaining and challenging musical ready in time. Their commitment and effort have been first class and they deserve the plaudits that will no doubt be forthcoming. Break a leg everyone!

Prep School Christmas Concert

Next Friday is our annual Prep School Christmas Concert, held at 7pm in the PA Hall. Performing will be the Junior Chamber Choir, the Ukes of Kent, the guitar ensemble and a selection of solos and duets from across Years 3 to 6. Mulled wine will be available beforehand in Old Hall from 6.30pm so do pop along for some Christmas Cheer! 

Mr Rye

Boys' Football: U15 v. Shoreham College

With Duke of Kent School winning the first meeting of the season between these two sides, Shoreham College were hungry for a win. The match started with great intensity and both teams had good chances early on in the match. The first goal for Shoreham College came with a pacey cross into the box. Duke of Kent School were back in it though as a quick response from Jamie P ended up in the bottom corner. Duke of Kent School played good spells of football but were unfortunate when Shoreham College scored a fabulous goal to make it 2-1. Duke of Kent School were caught on the break and Shoreham College punished Duke of Kent School with a third. The boys managed to keep possession and worked a lovely cross into the box with Jamie P's header being pushed around the corner of the post by the Shoreham goalkeeper. Towards the end of the match, Duke of Kent School were piling on the pressure and a great shot from Toby T ended up in the top corner. Duke of Kent School continued to press but unfortunately couldn't find the equaliser. The match ended 3-2 to Shoreham College. A good effort by all players.

Mr Boden

Boys' Football: U13 B vs Shoreham College 

The U13B football team travelled down to the coast to play against Shoreham College on Wednesday. Both teams were a bit tentative in the first half with the score ending 0-0. However, Duke of Kent School had the majority of the possession showing dominance in the midfield but were unable to get many shots away. The game opened up in the second half due to tiredness kicking in which allowed Duke of Kent School to strike first. Ollie C was able to find some space behind the defence and slot it past the keeper with a calm finish to give us our first goal of the match. This gave us the confidence to continue pushing forward with a long ball from goalkeeper Jasper T to set Ollie K free. He, too, took his goal in a calm finish putting it in the corner. We finished the game off with a wonderful strike from Humph G to score off the post to finish the game 3-0 to Duke of Kent School.

Mr Green

Boys' Football: U12/13 v. Shoreham College

The conditions were fierce, the opposition determined and the temperature low, yet this was another terrific performance in a classic 11-a-side contest. With a strong squad of 16 players, we were able to rotate throughout to keep the midfield engine room firing; Jack P ran his socks off throughout, whilst Heath P was the perfect role model as captain for the day. Our finest attacking moment of the day came from a wonderful through-ball from Wilfred K onto the twinkle toes of Alex W who finished emphatically! Some dogged defending kept the tie competitive with brave tackling from George S and Henry R particularly notable. A great performance from the team all round!

Mr Allen

Girls' Hockey: U15/16 A vs St.Edmunds

On Tuesday the U15/16 girls hosted St Edmunds in a return hockey fixture. The match started at a fast pace with both teams having the chance to attack, resulting in Jasmine K making some good saves. Tilly C was marshalling the defence to ensure there were fewer chances. Tireless running from Frankie M allowed the team to create space for Alex K to exploit with them both scoring a goal. Unfortunately, we were not able to win the game, but the girls showed great determination and grit in the second to keep the contest a close one. 

Mr Green 

Girls' Hockey: U13  v. Box Hill

On Wednesday, the U13A team welcomed Box Hill to our Wilsons' Pitch for a hockey fixture. The girls were all raring to go and after a good warm for both teams, the match begun! It was clear it was going to be a close match from the first few minutes with both teams showing some good skills on the ball and using the space to create chances. Alice B, Francesca R and Mercy M worked brilliantly in midfield throughout the first half, eventually getting their very well deserved goal to go 1-0. Some incredibly brave play from Tildy C helped the team to continue to create opportunities to score. The team were 1-0 up at half time but knew they had to continue their efforts in the second half. Clara H-S and Iona H were challenged more in the second half but they worked fantastically together and it was like a brick wall with Edie H in goal making countless saves to keep Duke of Kent School ahead. Alice B showed some excellent skill in the second half to score the second goal for the U13A team, Alice was later nominated as player of the match for her all around performance. Box Hill continued to threaten but Edie H managed to keep her clean sheet meaning the girls took the win 2-0. A brilliant all round performance and a demonstration of improved fitness too with all the team running constantly for 40 minutes! 

Miss Vickers

Netball: U9 v. Frensham Heights 

On Thursday afternoon, the Year 4 girls made the journey to Frensham Heights to play a netball match. With the rain pouring, they were very excited to hear the match was going to be played indoors in their sports hall! The girls were in great spirits and they were very excited to get the game underway! The team started well with goal flowing from Layla B and some great play in C from Florence A. Frensham fought back multiple times and Eva W, Evie B and Charlotte P had to work very hard in defence to keep them out of their circle. The goals kept coming with Seren G and Ivy B also scoring for the team after some great play in the mid-court from Evelyn C. It was wonderful to see the improvement the girls have made throughout the term with players trying their best to use the whole court and the catching was fantastic too! The score finished 7-2 to Duke of Kent School and the Christmas singing continued all the way home! A huge well done to the girls for a wonderful win and for being so sensible for the afternoon despite the long journey home! 

Miss Vickers

What Parents Need to Know about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

The Call of Duty (CoD) series is a worldwide gaming phenomenon, with millions of copies sold every year. While 2021’s release, Vanguard, wasn’t quite as well received, this latest entry – Modern Warfare II – is proving to be hugely popular. A sequel to the recent Modern Warfare reboot (and not to be confused with the original Modern Warfare 2, from back in 2009), the game is an online shooter which features – unsurprisingly – extreme violence, rendered in realistic graphics. Amid the explosions and potential political nature of the plot, there’s much for parents to be aware of.

In the guide, you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as offensive chat/messaging, in-game purchases and addiction.

Click on the link to find out more information about "What Parents Need to Know about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II".

Mr Boden

This week we have certainly had a show of grey skies and dark days. Unsurprisingly, as we move properly into the winter months and daylight saving, some may notice the lack of daylight hours can affect their emotional mood and resilience. This can be almost debilitating for some, and may require diagnosis and treatment, but we can all benefit from some tips on how to regulate our emotions and maintain stability during the shorter daylight hours

• Low mood, exacerbated by the lack of daylight during the winter months can cause a drop in serotonin levels, leaving us craving sugary white carbohydrate foods - try to combat this instead with starchy vegetables to provide slow release energy rather than peaks and crashes

• The cold can have a physical effect on our blood flow, muscle strength and even balance. Making sure we wrap up warm and continue to engage in physical exercise is beneficial both physically and mentally

• Exposure to natural daylight (rather than just internal artificial light) is linked to our mood, so it is important to get outside at breaks and lunch when you can.

• The disruption to melatonin levels can disrupt mood and sleep so ensuring a calming bedtime routine and possibly supplements can be really helpful 

• Other coping strategies such as journaling, talk therapy, screen limitation and planning opportunities and activities for fun can also be helpful.

For further advice: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/blog/tips-for-coping-with-seasonal-affective-disorder/

Mrs Douglas

It was a pleasure for Mrs Sarjant to meet some of our Prep School parents on Monday morning at the PSHE/RE breakfast seminar with Mr Herbert and Mrs Nicholson, and to share her enthusiasm for the subject.  We look forward to meeting with senior school parents on Monday to explain how the PSHE/RSE curriculum works in senior school. Be prepared - there will be some exciting teaching aids/props for you to admire!

Time is flying by; we are now just over two weeks to the ski trip departure.  Please can we ask parents to start to deliver pupil medications for the trip to Mrs Sarjant from next week.  Please check you've provided enough supplies for the whole trip, and ensure that it's all in date and in packaging which shows the pharmacy label.  Please let Mrs Sarjant know of any last minute changes or health/wellbeing concerns related to the ski trip, so that we can plan accordingly: csarjant@dokschool.org.

In Senior School we have been notified of a possible (unconfirmed) case of Scarlet Fever this week.  Please see the link below for more information.  Pupils or staff with Scarlet Fever should seek antibiotic treatment from their GP and stay away from school until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.

The School Nurses

PADoK News

PADoK Christmas Hamper Collections

These gorgeous Christmas Hampers are waiting to be won! There are 18 in total with one luxury Hamper for the last ticket drawn.

E-mail your ticket order to padok@dokschool.org with number of books required, name of child(ren) and year group. 1 book = £5.

Tickets selling fast so don’t leave it too late. Good Luck! 

A Taste of Burns – Friday 27^th January 2023 – Limited Tickets Available

PADoK are delighted to invite you all to our first “Taste of Burns” evening, here at the school on Friday 27^th January from 7pm.  An evening of ceilidh dancing, poetry and food to celebrate Scotland’s greatest bard, Robert Burns. 

Tickets have continued to sell and if you are keen to attend then we recommend booking your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

PADoK Second Hand Uniform Shop – Wednesday 30^th November

The uniform shop will be open next Wednesday between 3pm and 4pm.

PADoK Running Technique – Friday morning 08.30 in Ness Hall

We covered some exercises that were targeting our thighs for strength and power and our hamstrings for knee stability plus flexibility work and then putting it all together into the forward and up leaning running position. 

All welcome. 0830-0900 at the sports hall, please email julia@therunningspecialists.com if you are new to join. Happy Running! 

Mrs Phillips

Senior School Optional Hoodie

The Senior School hoodies have redesigned by members of the School Council and the finished product can be seen above.  They have done a fantastic job at putting this design together and now finally getting to see the finished product.

This new hoodie is available from Stevenson's on their website: https://www.stevensons.co.uk/.  There is also the option to have your child's initials printed onto the front of the hoodie for a slight additional cost, something we would advise to avoid mixing up tops with other pupils. This hoodie is not an essential item of School uniform, so there is no expectation for pupils to have it.

If you wish to see the sample, please pop into the Main Office to see me and have a look at the new hoodie.

Mrs Woolgar

School Social Media

At Duke of Kent School we have three social media platforms; Instagram (dukeofkentschool), Twitter (@DoKSchool) and Facebook (Duke of Kent School). All of our social media accounts are public.

We recommend following all three accounts to receive push notifications with news, updates, educational articles, interactions with other schools, communities and public figures.

Mrs Woolgar