Year 1 Medieval Day

On Monday, Year 1 had a fabulous Medieval Day that was both educational and entertaining! The children arrived in a splendid array of medieval outfits, showcasing their creativity, with Hector’s homemade ensemble truly deserving of a special mention—it was particularly impressive!

The day kicked off with the children admiring one another’s costumes, setting a wonderfully festive tone. They then moved on to music, where Mr Rye introduced them to some captivating medieval melodies.

Following playtime, Mr Lodge led an engaging lesson on the historic Battle of Hastings. Roman stood out, impressing Mr Lodge with his prior knowledge and enthusiasm for the topic, demonstrating the valuable understanding he had developed.

Finally, the class delved into the fascinating world of coats of arms. They learnt about the meanings of various symbols and colours, each reflecting different strengths and traits. Inspired, the children created their own unique coats of arms, which highlighted their individual qualities. 

It was a delightful day filled with learning, creativity, and lots of fun!

Miss Walpole

Year 3 Assembly

During Wednesday's assembly, Year 3 retold the story of 'the Owl who was Afraid of the Dark'. They used this tale as a platform to share ideas about courage and gave some excellent tips on strategies that can be used when you're feeling nervous. Well done Year 3 and thank you so much to those of you who were able to join us.

Mrs Nicholson

Windows into Learning

Last Friday, the Prep School hosted almost 40 parents to give them a ‘Window into Learning’ of how Science is taught. The session started with an introductory talk with information about the curriculum, cross curricular links it provides and the fact that Science can spark children’s minds so that they, too, can help solve the world’s big problems. Parents then joined their children to have a go at a wide range of activities and experiments, including proving that yeast is alive, creating a pasta skeleton, exploring air resistance with paper helicopters and finding out why spiders don’t stick to their web. The pupils absolutely loved sharing their knowledge with their parents, and it was lovely to see them working alongside them.

Mrs Gritton

Prep School Bake Off Final

Monday was a very sweet affair for the five Prep School pupils in the final of the House Bake Off. This year’s challenge was to create eight identical fairy cakes, which would make us say “Wow!”. The bakers quickly got to work whisking, beating, sifting and mixing and it wasn't long before delicious smells filled the Domestic Science room. Like every year, the atmosphere was very positive and it was lovely to see the students supporting and helping each other. All of the bakers had the same ingredients and recipe while making their sponges, and then they unleashed their creativity with the flavours and designs. All of the entries looked superb and all of the students should feel proud of what they created as some very complex techniques and flavours were used. 

The judges were going to have a hard time choosing between them! Fortunately, the refined taste buds of Mrs Knox, Mr Gritton, Miss Allsop and our new catering manager, Mr Wright stepped up to pick the winner.  After much deliberation, it went to Eva W (Buzzard!). Congratulations to Max L (Hawk), Mila S (Kestrel) and Sienna N and Elsa H (Peregrine) for their brilliant participation and effort. They should be very proud of reaching the final as they had to compete against 55 of pupils to get there! All of the Prep School pupils who entered the Bake Off have received 3 House Points. 

Science trip to the Royal Institute

On Tuesday, a group of twenty Year 11 pupils ventured into London to a well-equipped laboratory in The Royal Institution (Ri). The group included our separate scientists and those studying Combined Science who are considering studying science at A-Level. 

They were tasked with solving a murder mystery and to do so they carried out electrophoresis which separates DNA fragments based on size and electrical charge. They learnt new lab techniques including how to prepare a gel tank for electrophoresis, use a micropipette and centrifuge, organise their samples to avoid muddling them, load an electrophoresis tank and finally run electrophoresis to separate fragments of DNA. The pupils added a stained gel to the DNA when preparing their samples which made the DNA fluoresce and become visible under blue light. 

Mrs Tattan-Robb and Mr Kulczyk were brimming with pride when the Ri Scientists commented on how well our pupils had carried out the techniques which secured excellent experimental results and enabled the correct identification of the murderer. They also did incredibly well in a challenge to use a pipette to establish the volume of a liquid in a µl sample - our groups were all very close to the correct answer, well done to Grace S, Em F and Alex who were the most accurate.  

This experience was valuable to the group who are considering next steps in the field of science. To quote a parent "it is so wonderful to expose them to another dimension outside of the classroom". 

Mrs Tattan-Robb

The week began in true style, as Reception pupils paraded through the building in an array of costumes to mark their Medieval Day; they spent the day making heraldry and welcoming Mr Lodge to learn about all things 1066. Year 4s have been studying temperature in Science, comparing the readings they recorded in different places around School. They also learnt about Ancient Egyptian farming methods and made their own models or a 'shaduf'. Year 5 were testing their hypotheses about whether air has mass by using a balloon balance and Year 3s were researching the different types of metals and what they are used for. In Computer Science, Year 3 had their first lesson using 'StopMotion' on iPads to make their own animations, Year 4 continued to practice their touch-typing skills and Year 2 toured the grounds to photograph the human and physical features they had been studying in Topic. 

Reception pupils were jet-setting yet again, this week 'visiting' Kenya and were inspired to make delicious 'mandazi' biscuits (so I am told - they had all gone by the time I arrived). In Nursery, story-telling has taken centre stage with a performance of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' and the creation of some wonderful Rapunzel towers! On stage, too, this week were 3N, whose assembly on 'bravery' was as informative as it was entertaining, and finally, thanks to Daisy W and Willow B who shared their love of Taylor Swift with the Prep School, in their well prepared and confidently delivered talk. 

Values Certificates: Effort for Darcey M and Kindness for Harry S 

Reading Certificates: Gold for Herb M and Platinum for George F 

Stars of the Week

Nursery: Isla for her continuous spirit of enthusiasm and progress in all areas.

Finley for good listening, kindness and conscientious effort throughout the day.

Reception: Bobby C for a great work ethic in everything he does and his fabulous manners.

Charlie R for progress in reading and writing, you have worked so hard to perfect writing ‘a’.

Year 1: Oscar B for working so hard across all areas of the curriculum. Oscar is always willing to try his hardest.

Roman N for his wonderful knowledge of the Battle of Hastings. Mr Lodge was super impressed!

Year 2: Milly W for her wonderful attitude towards learning and for demonstrating effort and perseverance.

Mattie F for her fabulous expression when delivering your lines in rehearsals.

Mrs Ragless

Netball: U10 and U11 v. St. Edmund's

On Wednesday afternoon, the U10 and U11 girls welcomed St. Edmund's School for a netball match. Due to the very cold weather, the girls match was moved indoors and they played back to back matches. The U11s were on first and looked very smooth and slick with their passing from the first whistle! Layla B and Elsa H were on great form as our shooters and after two quarters, the U11s were 5-2 up. Meanwhile, Evelyn C and Evie B were making interception after interception in the defence making it difficult for St Edmund's to create goal scoring opportunities. Ivy B had a brilliant game in C and the team finished with the win! Next up were the U10 team, Duke of Kent School started quickly and most impressively managed to score goals on the 10 foot posts (1 foot higher than their usual!) Once again the quality of play was fantastic, with the U10s managing to play the ball from the backline all the way up to their attacking circle with every player involved in the action - it was beautiful to watch! They continued to score goals in every quarter with Violet W, Beth F and Norah C all scoring goals and Georgia C playing brilliantly in centre. It was a double win for Duke of Kent School - what a great way to spend the afternoon, well done to all the girls involved! 

Mrs Monk

Years 7 and 8 Girls' Hockey Tournament at Pennthorpe

On Friday afternoon, all girls in Years 7 and 8 made the short journey to Pennthorpe School for a 5 a-side hockey tournament! It was a great opportunity for the girls to have an experience of a tournament and use their hockey skills they've worked on throughout the term! The two teams were put into separate boxes in the tournament. Both teams won one match and so came 3rd in their respective boxes. It was great to see the link up play from both teams, with lots of goals being scored! Between matches, the teams came together and had lots of fun whilst some of the girls also volunteered to play for Dorset House who were short on players as it allowed them to play some bonus hockey! It was a great atmosphere for everyone involved and a brilliant way to end the week. Well done to all of the Year 7 & 8 girls for their efforts and enthusiasm throughout the afternoon! 

Mrs Monk

Netball: U12 v. Box Hill

On Wednesday, the U12 netball team had a great start to their season. Various issues occurred before they had even begun but they were all resilient and got on with what they needed to do! Lauren B was swift through the centre making it hard for Box Hill to keep up. Ruby W did some beautiful runs and created lots of options which also resulted in her scoring some amazing goals. It was such a close game throughout and both schools kept scoring one after the other making it an exciting game to watch. Millie W was strong as the goalkeeper, making some vital saves and interceptions. I was really impressed with the resilience in the cold weather and their determination to win. Bring on the rest of the season!

Miss Walters

Netball: U13 v. Box Hill School

On Wednesday, the U13 Netball team not only took on Box Hill School for their first Netball match of the season, they also took on the elements! It was bitterly cold and it took the first quarter to find their feet and remind themselves of the importance of driving onto the ball. They were one goal behind as they began the second quarter, Halle S controlled the game well at centre with her good positioning and accuracy of passing. Lois M hustled well at WD and was onto any loose balls, by half time it was 1-1. The third quarter was very close but the team started to gel really well as a team and showed some lovely fluent passing considering how cold their hands must have been. It was 3-3 heading into the last quarter and suddenly Duke of Kent School took control of the game and scored a flurry of goals which was very exciting to watch! Well done to everyone for a great 6-3 victory in their first game and a special mention to Norah H for scoring 4 goals and being voted player of the match! 

Mrs Dann

Waverley and Guildford District Cross Country Championships

Our Senior School Cross Country team travelled to Charterhouse on Thursday afternoon to take part in the District Cross Country Championship. All of the runners gave their absolute all and showed great resolve and resilience in very cold conditions. The sense of collaboration, togetherness and great encouragement given between age groups was amazing to witness. Congratulations to James N, Ben B, Ruby W, Bea T-R, Henry W, Ollie K, Samuel H, John B, Thibaut J, Henry O'B, George K, Jess I, Daisy R, Poppy K, Charlie P, Sam R and Isaac P for producing some fine performances on the Day. Also thanks to Oliver C who, despite not being able to run, was a huge help on the day. We look forward to seeing if anyone has qualified to represent Waverley in the Surrey Championships in January.

Mr Herbert

Football: U8/9 Panthers v. Farlington

With the cold settling in for winter and the boys wrapped up there was no stopping them against Farlington this week. Duke of Kent School started the better of the 2 sides with a lucky first goal before Farlington hit back, with some good team play, Duke of Kent School went into the half time breather 2-1 up. With a change of ends giving the boys the down hill advantage, Duke of Kent School hit their stride. The score finished 6-1 to Duke of Kent School, the team play was amazing and most importantly, they all stayed warm!

Mr Hewitt

How to manage the risks of online challenges

Viral online trends attract many children and teens. Most are harmless, but some challenges can be dangerous. Find advice and resources from parents, online safety experts and organisations to keep children safe from dangerous online challenges. Develop your understanding of online challenges and potential risks with the link below. 

Click here for a quick read (5 mins): "How to manage the risks of online challenges".

Please find the source of this content for further reading: https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-challenges-guide/#quick-tips

Mr Boden

Winter has definitely begun to show itself this week: the temperature has dropped and nights are drawing in. We have also seen a rise in winter viruses and the effects of all these things on people’s mood.

When we are feeling under the weather our resilience is lowered and children may find it harder to regulate their emotions, oscillating quickly between contrasting states. The lack of daylight and colder temperatures also mean our body is focusing on trying to regulate circadian rhythms and less on emotional regulation.

It is important at this time of year to spend some time focusing on caring for self and ensuring we expose ourselves to natural daylight as much as possible. We really encourage pupils to be outside at breaks and for sport so they can benefit from this as much as possible. It’s important therefore, that they ensure they are able to wrap up warm and enjoy outdoor play - coats, hats and gloves are becoming more necessary as temperatures drop.

It is also a time to allow ourselves to consider what we need and indulge in hobbies and practices that bring comfort and joy: warming food and drinks; restful times being creative, reading or journaling; listening to or creating music; exercise; limiting social media, to name a few.

For those who particularly notice a dip in mood during the winter months, it may be helpful to read the following advice on coping with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

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

Mrs Douglas

As the Senior Production "All Shook Up" approaches and our pupils are working ever so hard to put on what's sure to be a spectacular show next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Inevitably as happens every year, fatigue and ill health will provide a challenge for some of the cast and crew.  With that in mind, we would strongly encourage a restful weekend for all involved, and early nights where possible.  Please prioritise some free time for pupils to re charge ahead of the busy but exciting week ahead. 

Any concerns regarding ill health for cast and crew next week, please contact the school nurses nurse@dokschool.org.  We will do what we can to help anyone who is a little under the weather to still be able to enjoy performing in the show.

The School Nurses

PADoK News

LICENCE TO DECODE

What a fun night we had on Friday night for Licence to Decode.  It was a full Performing Arts Hall and Paradox Parlours put together a very testing set of puzzles for the teams to crack. 

Each team were given an envelope which had a number of puzzles that need cracking.  Using one phone per team, as each one was solved the leaderboard was updated.  There was a laboratory in the corner that teams needed to use to find the answers to the puzzles.  Such a great but challenging evening. Congratulations to the winning team.

The cocktail bar was a great success with Christian and Ant mixing cocktails all evening.  Thanks to them, Julia and Saskia for providing such excellent table service. 

Thanks to those who came to support the event and a huge shout-out to Paradox Parlours, Christian, Saskia, Ant, Heather and all those who helped bring this together.  Hopefully, we raised a good amount for Sarcoma UK.

Christmas Hamper Collection

**More donations gratefully received**

Our wonderful PADoK elves have been collecting your generous donations all this week.  Thank you to all those who have donated. 

We are leaving the box in Old Hall all next week so if you haven’t been able to donate & would like to then please leave them there.  (Alcohol must be handed in to Reception).  Any donations will be gratefully received as we are a little low on goodies this year.

Donations can include alcohol, edible gifts, chocolate, babble baths, toys, games, makeup, candles or any unwanted good quality gifts.  Please can we ask that all items are in date and unused!! 

Thank you in advance for all your continued support.

FYI:  With your generous donations we will make up some beautiful hampers.  They will be raffled to all the School community. Tickets will go on sale soon.  Some of the money raised in past raffles has been donated to the Cranleigh Food Bank and two local infant schools.

PADOK Christmas Hamper Team

PADoK Clubs:

Duke of Kent Flyers – Netball training 

Monday at 5:30 – 6:30pm

The DoK Flyers meet on the Netball courts on the Front Pitch by the School drive twice a week.  Do come along if you would like to start playing – new players or beginners are always welcome. 

Duke of Kent School Singers

Thursday at 08:20 – 09:00am

Calling all Singers Great & Small!

On a chilly Thursday morning we enjoyed 40 minutes of a Mamma Mia warm up before continuing work on our harmonies in the Mamas & Papas, ‘California Dreamin’. Getting Christmas Concert ready for those who have a performance in them! All are welcome. So look forward to seeing whoever can make it next week. A huge thank you to Mr Rye for his enthusiasm and patience. I’m sure he loves it as much as we do! 

Any queries or to express an interest, please don’t hesitate to drop me a note. Hope to see some new faces next week!

Cathy - email: rhodricathy@sky.com

Important Note: please always park at the bottom of the site and walk up to Old Hall.

PADoK Core Control

Strengthen your body, improve your health with our Physio-Led Stability Group. Friday morning at 08.30 in Ness Hall

Do you have new fitness goals or want to build on what you are already doing?  Julia is a physio who will help build your core strength and help your fitness training.  We would love to see you on a Friday morning 08:30-09:00 for a quick weekly input (little and often is the key to building long term goals!) 

Please contact Julia direct to complete a medical form.

Julia Rowe (julia@therunningspecialists.com 

PADoK Book Club – Postponed until January 2025

Mrs Phillips and Mrs Horsburgh

Senior School optional hoodie

The Senior School hoodies have been redesigned by members of the School Council and the finished product can be seen below. 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 and have a look.

School social media

At Duke of Kent School we have three social media platforms; Instagram (dukeofkentschool), X (@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.