Rector's Newsletter - June 2009

For once, we had good fortune with the weather at Sports Weekend.  While Edinburgh, Kinross and Perth experienced heavy rain, everything went ahead as planned in Dollar with only a gentle ‘smirr’ on Saturday and Sunday morning.  As a result, large crowds were able to see a feast of athletics from the Prep School Sports (taking place for the first time on the main field on Thursday) through the Junior Championships on Friday to the Senior events on the Saturday afternoon.  In addition, the pre-Sports pipe band performance provided an excellent taster for the wonderful display by the bands on the Sunday. 

The ten and twenty year reunions of former pupils were very well attended, and it was pleasing to hear the positive comments made by them about the pipe band triumphs in the recent Scottish Schools CCF Competition.  Mr Craig Stewart and Mr Matt Wilson are particularly to be congratulated on the fact that Dollar’s A band won this blue riband event for the tenth consecutive year;  the B band’s second place in the competition was just as heartening.  The Pipe Majors, Ross Hammond and his sister Suzie, provided a unique result for the family and the Academy. 

As will have been noted from the national press, the Scholars’ Challenge team won the competition run by The Prince’s Trust where seven schools had taken part in the challenge to raise money for the charity.  In the end, £150,000 was raised by the seven schools, and of that, over £86,000 was raised by the group from Dollar.  Under the leadership of Kirsty Fergusson, the fifteen-strong team produced a remarkable result during their months of competitive fundraising.  The competition, undertaken only by corporate and legal teams in the past, had been open to schools for the first time this year.  Ms Trudi Spencer and Miss Nicki Griffith gave expert guidance in the background.

By the end of summer break, a new landscape will have appeared here in Dollar, with the completion of the artificial surface.  I wish everyone a wonderful holiday, and recognise that the 1st XI hockey squad will in fact be relishing their return to pre-season training this summer in their new arena.

Kindest regards,  

Fraser Greenlee’s (J2) photograph of Pipe Major Ross Hammond (VI) leading out the Dollar Academy A Band at Strathallan.  Fraser’s photograph has appeared on the BBC website, and he is thanked for his permission to reproduce it here.

PUPILS

Athletics
In the recent SSAA Inter-Area U-15 Championships, Kathryn Gillespie (I) came first in the 100m, Lyndsey Mackay (II) was third in Discus and Robyn McAree (II) was a finalist in the 200m.

Kerry Gibson (III) came second in the recent Mini Tour of Fife for junior athletes.  The tour involved a beach race at St Andrews, with four 5km races, and a 2km time trial over five days.  The competition ended with a race at Cambo Estate.

There have been many genuine successes for Dollar’s athletes this year, and typical was the victory in the triangular meet with Heriot’s and Morrison’s, with Dollar scoring 240.5 points and their competitors 219.5 and 187 respectively.  In a good victory over The Mary Erskine School, Dollar won by 175 to 153.  A number of our athletes, according to their coaches, went above and beyond what was expected – and particular commendation goes to Nicole Abel (IV) and Emma Donoghue (V).

Isla Winchester (V) won the Womens Pole Vault Gold medal at the Scottish Athletics U-17 Championships.

Cricket
After a dismal start to the season because of the weather, there has been a fair amount of cricket played, with very strong performances in a number of year groups.  Rory Weir (II) is to be congratulated on his 111* against Hutchesons’.  Rob Tree (J2) took 8 – 4 against Watson’s, and the record books are being checked. 

Peter Ross (V) is to be congratulated on his selection for the Scotland U-17 cricket team for the county championships this summer. 

Climbing
Jason McDonald (J1) finished third in his age group in the Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s Youth Climbing Series.  He was thus invited to become a member of the South Scotland regional team which competes in London in the British Youth Climbing final. 

Computing
The Form II team consisting of Rory Irwin, Calum Macdonald, Matthew Mills and Louis Stewart competed against eighteen other schools in the University of Dundee competition for the Strathmore trophy.  They had to storyboard and produce a film entitled, “How does a computer scientist actually help people?” by using a variety of specified hardware and software tools.  Their creative and cleverly executed design was greatly valued by the judges.

Crest Science Awards

Duncan Smith (J2), the winner of the Junior Science Fair, won in the Bronze Technology category and Ruth Cameron, Alice Cheape and Laura Dunn (all III) won in the Silver Science category for their project on Bees and Honey.  All four have been invited to the National Science Fair in Manchester in March 2010. 

Debating
Ruth Cameron, Calum Worsley (both III) and Gavin Woolman (IV) attended a preliminary training day for the Scottish International Debating Team.  From the twenty-one pupils present, eight were selected to join the full development squad which will be involved in September.  Ruth and Calum were fortunate to be invited to join that squad.  Although only in Form III, and probably the youngest taking part in the competition, they have done very well to join the select group of top debaters in Scotland.  From this squad, five pupils will be chosen to represent Scotland in Qatar in 2010. 

Drama
For a number of years, Dollar pupils have met with success through their work with the Alloa Forefront Children’s Theatre.  This year, Calum Smith (P4) played Oliver and another Prep 4 boy, Cameron McCall, had a principal part.  Suzie Hammond (III) played Mrs Sowerberry in the show.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Scholarship
Roderick Ewles (VI) has won a scholarship from Heriot-Watt University to support his study there.

Equestrian Events
In the recent British equestrian vaulting trial held in Beverley, Joanne Eccles (FP 2008) was first in the Senior section, while her sister Hannah (VI) was first in the Junior section.  Joanne has just won the Equestrian Vaulting Master Class at Wiesbaden, the first time this competition has been won by a British vaulter. 

Louise Snowie (II) has met with considerable success in Showjumping, and qualified for the Royal International Horse Show where she will be riding her horse Sprit against many of the top showing horses in the UK.  She met with success in the Royal Highland Show, and she has also gained access to the Blair Atholl Horse Trials. 

Football
Jordan Wilson (II) played for Rangers Youth in the recent European tournament held in Italy.  Having scored the equalising goal against AC Milan, Jordan was understandably disappointed when the team finally went out against Brondby – after having beaten AC Milan and Roma.  Jordan will be playing for Rangers U-15 next season. 

Gap Placements
Matthew Millar and Calum M Watson (both VI) have secured posts as junior English assistants in German schools for the forthcoming session.  Dollar has now sent thirty pupils in total over the past decade to such posts in Germany.  In addition, Alice McNicol (VI) has secured a year as an au pair near Lyon, and Stuart Campbell and William Bowers (also VI) will be working as animateurs in French summer camps.  All five will thus be perfecting their linguistic skills before going off to university.  Three young students from our partner schools in mainland Europe were invited to spend the final weeks of term here while three of our senior linguists attended Versailles and Fellbach-Schmiden.

Golf
Eilidh Watson (I) has just won the Perth and Kinross Girls’ U-18 championship – and she is still only 12.

Hockey
The office bearers for next session are as follows:  Captain – Elizabeth Shedden, Vice Captain – Talia Sarafilovic and Secretary – Emma Donoghue.

Joanne Brown (Captain), Stephanie Dick and Kathryn Lang (all III) represented the Midland District U-15 team in the recent inter-district tournament.

Journalism
Aidan Reid’s (V) article “The Old Firm and Bigotry in Scottish Football” won Best Feature in the recent Scottish Schools Magazine of the Year competition.  In the presentation ceremony held at Dynamic Earth, he won a school licence for the latest version of Quark’s desktop publishing software, and he was given an internship opportunity in journalism.  His article, published originally in The Galley, was printed by the Times Educational Supplement on Friday 26 June.  The Galley was commended as “a magazine full of exceptional writing from budding authors on a great diversity of subjects”.

Mathematical Challenge
In the Primary section of the 2008-2009 Scottish Mathematical Challenge, a number of J2 pupils were highly successful:  Duncan Cooper won Gold, Tom Clarke won Silver, while Amenah Cheema, Max Jeffrey, Laura Manson, Fraser McKenzie and Calum Weir all won Bronze.

National Galleries Art Competition
We have received information about the successes of a number of pupils in this year’s competition.  David Walker-Lothian (J2) won a Special Merit in P4-7 category;  Katie Ross, Rory Irwin (II) and Eleanor Couser (I) gained a similar award in Forms 1-III;  Alexander Crawford (I) won first prize in his age group in the competition. 

Stock Market Challenge
Form II continues to be stimulated by the stock market computer simulation.  In the final of this year’s national competition, the Form III team came fourth out of twenty-three teams at Edinburgh University after leading for much of the competition.

Pipes and Drums
June has brought a number of successes for the pipe bands.  The Dollar A band won the Scottish Schools Competition for an extraordinary tenth year in succession;  the runners-up were the members of the Dollar B band.  There were numerous individual awards:  Fraser Morrison (III) - second in Junior Drumming;  Beth Waters (III) – second in Intermediate Drumming where Rory Weir (II) came first and won the George Braid Cup.  In Junior Piping, Robert Reid (III) came second, while Lucy Henderson (J2), who had been selected to pipe for Prince Charles in Glasgow’s National Piping Centre earlier in the month, won first place and the Douglas Henderson Memorial Cup.  In Intermediate Piping, Robbie Jones (V) was placed third, while Fraser Stewart (V) came first and won the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cup.  The Dollar A band won the Loch Nan Eun Quaich as the top solo school.  Kerr Wishart (V) won the Drum Major award.  Louise Carson (IV) collected the Bob Montgomery Memorial Cup for Dollar’s first place in the Drum section, while Eilidh Stewart (VI) collected the Bass and Tenor Section Challenge Cup in Base and Tenor Drumming.  The A band comprised the following:  Ross Hammond, James Filsell, Eilidh Stewart and Alice McNicol (all VI);  Robbie Jones, Jamie McCann, Fraser Stewart, Tom Hogarth, Talia Sarafilovic, George Anderson and Catriona Jardine (all V);  Grant Blair, Ross Geddes, David Barcroft, Louise Carson, Erin Stanhope, Ruth Clarke and Rebecca Davis (all IV);  Robert Reid, Calum McMillan and Beth Waters (all III);  Rory Weir (II) and Alexandra Mackinnon (I).  The B band was as follows:  Catriona Reyner and Lauren Seath (both VI);  Ellise Alexander, Euan Maclean, Nicole Abel, Matthew Orr, Emma Loedel and Danielle Barrett (all IV);  Suzie Hammond, Finn Houston, Cameron McKenzie, John Devine, Lawrence Miller, Matthew Johnston, Robert King, and Fraser Morrison (all III);  Craig Coull (II), Sarah McCann and Seonaid McIntosh (both I);  Lucy Ferguson, Laura Manson and Anna King (all J2) and Tommy Henson (J1).

Significantly, the Pipe Majors Ross (VI) and Suzie Hammond (IIII) continued the Dollar tradition of Pipe Majors from the same family leading the bands – but the successes of Ross and Suzie this year took their achievement to a new level.   

There were results of some considerable note achieved at the Stirling Provincial MOD (mod ionadail shruighlea) recently.  Dollar was placed in every category entered, competing against Pipers from across Central Scotland.  In the Under 10 Chanter, The Donald Sinclair Memorial Shield was won by Freddie McFadyean, Fergus Fitzpatrick second and Ross McCran third (all P5).  In the Sgiath Mod Ionadail Shruighlea,10 and under 12 Chanter Competition Rory Cooke finished second and Robert Watson third (both J1).  Lucy Ferguson (J2) won the Jim Buchanan Shield in the Under 12 Piping category, with Gregor Stewart second and Tommy Henson third (both J1)  The McNicol Memorial Quaich was won by Sarah McCann (I). (12 and under 14 March – Piping).  The McBeth Memorial Quaich was won by Fraser Stewart (V) (Under 18 March Strathspey and Reel – Piping).

Music
James Ross (VI) passed his Trinity Guildhall Grade 7 Classical Guitar examination with a mark of 90%.  He gained 65 out of a possible 66 marks for the pieces he played – which many members of the school community had heard in lunchtime concerts.   

Rugby
The office bearers for next session are as follows:  Captain – Tom Hogarth, Vice Captain – Jamie Urquhart and Secretaries – Craig Smith and Tiernan Lean. 

Scottish Youth Theatre
Emily Deans (II) has had a successful audition for the Scottish Youth Theatre and will be involved in their Summer Festival 2009 for two weeks in July.

Shooting
Dollar Academy’s shooters won the Brock Shield again this year, with an impressive overall score of 696.49 which meant that their rival schools, which included Merchiston, Glasgow Academy and Sedbergh, were beaten by over 100 points.  There will be full details on the website.  Jennifer McIntosh (VI) has recently competed in the Czech Republic as part of a GB team, and having set two new personal bests, she came third in the Individual Prone event, and was part of the GB team of three that took Bronze in the Team event.  Cameron Balfour (J2) in mid May became the youngest Pintail Champion ever when he took part in the Tay Valley Inter-Club Shoot. 

Strathmore Trophy
Congratulations to the Form II team who came first out of 20 schools in the Strathmore Trophy Computing Competition held at the University of Dundee.  As well as winning the impressive trophy, they won a flip video camera for the Computing Department and a number of other prizes.  The team comprised Rory Irwin, Calum Macdonald, Matthew Mills and Louis Stewart. 

Swimming
Jason McDonald (J1) won a Gold medal in the Boys U-10 50m Backstroke, and a Silver medal in the 50m Breast Stroke, and Bronze in 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle in the recent Prestonpans competition. 

Tennis
In the recent Kilgraston tournament, Sophie Williamson and Ciara O’Connell (both I) were the U-14 winners.  Again, the boys’ tennis team is progressing strongly, and has just won a close match with Strathallan 5-4. 

In the Morrison’s Junior Tennis Tournament, the winners were Hannah Worsley and Eve Miller (both J2).  Dollar came first overall winning by nineteen games to six. 

Max Cumming (II) won the Junior tournament at Kippen Tennis Club, and is hoping to make progress through to the eventual final at Wimbledon this summer.  He was presented with the trophy by Mrs Judy Murray.

Triathlon
Fionn Hargreaves (III) won Silver and Craig Coull (II) Bronze in their respective age groups at the Scottish Schools Triathlon Championships in June. 

NEWS 

Junior and Senior Musicals
The Junior musical this year, Olivia, was a great success, and a tribute to the work of the Music Department and the Junior School in liaison.  Particular congratulations go to Mrs Leggatt and Miss Horne for their work on the production.

The Senior musical was back on the school stage this summer, and Grease showed the remarkable athletic, musical and acting talents of so many members of the senior years.  Mr Peter Russell (Producer), Mrs Gill Robb (Choreographer), Mrs Karol Fitzpatrick (Chorus) and above all, the Musical Director, Mr John McGonigle, provided a memorable show which was greatly appreciated by capacity audiences.

Fortunas
Fortunas 22 has just been published, and Miss Scott and Mr Nelson are congratulated on a most attractive edition.

Art Exhibition
The art exhibition has become a major feature of Sports Weekend, and the department as a whole is to be commended on the compelling exhibition throughout all the rooms on the first floor of the Maguire Building.

BioReactor
As a result of a very generous gift from a former Governor, Mr Robin Cumming, there will be a bioreactor installed in Dr Payne’s lab which may well be used as part of a Scottish Baccalaureate project next session.  Again, this wonderful opportunity for science reflects the liaison between the outside scientific community and the highly expert teachers here in Dollar.

Flu Policy
The website contains the most up-to-date information possible regarding the Academy’s policy on the current flu virus.  Should there be significant changes over the summer break, the website will be updated. 

Uniform
Information booklets have been reprinted, and up-to-date uniform lists have been provided.  Parents should note that the only permitted jerseys to be worn by boys and girls are the standard blue, woollen V-necks, either long-sleeved or sleeveless.  After the trial period, it has been agreed that black jerseys are not part of the uniform list.

UCAS Open Evening
In mid-June, a number of university admissions officers and others attended a busy open evening here in the Academy.  This is the first stage in university preparation for those considering application for 2010. 

Tesco Computers for Schools Vouchers
Very many thanks to all in the wider Dollar community who have sent in vouchers.  For the record, 38,000 (the highest number ever from Dollar Academy) have been collected and Mr Marchant will be pleased to translate these vouchers into further computer purchases.

East India Club J7 Membership
The East India Club, which is based in St James’s Square, London, offers under its J7 Scheme membership to boys for seven years for £300 which covers membership until 31 December following twenty-fifth birthday.  Over 35% of current members are under the age of thirty;  further details concerning the Club can be found on its website (www.eastindiaclub.co.uk).  There is a similar arrangement for girls with the University Women’s Club in Audley Square, London. 

Milk Products in the Dining Hall
The Catering Manager has indicated that all milk products in the dining hall are now organic – which means that there is more Omega 3, more CLA, more antioxidants and more vitamins than in conventional milk.

Dracula the Panto
Mrs du Vivier and her extensive cast of Form I pupils put on a most enjoyable horror pantomime performance in the studio theatre in early June.  Many future stars were on show.

CHARITIES 

Throughout the course of summer term, the Charities Committee has maintained the tremendous momentum of this year, and numerous organisations and individuals have benefited from all the work undertaken by a hugely committed group under the leadership of Mrs Bryce.  Full details will be given in due course on the website, as money is currently being counted as a result of Charities Week. 

The Junior School, as part of the Scholars’ Challenge, raised £274.85 for The Prince’s Trust through the sale of Dollar Academy lapel pins.

STAFF

Mr David Hall (Head of Classics) has gained a Teacher’s Study Place at Pembroke College, Cambridge.  He will spend part of the summer in the first stages of this scholarship, when he will be working on a major development of the Form I and II Latin and Classics course.  Mrs Marjorie Smith (Head of Biotechnology), along with Mrs Pam Ferguson and Mrs Jane Inglis, has made a number of major presentations to science teachers this term.  The Times Educational Supplement Scotland demonstrated the value of continuing professional development in health and science, and Mrs Smith also presented at the Gengage Conference – to academics, doctors, and the public.  Mr David Lumsden (Head of Form VI) has now gained his Alpine Ski Leader qualification, one of four members of staff here who have that additional certificate.  Mr Andrew Morton (Head of Biology) raised £335 for CLIC Sargent by taking part in a sponsored triathlon.

FORMER  PUPILS

A number of details of 2009 graduations have reached the school, but we await the full listings from the universities.  Stephanie Gray (Head Girl 2003-2004) graduated from Dundee MBChB;  Richard Allan (Head Boy 2003-2004) graduated from Glasgow BVMS with Honours and has secured employment in Turriff;  Ian McDonald (2004) has gained a BVMS with Distinction from Edinburgh.

Rachel Maclean and Jenny Macgregor (2005) have gained First Class Honours in Art from Edinburgh College of Art;  Charlie Anderson (2005) gained a IIi from Edinburgh College of Art, and in addition ha secured a BA Scholarship;  Ranald Baird (2005) has gained a First in Sports Sciences from Aberdeen;  Laura Smith has gained a IIi in Classical Studies from Edinburgh;  Katie Mayes (2005) gained a IIi in International Relations and Modern History at St Andrews University;  James Carlyle and Katherine Duncan gained two of the five First Class Honours degrees awarded by the University Edinburgh in Physics this year.  Lorna Gunn (2005) has gained a First in History from the University of Aberdeen.

Obviously, our results are very far from complete, and information would be welcomed.

HELP  PLEASE

Parking in Chapel Place, Dollar
The Director of Development and Environmental Services in Clackmannanshire Council, Mr Garry Dallas, has written to note the fact that everyone has been more considerate in parking matters on this very narrow road.  Nevertheless, while the Council remains keen to avoid the need for formal waiting restrictions in the area, everyone is asked to park responsibly in that environment.  In addition, parents are reminded of the sensitivity required in matters of parking in areas around the school – particularly in Manor House Road, and in Back Road.  The needs of local residents, who require access to and from their properties, should be borne in mind at all times.

Thrift Shop Opening

2:30pm – 4:00pm  (2nd and 4th Thursday of the month)

Thursday 26 August                         Thursday 27 August
Thursday 10 September                   Thursday 24 September

The Thrift Shop has plentiful supplies of the following quality, second-hand, specialist items:

There are also good stocks of the new school fleece which Forms IV, V & VI can wear as an alternative to a V-neck sweater.  The volunteers are always happy to help you find the items that you need and the savings will make it well worth the excursion.  Donations of clean good quality uniform items are always welcome.

There is an item on the website on the subject of the Dollar Academy Thrift Shop.  Information is given on what is sold, what is available, and what is not required.  Parents should note, for instance, that there is a low stock of boys’ kilts and black kilt jackets of all sizes.  The Thrift Shop would very much welcome merchandise of this nature.

The hymn book used in Senior School Assemblies, the red CH3 book, is available second-hand from the School Office priced £3.50.