Dear DCIS Families,
On behalf of the Secondary School Leadership Team, I can certainly say that it gives us great pride to reflect on a term with some serious accomplishments and developments as we continue to strive for “better”. There is no doubt that our people and our relationships are the foundation of our school, of its magic. Every day I see inclusion in action as we work to achieve success for all, to support and challenge. This is no mean feat but what an opportunity we have here.
Teachers and our support teams who work directly with our young people every day are the heroes and of course, so are our extraordinary students. Our new teachers, a number of whom ended their school years in late July and were teaching in August have been simply superb. Early in the term we sought to lift the lid on who we are as a community in Community and Culture Week to encourage dialogue, share our fantastically diverse cultures and to encourage a strong sense of belonging for all. Our Houses were rebuilt ready for a year of participation and challenge!
The I/GCSE Pearson awards received this term are testament to the commitment of students and the staff and parents who nurtured their children along the way. There were truly incredible accomplishments in award categories and the numbers of awards alongside far larger, longer established schools. To all our Year 11 students with mock examinations complete and to Year 13 readying for their mock examinations after the break, these are learning opportunities only enabling us to build support to the final examinations in May/June.
Results are only one measure of success. This term it has been great to see student leadership development, multiple performances already in Drama and Music, debating, STEAM, our Wolves training and grit and excellence in local and international competitions. There have been several curriculum trips across the age groups to broaden the learning experience and students won’t forget Hon Dr Stuart Lawrence’s invitation to be ‘revolutionary’! It is impossible to include and mention all the opportunities this term and, in the complex, hive of school life, there are simply impactful memories being made every day. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of our school and certainly evident this term is how grounded and collaborative we are. We would like to thank all our leaving families for their support and wish all our student leavers our very best; they are always welcome home to Dover.
Next term our residentials, our mock examinations for Year 13 and multiple events including the Spring Formal are set to make for an exciting time. But now, it’s certainly time for a well-deserved holiday.
We wish all our students and families celebrating Christmas a wonderful Christmas and a great vacation to all.
Happy Holidays!
Rachel Edwards
Head of Secondary
