News

Chatter 17 - Easter 2021

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Published: Thursday, 01 April 2021 21:17

Written by The Chatter Team

Dane Court's student newspaper Chatter team have been working super hard both from home and back in school (hoorah!) over a couple of very unusual terms, to bring you this special bumper edition of Chatter.

Bursting with many fantastic articles to read from students across the school, such as how the students feel about the return to school and some of the amazing work they got up to from home. Our fantastic students have also been reporting on what they have been doing outside of school, reviewing music albums and their creative writing.
Also in this edition there are details of what is happening in the library, Easter recipes and lots of competitions you can enter. Not forgetting our own competition to win £20 to spend when the shops reopen!!
If anyone would like to join the chatter team just come along and see what we get up to, details on meetings can be given to you by your form mentor or by emailing Mrs Cronin. We meet on week B for years 7, 8 and 9 or week A for years 10 and above. Students from across the school are very welcome and if you aren't very good at writing we always need a hand at editing! It would be especially great to hear from you!
Chatter would like to wish all student's, staff, the PTA and their families a safe and happy Easter holiday. Look after yourselves and each other but most of all ensure you all have a good well earned rest over the holidays.

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Japanese Pen Pal

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Published: Thursday, 18 March 2021 19:37

Written by Mrs M Myers

As same as every year, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) students in Year 13 studying the Ab initio Japanese course have been enjoying exchanging letters with the students at Kitakyushu National College of Technology in Fukuoka in Japan.
The students write letters in both Japanese and English, so that our Ab initio students can practice writing and reading Japanese and the Japanese students can practice communicating in English.
Harley, one of our students, said “I think that writing to a Japanese penpal is interesting and fun! I learnt extra vocabulary and got to practice my writing and reading skills as well as have lots of fun making a new friend.”
Yasmin also said “I enjoyed writing pen pal letters because it gave me a way to become familiar with everyday language and learn about the culture from a personal view. It was fun making friends, too!”
Marli added “It was really fun to practise Japanese writing and reading whilst making a friend at the same time! It was an interesting way to learn about Japanese culture and share my own culture with my penpal too! It was also a great way to stay motivated to practise Japanese in the difficult time of COVID-19.”
Mr Shinichi Watanabe, the Japanese teacher in the Kitakyusyu National College of Technology mentioned "It is not an easy task for Japanese students to learn English. Sometimes they get tired of learning, but it is very encouraging for them to read the letters from the students who are learning Japanese at Dane Court Grammar School. It has been six years since the exchange started, and we hope that the exchange will continue for a long time to come".
Yuma Iwamoto, one of the Japanese pen pals mentioned "This correspondence activity has been a very important and interesting experience for me. I was very happy when my penpal asked me the meaning of my name. I would not have been able to communicate so much with foreigners without this activity. I would like to exchange letters more."
We have found it greatly beneficial to our studies because it gives us sufficient practice in reading and writing Japanese outside the classroom. It is also nice to keep contact with each other over the countries under the current difficult times due to Covid.

Staff raising cash for Pilgrims Hospices

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Published: Thursday, 11 February 2021 13:25

Written by Mr M Alderson

The staff well-being committee at Dane Court Grammar School has launched a challenge for all Dane Court staff to help our physical and mental well being whilst bringing everyone together to reach a collective goal and with the added bonus of raising money for charity. Members of staff will travel a virtual route around Europe visiting each of the places that gave our school houses their names.
The route is 5492 miles and we have 2 months to complete it. Everyone on the staff team can contribute their actual miles travelled under their own steam. For example, walking the dog, inside on a treadmill or exercise bike, outside running, walking or cycling, horse riding and swimming - literally any kind of physical activity that can be measured in miles.

The staff well-being team are maintaining a record of accumulated activity and will be keeping everyone up to date with the progress ‘around Europe’ We would like to raise at least £500 for Pilgrims
Hospices so please follow the link to donate:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dane-court-grammar-school

A virtual trip around Europe (using Google Maps walking route)

Dane Court to Neuchatel Castle, Neuchatel = 461 miles
Neuchatel Castle to La Rambla, Barcelona = 530 miles
La Rambla to Piazza Tasso, Sorrento = 739 miles
Piazza Tasso to Temple of Apollo, Delphi = 607 miles
Temple of Apollo to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn = 1727 miles
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to Suomenlinna, Helsinki = 56 miles
Suomenlinna, Helsinki back to Dane Court = 1372 miles
Grand total = 5492 miles

Chatter 16 - Christmas 2020

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Published: Friday, 18 December 2020 14:30

Written by The Chatter Team

Dane Court's student newspaper Chatter team have been working super hard both from home & in school over a couple of very unusual terms, to bring you this special festive edition of Chatter that we hope you will enjoy.

Bursting with many fantastic articles to read from students across the school, such as how the year 7s & students settled back into school life for example. Our fantastic students have also been reporting on what they have been doing outside of school, reviewing tv shows, music albums & the US Presidency.

Also in this edition there are details of what is happening in the library, Armistice Day celebrations and lots of helpful suggestions to survive the festive season. Not forgetting our competition to win £15 to spend in the January sales!!

If anyone would like to join the chatter team when we return to school, or just come along and see what we get up to, details on meetings can be found in this edition or by emailing Mrs Cronin. Students from across the school are very welcome & if you aren't very good at writing we always need a hand at editing! It would be especially great to hear from you!

Chatter would like to wish all student's, staff, the PTA and their families a safe & happy Christmas along with a healthy New Year. Look after yourselves & each other but most of all ensure you all have a good well earned rest over the holidays.

We look forward to seeing you in 2021!

The Chatter team

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