Argyll and Bute Council
Comhairle Earra Ghàidheal agus Bhòid
Community Services
Executive Director: Cleland Sneddon
Headteacher: Mr D C Mitchell B.Ed.
September 2015
Dunoon Grammar School
Ardenslate Road, Dunoon,
Argyll PA23 8LU
Tel: 01369 705010
Fax: 01369 702168
Our Ref:DCM/HMcV Your Ref:
If phoning or calling please ask for:
e-mail: [email protected]
S1 NEWSLETTER
Dear Parent/Carer,
I would like to begin by welcoming new parents and carers of S1 to the Dunoon Grammar School community. As well as monthly
newsletters, we have a school website, facebook page and regular text messages to keep you informed of all the exciting news and
events happening at DGS.
I hope your son/daughter has settled into life at DGS and have enjoyed the first few weeks. They have certainly been a great
addition to our school and are a credit to you.
If you have any concerns or wish to discuss any aspect of Dunoon Grammar School please feel free to contact me at the school. I
look forward to working with you during the next few years.
Best Wishes,
David Mitchell
Head Teacher
Year Head
Mr McLean, Depute Head Teacher, is currently absent from Dunoon Grammar School. Mr Wilson has been appointed to Acting
Depute Head Teacher with responsibility for S1. His contact details are highlighted below.
E-mail address – [email protected]
Telephone Number – 01369 705010
School Photographs
The school photographer will be in school on Wednesday 9 th September. Individual photographs will be taken of all S1 pupils.
The photographer will also take a year group photo. You will have the opportunity to purchase both these photographs.
Please ensure that your child is in full school uniform.
School uniform
 White shirt
 Year group tie
 Cardigan, jumper if required
 Black trousers/ black skirt
 Black footwear
 Blazer (our preference)
Contact Details
We issued you with a communication leaflet during the transition process. A copy of this leaflet can be found on our website. I
have enclosed some important contact details for your information
Heads of House
Benmore
Mrs K.Campbell
[email protected]
Cowal
Mr S.Ried
[email protected]
Hafton
Mrs J.Foster
[email protected]
Milton
Mr W.Hamilton
[email protected]
Milton
Mrs H.Campbell
[email protected]
Senior Leadership Team
Head Teacher
Mr D.Mitchell
[email protected]
Depute Head Teacher
(S4-S5)
Mr A.Stewart
[email protected]
Acting Depute Head
Teacher
(S1-S3)
Mr B.Wilson
[email protected]
Depute Head Teacher
Mr S.Clark
[email protected]
Support & Learning & Teaching
Lunch Time
As you know, S1 pupils have been strongly encouraged to remain within the premises during lunchtimes and we appreciate the
overwhelming support that we have had from parents in implementing this. We strongly believe that this has contributed greatly
to the reduction of behavioural incidents, as well as improving the ethos within the school. We are aware of some of the concerns
raised regarding the quantity of food available in the school canteen but this has now been addressed. We have increased the
amount of food on offer to our young people. Extra Panini’s, Pasta Pots and hot meals have now been prepared. We have also
introduced an additional serving area for red tie pupils at the stage. Should you wish to discuss this then please do not hesitate to
contact either Mr Wilson or myself.
Drop-off area
I would like to remind parents that the school car park is for staff only. We would appreciate it if you could use the drop-off zone.
Our priority is to keep our children safe and coming into the car park puts them at risk.
School uniform
I want to say a huge thank you to all parents and carers for the effort you have made to ensure ALL our young people are so well
turned out in their school uniform. Already I have lost count of the number of visitors and local business people who have
commented on how smart our young people look and it certainly promotes a very positive image in the local community.
Pupils should wear:






White shirt
Red Tie
Cardigan, jumper if required
Black trousers/ black skirt
Black footwear
Blazer (our preference)
Latecoming
At Dunoon Grammar School we operate a latecoming “Lunch time payback” system. If your child is over 5 minutes late in the
morning then we will ask them to “payback” this time at lunch time. We will issue your child with a lunch time payback card to
remind them to attend. If there is a good reason for your child being late then please remember to phone the school.
Clubs
We are now offering a number of clubs during lunch time and after school. This list will be added to once other clubs have been
confirmed.
Lunch time clubs
Area
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Basketball
S1-S6
Badminton
S1-S6
Gymnastics
S1-S6
S1-S6
Open to all pupils
Open to all pupils
Thursday
Shinty
S1-S6
Hockey
S1-S6
Archery
S1-S6
Friday
3G pitch
2G pitch
S1-S6
S1-S6
MAD sports
S1-S6
Dodgeball
S1-S6
Table Tennis
S1-S6
S1-S6
Open to all pupils
Open to all pupils
Girls fitness
Games Hall
Gym 1
Gym 2
Fitness Suite
Volleyball
S1-S6
Dance
S1-S6
S1-S6
After School Clubs
Area
Monday
3G pitch
2G pitch
Games Hall
Gym 1
Basketball
S1-S6
Queens Hall
Gymnastics
Tuesday
Girls Football
S1-S6
Rugby
S1-S6
Badminton
S1-S6
Queens Hall
Gymnastics
Wednesday
Zone Club
S5-S6
S5-S6
S5-S6
S5-S6
Football
Staff V pupils
Queens Hall
Gymnastics
Kayak Club
S1-S6
Riverside
S5-S6
Open to all pupils
Open to all pupils
Open to all pupils
Open to all pupils
Open to all pupils
Dunoon
swimming club
Football
S4-S6
Gym 2
Fitness Suite
We strongly recommend that S1 pupils get involved in some of our clubs. It is a great way to meet new friends.
We are also running:
1) Lunch time Homework club
2) Choir – lunch time in the music department
3) The Make A Difference (MAD) club during lunch time on Tuesday. This takes place in Mr Pearson’s Drama room.
S1 Playfair day
Our S1 pupils will take part in a whole school event called “Playfair”. This event will take place on Friday 11th September.
The aim of the day is to illustrate to pupils that it is often better to work together and that everyone is different with something of
value to contribute.
Many thanks to Mrs Thomson for organising this event.
S1 parental drop in
S1 parents will be invited to attend an S1 drop in evening on 20 th October 2015. This purpose of this evening is to allow you to
witness for yourself how well the young people have settled into secondary school life. You will have the opportunity to look at
some work produced by your child and to have informal discussions with class teachers.
Message from Year Head
I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the new S1 learners and their parents/carers. I have been instantly impressed
with the conduct of the year group when I have visited a number of classes. During the next few weeks you will receive a phone
call from a member of the Management Team to see how your child has settled into DGS. In the meantime, should you wish to
contact me please do not hesitate to do so.
Kind Regards
Barry Wilson
Year Head