Rector's Newsletter - June 2005

Dear Parents, Former Pupils and Friends of Dollar Academy,

At midday on the Sunday of Sports Weekend a lone piper appeared on the roof of the Playfair building. After a few minutes of the Pipe Major’s playing of the arrangement of Braveheart Warriors by Angus Hunter FP, another nine pipers also appeared on the roof as if emerging over the hills. And then, down below, Shanley Lestini repeated the melody on the violin to introduce her little Braveheart Warriors on the chanter. The visual spectacle and the audacity of the playing combined to provide quite the most memorable moment here in June.

The achievements of the pipe band have underpinned so much this summer term. For six years in a row, the band has been Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Champions, and there are now over 100 young pipers and drummers stirred by the success of the band, and determined to emulate their illustrious predecessors.

Sports Weekend was one of the best in memory, with the good weather setting in by the Friday evening. The grounds looked magnificent, and were a real credit to Mr Lee Spendlove, our Head Groundsman, who sadly will be leaving us in the middle of the vacation. There can be no better tribute to his work than the splendour of Dollar’s environment on this Sports Weekend. FPs, parents and friends joined forces throughout a weekend of athletics, of art, of music, of dancing, of cricket and of barbecues which seemed to burn for 48 hours.

The staff and pupils now go off on summer vacation after what has been an outstanding year in the history of the Academy. The all-round successes in the major arenas showed the many facets of Dollar life. And in addition, the excellent individual performances in academic work, in drama, in music and in sport throughout the year brought great joy to the community. Next session will see the Maguire Building ready for use, and a new era in Dollar’s development will begin.

Mary and I should like to thank everybody involved in supporting and sustaining the success of the Academy in the session which is now ending.

J S Robertson MA
Rector

Dollar’s athletes have distinguished themselves this term. Our girls received the Scottish Schools Athletics Association’s award for the team which won the most medals at the Championships held in mid-June. A number of individuals achieved distinction – Rhianydd Parry (III) was first in Shotputt and Discus, broke both records, and became U-15 National Champion. Caitlyn Mackie (III) also won the Shotputt and Discus competition in her age group – U-17. Michael Gillespie (IV), Michael Wright (VI) and Rowena Bell-Scott (V) in addition to Caitlyn and Rhianydd were selected to compete against Ireland in the British Schools International.

Badminton

In the Form I and II Badminton competition, Gillian Forbes (I) and Stuart Campbell (II) won the Singles titles; Stuart, along with Ruairidh Macdonald (II), won the Doubles tournament.

Debating

The final of this year’s school debating competition was held in a full library. The winners, two Form V boarders in McNabb, Callum Reid and Lee-Long Wong, showed excellent teamwork in opposing the motion that “This house believes that culture is in decline”.

Gospel Choir

The gospel choir which began only recently has performed to great acclaim in a variety of venues – Dollar Parish Church and the marquee at Sports Weekend amongst others. Shanley Lestini and Ailsa Willis (both VI) are to be celebrated for their pioneering work this year.

Hill Running

William Bowers (II) came second in the Scottish Hill Running Championships (U-14 class) with a time of 12.03 minutes. The course was just under two miles but had 500 feet of ascent at Falkland.

Hockey

Tarni Duhre and Fiona Carstairs (both III) were selected for the Midlands Hockey U-15 team for the district tournament. Appointments of office bearers have been made for 2005-2006: Stephanie Malcolm (V) (Captain), Emily Bain (IV) (Vice Captain) and Kirsty Mackinnon (V) (Secretary).

Music and Drama

The Junior musical, The Mikado, and the Senior musical, Oliver!, played to packed houses during two weeks of June. The extraordinary commitment of staff and pupils was reflected in the high quality of the stage productions, and the cohesion of the summer term comes from major events like these. Congratulations to all concerned.

Rugby

Rugby office bearers for next session are: Oliver Gilmartin (Captain), Nick Alston (Vice Captain), Secretaries: Will Allman and Scott Paterson (all V).

Salters’ Festival of Chemistry

Four Form I scientists – Rebecca Chroston, Sarah Crowe, Conor Scott and Arsalan Cheema were placed second out of twenty schools in the analytical challenge in the Festival held at Heriot-Watt University.

Pipe Band

The continuing success of Dollar’s pipe band is remarkable. For the sixth year in succession, the band won the Scottish Schools Championship which had twelve schools and eight pipe bands involved in the final stages. Pipe Major Sean Sarafilovic (III) guided the band to this remarkable triumph on home soil, and it was noted that the average age in the band is 14½. Individual successes were as follows: Louise Carson (J2), Junior Solo Drumming (2 nd); Roderick McNicoll (IV), Intermediate Solo Drumming (3 rd), Ross Hammond (II), Junior Solo Piping (1 st); Sean Sarafilovic (III), Junior Solo Piping (3 rd); Euan Tait (III), Intermediate Solo Piping, (1 st); Andrew Shedden (IV), Intermediate Solo Piping (3 rd); Robbie Shedden (III), Intermediate Solo Piping Dress and Deportment (1 st); Iain McLaren (V), Drum Majors Competition (2 nd). The Piping Eight won the Loch Nan Eun Quaich for the school with the highest aggregate points in solo piping. Mr Craig Stewart is to be congratulated on his organisation and vision for the band, and Mr David Methven and the other instructors deserve great credit for their work in addition.

Shooting

Dollar Academy’s shooting team has had an extraordinary season to date, and goes off to Bisley in very good heart.

The team has won every competition available in Scottish schools this year, and there have been some extraordinary individual performances in addition. Malcolm Peebles (VI) won the Montrose Cup in the Scottish Long Range May meeting, where he was competing at adult level; Philip Lucey (VI) had the highest aggregate at the West of Scotland meeting, where he beat three of Scotland’s Commonwealth Games representatives. The stage in assembly one day in mid June simply groaned under the silver which was piled in recognition of the team’s achievements. Full details will be available in Fortunas. The most noteworthy results this season to date were as follows: both the A and B team of eight were placed 1 st in the Green Howards County Competition – a national competition; Dollar teams were top at every level in the CCF Ashburton held at Barry Buddon; likewise, the team was placed first at every level in the Brock Shield held at Castlelaw in Edinburgh.

The assembly hall was packed one lunchtime towards the end of term when the Soul Band, under the direction of Mr Neil Blezard, entertained with style. Shanley LestinI (VI) and Komi Barrow (V) produced professional performances, and the backing singers and the musicians are very much thanked for all their work. Almost in passing, over £640 was raised for CHAS.

In the Dollarphins Swimming Gala 2005, there were many successes for Dollar Academy pupils. Kathryn Gillespie (P4) won the Diane Broome shield for girls 8 years and under; Calum Macdonald (P5) won the Prospect Insurance Trophy for boys 9 and under in recognition of his three Golds and a Silver, and Rory Weir (P5) won the Dingwall Cup for boys 10 and under and he was also awarded the McCowan Trophy for the best boy in the Gala.

Tennis

Amy Brenkel and Kate Morrison (both VI) were runners-up in the Kilgraston Senior Tennis tournament.

Triathlon

The Scottish Youth Triathlon in Edinburgh in mid-June brought further success to Eilidh Hargreaves (I) who became the new Scottish Youth Champion when she won her age group. The last week of term saw twenty-six competitors in the Academy’s first Triathlon, under the organising hand of Mr Charlie Ainge, assisted by Mr Cameron Smith. The winner of the first competition was Michael Bottom (IV), closely followed by Mr John Fraser (Biology). Rowena Bell-Scott (V) performed very well to take third place.

NEWS

Head Boy and Head Girl and Deputies, 2005-2006

The announcement was made in late June of the appointments of next session’s senior pupils: Rowena Bell-Scott (Head Girl), Iain Tennant (Head Boy) and the Deputies are Naomi Gunn, Ciorstaidh Watson, Will Allman and Angus Bell-Scott.

Once again, the Academy is playing a significant part in the Biotechnology Summer School held at the University of Edinburgh. Mrs Marjorie Smith is chairing one of the days of the four day conference, and a number of other Dollar staff and pupils have been involved.

We have welcomed a further party of visitors from Japan to the Academy. Boys and girls from Kunohe Village were accompanied by three senior members of the community during their visit to Scotland. A group of pupils has visited France, and as I write there is a visit underway to Fellbach, our German link school.

Dr Deborah Keys and some colleagues introduced Prep 2 pupils to Science in an imaginative way. They had the opportunity to observe a number of experiments – such as air rockets, marshmallows in a vacuum and helium-filled balloons. The children then had the opportunity to create items in their own time – a water wheel, cutting a potato with paper, and a lava lamp with raisins.

There was a great deal of enthusiasm as a result of this imaginative interplay of Senior School and Prep School children.

Very many thanks to everyone involved. Last year’s total of 31,190 was surpassed last week, and our current total stands at 33,536.

Dr Martin Hendry (no relation) from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow University addressed a Form II group, and later parents and pupils, on the subject of 1969 Moon Landings, Fact or Fiction? Dr Keys, later in the month, brought a number of Form V Physics pupils together for an investigation of the physics of juggling.

The annual Dollar Gala was held in early June. The pipe band totally entered into the theme this year (cartoon characters) and the 1 st XV brought the Bell Lawrie White Cup to the Gala for the third year in succession.

Mr Seaton’s Form IV Modern Studies class collected 550 buddies as part of the Send A Buddy Campaign. The Prime Minister sent a letter of thanks.

There have been a number of Form VI seminars this year in the post-examination period on such matters as Student Counselling, Sexual Health, Medical Matters, and Finance. Eight recent former pupils also visited to take part in the FP forum.

The splendid annual event – the Form VI and Prep 1 picnic again took place, with the theme of teddy bears this year. Many thanks to Mrs Kean and her team for all their work on this occasion. The strawberry cream scones were apparently of the highest quality.

This session, we say farewell to a number of staff. Mr David Carmichael, who has taught in Dollar for 37 years and has spent the past 17 as Head of the Geography Department retires; Mrs June Tait retires after 18 years in the Modern Languages Department; Mrs Mary Robertson is leaving the English Department after 17 years, although she will remain very much part of the Academy community; Mr Neil Seaton has been appointed Principal Teacher of Guidance at George Heriot’s School. We also say farewell to our Modern Languages Assistants, Lucia Haberl, Maria Lopez and Agnes Rousseau; Mr Joe Cooke, Ms Kenna Maughan and Miss Anna Jeans, who have been with us for only a short time, leave to other appointments. As indicated earlier, Mr Lee Spendlove (Head Groundsman) leaves to return to Derbyshire. Ms Molly McPharlin goes off on maternity leave. We wish all these members of staff every success in future, and thank them for their contribution to the Academy.

Next session will bring a number of new appointments which will be noted in the September newsletter.

Mr Justin Wilkes (Bursar) remains absent, ill. The Bursar’s office and other senior colleagues are thanked for their work during his absence.

FORMER PUPILS

Euan Gault (FP 2000) was one of the top entries in the UK’s biggest short story competition – the Scotsman and Orange Short Story Awards. He won £500 for his short story which was published in the collection Secrets (Polygon) earlier in June.

Leslie Cruickshank and Sandy Robertson (FP 2004) attended the Institute of Biology Teachers’ Meeting as a result of securing the top marks in Higher Biotechnology last session.

Below are some results from this year’s graduations; further lists will arrive later.

Bilal Bhatti obtained a BA 2(i) in Accountancy at the University of Strathclyde.

Sarah-Louise McDonald, well remembered by many as Eliza Dolittle in the last performance of My Fair Lady, secured a 2(i) in Drama and Theatre from Royal Holloway.

Suzie Reid has graduated from the University of Dundee – 2(i) in Sports Biomedicine.

Claire Abel, who left in 2000, has just added to her earlier First Class Honours in English an M Litt in Publishing Studies from Stirling University. She has also been awarded the Routledge Prize 2005 for most distinguished graduate. She now goes off to Oxford University Press, where she will be working in the Academic Division.

Tom Hutchison graduated 2(i) in Law from Edinburgh.

Dr Hendry has been investigating the restoration of a bus route from Dollar Academy to Glenrothes at 5:15 pm daily. Pupils have been asked to offer expressions of interest, and if there are any other matters to be raised regarding this proposed route, Dr Hendry should be contacted directly.

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

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