Dorter House - St Bede's School

Dorter HouseAn information packfor new Dorterstudents and theirparents

Welcome to Dorter HouseI’m pleased you're about to become part of the Dorter team and hope you are also looking forwarbooklet aims to give you a head start and make joining Dorter as straightforward and enjoyable ame if you have any specific queries not covered here. By becoming a Dorter student you’ll be joini

d to your time at St Bede’s School. There’s much to take in during your early days here so thiss possible . Of course it can’t answer every question you may have, so please feel free to e-mailng a happy and successful house. I look forward to welcoming you in person.David Leggett, Housemaster

contactThe House address is used for all Housemaster, matron and studentcorrespondence:Dorter HouseSt Bede’s SchoolUpper DickerHailshamEast SussexBN27 3QHThe Housemaster and matrons can also be contacted by phone, fax ande-mail:Mr D Leggett, HousemasterDorter Housemaster Office Telephone: + 44(0) 1323 443804Telephone: + 44(0) 1323 843252Fax: + 44 (0)1323 442628Email: david.leggett@stbedesschool.orgdavid.leggett@bedes.org (from September 2012)

historyDorter House opened in 1982 to accommodate a new influx of boarders toSt Bede’s.A swift rise in the School’s roll meant that two purpose-built boardinghouses were officially opened by the Chairman of Governors, DavidSummers in 2007. They were designed specifically for St Bede’s students byan in-house team of students and staff. The new build has superb location:furthest from the main road and close to the theatre. Study bedroomsenjoy wonderful views over the School lake and wood.As well as the study bedrooms and bathrooms on each of the two floors,Dorter has a large communal area, a games area, study booths equippedwith computers and a kitchen where students can make their own snacksand hot drinks. All study bedrooms have ample storage space as well as pinboards for posters and photos.dorterNoun1. (historical) A bedroom or dormitory2. Etymology: From old French dotour, (modern dortoir), from Latin dormitorium

dorter staffHousemasterDavid Leggett has been DorterHousemaster for two years He has beenteaching for 19 years after graduatingfrom Warwick University.His wife Mary teaches Home Economicsand is Day Housemistress of BloomsburyHouse. She has worked at St Bede’s for 8years. Both can count teaching in Kenya inEast Africa as part of their experiences.David proposed to Mary in the summer of2007 when leading a school trip toUganda!!They have a one-year-old daughter calledEvie who is ever eager to get around theHouse and is a firm favourite of our House Matrons.DeputyEma Excell was appointed Deputy in April 2010but has been part of Dorter House since 2008.She teaches Photography and Art to all agegroups in the School and previously lived in NewYork teaching Photography and working with aNational Geographic Photographer beforereturning to the UK.

Residential TutorWendy Parry was appointed Residential Tutor in May 2011. Sheteaches Computer Science and ICT, having previously worked forMicrosoft. A mother to two teenage children, Jeffrey and Olivia,when not teaching or looking after children, she can mainly befound scuba diving in an ocean somewhere!MatronsZekija Dozgic andJackie TurnerZekija and Jackie have beenmatrons of Dorter House for thelast 14 years. They contribute abig part to the smooth running ofthe House and the girls, we know,really appreciate their great cakes and weekend treats. The matrons look after the girls ifthey feel unwell and also look after the laundry.TutorsDorter is fortunate to have a number oftalented and experienced Tutorsassociated with the House. As well asbeing subject teachers in their own right they are part of the Dorter pastoral team. Eachtakes special responsibility for a small number of students.Mrs Belrhiti Mr Henham Mr Costley Mr Cooke Mr MartinezDorter PetsYoda the cat was the first Dorter House petthat arrived on the scene; when not sleepinghe can mainly be found chasing thesquirrels.Paddy the black Labrador arrived with Mr& Mrs Leggett but is a firm favourite withthe girls and is always available for walkies!

aims & objectivesOur aim in Dorter House is to provide an environment thatforms a home away from home in which all members ofthe House:Are in safe surroundings and feel comfortable in an open andtrusting atmosphereAre appreciated and valued as individualsAre supportive of others as individuals, appreciate the differingcultures, nationalities and value everyone's contribution toDorterAre able to learn effectively and develop their interestsAre given equal opportunities and value the importance ofenthusiasm, determination and effort in achieving their goalsAre aware of their responsibilities and respect the School’s andothers’ propertyThe environment provides the basis that enables all Dortergirls to:Develop their intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm for learning andacademic abilities and achieve the best exam grades of whichthey are capable Develop their self confidence and self reliance, team working ,leadership and social skillsDevelop their spiritual appreciation and moral valuesDevelop their sense of service and responsibility to the House,School and wider communityParticipate in the many activities offered, representing DorterHouse and St Bede’sLead an active, rewarding and healthy lifestyle

new beginningsWhat you will need to do before joining Dorter HouseSchool uniformDetails of the school uniform requirements will be sent separately. Juniorgirls’ uniforms must be obtained from the School supplier, ‘School Blazer’and are available on-line (www.schoolblazer.com). Sports kit is availablefrom the School Shop. This is open during the summer months but youshould ring to book an appointment, telephone: +44 (0)1323 443823.Name tapesName tapes can be obtained from the School Shop. It is vital that ALL itemsare named. Items purchased from School Blazer can be sent named.Your first task ‘PREP’Homework at St Bede’s is called ’Prep’ As your first piece of prep I’d like youto write me a letter (either handwritten or emailed).In your letter, please tell me about yourself. Academic, sporting and culturalachievements are great, but feel free to write about hobbies, pets, homeand family too. Favourite academic subjects can also have a mention.You can post your prep to me at the address at the front of the booklet or tothe email address provided.

expectWhat we expect of new girls in Dorter HoDorter is a team and a family. Like any team or family members, weall have our own part to play. You’ll have lots of support from theHousestaff and matrons, but in return we have certain expectationsof you.They are:Treat every Dorter member with respect and considerationand all those whose work within the School contributes tomaking our lives more pleasant.Do not tease, bully or exclude other Dorter students. Respecttheir privacy, opinions and belongings. ‘Borrowing’ withoutasking permission is not allowed!Look after your room and belongings. Keep everything tidyand the floors clear so it can be vacuumed. Make your bedevery morning.Respect shared areas of the House - it’s home to all of us.Clean up kitchen areas after you have used them.

espectuseBe proud to be a Dorter girl and proud of your appearance.Wear school uniform as it is intended; especially with regardsto skirts and shirts.Make every effort to be organised. Complete your Prep ontime and know where your classes, activities and rehearsalsare held. Always arrive promptly.Complete the minor tasks around the House that will beasked of you willingly and reliably.Communicate with your teachers. Ask for permission to missclasses if you have music, drama or sports commitments.Catch up on any missed work and find out if any Prep was set.Use Prep time profitably, knowing what you need to be doingbefore it starts, concentrating on the whole period and notdistracting others.Keep in touch with your family and keep them up to date withnews from St Bede’s.Take responsibility for your own actions. If you do somethingwrong and receive a punishment, accept it with maturity andgood grace - they’re never meant personally.And finally...enjoy yourself! Your time as part of the Doterteam should be happy and rewarding. Get stuck into yourstudies, sports and activities; give everything your best shot;work hard and make good friends.Good luck!!

FoodIt is compulsory for all boarders to attend all meals in school unless you have permission todo otherwise. Three main meals are provided everyday in the School dining hall, the mealsare varied and nutritious and there is always a vegetarian option. Special dietaryrequirements are also catered for as long as the School is aware of them. Each House has akitchen in which you can prepare simple snacks; some basic items such as milk, bread andspreads are provided, but you are able to bring in your own items, with the exception of rawmeat. Fresh drinking water is available in the House, the dining areas and the sports hall atall times.Sample breakfast menuEverydayA selection of breakfast cereals with toppings and fresh milkToasted selection of breads with butter and preservesHomemade yoghurt pots. Fresh cut and dried fruitThere is also a variety of cooked items available everyday, this includes: eggs (fried, boiled, scrambled),baked beans, sausages (quorn available for vegetarians) and bacon.Tea, coffee, apple juice and orange juiceBreakfastSpecialsPain AuChocolateToastedBagelsWaffles&SyrupBreakfastMuffinsPancakes&ToppingsCroissantsGrilled TomatoesHash BrownsFried BreadBlack PuddingExamples of meals available for lunch & supperSoups Main Courses Desserts Side DishesRoasted TomatoCream of MushroomCelery & OnionPotato & ChiveVegetableMinestroneCajun Pork ChopsRoasted ChickenVegetable Curry & PoppadumsCreamy Smoked Mackerel, Bacon & PotatoBakeCreamy Vegetable PieChilli BeefMacaroni CheeseSweet Chilli Chicken Stir FryBattered Fish with Tartar SauceMediterranean Vegetable & MozzarellaTartPepperoni PizzaBeef Lasagne & Garlic BreadApple & Berry PieChocolate SpongeMarble CakeCreamy Rice PuddingDorset Apple CakeChocolate MousseApple Pie & Ice CreamWinter Berry CheesecakeFruit Salad PotsHomemade YoghurtJellyTurmeric RiceFrench BeansRed CabbageRoasted New PotatoesCarrot BatonsRoasted ParsnipsSteamed RiceButtered SweetcornSauté CourgetteEgg NoodlesBroccoliBaked Cajun WedgesCourtesy of Holroyd Howe: http://www.holroydhowe.com/

parentsSome guidelines for parentsA boarding school may be new to some parents and you may encounterdifferent protocols and expectations than those you are used to in a smallschool. These guidelines might be helpful to bear in mind.Have high expectations of your children; encourage them to followSchool and House rules, work hard and be resilient and independentin the face of challenge.Support School and House policies which are laid out. Bear in mindthat some rules will be stricter here than you enforce at home andthere are good reasons for this.Bear in mind that what you hear from your children on their mobilesis only one version of a story. Be alert to possible manipulation, tryto step back from your own emotions. Absent children always growmore angelic!Encourage your children to take responsibility for, and solve, theirown problems. That said, of course guidance and help is alwaysavailable from the House Staff.Allow your children to stand on their own two feet, to facechallenges and to learn from mistakes with your support, butwithout intervening on their behalf, excusing them or preventingthem from facing up to the realities of a situation.Don’t panic about homesickness. It is normal and will pass quickly inmost cases. Be supportive, listen carefully to your children and passconcerns onto staff. Try to strike a healthy balance betweenencouraging resilience and being there for them.I do hope you soon feel very much part of St Bede’s and in particular DorterHouse and support the House in all its endeavours. You are always verywelcome to support both House and School events.

adminSome adminCommunicationThe most convenient communication is by email:HousemasterDeputyResidential tutordavid.leggett@bedes.orgema.excell@bedes.orgwmparry@bedes.orgAlternatively the School telephone number is:+44(0) 1323 843252For general House enquiries please be aware of the best times of day tocall.AbsencesPlease note that an absence from School Meeting on Sunday eveningcan only be granted by the Housemaster. Requests should be sentdirectly to him well in advance.Access to the HouseParents should notify the House Staff in advance should they wish tovisit the House (other than at the beginning and ends of each term).Parents will be asked to sign in and out in the visitors book provided.Personal possessionsDorter students are welcome to bring MP3 players and speakers fortheir rooms, but powerful music systems are not really appropriate.Excessive noise or playing during Pre time or lights out will lead toconfiscation.Televisions are not allowed but laptops are encouraged. They should beused primarily for educational purposes. All equipment needs to beelectrically checked and indelibly marked with the owner’s name. Iwould caution against allowing your child to bring anything particularlyvaluable or irreplaceable items to school, although valuables can beplaced in the house safe.MoneyThere is an obvious danger in keeping money around the House and it issafer to use the House bank which operates each week. The School has a

adminfor parentsshop which supplies stationery, sports goods, PE kit and all students canobtain goods from the shop with orders signed by the Housemaster andthen charged to the school bill. This saves the need for large sums ofmoney to be carried around the School. Students in the more senioryears may go to shop in Eastbourne with permission.FunctionsParents are not formally invited to attend plays, concerts and matchesetc. but are welcome to attend. Events are listed in the school calendarand for seated productions, you are advised to book in advance via thebooking system on the website (www.stbedesschool.org). Newslettersare produced at the end of the term and are emailed to parents whohave supplied an address.FoodBread, butter, jams, spreads, fruit, tea and coffee are available in theHouse. The school meals are perfectly adequate and no other foodshould be necessary.AccommodationAll areas of the House are cleaned regularly and students areencouraged to keep their rooms tidy. Laundry is done in House and wewould ask that students do not bring an excessive amount of clothing, asalthough wardrobes and cupboards are available, space is limited. Pleaseensure that all home clothes are clearly labelled as is uniform.TelephonesThere is one pay phone in the House for incoming and outgoing calls.Please do not ring during Prep time (17:20—19:00). This also applies tocalling students on their mobile phones.Please be aware of bedtimes for the House and that mobile phone callsshould not take place after these times.Internet accessAll students are allocated a school email address, which is accessible tothem throughout the day (and outside of school). During lessons, socialnetworking and personal email sites should not be used. We encourage

parentsstudents to use their school email where possible.The House is serviced by a WIFI network and students may freelyconnect to the services offered by the school up to 23:00. Independentdevices which allow connectivity should not be used beyond this time, itis important for students to get adequate rest.For further information on the School’s e-safety policy please check thewebsite or if you need to contact the School’s e-safety co-ordinator,Michael Krause, please feel free to email him,michael.krause@stbedesschool.org.Bedtimes (Lights out)First Year (Y9)Lower Fifth (Y10)Upper Fifth (Y11)Sixth Form (Y12 & 13)9.45pm10:00pm10:30pmin House by 10:30pmReportsThese are written at the end of each term and will be sent home and areavailable to view on the parental portal.DistinctionsThese are awarded for particularly good academic work and are taken tothe Headmaster. These are recorded and used towards the end of term/year prizes.Safety & safeguardingThe safety of your daughter is extremely important to us and I woulddraw your attention to the School’s Safeguarding Policy which can befound on the School’s website.It is a requirement that all students must sign out from the House andsign in at their destination, upon their return they are required to enterthe time of their return. This enables House staff to know who is out inthe event of an emergency. Students are also required to sign out fromthe House when leaving the school grounds.Weekend leaveSubmitting an application to leave the House at the weekends needs togo directly to the Housemaster well in advance of the date in mind (atleast the preceding Wednesday). An email is preferable. Please make

adminsure that if your child is granted leave after Saturday school that they donot have any other weekend school commitments. If your child is stayingwith a friend, the Housemaster will need permission from both sets ofparents.Students who have been given extra school as a form of punishmentmay not leave School for that weekend.Holidays & Exeat weekendsDuring the School holidays and the formal Exeat weekends, DorterHouse is completely closed. The dates and times of these are publishedwell in advance in order to allow you to make appropriate arrangementsfor your daughter’s travel safely to and from School.The School does not give permission for boarders to go out of School onweek nights (which include Friday and Sunday evenings) unless they areon an official School trip or staying with their own family.Boarders’ viewsThe School values the opinions of the girls. Every girl is able to raiseconcerns and make complaints without fear of being penalised or singledout. Each House has a House Council, House Prefects, School Prefects,Peer Mentors and other representatives on various student bodies. TheHouse Council is specifically charged with gathering and representing theviews of those in the House on the operation and running of the House.ComplaintsIf a boarder has a grievance, however big or small, she can approach anyof the members of staff in the House (her tutor would normally be theperson best placed to deal with the matter in the first instance) orindeed the School. For weightier matters, the School’s formal complaintsprocedure is explained on the School’s website.

In your own wordsHouse PrefectsFranziskaEmilyMarieDaisyVickyMabelCatalinaAmyVictoriaOne of the strengths of the House system is the possibilities it allows andresponsibility it gives to all students to care for one another at all levelsand ages. The vertical House system is an organic structure, mimickingthe family life of a group of siblings, which lends itself to older studentssupporting and acting as role models to younger ones. House prefectsare Sixth Form students who have specific roles and responsibilitieswithin the House. They are always supervised by House staff and don’thave any official powers but are trained in dealing with youngerteenagers, sensitive care giving, managing adolescent issues andknowing when to get help.Head of House: Franziska LuxDeputies: Mabel Calvert-Verbruggen & Victoria Nitsch

Top tips from boarders themselves...‘Be there for other boarders whoare homesick. I felt homesick at firstbut I made close friends who helpedme get over it’‘Don’t be shy if you need to knowsomething. Don’t be too scared toask, and try to make new friends. Itwill make it easier to settle in. Bringin home comforts like photos andanything special to you. It reallyhelps, and if you ever get homesickit is a brilliant cure’‘Don’t be a follower of things youdon’t want to do. No one will thinkany less of you if you say you are notcomfortable with what they aredoing’‘When I started boarding school, I was excited andscared at the same time. But then people startedbeing friendly and I soon enjoyed it. Boarding is agreat experience and I love it!’‘It’s a great experience in your life. Enjoy it,because it is a once in a lifetime experience; it isreally fun. It is very different from where I comefrom, but it is good to learn new cultures, meetnew people and experience a different lifestyle’

In your own wordsTips Show your personality. Talk to people, it’s the easiest way to makefriends, don’t be shy. Bring a few things that remind you ofhome, so if you get homesick, you havethem with you. Bring posters and a calendar to put on thewall and make your room homely. Work hard in lessons, you may find themboring sometimes but it works out in thelong term. Boarding gets really hard sometimes andyou just want to be alone. This can be quitetough when you live in a house full ofpeople, but try not to take it out on othersas they are just caring. Make the most of boarding, you will findyourself really getting into the extraactivities around school. Everyone has their bad times, try and thinkof how they feel, give them some time tothink by themselves. If people are having an argument, don’t getinvolved, pretty straight forward huh! If you are having problems with people inyour room, tell someone, the Housemaster,Deputy, Tutor, Matron or Prefect, they willlisten and you never know they might beable to help you sort it out

Obviously boarding has its advantagesand a definite one I have to mention, isthat it teaches you a huge amount ofindependence. You will realize when youget older that learning to be away fromhome and doing things for yourselfreally helps you later in life. You get to constantly be with yourfriends It’s like one big sleepover! If someone leaves their book at home,they can’t just pop back and get it, beinga boarder, you can just run back to yourroom, grab it and voila, you’re ready forthe lesson.AdvantagesDisadvantages The obvious disadvantage is that youdon’t get to go home and see yourfamily or your pets at night. The beds at school aren’t the comfiest. One thing that will only apply to some, isthat our access to the Internet isfiltered, and we only get access between6.30am and 11.00pm, even at theweekend! Inevitably there will be some people youjust won’t get along with, but you haveto learn to live with them. This could bean advantage if you look at it anotherway, you learn life skills which will helpyou when you leave school. You get to know people you wouldnever have met if you didn’t board,people from all over the world. You get a lot of free time, whereas daystudents are travelling back and forthfrom home, we are at home! You get a lie in, no need to get up earlyto catch the bus! You can concentrate on your studies, goto extra sessions that teachers give andnot worry about how to get home!

A typical week day7.00am Wake up7.30am Roll call (registration)7.45am Breakfast8.20am Go to lessons8.30am Lesson 19.30am Lesson 210.30am Break11.00am Lesson 312:00pm Lesson 4Lunch from 1.35pm for Dorter House (registration)2.10pm Lesson 5 (Mon/Weds/Fri) orActivity 1 (Tues/Thurs)3.10pm Lesson 6 (Weds) orActivity 2(Tues/Thurs)4.20pm Boarders’ free time5.10pm Roll call (registration)5.20pm Prep time6.45pm—7.10pm Supper begins (year group order) -start of Quiet Time8.30pm Quiet Time ends9.15pm First Year in House9.30pm First Year in rooms, L5 in House9.45pm First Year lights out, L5 in rooms10.00pm L5 lights out, U5 in House10.30pm U5 lights out, Sixth Form in rooms

A typical weekendSaturday7.00am Wake up7.30am Roll call (registration)7.45am Breakfast8.20am Go to lessons8.30am Lesson 19.30am Lesson 210.30am Break11.00am Lesson 312:00pm Lunch for all boardersVarious Saturday shopping trips6.00pm Supper7.00pm Boarders’ activitiesSaturday bedtimes discretionary (although ‘in house’ times still apply)Sunday10:00am Wake up10:15am Roll call (registration)10:30am Sunday BrunchSunday Trips/Activities6.00pm Supper8.30pm Roll call (registration)All students remain in house after 8.30pm on Sunday evening

In your own wordsA boarder’s story...I’m Sian, a boarder from St Bede’s. I’ve beenboarding now for three years; my previous twoyears were at St Bede’s Prep School, both arecompletely different environments. I started offin a mixed house of boys and girls and therewere only thirty of us, then to an all girl housewith around seventy girls. Either way, theboarding house is like my second home. Ithought it would be good to tell you a littleabout boarding here at the Senior School.The overall atmosphere of the House is veryfriendly. If you need help you can ask anyone inthe House and they will try their best to help you out. Everyone has a warmattitude, and are always very welcoming. I started off the year with gettinghomesick, as many others do at first, but as the term goes on, everyonesettles in and you have so much to do you don’t have time to think abouthome!Whatever school you go to, there are always different groups of people: thepopular ones, the ones that think they are popular, the quiet ones, the onesthat just want to fit in and the strays. I think that in boarding you noticethere are separations more clearly. At first, most start off with the quietones, but when people see your personality, you’re almost immediatelywelcomed to the group that suits you best. Oh, another thing I definitelyought to mention...not everyone at private school is posh! I think a lot ofpeople believe private schools are full of posh snooty kids and I promise youthat is not true. There is the odd one that is a little more ‘posh’ but most ofus, we’re just completely down to earth.In your free time, the little that you have, there is a wide variety of thingsyou could do, such as go to the sports hall, where you can either, swim, playsquash or work out at the fitness centre.OK, school food, it’s pretty simple, there are good days and bad days. Eitherway, when boarding, MAKE SURE YOU EAT because the consequences arenon stop hunger. Don’t take one look and think ‘No way am I eating that!’because something I’ve learned is that it can taste better than it looks.

A note from Teddy...In Dorter House, we are a community.The amount of love, care and supportwe receive is reminiscent to what youwould expect from your own family. It isa place where you can be yourself—from the moment you step through thedoor you are welcomed with openarms.My three years in Dorter have been anunforgettable experience that I wouldnot give up for the world and, given thechance, I would do it all over again.Teddy Ivandjikova: Head of House, 2011-2012

Au revoir...