Each week in the Head’s Blog we will share our school weekly topic.
This will provide an opportunity for you to discuss this at home as a family with your child.
This week in school our theme is Embracing Differences and each House explored this topic in their assembly on Wednesday.
Emotional Logic
We continue to support the emotional wellbeing and development of all our students in various ways through the curriculum, PSHEE programme activities and various methods of support using internal and external staff and providers.
On Thursday, Year 7 parents were invited to attend a session organised by Mrs Edwards about Emotional Logic. We teach Emotional Logic to all of our students in Year 7 so that they have a tool they can use to help them when faced with a setback or loss. If you would like to know more about Emotional Logic, there is a short video on the charity’s website and available here.
Be Strong Online Ambassador Training
Be Strong Online is a digital resilience programme for young people from The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign and Vodafone. We took a team of six students who were trained to become Be Strong Online Ambassadors, this means that they will help raise awareness on digital issues and promote positive digital online behaviour with their peers, by running short, engaging digital skills and awareness sessions for our students.
We were hosted in the fabulous Micheal Murporgo building at Plympton Academy with several other schools from the local area. The boys were outstanding in every way; polite, courteous and showing excellent presentation skills when delivering a session for other students. They have already planned their next steps and will be holding assemblies for Years 7, 8 and 9. Special thanks to Mrs Donnelly for taking time out to support on the day.
Ms Buckler
eSafety Advice and Guidance
A reminder that information and advice for parents and carers can be found on our website at this link:-
In addition, on our Parents and Students page you will find information from Parent Info.
Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP and this webpage has a live feed which provides up to date advice and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations.
Maths Feast
Ms Cunningham took a group of students to the local Maths Feast this week. She said they had a fabulous morning with our teams being placed first and third overall.
She added, “The students were focused throughout and showed great teamwork. Well done”.
One Tree Planted
Toby Leung our school captain has launched a charity appeal called ‘One Tree Planted’ in support of reforestation efforts around the world.
Toby said “Our vision is to plant a tree for every student at DHSB”.
More information was shared during the house assemblies this week and can also be found at this link.
Our intention is to donate the funds from a future mufti day to this project.
Excellent Work
Ms Delve has submitted a set of Year 7 poetry which is linked to nature and the environment as our examples of Excellent Work this week.
Ms Delve said, “As the sun was shining I decided to take them on a sound and vision walk. Students were asked to consider all the sounds they could hear, from inside the classroom to the playing fields and beyond. Similarly to look at things they may not usually notice. 7N did this in silence and loved being allowed to be on the balcony and take in the noise and view across the school and Plymouth. Back in the classroom they wrote up their experience in the form of poetry. I particularly like this selection because they all use language in an interesting way and do not conform to a rigorous structure of rhyme and rhythm. We enjoyed the freedom to go out and about which has resulted in these free verse poems”.
Here is an extract from three poems which can be read in full by clicking on the links.
The Walk The room was filled with noise Paper, pen, the silent buzz of thinking
The room was full of colour Contrasted with a dark, cool, freshness
By Jacob Long
Balcony View
In the classroom, there were pages turning every second, it was a timer, counting down to when the class would start writing about the pages themselves. Feet were hitting the ground as often as a stampede. The teacher called out for us to walk to the balcony. On the way to the balcony, the walls flashed vibrant colours as if trying to get you to gaze upon all that was written down.
By Oliver Blampied
Walking around the school
The bright English room was quiet, Even then my ears pricked up at the smallest sound, Pages turning, feet shuffling and the comforting hum of the computer, The teacher stands up and tell us to go to the balcony.
By James Chadwick 7N
Ten Tors Training Walk Three
Thank you to Mr Clifford (parent) for this report and photos.
As the half term holiday came to an end it was boots on and out onto the moors for our Ten Tors teams. This was a rare opportunity to train in the north of the moor owing tight training rules.
The 55 mile team had their first sight of the start and finish line as they headed out right to the boundary of Okehampton camp only then to turn round and head back for Postbridge. A good test of mind and attitude.
It was out with temperatures of -12 and in with sweltering conditions with unbroken skies. The heat took a few by surprise in terms of how demanding it can be with very little protection.
Well done to all teams on a demanding day on the hill.
School Experience
School experience is essential if you are interested in becoming a teacher. You will need to gain as much practical experience as possible within a classroom environment in order to strengthen your application and prepare for potential interviews. At least two weeks work experience is compulsory before teacher training can commence.
DHSB will be running an induction day for work experience candidates in 25 March 2019
There is also the possibility of two weeks experience to follow. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity then please contact Mrs Marsh at susan.marsh@dhsb.org.
Sports Update
Basketball
The U15 basketball team played well but lost 31 – 45 to Plympton Academy in the Plymouth Schools League this week.
Football
Well done to the Year 10 team, through to the quarter-finals of the Plymouth Cup after beating TorBridge High School.
This week also saw another outstanding win for DHSB A who beat the team from Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth 6 – 4 in the Devon Wednesday League (pictured here). However, it was a tough day for the B team who lost 8 – 1 at home to Plymouth Marjon University.
Athletics
Well done to our combined Year 8 team (DHSB and DHSG) who finished in fifth place (out of 15 teams) in the Devon indoor athletics finals.
Future Dates
Wednesday 6 March
Year 12 parents evening
Wednesday 13 March at 18.00
PTFA meeting
Monday 1 April
PTFA Easter Raffle
Friday 5 April
Final day of spring term two
Monday 22 April
Easter Monday (bank holiday)
Tuesday 23 April
First day of summer term one (B week)