This week our theme of the week centred around World Mental Health Day which is held each year on 10 October.

The World Health Organisation said, “World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world. The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Each house explored this theme in their assembly this week.

Working in Partnership

On Wednesday I was invited to meet Gavin Williamson, the new Secretary State for Education, at the UTC Plymouth. As you may be aware, we have been working in partnership with the UTC as part of a school improvement project for the last two years. As a school we have really valued this collaboration, our staff and students have benefited from working in partnership in many ways such as learning about the great practice at the UTC and we are delighted to have provided the support to help the school improve.

It was a real privilege to meet with Gavin and share some details about our partnership and I was extremely proud to hear the students and staff at the UTC showcase their excellent work to a wider audience. I am delighted to say that we have been commissioned to provide support for another year and we will share more details with you soon.

Choices Evening

Our annual Choices Evening for Year 10 – 13 families was held on Thursday evening. Speakers during the evening gave lots of advice and information on next steps. Ms Moreton thanked our Junior Prefects and Digital leaders for their help in supporting the event.

Engineering Education Scheme

This week a team of Year 12 students attended the launch day for the Engineering Education Scheme at HMS Raleigh. As well as attending a seminar about project management and meeting with their engineer mentors from Babcock they took part in Royal Marine led team building exercises and came up with some interesting solutions. It was a great day where they all got to know each other a lot better. Now the real work begins!

Excellent Work

Our examples of Excellent Work this week have been submitted by Mrs Green, Head of Geography.

Mrs Green said, “Students were put into groups and they had to work to find the answers for their challenge questions about Volcanoes and their impacts. They also had to think about oracy skills for their presentations”.

Please click on this link to see the work presented by Freddie Bridgett and researched by Rydan Gardener, Stavya Dubey, Harry Davis, Turab Ali and Adam Newcombe

Please click on this link to read the work by Shrenik Naik, Dan O’Flaherty, Harry Pickard, Henry Tasker, Seth Stevens, Ewan Piercy

Water Bottle Challenge

Also sharing news of a special project this week is Ms Pyle from the Business and Enterprise Department.

She said, “We welcomed local businessman Ben Dixon to DHSB to talk with Year 9 GCSE Business students, who were able to share with him their ‘Water Bottle Challenge’ projects. Year 9 have been working on creating a new water brand by considering competitors and undertaking market research. Ben, who runs a business called Kickin’KleanKickz, visited DHSB to provide industrial feedback to the students on their ideas. He also delivered a talk to the students and shared with them how he was able to set up his business and how it functions. Kickin’KleanKickz refurbishes and restores high-end trainers. Ben’s business continues to thrive and has become increasingly popular with existing and new customers, including a number of current and former Plymouth Argyle players. We look forward to welcoming him back into the school to share some more business insight”.

Abbots Way Walk

This year’s Abbots Way Walk from Buckfast Abbey to Tavistock took place in almost perfect weather conditions. DHSB 45 and 55 mile team were one of 69 teams totalling 414 competitors who took to the moors in preparation of the fourth coming Ten Tors training period. DHSB students were the first to cross the finish line within minutes of each other. Very well done!

Our thanks to Will Coulson and Josh Moyse (Year 13 and Ten Tors veterans) who led both teams across the moors and ensured that their knowledge and experience were handed on to this year’s teams.

45 team – Tom Murrin, Alex Richardson, Ollie Carty, Rob Derry, Joe Stell, Josh Moyse (Leader)

55 team – Josh Yates, Isaac Hudson, Carlo Zanetti, Fred Williams, Elsa Hopkins, Will Coulson (Leader), Sam O’Connell

Save the Date – The Addams Family

We’ll be staging our school production of ‘The Addams Family’ in the Edgcumbe Theatre from 6 – 8 November 2019. Tickets will be available soon!

Sports Update

Plymouth Schools 5K

We were up early on Sunday for the Plymouth Schools 5K race. Well done to all the runners, especially to Sam Pearson 7W who was the first runner back and inside the top ten overall for the whole event. Sam was closely followed by Sakthi Pandy 9W.

Congratulations also to Mr Bunney who completed the 10K event.

Athletics

The final athletics fixture of 2019 was a junior match against Tavistock College with DHSB taking the win 33 – 30. This was a great way to end the season.

Football

Mr Bunney said it was a great turnout again for the Year 7 football practice. The ‘A’ team will play Callington in the national cup second round next Thursday and the team sheets will be out very soon.

Mr Orkney reported on the B team match on Wednesday saying the result was ‘totally against the run of play’. The team lost 9 – 0 to YMCA Discovery College.

However, it was a ‘fantastic win’ for the Sixth Form A team who won their match again Duchy College 4 – 3 in the Devon Wednesday League.

Rugby

Well done to the Year 9 Rugby team in the central venue competition this week. Good wins against Plymstock and Stoke Damerel.

Future Events

Monday 14 October

Strategies for Success Event (Mrs Edwards)

Wednesday 16 October

Sixth Form Parents Information Event

Thursday 17 October

Year 10 Report

Final day of Autumn term one

Friday 18 October

Non-pupil day

Monday 28 October

First day of Autumn term two (B week)

Gold DofE parents mtg

Tuesday 29 October

Year 12 Maths parents information mtg

Friday 1 November

PTFA quiz night

Wednesday 6 November – Friday 8 November

The Addams Family school production

Friday 8 November

Year 8 report