Festive cheer was once again plentiful at DHSB today when the students had the opportunity to show off their dazzling array of Christmas jumpers and they really did not disappoint!
You couldn't fail to feel the spirit of Christmas with so many colourful offerings.
The staff were also well turned out with a suitable amount of fairisle, sequins and baubles.
The money raised from the mufti money all goes towards our chosen house charities. Our team of House Captains have the privilege of selecting three charities for each house to support and among the choices this year are Devon and Cornwall Food action, Jeremiahs Journey, Surfers Against Sewage, Dartmoor Search and Rescue, Cancer Research and many more.
Check out the full lists on the house dashboards at houses.dhsb.org.
Miss Cunningham
Festive Music
Many thanks to Mrs Luing-Holmes and students who have been spreading Festive Cheer by sharing their music in and around Plymouth.
Don’t forget you are invited to attend our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Andrew’s Church on Monday 16 December at 7:00pm and our Christmas Concert at Stoke Damerel Church on Thursday 19 December.
All the information you need is available at this link.
School Development Plan
As this term draws to a close I’d like to share with you the progress we’ve made towards the school development priorities.
Please take a moment to read through our update at this link.
Student News
Congratulations to Tom Rickard 11W who did really well at the British Rowing Indoor Championships in Birmingham last weekend.
Tom smashed his personal best for a six minute row and missed out on a bronze medal by only six metres. Well done!
I was also interested to hear from the family of Josiah Gallagher 7S who have recently been celebrating Thanksgiving as Josiah is half American.
They said, “Different families eat different foods depending on which state they are from. Our meal included chicken, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, devilled eggs and sweet potato mash with marshmallows. After dinner we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and played board games which led to a very animated debate about whether the word ‘orange’ has one syllable or two. (The answer is, it depends which side of the pond you're from)”.
Thank you.
Excellent Work
Thank you to Mrs Ware for sharing this example of Excellent Work made by Jeremi Sztuka in her Year 10 Food Technology Class.
Mrs Ware said, “This is an excellent example of chocolate orange mousse, Jeremi even managed to have time to pipe cream to decorate his mousse. We discussed the function of eggs including denaturing proteins and how to avoid coagulation”.
Brilliant, well done Jeremi.
PTFA Update
It's been a busy week for the PTFA!
On Sunday evening we held our popular Christmas disco. Over 650 students braved the cold and came along to Fever Nightclub.
A big thank you to all our volunteers - we really couldn't do it without you! Thank you too to Fever nightclub for having us.
On Wednesday we held our online AGM. Thank you to everyone who joined us - we're ready for the next year of fundraising! A big thank you to our new and existing committee members and officers. A special thank you to Josanne, the outgoing Chair, and Abi, the outgoing Secretary, for their great support. We are still in need of a Chair so if this is a role you may be interested in, please get in touch.
If you would be able to help us at any of our events, please submit this short form, it can be as little as just an hour or so:
Our next meeting is on 15 January at 6.30pm in the Conference Room (directly behind the Visitor Reception).
Please follow our social media for updates on forthcoming events:
X (formerly Twitter) @DHSBPTFA
Any questions, please email ptfa@dhsb.org
Mrs Kinsella
PTFA Liaison
Alumni News
I start this piece with the very sad news of the passing of presenter Craig Rich. He started at DHSB in 1948, leaving in 1953 to join the School of Navigation which was situated not far away - in A Block.
Craig then did a four year apprenticeship for the Merchant Navy where he had a very successful career as a navigator. He went on to become the first, and longest running, regional weather presenter - starting with the BBC in 1978 and retiring 25 years later.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Craig but we had a lovely chat on the phone in the summer and were hoping to meet. He was very proud of being a DHSB 'old boy' and especially proud too that his son, two grandsons and more recently his grandaughter, for her A levels, also attended DHSB.
DHSB was very proud of you too Craig! We send our condolences to Craig's family and friends at this sad time.
Word reached us of news of another alumnus who has reached his 100th birthday! Happy Birthday Dennis from DHSB!
Dennis remembers being evacuated to Penzance with DHSB in 1941, when he was 16 years old and his accomodation taking a hit.
'A Torch in Flame' by Henry Whitfeld gives us more details about this scary incident. 'In the very early morning of 26th September 1942, enemy planes made a deliberate and prolonged attack on one of the school hostels, Tredarvah, and, after ringing it with bombs, finally scored a direct hit.' Six boys were missing and the worst was assumed as the shelter they were in had collapsed. The inevitable conclusion was that they were buried under the debris. A rescue party, including blood stained survivors, was soon at work, excavating for the missing boys.'
Headmaster Mr Buckley recounted what a tremendous relief it was when a shout came out of the silence, 'the six boys are safe!' Amazingly, on collapse of their shelter, they had managed to crawl out of the debris, walk across the fields (some in bare feet) and find cover in a nearby institution - a girls boarding school!
More than 80 years later Dennis is still here to tell the tale! Is Dennis our oldest 'old boy' or do you know someone who can beat this? If so, please get in touch.
Finally, some amazing old cine footage has come to our attention this week - DHSB boys off on a train journey. Based on the fashions, it looks like the 1950s era to me. Does anyone recognise faces or can throw any light on the trip?
A big thank you to Stephen Johnson of Cyberheritage and Anne Chamings for sharing this:
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2025.
I can be contacted at alumni@dhsb.org
Beverley Kinsella
Alumni Engagement & Archives
Sports Update
Football
The Year 9 team lost to Newquay Tretherras School 5 - 2 in round five of the National Cup on Wednesday. The Cornish school throughly deserved their victory and we wish them well in the next round. Both of the Devonport goals were scored by Aleks Zawadzki.
It was a tough week for the Year 11 football team who lost 2 - 1 against Stoke on Monday and went out of the Devon Cup against Exmouth today after losing on penalties.
The 1st XI played the Plymouth University fourth team and with Mr Orkney as caretaker manager the team won 6 - 2.
Well done!
Badminton
Well done to the U16 badminton team who beat Lipson and Plympton Academy in the Central Venue League matches on Tuesday. Having won every game now the team have probably (unconfirmed) won the league - well done to all involved!
The U19 badminton team lost to Heles on Tuesday night in the Central Venue League.
However, the good news is, they have come runners-up in the league so well done to those students for taking part and giving it their all.