Last weekend DHSB Greenpower Team Avanti travelled to Goodwood in West Sussex, for the international final of the F24 electric car competition.
This is the fifth year that students have raced the car which they designed and built themselves. Conditions were perfect on the iconic race circuit and our car completed 12 laps, totalling 28.8 miles. This was the best distance achieved this season.
The mechanics and pit crew were Year 10 students Jack Benzie, Seb Brook and Jonah Struthers. Drivers were Jake Bassett and Dan Morley from Year 8 and Owen Wren and William London in Year 7.
Mr Ames said, “Everyone displayed great teamwork and skill in their role. A very successful and enjoyable experience”.
Thanks to Mr Ames and Mr Brown who accompanied the trip.
#HelloYellow Mufti Day
World Mental Health Day this year was 10th October. We decided this half term’s mufti day, that students and staff could wear an article of yellow clothing to support the work of the #HelloYellow charity. The charity’s aim is to help raise vital funds and awareness to support the amazing work of YoungMinds and to show young people they're not alone with their mental health. All money raised today will be donated directly to YoungMinds.
The work of #HelloYellow continues throughout the year to enable ongoing mental health advice to young people and campaigning for the support and services they need.
Thank you so much to all the DHSB students who took part and wore yellow today.
Maths Ambassadors
This week saw the first visit from our Maths Ambassadors to our friends at Mayflower Community Academy. The project, supported by the University of Plymouth, sees our Maths Ambassadors working one to one with a group of Year 5 or Year 6 students on a challenging and aspirational numeracy course provided by the university.
The Coachee to Coach programme is designed to empower the young learners with solid numeracy skills which in turn will allow them to be coaches of the future.
Miss Cunningham said, “Our team worked really well with the young students, clearly establishing very positive working relationships while developing their own skills as coaches and mentors. We will be continuing this throughout the year and hope to see some of the youngsters at DHSB in the future”.
Excellent Work
Mr Scott says that Year 9 Computer Science students have hit the ground running and are developing their coding skills using Python. The NCCE resources allow for students to applying pedagogical approaches such as pair programming and PRIMM. As a result students are building confidence in demonstrating their abilities to the rest of the class, as Alex and Archie did during this retrieval practice task.
The year group will be creating some text based games this term to apply their skills and show a deeper understanding of programming concepts.
Pictured are Alexander Cooper 9S and Archie Vinnicombe 9C.
Choices Evening
Our Choices Evening took place on Thursday evening with a group of speakers from different employment sectors and Sharron Robbie the CEO of DCTPN (Devon & Cornwall Training Provider Network).
Each of our visitors gave a short presentation and were available for questions/networking afterwards.
A big thank you to Ms Moreton and Mr Manley for facilitating the event.
PSHEE Activities
As the last Friday of term is an inset day, this will be the final entry on the subject of PSHEE and Citizenship for this half term, as Friday is the main day of our tutorial lesson.
This week both Year 7 and Year 8 students had a lesson on the subject of Mental Health, linking with World Mental Day which was on Monday. They used material from the organisation Young Minds with their initiative Hello Yellow
We encouraged students to wear yellow for mufti day today as well.
Year 9 students had their turn to log into our new platform, Unifrog, registering and beginning to find their way around the site which they can use up to Year 13 and beyond, including writing CVs and personal statements.
That completes all the year groups from 7 - 12, so pretty much the whole school is now registered.
Don't forget you can also have a parent login - if you are interested in learning more please see this link to setting up.
Year 10 students completed the International links lesson from last week regarding research on Qatar and other World Cup competing countries, and finally Year 11 had two speakers.
First was the careers lead and assistant headteacher from UTC Plymouth talking about another potential option for next year as a Plan A or B, and then our own Mr Martin guiding students through the months leading up to their GCSE exams, with advice on study and dealing with stress.
Students in Year 11 have also all been issued with a booklet of study skills called Revision Cracked! which students (and parents) found very useful last year - hopefully a good incentive to begin the revision journey over half term, perhaps!
I don't normally write about the Sixth Form but this week I was delighted to host a speaker from Coreblue, an IT company in Plymouth, who came and spoke to Year 12 Computer Science students.
A great example of support from local employers giving up-to-the-minute advice and guidance and labour market information.
So enjoy half term all, this section of the Head’s Bllog will be back in November.
Ms Moreton
Sixth Form Enrichment and Tutorial
This week on Wednesday Year 12 were directed to complete the Unifrog section on 'activities' to collate and share their experiences and illuminate gaps to fill in the coming two years. On Friday Miss Wilkinson helped guide the students in how to look after their well-being through managing purposeful relaxation.
Year 13 students continued to utilise tutor expertise in guiding them through the higher education applications, some considered the lessons to be learnt from Jay Blades' 'learning to read' journey and in excess of 45 Medic, Dentist, Vet and Oxbridge applicants submitted their UCAS forms to meet the earlier October deadline.
Thank you to all colleagues who have helped coach and guide students to this stage in their application process.
We all enjoyed the viewpoints and perspectives of a wonderful panel who steered thought provoking discussions around, the future of the monarchy. the increasing social divide in Britain, freedom of speech on the internet and the morality and access to NHS care for those who make wrong choices.
All seats in the house taken!
Also this week, congratulations to Ben Bailey who has been awarded an army officer sixth form scholarship. Ben has been recognised as possessing exceptional leadership potential and has secured a confirmed place to train as an army officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst offered after his studies.
Ben receives a financial award to support him in his final school year plus a confirmed army bursary worth up to £7,000 to study at a university in the UK.
Sports News
House Basketball
Mr Campbell says we have our first year group winners in the Year 8 house basketball.
A big well done to Smeaton on continuing their house sport domination by winning the Year 8 house basketball this half term.
Rugby
Mr Orkney said it was a good night for the U14 rugby team who won the Plymouth school's central venue competition on Wednesday - congratulations!
Mr Orkney added it was also a great day for the 1st XV team who beat Plymouth College by 33 - 26. Four tries for our captain - well done!
