Following last week’s excellent Head’s Blog written by our Takeover Challenge Headteacher, Tom Hyndman, I’d like to add my thanks to students and staff who have contributed to our Christmas and end-of-term events.

Last week of course we held our annual showcase of awards and celebrations at our Speech Day event in the Plymouth Guildhall.

The speakers, music and drama were all excellent and many families and former students have commented on how much they enjoyed the evening.

Prefects welcomed us to Speech Day

Pictured here is School Captain Joe Watkinson with three former School Captains

(Tom Orchard, Alistair Sharp and Toby Leung)

Lalit Kathiresan is our GCSE Holmes and Corrie award winner this year

with Jakub Ciukiewicz being awarded the A level prize

Our musicians, Frankie Harrison, Joseph Stell, and Miles Gillhespy were excellent

as was 'I wish I were our Sammy' by Charlie Mountain

The House Captains took to the stage with Campbell House winning the St Levan Shield this year

On Monday we enjoyed our annual Carol Service at St Andrew’s Church, led by Year 7 students and the DHSB brass band.

The stewarding team, music, singing and readings were all of a very high standard and the evening gave us an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Christmas during this very busy time.

Families gave generously during the service and we collected over £550 which will be donated to Save the Children.

Refuel was full on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week as students and staff enjoyed the Big DHSB Christmas Lunch and today we celebrated the end of term with a whole school assembly which included our usual tradition of Christmas Karaoke (always a wonderful experience with over 1,000 people singing together).

During the assembly we also reflected on recent school events, recognised some significant student achievements and thought about those around the world who will be facing challenges and difficulties over the festive period.

We topped it off with a live music performance and premiered our first ever DHSB Staff Panto, moving on from the tradition of the staff Christmas video.

We left students with this message, 'Be grateful and be kind. We are a kind, caring and compassionate community; please show this over the next couple of weeks and enjoy and be grateful for the love that is in your lives. Have a wonderful Christmas and stay safe over the holidays’.

Progress towards school development priorities

A reminder that you can read about the progress we have made towards our school development priorities at this link and in our impact case studies document (see below).

Sports Update

Football

There was one football fixture this week; unfortunately the U15 team lost their national cup game against Torquay Boys 4 - 1.

Basketball

Well done to the U16 basketball team - they beat Stoke Damerel 49 - 16 on Wednesday in the last game before Christmas.

Future Events

Friday 20 December Final day of autumn term two

Monday 6 January First day of spring term one (B week)

Thursday 9 January Year 8 Curriculum evening

Monday 13 – Friday 17 January Year 10 Exams

Tuesday 14 January Ten Tors night navigation

Wednesday 15 January Year 9 Parents evening

Thursday 16 January Founder’s Day (1896)

Friday 17 January Year 11 report

Sunday 19 January Ten Tors training

Tuesday 21 January Year 8 parents evening

Wednesday 22 January PTFA meeting