This week I’m going to share with you the slides and video from our whole school assembly led by Mr Adams on the theme of social responsibility.
Mr Adams and other members of staff also introduced a number of opportunities for students including the annual South West Academic Trust Challenge and our new Campanology lunchtime club which is aiming to participate in the Anglo-German project which will commemorate Armistice Day 2018 by the ringing of church bells.
My Head’s Blog this week also features a fantastic range of extra and super curricular activities which are provided and led by staff and students.
Greenpower Car Racing Event
Last weekend 14 DHSB students, parents and staff travelled to Castle Combe Race Circuit in Wiltshire, for the second Greenpower car racing event of the season. Team Avanti have continued to fine tune their car and this preparation paid off with the car reaching the furthest distance yet. 35.76miles in 1 1/2 hours!
This amazing result places us 23 out of 245 cars in the country and we are hoping to be invited to the international final in October.
Thanks again to parent Mr Hexter for transporting the car in his van and to Mr Brudnik for supplying delicious cakes to the boys! Parents Mr Coulson and Mr Carty were also present to offer the team their support and the staff were Mr Ames and Mrs Flack.
Mr Ames
War Horse
A group of students took up the opportunity to see War Horse at the Theatre Royal with the English Department last week.
Thank you to Hamish Noakes who has written this review.
War Horse is a play based upon the 1982 best seller by Michael Morpurgo. The puppets which adjourn this production are made by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company and are life sized. It was adapted from the book by Nick Stafford. It is based in the early 1900s, and tells the story of a horse named Joey and his hardships through war. It had simple staging, and a phenomenal cast.
War Horse is the story of a horse called Jory who is sold to the cavalry at the start of the First World War. Joey finds himself in France, where he is caught up in the war and the enemy fire before finding himself working for the Germans with another horse called Topthorn. Here he befriends a reluctant German soldier, Friedrich, and a French girl Emelie. Albert, not being old enough to enrol, remains on his parent’s farm but soon embarks on a journey to find Joey of whom he can’t forget.
DHSB Auto Yacht
I recommend following the Twitter account @DHSBAutoYacht to stay in touch with a group of students who are building an autonomous small yacht to sail around Plymouth Sound in a competition this year.
This is an exciting new challenge and I’m looking forward to their updates. The yacht is currently on display in the Learning Commons.
Excellent Work
For my example of excellent work this week I’d like to quote a letter I have received from a Consultant at Derriford Hospital about Sixth Form student Dylan Moss.
Dylan undertook a four-week Nuffield STEM project with the Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine Department and was commended on being an excellent student who was hard working, punctual and well mannered.
Dylan’s research project was ‘exceptional’ and ‘of a level expected from a doctor who has undergone medical training as well as at least one year of research’.
Very well done Dylan
Sports Update
National Award
As always my sports update celebrates a wide variety of provision in school.
This provision and the levels of participation have been recognised again by the award of a national kitemark. We’re very pleased to have received the gold level award.
Gold Sports Ambassadors
Thanks to Mr Carpenter for sharing this photo of Ed Epps and Will Ford, our two Gold Sports Ambassadors who completed their course at the Plymouth Life Centre this week.
Will and Ed will be setting up some new clubs and supporting the development of our other sports ambassadors.
Football
Lots of students have attended after school football training since the beginning of the new term.
Mr Manley said, “Another great session with 45 Year 10 and 11 boys! Awesome commitment” and added “It was a great start to the year for the Year 7 football team. 45 boys at our first training session”.
It was a ‘tough start’ to the year for DHSB A with a 3 – 0 defeat against the Naval Base. The boys gave a brave performance against a team who were unbeaten last season.
Rugby
Mr Burt reports two good victories for the Year 9 Rugby team against Plymstock and Stoke Damerel this week.
Surf Club
Students and staff at the after school surf club this week experienced ‘messy sea conditions’ at Polzeath.
Staff News
Staff enjoyed some delicious cakes this week when Ms Davarian organised a cake sale as part of the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’.
James Kilvert, John Moon and Alex Jewell helped to sell the remaining produce to students during break two and a grand total of £195 will be forwarded from the school to MacMillan Cancer Support.
Future Events
Saturday 22 September – 11+ tests
Thursday 27 September – Year 11 Parents Evening