We hope that you all enjoyed a break over the half term, it has been a busy return to school this week so we hope you enjoy catching up on my blog.
Youth Speaks
You will remember from our blog before half term that one of our teams won the heats in the local Youth Speaks Competition. Good luck to our intermediate team from Year 8 (Oliver Bennett, Joseph Stell and Aled Griffiths) who are representing DHSB in the final with Mr Riggs this weekend.
Excellent Work
Our excellent work section this week showcases some Year 8 Science work from my own Science class.
I wanted to showcase one particular piece of homework that we carried out over half a term before Christmas. The homework was under a new approach we have been working on as a class which is to give our work a more public and wider audience and therefore open up the opportunities for more critique and feedback.
I gave the students a secret audience that would feedback on their homework this achieved a great sense of curiosity and mystique. Students set off creating presentations on a specific element or compound, they checked in every couple of weeks to be challenged by their peers and to push up the standards and the quality of work produced. The importance of audience and a ‘secret audience’ and the impact on the students was brilliant. I was starting to get worried that the secret audience may not fulfil their expectations.
However I was fortunate to have enlisted the generous help of a very important scientist through the medium of Twitter. Lord Robert Winston had kindly agreed to be the secret audience to my class. In his feedback he identified 3 students who he felt particularly excelled but also he said
“I congratulate all of the boys on such wonderful and impressive work and I look forward to visiting DHSB next time I am down your way.”
Our students were absolutely delighted that Robert had taken the time to feedback on their work and were really inspired by his comments and encouragement.
Ten Tors Training
The end of the holidays saw the schools Ten Tors teams take on the north of Dartmoor in variable conditions from sunshine to drizzle.
Heading out over the bleak North Moor tested both the navigational ability and the team spirit at times. It was a useful reminder for our teams to respect the Dartmoor environment and its weather at all times.
Mr Gomez in Poland
Over half term Mr Gomez along with a group of teachers from Plymouth visited schools in Poland. He had a fantastic adventure with the opportunity to teach in some of our partner schools there. He has promised to share more about this visit in the blog next week.
The Tempest
Tickets go on sale for our student led production of the Tempest from the 1st March on Wisepay. Prices are £4 for adults and £2 for students with a £10 deal on 4 tickets. The production is in partnership with the Theatre Royal and contains: video, live action, gymnastics, magic and music! Our Year 8 students will see it during school time as part of the curriculum but all other year groups are encouraged to come to the evening performances.
Where they are now
I am sure you have read some of our Where are they now stories before but we have several new additions for you to look at. It is really important for our current students to engage and be inspired by these stories and we hope you enjoy reading through some of the new ones featured. If you are an ex-student of DHSB and would like to be featured or know someone that is please get in touch headteacher@dhsb.org
Sports Update
Athletics
Congratulations to our combined team from DHSB and DHSG who finished 3rd in the County Indoor Athletics championships.
Football
1st XI
Mr Manley reported on an excellent 3-0 win for the team away to the Naval Base. Even better was that Mr Manley this time managed to keep a clean sheet as our new number 1 goalkeeper.
Year 8 Devon Cup Quarter Final
Well done to our boys who narrowly missed out on progressing to the Semi finals after losing out in sudden death penalties to Torquay Boys Grammar School.
House Sport
It is always fantastic to see so many students participating in House sport, this week both Football and Rugby. Congratulations to @DHSBPriestley who beat @DHSBCampbell 38-10 in the Year 7 House Rugby Sevens final.
Basketball
Congratulations to our under 15’s Basketball team who won the Plymouth Schools League and completed the season unbeaten.
Future Events
Thursday 2 March
Year 12 Parents Evening
Thursday 9 March
Year 13 Parents Evening
Wednesday 15 March
PTFA Meeting