Invitations to read Medicine at Fitzwilliam, Robinson and Emmanuel Colleges in Cambridge are among the ten Oxbridge offers to students at Devonport High School for Boys this year.
I am delighted that the quality of our candidates was recognised again this year by admission tutors at both Oxford and Cambridge and that the offers received reflect a wide range of subjects including Medicine, Engineering, Science and Humanities.
Sharon Davidson said that the students receiving offers have demonstrated their intellectual ability through nearly seven years of consistent study and often a wider interest in their subject than merely the examination requirements.
She added, “Staff support our students by providing super-curricular and leadership opportunities alongside preparing them for interviews. Students have also taken advantage of offers to participate in the annual McWhirter Conference in Oxford and the Inspire2INVOLVE programme organised by the Villiers Park Education Trust and Downing College, Cambridge”.
Many congratulations to these students.
Alizeh Abdul Rahman, Philosophy and Theology, Mansfield College, Oxford
Tom Baldock, English Literature, Exeter College, Oxford
Alex Christie, Physics, Merton College, Oxford
Kuba Ciukiewicz, Engineering, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Peter Clifford, Medicine, Robinson College, Cambridge
Ermelinda De Carvalho, Law, Downing College, Cambridge
Dylan Moss, Medicine, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Will Potter, English Literature, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Vishal Thirupathirajan, Medicine, Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Catherine Zhang, Economics, Brasenose College, Oxford
African Children’s Choir
We were privileged to host the African Children’s Choir in school on Tuesday. The choir led a workshop for Year 7 students during the day and performed in the Edgcumbe Theatre in the evening. This was a public concert.
Ms Cervelle who coordinated the visit said, “Wow, what a brilliant evening! The African Children’s choir are amazing and inspiring! Thank you for coming to DHSB”.
Staff supported the choir by holding a cake sale which raised £105, and a raffle during the evening raised a further £120. Thank you to everyone involved.
Freedom Birds
Members of the school Amnesty club took a short break from writing letters to the Minister of Justice in the Cameroon protesting against the imprisonment of Ivo Feh to bag up freedom birds they have made to decorate Ivo’s cell. Each one has a message of support from a DHSB student. Ivo has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for forwarding a joke about the Cameroon government by text which led to him being charged with terrorism offences.
Mr Macloed asked me to pass this message to students, “If you would like to take part in similar campaigns to help release prisoners of conscience then please come along to Amnesty club on a Thursday in C25. It would be wonderful if you could join us in giving a little bit of hope to innocent people across the globe.”
Excellent Work
Ms Buckler, Director of the Learning Commons, sent me this link to a book review written by Joe Watkinson. Joe has written about ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’ by George Orwell.
Mr Horrill has shared these examples of Excellent Work from his Year 8 class.
The class was asked to describe how to safely solder together a circuit board, including as much detail as necessary. The standard of response is far beyond that expected from a Year 8 homework. It demonstrates a depth of learning and understanding well above KS3.
Eddie Moor 8S
Daniel Atkin 8W
And our final piece of Excellent Work this week is from Harry Pickard 7C.
Mr Weymouth set a homework for his Year 7 class on the Evolution of the Atmosphere. This could be a Powerpoint presentation, a poster or an animation.
Harry made and narrated this presentation.
Sports Breakfast
It’s always good to receive compliments from outside school and this week I met two groups of students who were commended for their attitude and demeanour on the sports field. I treated them to bacon rolls during break one yesterday.
The first group took part in an Ultimate Frisbee tournament.
The organiser, Jordan Brown, said, “I have never met a bunch of kids so considerate, polite and passionate about the sport. They played their hearts out and did so with the utmost spirit. They absolutely typified everything that people look for in the game and they are a credit to your school and to you in how you’ve taught them. They are welcome at any of my tournaments any time”.
Ewan Dodson 11E, Sam O’Connell – 11W, Owain Acharya 11W, Alfie Al-Moosawi 11S, Tom Jones 10C, Toby Acharya 9W.
The second group of students were involved in leading a Primary Level 2 Quicksticks Hockey tournament.
A representative from the Plymouth School Sports Partnership said, “Your sports leaders were a credit to your school and PE Department. They not only greatly impressed all the schools and staff involved in the event but proved to be an inspiration to all the students involved”.
Henry Murphy 9E, Ben Hedley 9W, Ollie Gozzard 11P, Jacob Perry 11P, Harry Cane 9E, Dan Sawle 9E, Harry Houlberg 11S
Calling all Alumni
This is a special message of invitation from Ms Moreton, our Information, Advice and Guidance Coordinator. She is calling all alumni who may be free on the morning of 5 April to talk to current students for five mins about university, choices, careers or ambitions
Please contact Ms Moreton by email (sue.moreton@dhsb.org) if you can help.
PTFA Quiz and Curry Supper
A final reminder that the deadline for entering a team for the Quiz and Curry evening is Wednesday 30 January. Individuals and teams are welcome to attend and this promises to be fun evening so don’t delay in sending in your form!
Sports Update
Basketball
Well done to the U14 basketball team in action this week at the Plymouth Schools central venue competition. The team beat Plympton Academy but lost to Stoke Damerel.
Table Tennis
The Year 7/8 table tennis team was in action at the first Plymouth Schools Table Tennis League at Eggbuckland this week. DHSB were the eventual winners at the competition – well done!
Devon Schools Cross Country
Congratulations to a number of DHSB students who took part in the Devon Schools Cross Country Championships last weekend.
Alasdair Taylor finished 48th in the Year 7 race, and Harry Cane and Gregor Norster finished 35th and 40th respectively in the junior boys event.
Jamie Williams finished 5th in the senior boys race and is pictured here.
Football
The U14 team played well and won both of their games at the central venue competition which was held after school yesterday.
Devon Hockey Finals
At the time of going to press this was the latest news from Mr Carpenter.
“With three wins in their pool DHSB U14 hockey go through to the semifinals as winners, on to face Exeter School next”.
The finals were being held at Blundell’s School today.
Future Events
Friday 1 February Year 11 SRE morning
Thursday 7 February at 16.30 Year 7 & Year 8 event:- Here’s the answer so what’s the question?
Friday 8 February at 19.00 PTFA quiz and curry supper
Thursday 14 February Year 10 parents evening
Friday 15 February Final day of spring term one
Monday 25 February First day of spring term two (B week)