Each week the DHSB community celebrates the achievements or actions of students by nominating a Student of the Week.

These boys have all demonstrated leadership or compassion in a variety of ways during the last half term.

Tom Chilton, Finlay Humphreys and Fred Teasdale 8E displayed exemplary behaviour and put their own needs to get home to one side to care for another student who was in need, ensuring the student was safe and in the care of an adult.

Harrison Slade 10W captained the Year 10 rugby team to the last 16 in the national vase competition.

Alan Joshy, James O’Connell, George Irving and Henry Spencer prepared and delivered lessons on feminist and sexist issues to all students in Year 9 through the PSHEE programme.

George Teague 7E demonstrated outstanding commitment to badminton sessions and represented the school exceptionally on two occasions.

Will Hexter 8W and Oscar Zimmerman 8C showed fantastic focus and dedication during the rehearsal process for the Wizard of Oz.

We’re also introducing some new student rewards and several Form Groups enjoyed slices of pizza this morning following their outstanding commitment to community duties.

Students from 7S collect their pizza

The Fixup Team

This morning students in Year 11 received a visit from Caspian from the Fixup Team. The Fixup Team seminars aim to work with great minds to transform our youth into champions.

Caspian’s assembly energised students to challenge themselves to think ‘what is at my core?’

He used his own life story to motivate the students to believe that ‘I am amazing’. He said “knowing who you are in your heart is the way that you can maximise your potential”.

Following the assembly every student also participated in a workshop with Caspian. The workshop allowed time for personal reflection about how emotions reflect actions and how actions then in turn affect results. He also encouraged the students to think big and to not fear the future but to embrace opportunities.

The Fixup seminar is just one of the aspects of support put in place for Year 11 this year. In addition, many are benefitting from individual mentoring; extra support sessions delivered by Year 12 academic mentors; and staff and revision workshops.

Details of Easter revision sessions for invited students will be available shortly.

eSafety

Yesterday evening we welcomed Ken Corish, an internationally renowned eSafety speaker, who met parents to talk about the opportunities and challenges in parenting in a digital age.

Ken works for the South West Grid for Learning and his work takes him across Europe and America.

However much we think we know about online activities we must engage continually as it is a fast moving, exciting agenda. Ken’s expert advice has been generously shared and can be found on our eSafety at DHSB page.

Here are some further useful links.

This regular publication from Vodafone gives more information for parents. (Paper copies will be available from our school reception).

The main internet providers (BT, Virgin, TalkTalk and Sky have a range of parental control packages and this advice site has links to all four showing how controls can be set up.

Here is former England rugby union star Austin Healey explaining why he thinks parental controls are so important (he has four daughters).

Thank you to Amanda Moore for organising this event; we hope to see you at a future eSafety evening.

As one parent commented, “the theatre should be packed every time, as every parent needs to know how they can help shape their son’s online behaviours”

Speech and Drama

Well done to the following boys have just received their latest LAMDA exam results.

Mrs Pick writes, “This is an excellent set of results and special congratulations are due to Matthew Walker who has completed his advanced level public speaking grades in spectacular style gaining a Distinction for his Grade 8 Gold Medal.”

Lalit Kathiresan – Grade 3 Verse & Prose speaking with Distinction

Tariq Rudge – Grade 3 Verse & Prose speaking with Merit

Toby Chapman – Grade 3 Public Speaking with Merit

Preet Pradeep – Grade 3 Solo Acting with Distinction

Thomas Showell – Grade 5 Solo Acting with Distinction

Matthew Walker – Grade 8 Public Speaking (Gold Medal) with Distinction

German Exchange Programme

Mrs Saunders and Mr Gomez led a very successful German Exchange visit during half term based at our partner school, Kopernikus Gymnasium.

They received many compliments about our students and you’ll be able to read reflections from some of those involved in the next edition of DHSB Today.

Sports Update

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for regional and national teams.

Daniel McVeigh 8S and Tommy Woodward 8N selected to play for West Devon U13 Rugby team.

James Glasson, Edward Printer, Oliver Dymond, Harrison Slade and Jude White selected for Devon U15 Rugby team.

Thomas Ringrose 11E selected for the Great Britain U20 Ultimate team. Thomas will compete at the World Championships in Poland in the summer. More information here.

Thomas is pictured in the back row, second from the left

Hockey

Students took part in the U13 hockey central venue competition this week where the A Team beat St Boniface’s 4 – 0 and the B team beat St Boniface’s 1 – 0.

U13 A team

U13 B team

Basketball

Mr Burt says, “Well done DHSB U15 Basketball team for a hard fought victory over Coombe Dean.”