Challenge, excellence and opportunity. It’s been another successful and busy week at DHSB.
Ten Tors Challenge 2017
The four DHSB teams took to the moors this weekend to commence their training prior to this year’s Ten Tors Challenge, led by Mr Ames, Mrs Wills and Mr Clifford.
Thank you to Mr Clifford for this report and wonderful images capturing the day’s training.
He said, “The weather was perfect with good visibility a low hanging sun and a still wind chill at times. This year the school hopes to have two 35 miles teams, a 45 mile and 55 mile team taking part in the main event in May 2017. The students all gave a good account of themselves in the first training session with each of the teams setting off at a really competitive pace”.
The 35 mile team set off from Sourton Tors trig after lunch as they head SE to Brandcombe’s Loaf on Corn Ridge with breath taking views across the NW corner of Dartmoor
Setting a good pace on the old dismantled railway as they pass Great Nodden. The 45s are fast on their heels having been given an additional four mile leg around Meldon Reservoir for good measure by Mr Ames
The 45 mile team hit the ridge line before a steep ascent across the aspect of Brat Tor before finally getting to Doe Tor in record time
The 35 mile team take some tips from the 45 mile team as they cross Vale Down in search of a rather swollen ford
UK Youth Parliament
I’m pleased to introduce Sixth Form student Alizeh Abdul Rahman who is a candidate in this year’s UK Youth Parliament elections.
Alizeh said, “This year I am standing to become an MYP for Plymouth, and if elected I will ensure my campaign promises are fulfilled, by working with both the local council and the youth cabinet. My campaign is focused on tackling racial and religious discrimination in schools across Plymouth: a recent youth select committee report concluded that racial/religious discrimination is becoming increasingly prevalent across schools in Plymouth, with incidents often going unreported – in some cases teachers don’t deal with them effectively. If voted I will ensure the curriculum is broadened so that open, challenging discussions on race, religion, gender and sexuality take place; I will also work towards improving teacher support to ensure they are trained to effectively tackle cases of discrimination. This campaign is driven by a desire to transform all schools in Plymouth into exemplar institutions championing tolerance”.
Form Tutors will be sharing with students the voting arragnements and you can hear from all the candidates in this special promotional video.
BETT Show 2017
We’re very proud that staff and students are representing DHSB at this year’s national BETT Show in London. Mr Forte, Alfie Carlisle and Yasin Soliman took to the stage to talk about the way we use technology and Mr Berryman was invited to showcase our work with ClassCharts. More on this next week!
Mr Forte with Alfie and Yasin
Mr Berryman
Rights and Responsibilities
Our whole school assembly this week, led by Mr Adams, Mr Macleod and a group of students, focused on our responsibilities to others quoting Dr Martin Luther King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”.
The assembly highlighted some of the support that students have given to a diverse range of charities and I asked Henry Spencer, School Captain, to tell me more about this.
Henry said, “As part of DHSB’s avid house system each house is allocated a charity week, in which they can raise money for their chosen charity. This gives the opportunity for a wide variety of events to be on each and every week, which students of all years can get involved in.
“This week, Winstanley House chose to run a dodge-ball tournament, a hot-chocolate sale, a dabs in one minute competition, which seemed to draw a large crowd, and finally a traditional bake sale.
“All events were run by the students and arranged by not only the captaincy team, but also the students in the younger years. This was a wonderful opportunity for Winstanley to raise money for Bristol Children’s Hospital which saves the lives of many seriously ill children every year.
“Winstanley House hopes to raise more money for this charity throughout the year and possibly set up links with the hospital so students can feel a connection to the children being treated in our regional hospital for rare or serious conditions. Personally, this is a charity very close to my heart and I look forward to supporting it further in the future.”
Pictured is the recent Newton House Krispy Kreme Doughnut sale which raised funds for the UK based charity Maranatha Care Children.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Sixth Form students were privileged this morning to join the Holocaust Educational Trust Live Survivor Webcast. Thank you Mr Riggs for leading this.
Holocaust Memorial Day Survivor Testimony
Year 10 Maths and English Evening
On Tuesday we were pleased to welcome about 130 people to our information evening for Year 10 parents where Mr Adams, Mrs Delve, Mrs Green and Mr Guy explained the course structure, methods of assessment within the new 9 – 1 grading system and specific challenges of the reformed GCSEs in the core subjects of English and Maths.
They also shared advice on how parents can best help to support their sons in striving for success in these subjects and more generally across all subjects.
Excellent Work
Our examples of excellent work this week will make your mouth water!
Mrs Boon set her Year 10 students the following task as a practice controlled assessment practical.
Plan and make a nutritionally balanced main meal for your family with good sources of HBV protein and meets the advice of the Eatwell Guide. Your dish should showcase a range of range of technical skills and may be served with a suitable accompaniment.
Mrs Boon said, “The results were outstanding”.
Sports News
Badminton
The U19 team win every game and become Plymouth Schools Badminton Champs for the second consecutive year. Mr Orkney reports that all three school teams have qualified for the Devon finals.
Indoor Rowing
Some of the highlights of the Plymouth Indoor Rowing Championships this week include the following results.
Many congratulations to Jack Adams seen here collecting his medal for overall first place.
The relay where Team A took first place and Team B came fifth.
Dylan and Jake achieve second and third place in a tight and gruelling Year 11 race.
Fin collects a medal for second place in the Year 7 race.
Indoor Cricket
Mr Bunney reports that the U15 indoor cricket team found things difficult at the county finals. Defeats to Ivybridge and Kings meant that the team didn’t get through to the knockout stages.
Basketball
Mixed fortunes for the Year 11 Basketball team who beat Eggbuckland Community College 72 – 25 to record their third successive win but went on to lose 57 – 33 against Plymstock School.
Football
DHSB 1st XI beat HMS Raleigh 1 – 0 in the Devon Wednesday League with an outstanding clean sheet from the new goalkeeper.
The 2nd XI beat Plymouth University 5- 3 with goals from Fraser Cowan (3) and Joe Daulton (2).
Year 9 go out of the Devon Cup 6 – 3 to Bideford College despite being 1 – 0 up after the first two minutes of the match.
Rugby
Students enjoyed an afternoon of Rugby at Mount Kelly on Wednesday.
Cross Country
The Devon Schools Cross Country championships took place at Stover School on Saturday. A number of DHSB students represented the city team in the event.
In the minor boys Harry Cane, Bertie Mather and Matt Clarke finished 24th, 42nd and 44th respectively with Sam Knobloch finishing 41st in the junior boys event.
Moving up the age groups a very strong run from Jamie Williams saw him finish in fourth place in the Intermediate boys with Tom Blackford taking third place in a hotly contested senior boys race, Tom was just nine seconds away from winning!
As a result of their performances Jamie Williams and Tom Blackford have both qualified to represent Devon Schools at the South West Schools cross country championships taking place at Truro School on 4 February.
Mr Carpenter
And finally
Good luck to our Ultimate school teams who are competing at the national championships in Wolverhampton this weekend. Follow @dhsbultimate for updates.
Future Events
1 – 3 February
School Production – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Tickets available from the box office 01752 208787 or by returning this order form.
Monday 6 February
Year 10 Parents Evening
Friday 10 February
Final day of Spring term one
Monday 20 February
First day of Spring term two (A week)