It was an emotional day on Wednesday as we said farewell to our Year 13 students. As part of the celebrations I spoke about the significant impact that many have had on our younger students.
Their leadership has left an inspirational legacy and I’m extremely proud of what they have achieved.
Year 13 students are pictured here with Year 12 in the recent whole school photo
Get Ahead
Parents will have received a message this week about our Get Ahead after school homework club. As part of our regular review process we have taken the time over the last few months to talk to the students who attend to find out what they particularly like about the support received and their ideas for improvements.
From Monday 6 June 2016 Get Ahead will continue to be available from 3:45pm to 4:45pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Learning Commons will be available for students to complete their homework or to catch up on work. The area will be staffed, and support will be available for all students who may require additional provision in completing tasks or finding resources.
A new online booking system is now available so that students can book in advance.
Follow this link to the new Get Ahead webpage and booking form.
The booking system will help us to pre-plan, however, should your son decide that he needs to attend at the last minute he will be welcome.
SPaG and Spelling Bee
Over the past four weeks every form in Years 7 – 10 has been involved with DHSB’s first SPaG Challenge which culminated with a Spelling Bee during Year Assemblies on Wednesday.
Two finalists from each form qualified to represent their Form and House in the Spelling Bee. 48 boys took the challenge and faced their Year Groups to show their spelling prowess.
Words such as onomatopoeia, incandesce, millennium, mischievous all successfully spelt. It was wonderful to see how all students took part in the competition with enthusiasm and rose to the challenge.
Mrs Huq said, “More again next year”.
Winners
Year 7 Joe Stell and Henry Nettleship – Edison Year 8 Josh Parker and Carlo Zanetti – Winstanley Year 9 Somsubhro Bagchi and Skye Sainsbury – Campbell Year 10 Kin Ho and Luke Hollis – Smeaton
Music and Dramatic Arts
The following boys took their London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts exams recently and Mrs Pick says they all did exceedingly well.
Lalit Kathiresan – Grade 2 solo acting with Distinction
Tariq Rudge – Grade 2 solo acting with Distinction
Preet Pradeep – Grade 4 verse and prose speaking with Distinction
Daniel Farnham – Grade 5 verse and prose speaking with Distinction
Thomas Showell – Grade 6 solo acting with Distinction
Henry Spencer – Grade 7 verse and prose speaking with Distinction
Pictured are Lalit and Preet
Google TeachMeet
Last night we hosted a Google for Education TeachMeet in the Learning Commons where schools from across the Southwest came together to share knowledge, ideas and best practice. Mr Tombs and Mr Morris presented to the group as well as one of our students and Digital Leaders, Alfie Carlisle, who closed the evening with a brilliant talk on our Google Journey and the Digital Leaders work that we do here at DHSB.
The event was really successful and we are looking forward to hosting more in the future.
Ben Forte, Director of the Learning Commons, said, “We would like to thank everyone that came and took part in the event as well as the partners which helped make it happen including Plymouth City Council, C-Learning, Plymouth EDU and Google for Education as well as our kind sponsor Focused Vision who supplied some much needed refreshments”.
Alfie Carlisle
Sports Update
Diving
Well done to Owen Templeton 8E who won a Bronze Medal last weekend in the ASA southwest regional skills diving competition in the age 12/13 category.
Athletics
Congratulations to two students who have been called up for the Plymouth and West Devon team competing at the Devon Schools AA Championships on Saturday 11 June. Mr Strang will bring us updates during and after the event.
Matthew Davis – 200m Danny Thompson – Shot
Cricket
Well done to the Year 7 & 8 team who beat Coombe Dean School and Ridgeway School in the Plymouth central venue competition this week.
Mr Burt also reports a good win for the U15s against Hele’s School and says the team is through the next round v South Dartmoor. This will be an away game.
Tag Rugby Festival
Thank you to Mr Carpenter who has sent me this report on the citywide tag rugby festival this week.
He said, “Following on from the excellent officiating and leadership from our tag rugby referees during the Primary School tag rugby event hosted at DHSB a week ago.
“Harry Edwards, Charlie Meakin, Kristian Davis, Harrison Slade, James Glasson, Ben Charlton and Charlie Fethney were again picking up their whistles for a citywide Primary School tag rugby event hosted at Plymouth Albion.
“Plymouth School Sports Partnership organised the event for 48 Plymouth Primary Schools with over 500 players being involved as part of School Games events across Devon. Our DHSB students did extremely well, showing great energy and enthusiasm in taking on the role of referee for the whole day, it was a great experience for them all.”
Tennis
Our U13 team lost narrowly to Kingsbridge School in the national competition this week. Mr Orkney said, “Well played all”.
The team included Tom Miller, Cameron McCance, Thomas Brown and Will Storr.
Future Events
Friday 27 May Final day of summer term one
Monday 6 June First day of summer term two (B week)
Monday 6 June – Friday 10 June Year 7 Exam Week
Monday 13 June – Friday 17 June Year 8 Exam Week
Thursday 16 June An introduction to the Learning Commons
Monday 20 June from 18.15 to 20.00 Understanding your Teenager Staying connected, identity, communication and conflict
Click on this image to access more details and the booking form