In today’s Head’s Blog I’d like to focus on two main areas of school life this week. Our acts of remembrance and our school production of Grease.
I’ll also bring you a sports and competitions update.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day on Sunday 11 November 2018 we have commemorated the loss of 57 former students during World War One in various ways.
We have planted wooden poppies in the school grounds which represent our collective thoughts in recalling the sacrifice of the DHS Old Boys in World War 1.
Toby Leung, School Captain, is pictured with fellow prefects, Dan Lowe and Ben Adams with the poppies which are placed outside the school’s reception area.
We have also placed a remembrance wreath alongside the World War 1 memorial at the main school gate.
Mr Mitchell led our whole school assembly on Wednesday when he told us about Cyril Daniel, an old boy of the school, who had flown RE8 aircraft serial number 2723 on an artillery patrol above the western front on 11 November 1918.
The crew was airborne from 8.15 until 10.20, so landed back at the airfield at Carnieres, a few kilometres east of Cambrai, in time to celebrate the Armistice which ended the fighting of the Great War.
These are the words Cyril recorded in the RAF 13 Squadron Record Book.
Armistice Day 1918 – ‘No Flashes Seen – Corps Front Quiet’
Mr Mitchell also referred to two national projects.
The first is led by Lord of the Rings’ director Peter Jackson and has brought the First World War to life in a documentary using rare original footage that has been colourised and transformed with modern production techniques.
The second is called ‘Pages of the Sea’. Danny Boyle invites us to join him in marking 100 years since Armistice. On 11 November 2018, communities will gather on beaches across the UK to say goodbye to the lives lost in the First World War.
Nation’s bells to ring out together to mark Armistice Centenary
‘On 11 November 2018, 100 years since Armistice, bells will ring out in unison from churches and cathedrals in villages, towns and cities across the country.’
We are privileged to have a group of students, led by Mrs Williams, who will be joining with bell ringers at Stoke Damerel Church on Sunday.
You can read more about this here and next week we will share a photo of the students involved.
Silhouettes
And finally, over the next few weeks Mr Riggs says we will see silhouettes appearing at various points around the school. These represent the fallen of World War I.
There will be QR codes attached to the silhouettes linked to a webpage with more details of Old Boys from the school who fell during the War.
As a further part of our commemoration of the end of World War I, some of our Year 9 students will be performing the last episode of Blackadder Goes Forth in the Theatre during Break 2 on Thursday and Friday next week.
School Production of Grease
This week has seen sell-out audiences for our production of Grease in the Edgcumbe Theatre. It’s really good to see our own musicians, singers and actors, and girls from Notre Dame School working together to produce a show full of talent and enthusiasm.
The cast were ably supported by the DHSB stage band and technical crew and the evening performances were a fantastic demonstration of both the skills of our young people and our dedicated staff.
The doors open at 19.00 this evening for our final performance which is almost sold out – just a few tickets remain.
Sports and Competitions Update
Lego Mindstorms
On Thursday Year 7 Digital Leaders attended a lego mindstorms competition with other local schools at Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The event focused on opportunities for budding engineers and building a fun day around STEM. Our Digital Leaders were fantastic; working well with others, being resilient when problem solving and being courteous throughout the day. They also asked some amazing questions including ones about annual turnover! The winning team included students from DHSB, DHSG, Plympton Academy and All Saints Academy. A real lesson in cooperation and collaboration. Quite a few Starbursts and Skittles got eaten in the minibus on the way home too.
Ms Buckley
Senior Team Maths Challenge
Well done to our senior team. The final standings in the regional STMC heat were as follows:
Joint 3rd – Shebbear College & Ivybridge Community College
2nd – Liskeard Community College
1st – Devonport High School for Boys
Mr Huq
Cross Country
The West Devon Cross Country Championships took place at Staddiscombe playing fields on Thursday. DHSB had representatives in all the races, with 21 pupils running in total. Particular mention should go to Jamie Williams of Year 13 who was third in the senior boys race and Harry Cane of 9E who was sixth in the junior boys race.
In total seven students were selected to represent the West Devon team in the Devon Schools Championships to be held in January. Well done to all those who ran in challenging conditions.
Football
Congratulations to Tom Harris who has been selected for the South West England squad. A fantastic achievement which he thoroughly deserves!
The U14 football team progress to round four of the National Cup after a good win away at Eggbuckland on a very wet and windy afternoon.
The U16 football team also progress to round four with a 3 – 0 win over a very good Helston team. A superb performance in horrendous conditions.
It was an outstanding effort from DHSB A team who beat Plymouth Marjon 1 – 0 in the Devon Wednesday League this week.
Rugby
Well done to the U13 Rugby team who finished the day unbeaten at the Plymouth Schools Rugby Festival.
It was a sensational 24 – 5 win for our U15s away at Mount Kelly in round three of the NatWest Vase.
Basketball
Unfortunately the DHSB side lost both games narrowly to Boniface and Plymstock at their competition this week – however, Mr Anderson said, “Every game we get better”.
Table Tennis
The U13, U16 and U19 teams all finished third at the Devon County Team Championships this week. Well done to all teams.
Badminton
It was a good start for U14s Badminton team – they won 3 – 2 against Torbridge High.
Future Events
Friday 9 November – Year 8 interim report
Wednesday 14 November at 18.00 – PTFA AGM
Thursday 15 November – Learn2Live presentation (Year 12)
Friday 23 November – Year 7 interim report
Saturday 24 November – Gold DofE Day Walk
Saturday 24 November – PTFA Cardiff Shopping trip
Opmerkingen