Mr Adams led our whole school assembly on Wednesday taking education as his theme and asking this question.
Why is education important?
You can share his thoughts by reading the assembly slides which are copied here.
We celebrated lots of achievements during the assembly and noted that 93 students have gained their Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this year (so far). Congratulations to all involved.
Well done to these Sixth Form students for their success in the British Physics Olympiad. Dr Colvile was on hand to congratulate them and explain the significance of their achievement.
Gold Alex Christie
Bronze l Kuba Ciukiewkz, Max Cox
Bronze ll Vishal Thirupathirajan, Arek Kaniewski
Commendation James O’Sullivan, Dylan Tompkins, Fenn Leppard, Jonah Foley, Dylan Moss, Charlie Noordweir, Pedro Gimenes, Charlie Sumpton
Badminton
Toby Leung, our School Captain, deserves a special mention in the Head’s Blog today.
Last weekend he travelled to Iceland to represent England in badminton and at the end of the tournament said, “My trip in Iceland with the national team has come to end. I got to the quarter finals in doubles losing to the eventual winners. I also lost to the eventual winner in singles. Iceland is stunningly beautiful”.
Well done Toby.
Youth Speaks
On Wednesday we hosted the club round of the Rotary International Youth Speaks competition (thank you Mr Riggs). Congratulations to Som Bagchi, Connor Webster and Zara Waddy who won this round and will progress to the next stage.
Here is the full list of teams. Well done to all.
Intermediate Chairman: Asad Ali Speaker: Austin Pearce (The Effects of Computer Games) Vote of Thanks: Finlay Stewart
Seniors Chairman: Felix Powell Speaker: Ben Adams (Cambodia) Vote of Thanks: Toby Leung
Chairman: Connor Webster Speaker: Som Bagchi (Plastics and the Environment) Vote of Thanks: Zara Waddy
Ten Tors
Well this year’s DHSB Ten Tors teams got their training underway in artic conditions writes parent Mr Clifford. Temperatures plummeted to -9 degrees with wind chill on the north and west side of the Moor. This year the school has four teams entered for the Ten Tors Challenge in May 2019 with 2 x 55 mile teams.
Despite the cold weather all four teams managed to complete a combined 58 miles – a great start to the Ten Tors season. It was great to see the recently selected 35 mile team working on honing their navigational skills on an unfamiliar section of the Moor. A useful reminder to all that the direct route is not always the best.
A baron landscape partly frozen with a dusting of snow and hail on isolated sections of the route making the windchill a real factor with dehydration, energy levels and the potential for none freezing injuries such as hypothermia. Teams were reminded of the importance of having a “buddy buddy” system for checking and monitoring the extremities such as fingers, ears, nose and not forgetting cold wet feet!
Excellent Work
Our Excellent Work this week has been submitted by Ms Walker.
Her Year 7 RS classes were set the task of raising awareness about some of the biggest environmental challenges we face.
The work is by Thomas Bromilow, Levi Flanagan, Jacob Hawkins and Dimitrije Zaric all of 7E.
Thomas chose to display the impact of the plastic problem upon marine life.
Levi explained and illustrated how to make an eco brick out of non recyclable plastics.
Jacob created ‘A message in a bottle’ about global warming.
Dimitrijie displayed the impact of pollution using recycled materials to create his art work.
And finally
Safe travels to the five teams who are taking part in the UK Open Indoor Ultimate Frisbee Championships in Wolverhampton during the weekend. Please follow them on Twitter for updates. There will be a full report in next week’s Head’s Blog from their coach, Mr McConnell.
@DHSBUltimate
Sports Update
Football
Monday saw the first after-school house football competition. Mr Orkney said there were “Over 60 boys playing, Year 9s and 10s officiating, lots of parents watching the close games which were well organised”.
The Year 8 football team made it into the semi-final of the Plymouth Cup by beating All Saints Academy on Tuesday. The game finished 1 – 1 after extra time with DHSB winning a penalty shootout in challenging conditions. Special mention must go to our goal keeper Lewis Condon who made two excellent saves in the shootout.
Year 9 very narrowly lost their national cup game this week. The finishing score was 2 – 3 to the visiting team from Thomas Hardye School in Dorset. We wish them well in the next round.
The Year 10 team had a good match this week and boys beat Colyton 6 – 1 in the Devon Cup.
Rowing
The Plymouth Schools Indoor Rowing Championships took place on Tuesday.
Mr Orkney said, There was great teamwork as DHSB won the relay”.
Rugby
Mr Bunney said it was a valiant effort from the Year 7 Rugby team against Ivybridge. It was a tough game but some promising moments and nice to play on the amazing new surface at Ivybridge Rugby Club.
Mr Manley concluded the week by saying “Busy week of sport at DHSB with over 200 students taking part in extra-curricular activities”.
Future Events
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)