Thank you to all students, families, trustees and staff who supported our Speech Day celebration events on Wednesday.
We were delighted to present this year’s Speech Day awards during two events in a marquee on site.
In the afternoon we welcomed our current students and their families with canapés on their arrival made by students under the guidance of Mrs Ware and Mrs Dean.
During the afternoon Eden Hingston spoke about her time as School Captain. She concluded that education is what makes a person and added, "In some ways the last year at DHSB has made me. I hold genuine excitement for the next generations of students to experience and learn from this school, and discover the ways in which their education will make them, or how the fire in their mind will be ignited".
Many thanks to former student Maddie Hall who presented the awards. Maddie is currently the Content Production and Specialist Facilities Lead in Real Immersive at Real Ideas Organisation, based at the Devonport Market Hall. She spoke about career paths not always being linear and encouraged students to accept challenges and look for opportunities.
Later in the day we enjoyed the company of our Year 13 leavers with time to catch-up over a buffet supper before they take up their next steps.
Maddie also took part in our evening event, along with alumni Jonathan Cox, Matt Adams and Matt Smith, who returned to school to share their experiences and pathways since leaving DHSB.
They were able to pass on some useful advice and made themselves available to chat with our leavers during a fabulous buffet supper provided by Refuel staff.
During both events we enjoyed music performed by Tristan de Rochefort-Roper, Max Chapman, Molly Rayment, Will Wooller, Evelyn Wilkinson and Rebecca Chapman, supported by Mrs Luing-Holmes.
Brothers Tom and Rick de Wilde, both award winners, were just two of the students who posed with our special DHSB photoboard!
Photo credits: Sarah Nicholson & Beverley Kinsella
Sparx Maths
Congratulations to these students from each year group who received the most XP points over the whole of last year.
Mrs Green says the students have each received a rather shiny pin badge.
XP points are awarded on Sparx for completing work and extra tasks.
Student Achievements and Activities
Thank you to everyone who has completed the form to let us know about their summer holidays achievements and activities.
There is still time to send us news about what you’ve been doing and we will feature students in the Head’s Blog over the next few weeks.
Clubs and Activities
Mr Callicott has provided us with an extensive list of Clubs and Activities for this year.
If your child wishes to join a club or take part in an activity please sign them up using your MCAS account.
House Sport
Apologies that the days for House Sport were incorrect in our first whole-school letter last week.
House Sport will commence this term with football on the following days.
Monday - Year 7
Tuesday - Year 8
Wednesday - Year 9
Thursday - Year 10
Friday - Year 11
Again, please enrol your child for House Sport using your MCAS account.
If they want to find out more about any of our clubs and activities please ask them to speak to Mr Callicott.
Plymouth School Sports Partnership School Games Mark
The PE Department has once again been awarded the Plymouth School Sports Partnership School Games Mark (Platinum Award) for sports provision and levels of participation.
In summary this is a citywide recognition of the breadth of extra curricular sport offered at DHSB and the high numbers of students who participate.
Well done!
Alumni News
It was a pleasure last week to welcome alumni back to DHSB who started here on 3 September 1974 - 50 years ago!
They travelled from far and wide - including Hartlepool, Liverpool, Kent, Oxfordshire, Bristol, Plymstock and Mannanead.
We were joined by teachers Ted Attewell (Maths), John Bowden (English) and Trefor Farrow (Music) who clocked up a staggering 130 years of teaching between them.
The 'boys' remembered standing outside watching the Tex Austin Memorial Clock being unveiled, abseiling inside C Block with teacher Andrew McTavish, singing at Dr Cresswell’s funeral, history teacher Ian Burton interviewing them for a book he wanted to write and teacher Taffy Radler’s sayings such as ‘you three make a fine pair'.
Trefor lamented over his much loved and used music room which is now the fitness suite
Tim Hoy shared his photo which was taken on the balcony in 1979 - it was definitely time for a new one!
Amazingly Tim cycled all the way from Liverpool for this reunion to raise money for MS.
You don't have to wait 50 years to visit DHSB though! Just email alumni@dhsb.org to arrange a visit.
Mrs Kinsella