Our digital infrastructure and tools play a key part in supporting our teaching and learning at DHSB.
We want to stay ahead of the PedTech curve and Mr Berryman and Mrs Buckler have been working on a five year digital strategy (linked below).
PedTech is quite simply about putting pedagogy (the method of how teachers teach) rather than practice in the driving seat of digital technology in education.
This comprehensive digital strategy cements our position at the forefront of educational technology, earning recognition as a Google worldwide reference school since 2015 and shows that we are committed to moving forward.
We are dedicated to providing our students with the tools and skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Excellent Work
Thank you to Mrs Wright who has shared these examples of excellent work from her D&T Classes.
Year 7 students created some brilliant boxes in DT last term. They all showed excellent skills marking and cutting their joints as well as finishing them to a very high quality.
Well done Year 7.
Also, Year 9 students have been practising their drawing skills and have produced some amazing point perspective pieces. Arley, Luke and Neel have their work proudly displayed on Mrs Wright’s wall of fame with more joining them.
Excellent work Year 9.
Ten Tors and DofE Training
DHSB Ten Tors teams had a very productive two day walk with an overnight wild camp on North Dartmoor, with just one more training weekend in April before the Ten Tors Challenge. This photo shows the 55 mile team leaving the remote campsite at 6.00am, well placed to walk east into the centre of the moor on Sunday morning.
Amicombe Hill is also shown, where perhaps you can pick out a 35 mile team on the horizon, ascending towards Mr Guy-Fierens.
The new tents purchased by the PTFA performed well, alongside the new watches and alarm clocks for timekeeping during navigation as well as waking up before dawn without phone alarms.
With generous donation of time from an experienced staff team of teachers, school leaders, trustees, parents, volunteers and sixth form students, we were able to cover a vast area of moorland which enabled the teams to find and be trained in using the main crossing points for the Rivers Taw and West Okement as well as the Rattle Brook.
Dr Colvile
Also 30 students took part in their Gold Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition last weekend with Dynamic Adventures. They completed four days walking on Dartmoor, including some wild camping.
They all did brilliantly and seem to have really enjoyed the experience.
Well done to them all.
Mrs Wills
Chess Club
Well done to the students who travelled to Kingsbridge for the league decider against South Hams. With a number of absentees, we had to default one board and although Ben Wotton 11C scored a good win, it wasn't enough to rescue the match.
With one match still to play, the team are hoping to secure the runners-up spot.
Our run to the regional final of the national schools knock-out was in itself a record for DHSB. When Ayden Small 9W recorded the first point, the win looked on, but Exeter brought an older team and gradually reeled in the wins to eliminate us.
Nevertheless, the final game saw Caleb Caleshu 11P winning against an opponent who had also represented the full Devon side (alongside Caleb) a few days previously. Caleb was rightly pleased with his win - congratulations.
An acknowledgement too, for James Allen 7W who scored three points in a full day county competition at Bovey Tracey recently.
Mr Butland
Creative and Performing Arts
Thank you to Mrs Luing-Holmes who has shared this term’s packed timetable of clubs and activities.
Students wanting to get involved should speak to Mrs Luing-Holmes.
Sixth Form Enrichment and Tutorial
With exam season fast approaching, both Year 12 and 13 had exam briefings first this morning to ensure they are all prepared and ready for their mocks and A Levels coming up in the next couple of months.
For Year 12 students, this was followed by a session on leadership, problem solving and creativity with their tutors. This session started with a discussion about transferable skills and leadership. They looked at leadership styles: from autocratic to laissez-faire and democratic, could they identify when each style might be more appropriate? The discussion then turned to creativity and problem solving where they considered how creativity can be both a relaxation tool and a huge merit in the workplace.
Alongside their exam briefing, Year 13 students had a session on what to expect from the summer term. The session was full of wellbeing advice, tips for achieving goals and practical things to consider for next steps.
Our medics and dentists were also lucky enough to have a visit from a newly qualified dentist who led a workshop on dental hygiene (which modelled skills they may deliver in their first year as medical students). She was also able to give guidance on securing work experience.
Mrs Briars-Delve
Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader
Each week we celebrate our highest performers in both Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader, two of our core homework platforms. We are proud of all of our students who complete their homework each week to such a high standard but these six students deserve a special mention.
Well done!
Sports Update
Football
Mr Carpenter said, “Despite a spirited performance the U14 football team lost their Devon Cup semi-final this week 3 - 2 to West Exe School”.
He added, “Good luck in the final and thank you for hosting us”.
Hockey
Also this week, well done to Evan and Dylan Woodcock 7C who are members of Plymouth Marjons Hockey Club, playing in the U12 7-a-side team.
In March the team won the U12 Boys Plymouth Area Friday League; this result followed their victory in the U12 Boys Devon Hockey Finals at Blundells School.
As the winners of the county tournament the team will now represent Devon at the West tournament at Millfield School at the end of April.
Plymouth Marjons Hockey Club welcome new members and, if anyone would like to move their hockey on to the next level or try some taster sessions, details can be found on the PMHC website.