Summer Heroes
Over the summer, Year 7 students were busy participating in the DHSB Summer Heroes Project, launched by Mackenzie Pike School Captain, and Miss Cunningham, Head of Houses.
Four students particularly shined, with Georgie Jensen 8E, Oliver Elford 8P, Andrew Banciu 8E and Rowan Shilling 8E all completing certain challenges, with special congratulations to Georgie, Oliver and Andrew who completed at least five or more of the six challenges.
These required completion of a variety of tasks, varying from undertaking a beach clean in their local community to baking a delicious meal.
Mackenzie said, “I am continually amazed by the talent of the younger members of our school and I am proud to have witnessed some incredible work”.
Excellent Work
Very well done to Sebastian Miskiewicz 8N.
Mr Morris has shared this work which Sebastian has produced using Onshape (our CAD program) after only one lesson of instruction.
Student News
Congratulations to Thorley Moore 7W who has just received his piano grade 2 with a merit.
Well done also to Rocco Huggins 8S who completed five junior triathlons over the summer months starting in April at Carn Brea, May at Wadebridge, June at Mt Edgcumbe, July at Tavistock and August at Bodmin.
Rocco is due to take part in the final triathlon on Sunday in Falmouth and we wish him well for this event.
He has also learned to knee board and wake surf from a speed boat.
Well done to Otto Malm 11S who completed a special week of work experience during the summer break.
He said, “I completed a week's work experience at Culham Nuclear Fusion Site working on the tokomak reactor called JET. I visited Oxford at Easter for an interview after submitting a CV and cover letter and got a place in the third week of this summer. Throughout the week I developed a simulator that will help towards improving the vertical stability of the plasma in JET. My supervisor also showed me around the control room where I got to see three pulses and the rest of the site alongside answering my many questions about nuclear fusion.”
Otto added, “The work experience also gave me access to the materials testing lab where the parts of a reactor are tested as well as the robotics control room where operators for the ITER reactor maintenance are trained. The week really opened my eyes to how crucial science will be in the future of the world - commercial fusion could mean almost unlimited energy with almost no environmental impact”.
This sounds like a fascinating placement - well done Otto.
If you would like to share an achievement or news to be included in the Head’s Blog please complete the form at this link.
Clubs and Activities
The list of this year's clubs and activities is now available at the link below.
Mr Callicott said, "Information has been uploaded to MCAS and parents and carers can now sign their children up for the huge variety of clubs and activities on offer. The document lists clubs during the school day on the first page and and after school clubs on the second day".
Sixth Form Enrichment and Tutorial
Ms Davidson says there was lots going on in KS5 enrichment time today.
Year 12 worked on study skills with the tutors followed by a presentation from Mr Mcleod in the theatre with the theme of How cultured are you? This included an introduction to exhibited art and perspectives. Broadening horizons and adding interest for futures is so important alongside narrower academic studies.
Year 13 were busy on UCAS and Unifrog today.
Physics Society
Dr Colvile says that D27 was full with students from Years 10 - 13 attending the recent Physics Society with visiting speaker (and parent of DHSB student) Dr Mike McCulloch, explaining his controversial theory of Quantised Inertia.
In addition to considering the fundamental question, Why do objects have inertia?, the seminar gave some insight into how an individual scientist’s career often focuses on the development of one specialist area over a number of years.
The Big Ambition Survey
On Wednesday, the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, will be visiting Plymouth as part of her launch of The Big Ambition.
The Big Ambition is a survey for all children aged 6 - 18 and parents of young people aged 0 - 18 across the country. She hopes to use the survey to hear about what children want for the future, their hopes, dreams, and aspirations.
The Commissioner wants to ensure that the children and young people of Plymouth have their say through The Big Ambition and is particularly keen to reach as many different groups of children and different types of settings as possible.
You can access the survey at this link.
PTFA News
A big warm welcome to our new parents and carers. The PTFA had a fantastic year last year and we were delighted to buy digital timers for the chess club, four bass guitars and amps, a kit for the netball team, an ice blaster, medical testicular exam simulators with six posters, eight tents, and a camp kitchen tent for the annual Ten Tors event. Now we're about to start all over again :)
We have six meetings throughout the year and have set the first four dates so far - the last two will be dependent on our summer events.
Our first meeting, which is also the AGM, is on 26 September 2023, followed by14 November 2023, 9 January 2024 and 5 March 2024.
Please consider signing up for our school lottery too. One of our own DHSB supporters was lucky enough to win the National £25,000 jackpot prize recently. Tickets cost £1.00 and 76p of that goes directly towards prizes and the PTFA. There is a prize to be won by a DHSB supporter every week.
Finally, please follow us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) for PTFA updates:
@DHSBPTFA
We look forward to meeting you, please come to our first meeting and AGM on 26 September 2023 if you can. This will be held at 6:30pm in the Refuel Conference Room (just inside the main school gates).
If you have any questions or offers of help please contact us at ptfa@dhsb.org
Mrs Kinsella
PTFA Liaison
Staff News
Thank you and well done to Mr Riggs who has shared his reflections on the 50th anniversary of his first day at DHSB, aged 11, and has a special message for our new Year 7 students.
Fifty years ago, in September 1973, I started as a boy at Devonport High School for Boys! I spent my whole school career here and have now been a teacher here for 22 years. I simply don’t know where all the time has gone! I wanted to share with you some thoughts on what the school was like when I was here as a boy, and what it is like to be here now as a teacher.
50 years after joining the school as a boy, I can still say that I love it here. The teachers here are such a wonderful group of people who have been such remarkable friends to me. And the students here work so hard and go on to great things. It is a joy to be a part of that as well as a source of great pride. So, to all the students who are starting here 50 years after me, I can only say that you have a magnificent journey ahead of you.
Grasp every opportunity with both hands and enjoy every minute!
Sports Update
Mr Manley said, “Year 10 lost 4 - 1 to Ivybridge on Tuesday. Not the result we were looking for, but proud of the performance after being 4 - 0 down at half time”.
Well done to the U16 rugby team who beat old rivals St Boniface's College on Wednesday..
Mr Orkney said that both teams played well in tough conditions.
And finally this week, surf club resumed yesterday on the stormy seas of Polzeath. Thank you to Mr Carpenter for this stunning photo.
