“So much fun, so much energy and wonderful spirit. Loved it and so will you”
“Such a brilliant evening. The students had obviously worked incredibly hard, as had the staff”
“Fantastic performances tonight! Huge well done to everyone involved”
These are just a few of the comments and plaudits received following the opening nights of our musical theatre production of Beauty and the Beast.
A huge well done to all staff and students involved in the cast, crew, stage band and technical team. It’s been brilliant to see a musical staged again in the Edgcumbe Theatre following the Covid-19 years.
Tonight's show is sold out so please attend only if you have tickets!
Whole School Assembly
In other news this week, Mr Manley led our whole school assembly on the theme on ‘Let’s Connect’.
Mr Manley said, “Our assembly this week focussed on children's mental health week with the theme 'let's connect'. We explored different ways in which we can connect with others in order to improve our own mental health and wellbeing”.
Please take some time to watch the assembly and talk about the theme at home.
Student News
Chess Update
Ben Wotton and Caleb Caleshu represented the county in the annual chess jamboree involving teams from Devon, Wiltshire and South Wales. Placed in the B team, Ben exceeded expectations by scoring 2/3, including a win against his Devon A team counterpart.
Caleb meanwhile played immaculate chess, winning all three of his games, including a win against one of England’s top players. His Devon A team won the competition.
Ten Tors
Dr Colvile reports that all our Ten Tors trainees did really well last weekend in poor visibility. Teams reached Great Kneeset and Kitty Tor and most even got back on time. Thanks to parents for supporting and your patience waiting for our slightly delayed return.
Mrs Wills added, “There was poor visibility on Dartmoor for our Ten Tors training. Great conditions to hone those navigation skills”.
Half Term Holiday Club
Our February half term holiday club tickets are on sale now. For just £20 a day we have five fantastic and fun-filled sessions planned for anyone aged between 8 and 12 years of age.
Anyone from the wider community is welcome. Please click on the link for more information:
eSafety Advice
Next week we will be joining schools and youth organisations across the UK in celebrating Safer Internet Day.
Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of technology, which calls on children and young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers and more, to help to create a better internet.
Using the internet safely and positively is a key message that we promote here at DSHB, and celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for us to re-emphasis the online safety messages that we deliver throughout the year.
We would be delighted if you could join us by continuing the conversation at home. To help you with this the UK Safer Internet Centre have created some free activities and information for parents and carers which are available at this link:-
Ms Buckler
PSHEE Activities
A lesson on bus safety for Year 7 this week, and of course also continuing with our remote first aid sessions with the Red Cross. Students watched a film of a specific scenario on a school bus, and were asked to consider ‘choice points’ - those moments when the choice you make can cause events to unfold in very different ways.
The Year 8 lesson was called Family Issues and encouraged discussion and solution finding around common family problems ranging from teen-related worries to more serious and potentially harmful occurrences. Many of the lessons in our tutorial programme are discussion based - it is so important for students to encounter debate and support in a safe and familiar environment.
Year 9 students were visited by the Police Respect Team who spoke about the law surrounding hate crime.
Year 10 and 11 students also had a speaker from Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) to talk about this route following GCSE. Students were encouraged to register on the GOV.UK apprenticeship website as even if not currently considering this option it is important to keep up to date with opportunities as you never know how your ideas may change.
So one more week left in this half term; more visitors to come and then a welcome break and hopefully some improving weather!
Ms Moreton
Sixth Form Tutorial and Enrichment
Some very serious topics about relationships, harassment and consent / sexual relationships covered in tutorials with Year 12 and 13 students in the Sixth Form Centre today. We are very grateful to students for maturely considering these difficult issues throughout the sessions and in their discussions afterwards.
During enrichment studies, Tracey Barnes (Apprenticeship & Business Development Manager for Achievement Training) spoke about opportunities for Advanced and Degree Apprenticeships ahead of 'next step' planning tutorials
Students have used the unifrog work environment quiz to collate some ideas that may give some steer to upcoming tutorials on such decisions.
Ms Davidson
Sports Update
Athletics
Very well done to our athletics teams who took third place (Year 8 team) and eighth place (Year 7 team) at the recent Plymouth althletics championships.
Football
Year 11
Good luck to our Year 11 team who play Churston School this afternoon in the Devon Cup. We'll bring you the result if we can.
Year 10
It’s been a very busy week of football fixtures this week, especially for Year 10 students.
The Year 10 team is safely through to round three of the Devon Cup after a win away at Teign School. A beautiful setting and played in much nicer weather than the freezing icy conditions we’ve had recently.
Also Year 10 had two very competitive matches at the central venue competition and ended the round of fixtures with a win and a loss.
And of course, the Year 10 team is to be congratulated for getting through to the national cup quarter finals stage.
The draw for this will be made live on the ESFA YouTube channel on Monday 6 Feb, at approximately 18:15. Save the date and tune in to see who we play next!
Year 7
The Year 7 team is playing their final 16 match v Cherwell School in Oxford today and we will bring you the result if we can. We wish them every sucess.
Also a combined Year 7 & 8 team played Plymouth College earlier this week.
Football was the winner and the matches were played in lovely conditions said Mr Strang. The team enjoyed the opportunity to play competitive football.
