We were delighted to welcome all our students back to DHSB this week.
It has been a real joy seeing everyone over the last couple of days; everyone has returned in good spirits and it has been lovely to hear the chatter and laughter filling the school site.
Of course, our joy at returning to school was tinged with sadness on hearing the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen and we extend our deepest condolences to members of the Royal Family.
This is a very significant event for our country that will cause many people sadness. There will be national mourning at the passing of a monarch who was held in the greatest respect both in our country and across the world.
Having dedicated her life to service Queen Elizabeth ll remained a focus of unity and identity and has been a constant in a very changing world. To many people she has been a reassuring presence, especially during challenging times and many of us may feel a sense of personal loss which can be disorientating.
I have included a copy of the slides which tutors shared with their form groups this morning, allowing time for students to reflect.
We have now entered a period of national mourning that will continue until the end of the State Funeral.
As soon as we have any more information about this we will share the details with everyone.
Information from Plymouth City Council
Books of Condolence
Plymouth is joining with the rest of the country and the commonwealth to mourn the passing
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Books of Condolence are available to sign at the following locations from Friday 9
September:
• St Andrew’s Church
• The Council House
• The Royal British Legion in Crownhill
The books can be signed from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and from 10am-4pm, Saturday to Sunday, until the day after The Queen’s funeral.
Books of Condolence will also be at the following libraries during normal opening hours:
• St Budeaux Library
• Southway Library
• Plympton Library
• Plymstock Library
Flowers
Residents wishing to lay flowers in tribute to The Queen can do so at St Andrew's Church.
Gun Salute
A 96-round gun salute will fire from HMNB Devonport at 1pm on Friday 9 September.
One round will be fired for every year of The Queen’s life, followed by a 10 second silence.
Proclamation
Saturday 10 September will be the Proclamation Day when the name of the new
sovereign will be announced.
On Sunday 11 September, The Lord Mayor of Plymouth will read the Local Proclamation from the steps of the Guildhall at 4pm.
New Beginnings
We are especially pleased to welcome our new Year 7 and Year 12 students, and our new staff.
Following their induction time all students and staff have been getting used to operating on one timetable again and getting to grips with the changes to the school site with building work continuing.
We will give updates from the school site in the Head’s Blog in the coming weeks ad highlight the work currently taking place.
PTFA News
The PTFA would like to welcome you to this new school year - particularly our new Year 7 and Year 12 students. We hope your time at DHSB will be a happy one.
We have six PTFA meetings a year where we discuss ways to fundraise for the school to provide those extras that make a difference to your child's schooling. We would love you to join us. Here are the dates of our meetings, starting at 6.00pm,
13 September
22 November AGM
10 January
21 March
9 May
20 June
Meetings take place in the Conference Room (just behind the visitor reception, attached to Refuel). We would love to see you if you can make it and you will receive a warm welcome and refreshments too!
Thank you to everyone who has bought our fundraising academic calendars and framed 11+ certificates. It's not too late to buy them - see MCAS for details.
Look forward to meeting you.
Any questions, please email ptfa@dhsb.org
Beverley Kinsella
PTFA Liaison