In this issue:

• Student News
• Potsticker Dumplings
• Cheltenham Festivals' Reading Programme
• LAMDA 
• Sixth Form Open Evening
• Covid Vaccination Update
• Flu Vaccinations
• Music News
• Sporting Achievements
• Panic Alarm Donation
• RS News
• LRC News
• Quiz Night

 

Our School, Our Week

 

 

Student News

 

Year 7 and 8 Food - Different Tastes

As we approach the Lunar (Chinese) New Year - we are looking at China. The students are making potsticker dumplings. 

According to legend, potstickers were invented in China over a thousand years ago when a chef at the Imperial Court accidently burnt the bottom of a batch of steamed dumplings. They are eaten all year round but popular for the New Year because they symbolise prosperity – the dumplings are said to resemble gold ingots. 

 

Cheltenham Festivals' Reading Programme

Last week 9BE were lucky enough to get their hands on copies of Alex Wheatle's powerful and thought-provoking new novel, Cane Warriors, as part of the Cheltenham Festivals' Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils (RTRP) programme. 

The novel follows 14-year-old Moa, in a story inspired by the rebellions on British-owned plantations in Jamaica in 1760. The RTRP initiative aims to introduce students to a diverse range of contemporary YA fiction to give young people the opportunity to explore a range of voices, ideas and opinions. The class are reading the book independently this term and will provide feedback to RTRP on their view of the novel and the perspectives it offers.

 

RS (Philosophy, Ethics, Theology)

Year 12 have been creating models of Platos Cave, The Trolley Problem and The Parable Of The Sheeps And Goats for our Sixth Form open evening to help spark interest in A Level RS (Philosophy Ethics and Theology)

 

 

Sporting Achievements

Amelia Clarke in Year 13 has been selected in the England Under 18 Rugby Squad for their 2022 campaign. To be one of just 34 players selected to represent England is an amazing achievement. She has worked incredibly hard and we all want to wish her the best. 

Keep an eye out for Amelia in the games being played in February and April. Fantastic news - well done!

 

Sport News

Year 7 District Football Tournament - Champions

Student write up by Chloe Gillard and Evie Waller:

On Tuesday 11th January, we [the year 7 football team] competed in a football tournament at Severn Vale School. We played three matches in total, winning all of them. The last game against Crypt School was quite tense because we knew we had to win, but in the second half we scored some wonderful goals and won (3-0). Overall we scored nine goals in total and only conceded 1. This meant we won the whole tournament and were crowned District Champions. 

It was a really fun and exciting experience which I would love to do again. We each supported each other and celebrated together. The best thing though was that it was a team effort and everybody played as well as each other. We all did a great job and I’m proud of all of us! It was amazing.

 

DRHS v Crypt                         Won 3-0

DRHS v Severn Vale              Won 3-0

DRHS v Churchdown             Won 2-1

 

Thank you to Miss Skelding for all of her hard work in developing DRHS football.

 

Netball

On Wednesday 19th January we hosted a fantastic afternoon of netball against Farmors School. Our girls represented the school wonderfully and put on some amazing netball.

 

Below are the results:

 

U14                 Won 23-10                  POTM went to Gabby Russell

U15                 Won 26-21                  POTM went to Emily Brown

U16                 Won 24-16                  POTM went to Maya Patel

U18                 Lost 22-20                   POTM went to Millie Slessor

 

 

Music News 

This week our groups have been busy rehearsing for the upcoming concert on Tuesday 8th February which is to be held in the school hall.  All of the main groups will be performing - orchestra, jazz band, junior choir, senior choir, glee choir, brass group and the flute choir which you can see in the pictures here.  

 

 

LAMDA Examination Results for DRHS

 

Orla Parker-Wells- Grade 4 Solo Acting - Distinction

Charlotte Hudson - Grade 6 Solo Acting - Distinction

Sophia Dumbelton - Grade 5 Verse and Prose Speaking - Distinction

Ranjana Muckherjee - Grade 3 Solo Acting - Distinction

Danica Filipovic-Carter- Grade 4 Solo Acting - Distinction

Arya Acharya - Grade 4 Verse and Prose Speaking - Distinction

Annette Farrimond - Grade 5 Solo Acting - Distinction

Soumiya Arulselvan - Grade 4 Verse and Prose Speaking - Distinction

Evie Cadwallader - Grade 2 Solo Acting - Distinction

Olivia Ormiston - Grade 3 Speaking Verse and Prose - Distinction

 

If your child is interested in LAMDA please contact helen.speechanddrama@gmail.com for any current vacancies. 

 

 

Sixth Form Open Evening

We held our Sixth Form open evening last night where current and prospective students had an opportunity to explore their future options.  It was one of our busiest nights of the year, and it was lovely to see so many of you attend. For those who could not make it, talks will be available on our website. 

You can apply to our Sixth Form here.

 

Panic Alarm Donation

Our Sixth Formers were very grateful to receive a donation of 200 personal alarms from PCSOs Becki Kent and Steven Harris. These small devices will emit a very loud siren when activated, also feature a torch and can be easily attached to a set of keys or lanyard. The alarms will be given out in the coming weeks, with priority given to our students who travel to school via train, public bus or through the city centre. 

 

Quiz Night

In order to raise some money for the students at DRHS, the Parent and Staff Association are organising a SPRING QUIZ.

Friday 4th March 2022 from 7.30 pm - doors open at 7pm.

Tickets, available from Main Reception, are £5 per person - Teams of 4 to 6 people.

Please bring cash for the raffle, the £1 game and to buy refreshments - wine, beer and soft drinks. We want to have a fun night and raise as much money as possible for the school.

 

Alumni News

Former Art Textiles Student Poppy Birkby, gained a place at Central Saint Martins, UAL to study Textiles. She has produced some fantastic pieces of work in a variety of print, stitch and weaved applications to name a few. She has recently completed an internship with Celia B.  

CeliaB is a fashion brand designing fun, passionate, and timeless clothing that make women shine. With a love for textiles, craftsmanship and sustainability. Poppy has designed prints for the AW22 collection, during her time with Celia B in Spain. Below are just a few pieces of Poppy's work completed at Central Saint Martins.

 

Current Vacancies

Executive support - exciting opportunity for someone who is pro-active, forward thinking and confident with a range of IT software to help deliver support to the Admin and Senior Leadership Teams.  More information can be found here:  Denmark Road High School - Vacancies

 

 

LRC NEWS

Martin Luther King Day took place in the USA on Monday of this week, so I am highlighting some of our relevant books about his life, as well as civil rights and Black History. All these books are available to borrow via Click and Collect.  The LRC also holds journal articles and online resources which cover these subjects, and I am more than happy to show any of our students how to access them effectively – your child has only to ask.

Mrs Shaw and I received some very exciting news today.  One of Mrs Shaw’s former tutees and avid LRC user, Evie Handley, now in her first year at University in London, has just published her first book.  We had the privilege of reading some of her first drafts of this story and enjoyed it immensely.  The book is entitled Divine Ends and is the first in a series (From Divine Ends to Demonic Beginnings).  It’s a fantasy adventure, set in a dystopian world in which our heroine, Nya, has to hide her true powers, and joins forces with Ilana, the demon who would destroy her.  It is available from Amazon ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1399912208/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_PAPGPV7KX0TV68801TRF), but you could also order it from https://uk.bookshop.org/ or your local bookshop (try Yellow Lighted Bookshop, for example) and benefit an independent bookseller. 

The overdue/lost books amnesty has proved successful.  Whilst there are still many books on the overdues list, a number of tutor groups, 7M, 9K and 10BA, have successfully dealt with all their late loans, by returning, renewing or replacing them, so have enjoyed some chocolate rewards for their action – I thank the students for sorting them out and the tutors who have supported the LRC in this regard.  The value of just Year 10’s returns to date is £496 – a considerable amount if those books had to be re-bought.  However, the administration of these overdue and lost items also takes up a lot of time.  Please check at home for any school resources which your child should have returned.  If they bring the books/textbooks to the LRC, I will ensure they are taken off their LRC accounts and return them to the correct departments where necessary.  Thank you for your support with this.

 

The next Scholastic Book Club deadline is Friday 21 January and it will then reopen with a deadline of Friday 11 February.  Here’s the link: https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/schools/denmark-road. 

Please remember NOT to tick the box which asks if you work at the school, as it means it’s more difficult for DRHS to receive the Scholastic Credit.  Many thanks.

I am hoping that we will again be able to host a Scholastic Book Fair this year.  However, that has still to be confirmed.  The date is usually a couple of weeks after World Book Day (Thursday 3 March), for which plans are already being formulated.  It’s a big year for the World Book Day organisation, because it is the 25^th anniversary of the first time it was celebrated.

Please contact me if you or your child has any questions about books/reading/information for school work and I shall be pleased to help.

 

Ms Carol Cordall, School Librarian

Follow the LRC on Twitter   @DRHS_LRC and Instagram   drhs_lrc

E-mail: library@denmarkroad.org

 

 

 

Flu Vaccination Year 7-11

Flu vaccinations will take place on Wednesday 26th, Thursday 27th and Friday 28th of January. 

 

 

Covid vaccination update:

We are currently waiting on our 2nd vaccine day for 12-15 year olds in the meantime here is a link to covid drop in clinics.

https://covid19.glos.nhs.uk/vaccinations/#link-dropin

 

 

Useful Information

If your child is absent from school please email absence@denmarkroad.org. 

If your child requires a medical/non-medical form please fill in via our website: Denmark Road High School - Forms  These forms can be emailed to absence@denmarkroad.org or your child can give them in to the Well-being Centre.

When you come to pick up your child from reception please do not park outside the school gates or on any road markings which state you must not, on road junctions, or in front of private driveways.  Please park sensibly opposite the school.  If your child is ill and is unable to walk far, or you have problems with mobility, you may ring the bell on the gate and bring your car into the front car park.  Thank you for your consideration. 

Please let us know when you change your home address, mobile number or email address.  We cannot keep in touch with you if we do not have your correct details.  Please email changes to office@denmarkroad.org

 

 

 

Dates for the Diary

 

26th January - 28th January - Flu Inoculation for years 7-11

1st February - Invest Day

16th February - Year 7 Excellence Evening and Early Closure 2:30pm

18th February - End Of Term 3 

28th February - INSET Day

 

 

Follow me @DenmarkRoad365

 

Please follow me on Instagram at drhshead and Twitter @denmarkroad365.  You will see a snapshot into DenmarkRoad365 and the life of a Headteacher at one of the most amazing schools in the country.  - Claire Giblin