Our School, Our News - June 2022
Our School, Our News
In this issue:
Art Textiles
Biology News
Cheltenham Science Festival
Duke of Edinburgh
English News
Food and Nutrition
Kids Haven - Thank you
LRC News
Music News
Sociology
Tennis@DRHS
Wellbeing Support
Free Period Products
Art Textiles
Here are a few images of A Level Art Textiles pieces - photography and digital manipulation, system repeats and recordings. All of them have been completed as part of portfolio work
Biology News
The British Biology Olympiad 2022
Last term, some of our Year 13 A Level Biology students took part in the
British Biology Olympiad, a national on-line competition run by The Royal Society of Biology. This competition challenges the students and tests their knowledge of biology beyond the A Level specification.
We are thrilled to announce that three of our students, Milly Robertson, Kayley Brownbill and Becky Greenough achieved Gold Medals, while Amelia Clarke achieved a Silver Medal.
Well done to all of our Year 13 biologists who took part.
The RSB Biology Challenge 2022
Not to be outdone by our sixth form students, all of our Year 9 students have also recently taken part in their own competition; ‘The Biology Challenge’. They had to complete two papers which ‘challenged’ them on their knowledge and understanding of Biology in the wider world.
We are again trilled to announce that two of our students; Parinidhi Krupal and Riona Rajeev, both achieved a Gold Medal, put them in the top 5% of all participating students.
Furthermore, Mariam Patel, Freya Roju, Parnika Swami, Sammy Murarisetty, Esme Crompton and Rosemary Caton all achieved a Silver Medal.
Twelve of our students were Bronze Medal winners; Matilda Bradley, Alice Upton, Danica Filipovic-Carter, Taaibah Inam, Skye Reyes-Goddard, Maryam Amer, Frankie Rayner, Rebecca Lacey, Betsie Dixon-Gough, Emma Burrell, Ellie Flaxman and Adaora Oguike.
All of our participating students should be really proud of their achievements as they were competing against over 10,000 students from over 700 schools worldwide; this includes all of the top independent, grammar and state schools in the UK.
Well done to all of our Year 9 biologists who took part.
News update: As we speak, our intrepid Year 12 students are taking part in their competition; the ‘Intermediate Biology Olympiad’. I am sure that they will also do DRHS proud and I look forward to sharing their results with you soon.
Dr Julia Scott, Subject Leader for Biology
Cheltenham Science Festival
On June 7th, Year 7 students attended the Cheltenham Science Festival. During the day, they had the opportunity to attend an energetic talk called ‘Energy, energy, energy’ and then spend the remainder of their time exploring a wide variety of tents and activities found on site. A wide variety of different companies and charitable organisations were in attendance. Students had the opportunity to complete numerous activities, varying from milking a cow to building aircraft landing gear. The students' behaviour was impeccable and a credit to the school. They should each be very proud of their achievements.
All students involved had a fun and enjoyable time. Please see a student's testimonial below:
I found the Cheltenham Science Festival a really fun event that opened my eyes to seeing science in a different way. The talk was interesting and explained energy in a way anyone could understand. In other parts of the festival I discovered things about aviation and woodlands, things that use science in the real world. The Discover Zone was also great where I learned things to do with Climate Change and Water Wastage.
Overall, it was a great event that I really enjoyed.
Varshi 7M
Duke of Edinburgh
It's been fantastic to see that the students taking part in DofE across Bronze, Silver and Gold have spent 2327 hours volunteering in the local community between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022. This is worth £10,750.74 based on the under-18 hourly minimum wage. Many of the students are still continuing to give their time to support others despite meeting the required time commitment for the DofE Award.
English News
Poetry collection published
We are delighted to announce that New Perspectives, a collection of poetry by students from Denmark Road, has been published by Honeybee Books.
Entries to this year's DRHS Poetry Competition were selected for inclusion in this beautiful, professional volume, which also features a striking cover illustration by Katie Miles, one of our A Level Art students.
These poems represent the independent voices of our young people at Denmark Road, without the limitations of an exam specification or the confines of a mark scheme. These are their ideas, feelings and reflections after a turbulent and unprecedented two years. We are proud to be able to share them with the wider school community.
Students featured in the collection have until today to purchase their copies of the book from the school shop:
Any remaining copies will go on general sale later this month. Copies will also be available to read in the LRC.
Poet Laureates write to mark the Platinum Jubilee
Last term our DRHS Poet Laureates were set the difficult challenge of writing a poem to mark the occasion of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Here is the thoughtful, reflective response, 'She Endures' by Danica Filipovic-Carter in Year 9.
She Endures
For generations she has lived a life chosen by others:
a life controlled by others.
As children we grow up wanting that life,
unaware of its limitations.
However, she stays strong.
She finds small ways to assert her identity.
She exceeds expectations;
she endures.
Even through times
of loss and tragedy,
alone she carries her burden:
she endures.
She approves decisions in which she may not believe,
because it's democracy.
Contrary to the imagination of our childhood, she has no real power:
not any more.
However, she stays strong.
She finds small ways to assert her identity.
She exceeds expectations;
she endures.
Food and Nutrition
Here are some French gougeres from Year 8:
Kids Haven - Thank you
LRC News
The LRC refurbishment is well under way now – the painting and carpets are done and the shelving units arrived last week – you can see the progress on the LRC’s Instagram account, drhs_lrc. The new furniture arrived this week, so we will soon be ready to return the books to the shelves. In the meantime, students still have access to most of the fiction, situated in Ms Halliday’s room, E3 and can request books using Click and Collect in the usual way. Special thanks go to Kara Levell, Year 13 Library Prefect, for her invaluable assistance in packing books in such a methodical way.
In the meantime, I have been busy ordering and processing new books, some of which are illustrated below.
I have now set a date for our 'Battle of the Books' House Quiz which involves House Teams in Years 7 and 8. On Wednesday, July 13 we will gather in the LRC area for some quick-fire questions on the 10 books they have been reading. Many thanks to the diligent Library Prefects, who have held meetings, run Kahoot quizzes and provided snacks for their teams and ensured that the books are being shared equitably.
The Denner Best Book Award Team have now decided on a shortlist for an eventual vote later in the term and are recruiting some Year 8 students to help them promote these titles.
The Carnegie Medal Shadowers met today to watch the Carnegie Awards ceremony. Founded in 1936, this is the oldest and most prestigious of the children’s book awards and one that all children’s authors want to win. Our school “shadows”, ie reads the books for the Award every year, thanks to the generosity of our Parent/Staff Association. This year, a wide range of students from Year 7 to Year 12 read the shortlisted books and submitted their votes for the student award. We had voted for Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada, and Everybody Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock. Very unusually, both the Student Award and the Carnegie Medal were awarded to the same book, October October by Katya Balen.
October and her dad live in the woods. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. Until the year October turns eleven. That’s the year October rescues a baby owl. It’s the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods. The year the woman who calls herself October’s mother comes back. The year everything changes.
This is an evocative exploration of what it means to be truly alive and wholly human. The captivating story features exquisite descriptions of the natural world and relationships that develop and heal, all told through a natural language and style. Wild, clever and caring October’s relationship with the forest sets the tone for her relationship with others in her life. She is expertly written with an incredibly authentic narrative voice, leaving the reader feeling great empathy towards her. This is a beautiful, lyrical novel alive with wonder and curiosity which brings your senses to life.
(https://carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/books/october-october/)
Just before the holidays I said farewell and thank you to the Year 13 Library Prefect Team. They have really been so supportive over the last 2 years and whilst it is sad to see them leave DRHS, I’m really looking forward to hearing what they do next!
If your child is in Year 11 or Year 13, please encourage them to return their school textbooks and library books as they finish their exams. Book deposits can then be processed and any queries dealt with in a timely way.
Please contact me if you have any questions about libraries, books, reading and research – I am always happy to help.
Music News
Kindertransport Journey
Students from Year 7 to 10 are singing in the choir, and the string quartet are accompanying in this special event. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
Music successes :
A huge well done to the following students on their Grade 2 Acoustic guitar exam:
Sahai Mercer - Distinction
Orla Maginnis - Distinction
Evie Cadwallader - Distinction
Sociology
Phillip McLellan from the Trussell trust food bank gave a talk to the Year 12 Sociology students on poverty and use of the food bank in Gloucester. The students brought in donations for the food bank which were gratefully received.
Photo: Meg Lawrence, Maddy Jones and Phillip McLellan
Tennis@DRHS
The school offers membership to staff and the public for the use of the tennis courts outside of school hours. The membership runs from 1st July - 30th June each year and costs £40.
To sign up visit: Tennis@DRHS
Wellbeing Support
If you feel that your child needs some support with their emotional wellbeing, there are a number of useful websites and resources that can offer some helpful advice and support.
TIC+ (Teens in Crisis)
The TIC+ website is a place that we often recommend for support with mental health and anxiety. Through the website, you can complete an online referral for counselling support for your child or use the parent support pages for further advice and help. There is also a useful TIC+ chat function that is an anonymous, safe, confidential 1-2-1 support service for young people.
Gloucestershire Self-Harm Helpline
https://www.gloucestershireselfharm.org/
The Gloucestershire Self-Harm Helpline provides a safe, supportive, non-judgemental and informative space for people who self-harm, their friends, families and carers.
They offer someone to talk to via telephone, text message or online chat. They will listen to you, support you, provide options and ways of coping, give information of other places that can help if needed, and may access help for you if you need it.
Glosfamilies directory
https://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/home.page
If you are looking for support, the Glosfamilies directory is a great place to start. It is a family information service that offers support for young people and their families. They can offer support with housing, benefits, education, parenting, difficult life events, employment and much more.
On Your Mind Glos
On Your Mind Gloucestershire - children & young people's mental health - NHS (onyourmindglos.nhs.uk)
You can also find support by using the Gloucestershire NHS 'Support finder', which is an anonymous service to help you find the most appropriate support for your child.
Free Period Products
We are aware that some families are finding it increasingly difficult to manage with the recent increase in living costs. With this in mind I would like to remind all parents/carers that free period products are available through school for children to collect if they need. Students have been informed that these products are available to collect. Students can either email/speak to myself or speak to a member of the Wellbeing Team to arrange collection of the period products. There is a wide choice of products that students can choose from.
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