Remembrance

Over the weekend our country came together to remember the service and sacrifice of the men and women all over the world who have fought in wars and there were many events to mark this occasion across the City. Poppies were collected for a remarkable display at the Council House and will certainly draw the attention of the public to the theme of remembrance.

Remembrance Poppies at the Council House

The *MKC Heroes ‘Bake Off’ competition was held at the Council House. 48 cakes were entered, almost all of which have been donated to the Salvation Army Mission for homeless people. The winning cake was baked and decorated by Rebecca from Plymstock School. The runners up were from Oreston and Mary Dean’s. The MKC was also represented at events across the City and beyond.
*MKC (Military Kids Club) Heroes, (Formally HMS Heroes)

Rebecca’s winning ‘Bake off’ cake

Nathan was present as Lord – Lieutenant’s Cadet and Rebecca was standard bearer for MKC Heroes. We are very proud of you.

Over the last two weeks students have focussed on, and promoted, the Remembrance theme. In school we had a theme of ‘Remember Together’. Poppy collections raised funds for the Royal British Legion. Our own Mrs Brown made and sold some beautiful homemade poppies raising over £240 – well done Jan! Remembrance work by students was also displayed around the school.

Students helped to distribute poppies

Jan Brown’s poppies

Remembrance Assemblies were delivered to all students. Year 7 looked at ‘Remembrance key questions’ – Why 11th November? What do we remember? Why do we wear a poppy? Years 8-11 assemblies addressed the theme ‘Remember Together’, where we focussed on three battles in 1944 – Monte Cassino in Italy, D-Day in France and battles in Imphal & Kohima in India.

Remember Together reflection

We are grateful for the work of all the people from 46 nations who worked together to win the three battles in 1944. We remember the bravery, service and sacrifice of the troops who fought in battles at Monte Cassino, on D-Day and at Imphal and Kohima.

We also remember all those who supported the effort: the men and women who made army uniforms in India, tested equipment in the UK, worked as resistance fighters in France, and many more.

By remembering everything we have in common with our allies, we can help to ensure a peaceful world.

“If we are together nothing is impossible. If we are divided all will fail.” Winston Churchill

In early 2020 we will have a Royal British Legion focus day, when we will look closer at the wider work of the RBL today. We will focus on their rehabilitation, welfare, mental health, employment and support work with veterans and their families, including their dignified support at military events and funerals, and the children of serving military members through MKC Heroes. The work of the RBL goes beyond that of making and selling poppies in November and we want to raise further funds to support this far reaching and essential work.

Remembrance Day

On Monday 11th November Mrs Littler accompanied by Martha, Lucy, Leah and Katie attended the annual Remembrance Service on Burrow Hill which sees members of the local community and members of the Armed Force congregate to pay their respects to our fallen service men and women. The sixth form students read an extract of ‘For the Fallen’ by Lauren Binyon.

Devon Schools Team Table Tennis Champions!

Plymstock had a fantastic day at the Devon Schools Team Table Tennis Championships last week.

Plymstock fielded three teams made up of a mixture of experienced players, from the Joola Plymouth Table Tennis Club, and relative beginners who have been working hard at their game. The increase in provision has come as a result of some staff training being provided by the Plymouth Sports partnership and the Joola Plymouth Table Tennis Club, which has led to after school and regular lunchtime slots for the students.

The U13 boys finished second in the pool to enter the play offs for fourth, fifth and sixth and after some really close games finished a creditable sixth. The team was made up of Brendan, Danny, Ryan and Cory.

The U16 team, who all can play again next year as they were all playing a year up, went one better in their pool winning all their games to take top spot. In the final games for the medal places they came up against the Table Tennis powerhouses of Eggbuckland and Torquay Academy. Olly kept up his amazing record of winning all his games 3-0 to put the team in with a sniff after an amazing draw between the other two teams. The remainder of the team made up Tom, Joe and Hobson, despite some excellent table tennis, couldn’t quite take enough sets to take the victory and we therefore, finished achieving Bronze Medals.

The U13 Girls were crowned Devon Champions as a result of going unbeaten all day!

We knew it was going to be interesting as we have two of the best young players in the area in Molly and Chloe mixed with two young sportswomen Annie and Isabella, who displayed an amazing attitude and willingness to put themselves outside of their comfort zone because it was important to their peers and school. After watching YouTube, on the way in the bus (learning rules and how to play!), they went on to win a number of sets and their games getting better and better as the day went on. This combined with the outstanding play of Molly and Chloe who won all of their ten games 3-0 meant that Plymstock will go on to represent the county in the zone finals taking place on Sunday January 19th at Eggbuckland School.

Any players interested in starting up or developing their table tennis should attend the lunchtime or after school club.

A massive well done to all – Mr M K Taylor

Mock Law Trial

Last Saturday students from Year 12 and 13 participated in the annual South West Mock Law Trial. The event requires students to prepare cases from both a prosecution and a defence standpoint. All students had a role ranging from Prosecution Barristers, Defence Barristers, Witnesses, a Court Clerk, an Usher and members of the Jury. The students even had to act as a substitute team following another school’s withdrawal which meant they had a very busy day. The students gained not only an insight into how cases are dealt with at trial but skills that can be applied to their everyday lives ranging from public speaking, critical and analytical skills, team work, thinking on their feet and performing under pressure. The students were a credit to the school, conducting themselves impeccably; they worked hard and did themselves proud with their ‘can do’ attitude and resilience in stepping out of their comfort zone. Mrs Littler is looking forward to next year.

The closing speech by a County Court Judge at the end of the day highlighted the amazing young people we work with on a daily basis and the fact that it is fantastic to see so many articulate, intelligent, polite young people. He said it gave him great hope for our future generation. At a time when young people are criminalised in the media it is refreshing to hear people say so many positive things about our students. They have all been nominated as students of the week by Beckie Littler, Assistant Head of Sixth Form, in recognition of the way they represented themselves and the school.

Plymstock Cross Country Success!

On Thursday 7th November our brave Cross Country athletes took on the wilds of Staddiscombe in their age group races.

Despite the tough conditions all our runners did really well and several made it into the Plymouth team for the Devon Championships. This event demands great determination, spirit and fitness.

Well done to them all and a big Thank you to Miss Oates for helping with the team.

Year 7 Girls (58 Runners)
Ella 9th
Mia 29th

Year 7 Boys (52 Runners)
Fin 17th
Alfie 41st
Casey 42nd

Year 8/9 Girls (60 Runners)
Annie 17th
Olivia 30th
Kate 36th
Eva 45th
Layla – Mae 56th
Lucy 57th

Year 8/9 Boys (62 Runners)
Owen 14th
Fin 25th
Jack 37th
Ryan 47th
Dec 55th
Zak 59th

Inter Girls (22 Runners)
Kate 4th
Kelsey 16th

Post 16 Charity Week – update

Pictured below are some of the students who were involved in organising last week’s events. They have raised £330.76 for the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) as their chosen charity. Well done to all the staff and students involved. A fantastic team effort and a great week.

Humanities Mash Up!

This week we had a combined lesson for our students in History, Geography and Ethics and Philosophy in Cultures (EPIC) to welcome some international visitors. On Monday the students in the classes of Mr Willcocks, Mrs Wilkins, Mr Wright and Mrs Tendell were visited by a delegation of Israeli students. Arik and Avital gave a talk about the History, Geography and different religions of Israel as well as talking about their own lives. Students were fascinated to hear about the differing religions and cultures of Israel as well as learning more about the country. Students asked a lot of different questions and Arik and Avital commented that the questions asked by Plymstock students were the best out of all the many schools they had visited so far.

Plymstock Area Children and Young People’s Community Group

Last week this group represented the school at the inaugural Plymstock Area Children and Young People’s Community Group. The group has been set up by Caroline Chapman, Community and Families Worker at the Plymstock United Church. She is working with Jon Stephens, UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador. They want to give children and young people who live in the Plymstock area the opportunity to be key contributors to democratic processes in their local community; and to provide opportunities for children and young people to voice their ideas, thoughts and feelings, so that their opinions can be listened to and included in the life and development of their community.

Caroline said “It was great to hear from the young people and discuss the problems they face as well as the positives. The young people who came along from Plymstock were a real credit to the school and could discuss opinions and solutions confidently. I was really impressed and thanks to all at Plymstock for your support in the community.”

We look forward to re-joining the group in January. Caroline will be attending our Student Senate Forum on 22 November to discuss and promote the work she is leading with the representatives of our year group councils. This is part of an active citizenship programme within the school that gives students both a voice and leadership role within the school.

We have an active Student Senate (with representatives from the different year groups) who meet once per half term with a member of the senior leadership team, this year Miss Burgess. The students have the opportunity to discuss concerns, issues and give suggestions for improvement. Previously their suggestions have led to changes in the length of lunchtime, our uniform and led to the introduction of new student facilities.

Year 11 Geography Fieldwork: Investigating spatial differences within Plymouth

Last week the Year 11 Geographers undertook an urban study of Plymouth as part of their fieldwork investigations. The students visited sites across the city to investigate the social, economic and environmental differences within Britain’s Ocean City.

The students were an amazing credit to the school, participating with enthusiasm to collect primary data to help support their thoughts and expectations of the urban issues in Plymouth.

Most students very much enjoyed the colourful characters that they met along the way and the many interesting anecdotes they had.

In addition to battling the elements on the streets of Plymouth the students visited the incinerator to see what happens to the waste that Plymouth and the surrounding areas produce. They were able to see the massive cranes that operate the waste disposal and view the furnace that burns the waste to produce enough energy for 35,000 houses across Plymouth. It was also an opportunity to discuss why the incinerator was built where it was.

Overall a fantastic few days out for the Geographers and a real opportunity to investigate real life issues on our doorstep.

Year 11 Learning Evening

Our Year 11 Parents/Students information evening was held on Thursday and the sheer number of parents and students attending made for a fantastic turnout! The rationale of this evening was around the theme of support. The evening consisted of workshops from a variety of curriculum areas in how to ensure positive outcomes. This evening was scheduled at this time of year to allow parents and students to have the necessary feedback from their parents’ evening last month and enough time before the mock examinations to allow the advice and information to be implemented and acted upon. The information covered can be easily used and transferred into helping our students in their normal working practice and to be refined ready for their final examinations in May.

All resources will be available on our website shortly. Please go to menu – parents section and click on Year 11. Again if you need any further information of support with reference to Year 11 please contact:

Mr M Taylor, Assistant Head Teacher and Director of Learning for Year 11, mataylor@plymstockschool.org.uk

Careers@Plymstock

Our third week of Careers Insight focuses on Careers in Sport and Recreation #Gatsby Benchmarks

You can use this link: https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/sectors and search for ‘Sport & Recreation” to find out about other job profiles and routes into this sector.

Students of the Week

Summer, despite suffering from a painful eye infection for the last few weeks, refused to take time off school and has racked up an impressive 28 merits since the start of the year. She is always positive and cheerful.

Freddy participated in a Devon Open competition for Jiu-jitsu at the weekend at Marjons and won a Gold and Bronze in age group 10-14. Well Done!

Finlay took part in the Cross Country Challenge and came 17th out of 80 runners. A very positive and motivated student, he has demonstrated the same resilience and determination in his lessons this term.

Year 9’s students of the week are Jack for his awe-inspiring “Of Mice and Men” essay and Ben and Shea for their elevation to School Senate representatives for year 9.

Izaek, in Year 10, was selected for the Premier League U15s Floodlit Cup against Southampton last week. He also gives up his time to help coach the Year 7 football team. He is polite, hardworking and incredibly modest. Not pictured today.

Flori, for her behaviour and focus in GCSE History lessons as well as her efforts with her revision outside of lessons. Her teacher was very impressed with her work but mostly her mature approach and determination to succeed.

Beth, for being selected to play for Plymouth Argyle’s Under 18’s team.

and from last week Sammi who came to the rescue and offered to help one of our Meal time Assistants (MTA), He wasn’t able to join me last week and is included in this week’s photograph.

The following students have been nominated by the sixth form team for being such fantastic ambassadors at the recent Mock Law trials

Dan, Shannalea, Elliot, Issie, Ella, Daniel, Aliya, Charlie, Callum, Jack, Bart, Daniel, Katie and Kacie.

And finally…

If you are thinking of a career in teaching, or know someone who is, please join us for our ‘Get into Teaching’ open morning on Saturday 30th November in the Galley, 10:00 – 12:00.

The team from The Learning Institute South West will be on hand to discuss the Primary/Secondary Initial Teacher Training course and can answer questions on funding, entry requirements, PGCE qualifications and routes into the teaching profession.

To sign up for this event, please register here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/get-into-teaching-information-session-plymstock-school-tickets-80672767419?ref=estw

We are looking forward to meeting you.

Mr Kris Chick
Associate Assistant Head Teacher
Initial Teacher Training