The New Normal
It’s been a busy two weeks for our students and staff. We have all been adapting to new rules and procedures to keep us COVID-SAFE. We are as ever, impressed by our amazing young people and their resilience, and their empathy for one another.
Our students have responded positively to everything that has been asked of them, and displayed both determination and maturity.
Face coverings are used in all communal areas but not in lessons or during social time when year groups bubbles are together as one year. Their use on our site, enables students to move safely between lessons; ensuring students have access to their teachers, in their specialist rooms. Pictured below is some of our lovely and very smart new Year 7 students, showing their spirit and individuality by the choice of their face coverings.
The week has seen many challenges for us all against a background of local and national news stories.
To support students, parents, and carers, we have sent home a guide for reference which can be found on our website,
We hope it supports everyone navigating the difficult decisions we now have to make daily.
Our students, staff and parents worked together as a team and as a result behaviour, attendance, attitude, and effort are really impressive. We intend to keep our school open; it’s absolutely vital to our young people’s health and well being.
We would like to thank our whole school community for their ongoing support and encouragement, hard work and effort over the last 2 weeks – you have all been amazing and we look forward to building further on this success.
Best wishes
Rob Pearsall
Headteacher
Year 13 Celebration
Celebration breakfast photos from our Sixth Form bubble.
The celebrations continued this week in Sixth Form with a celebration breakfast for the students who had been highlighted for their good work for some or all of their subjects since March.
Students were:
Jacob B, Ed B, Lauren B, Tabitha B, Maddie C, Emma C, Summer D, Tom D, Alex D, Emma F, Zoe G, Grace M-C, Michelle M, Daniel P, Daniel r, Shannalea R, Aliya S, Jacob S, Natalie S, Katie S, Holly T, Isaac V, Edith W, George W, Charlie B, Gaia B-B, Louis B, Jack B, Grace C, Ebony C, Luke D, Ryan E, Ruth F-E, Georgia F, Mia G, Megan G, Zoe K, Emily L, Leo L, Fletch M, Eva N, Tom P, Charlotte P, Scott P, Abigail S, Josh S, Martha T, Alice W and Madeline W.
The Sixth Form Team are exceptionally proud of the way students have returned to school committed to their studies. Keep up the good work!
Fantastic work, effort and achievement, we are all very proud of Year 13 for both their distance learning and the work their completed on site during our partial re-opening in June.
We weren’t able to celebrate with them at the time and it was worth the wait to see them all in person.
Skydive for St Luke’s
On Sunday Holly and Kate from Year 12, completed their charity skydive to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice. They are hoping to raise as much as they can and would appreciate any donations to support this charity and the amazing work they do.
Should you wish to support them, click here for the link to their fund page
They’ve raised so far an incredible £1604.24. Holly and Kate explain why St Luke’s is so important to them.
We have seen first hand how difficult it is to live with serious illnesses like cancer, through our family and friends. We admire the work that St Lukes Hospice does to help people living with these illnesses and make their lives as easy and enjoyable as possible. This is why we wanted to do as much as we can to support this incredible charity and we have chosen to do this by participating in St Luke’s Skydive to fundraise. Please help us to help them by giving whatever you can using the ‘Give Now’ button. The more people that know about St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, the greater their impact, so please also spread the word by sharing our page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!
RAFA (The RAF Association) bike ride
Last Saturday, Nathan an RAF Cadet and his friends Owen and Alex undertook a 70-mile bike ride for the RAFA (The RAF Association). Each riding 70 miles in a day. Together these 3 friends encouraging each other completed the route cycling from Weare Gifford to Plymouth Hoe, collectively cycling 210 miles.
To date they have raised £405, exceeding their target of £150 for this important charity. The RAFA provides support to veterans, service personnel, and their families during difficult times.
There are many aspects of service life that are difficult. The RAF Association provide support for veterans, service personnel and their families during challenging times.
RAFA like many other charities has been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic, resulting in a dramatic loss of income. This comes at a time when the crisis is threatening the most vulnerable in the community resulting in increased demands for the support services RAFA provide.
Should you wish to support them the link to their fund page is here
We are so impressed with Holly, Katie, Nathan, Owen and Alex are their collective efforts to take on these challenges. Very impressive and we are very proud of their empathy and commitment to these important charities.
Out and around the school
Art – Totem Poles
Pictures below. These were made by Mr Hurd-Thomas’ Year 8’s last school year just before lockdown. They have finally (and quite rightly) been put up on display and the students who are now in Year 9 can finally see their finished pieces in all their glory.
The students produced drawings in the style of Haida Art. These drawings are based an animal of their choice using strong, curved shapes and bold, thick lines, a limited range of colours, simplified forms and sometimes a clear sense of symmetry. From these drawings they then took their designs into a 3D form to become part of a totem pole display. They used clay to make their Haida 3D animals, which are decorated using coloured slip and then finished with a clear glossy glaze.
The new build – Second Floor
Our building work has recommenced on site and the pictures show our new classrooms that connect to our current Maths and Modern Foreign Languages block reaching the second floor level.
Pictured behind is our new arts centre, work has suspended on the arts centre to prioritise the completion of the classrooms so we can say goodbye to the temporary classrooms. All being well we should be able to move into the classrooms by Easter 2021, much needed space with our current needs on site. All work is scheduled to be completed for September 2021 and we can’t wait to move in.
Students of the week
All our winners have demonstrated Endeavour, Resilience and Empathy; Plymstock School students striving to “Be the best you can be”
Our winners include:
In Year 7
Joseph has been nominated by his teachers for his effort in all his lessons, he’s made some great choices and his attitude to learning is outstanding.
In Year 8 – Young Writers
Erin is now a published poet! Erin entered a Young Writer’s competition: ‘Through Their Eyes’. Her poem ‘Siblings’ was picked to go forward for their publication.
Mrs Oakley, her teacher commented: Congratulations Erin, this was the perfect result of a great year for you in English. Thank you for your enthusiasm and effort all year.
We can’t wait to see your poem in a book, a fantastic achievement.
In Year 11 – On Your Marks. Get set. Go!
We have two nominations for Yr11 Student of the week.
Kinga – won the 100m race in the Devon Open Athletics Series in Braunton at the weekend
And
Tom– ran a valiant race under difficult circumstances finishing second in the 400m at the same event
Kinga’s and Tom are pictured below, with some pictures of Kinga in full flight.
Well done to both on their individual success and achievement, we are incredibly proud of you.
In Year 12
Lots of nominees this week:
Business: Joy for a strong and determined start to the Year 12 business coursework. Her writing is very good and detailed.
Drama: Kayleigh for really throwing herself into A level Drama with a positive ‘can do’ attitude.
History: Tabitha for excellent work on her History coursework essay so far.
Lucy for her positivity and generosity in donating all her immaculate GCSE work to the Department for exemplar material.
Abbie has already completed her Thatcher landmark assessment in History to a high standard.
RS: Tiegan, Eleanor, Keegan and Madeleine for their attitude and engagement. In addition…
Daniel – the effort he is putting into his study outside of lessons is simply PHENOMENAL
And finally…
Forthcoming Virtual Events
Plymstock School Open Events for current Year 6 parents (2021 entry)
At Plymstock, we understand that deciding on a secondary school can be a complex process.
Due to the current restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, regretfully we are unable to host our on-site open events for prospective Year 7 students and their families.
However, we are delighted to inform you that we have created a virtual Open Evening page to help students, parents and carers with their decision.
Here you will find a presentation from the Senior Leadership Team and links to videos which give families the opportunity to view the school facilities, see and hear our staff and students and experience activities in our departments.
There are currently 3 videos showing tours of the site:
You might also like to explore our Gallery of events from 2019-20
This page will be updated with more information from 22 September.
If you have a question which is not answered here then please contact us and we will do our best to provide the answer. Support@plymstockschool.org.uk
We hope you enjoy our virtual Open Evening videos.
