These are uncertain times, as we know. As the weeks go by it becomes harder on all of us, to think we are doing our best. I hope this week’s blog by our students and staff helps put those doubts in perspective and keep us all focusing on the great good we are all doing together.
In this week’s blog there is so much to celebrate about our wonderful young people and their endeavour, resilience and empathy.
I hope as you head into this weekend, it will help you reflect on how we must all support each other in remaining focussed that something better – for education and for our wider society – lies ahead.
As Lady Bird Johnson (wife of US President Lyndon B) once said: “Where flowers bloom, so does hope”.
Take care, stay safe and well.
Rob Pearsall
Well being and Mental Health
Dear Parents/Carers and Students
On the Distance Learning page there is a new Mental Health and Safeguarding section (located just below the Newsfeed).
https://plymstockschool.org.uk/distance-learning/
There are many different resources available to support mental health and wellbeing during this difficult time. Please have a look at the range of toolkits that you can utilise and contact details of external agencies that have been set up to offer additional support to children, young people and adults. We will be continually adding to this over the following weeks so please check in for updates.
As a school we are striving to help our school community at this unprecedented time and if there is any way we can support you please do contact us.”
Kind regards
Mrs Beckie Littler
One of those resources that Mrs Littler would like to highlight this week is the service from Kooth
Kooth.com – online support for young people
We would like to remind you of the availability of our online service to support the wellbeing and resilience of your students.
Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to young people.
Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.
Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10 pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis. Young people can access regular booked online counselling sessions as needed. Outside counselling hours young people can message their team and get support by the next day.
When students register with Kooth they will have support available to them now and in the future. Support is gained through not only counselling but also articles, forums and discussion boards. All content is age appropriate, clinically approved and fully moderated.
To find out more visit www.Kooth.com where young people can register and others can find out more about the service.
You can also view a short video about the service https://vimeo.com/318731977/a9f32c87de
The Plymouth Armed Forces Awards 2020
The Awards Ceremony is due to take place on 24th June 2020.
Plymstock has 2 finalists in the Young Person of the year category: Nathan and Rebecca . We wish them both a fabulous evening. We are proud of you.
Nathan
I am 16 years old and currently studying for my GCSE’s at Plymstock School. I have been an Air Cadet at 2339 Plymstock and Mount Batten squadron for 3 and a half years, during this time I have gained promotion to cadet Sergeant. The Air Cadet organisation has given me many opportunities, especially participating in Adventure Training. I have completed 35 mile 10 Tors (I am currently training for 45 mile), Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards (I am now working towards Gold), and I have participated in Cross Country at Inter Regional level.
Furthermore, I have recently been accepted onto the Air Cadet Pilot scheme, which I hope will increase my prospects of becoming a pilot in the Royal Air Force.
I have had the honour of being selected as Lord Mayor’s cadet 2019/2020 and Lord Lieutenant’s cadet of Devon 2019/2020, during which time I have undergone my duties with pride and had the opportunity to meet some inspirational people.
I am a member of RAFA Youth and assist in fundraising activities with my squadron also partaking in activities promoted by the Royal British Legion.
Rebecca
My name is Rebecca and I am 15 years old. I am an original member of the Military Kids Club choir, which was formed in September 2012. I have performed as part of the choir at many events including Armed Forces Day, Lord Mayors Day, remembrance service on The Hoe, Plymouth Pavilions Remembrance Service to name a few. I have also had the privilege of being able to sing solo pieces and perform a solo at the MKC awards evening event.
I am an active ambassador member, representing MKC at meetings and delivering presentations. I am currently working with other MKC ambassadors in the making of a film to highlight mental health awareness for serving and veteran children. I have also been a host at the MKC awards evening. I also attend covenant meetings on a regular basis.
I am a standard-bearer, have been for the last three years, and carry the National standard. I attend most events including the Remembrance Service at the Pavilions, Armed Forces Day, D-Day celebrations, many events and services at St Andrews Church. I have also had the honour of representing MKC with the torch lighting on The Hoe for the evening remembrance event in 2018. There are too many events to list but during Remembrance weekend in 2019, I attended four events in 3 days including Saltash and Dartmouth services as well as in Plymouth.
I have supporting on Armed Forces Day at the MKC tent selling Armed Forces Day badges and also setting up a table at Morrison’s in Plymstock selling the badges during the evenings of Armed Forces Week. I have attended the Armed Forces Day launch as both an Ambassador and a standard-bearer over the past few years. I have also helped sell poppies in The Mall. I have also helped with the yearly activity afternoon for primary children and devised my own activity of a poppy collage that the children seem to love doing.
New Year 7 Welcome
To all our Year 6 students who have been allocated a place at Plymstock School from September 2020. We want you to know we have not forgotten about you. When we know more, we will let you know how and when and under what conditions we will be able to welcome you for your induction to Plymstock School.
We are all excited about meeting you and a whole team of staff are busy contacting your primary schools to learn all about you.
Our Year 7 transition team:
- Mrs Kirk, Head of Year 7
- Mr Chivers, Assistant Head of Year 7
- Mrs Summers, SENCO
- Mrs Fenwick Assistant SENCO
Best wishes
Mr Pearsall
Mrs Kirk will be in touch with you soon but she has this message for you.
“We welcome the Year 7 2020 Plymstock students and look forward to meeting you very soon. We hope you are all keeping safe at home. Please use this time to not only keep on top of your studies, but also as importantly make memories with your family. You should have received your welcome pack of information at the beginning of March.”
Mrs Kirk Head of Year 7 is currently contacting primary schools and will very shortly be sending out more information by way of introduction.
Please keep an eye on the Plymstock School website newsfeed here: https://plymstockschool.org.uk/news/ and our Twitter account @PlymstockS.
We will post updates on these as well as direct communication with you when further updates are known.
All work and no play! Our students’ messages from lockdown
Our students continue to find ways to enjoy themselves outside of learning and follow their dreams and passions. This week I have been sent a selection of stories and updates about what they have been up to.
Working and Learning at home
Amy and her mum have been busy adapting to learning at home; they have shared the following photographs. Like all students, Amy has been finding the change difficult and missing the contact school brings with both friends and teachers. We all share that loss and look forward to when we can be together again.
Mrs Summers has been learning about Amy’s work at home through her weekly contact with parents and was not surprised to learn that Amy is being an absolute star. She has taken everything in her stride and is thoroughly enjoying her Home Learning experience. The family are like all of us trying to stick to a reasonably similar school day albeit with a few changes and adaptations to timings! Amy and mum have taken over the kitchen as their ‘school room’ and they sit and select various tasks from her big sunshine yellow folder! She is enjoying all the tasks set and is concentrating – well (most of the time!) it can be a little distracting when you can spot your swing in the garden out of the corner of your eye!
Amy has chosen to do some extra work set by Mrs Lowe (music) for fun, exploring different genres of music and filling out information sheets about them. Amy chooses a different one each day and then they have fun with it. She is in fits most of the time, laughing at her mum, singing and dancing! Amy joins in too, when she has stopped laughing!
Well done Amy and mum, we thank you for the updates and photographs. Mum comments, “All in all, these are very strange days but we are making them happy and productive!”
We also send you and all our students the very best wishes and smiles and look forward to a day when we can see you all again!
Birdhouse
Mr Wookey received the following email from Louis in Year 7 about a birdhouse he decided to make in his own time. Mr Wookey was not only impressed by the final piece but the description Louis gave about how he broke down the project into steps and the different processes he employed to solve problems. Clearly another student who is looking forward to starting his GCSE as soon as possible. Louis certainly understands both design and product development.
Hi Mr Wookey,
How are you? During the Easter holidays I constructed a birdhouse from Dad’s off cuts.
I first designed the birdhouse on a piece of paper using a pencil and a ruler. Secondly, I collected the wood from Dad’s shed and cut it to its appropriate size. Next, we screwed the sides to the base using a screwdriver carefully. Then, we got onto the hardest part the sloped roof. We made the roof as one piece so it could be removed, to put birdseed in it. We built this by cutting the two ends at a 45 degree angle so the roof was sloped. Then we attached planks of thin wood using nails onto the frame being cautious with the hammer. On the inside of the frame, we fastened two stabilisers so the roof would not easily come off in the wind or rain. Finally, using a special drill bit we cut a round, small hole for the birds to enter. As a final touch, I painted the roof with waterproof paint, to not only protect the house, but also to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
Louis
Well done Louis, a fantastic piece of work and we look forward to seeing your next project.
In the Doghouse
Mr Wookey has also received these pictures from Lyla who has made an amazing dog house for her dog Silvie, it took 5 days. We all think it’s amazing, such impressive work. Well done! My dog is very jealous!
More from the D&T team and the students in the section below.
Joel’s dog on lockdown.
I have added my dog, he is 13 and to be honest lockdown is a breeze for him! He has got sleeping all day down to a fine art!
Don’t try this at home!
Not without mum’s permission! Alfie in Year 10 has been helping his mum and using skills from Mr Wookey’s construction lessons and helped turn the family’s new fire place from this…to this. Alfie’s next project is to add reclaimed wood cladding.
Budding artists!
Mrs Summers has been sent these pictures by “One of our talented KS3 students” of a Cane toad and baby bush turkey.
It is no Joke!
Mrs Whitehead, Team Leader for Year 10 students as part of our Special Educational Needs Team, has been supporting students with weekly contact to ensure students and families are supported with work at home. One of her students Finlay has submitted the following jokes:
What is blue and not heavy?
drum roll… Light Blue
Velcro is ….a rip off
Thank you to Finlay, he’s always making staff smile during the day with his jokes and continues to do so from home.
Distance Learning
PE
Here is a picture of Ella completing this week’s ‘Healthy ME’ task – The plank challenge. Ella is a very good footballer and Mrs Tyrell set her a ‘keep ups challenge’, which she has been practising at home. Here is what she emailed Mrs Tyrell
‘Hi Mrs Tyrell, Wel,l I have been practising my keep ups but every time I get mum to film it doesn’t go so well! The best I’ve got on camera is 17! I also filmed a basketball shot for Mrs de Mora but don’t have her email. Since we have been at home, I have smashed a shed window with my football and my sister smashed our toilet window after I taught her a jump shot in basketball-oops! I am working on the Nando’s challenge. Hope you are well. I’ll keep practising!
Ella’
Sounds like you will need the help of Mr Wookey and Miss Pring next from the D &T department. Keep it up! Superb effort and great enthusiasm.
Secondly Hawkeye in Year 7
Hawkeye has sent in this combination of photographs to Mr Taylor, of him completing his Healthy ME task at home.
Fantastic effort by both Ella and Hawkeye. Mrs Tyrell and the whole PE Department are really impressed by your personal commitment to staying fit and healthy during this period of lockdown.
Art completed at home
Mr Hurd-Thomas has received a range of pictures of Artwork completed at home.
Pictures this week from Amelie in Year 11, Jess and Summer in Year 7
Design and Techology
The D&T department have some productive and busy students, developing a whole host of skills. These photographs are a selection of home projects and some pictures from Miss Pring’s tutor group. “The photo topic challenge that I set them, was the great outdoors.”
Miss Pring’s Year 7 food group have made some amazing rainbows using ingredients.
Pictures featured by Leah, Alexis, Bethany, Eddie, Jacob,Travis and Oliver
The following delicious looking cakes are part of a home baking bonanaz being led by Miss Stephenson, Ms Rundle and Mrs Worley. This week’s pictures come from Mrs Worley’s classes.
The D/T team have taken on the toilet roll challenge with a twist!
Miss Pring writes “We are getting more and more students submitting project work that they have done at home with their parents/carers – bike stands, bird houses, planters and even a dog kennel.
Miss Stevenson has set up an instagram page for D&T as we have so many posts of pictures from students, to help keep you updated with the brilliant work our students are doing outside of lessons.
The video by the team is a way we can celebrate our amazing students (and staff).It is also on their Instagram page @plymstockschoolfoodtech
The D/T team have put together a video to help with bread making.
Link https://plymstockschool.org.uk/dt-bread-making-video/
They hope you enjoy some baking after watching this week’s entry.
Thank you to Mr Wookey, Miss Pring, Miss Stevenson, Mrs Worley, Ms Rundle and Mr Adamson for the inspiration you have given to our students. Your support and help from afar is encouraging our students to continue with their design and technology work, both for lessons, and just for personal fulfilment. We have some talented students!
MFL
Jack has sent Miss Ellis a piece of creative writing that she set for him through a literacy booklet she made for her groups. This task was based on a GCSE-style task for creative writing and Jack has really focused on his handwriting and worked on his paragraphing. Miss Ellis said, “Jack, like lots of students was really struggling with trying to do work and I was extremely impressed with what he had produced – a real inspiration to a lot of pupils who struggle to get started”
Jack is the Star Literacy Student of the week and Miss Ellis and Ms Baker are very proud of how much he has progressed through his resilience and hard work.
Well done Jack, fantastic resilience and well done for not giving up.
Top marks go to:
Chloe, Leah, Dedan, Sophie, Jack, Isabelle, Alicja, Jessica, Charleigh, Hermione, Hannah, Alicia, Keira, Lacy, Jack, Daisy, Lorcan, Emily, Ela, Annie, Caitlin, Drew, Mia, Holly, Iris, Louisa, Holly, Maia, Ellie, Charlie and William
Mrs Kent wants a special ‘shout out’ to all her Year 10 students named above who got 80% or above in their GCSE French online distance learning work. Well done everyone.
French Quizlet Updates
Y8 French Quizlet live winners from Tuesday: Winner Jess G with 4 wins, beating both Mrs Kent and Mrs Wesley! Runners up Gabs (and Mrs Wesley!) – 3 wins and Louie and Danny with 2 wins each.
Y7 French Breaktime challenge on Thursday: Winner Ella P in 7xRyder and runner up Dylan C in 7xBerra
Y8 French Breaktime Challenge on Thursday: Match activity winner – Jess G in 8yBasel (with an amazing 4.4 seconds – this is the lowest time I’ve ever seen on the activity) and runner up Thomas A in 8yBasel. Gravity activity winner – Louie E in 8xLints
I also asked Y8 to send me pictures of their writing work if they felt they’d done well and there are a selection here from Max, Grace, Isabella, Ewa, Oliver, Brooklyn and Jackson .
Well done everyone
Ms Baker
Pastoral Care – Year 7 Tutor Team
Mrs Kirk and her Year 7 team, as have all our tutors, Heads of Year and Assistant Heads of Year, have been staying in touch with our students as part of our virtual pastoral programme.
Ms Robinson has continued with her weekly Crunchie Friday with her tutor group. “I set a challenge each week (it’s voluntary, so not overloading) and I send a crunchie to the winner through the post.
This week the challenge was to get outside and take a photo of some wildlife, and Ruby-Joy won.”
I am sure you will agree the photographs by all three are fabulous and they have all been nominated as students of the week by Ms Robinson, she has loads more photographs that we will be featuring in coming weeks.
Year 9 Tutor Feedback
Mrs Tyrell, as part of Mr Wyatt’s Year 9 team, has heard back from Polly
“I have been doing school work for most of the week because I have to do full French and German lessons, instead of my usual of half and half. However, since lockdown I have done a few fun things. It’s my birthday tomorrow so I am having a party via video call also I have been attending guides meetings on zoom once a week. Some of the things I have been doing are attached.
Hope to see everyone soon.
Polly”
Thank you Polly we hope you had a fantastic birthday party by video and we send you our best wishes and hope to see you soon too. The photographs are welcomed and thank you for sharing them. Mrs Tyrell has nominated you as student of the week too. Thoroughly deserved. Well done.
RS – the spirited arts competition
Mrs Slade and Mrs Tendell would like to commend both Lizzie and Jacob on their work.
Below is a copy of the work Lizzie completed for the planning phase of the spirited arts competition. Amazing piece!”
Mrs Slade commented “We are really pleased with the creativity of our students and look forward to seeing the photographs of the completed projects! (If students wish to they can now send their entries direct to the competition just in case school has not reopened by the submission date!) We will create a gallery of work to celebrate what our students have achieved during this “strange” time. The Epic /RS team all hope that the students are finding this project both challenging and interesting, something creative for home school.
Excellent work Plymstock!
Keep safe and well.
The RS Team
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
Mrs Pearsall has nominated Joel due to his effort and resilience with long distance learning.
Miss Pring has nominated Leah for her amazing drawing of a rainbow using food ingredients, which was featured above in the D&T section.
Mrs Tyrell has nominated Ella for her enthusiam and commitment to completing this week’s Healthy ME task – The plank challenge.
Mr Wookey has nominated Lyla for her amazing dog house featured at the start of the blog.
Ms Robinson has nominated Ruby Joy, Jacob and Dylan for their fantastic photographs featured above as part of her weekly voluntary Crunchie Challenge.
Mr Broadwater has nominated Ella: for consistently excellent work and a creative response to last week’s poetry task.
In Year 8
Miss Ellis has nominated Jack for a piece of creative writing piece based on a GCSE-style task. Mentioned above in the MFL section.
Miss Pring has nominated the following students:
Jordan for his photograph, as part of a photo challenge on the great outdoors. Featured in the D&T section above. It’s a really striking combination of images to reflect the current times. Well done Jordan.
Emilia and Gracie. Despite being in different households they have collaborated on their D&T work this week, submitting on the day it was set for, and have gone ‘above and beyond’. They were set a task to complete just a couple of pages in their work booklets, in case they had not already completed it. They are coming to the end of a unit and they completed more than was asked for, and in excellent detail and very clearly presented. Very impressive girls. Well done for finding a way to stay in touch and supporting each other!
In Year 9
Mr Broadwater has nominated Mya: for submitting high quality work despite being ill this week.
Mrs Tyrell has nominated Hawkeye for his work and photographs of himself completing his Healthy ME task at home.
Mrs Tyrell has nominated Polly for her photos of some of the things she has been doing to stay busy, featured above.
Miss Ziegler has nominated Isaac is her French Literacy set. He has completed all the French work I have set for his class, he has uploaded evidence of his completed work on SMHWK for me to see, he does it all on time. She is very pleased with Isaac’s work and impressed with the effort he puts into his home learning!
In Year 10
Mr Broadwater has nominated Jessica: for always submitting work on time and to an extremely high standard.
Mrs Whitehead has nominated Finlay for his jokes mentioned above. Thank you Finlay for helping keep a smile on our faces!
In Year 11
Harry has been nominated for helping to compile some articles for a little newsletter, to help a gentleman with dementia who is struggling and lonely. He had his own bespoke “newspaper” which Harry has designed just for him with his family. A really heart felt and important piece of work Harry, looking after those more vulnerable in our community. Superb!
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
Mrs Pearsall has nominated Joel due to his effort and resilience with long distance learning.
Mrs Pring has nominated Leah for her amazing drawing of a rainbow using food ingredients, which was featured above in the D&T section.
Mrs Tyrell has nominated Ella for her enthusiam and commitment to completing this week’s Healthy ME task – The plank challenge.
Mr Wookey has nominated Lyla for her amazing dog house featured at the start of the blog.
Ms Robinson has nominated Ruby Joy, Jacob and Dylan for their fantastic photographs featured above as part of her weekly voluntary Crunchie Challenge.
Mr Broadwater has nominated Ella: for consistently excellent work and a creative response to last week’s poetry task.
In Year 8
Miss Ellis has nominated Jack for a piece of creative writing piece based on a GCSE-style task. Mentioned above in the MFL section.
Miss Pring has nominated the following students:
Jordan for his photograph, as part of a photo challenge on the great outdoors. Featured in the D&T section above. It’s a really striking combination of images to reflect the current times. Well done Jordan.
Emilia and Gracie. Despite being in different households they have collaborated on their D&T work this week, submitting on the day it was set for, and have gone ‘above and beyond’. They were set a task to complete just a couple of pages in their work booklets, in case they had not already completed it. They are coming to the end of a unit and they completed more than was asked for, and in excellent detail and very clearly presented. Very impressive girls. Well done for finding a way to stay in touch and supporting each other!
In Year 9
Mr Broadwater has nominated Mya: for submitting high quality work despite being ill this week.
Mrs Tyrell has nominated Hawkeye for his work and photographs of himself completing his Healthy ME task at home.
Mrs Tyrell has nominated Polly for her photos of some of the things she has been doing to stay busy, featured above.
Miss Ziegler has nominated Isaac is her French Literacy set. He has completed all the French work I have set for his class, he has uploaded evidence of his completed work on SMHWK for me to see, he does it all on time. She is very pleased with Isaac’s work and impressed with the effort he puts into his home learning!
In Year 10
Mr Broadwater has nominated Jessica: for always submitting work on time and to an extremely high standard.
Mrs Whitehead has nominated Finlay for his jokes mentioned above. Thank you Finlay for helping keep a smile on our faces!
In Year 11
Harry has been nominated for helping to compile some articles for a little newsletter, to help a gentleman with dementia who is struggling and lonely. He had his own bespoke “newspaper” which Harry has designed just for him with his family. A really heart felt and important piece of work Harry, looking after those more vulnerable in our community. Superb!
And finally…
Careers Insight – April 2020 #CrisisCareersHeroes
Each week we will be focusing on the amazing work that is going on around us!
The working heroes include nurses, police officers, and delivery drivers, cleaners and supermarket staff, to name a few.
These people are keeping us safe, healthy and happy at this time – while also enabling society to function.
See the power point attached.
Now use the links below to find out even more about these vital employment sectors and jobs you may never have even known about! :
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/distribution
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/transport
Many thanks
The Careers Team
Forthcoming Events and important announcement
We continue to update parents with direct messages through our MyEd messaging service, To support the volume of updates as requested by parents only a limited number of key important messages will be sent home each week.
Please do check our Plymstock School Newsfeed for all our latest updates and messages.
https://plymstockschool.org.uk/news/
Information about Distance Learning can be found here:
https://plymstockschool.org.uk/distance-learning/
Information on Mental Health and Well being can be found here:
https://plymstockschool.org.uk/positive-mental-health-and-wellbeing/
and specific information related to COVID-19 on our distance learning page below the Newsfeed banner
Results Update
The DfE have recently announced the date for results to be published this summer.
A and AS level results will be published on 13 August GCSE results will be published on 20 August. These are the dates that were originally planned.
The full information published can be found in the link to the DfE website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020
We will give more details about how you will receive your results when we know them!
We will also have support available for you with regards to next steps once you achieve your results. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact the relevant people below:
Year 11 Next Steps Guidance: tlinzell@plymstockschool.org.uk
Year 11 Plymstock Sixth Form queries: emonelle@plymstockschool.org.uk
Year 13 Next Steps Guidance: rlittler@plymstockschool.org.uk
Year 11 Transition
For those Year 11 students that have requested to join our Sixth Form to study in September, letters with offers are in the process of being sent out. On this letter, there is information about bridging work for all subjects.
There will also be some bridging work set for those students who are planning to continue their studies next year through college courses or apprenticeships to keep you busy over the prolonged summer period before your next step begins.
Work will be available on the Sixth Form area of the school website for all students from next week.
Challenge Week Refunds Update
The finance team have begun the complex refunds process for the Challenge Week trips. They have informed me that the process is proving to be very slow, and it is likely to be many weeks before they are all complete. We all appreciate your understanding and your patience.
The following trips have now been refunded:
- Fishing
- Football
- Golf
- Horse Care
- Skiing
- Surfing
- Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Please note that if your child was on one of these trips, and the money paid has not now arrived back to the original payment source, you will need to log in to Parent Pay and accept the refund to complete the process.
All other trips will be refunded over the coming weeks. I will continue to keep you updated.
If you have any questions please email twilkins@plymstockschool.org.uk
Thank you to Mrs Kirk for the photographs she has contributed from her daily walks this week that have featured throughout the blog.