07
May
Senior High Notes 7th May 2021
My Senior School assembly today focused on kindness and how important it is. I am always so impressed with how thoughtful and kind our students are. We looked back at the 2017 London marathon where runner David Wyeth’s legs literally collapsed from under him with only a few hundred metres to the finish line. Fellow runner Matt Rees saw that David was clearly struggling and went over to him and helped him finish the race. His natural response was to help a fellow runner who was in a difficult situation.
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07
May
Primary High Notes 7th May 2021
My Primary assembly this week focused on kindness and how important it is. I am always so impressed with how thoughtful and kind our pupils are. We looked back at the 2017 London marathon, where runner David Wyeth’s legs literally collapsed from under him with only a few hundred metres to the finish line. Fellow runner Matt Rees saw that David was clearly struggling and went over to him and helped him finish the race. His natural response was to help a fellow runner who was in a difficult situation.
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30
Apr
Senior High Notes 30th April 2021
In my Senior School assembly this morning I talked about target setting. I find the start of term a great time to make a new resolution! It’s the start of something new and a great opportunity to set a target or two for what you want to achieve by the end of the term. My target this term is to walk to school every day. The distance is 2.9km from my home to school. I am pleased to report that I have done this every day during the first two weeks of term. Apparently researchers who have studied the benefits of walking say that it is ‘the nearest activity to the perfect exercise’.
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30
Apr
Primary High Notes 30th April 2021
In my primary assembly yesterday I talked about the importance of the word ‘yet’. We will all have heard of fixed and growth mindsets and the importance of being able to change and grow with application and experience. We strongly believe in growth mindset at Derby High - someone’s true potential is discovered through support, nurture and challenge and anything can be accomplished through hard work and passion.
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23
Apr
Senior High Notes 23rd April 2021
We have been so touched and impressed by the way our whole school community has supported one another this week. It has been a really difficult time for us all. Members of staff will continue to be available for anyone who needs support in any way. Please encourage your son/daughter to speak to Chaplain Jo, Mrs Bellman, Head of Key Stage, their form tutor or any other trusted member of staff. We are beginning to think about how we can celebrate Gabbi’s life in consultation with her year group. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Gabbi’s family.
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23
Apr
Primary High Notes 23rd April 2021
I find the start of term a great time to make a new resolution! It’s the start of something new and a great opportunity to set a target or two for what you want to achieve by the end of the term. In my Primary assembly yesterday, I explained to the children that my target this term is to walk to school every day. The distance is 2.9km from my home to school. I am pleased to report that I have done this every day this week. Apparently researchers who have studied the benefits of walking say that it is ‘the nearest activity to the perfect exercise’.
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01
Apr
Senior House Music 2021
This year’s Senior House Music competition was slightly different! This year we held it virtually, with students recording their performances at home in February. Videos were submitted to Mrs Lesley, Head of Senior Music, and were entered into the competition for adjudication by Mrs Jack.
There were over 80 entries and the overall winning house was St Patrick!
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26
Mar
Senior High Notes 26th March 2021
The past three weeks back have provided us all with a degree of normality, albeit with a variety of restrictions in place, and the students have all responded amazingly. We can also feel positivity for the future – not only to deliver the best education possible in the safest way possible, but also to ensure that Derby High School comes back even stronger than ever after the enforced period of remote learning, with a re-doubled sense of the vital purpose of education and a commitment to achieving our individual academic and personal potential.
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26
Mar
Primary High Notes 26th March 2021
The past three weeks back have provided us all with a degree of normality, albeit with a variety of restrictions in place, and the pupils have all responded amazingly. We can also feel positivity for the future – not only to deliver the best education possible in the safest way possible, but also to ensure that Derby High School comes back even stronger than ever after the enforced period of remote learning, with a re-doubled sense of the vital purpose of education and a commitment to achieving our individual academic and personal potential.
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26
Mar
Primary High Notes 19th March 2021
There is nothing quite like a smile to make you feel good. In my live assembly on Thursday we all shared our best and biggest smiles. I asked the children to think about a time when someone has given them a smile that has made them feel good. I often share songs in my assemblies which have poignant lyrics, and Michael Bubble’s version of When You’re Smiling was just perfect to start our assembly. In particular the lyrics When you're smilin', The whole world, it smiles with you and When you're laughin' The sun comes shinin' through.
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