Dear Parent


Thank you for all your support during the snowfall.  We may yet have more to come and it is always difficult to assess the risks presented.  If you are unsure whether the school is open or not, please listen to the local radio or go to our website and click on ‘closures’.

English GCSE results
For the first time, Year 11 had the opportunity to sit their GCSE English exams in November.  The results were very pleasing indeed, with 77% gaining A*-C grades.  Congratulations to all Year 11 – now you know you can do this, do it in your other subjects too!

Drama news
The term began with an excellent Sixth Form Drama workshop which was both stimulating and innovative.  Two A level Drama evenings have also taken place, presenting the A2 Devising Project ‘Witchcraft’.  Year 11 Drama students enjoyed their visit to see ‘Blood Brothers’.  The story of the Blood Brothers musical is based upon the tale of twin boys who were separated at birth and who grow up on separate sides of the track, eventually meeting up later in life with tragic results.  Year 11 will use this performance as the basis for some of their coursework.

BBC Newsday Practice
Schools have been given the opportunity to take part in a dress rehearsal for the UK-wide News Day.  School Reports from Year 9 in Diss High took part in this practice on Thursday 4th February.  It was a chance for our pupils to dive in at the deep end and see what they could achieve.  During the ultimate News Day on 11th March, students will be working to a 2pm deadline to create video, audio and text-based news before publishing it on their school website by 4pm.  During the day, the progress of students across the UK will be featured in an hour by hour account, enabling students to compare their work with other school reporters.  We are grateful to Ms Johnson for all her hard work in managing this exciting experience.

School Council
The School Council is becoming steadily more involved in the local community as well as the school community.  Meetings have been attended by the Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Active Citizenship Co-ordinator for South Norfolk Council.  This has meant that it has been possible to air concerns about issues in the community and areas that are perceived, by students, to be dangerous.  Next month fifteen members of the School Council are visiting the County Council Offices.

Gifted and Talented Textiles Day
Some superb work was achieved on the Gifted and Talented Textiles Day.  Students had the opportunity to hand decorate a bag in any way that they chose.  This prompted many creative and diverse responses.  The end results were of designer standard.

Oxbridge applications
Each year a number of our Sixth Form students apply for a place at Oxford and Cambridge University.  We are delighted that three students have been offered places at Cambridge and we know that they will all work very hard to achieve the required grades.

Review of our new school day
We indicated in our last newsletter that we would be reviewing our school day this term by consulting parents, pupils and staff.  We would be grateful if you would return the slip below by 26th February.  Three parents have given us feedback so far.

Step In To Sport Leadership Conference
Hayley Peverley, Sarah McGahan and Charlotte Catalano have all been selected by the Youth Sports Trust to attend the Step In To Sport Leadership Conference at Loughborough University, 28th March – 1st April.  

Boys’ Basketball
The under 16’s hard work and dedication finally paid off with a hard fought victory over Long Stratton, a team that beat them by 60+ points last season and a 4th place in the area finals.
The under 14’s have started equally well, only just losing their opening games but earning a thrilling draw against Hobart.

Boys’ Football
The Year 11’s have progressed to the area semi-finals and the Year 10’s face a strong KES side in the County quarter finals – so watch this space.

Boys’ Rugby
The Year 10 boys have reached the plate semi-final.  A big thanks to Mr Wildmun who has travelled the county with all year groups involved in a number of matches.

Talented in Sport Group
The sixteen strong TIS group have visited Colchester University to be put through their paces and have forthcoming sessions on diet and sports psychology.
Mrs Bloom has continued to provide extra opportunities for our pupils in Dance and Dodgeball as well as a host of activities for our feeder schools which have been supported by our superb sports leaders.  A group of Year 10 girls have also raised their own funding to allow them to carry on with their cheerleading.

School Uniform
Please find attached a price list and order form for school sweaters and polo shirts. Also enclosed is a price list for PE kit and an order form for PE rain jackets.

Music
In December the Diss High School Choir along with the Diss Junior Choir, the Waveney Choir and the Salvation Army performed to a capacity audience at the Diss Town Carol Concert in the Corn Hall.
Year 7 performed their Christmas Celebration at St Mary’s Church, Diss on Monday 14th December.  There was a selection of carols, readings and seasonal songs.  An instrumental interlude was performed by some Sixth Formers.
As a result of a successful bid by the Norwich Philharmonic Chorus to the BBC Performing Arts Fund ‘Choral Ambition’, five of our talented singers Josh Smith, Stephanie Tucker, Eloise Burbridge, James Baillie and Rosie Ward are receiving free professional choral coaching.  They will sing Verdi’s Requiem with the Philharmonic Chorus in March.

Citizenship
Year 11 students should, by now, have completed their coursework assignments.  Once again, their presentations were well received by our feeder schools and younger students at Diss High School.  Visitors to Citizenship lessons have included the Child Employment Team, Val Attenborough a local magistrate, and Matthew Project workers, who ran workshops on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

Year 9
Year 9 students have recently received their annual reports and should, by now, have returned the comment slip to their form tutor. 

Dr Hunt
Headteacher

Diary Dates

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If there is a matter you would like to bring to the attention of the Headteacher, please use the reply slip below.

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For the attention of the Headteacher

Year Group of Student ………………………

Parental feedback

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Please return to the School Reception.  Thank you.