It is wonderful to be enjoying our first event-filled Summer Term in a long while. On Wednesday, the Year 13 Leavers’ Service returns to St Oswald’s Church. We are very much looking forward to welcoming parents to the service, and the afternoon tea back at school afterwards, for the first time in almost three years. In Junior House, Sports Day and the very popular Grandparents Day will also be taking place during the last week before half term.
There is so much happening in the second half of the term as well, with Senior House Sports Day, our annual National Council of Women Conference, the Year 5 Outreach Performance at the Gala Theatre and various Whole School Jubilee celebrations. In addition, we are delighted to be hosting the inaugural DHS Live on Saturday 25 June from 1.30pm. This is an outdoor event to celebrate the wonderful musical talents of our pupils, alumnae and wider school community. The money raised from the concert will be donated to St Oswald’s Hospice.
Sport Update
In Senior House, pupils enjoyed an afternoon of Athletics at the Durham Central Schools’ Intermediate and Junior Track and Field Championships (right). There were some brilliant individual performances from the girls across all events. Special mention to
the following on placing in the top three in their events:
Junior Girls
Harriet Lewis 3rd in the 200m and 2nd in the Discus.
Darcy Metcalf 2nd in the 800m and 1st in the Javelin.
Intermediate Girls
Grace Adamson 1st in the 1500m.
Lucy Elliott 1st in the Shot Put
Annabelle Metcalf 3rd in the Javelin
In Rounders, our U18s also performed brilliantly this week, in a well-contested match against Durham School (below). The final score was 12.5-12.5.
In Junior House, girls in Year 6 had a wonderful afternoon at the Cricket Festival. They played brilliantly, improved with each performance and won two out of their three games.
Old Girls’ Lunch
We are delighted to be holding the next Old Girls’ Lunch on Saturday 25 June 2022 at 12pm at Durham High School. The lunch will be three courses, including wine and soft drinks, for £25. Tea and coffee will be served afterwards. You can register to attend online, but please do so no later than Monday 13 June. Please feel free to share with any alumnae that you may know.
Mental Health Awareness Week
In Senior House assembly this morning, we launched our support for Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May) and explained some of the activities that will be happening in school. On Friday 13 May, we will be holding a non-uniform day in exchange for a £2 donation to raise money for a mental health charity.
There will also be an ice-cream van in school on Friday, with a free ice cream for pupils in Year 11 and the Sixth Form, as part of the last day for Year 11 and 13 pupils before they head off on study leave. As part of our continued focus on mental health and wellbeing, all other pupils across the school are also welcome to take a moment to enjoy an ice cream from the van for just £1.50. Please do make sure your child brings the money in with them on the day if they wish to take part.
Chamber Choir at Choral Evensong
A reminder that the Senior Chamber Choir will be singing as part of the Choral Evensong at St Oswald’s Church, Durham this Sunday, 8 May at 6pm. You are all warmly invited to attend the service.
Music for a May Evening
You are warmly invited to join us for our Summer Concert, which will take place on Tuesday 10 May in the Main School Hall at 7pm. The programme will include music performed by soloists, Senior Chamber Choir, Middle School Choir, and our orchestra, rock band and swing band. Tickets, which include refreshments, cost £3 for adults and are free for children, and can be purchased from Dr Hardy in the Music Department.
HPV Update for Year 8 and 9
The Immunisation Team will be in school on Friday 10 June 2022 to deliver the HPV vaccinations to Year 8 and 9 pupils. If you have not already consented for your child to receive these vaccines, and would like your child to receive them, please visit https://www.hdft.nhs.uk/services/childrens-services/imms-cdurham-darlington-teesside/ and use school code 114330 to give your consent. The last date to be able to give online consent is at 23.59pm on 26th May 2022. If you have any issues, please call the immunisation consent line on 01423 557693.
The Reach Next Generation Summit
The Reach Next Generation Summit will be taking place at Teesside University on Saturday 14 May 2022. The Summit is open to all girls who are 11-15 years old, and will be hosted by Reach co-founder Sarah Stirk of Sky Sports in partnership.
There are two ways to attend the Summit, either in person at Teesside University or via a live stream. It will be very much a workshop and discussion format to help girls think about their futures in the ever-changing world that we all now live in.
They will be discussing body positivity, STEM, social media, human rights, health and nutrition, money management and careers in business. You can reserve a free space for your daughter at reachnextgeneration.com.
Summer Engineering Courses
The Smallpeice Trust has availability on virtual and residential engineering courses for Year 9 pupils in the summer holidays. Their exciting, hands-on courses explore the wide range of career paths open to young people, with support from industry experts. Attending a course will help to map out your next steps and fuel your passion for engineering. Please visit the Ignition Events page for more information and details on how to apply.
