HeadlinesDear Parents/Carers,

This is the last newsletter of the year, and a huge celebration of activities and events over this term.

Our Awards Evening was an amazing opportunity to reward students for their progress and commitment, and we were all treated to an amazing inspirational personal story by our motivational speaker, Stephen Seki, ‘from farmer to pharmacist’

Our Year 11 students celebrated in style at their prom, to mark the end of their final Year 11 examinations. We have our fingers crossed for both our A level and GCSE results in August.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading our regular bulletins this year. Have a restful summer and I look forward to welcoming our students back in September.

Miss Anita Frier

College UniformThis is a reminder that all uniform orders MUST be submitted by Wednesday 15 August to allow them to be processed and ready for collection from the Sports Hall on Monday 3 September. All the information you need to purchase uniform is on the homepage of our website www.sdcc.net. Due to high demand we will be operating Collection Slots for Monday 3 September. To book a collection time between 10am and 6pm please go to our Booking System - which will be open until 3pm on 29 August - at www.bit.ly/sdccbooking.

Mon 3 Sept: Uniform collectionTues 4 Sept: Year 7 and Year 12 start of Autumn termWeds 5 Sept: Rest of school start of Autumn TermWeds 12 Sept: Open Evening (half day closing)

Diary DatesWeds 15 August: Uniform order deadlineThurs 16 August: A Level results dayThurs 23 August: GCSE results dayWeds 29 August: Uniform collection booking closes

The achievements of the young people of Stoke Damerel Community College have been celebrated at the annual Awards Ceremony on the theme of This Is Me.

The song from The Greatest Showman was performed by a group of GCSE singers and musicians and proved a show-stopping opening to the annual ceremony which celebrates student achievement across the curriculum.

Stephen Seki - a pharmacist and motivational speaker - was the guest of honour and spoke to the assembled audience of more than 400 staff, students and their families about the importance of never letting a challenge beat you.

Students were recognised for a whole range of achievements including academic, sporting, pastoral and charitable endeavours.

The Principal’s Award is given to students who exemplify the College’s values to an exceptionally high standard and Jasmine Short, who is in Year 13, was this year’s recipient.

“I am so pleased, and extremely surprised to have won,” said Jasmine.

“I was blown away by the students,” said Stephen, who spoke about his life in Uganda and his journeyfrom farmer to pharmacist.

“It was an absolute privilege to invited by Anita Frier to come and speak – I felt so proud of all the students. The students are an absolute credit to the College and their families – it’s been a real privilege to be part of such a wonderful evening.”

Awards Ceremony 2018

“Thank you to students and staff for putting so much effort into what was a brilliant evening,” said Lord Mayor Sam Davey.

“It was wonderful to hear Stephen Seki speak with such passion and it was clear his very personal story resonated with everyone in the audience.”

Year 7, 8 and 9 students enjoyed taking part in their annual Summer Olympics. The students competed in one of five team events; rounders, cricket, team-building, tennis and big ball volleyball, all hoping their house team would have the honour of taking home the trophy!

Summer Olympics

Gifted & Talented Sports DayOur staff took the top PE students from Year 7, 8 and 9 to Brickfields to compete in a number of athletic events - 100m, 200m, 800m, high jump, long jump and javelin. A great day for our students to hone their skills and try new things.

Tregantle CCF CampOur CCF students had a fantastic weekend on the ranges at Tregantle Fort.

Cadets had the opportunity to spend two days zeroing their rifles and honing their marksmanship skills in preparation for this year's annual CCF Summer camp.

CCF is open to all students at Stoke Damerel from Year 10 onwards. If there any students interested in joining either the Navy, Army or Air Force cadets for September, please see Mr Chapman.

Goodbye to Gordon

Excellent EmilyWe have had incredible feedback from Elaine at Santander about Year 10 student Emily Edgar who was on work experience in the Plymouth branch."She fitted in just perfectly," said Elaine.

"She presented to my leadership team for 30 minutes and she didn’t shake once!"

Well done Emily!

We held a special tea party for Rev Gordon Fryer who is leaving our local governing body after 35 years. It was a lovely occasion to mark Gordon’s incredible service and dedication to our College.

Congratulations!Jasmin and JamesColeman

Jasmin is now part of the England Water Polo U17 set-up after a successful trial. She will be attending training in Manchester once a month.

In the past 12 months she has also won the National U15 and U17 water polo championships with Newton Abbot, scoring the winning goal in the final of the U17 tournament in which her team were huge underdogs. She has also led her club team, Devonport, to its first Devon County league title for 40 years.

James is the only 2005-born player who has attended the National Water Polo Academy for the 2004 age group.

This year he has played a vital role in his club team, Devonport, winning both the U13 (as captain) and U15 Bristol and West water polo competitions against the best teams in the South West and South Wales. He also captained the Devonport team which won the prestigious Manchester Festival of Water Polo and played in Devonport team which won the Devon County league U15 league and cup.

James has also been selected to represent the South West U16 team at the end of the month, while still only 12. Well done to them both.

Lloyd MacklinWell done to Lloyd Macklin who is in Year 7. He is Western Counties Boxing Champion in Class A under 31 kg category.

Well done Lloyd.

Armed Forces Day

Congratulations to Sophie Daly who is in Year 9, for representing her Army Cadet Detachment at Plymouth Armed Forces Day

Huge congratulations to Year 8 Eddie Pritchard who is part of the Plymouth Raiders Development Programme and has been chosen to represent South West England U13 Boys.

Eddie Pritchard

Well done Eddie (second from right)

Curriculum EnrichmentOur students enjoyed a variety of Curriculum Enrichment activities with trips and visits to Cornwall, London and across Devon.

Results Day InformationResults Days will be held in the Sports Hall from 10am on Thursday 16 August for A Level results and Thursday 23 August for GCSE results.

Entrance to the College will be available from either the back entrance, off Raynham Rd, or the side lane from Somerset Place and using the PE gate to come into the Sports Hall through the PE entrance.