Bottisham Village College Magazine - Spring 2010

BVCnews Spring Term 2010

The magazine of Bo sham Village College

Welcome to your new magazine Welcome to the first edition of BVCnews, which we hope you will enjoy reading.

Our aim is to provide an attractive and informative selection of news, as well as taking the opportunity to celebrate our students’ many successes. The topics covered are wide-ranging, reflecting all aspects of college life.

We hope the new-style newsletter will also help to keep you up to date with key developments, making it easier for you to feed back your views and ideas. In this edition, you will read of the exciting progress of our newbuild programme, which is currently receiving the ‘finishing touches’ in anticipation of us moving in during the Easter holidays.

We are very excited at this prospect and confident that students will benefit from these wonderful facilities.

I hope you agree that one thing that comes across very clearly is the breadth of opportunities open to our

students outside of the classroom, whether this be taking part in Extended Schools activities in sport or the arts, visiting partner schools on our exchange visit to Kempen, Germany, or touring the House of Commons. In addition, you can read of recent fundraising activities which have produced spectacular results in support of the Anusaran charity in India and relief efforts in Haiti.

Over time, our aim is to encourage more students to contribute to the magazine

directly, so that you can hear their perspective at firsthand; the article on Student Leadership is one such example in this edition.

This new newsletter is the latest stage in our commitment to improve engagement with parents, following previous successes such as: Drop-in surgeries with members of the College Leadership Team and Chair of Governors, Philip Hodgson Schoolcomms, to facilitate more rapid and costeffective communication Development of the website, which will include remote access for parents and carers from September Regular parental information evenings to update you on developments.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a happy Easter and we look forward to welcoming back students on Tuesday, April 20.

Kate Evans

Issue 1

Inside this issue Harvey has the recipe for success – Page 5

Stub it out BVC leads the way with new mentoring scheme – Page 6

Injera ready to rock at band contest – Page 10

Principal

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BOTTISHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE www.bottishamvc.org

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The Student Leadership Team will be raising issues on behalf of students

Team acts as a voice for all students in College Summer Term 2010

Mon, April 19 – Staff Professional Day Tue, April 20 – Summer Term begins Mon, May 3 – May Day Holiday Mon,May 31- Fri, June 4 – Half Term Thu, July22 – Term ends for Summer Holidays We would welcome your feedback on our new newsletter, as well as any other suggestions about ways in which we can further improve our work with you; we would welcome your comments via email at feedback@bottishamvc.org or by writing to Mrs Evans directly.

Burwell (Bottisham - L) - V3

‘Welcome’ from the Student Leadership Team.

We are a group of students who applied for leadership roles within school We were interviewed by younger students and the College’s leadership team. Those students who were successful created the roles of head boy/girl, deputy head boy/girl and school voice leaders.

Together we make up the Student Leadership Team.

The role of the Student Leadersis it to act as a voice for the rest of the school and pass on their thoughts and ideas to the head and deputy head boys and girls. These issues are then discussed by the College’s leadership team and changes made wherever possible.

As this was a new idea for the 9/3/10 11:34 pmbeen Page 1 school, we have all

working hard to advertise who we are and what we do.

By putting up a notice board outside the main hall and filling it with our updates and news, we are able to show other students what we have been doing and give them the opportunity to put any new ideas forward.

Last term, the eleven of us joined with Soham Village College for an anti-bullying campaign. Our focus was cyber-bullying and in groups we produced many different posters which we put up around the school. This raised people’s awareness about internet safety.

This term, we have also been working hard to maintain links with our partner school in Sri Lanka. After raising a substantial amount of money for them last year, it was

great to receive news and photos of them and their school. To build on this, a group of students have been writing letters to the Rana School in Sri Lanka to share our interests between the two cultures.

The Student Leadership Team have many other projects planned and will keep the updates coming. To find out more look at our board outside the dinner hall.

Head Boy and Girl Matthew Brown, Anna Wharton Deputy Head Boys and Girls Toby Buttress, Peter Liddiard, Georgia Bristow, Natalie Boyle Student Voice Justin Topham, Hugh Burton, Harriet Stopher, Katie Ward, Alice Lagnado.

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Katie’s front page news as newspaper focuses on BVC Bottisham VC made the national news when Year 11 student Katie Ward appeared in The Guardian as part of an article on the Extended Schools service.

Katie, whose picture graced the front of Education Guardian as well as being featured inside the supplement, talked about how extra classes after school had helped her both academically and socially.

She said she had taken part in a range of Extended School activities at BVC including science, sport, art and music and that the programme created a “better sense of community”.

“It makes you feel you’re really part of the school,” she told The Guardian’s reporter.

Katie described one of the highlights of the Extended Schools programme as having an opportunity to perform with her

jazz band in a public concert at Cambridge’s West Road Concert Hall.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking but I really enjoyed it – it was a chance to showcase everything we’d learned. Our piece sounded really good and we were proud of it,” she said.

Katie said she had a short telephone interview for the article but when the photographer came to get her picture it proved more timeconsuming.

“It took about an hour in the end because I kept blinking,” she said.

It all adds up for Maths Challenge pupils For the first time the college’s A level students sat the Senior Maths Challenge, a competition usually entered at sixth-form – with five of them picking up certificates.

Eric Wieser achieved a gold certificate, Oliver Cook, a silver and Claire Hedgecott, Hugh Burton and Megan Warner, bronze.

Eric went on to sit the British Mathematical Olympiad where he was awarded a certificate of distinction.

“He is to be congratulated on his incredible achievement,” said maths teacher Mrs Fries.

Over half the young mathematicians who took part in the recent Intermediate Maths Challenge were awarded certificates.

“The results are really excellent as Ayesha (Bottisham we only entered 60 pupils-– L)-V2 37 of

them were awarded certificates and 6 won through to the next round. Congratulations to everyone who took part,” said Mrs Fries.

The results were: Year 11 – Gold: Eric Wieser, Oliver Cook, Charles Mahoney, Matthew Brown, Hugh Burton, Victoria Halsall, Luke Suess, Joshua Smith, Megan Warner. Silver: Justin Topham, Andrew Teevan. Bronze: Claire Hedgecott, Alex Nicholls, Chris Bodger, Alex Morley, Joseph Acklam, Paul Varty. Year 10 – Gold: Alex Gilday, Daniel Gibson, Jonty Haynes, Andrew Wightwick. Silver: William Brown, Jenny Shelley, Nickie Daillie, Penny Wieser, Jessica Abineri. Bronze: Ben Millard, Katie Bellis, Molly Wells, Lucy Abbersteen, Charley Hagger. Year 9 – Gold: Rama Lakshman. Silver: Gus Martin, Hannah Slater.

Bronze: Matthew Horsfield, Holly Krombacher, Laura Foreman.

Eric and Rama have both won through to the follow-up Olympiad rounds Oliver, Charles, Matthew and Alex have qualified for the Kangaroo round, a competition sat on the same day throughout Europe and 8/3/10 2:31 pm Page 1 as far as Australia.

The challenges are organised by UKMT (UK Maths Challenge), a charity set up in 1996 with the aim of advancing the education of children and young people in maths.

Last year, more than 600,000 students from around 4,000 schools took part.

There are three levels – Junior for years 7 and 8, Intermediate for years 9, 10 and 11 and Senior for Years 12 or 13.

Certificates are awarded on a proportional basis – Gold about 6%, Silver 14% and Bronze 20%.

Each level has follow-on rounds, the highest of which are the Mathematical Olympiad.

Six top-scoring Seniors from schools throughout the country are eventually chosen to represent the UK in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

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On the road for German exchange When I first heard that the German exchange programme was being revived I was very excited. I had been hoping that we could have a chance to follow in the footsteps of the Spanish students last year and was quick to sign up.

The journey there was delayed by four hours but not too terrible – except the ferry… but I’ll not talk about that!

When the coach pulled up in Kempen I was shivering with nerves but soon found my partner and was taken to what was to be my home for the next week.

I was to stay with a very nice family and partner and the first day we visited their school, it was so different.

The majority of the trip was over in a flash and on the last two days we saw the German Karneval (in which I was thrown a bag of salad and a single Starburst-like sweet!) and went for a day’s shopping in Kö​̈ln and climbed the terrifying heights of the stunning cathedral.

I would just like to say a huge thank you to all the staff who made the trip possible and would like to say that it was an experience that I’ll never forget.

Joe McGee, Year 10

Humanities Specialism

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Focus for pupils is on careers Bottisham VC will be hosting a primary schools careers event in July.

It is anticipated that some 450 Year 5 children from the College’s cluster schools will attend the event.

More than 25 local companies, individuals and organisations have expressed an interest in being represented at the event.

Pupils will visit stands, get information about jobs and careers and complete a small task such as writing a cheque.

Organiser Jill Buckingham, Extended Schools Coordinator, said: “The aim of the event is to inspire the children and to open their eyes to the many career options available to them in the future.”

Order, order – Parliament is on agenda

History students saw First World War memorials on their trip to the Somme

Year 9 group visits battlefield sites It was an early start for the Year 9 students – and staff – who went on the annual trip to the Somme region of France.

The party had to be at the College by 5am to ensure they reached Folkestone in time for their 8.20am Eurotunnel crossing.

During the day, students

visited the mine crater at La Boisselle, local cemeteries and battlefield sites.

Trip leader Mr Webb said the study visit allowed students to experience at first hand aspects of the First World War they had been researching as part of the Year 9 history course.

Primary schools are put on the spot in quiz challenge

Students from Bottisham Village College were shown round the House of On four occasions so far this Commons on a recent day year, Bottisham Village College trip to London. has played host to Year 6 pupils The 29 Year 10 pupils were from our feeder primary schools given an official guided tour in delivering a programme of of Parliament. history and geography They also walked through masterclasses. The geographers Whitehall during the visit on have pretended to be farmers, Monday, March 22, learning made clay coastal models and, about this famous area of most recently, traded as the capital. countries in the manufacture of Several of the biggest paper shapes. The historians Government departments, have worked on causation and including the Ministry of sources, with students Defence and the Treasury, producing mini plays to explain are based in Whitehall, why a man was stuck up a tree which is also home to the wearing his pyjamas and why a Cenotaph and the gated woman was running down the Newhhave (Bottisham 20/3/10 amThese Page entrance to Downing Street.- M)-V1street whooping 7:48 with joy.

become the events of the year. events have been well attended Not only is money at stake, but and we are told the pupils have also primary school pride. All enjoyed these practical pupils were a credit to their activities, designed to provoke school and received certificates thought. to mark their participation.

Year 8 and Year 10 students have helped at these events and Joint fourth placed schools in the geography quiz were have been inspirational role Bottisham and Burwell, models, representing the Teversham was in third place College. and Kettlefields in second.

On Thursday, March 4, 24 Year Congratulations go to the 5/6 pupils and their winning school, Swaffham Prior, accompanying teachers attended Bottisham Village which received a cup and £100 College for the now famous to be spent on a humanities annual, Geography Worldwise resource.

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Page 1

Welcome to our new Diploma

Applied Learning Specialism Bottisham Village College will be offering a new Diploma in Hospitality from September for students wanting a more vocational qualification.

And it would like to hear from parents with connections in the hotel and catering industries who could back the new course and make it as relevant as possible.

This support could be helping to develop the curriculum, acting as assessors for practical tests, giving talks and providing resources, equipment or placements.

“We have commitment from Hotel Felix, the Moller Centre and Magdalene College and Gonville Hotel but we could always do with more. If there are parents who have connections, we would be happy to hear from them,” said Mrs Matthewson, vocational coordinator.

The two-year Diploma is open to Year 10 students who will study it along with English, maths, ICT and one “associated specialist subject”.

Last term BVC staff and catering students were involved in an Employer Engagement Event at Churchill College, Cambridge, where the Diploma was

5

Natalie Boyle helped to launch the new Diploma in Hospitality outlined to representatives from the business community.

During the day, Year 11 GCSE catering students Chris Daniel and Natalie Boyle told delegates why it was so important for them to experience cooking in a professional kitchen and how it had given them a real insight into the business.

Chris said he had found out what it was like “cooking under pressure and on a

large scale” while Natalie said she had learned a lot about the high standards needed in the preparation and presentation of food.

Mrs Taylor, BVC’s head of food and catering, told the event that having professional support was going to be the key to success.

“This is a very different way of learning; it is more practical and vocational,” she said.

Hospitality is one of 17 Diplomas to be introduced into schools nationally by 2011. They have been developed to include the sorts of skills employers are looking for, such as problem-solving, communication and working effectively as part of a team.

The course focuses on four main themes: the hospitality industry, people in hospitality, hospitality operations and business and finance.

A Foundation level Diploma is equivalent to five GCSEs and a Higher equals seven GCSEs. Anyone wanting more information about the Diploma or who thinks they may be able to help should ring Mrs Matthewson at BVC extension 277 or email ematthewson@bottishamvc.org

Harvey’s date with top TV chefs the look, taste and content of his dishes Year 10 student Harvey Martin will be serving up his dishes to celebrity chefs in and the sourcing of his ingredients, also his calmness and organisation in the the final of a national schools’ cooking kitchen. competition.

In the national finals, to be hosted by Well-known TV cooks including Brian Westminster Kingsway College, Harvey Turner, Heston Blumenthal and Ainsley will have to produce a two course meal Harriott will be deciding on the winner for three people using ingredients of FutureChef 2010 when Harvey will be provided. competing against 11 other young chefs Harvey has been mentored for the from all over the UK. competition by Jonathan Dean, head Harvey impressed a panel of judges in chef at the Hotel du Vin, Cambridge. the regional round of the competition He said the teenager deserved his with a menu of haunch of venison with success, “He’s hard working, he’s rosti potato, pickled red cabbage and motivated, he listens and takes butternut squash puree followed by everything you tell him on board. I’m Cambridge burnt cream and vanilla shortbread, cooked and served in just 90 over the moon and yes, he’ll do well in the finals. He’s cool and calm in the minutes and with a budget of only £8. kitchen and he’s loving the “It was pressurised,” said the GCSE competition.” catering student.

FutureChef, a competition for 12 to 16 “The judges were walking round as you cooked asking you questions about what year-olds, is now in its tenth year and organised by Springboard, a registered you were doing and that was quite offcharity supporting the hospitality putting.

“I was surprised to hear I’d won as it was industry.

Last year it attracted 7,000 entrants such a high standard,” he said.

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Mentors learn to lead fight against smoking Bottisham Village College has been chosen to pilot a student-centred smoking prevention scheme.

The countywide Young People’s Smoking Prevention and Cessation Programme, supported by Cambridgeshire PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) Service, trading standards, the NHS and CAMQUIT (Cambridgeshire Stop Smoking Support Service) will eventually involve ten secondary schools – but Bottisham is the first.

And 29 Year 10 students are now being trained as peer mentors/educators to deliver the programme which recognises that traditional approaches to discourage smoking may not be working.

Instead the scheme is putting young people at the heart of the process, advising, informing and helping their peers.

The programme began with a group of interested Year 8 students helping to put together a job description and person specification to be used in the recruitment of mentors.

They said an ideal mentor should be a good listener, non-judgemental, persuasive, able to keep a confidence, trustworthy and able to challenge people positively.

Desirable qualities included knowing about the health risks of smoking, the legal aspects of buying tobacco, understanding the reasons why people smoke and why it is often difficult to give up.

In applying for the job, students had to agree to attend a one day training programme in school, co-lead two sessions for Year5/6 pupils in the College’s partner primary schools, support Year 8 PSHE Days and provide informal support to peers who are either being pressurised to take up smoking or who wish to give up smoking.

Friendship and bullying were explored Some students will be involved in test at Year 7 and 8 PSHE Days with help purchasing, working alongside trading from GCSE drama students. standards outside Bottisham’s catchment Five of them – Georgia Bristow, Molly area, attempting to buy tobacco and Doe, Emma Smith, Charlotte Jones and alcohol – all done with full training and Molly Takacs – performed The Dolls, support and after permission from adapting a coursework piece to parents. entertain and teach younger students They are also being trained to deal with in the school. questions from the media.

The drama told the story of a young “We are proud that as a school we are the girl who had no-one to talk to but her first to take part in an activity that will be dolls and how the toys came to life. rolled out across the county,” said BVC “We were asked to contribute to the Assistant Principal and PSHE coPSHE Days so we took the coursework ordinator, Mrs Melling. and revamped it,” said drama teacher “Staff working with our students Mrs Dando. have been impressed with “The whole idea was to take drama out their maturity and insight. of the studio and make it a learning The students themselves experience for other students; put have really enjoyed their drama on the map in school,” she said. training and the fact that “It was real theatre in education. their opinions are being “The atmosphere at the performances sought, listened to and was wonderful and the children acted upon,” she said. watching were really impressed.”

The Government has After a 15-minute performance prioritised the need to members of the audience (including reduce smoking among teachers) were 11 to 15 year-olds. invited to take part Data from the in some of the Cambridgeshire Health scenes and there Related Behaviour Survey was an opportunity (2008) shows that 4.5% of for discussion.

Year 8 pupils define Mrs Dando said themselves as, “regular or many of the occasional smokers” rising to younger students 17% in Year 10. Of these, 58% thought the drama say they would like to give up. was the highlight of Research has shown that young their PSHE Days and people are more likely to smoke if their that staff had given 13/3/10 11:13 am Page Gecko-online 1 (Netherhall - M) 1/3/10 2:02 pm Page 1 friends do. good feedback.

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Delhi school cash boost Fundraisers at Bottisham Village College smashed their target of £1,100 to help young carers at a slum school in India.

A series of activities, including a non-uniform day, lunchtime rock concert, sale of muffins made by maths teacher Mrs Reckless, plus donations, resulted in a cheque for £1,846.85 for the Anusaran charity in Delhi.

Most of the money will be used to build a childcare centre and the rest to repair a school roof.

Anusaran has set up two schools in Delhi for children from poor families, one close to the slums and the other on the city outskirts serving some of the villages.

They are popular, but girls as young as nine have to take their young brothers and

sisters to lessons as there is no-one else to look after them while their parents work long hours in low-paid jobs.

The school decided to support the charity following an appeal in assembly from history teacher Miss Hammond, who has worked for the project as a volunteer.

“When the centre is built, the younger siblings can be dropped off there and the pupils will be able to focus on their lessons properly knowing that their brothers and sisters are being well cared for,” she said.

Miss Hammond said the leaders of Anusaran were excited to have the money and the chance to transform the lives of many poor children in Delhi.

7

Dressed down for Haiti A non-uniform day on February 11 raised £1,119.24 for the relief effort in Haiti.

The money will be given to the Disasters Emergency Committee which will donate it to its various member agencies for emergency supplies such as food and water plus medical help.

The event was organised by the Student Leadership Team.

Sponsorship form . . .

Form 7.1 organised sponsored events, with the help of their Year 11 buddies, to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Activities included sponsored bicycle rides and 24-hour silences.

“They raised a total of £126.51 which is an outstanding achievement,” said form tutor Mr Pinks.

Sports challenge Staff and students donned their tracksuits and trainers and ran or walked a mile around the school field to raise money for the Sport Relief charity.

Sponsorship forms were distributed throughout the College to ensure as many people as possible signed up for the event.

Year 8 pupils held a fair to raise money for the Anusaran charity

Ready, teddy, go Preparations are well under way for Year 11’s leavers’ ball on July 2.

A committee of 14 (two per form) has organised two cake stalls, sold candy canes, and had 176 takers for roses for Valentine’s Day to raise money for the annual event.

A raffle for a giant teddy bear was won by Daniel Hammond in Year 9 who has called his new furry friend, Wilfred.

The theme of the 2010 ball is The Candy Shop.

Oh YES, Year 9 students show bags of initiative “Small Word – Big Change”.

This year, a number of Year 9 students In January, YES designed prints that were have been part of a pilot social enterprise put on to plain cotton bags kindly donated programme involving them forming a by www.carrierbagshop.co.uk. The company that then makes a students decided the money raised would product/service to sell. Money raised is go towards Haiti earthquake appeals. At a used for charitable purposes, either trade fair in Cambridge’s Grafton Centre in environmental or social. early February the group sold all the cotton The students were visited by John Bird, cobags and a number of paper bags, raising founder of The Big Issue magazine, who an amazing £185 for charity. In addition, spoke about his background and how the they took orders for more bags which will magazine supported people on the streets. be sold to raise money for other causes.

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were fabulous at approaching members of the public to try to make a sale. People involved with Young Enterprise were impressed and commented that they showed more initiative and effort than many of the sixth form colleges they were trading against.

Over the next few months we expect YES to have a number of exciting ideas and products that they will sell and make this pilot scheme a great success.

Mr Hall, Head of Learning Year 9

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The sculpture chosen to be sited near the College’s new teaching block was the most popular among students.

They were invited to have their say on the five options being considered and most of them chose Option 2. Some 350 votes were cast with the selected design a clear winner with 213.

Horningsea-based sculptor Matt Sanderson’s “Bonsai Planet” was described as an “amazing sculpture, growing from the roots” and “tree of personal growth”, “roots of knowledge” and representing the development of young people.

After 20 years of making awards to individuals and groups in the area for arts projects the Trustees of the David Urwin Arts Award decided to wind up the fund by giving a sculpture to the college.

At a public meeting, Matt showed photos of some of his existing sculptures and gave an

insight into how he was approaching the project and the materials he might use.

This was followed by discussion with pupils, staff, governors, members of the community and Trustees present.

“There was a buzz of excitement throughout the discussion and comments and questions about the thinking behind the designs, the scale of the new sculpture and the materials to be used including a recycling of metal discs from a local firm,” said Martin Gent, chair, David Urwin Arts Award.

Matt Sanderson is a designer, metalsmith and sculptor. He was a key member of the team behind the Corpus Clock featuring a chronophage (time eater) seen by thousands of visitors to Cambridge each year and closer to Bottisham his “Cell” is sited in the college’s sensory garden.

New wing r

buildi A NEW teaching block housing the for th English and Learning Support faculties will be open for lessons Inclus after the Easter holidays.

Outsi The curved wing on one side of the lands Principal’s Lawn is the major part of to the a £2.3 million building project which cover has also meant a dining room An ar extension and an extra maths sculp classroom.

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From the ground up, new block takes shape

ready for take-off

ing will also be the new base The languages block will eventually become the base for both the he College’s SIU (Social Bottisham Locality Team and sion Unit). children’s centre. ide, there is soft and hard “It is the first time in the school’s scaping and the block is linked history that the Principal’s Lawn e main school buildings by a will be in full use and once red walkway. everything’s finished we will be rea has been set aside for a bidding farewell to the mobiles,” pture currently being created said the College’s Business att Sanderson.

Manager, Mrs Kempster. classrooms vacated by English, “The new block is a fantastic ning Support and SIU in the additional facility and a better ol’s main building will be designed space for the needs of the bished and adjusted for use by school,” she said.

Modern Foreign Languages lty. These should be ready after The College is planning an official opening later in the year. half-term. Cambridge Book (Neale-L)-V1 19/3/10 1:21 pm

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Finalist Megan Year 11 instrumentalist Megan Warner has won through to the finals of the Cambridge Young Musician of the Year.

Megan, who plays the cornet, was one of more than 100 young musicians to enter the 2010 competition organised by Cambridge Youth Music, a charitable trust whose patrons include Julian Lloyd Webber and Evelyn Glennie.

The overall winner receives a cash prize, trophy and an opportunity to perform with the Ely Sinfonia.

Museum trip A group of Year 8 students took part in an art trip to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, on Friday March 26.

They looked at the diverse collection of art on display and also took part in workshops and group discussions led by museum staff.

It’s showtime

Boys are ready to rock Congratulations must go to four of our year 11 students who form the heavy rock band Injera and have progressed to the final 16 bands, selected from over 70 originally entered, to compete at this year’s Cambridge Band Competition – presented

by Strawberry Fair.

Many of the bands in this year’s entries had musicians aged under 18.

Of the band, consisting of Dominic Pettitt, Jack Andrews, Peter Liddiard

and Henry Barraclough, the Cambridge Evening News wrote: “This group of four teenagers impressed the judging panel with their recorded demo so much that they were shortlisted for the Cambridge Band Competition final with no need for a live performance.”

The final will be held on April 15 at The Junction and we wish the boys every success.

Judges have said that standards in this year’s

Staff and students have been encouraged to show off their talents for charity.

Form 10.5 has organised a Bottisham’s Got Talent event to raise money for CLIC Sargent and Instrumental students from Cancer Research UK. Bottisham VC helped at a primary Following auditions, orchestral day. the grand final was Some 20 children took part in the taking place at the end event that was held at Burwell of term.

Village College, with an informal “We will be judging on concert to an enthusiastic talent and audience to conclude the day. entertainment,” said Young musicians reached a high one of the organisers, standard of playing by the end of Lydia Tabbron. the day, with a good mix of For the result, see next instruments and performed four Body newsletter.

Image (Netherhall - M)-V1 1/3/10 9:23 am term’s items (and an encore) consisting

competition have been higher than ever before.

The prize for the competition’s overall winners includes cash, the opportunity to perform at this year’s Strawberry Fair, a recording session and a professional photo shoot.

Mr Minchin, Arts Development Officer

Students instrumental in a successful day

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of La Morisque, Ob-La-Di, Ob-LaDa, Minuet from Handel’s Fireworks Suite and Yellow Submarine.

Thanks must go to our instrumental staff, Andrea Dunton (woodwind) and Rebecca Betambeau (strings) along with Alice Braggins from Soham Village College who was our support member of staff for the day.

I would also like to thank Burwell PageStoneleigh 1 (Bottisham Village College and especially Mr

Kaye (site officer) who could not have been more helpful.

Finally, thanks to Jill Buckingham (Extended Schools Co-ordinator) who obtained the funding as part of the Awards For All bid last year.

Evaluations have been sent to parents and I very much hope to repeat the event in the future.

Mr Minchin 9/3/10 11:24 pm Arts Development Officer

M)-V1

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Page 1

From Tate Modern to life drawing

11

Something to sing about

I went to the Tate Modern with the school. Some of the art I saw really made me think and some scared me.

These are some pictures of the art I liked.

I also drew some things that I liked.

One of the things that scared me was the Miroslaw Balka exhibit. It’s like a big container and you walk in it and it’s really dark and you can’t see anything and it seems like you can keep walking and it will never end. When I was in it and I reached the end, I turned round and I

was so happy to see the opening.

The art that made me think was the No Ghost just a shell with the Japanese manga character, Annlee that was brought to life. This was very good and clever. I thought bits of it were a bit spooky.

Olivia Gaze 10.3

In September we were delighted to hear that we had been awarded £4,000 for a joint singing project which will involve all 16 primary schools that feed into both Soham and Bottisham village colleges.

We were encouraged to apply for this award after the success of our first Circle Link Arts Partnership event held at West Road Concert Hall in March 2009. This Sing-Up project, which involves training young singing leaders from the secondary schools and workshops in individual primary schools, will culminate in a concert to be held at Ely Cathedral on Tuesday May 25. Also featured at this event will be items from two recently formed community choirs and vocalists from both Bottisham and Soham village colleges.

Primaries joining in

charcoal and In school we sometimes press so had a life lightly it was hardly drawing day visible. where an artist We also had to from outside of From September, we make it look like a school visited appointed new instrumental light was bursting our lesson to teachers at the school and from the page or a teach us how to made available the option for shadow had fallen do life drawing. I our partner primary schools to across certain found it really buy into this service. We are areas of the page. hard when we delighted that several schools This really helped had to do quite have taken advantage of this, me when I was detailed drawings including Teversham Primary trying to draw very quickly as we School. very small and in only got given detail as it about a minute for helped to get the light and dark areas each drawing.

A really interesting on the body shaded well. exercise we had to do was lie on our side We also had to stand in some of the and feel where our body pressed against positions that the model stood in so we Each year more than 300 Year the ground and then draw a picture could feel what it was like and then draw, 3 children from Circle Primary based on that feeling with the darker based on the muscles that we could feel Schools come to the Village areas being where our bodies felt working.

College for an ‘arts’ based heaviest.

I really liked doing the huge drawings multicultural day.

During the day we did lots of exercises to because it was fun to work on a large Recently we have focused the scale that I hadn’t worked on before. improve our drawing. To start off the day event on China and South Also I found it easier to draw with big we had to do an exercise that involved America, with the theme for flowing arm movements instead of small using the charcoal in lots of different 2010 being South Africa due more restricted arm movements. ways. We had to draw “ants” and to the8:34 Worldam Cup. Page 1 Marshalls (Bottisham M) 4/3/10 11:57 am Page 1 dpb (Bottisham M) 4/3/10 Myfanwy Davies 10.3 sometimes press really hard with the

Arts pupils up for the cup

12

Rhyme & reason for exam questions On Friday January 29, 60 Year 11 students embarked on a poetry fest in the shape of PoetryLive at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge. This was an opportunity for the students to see and hear live performances from a great selection of the poets they are studying for their exams in the summer. The line-up included three of the ‘key poets’, Simon Armitage, A group of 20 Year 10 students took part in a festival at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds Gillian Clarke and Carol Ann Duffy, plus Grace Nichols, Imtiaz Dharker and the incomparable John Agard. Also there were two short examiner Year 10 GCSE drama students 9/11 when passengers tried to Theatre Royal visited the sessions with Peter took part in a festival at the take on their captors.

College and ran a workshop to Buckroyd, the best and Theatre Royal, Bury St Their performance developed explore performance ideas. most experienced Edmunds. from the phrase “Deeds not The students had just six weeks examiner available. On A group of 20 teenagers Words”, taken from the to prepare for the drama entry, everyone received a presented Flight 93 in the Spring Suffragette movement, which festival, which featured five well-produced and Celebration of Student Drama, was offered to schools as colleges and schools from the informative magazine with giving their interpretation of inspiration for an original piece area and was the first of its kind articles, interviews, what happened on the US of theatre. to be held at the theatre. examiner-based exercises, domestic flight hijacked during Representatives from the They organised all aspects of the additional poems and 15-minute production from the advice on writing poetry. script to costumes, music and These were handed out by sound effects. four BVC students who BVC’s head of drama, Mr managed to earn Woodman, said: “The students themselves a cool £5 each worked hard and with for 15 minutes work – an commitment. added bonus to any school “They gave an excellent trip! I have accompanied performance at the student this trip a couple of times drama festival which was very and am always left feeling warmly received by the audience proud to be a part of BVC. and organisers.”

The mature behaviour, Students involved were: Amy attentiveness and attitude Vince, Libby Fletcher, Chloe towards the whole event Mayes, Patrick Matthewson, meant it was enjoyable Jazzmyn Tanner, Lizzie Mann, and relaxed for students Amy Warwick, Carlie Foster, Kian and teachers alike. Thanks Derakhshan, Yas Webb, Luke guys! I look forward to Foody, Millie Breen, Tommy attending the trip next Stevens, Theo Clarke, Olivia Fagg, Rachel Smith, Jessica year with the current Year Foster, John Skead, Kate 10s.

John Jarvis (Bottisham - L)-V1 17/3/10 9:50 am Page 1 Bashford and Abbie Jeacock.

A scene from Flight 93 Miss Boss

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Sport

13

Sports centre fits the bill for growing band of users Bottisham Sports Centre and Swimming Pool is going from strength to strength since becoming the responsibility of the college some 18 months ago.

Manager Mr Rayner said the centre was attracting more users than ever before as it expanded its range of The Year 11 dodgeball team who took part in the games evening activities.

“Numbers have gone up; families are coming to multiple activities. The holiday multisports used to attract just five or six children – last summer the average was about 30,” he said.

Swimming has been one of the main Students who don’t usually focuses and changes have included take part in a lot of the introduction of the nationallycompetitive inter-school recognised ASA (Amateur Swimming sports were invited to Association) scheme for lessons. participate in a games Other improvements have been the evening arranged with installation of a new hoist with Chesterton Community funding from East Cambs and South College.

Cambs District Councils plus the ASA The Year 11 boys played to improve access for people with dodgeball (currently a very disabilities. popular sport in the And the pool is involved in a number school) and the Years 8 of initiatives including free and 9 students played in a swimming sessions for under 16s team badminton and over 60s and six free swimming competition. lessons for the over 11s – six Everyone enjoyed students are taking advantage of this themselves and all scheme at present. students had a very active Students are being encouraged to evening. use the centre’s updated fitness The students who took suite with around 40 having already part were: signed up. The facility is also getting Dodgeball – Michael more referrals from GP surgeries.

Lynam, Josh Cheevers, The centre’s growing programme Lewis Taylor, Man Hol now includes three martial arts, Kwan, Ali Lawrance, Kieran workout classes featuring spinning, Moore, Addam Morley, boxercise and circuit training and Ollie Cook, Hayden Fuller, future plans include aerobics, tai chi George Day, Jack Andrews, The badminton players from Years 8 and 9 and yoga. There are plenty of Alex Logan, Adrian Fitch, activities for children with Louis Bloomfield, Matt cheerleading, monster island in the Slater, Rob Durr and Daniel pool and bouncy castle sessions plus We are pleased to be able to offer extra swimming Fleming. a range of themed parties. lessons for invited students. These have been Badminton – Chelsea Looking ahead Mr Rayner said he popular and we are waiting for the end of the Oliver, Man Seung Kwan, wanted to improve the sessions to see how much improvement has been made.

Shelley Blackwell, James cardiovascular section of the fitness This is something we hope to continue with, and has been Crosby, Will Moore, suite, make the Ros Suttle Room set up with the kind assistance of Mr Rayner and his staff at Shannan Duce, Jess March more functional (Bottisham and redevelop the-L) L)- V55/3/10 Bottisham John LewisAd Manchetts (Bottisham 10/3/10 4:50Sports 10:10 pm Centre.

Page am Page 1 1 and Will Bowley. centre’s changing rooms.

Students get active

“Proud to be supporting Bottisham Village College Trust”

Sport

14

Runners take the honours

Students keep their feet dry in the indoor rowing competition

Rowers pull their weight The school has been participating in an indoor rowing competition. Every six weeks the results are entered electronically, so that the

students can see how they are getting on compared to other students in the school and in the district.

We recently took part in the

Indoor rowing competition results

Race distance

Jakob Baines

698

810

86.2

Rory Williams

685

810

84.6

Theo French

1066

1125

94.8

Molly Wells

1155

1275

90.6

Penny Wieser

1122

1275

88

Jake Jupp

483

Gold target time

district competition at Parkside Community College.

Bottisham had the largest number of rowers and they produced some great results.

%

510

94.7

Lewis Stecklemacher 1357

1430

94.9

Chris Darling

1327

1430

92.8

Will Brown

1322

1430

92.4

Edward Good

1266

1430

88.5

Alice Lagnado

1326

1430

92.7

Jack Kiff

1670

1720

97.1

MichaelSports Sutton Centre 1600 (Bott-S)-V1 1720 Libby 93 14/4/10 Bott 12:46 -pmM) Page 1 Cull (Sawston 5/3/10

Bottisham Sports Centre Lode Road, Bottisham CB25 9DJ

Swimming Lessons Childrens Parties Holiday Activities Fitness Classes Court Hire Web: www.bottishamvc.org/sportscentre

01223 811121

E-mail: sportscentre@bottishamvc.org

Following the success of the Bottisham team winning the district cross country competition last term at Royston, a number of runners were selected for the district team to take part in the county competition and then the county team to run in the East Anglian Championships.

Congratulations to all the following runners who gained representative honours this term: Byron King (yr 7), Poppy Tabbron (yr 7), Rose Lagnado (yr 8) and Sarah O’Rourke (yr 10) represented the Cambridge and district schools, and Harriet Walker (yr 7), Lucy Loughlan (yr 7), Olivia Abbott (yr 8), Ben Snaith (yr 9) and Jack Kiff (yr 11) gained their county vest.

Special congratulations go to Ben Snaith (yr 9) who has been selected to represent Cambridgeshire in the National Cross Country Championships in Manchester. Good luck Ben!

Soccer squads are on the ball

10:32 am

The school football squads are in the middle of their competitive season.

Years 7 and 8 both have four teams, while the older students have ‘A’ and ‘B’ squads. The quality of play has been really pleasing, with nearly all teams playing some attractive pass and move football.

The cup competitions and tournaments should provide a stern challenge for the players.

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Sport

15

Former BVC students Stef Boughey, Anna Towriss, Emma Pencheon and Jenny Kingsmill rowing to victory

Oar-some victory for rowing crew Stef Boughey of Burwell and three ex-Bottisham Village College friends successfully defended their position as overall winners of the women’s quad category at the Cambridge Rowing Association’s Winter League Competition.

The girls from Isle of Ely Rowing Club won the event last year but

there was significantly more competition in 2010. After the second leg of the event in February, just two seconds separated the club’s two junior crews who led the overall field.

In the next round the women’s junior 17 crew were determined to seize victory from their older and younger rivals and put in an

aggressive performance to widen the gap to 21 seconds, winning the women’s quad category overall.

Coxed by Ellen Bridges, the crew comprising Anna Towriss (stroke), Emma Pencheon, Stef Boughey and Jenny Kingsmill (bow) covered the course in a competition beating 12 mins

and 13 seconds.

The CRA Winter League is a time competition run over three months. Entries come from both local and regional clubs, so the girls’ win is all the more significant. February’s event was by far the most gruelling with snow showers and a hailstorm affecting the racing.

Net reward for O2 visitors More than 40 students saw a fantastic netball international between England and Australia in front of a loud and enthusiastic crowd at the O2 arena in London.

England led for almost 95% of the game, except for the most important part... the last five minutes!

The final score was 46-43 to Australia.

The speed, agility and teamwork

of the players was excellent and seeing such a high standard of play has been beneficial to a lot of players.

The turnout at netball team training has been high and a lot of girls are playing for the school team.

All girls in the school get the opportunity to play competitively at their own level during interform netball.

Five earn sports awards Five BVC students – Daniel

Melling, Isaac Smith, Tom All students are encouraged to lead an active and healthy Rowland, Jack Wade and lifestyle and there are many opportunities for students of all George Darling, pictured – abilities and ages to take part as individuals, in teams, in have been presented with a competitive and not so competitive environments. Information Roy Burrell Award for their about these activities is available from the PE staff and notice high standard of boards so there is no excuse -forL)-V1 not being active – Mr Alvey Aletta's Lodge (Bottis 23/3/10 3:54 pm Page achievement 1 and positive

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attitude in sport. They received the awards from Great Britain and Olympic hockey player Jo Ellis at a ceremony at the Perse School, in Cambridge, attended by more than 400 people

16

Friends look forward to having a ball The autumn term was extremely busy with both the Christmas Market and our very popular quiz night. The two were very successful fundraisers – the Christmas Market raising £3,500 and a very well supported quiz, £750.

In February, the Friends held their first Comedy Night – a packed hall, great atmosphere and lots of laughter made for a very entertaining evening. It’s an event we have been asked to hold again. Many thanks to everyone who supported the evening, donated raffle prizes and were very good sports.

This popular event raised the amazing sum of £825.

Thank you to all for supporting these events by attending, organising and helping on the day.

Saturday July 3 – Summer Ball Plans are under way for this fabulous evening complete with marquee on the newly-landscaped Principal’s Lawn, a Champagne reception and an opportunity

to dance the night away, enjoy a sumptuous four-course meal and entertainment.

Book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

They are on sale at £45 per person.

We are seeking sponsors for the evening. If you are interested and would like more information, email friends@bottishamvc.org or contact Claudine Bateman at the College.

New members and extra help at events are always welcome.

The Friends’ annual meeting will be on Monday, July 12, 7pm in the College Lecture Room.

In the swim for charity

Bottisham Village College Community Education In addition to our ongoing courses, we have spaces available on the following courses for the

Summer Term 2010 Courses start week commencing 26th April

Introduction to Counselling (new 10 week course) - Tuesday evenings – £120 (£90) Job Search (new 5 week course commencing Tuesday 8th June - evening) - £40 (£30) Everything you need to know to get the job you want, from CV writing to answering difficult questions at interview

Dressmaking (5 weeks) – Mon/Wed mornings, Thursday evenings - £40 (£30)

Swimmers at Bottisham Pool will be making a splash for charity later this month completing lengths to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation.

Organisers are hoping people of all ages will get involved in Swimathon 2010, “the world’s biggest swim”.

Japanese Cookery (new 5 week course) – Thursday evenings - £40 (£30) Sculpture – Thursday evenings - £80 (£60) Creative Painting and Drawing – Thursday mornings - £80 (£60) IT for Beginners – Thursday mornings - £90 (£68) Yoga – Monday evenings (from 19th April) - £45 (£34)

Weekend Workshops Saturday 15th May CV Workshop – step by step practical guide on how to produce a CV - £20 Dressmaking – £35 Photoshop – an introduction to the Photoshop program and its tools - £35 Thai Seafood Cookery - £35 Playing with Print – create your own fabric design - £35

Saturday 12th June Sculpture Day – £35 Please see our website for further details www.bottishamvc.org/commed , or contact the on 01223 811372,6:07 email: PHJ Ltd Community (Bottisham Office - L)-V2 12/3/10 pmcommed@bottishamvc.org.

Page 1

Designed by Mandy Turner, BVC. mturner@bottishamvc.org

Bottisham Pool is one of 500 taking part nationwide. Last year’s event raised £1.5 million.

“It’s going to be fantastic to see everybody in our community taking part and fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care to enable terminally ill patients to have the best possible end of life care,” said Bottisham Sports Centre manager Mr Rayner.

Swimathon is on Saturday, April 17 from 3-6pm and on Sunday April 18, 4-7pm. Further details at www.bottishamvc.org/ sportscentre or telephone 01223 811121.

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