MVC News Spring 2017

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Spring 2017

The News Magazine of Melbourn Village College, an Academy of The Cam Academy Trust

Wizard of Oz review and pictures — Pages 6 & 7

The Influence of Art MVC News

Twenty-four Year 10 GCSE art students and two young carers from Melbourn spent a day visiting the Tate Modern in London.

They experienced some of the most iconic and influential modern art in the world today.

The group started by viewing the work from the permanent exhibition, learning to really look at how art is made, consider composition, tone, scale and the range of ideas that modern artists have developed.

They then went to view and research the acclaimed Rauschenberg temporary exhibition. They looked at Robert Rauschenberg’s work as a creative artist and viewed a broad range of his works.

During his long career, the American painter, sculptor, printmaker, designer, photographer, composer and experimental artist drew heavily on early 20th Century modern art forms such as ‘found’ objects (objets trouvés), collage and assemblage — pioneered

by Picasso, Georges Braque, Kurt Schwitters and others.

The students will be using their research to enrich their GCSE sketchbook work and to produce a piece of work based on Rauschenberg’s ideas.

Students found the work ‘inspiring’, ‘creative’, ‘mind expanding’ and at times difficult to understand, but felt he created work that always ‘makes you think’.

Head of Art Sarah Heeks reported that many students commented on the political content of his work and his image of President Kennedy and how his ideas are still thought-provoking and relevant today, in such a turbulent political climate.

She added: “The students gained an insight into how art can effectively comment on society and politics. They also saw how art techniques can be used in very creative and spontaneous ways to add energy to their work.”

Classes nurture artists’ talent

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ART STUDENTS: Gifted and talented students have been invited to attend an advanced painting enrichment course to extend and enrich their creative techniques before starting GCSE Fine Art in Year 10.

q Girls’ Pitch is Best — Page 3 q Pride of Place — Page 3 q Ex-pupil inspired by Guinness — Page 3 q Trust News — Page 4 q Outstanding Student Progess — Page 5 q Today’s students, tomorrow’s technology — Page 5

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Contents

q Winners galore as Poets Excel Page 5 q Wizard of Oz — Pages 6 & 7 q Community Matters — Page 8 q Exchanging students — Page 8 q New angle on Battle of Britain — Page 8 q School Always Open — Page 8 q Year 9 Look to Future — Page 9 —

q A Taste of Mandarin — Page 9 q Appliance of Science — Page 10 q New Experiences — Page 10 q Students try Journalism — Page 10 q Sports News — Page 10 q SCSSP Round-Up — Page 11

Pride of place for donated artwork Two donated pieces of arttwork will be taking pride of place in Melbourn’s refurbished Art department.

The pieces, drawn by ex-pupil Steven Law, depict two boxers, Simon Brown and Evander Holyfield.

They were drawn by Steven when he was around 18 years old and were generously donated to the college by his parents after his untimely death in 2015.

Alongside the paintings, Steven’s parents also donated £500 which has been spent on frames to display student work within the school.

The refurbishment is part of a £1 million investment in replacing

windows and roofing around the college which is almost finished.

Principal Simon Holmes said: “We were very keen to be able to display these pieces of work in the art department once the building work had been completed and are very grateful to the family for their donation.

“Overall, the huge investment we have had has significantly improved the fabric of our buildings.

“Increased efficiency will allow us to direct money away from heating and towards teaching and learning, to the benefit of all our students.”

MVC News

Girls’ pitch is the best

NATIONAL RECOGNITION: For Melbourn’s young entrepreneurs.

Two students from Melbourn Village College have finished top of the class in a national business challenge.

Ex-pupil inspired

by Guinness

NEW HOME: For two pieces of work by a former student.

An exhibition of paintings by former student Sam Harris has opened at The Plough, Shepreth, and will continue until Easter.

The ‘A Brush with the Black Stuff’ exhibition, which is inspired by the famous Irish drink Guinness, opened its doors, appropriately

THEMED ART: At an exhibition by a former Melbourn student.

enough, on St Patrick’s Day. It features works with names such as Toucan Play, Harp in the Dark and Smooth Headwear, with all the pieces also available for sale.

For more information go www.samuelbenjaminharris.co.uk

Charlotte Van Bochoven and Isabel Taylor came up with the ‘Best Sales Pitch’ in the country as part of the Young Enterprise Tenner Challenge.

Tenner Challenge provides a highly interactive way for students to develop key skills including creativity, resilience, and problem solving, using real money to take calculated risks in business.

Students, aged 11-19, are pledged £10 and have one month to set up a business — coming up with an idea of a product or service they can sell and gain first-hand experience of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur.

Each week in March there is a competition students can enter online to highlight a different aspect of setting up a business and the Year 8 Melbourn girls — one of six teams from the college taking part — came out on top for their ‘sales pitch and results’ for their company ‘Blue Bin Cards’ which uses items that might otherwise be thrown in the recycling to create cards for all occasions. They immediately sold six of them to their business mentor, Serdar Atamert, CEO of Foxton-based Epoch Wires, and have since visited his company and sold cards to his colleagues.

Charlotte said: “It’s been really exciting thinking of ideas and making all the cards. It’s really incredible to win this national award.” The girls have won £50 Amazon vouchers.

In an e-mail to the college, the feedback from the one of the judges said: “I thought this was a very creative product and a well thought through presentation. You demonstrated a great grasp of your numbers and the profit margin was very impressive. Our favourite!”

Ben Hutchinson, Melbourn’s Head of Modern Languages and a careers teacher, said: “I am so impressed with how the 29 Year 8 students have taken to this Challenge. They’ve come up with some truly unique ideas and their enthusiasm as young entrepreneurs has been quite remarkable.

“We’re very proud of Charlotte and Isabel’s victory in the national “Best Pitch” category ,where ‘Blue Bin Cards’ came first ahead of hundreds of other entries from schools across the country.”

The other weekly competitions are for logo design, marketing and a pop-up shop.

Participants have four weeks to make as much profit as they can from their £10, while also trying to make a social impact.

At the end of the competition on March 31, the teams decide what they would like to do with their profits after paying back the £10 stake plus a suggested £1 donation to help more young people take part the following year.

They can also enter a final competition to find the best business. This will be based on completed logbooks and judges choose the overall winners according to set criteria, including innovation, individual or teamwork and social impact.

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Clear benefits of Trust

THE CAM ACADEMY TRUST NEWS

Three of our schools, Melbourn, Cambourne and Comberton Village Colleges, are in the Leading Edge Programme, overseen nationally by the SSAT, a major national educational organisation.

Membership is permitted for high-performing secondary schools nationally (assessed by a mixture of strong Ofsted judgements and high pupil performance data).

These three secondary schools meet the criteria and are active members of the national network of around 250 schools.

overall national network.

This helps to create a ‘Directory’ of interesting and effective practice that is published for all schools in the Programme.

The visits for Melbourn, Cambourne and Comberton Village Colleges took place this term. They were overseen by an experienced former headteacher, whose school is in the Programme.

All comments on all three schools were very positive.

For example, the report on Melbourn Village College starts by stating: ‘The school has a very positive ethos and everywhere we went we saw students enjoying, and engaged in, their learning. There is a noticeable focus on each individual student which means the whole school comes over as very personal and supportive.’

Throughout all three reports, there are observations about how being part of the Trust is benefitting each of the schools.

The positive points noted include the Trust’s review programme and how this brings together senior leaders from the different schools to review each other’s practice. It notes joint staff training opportunities of various sorts and opportunities for staff to be involved in research, reflecting on their practice, through the Trust.

The clear commitment to share ideas and practice, very much the philosophy of the Leading Edge Programme itself, is clearly observed.

We hope to continue to use the Leading Edge Programme as one mechanism to POSITIVE COMMENTS: From the improve further the education we offer to SSAT visits to Melbourn, Comberton all young people in all of our schools. and Cambourne VIllage Colleges Stephen Munday, Chief Executive earlier this term.

The programme is centred on sharing ideas and the practice of successful schools to push themselves to do better still and to find out what others are up to.

There is a firm emphasis on innovative approaches as we all look to carry on improving. All schools in the Trust are able to benefit from the network due to the membership of the three schools directly involved.

This has meant opportunities such as engaging with a leadership seminar with Apple recently, overseen by their recent worldwide education leader of Apple.

One part of the membership of the Leading Edge Programme involves a visit to the school to look at how the school works and what it might offer to the

Future of learning considered Primary joining Trust

Melbourn Village College hosted a workshop what the future of learning should look like for headteachers and senior leaders led by and what would be needed to get there.

Dr Bill Rankin.

Dr Rankin also helped the group to consider Dr Rankin, who is based in the United creative approaches to learning that allow States, is the director of Unfold Learning students opportunities to learn and was the global director of learning for independently. This included thinking about Apple from 2013-16. setting a goal for students rather than a task The workshop was attended by heads and — offering them an opportunity to work out senior the best way leaders from to get there.

The Cam It was a Academy thoughtTrust, plus provoking senior morning and leaders from a good local opportunity schools and to work with from the colleagues from other Leading schools, Edge both primary network.

LOOKING AT LEARNING: With Dr Bill Rankin. and The secondary. workshop, provided by Apple, offered Trust Chief Executive Stephen Munday said: attendees an exceptionally rare opportunity “As a follow up to this event, the Trust will to work informally with Dr Rankin. be engaging in some strategic thinking with Dr Rankin’s interests are around student Apple about future technology use right motivation and engagement — he has across our schools. We hope that this might extensive expertise in the design of teaching offer some exciting possibilities for our and learning and educational technologies. schools.”

During the workshop, the group discussed

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Jeavons Wood Primary School in Cambourne is lining up to join the Trust.

After careful reflection and consultation last term, the school’s governing body unanimously voted to convert to Academy status and to join the Trust.

The Board of the Trust subsequently unanimously voted to accept that request. This term has seen work to move through the required process to enable this to happen. This has involved formal approval from the Headteacher Board of the Regional Schools’ Commissioner’s Office as well as the various legal and other organisational requirements. It is hoped that all this will have been completed and the school will join the Trust early in the coming term.

Jeavons Wood will become the latest Primary phase school to join the Trust.

This will mean the Trust has become truly cross-phase with four secondary (including two Sixth Forms) and four primary phase schools.

Chris Jukes, the Primary Executive Leader who joined in January, is now leading the Primary school development of the Trust.

Jeavons Wood has a slightly indirect historic link to our Trust. It was first set up under the auspices of the ‘Comberton Educational Trust’ when Government legislation about setting up schools was different than it is today.

The Comberton Educational Trust was the precursor to the Comberton Academy Trust that has now become The Cam Academy Trust. It is good to see the school coming full circle and now joining today’s Trust. We very much look forward to their contribution within our developing Trust.

Stephen Munday

For job vacancies across the Trust, visit the CAT website at www.catrust.co.uk

Outstanding student progress

MVC News

The excellent work that Melbourn Village College is doing in educating the next generation has been backed up by the Department For Education’s performance tables.

The headline Progress 8 figure of 0.44 means that students at the college do almost half a grade better per subject than their counterparts elsewhere across the country. This means that the college is, once again, in the top 10% nationally for student progress.

This progress is spearheaded by excellent results in English,

Maths and Humanities, all of which are in the top 15% of such departments for progress.

Importantly, the benefits of this excellent progress were spread across the whole student body, regardless of ability or background. For a school whose motto is ‘Everybody is Somebody’ this was particularly pleasing.

Principal Simon Holmes said: “Looking forwards, this means that the college is in a very strong position to deal with the ongoing funding cuts and national teacher shortages.

“By working with the other members of The Cam Academy Trust, which now numbers four local secondary and three primary phase schools, the college continues to offer the local community an excellent standard of education.”

Today’s students, tomorrow’s technology

Melbourn Village College recently welcomed Cambridgeshire-based HackLab for a special enrichment day of Computing activities.

Year 9 students learnt how to use the Raspberry Pi to create scrolling messages and pixel art using LEDS, while Year 8 students were programming Minecraft using Python.

Computing Teacher, James Richardson said: “We saw an opportunity to show our students how Computer Science is used practically in the real world. The event was a great success with students enjoying every session.”

Year 7 students also had the chance to get involved with a special after-school enrichment session featuring the SonicPi, software that enables students to make music with code.

One enthusiastic student said: “'It was the best lesson of my life!”

Head of Maths and Computing, John Holder, was extremely pleased with the outcomes of the day. “The programming sessions provided to over a hundred students by the team from HackLab were a huge success. It showed that we have so many talented students who are really interested in computer programming and have the potential to become specialists in this field in the future,” he said “Given our proximity to the many IT companies around this area, this can only be a good thing for them’.

This event is one part of an expanding enrichment programme in the Computing department here at Melbourn. Students also have the opportunity to take part in Computing club, Robotics club, Minecraft club and finally the Cyber Centurion challenge. An exciting time to be at MVC!

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY: Students get stuck in at the HackLab event.

Winners galore as student poets excel Every student in Years 7-9 performed on stage as part of the college’s annual poetry festival right at the end of last term.

Prizes were awarded in a number of categories but Head of English Kate King said: “Every student has earned the right to be very proud of their achievement.

“Yet again our students have surpassed themselves.

Every single Key Stage 3 student performed a poem on stage in front of a very large audience, either individually, in a group or as a class.

“I would like to thank the English teahers who worked hard with their classes to prepare their performances; Mrs Tobutt, for her superb organisation of this prestigious and enjoyable event, year after year; and, of course, all of the students for taking part so admirably.

The categories and winners were: Best Group

Delivery — Daniel Webb, Brennan Scholes, Jim MacKay; Best Dramatisation — Class 72A; Best Individual Performance — Ellie Harris; Most Entertaining — Class 81B; Best Class Delivery —

Class 72B; Most Thought-Provoking — Class 71B; Most Inspiring — Faith Crockord, Olivia Bystry and Emily Grove; Best Overall — Class 81A.

STAGE PRESENCE: Students perform at the annual poetry festival.

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the magic of Oz MVC News

For three nights the staff and students took the audience behind the curtain to the magical land of Oz.

Jenny Elliot, as Dorothy, brought a command to the stage beyond her years and led us all by the hand along the yellow brick road.

Her motley crew of Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, showed both the humour and touching innocence of the characters admirably.

EmmaTaylor’s performance of the Scarecrow was both humorous and thoughtful, while Alex Farrow convincingly showed both the strength and emotion of Tin Man. Faith Crockford was, at times, in danger of stealing the show as her comedic performance of Lion brought much mirth to those watching.

Due credit should also go to Stephanie Davison, whose performance of the Wicked Witch of the West was outstanding, particular mention must go to her cackle and screams which remained reverberating around the hall even after she’d had been melted by the heroes.

All cast members should be proud of their performances, with Glinda (Sophie Jelley), Oz (Ben Nicholls), Aunt Em (Ellie Harris) and Uncle Henry (Harvey Magee), as well as the chorus, supporting Dorothy extremely well throughout the performance.

As well as witnessing an excellent standard of acting from the students, the audience were treated to an immersive experience of both Kansas and Oz. The creative use of the hall around the audience, representing Kansas and the lair of the Wicked Witch, allowed for a richer experience, most notable perhaps was the leaf blower stand-in for the tornado!

In addition, the beautiful set painted by MVC staff and students, CLOSE ENCOUNTER: Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West. alongside thoughtful touches from Julie Smith (parent of former students “It was a great experience for me, as I’m towards the end of my education at Alderney and Aaron Smith), brought the Land of Oz and the glittering Emerald MVC. It was so much fun to play the Tin Man, and I was thrilled to play a lead City to life. This was truly an all- school effort, as staff and students worked for role, except for the silver make up!” – Alex Farrow. weeks to paint the set to give it an extremely professional look.

“The Wizard of Oz was an amazing experience and we became a team. I can’t Not to be outdone by actors and sets, the student technical team (assisted by wait for next year.” – Rebecca Thomas.

Head of Science Cat Rich) brought a level of professionalism and order that “The Wizard of Oz was one of the best experiences I’ve had and it really assisted in the success of the production. expanded my acting skills.” - Stephanie Davison.

The performance was directed and choreographed by drama teacher Catherine “It was so fun, I loved it. Something I definitely want to do!” – Faith Crockford.

Nicholls and dance teacher Jill Douglas, who once again proved that student Staff were also impressed: productions are well worth the time and effort taken by all to bring them to the “The Set, Make up, Costumes, acting – were all amazing, the production was stage. fantastic. It was so clever. It exceeded our expectations of a ‘school play! Wow!” A huge thank you goes to them for the many hours spent with students and Lynn Gregory, Bridget Rogerson, Paula Froggatt (catering team). behind the scenes putting the show together.

“My family and I had a really enjoyable night out. Lots of highlights such as leaf Many thanks are also extended to those who journeyed with us through Kansas blowers, witches up scaffolding and amazing performances’ John Holder (Head of and to Oz; their support, as ever, is extremely important to everyone at Melbourn Village College.

Maths) All that remains is for us to ask, having been taken to the golden age of America “The enthusiasm, commitment and energy that the students and staff gave to this in Grease, the streets of London in Oliver! and the avenues of the Emerald City in wonderful musical shone through. It was brilliant!” Sarah Hallam (Head of Year 7).

The Wizard of Oz, just where will we all be taken next?

Bethany Tobutt, English and Media teacher

WELL WORTH THE EFFORT: The whole cast and crew worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the production.

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MVC News

Students bring to life Kansas, the Emerald City and some of Oz’s most memorable characters

Students show that community matters

TUCKING IN: Local community members enjoy their chicken pie, mash and vegetables.

The College hosted another Celebration of Ages Tea Party this term.

Everyone involved gave up their time during the half-term holiday to bring together more than 140 members of the local community.

Twelve students helped serve meals and chat with guests. The College would like to say a big thank you to Rebecca Thomas, Cody Doughty, Tamsin Dobb, Elena Squire, Hannah Moulding,

Emily West, Lisa Lamb, Shauna Edwards, Jessica Gillies, Erin Thomas and Danicah Chivaganye.

Lynn Gregory, the College’s Catering Manager, served a delicious meal of chicken pie, mash and veg, followed by tea, cake and a heart shaped chocolate shortbread as a little memento of Valentine’s Day. Year 10 boys, Charlie Arbon and James Dale,

added music to the proceedings. Both love performing and put together a set of country and love songs. Charlie played guitar while James accompanied on the piano.

Charlie said: “Some of the guests came and congratulated us and we enjoyed speaking to them afterwards.” Both agreed it was a brilliant experience.

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Exchanging students MVC News

Melbourn students made new English and Spanish friends when they teamed up with Cambourne Village College for a weeklong exchange visit to the city of Zaragoza.

A benefit of being part of The Cam Academy Trust meant two groups of students from different schools were able to experience life in a Spanish family and school by getting together and, although they met for the first time at Stansted, it was as though they had known each other for years.

Things didn’t change much on arrival in Spain with Maria Collado-Canas, the Cambourne teacher in charge, reporting that all the students from all three schools were always happy to spend time with each other.

As well as days in Colegio M.M, Rosa Molas doing lessons such as PE and Art and with their host families, the English students also visited the historic Loarre castle and Huesca as well as a tour of the host city and a trip to the Romareda football stadium, the home of Real Zaragoza. They also spent a weekend with their host families, being taken on excursions and activities.

Melbourn students were really enthusiastic about their trip and are looking forward to the return leg in April, when the Spanish students arrive in England to stay with students at Comberton as well as Melbourn and Cambourne.

Jessica Taylor said: “I think the Spanish exchange was the perfect opportunity to experience their culture, learn more vocabulary, visit historic places in a beautiful Spanish city and make friends.

“Since my return I am more confident to travel the world and I feel more independent.

“I think by visiting Spain, Spanish has become something real NEW FRIENDSHIPS: Spanish and English students on the first leg of rather than something taught in the classroom.” their exchange experience.

New angle on the Battle of Britain

A group of Year 9 students took on an impressive Spanish challenge this term when they joined a group of Spanish students for a visit to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

As well as looking round the museum amd finding out about different air and land-based warfare, the 28 Melbourn students had to work with their Spanish counterparts from the Salesman School in Santander on Battle of Britain presentations. The Melbourn students gave their presentations in Spanish and their visitors did them in English to a combined audience of more than 50.

It was a proud moment for Deputy Principal and languages teacher Regina Lawrence, who said: “Very impressive for under two years study of Spanish!”

Earlier in the week 18 students in Years 9 and 10 from the Spanish school, already known to those Year 9 who went to Spain last year, spent a day at Melbourn, visiting lessons and finding out about the English education system by being part of it!

“They spend a great day experiencing a day in the life of an MVC student and said our students and staff were incredibly welcoming to them.” said Mrs Lawrence.

School is always open for learning!

MUSEUM VISIT: For Spanish and English students ahead of joint presentations.

As always Melbourn Village College is alive with learning, even during half-term.

Sixty Year 11 students turned up for an English revision session designed to help them with their GCSE language papers in the summer.

Head of English Kate King said: “I would like to thank them for their attitude and dedication.”

Meanwhile another group of students became

better cyclists during the holidays. Those who took part spent the day pedalling around the college as well as Melbourn village as part of their Bikeability Level 3 course.

The seven students all passed the top level of the Department of Transport’s three-tier bike safety programme and received a badge and certificate.

Level 3 equips cyclists with the skills to deal with

HARD AT WORK: Year 11 students use their half term wisely.

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more challenging road and traffic situations

including busier streets, queuing traffic, complex junctions and roundabouts as well as planning routes for safe cycling.

Principal’s PA Janine Savage, one of the staff

working through half-term at the college, said: “It looked like a really good course.”

ON THEIR BIKES: Learning how to be safer cyclists

Year 9 look to the future

All Melbourn’s Year 9 students were given options guidance with a difference when they attended a university careers morning.

Ahead of selecting their GCSE subjects, the cohort attended an Eyes on the Prize day hosted by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge.

They were among around 1500 13 and 14-year-olds at the annual three-day event, which aims to help students: l Understand how GCSE options and the grades they achieve will impact their future. l Understand more about future opportunities for study and employment. l Ask questions about the subjects and courses they might like to study in the future. l Look around a university campus and meet some university students .

The day started in a lecture theatre where students were encouraged to think about their THE NEXT STEP: Students ‘look into the future’ as they journey through education and visit the careers fair at Anglia Ruskin University. about the fact that as technology

MVC News

develops so quickly they might be doing jobs in 10 years’ time that don’t even exist now.

A visit to a careers fair and a tour of the ARU campus followed and the students were really positive about their experience.

Faith Crockford said: “It was very informative and gave you a better look to the future.”

Arthur Gomm commented: “It made you much more aware of the apprenticeships around and I’d like to get one in construction or plumbing. Lots of my friends, who hadn’t thought about going to university before, are saying now they really want to.”

As Mitch McCabe pointed out: “It opened my eyes to going to university.”

Work Experience co-ordinator Amanda Davis, who organised the trip, said: “This is the fourth year that we have taken students to ‘Eyes on the Prize’ and the organisation of the event and experience for the students improves year on year.

“The Year 9s enjoyed their campus tour including the Student Union, the gym and the Mumford Theatre, with the forensic science facilities once again inspiring the most interest.

“The Careers Fair offered a varied mix of representatives from sixth forms, employers and local universities available to answer the students’ questions and help them start to build ideas about their ambitions and career aspirations.”

Primary youngsters discover taste for Mandarin

Primary pupils enjoyed a taste of Mandarin thanks to the only school in Cambridgeshire offering the language as part of their curriculum.

Specialist Mandarin teacher Frank Fan from MVC, where the Chinese language is taught to all Year 7 students, has been working with youngsters from two of the college’s partner primaries, Harston & Newton and Foxton.

Harston sent 23 Year 5 students to Melbourn for two separate lessons. In the first they experienced Peking opera and learned colours in Mandarin with some even memorising a selection of characters including 红，黄，绿，蓝. In the second, which co-incided with Chinese New Year — the year of the Rooster has just started — they learned the Chinese Zodiac and made Chinese lanterns and bookmarks.

Mr Fan said: “They really enjoyed it. Writing Chinese characters was a challenge for them but they did well. The teachers and I were very impressed by their learning with some even able to write characters from memory. Even native speakers find it hard to write such difficult characters at the first attempt.”

The 23 Year 1 and 2 pupils from Foxton also learned the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac and enjoyed repeating the names in Mandarin. Some of them were able to recognise four Chinese animal characters after an hour’s lesson.

TASTER DAY: Students enjoy a day of learning Mandarin.

Melbourn Village College is the only school in Cambridgeshire offering the language as part of their curriculum.

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Appliance of science MVC News

Melbourn Village College hosted Year 4 pupils from six of its partner schools for an exciting day of science.

Youngsters from the primary schools at Melbourn, Meldreth, Hauxton, Fowlmere, Barrington and Thriplow enjoyed working in real laboratories and undertaking real experiments.

The Year 4 visitors took part in a series of fun experiments, each one ably led by Year 10 students, of whom MVC is justifiably proud.

The primary children made optical illusion spinners, took part in an unusual hearing test, investigated indicators, had fun with static and tested out what causes different flame colours among, many other interesting activities.

The eight and nine-year-olds were extremely enthusiastic and willing scientists, and feedback from all involved was excellent.

Cat Rich, Acting Head of Science said: “It was brilliant to see so many young people enthusiastic about science! We hope we have inspired students to continue investigating and enjoying science.”

It was a very busy event, the enthusiasm of all those involved was FUN WITH SCIENCE: Year 4 pupils spent a day at Melbourn working infectious and we are already looking forward to next year. Our thanks, of course, go especially to Mrs Mayhead for making it such a memorable day. on experiments with Year 10 students.

New experiences

Melbourn’s Science Week for students went with a fizz and a bang last week.

It gave staff and students the opportunity to explore and investigate outside of their usual curriculum with Year 7 looking at fizzing, Year 8 focussing on energy and Year 9 attempting to land a lunar module!

During lunchtimes KS4 students were set mind-bending challenges while those in KS3 had the opportunity to watch some demonstations on

combustion, as well as having a go at dissections. Dr Wilson also ran assemblies on current adolescent neuroscience.

The event was part of a larger project called ‘British Science Week 2017’ and gave the students the opportunity to enter a national science competition.

Acting Head of Science Cat Rich said: “We feel it extremely important that our own students are involved in this.”

Students try hands at journalism

SCIENCE WEEK: Students expand their learning.

Budding journalists spent Thursday 16th March interviewing and reporting on various news and topics around the school as part of the annual BBC School Report.

Our year 10 students reported on a range of topics including teenage pregnancies; the stress and pressure of exams; and on Betsy DeVos, the new education secretary in America, appointed by the somewhat controversial Donald Trump.

The CRAM room was a hub of activity throughout the

Sport

Sports news in brief

l The Year 10 netball team went to the annual tournament at Soham Village College.

They played eight games and won three, lost five. The final result saw the Melbourn team coming 10th out of 15 schools. l MVC played Impington Village College. The netball teams won two, lost one. The football teams narrowly lost, 12 and 1-3. l The Year 8 A and B football teams had their annual tournament a couple of weeks ago. They came eighth and seventh respectively in their pools.

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day, with students taking on various reporting roles including cameraman, news editor, and of course,

news reporter. Students collected some interesting shots of school pupils and teachers going about their day, with some professional interviews taking place with both students and staff at the college.

The end of the day saw our reporters furiously editing their footage together to create their finished report. Please visit the school website to have a look at the final version! http://www.melbournvc.org/newsand-events/school-report Well done to all of the students involved.

Family fortunes!

Melbourn brother and sister Jake and Daisy Moxham swim for different counties — but both are enjoying success.

Year 10 Jake, who trains mainly with the City of Cambridge club, won three gold and three silver medals at the County Championships earlier this term, representing Cambridgeshire.

He was first home in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestle and 200m individual medley and took secpmd place in the 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 200m fereestyle And although Year 7 Daisy now trains twice a week at the Cambridge Club, she is a member of the Royston club and represents Hertfordshire, winning silver in the 100m freestyle and reaching the finals of both the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

Since the championships Daisy has also competed in an open gala and achieved the regional qualifying times in three events, the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, gaining her a place at the East Region 14-and-under Championships in Norwich in May. She has also moved to the top of the Hertfordshire rankings for her age group at 50m freestyle after clocking 30.69 at The Mid Beds Open Meet.

Meanwhile Jake recently had the chance to represent the East at the Edinburgh International Meet. Although he didn’t set personal bests in any of his three races, he was one of the youngest competitors participating.

Jake’s over-15 East Region Championships in Luton next month will form part of his qualification for the British Summer Nationals.

Round-up of the latest news from the South Cambs SSP BEST FOOT FORWARD: For Coton’s girls (left) who just missed out on the Regional Finals, and for Harston, who represented Cambridgeshire.

Harston team ‘do Cambridgeshire proud’ Harston & Newton represented Cambridgeshire at the English Schools FA Regional Finals for Small Schools earlier this month.

Having won through the South Cambs round and then the county round at King’s School, Ely, in January, they headed for Thamesmead earlier this month.

Despite dominating three of their four games, they finished with a win, a draw and two defeats.

South Cambs School Sports Partnership manager Claire McDonnell said: “They played well in all the games and did themselves and Cambridgeshire proud.”

There was disappointment for Coton, whose girls were pipped for the qualifying spot by Histon & Impington despite remaining unbeaten through the Cambridgeshire round of the Year 5/6 event at King’s School, Ely.

Coton, who fielded only two Year 6s and included a

Year 4 in their squad, lost out on goal difference

after they held Histon, county winners for the

previous three years, to a goalless draw in the final

Schools book places Meldreth, Harston & Newton and Jeavons Wood all qualified to represent the South Cambs partnership at the County Spring Games Festival after two exciting afternoons of tag rugby.

Meldreth and Harston & Newton took the top spots in the small schools competition earlier in the term, while

Jeavons Wood reached the large schools’ final this month after going unbeaten through their group stage then seeing off Cottenham in the semi-finals, only to be pipped 3-2 by eventual champions Steeple Morden.

Earlier another Cambourne school, The Vine, were edged out by Steeple Morden in a game which was decided by a ‘golden try’ after the teams were locked at a try apiece at full-time.

game, leaving both teams on 13 points.

Histon snatched the place in the regional round with

their goal difference of 14 to Coton’s 11.

QUALIFIERS: The Jeavons Wood team with their medals.

Jayden shows his ‘Spirit of the Games’

Meridian Primary School qualified to represent the South Cambs partnership at the County Schools Spring Games after stepping up their gymnastics performance.

Third last year, they moved up a place in the hotly-contested Key Steps event at Comberton Village College, to join winners Castle Camps at the county round.

Last year’s qualifiers for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough School Games Spring Festival, Coton and Linton Heights, were third and fourth in a competition where fewer than QUALIFIERS: From Meridian five points separated the top 10 teams.

The mixed teams of six children from a dozen schools, which also included Thriplow, Harston & Newton, Haslingfield and Jeavons Wood schools all had to perform a vault and then either a floor or body management routine with each

Changing times

Two schools from the South Cambs partnership took part in a Change 4 Life champions training workshop.

This training is for children who have benefited from attending a Change 4 Life club in their school and are now ready to become Change 4 Life champions delivering the healthy lifestyle message across the whole school to every child.

The group, including pupils from Jeavons Wood, Cambourne, and Harston & Newton primary schools, were really lucky to have an athlete mentor, Nathan Rooney, ex-tennis professional who inspired the children.

They discussed the Change 4 Life messages such as 60 active minutes and sugar swaps and how and where they were going to get these messages across. The children came up with some great ideas of posters, assemblies, playground activities and talking with members of staff, who can help them

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performance judged and given a score out of 10. Each child’s score in both disciplines was then combined to give an overall team score.

Qualified young judges Melbourn, Cambourne, and Comberton Village Colleges, as well as coaches from the County Young Coach Academy scored, encouraged and supported the young gymnasts.

There was a ‘Spirit of the Games’ award, for Jayden, from Thriplow, for overcoming his nerves and showing great determination to Primary School. perform his body management routine.

Claire McDonnell, South Cambs School Games Organiser, said: “It was really pleasing to see the standard of gymnastics on display, I think it gets better every year and it was obvious the schools and children had all been practising hard.”

TRAINING: Pupils at the Change 4 LIfe workshop.

get the message across.

While the children were busy having fun the members of staff who accompanied them discussed best practice and how they can support the children and make their clubs sustainable.

MELBOURN

SPORTS CENTRE news )RU WKRVH RI \RX ZKR GRQ¶W DOUHDG\ NQRZ ZH KDYH: A state of the art fitness suite offering a variety of membership schemes A 20 metre swimming pool (kept ever so slightly warmer than most!)

A comprehensive swimming lesson programme, catering for all ages and abilities Upgraded multisports courts for hire including tennis, football and squash courts Water sports courses and activities Traditional and modern exercise classes Access to Melbourn Village College sports hall and gymnasium for activities such as trampolining, badminton and basketball ƒ Supervised sports and pool parties JUNE / JULY / AUGUST ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

We have loads on offer this summer ZLWK VRPHWKLQJ IRU WKH ZKROH FRPPXQLW\ WR JHW LQYROYHG ZLWK« So why not come along and find out more about your local sports centre! )$7+(5¶6 '$< For something a bit different this Fathers Day, how about treating your Dad to his own gym membership or purchasing a Gift 'LVFRXQW &DUG IRU RXU RWKHU DFWLYLWLHV KHUH DW 0HOERXUQ 6SRUWV" ,W¶V D JUHDW ZD\ WR KHOS D ORYHG RQH JHW ILW

KIDS ACTIVITIES With the summer holidays fast approaching LW¶V QRW WRR HDUO\ RU WRR ODWH WR VWDUW SODQQLQJ \RXU VXPPHU VSRUWV :H KDYH D YDULHW\ RI activities to choose from, including our Ofsted Registered Playscheme (The Kidz Factor), Trampoline Crash Course, Sport Taster Sessions and Swimming CUDVK &RXUVH $OVR DYDLODEOH DUH RXU YHU\ SRSXODU &KLOGUHQ¶V Sports Camps, always a fun way to try out both mainstream and specialist activities.

GET FIT FOR THE SUMMER! With the summer fast approaching, why not let us help you shape up before your summer holidays? We have loads of classes to keep you fit and healthy, including Boot Camp, Body Sculpture and Aquafit. Or why not take advantage of one of our great membership schemes to our fitness suite, which houses the latest in gymnasium equipment, including C.V machines fitted with audio visual technology.

PARTY TIME!

/RRNLQJ IRU WKH SHUIHFW YHQXH WR KROG \RXU FKLOGUHQ¶V ELUWKGD\ SDUW\" 7KHQ \RXU VHDUFK LV RYHU :H KDYH DOO WKH IDFLOLWLHV here for a fun-packed event with a variety of activities for your guests to enjoy, including trampolining (always a popular choice), football and traditional pool parties. th

We will also be holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday 15 July, 2017 (12.00 ± 16.00). So why not come along and find out more about your local sports centre!

ACTIVITIES FOR TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS

TEEN TRAINING An hour fitness session using our fitness suite machines Age range: 14 years upwards Date: Monday ± Fridays / 15.30 ± 16.30 & Weekends /14.00 ± 15.00 / Price: £2.50 per session/10 sessions for £20.00 TRAMPOLINE COURSE This course is a great way to introduce your child into this fun and energetic sport. Start to learn all the basics including twists, shapes and drops!

Mondays 16.00 ± 17.00 (4 ½ - 7 years); 17.00 ± 18.00 (7-10 years); 18.00 ± 19.00 (10 ± 16 years); Price: £4.50 - £5.50 per session (booked on a term basis)

PLUS: SWIMMING LESSONS / LIFEGUARD COURSES / TENNIS COACHING / TABLE TENNIS / BADMINTON PILATES / TRIATHLON SESSIONS / TENNIS COACHING / SQUASH AND MUCH MORE! We are also the home for various clubs and coaching activities including: x McSplash Swimming Club www.mcsplashsc.org.uk x Meridian Triathlon Club www.meridiantriclub.co.uk x Kamaete School of Karate www.kstsk.co.uk x Melbourn Dynanos www.melbourndynamos.co.uk x Melbourn Tang Soo Do https://www.facebook.com/ashley.robertson x Royston Heath Archery Club www.roystonarchery.org x Melbourn Squash Club www.melbourn-squash.co.uk x Matt Fellingham Tennis Coaching www.mftennis.com For further details on these or any other activities, please drop in, call 01763 263313 or go online at www.mc-sport.co.uk We look forward to seeing you this season!

Melbourn Sports Centre, The Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6EF

01763 263313 / www.mc-sport.co.uk / info@mc-sport.co.uk