ISSUE
01
Y E A R LY NEWSLETTER 2007-2008
NOVEMBER 2008
HillsReview
New Principal at Hills Road The end of the summer term brought with it the end of an era for Hills Road Sixth Form College. Dr. Rob Wilkinson, College principal for 6 years, made the decision to step down from his post and retire, with effect from August 2008. Following his decision, a search was launched for someone new to take on the role, but the College needed look no further than Mrs Linda Sinclair, Deputy Principal since 2003, a role which, Dr Wilkinson emphasises, she performed with ‘great distinction.’ Mrs Sinclair has been a dedicated member of staff at Hills Road for a number of years; before
becoming
Deputy
Principal she held the roles of both Curriculum Director and Head of the Department of Economics and Business Studies. Speaking about her new role, Mrs Sinclair said “It is an exciting opportunity and a real privilege. I have the greatest affection for the College and am totally committed to ensuring a continuation of the success that the College has enjoyed under the outstanding leadership of Rob Wilkinson.”
Students and staff run 4.5km for cancer charity April 2008 saw the start of what promises to be a great tradition at Hills Road with the our first collegewide charity run - the HR4.5. This year, the event was held in support of local charity, Wallace Cancer Care. The run was open to both staff and students. The opportunity to do something amazing for this worthwhile cause was well received by all, and places soon filled up, resulting in over 250 people taking part. The event was well advertised in college, so much so that when the day arrived many turned up to participate and support. The event itself was a huge success, with a warm up and a band playing beforehand. The participants were seen by many, which equally helped to advertise the event as people ran, walked or dressed up for the HR4.5. All involved wore their very own specially designed blue HR4.5 t-shirts.
The principal was extremely happy with the turnout, congratulating all involved and confirming that this will become an annual event. One student said; ‘it’s really great that this is becoming a yearly event as it is worthwhile. It’s also really great to be a part of the first ever HR4.5’ There were many ways to sponsor and donate to the fun run and thanks to all the hard work and contributions over £5000 was raised. Many thanks and congratulations must go to the three members of Hills Road Staff who made all this possible, Ms Sarah Buckley, Mr Robert Leslie and Dr Tonia Schofield who put in hours of hard work and spent many days organising, advertising and making the event possible. The Wallace Cancer Care is a local centre which helps unfortunate cancer sufferers and their families to be informed about what is happening to them and helps to maintain the best physical and mental health possible whilst undergoing treatment
Students speak foreign languages to help Oxfam
Students make the finals of national newspaper competition
This year on September 26th a number of students across
Clockwise from left: Lizzy Quinlan, Jeremy Hughes, Jeremy Smith, Lucy Oates & Zosia Krasodomska-Jones - just 5 members of this year’s successful Newsday Team
the sixth form gave up speaking English for a day and spoke a foreign language, all in aid of Oxfam European Day of Languages. Students
Friday 20th June was marked by
succeeded,” said Brian Robinson,
French soil, the group of stu-
were speaking languages
celebrations for students at Hills
the organiser of Newsday. “You
dents soon settled down to their
from across the world from
Road Sixth Form College, who
worked as a team and you com-
stay with French families and
French to Greek and some
reached the finals of the presti-
pleted your paper or website. It’s
were immediately plunged into
even daring to try languages
gious national Newsday student
a real achievement.”
an exhausting, although thor-
from other regions, such as,
journalism competition.
oughly rewarding, week and a The competition was set up
Cantonese.
half.
Competing against students from
by Robinson in 1990 with a
Both teachers and students
700 other schools, the team from
mere nine schools taking part
There were a great variety of
enjoyed the day immensely
Hills Road came out joint-second
in this first year. The competi-
activities throughout the week,
and seeing teachers try to
along with Luton Sixth Form
tion has come a long way since,
including trips round castles,
remember their secondary
College, only narrowly beaten by
the numbers participating this
museums and, naturally, the
school languages was amus-
the competition’s winners from
year at 700, including 12 from
shops with plenty of café breaks
ing to say the least. One
Whitby Community College.
abroad. A grand total of 400,000
in between.
pupils have now participated in
student told us; ‘I have participated in this day for the
Despite missing out on top prize,
Newsday over the course of its
The constant need to speak and
past two years and the high-
the runners up were celebrating
lifetime. Newsday 2008, in asso-
think in French was of immeasur-
light has to be seeing my
their success, this year marking
ciation with learnnewsdesk from
able benefit to all the students,
economics teacher trying to
the first time a Hills Road entry
The Guardian, was sponsored by
all of whom felt their fluency and
speak to me in French, it was
has been shortlisted for the top
AlphaSmart and Softease.
vocabulary increased greatly, as
definitely worthwhile.’
prize, having participated in the
In total, the event raised
being awarded a ‘Distinction’ for
over £920, every penny
our entry eight times.
Montpellier Exchange a resounding success
The aim of Newsday is for stu-
Just before February half term,
dents to produce a newspaper
about 20 intrepid linguists made
or a news website in just one
the first step in an exchange to
day, simulating what it is like to
Montpellier in order to perfect
work in the real media industry.
their French. Although slightly
competition for nine years, and
of which has gone to help Oxfam projects.
intimidated as they were first “You are all here because you
paired with their partners on
well as really enjoying the lifestyle of another culture for a short period of time.
Moonlighting for charity Every day, 6 teenagers between the ages of 16 and 24 will be diagnosed with cancer. The Teenage Cancer Trust makes its top priority building specialised
Young Enterprise group Eclipse are just some of the students hoping to prove their business skills in this year’s event.
centres in NHS hospitals specifi-
Young Enterprise - Learning by Doing Three award winning businesses,
a firm amount of starting capital,
Enterprise
other
After her brother Nick was diag-
two terms of hard work and one
the teams needed to start raising
schools, were judged by local busi-
nosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in
Business Woman of the Year. In early
revenue and lots of it! There was
ness men and women. 6Teen, Flare
his heel, 16-year-old Lizzy Kostov
September 2007 three groups of 15
fierce competition between each
and Diversify each came away with
determinedly donned her train-
students met for the first time, much
group, as Diversify bought and sold
a variety of awards ranging from
ers and took part in the annual
like in the real business world. They
products ranging from candles to
“Best Customer Service” to “Best
Magical Moonlight Walk in July.
soon began to work as a team and
Pashmina scarves. 6Teen and Flare
Trade Stand”.
after much debate and democratic
went into the services sector, Flare
voting 6Teen, Diversify and Flare
held a “Battle of the DJs” concert
Even though each business had their
million needed to establish a
were born.
at a local venue and 6Teen created
own problems, the teams learnt to
specialist unit at Addenbrooke’s,
a “Speed Meeting” event at Hills
solve them quickly and efficiently and
and
The purpose of Young Enterprise
Road, which was their own twist on
each of achieved a great amount. For
out of 400 participants. In
was to operate as a real business, so
speed dating.
example, Diversify raised revenue of
total, the Walk raised £9000.
the first job was to raise capital by
groups
cally to deal with these victims.
from
She raised £300 towards the £1
was
top
fundraiser
over £3000 and Serena Saini, their
selling shares to friends and family
In February 2008 an event was held
Marketing Manager was awarded
Nick, 20, is currently being
and each person needed a position
at a local shopping centre where all
Business Woman of the Year for
treated in an adult ward at
such as Managing Director. With
the teams, alongside other Young
Cambridge.
Addenbrooke’s. He said he was “so proud” of his sister, adding
Hills Road Engages with History
that “it was a cause that did hit close to home as she has seen
For two days earlier this year, Hills Road Sixth
ing the reform of British government (very
me every day during my chemo-
Form played host to some of the most eminent
useful for coursework!) and the uneasy rela-
therapy. We have had a history
historians in the country. July 16th and 17th saw
tionship between Italy and Nazi Germany.
of cancer in our family, which
the presence of a number of scholars, includ-
made her even more deter-
ing Professor Eric Evans, Dr. Robert Mallet and
As usual, the event was a resounding suc-
Dr. Richard Evans, each an expert in their field.
cess, with all 11 lectures generating a large,
mined to take part in the walk.”
eager audience. Every historian gave a fas-
As a charity, the TCT wel-
Organised by students and teachers of the
cinating talk, and managed to make even
comes any help you can give.
Hills Road History Society, the conference
some of the more boring topics interesting!
is an annual event, aimed at providing an alternative perspective for students study-
History
ing History, and an opportunity to quiz some
ly
of the best minds in the business. Of particular interest this year were lectures cover-
students
awaiting
next
are year’s
now
keen-
conference.
Visit
https://www.teenage-
cancertrust.org/how-youcan-help/
to
get
involved.
The ball tradition at Hills Road As a reward, for working so hard, at the end of each half term, the school council organises a “ball” for students across the Colldge. They are often held at local venue
“The
Junction”.
The students who took part in the exchange to Parma
These occasions promise to
Viva Italia!
be evenings of dancing and
The annual exchange with Liceo
As well as the cultural aspect, the
The return visit was equally suc-
socialising, an opportunity
Marconi in Parma was again hugely
exchange was an excellent opportu-
cessful, despite Cambridge suffer-
to wind down after a busy
successful this year, with new friend-
nity for English students to experi-
ing gale-force winds and heavy rain.
term.
ships being made and already several
ence Italian youth culture. The Italian
For many of the students, their first
return trips from both groups since
school system bares little resemblance
trip to England did little to dispel the
Often there is a theme, such
the fist trip in March. As well as a
to the English one, with students stay-
stereotype of our typical weather!
as Christmas and Easter
fantastic opportunity to perfect the
ing in one classroom and studying
Nevertheless, armed with raincoats
which entails dressing up
language skills of students of Italian,
about 10 subjects up to the last year of
and with frequent coffee breaks, all
or winning Easter eggs. The
the exchange is open to Lower 6th
the Liceo. Lessons were very different
the top sights of Cambridge were
music rangers from old clas-
History students who study Fascist
too; there is nearly no class discussion
visited, including: Kings College
sics like the Spice Girls to the
Italy as part of their course. Parma was
and the traditional blackboard and
Chapel, Trinity College, the Fitzwilliam
latest club anthems.
a centre of Fascist resistance from the
chalk are still very much in use.
Museum and the Backs, as well as
beginning, and the ‘parmigiani’ are
As the 2007-08 academic
very proud of their heritage.
year drew to a close, the
visits to London and Norwich. The trips to Florence and Mantua were highly successful, despite rather
summer ball was held at the
The History students went on a walk
grim weather, and the students saw
college. It was a chance for
around the city looking at the sites of
many of the famous cultural sights;
girls to wear cocktail dresses
the barricades and everyone attended
the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David in the
and guys to wear tuxedos.
a conference on the resistance at the
Accademia Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio
As well as a dance floor, in
Istituto Storico della Resistenza.
and the Palazzo Ducale of Mantua.
other areas of the college, a mechanical bull and an unlimited supply of freshly made candyfloss.
Students winners of local music award One of the musical highlights last year was the Cambridge Young Musician of the Year Competition. Hills Road musicians did especially well, with Sharzad Shini (right) and Emma Fowler joint winning the Piano 16-18 age category. Sharzad, who has been playing the piano for 12 years, loves to play music from the Romantic period. Other Hills Road students were highly commended in the competition, including violinist Helen Lilley.
Students head for the Antarctic…
Plastic bottles recycling launch by Hills Road students
....or its nearest equivalent in the form of Cambridge’s own Scott Polar Research Institute, where a group of intrepid Performing Arts students from Hills Road Sixth Form College staged
Just some of the eager studetns who attended the launch of the College’s new recylcing scheme back in April
the voyages of the Endurance (Shackleton) and the Terra Nova (Scott) using dance, drama and music back in January this year.
Members of the Cambridge City
over 200 staff are on the College
was reached. A student at Hills
Council recycling team were at
site in any one day and large
Road Sixth Form College, Cara
Hills Road Sixth Form College
numbers of plastic bottles are
Lawrence, 17, donated the 400th
on 7th April to help students
generated as waste. The recy-
unit at the College since the re-
launch an initiative to recycle
cling initiative has also extend-
launch of blood donor sessions
plastic bottles.
ed to the Hills Road Sports and
held on site. In total, approxi-
Tennis Centre where members
mately 450 units have now been
A new society for recycling the
of the public, students and staff
donated by staff and students at
College’s waste was launched
use the sports facilities. Natalie
the College.
by the students and on the day
Moss, the Sports and Tennis
students were asked to sign up
Centre manager, said: “I think
Gareth Bell, Communications
to the society.
that the students’ idea is bril-
Officer for the NBS, said,
liant. People using our facili-
“This is a fantastic landmark,
Vicky Kelso from the Council’s
ties generate large numbers of
with each donation being bro-
recycling team said: “We’re real-
empty plastic bottles. By starting
ken down it to its component
ly pleased that students are tak-
this initiative, the College will be
parts – red cells, platelets and
ing such an active role in promot-
making a contribution to sustain-
plasma, students and staff can
ing recycling. Recycling plastic
ability and the environment.”
lay claim to saving 1200 lives!”
going to landfill, it saves energy
The College has been recycling
“Every year around 15 per cent of
too. This will help to lower the
paper for some years and, more
blood donors in Cambridgeshire
College’s carbon footprint. It’s
lately, cardboard. If this latest
can no longer give due to age, ill
also important to try to reduce
venture proves successful, the
health, or relocation so we need
the amount of plastic bottles we
College will consider further
more people to become blood
use in the first place, before we
recycling projects in the future.
donors to help replace them.”
why we’ll be giving away refillable sports bottles to students
praised the generosity of the Institute, saying “it’s a fantastic experience, being allowed to perform at the institute surrounded by artefacts from the actual expeditions themselves – the sledges, the skis, the clothing, Wilson’s paint-
bottles not only saves rubbish
come to recycling them. That’s
Project leader, Lucy Edevane,
ings – they even have a polar bear and Amundsen’s Flag”.
The group composed fresh music using the styles of the period mixed with haunting modern melodies to conjure up the wide open spaces of the world’s largest continent.
Students give blood
on the day.” Approximately 1,800 full time
Blood Service (NBS) on Tuesday
students, 280 adult students and
25th September a milestone
strive, to find and not to yield” and formed an important part of both the College’s desire to tackle relevant local material and the Institute’s plans for increased
“It’s great to see that so many students at Hills Road are willing to come forward and make a real
During a visit by the National
The piece entitled “To seek, to
difference to the lives of others. continued overleaf...
public awareness and access.
cont. from previous page... Linda Pike, Student Guidance Officer at the College, said, “Sessions at the College are always very well attended and I am delighted to see so many young people once again taking part. Photograph shows Hills Road students releasing the red balloons in the College quad as part of World Aids Day
“Giving blood is an essential task and it really does save lives.”
College works with its partner school in South Africa Hills Road Sixth College has been
The Global Citizenship Enrichment
Staff and students wore the red rib-
The NBS is constantly look-
working recently with Ndamase
group and others exchanged mes-
bon. Red cakes were sold. And the
ing for new blood donors.
School, near Mthatha, in the Eastern
sages of support and Christmas cards
College gathered at break time in
In most cases anyone aged
Cape to fight HIV/Aids and other
with the ACTIVE group of students at
the quad to pause and remember all
17 to 59, who weighs more
STI’s.
Ndamase.
those fighting HIV/Aids both in this
than 7st 12lbs (50kg), in gen-
country and in South Africa before
eral good health can become
Tutors at Hills Raod have been look-
Then, on November 30th the College
letting off a cloud of red balloons
a blood donor.
ing at the situation both in the UK
got behind the Red and Alive
over Cambridge.
and in South Africa as regards STI’s
Campaign being run by Dhiverse, our
For further information, and
and discussing the steps that we all
local HIV/Aids charity, and supported
In all we raised £296.41 – a sum which
to book an appointment
need to take to protect ourselves
the work of the Bethany Place of
was divided between Dhiverse and
(strongly
from them.
Safety like our friends at Ndamase.
the Bethany Place of Safety.
recommended)
please contact the NBS helpline on 0845 7 711 711 or visit our website at www.blood.
‘Students ahoy!’ at Hills Road
co.uk. Students at Hills Road Sixth Form College held a ‘talk like a pirate’ day on 25th September. Members of the Hills Road student council were delighted to raise £226.10 for the Royal National Lifeboats Institution, an organisation funded completely by donations. To find out more about the RNLI visit the RNLI website The students not only dressed up as pirates, but spent the whole day talking like a pirate. They even raised the Jolly Rodger on one of the College’s flag poles! A competition was held for the top three best pirates, judged by some members of the students council. The winners were awarded free tickets to the College freshers’ ball, as well as stage passes.
The three winners; (left to right) Jess Blake 17, Emily Loombe 17 and Rob Wilkin, 17