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Spanish Exchange at BVC

This week, we wished a fond farewell to Spanish students. Year 9, Jess Grant describes the visit. On 3rd March BVC students hosted the return trip for their Spanish exchanges from Albacete. We were all really excited to see our partners again as we hadn’t seen them for about 5 months. They arrived at 3.30 just in time to meet us and head home where they spent their 1st evening with their partner’s family's getting use to our English customs. On Wednesday they spend the day at the school doing fun activities and experiencing English school life. Activities included tours of the school, being treated to a cream tea, which got mixed opinions from both English and Spanish students, and a PE lesson. After an early start on Thursday the Spanish students spend a day in London sightseeing which they all enjoyed despite our typical British weather. On Friday both English and Spanish students spent the day in Cambridge touring round different Cambridge colleges, shopping, completing a fun scavenger hunt around the city and punting on the river. In the evening students returned home to be entertained by their host families. During the weekend students were kept busy by their families doing many different activities that included: a birthday party, bowling, sampling pub food, shopping, museums and someone even went indoor skydiving. Monday came too soon and their final day was spent in school doing different classroom activities with year 8. Tearful farewells marked the end of this year’s Spanish exchange however lifelong friendships and…

Mathematical Triumph

Recently, BVC Mathematicians took part in the UKMT Maths Challenge competitions which provide a great enrichment opportunity; allowing students to hone their problem solving skills through a 60 minute challenge. We are delighted that a number of our students witnessed success with many receiving a Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. A massive well done to our Gold winners who are now through to the next round in the competition known as The Pink Kangaroo.

Spelling Bee Success

Congratulations to the young linguists in Year 7 who have been taking part in the annual BVC Spelling Bee. Students had to learn a selection of common words in French or Spanish and then were tested on how many they could spell correctly within a time limit. The top 20 in each language will now go through to the next round when they have to learn a further 50 words. Bonne chance everyone!

Coronavirus Update

We would like to reassure parents that all measures are being taken to ensure our pupils and staff are kept safe and we are following government guidance from Public Health England. We are reminding students of hygiene practices are displaying posters in toilets showing effective hand washing procedures.  We also have sanitizer in the first aid room and reception. Regarding school trips, we are continuing to follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidance for travel  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus.  Claiming for cancellation of a school trip to an insurer is only possible if the FCO have advised against travel to the planned destination or if a cancellation is outside of your control e.g. a flight is cancelled.   All our planned trips abroad will therefore go ahead as planned unless we are advised by the FCO that travel is not permitted.  If that is the case, then we will contact parents directly.    If individual parents wish to withdraw their child from a trip abroad and the FCO has placed no restrictions on travel to the destination, then the parents will lose all the funds paid. A reminder that up to date government guidance can be found on their website - visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus  The latest travel guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/02/20/what-is-self-isolation-and-why-is-it-important/ There is also a Government Coronavirus action plan which can be found on their website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan The document includes: ·         what we know about the virus and the disease it causes ·        …

Stunning Cathedral trip

As part of Curriculum Day, Year 9 students went on a humanities trip to Ely to take part in a variety of activities based on Art, RE, History or Geography. Lottie Bond describes the trip: After a coach ride from Bassingbourn to Ely, each group started the morning differently - my group began in the stained-glass museum that was inside the Cathedral. We began by learning centuries-old techniques used by monks to create the windows, how they made different colours and why they were made. After the workshop we began touring around the museum. On every wall were stunning patterns and designs displaying pictures depicting anything from biblical stories to images of monarchs commissioned by kings themselves. Art students took particular interest in the museum as their next scheme of learning will be incorporating some of the art styles and techniques seen there, but everyone else still enjoyed the experience. My group next ventured downstairs, into the main part of the Cathedral. With ceilings as higher than they were wide, it is an understatement to say we, including the staff, were amazed with the beauty of it all. As we entered, both the ceilings and the walls were decorated with intricate designs showing biblical stories, including the Nativity, the Easter story and the Ascension. While we were all stunned at the cathedral itself, we were kept interested by our tour guide, who not only taught us about common Christian teachings but also opened up theological discussions into the nature of God, which I, as an…

Dance Show gallery

BVC students Talking Aloud

Year 9 students Amelia Peace and Elliot Perkin represented Bassingbourn Village College at the inaugural Cambridge Talking Aloud competition. The public speaking competition was organised by Amber-Page Moss, of Peterhouse College, University of Cambridge, and attracted state schools from across Cambridgeshire. Amber visited Bassingbourn last term to deliver a workshop to our Year 9 students and to explain the competition to them. Amelia and Elliot were supported by a group of their BVC friends (above) and English teacher Mrs Rebecca Boxall. The Bassingbourn B team (right) had a last minute substitution at this week's Cambridge area final of the ESU's Churchill Public Speaking Award. Year 9 student Lottie Bond stepped in at the last minute to compete alongside Matt Gilliland and Fraser Clapham. Fraser once again won the evening's Best Speaker award and the trio were awarded second place overall, narrowly missing out on a place at the semi finals which will be held at Magdalene College, Cambridge, next month.

Curriculum Day activities

The normal timetable was suspended on Tuesday to allow students to enjoy extended activities related to specific curriculum areas. Year 7 enjoyed classroom-based activities related to poetry and performance while Year 8 covered wellbeing in PSHE, seeing first-hand how to deal with worries and the power of listening to each other chat over a simple cup of hot chocolate. A trip to Ely saw Year 9 enjoy a Humanities trip to Ely where they were able to visit the Oliver Cromwell Museum, Ely Cathedral, the stained glass museum looking at religious art and a geography field study within the city. The PE and Science departments joined forces with Year 10 to look at how we process food and burn calories – literally! Activities ranged from chocolate tasting to fitness sessions, all linking to wellbeing and healthy eating. The Year 11 pastoral team took students on a day-trip to the O2 to recognise their hard work so far this year. The students voted to visit the Oxygen Freejumping Park where they were able to take part in a number of activities including virtual reality games, bowling, watching a film and a visit to the interactive Sky Studios. BVC Principal Vickey Poulter said: “It takes a lot of planning to run a Curriculum Day and the whole day was particularly busy - including an impromptu fire alarm at the end of the day! “I spoke to a number of students across year groups and they all said how much they had enjoyed the day so I’d like…

Bonjour et bienvenue!

Our third annual French exchange has started with the college playing host to over 70 students from our partner school, Collège Joseph Bédier. Year 10 students Evelyn and Imogen describe the visit: "On Monday 27th January, we finally got the chance to meet our French exchange partners for the first time. They arrived after a long journey from the south of France by coach, and they had stopped on the way at Windsor castle and Grantchester for a cream tea! We picked them up from school and took them home where we gave them a tour of the house, bonded over activities such as watching films, playing games and answering their questions. "The next day the students came to our school, travelling with their partners by bus or car. Firstly, we had a presentation by students lead by college captains, which involved performances on the trumpet, piano, singing, GCSE dance students and a performance from some of the Matilda cast. The French students were really impressed! During the rest of the day the French students participated in activities such as a tour of the school, games in the library, PE and a short English and Maths lesson. They also shared a traditional English lunch in our canteen. "In the evening we took our partners out to enjoy bowling and a meal out. This was a great way to learn more about them. "Overall it was a great experience which has improved our French, our communication skills and we can’t wait to go to stay with…

Student voice is loud and clear

The tradition of producing good public speakers from BVC has continued with another of our students being awarded a Best Speaker award. The English Speaking Union's Churchill school's public speaking competition attracts entries from over 400 schools in England each year, with the Cambridge branch competition being hosted at Bassingbourn this week. Seven teams from four schools competed against each other - Bassingbourn and Bottisham Village Colleges, St Mary's, Cambridge and St Bede's Inter-Faith school - with teams from Bassingbourn and St Bede's winning their way through to the branch final. Bassingbourn fielded two teams, photographed above with English teacher and public speaking coach Mrs Rebecca Boxall. BVC team A comprised Katie Cheeseright, Ciara Free and Archie Lievesley with Katie choosing to speak on the proposal that 'The #MeToo movement has instilled fear rather than empower people'. Special mention must be made of Ciara who stepped in with just 20 minutes notice and impressed the judged with her confidence and calm manner. BVC team B - Jon Cheeseright, Matt Gilliland and Fraser Clapham - won through to the next round with Fraser speaking on the controversial proposal that 'Recycling is a waste of time'. Following in the footsteps of former BVC students Ed Evans and Iain Lynn, Fraser also scooped the main award of the evening - Best Speaker. This is the third consecutive year that BVC has won this award. The Churchill district final will be held at Hills Road Sixth Form College on Thursday, 6th February. Year 9 students showed great promise at…

Bassingbourn Village College

South End, Bassingbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5NJ

01763 242344

office@bassingbournvc.org
absence@bassingbournvc.org

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