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Red Box Project

Staff at BVC are supporting students by fighting Period Poverty with their own Red Box scheme. The original Red Box Project was established in schools in Portsmouth as a reaction to the news that students were missing out on their education because they couldn’t afford the products they needed during their period. The scheme provided red boxes filled with free period products for students to use. Whilst sanitary products have always been available to students at BVC through our first aid facility, staff felt that the issue should be treated with more openness and dignity and through their own donations have filled three 'red boxes' which are distributed through the school. Mrs Myles-Baker (right), head of PSHE, said: "Thanks to our very generous staff, we now have our own boxes with items such as sanitary towels, tampons, wipes, tights and pants. "We have discussed period poverty in our PSHE lessons and our girls know that they needn't suffer in silence - they just need to ask for the box."  

Young readers honoured

Popular author Julian Sedgwick launched his latest book at the annual BVC Library & Literacy Awards evening, much to the excitement of our young prizewinners. Voyages in the Underworld of Orpheus Black is written and illustrated by Julian, his brother Marcus and Alexis Deacon. A combination of prose, poetry and illustration, the book is set in the Second World War and tells the story of Harry Black who is lost between the world of war and the land of myth. The BVC Library & Literacy Awards were targeted at students in Year 7 with younger students from Bassingbourn, Steeple Morden and Guilden Morden primary schools also taking part. These students spent the day in creative writing workshops with Mrs Boxall and Mrs Lynn, enjoying fun writing activities and the challenge of writing a story from a variety of prompts. Students who have taken part in Library events such as the school’s Kids’ Lit district finalists also received awards, alongside librarians, and top readers. New awards were handed out this year for those students who have been taking part in the BVC Accelerated Reader project – with one student reading over 1.3 million words this year alone. Guest speaker Julian Sedgwick, who is well known amongst young readers as the author of the Ghosts of Shanghai and Mysterium series of children’s books, kept the audience on the edge of their seats with tales of how he became an author despite wanting to join the circus as a youngster - with a juggling trick involving knives and…

Physics outreach trip

Year 7 students were fortunate enough to spend a day as the guests of Cambridge University, experiencing life in a college and a hands-on physics tutorial. The Cambridge Physics Experience (CPE) is a one-day event organised by the University of Cambridge's Cavendish laboratory in collaboration with several Cambridge Colleges. The day included a morning tour of Magdalene college, followed by information about studying at university, and advice on Higher Education and applying to university. Students particularly enjoyed searching for the secret door in the wood paneling of the formal dining hall. After lunch the students visited the Cavendish Laboratory, where they were given a tour of the museum which contains many historically important pieces of apparatus which have contributed to major discoveries by members of the Laboratory. Exhibits include apparatus used by Maxwell, Thomson, Rutherford, Aston, Cockcroft and Walton. Post Second World War exhibits include the discovery of pulsars, and the structure of the DNA molecule. Students were then split into teams for a practical session when they were tasked with building a robust Mars Rover.

Junior debate launched

The BVC Junior Debating competition was launched to year 7 students this week - with a debate on the merits of fish and chips! Year 10 students showcased their debating skills by holding a staged debate during Assembly discussing This house believes that Fish and Chips is better than McDonalds, with debating coach Mrs Boxall explaining the different stages of the debate as they went along. The teams (above) were assisted by younger students acting as chairman and timekeepers. Students in Year 7 now have the chance to take part in their own debating competition by forming their own teams and practicing together. The heats will take place during lunchtime Debate Club and teams will debate the following motions: This house would welcome robots in our homes. This house believes footballers are paid too much. This house believes books are better than films. This house believes teachers should be replaced by robots. The grand final will take place later this term.  

Termly Heron

Our termly Heron magazine has been published and is available to view here.

CamSight Assembly

It's always good to welcome back former students - but even better if they are prepared to take an assembly! We were fortunate enough to be visited by Nick Burr, a former BVC student and now spokesperson for Cam Sight, a charity that supports people of all ages with low vision and blindness across Cambridgeshire. Nick lost his eyesight overnight  five years ago due to cancer. He told Year 9 students: "Luckily I survived this terrible disease, however it did take my eyesight away. Cam Sight were there to help me and I was a client for several years. "I then started to volunteer for the charity, then moved onto an internship and then a job offer last year. My role is very varied from holding public talks to at schools and companies to organising fundraising events across Cambridgeshire." Nick explained many of the aids available to blind and partially-sighted people including phone apps and gadgets to help with making a cup of tea. Amber the guide dog was also introduced to students (right). A keen sportsman, Nick then led a session of Goalball (above) where students took part in a match wearing black-out eye masks and using a ball fitted with a bell.

DofE accreditation

BVC has been awarded a special certificate to mark the fact that we are now a Directly Licenced Centre to run the world-famous Duke of Edinburgh Award. The award was presented to  Miss Rachel Ward, Head of Geography, who leads the DofE challenges at BVC and is herself a Gold Award holder. Duke of Edinburgh Award is a charity for young people. Those that are adventurous, caring, sporty, creative… however you might describe yourself, the Award is for you. At BVC the Bronze Award is available for y10 and 11 students. To achieve the award you need to complete 4 sections: Volunteering: To make a difference within your community or helping individuals Skill: To develop practical and social skills and personal interests Physical: To achieve greater physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle through sport Expedition: To get a sense of adventure and discovery, by planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey as part of a team. We complete 2 weekends camping and adventuring.

Exam season starts

Many congratulations to our GCSE Drama students who have completed their practical drama modules. Year 11 students performed their monologue and ensemble pieces to an external examiner today (Friday). This was the culmination of two years' work together and saw the students transform into such diverse characters as cocktail waitresses, bereaved mothers and AIDS carriers. Head of BVC Drama Ms Shortt said: "They all did incredibly well. They have worked so hard for this with extra classes and weekend rehearsals - I was so proud of them all." This is the first of the practical GCSE exams - next week will see Year 11 students complete their two-day Art exam.  

BVC Sports Stars

Senior BVC sports stars were honoured at the annual Roy Burrell Awards - with diving champion Ben Cutmore picking up the prestigious Sportsman of the Year title. The event is held annually at Netherhall School to recognise sporting excellence across schools in Cambridgeshire and this year saw Helen Richardson Walsh, England Hockey player and gold medal winner at the Olympics, hand out the awards. Seven year 11 students from Bassingbourn were awarded medals for competing at a high level in their chosen sport: Ben Cutmore (diving), Max Bowen (athletics), Max Crane (football), Louis Chadwick (football), Fleur Corlett (dance), Ed Vickers (trampolining) and Sam Daniels (cycling). Teachers Dan Beck and Helen Guilder accompanied the students to the event. Ms Guilder, join head of PE, said: "This is another amazing achievement for Ben. We are so proud of them all. "Ben is a superb student. Despite his diving commitments, he keeps on top of his work load and school work and is an extremely level headed and conscientious student.  Ben’s achievements in diving are amazing and I believe he is the biggest talent we have had at Bassingbourn. "I am sure that with his commitment and focus, we will see him competing at the Olympics in the not too distant future." 16-year-old Ben (right) began diving at the age of 7 as part of the Learn to Dive programme and by 10 was the British National Age Group champion and the youngest member of the Junior GB squad. He became British Junior Elite Champion in 2016 and,…

Dance Show 2019

Bassingbourn Village College

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

01763 242344

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