UPDATE SPRING 2021 FINE ART STUDENT, WINS PLACE ON THE ROYAL ACADEMY WORKSHOP PROGRAMME - Varndean College
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UPDATE SPRING 2021 FINE ART STUDENT, WINS PLACE ON THE ROYAL ACADEMY WORKSHOP PROGRAMME CHEMISTRY TUTOR,JOHN LUTON, SWEEPS UP YET ANOTHER AWARD OUR TRIBUTE TO THE NHS
OUR IT & MEDIA OUR FOOTBALL PITCH FACE MASKS, running out of vital PPE, 3D Design TEAM CREATED AN BECAME THE CANVAS AMAZING ARRAY student Aidan Maraj and his tutor, FOR AN AERIAL VIEW OF VIDEOS, TRIBUTE TO THE NHS SANITISER & Sarah Lampard-Sawyer, got to work in their spare time making VIRTUAL REALITY face visors using the College’s 3D printer. Whilst Aiden researched an … TO STRENGTH, approved design, Sarah managed to source the acetate and DETERMINATION & together they both went into mass production. With the help of his mother back at home, Aidan then ADMIRATION! AIDAN MARAJ AND HIS TUTOR, assembled the kits and they were distributed to St Peter’s and St OUR YEAR 1 A LEVEL TEXTILES STUDENTS EVEN TOOK TO MAKING THEIR OWN MASKS SARAH LAMPARD-SAWYER AND James’s Hospices and the Princess THEIR 3D PRINTED VISORS Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath. MAY 2020 The Marketing team, along with meeting all our new applicants The College found its own unique our dedicated and passionate via online interviews and it was way of thanking the NHS by tutors, our Media Technician and great pleasure to see everyone, allowing its currently redundant the IT team, rose to the challenge albeit on screen. We are just sad football pitch to become the by creating an amazing array of that we haven’t been able to meet canvas for an aerial view tribute. videos showcasing every subject everyone in person yet, but look Local grounds maintenance on the curriculum, general college forward to a day soon when we company, SLS, used their line videos, a student led video can. painting skills to create an NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 tour, as well as an interactive Everyone at Varndean College expansive message on the Throughout November and 360 degree tour of the campus. is so immensely proud of the way grassed pitch at the front of the December, lessons continued Throughout a year which has Additional IT equipment, such In addition, we also held two in which our students, prospective college, creating a spectacular using blended learning, with been the most unprecedented as laptops, chrome books, evenings of live Subject Q&As for students, parents/carers and sight for all to see. many enrichment activities also and challenging ever, we cannot microphones and cameras were prospective students, as well as staff have adapted to all the express how proud we are of our sourced as a matter of urgency SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 taking place online too. You can participating in many schools’ unforeseen changes during the students and staff who have and from 23 March, Varndean was read more about some of the Q&As. past twelve months and how September saw the long-awaited activities our students and staff risen above all expectations plunged into a world of teaching resilient, determined and united return of students to college have been up to further on in this JANUARY 2021 to manage and overcome the never experienced before. By the as a Varndean family everyone and the welcoming of our new publication. Our library continued difficulties, frustration and remarkable use of technology, all Meanwhile, applications to study has become. We hope that a cohort of first years, including 23 to operate using a Click ‘n’ Collect sadness the past year has lessons took place from tutors’ at the College from September brighter future now lies ahead. new international students from service and some students presented everyone. and students’ homes instead and 2021 were flooding in and it was overseas. Life at Varndean wasn’t were able to sit exams, socially we learned how to adapt in a way such an honour to know that so MARCH 2020 what it used to be though; with distanced of course. Our Year 1 A never before imagined. many Year 11 students want to As the country was about to blended learning (one week face- Level Textiles students even took APRIL 2020 to-face, one week online), social become part of our ‘Varndean enter its first national lockdown, to making their own masks. community’. In January we started our small IT team rose to the When it hit the headlines that distancing, the wearing of masks, JUSTIN NYE unthinkable challenge by ensuring care homes and hospitals were hand sanitiser, one-way corridors ALSO STARTED and classroom seating plans, all Student Justin Nye also started FUNDRAISING that all lessons could daily routine. We even got our FOR THE NHS be conducted virtually. becoming part of our new fundraising for the NHS by own Varndean branded masks produced for students! undertaking daily training in September and October are order to compete in the next also the time we usually look Brighton Marathon. The 2020 forward to greeting prospective event was unfortunately Year 11 students and their parents cancelled due to Covid, but Justin from across Sussex to our Open is still training, hopefully to take Events, but this presented yet part in this year’s event instead. another huge and unimaginable Justin has already completed the challenge when these too had Half Marathon raising funds for IN OCTOBER & NOVEMBER VARNDEAN to transform into virtual reality. Macmillan Cancer Support. WE HELD OUR OPEN BRANDED MASKS EVENTS ONLINE
SEXUAL HEALTH & CONTRACEPTION VARNDEAN BECOMES CREATIVE SERVICES AT VARNDEAN TO SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING In support of World Aids Day, the service couldn’t actually OF STUDENTS AND STAFF Varndean students were offered visit the college in person like free sexual health testing they would normally do, they packs and freebies by the still arranged for their freebies We all know what a testing time it’s been for the best mind possible to face Brighton & Hove Sexual Health and information to be delivered everyone’s mental health throughout the past year, today’s challenges. Andrew, & Contraception Service (SHAC) so as to be available to all so over the past few months staff at Varndean who is the founder of Action back in December. Although students. College have worked together to create a series of Your Potential and has spent Well-Being Sites to help staff and students manage 25 years working in schools, through these difficult times. In December, a ‘Winter helps children and young Break Well-Being Page’ was created which offered people take a look at the brilliant tips, tricks and ideas on how to relax over workings of the human brain the Christmas break. These ranged from recipes and use neuroscience and psychology to help them and crafts to films, music and a whole host more. In be the very best they can. Andrew has been bringing EARLY YEARS February, this was then followed up with a further his neuroscientific approach to the classroom and, STUDENTS UNDERTAKE Well-Being Site, again with a huge host of ideas and together with the College’s Well-being team, has been PLACEMENTS ONLINE links, including fitness, cooking, art, mindfulness creating excellent ‘Be the Best You’ learning resources and meditation. As part of their Sport Leadership to the tutorial programme. These bespoke learning Lockdown for Early Years students Qualification, the College’s Sports Leaders also materials include simple steps and strategies on has affected their placements created their own site, full of sporting ideas, activities developing daily habits which enhance engagement, as schools moved once again to and challenges to help improve fitness, health and well-being, learning and motivation to help transform online lessons. Nevertheless, our well-being. To find out more and take part, go to outcomes. Listening to students’ feedback, Andrew students as ever are resilient and https://sites.google.com/varndean.ac.uk/ and the tutorial team created bespoke webinars and always up for a challenge. varndean-college-wellbeing ‘daily life experience’ tasks to be carried out in tutorial Year 2 students Isobel Brewster https://sites.google.com/varndean.ac.uk/ lessons and beyond. For more details, go to Andrew’s and Amber Hill both volunteered varndean-college-sport-leaders/home website www.actionyourpotential.org IT’S A Philosophy support teacher, Zach Jacobs, gave a talk on whether to help reception teachers at In addition to this, the College has been continuing Meanwhile, the College has recently appointed its PHILOSOPHICAL Nietzsche was an existentialist. Telscombe Cliffs Primary school its successful collaboration with Andrew Wright from new cohort of Mental Health Champions to support LIFE All these talks were of a fantastic with their Zoom lessons. Teaching phonics and maths to 60 children ‘Action Your Potential’ who has been working with our the well-being of students. Further details to come The Philosophy programme at calibre and the discussion was aged 4-5 online is no mean feat students during their tutorial programme to help build soon. Varndean has been busy both fantastic. The programme is also though. For obvious reasons, all in and out of lockdown in recent running sessions on Descartes’s mics are muted, apart from the months. Under the auspices of Meditations and ran a student/ teacher, so hand gestures and Fleur Hemmings, Philosophy staff reading and discussion facial expressions are used to Society has engaged in a range evening on Nietzsche. In a similar support the children’s learning of talks by a mix of both students vein, Theory of Knowledge IB instead. Isobel also recorded a and staff. From the students, students have been engaged video in which she told a story Dohara De Silva spoke about in sophisticated presentations for the children to listen to. Both ethical obligations to repatriate that apply critical thinking about students have done so well, they works of art and Alex Woodhead the nature of knowledge to have now been asked to come in spoke about capitalism. real-life situations - considering to support keyworker sessions. everything from Trump’s tweets, After college, Isobel has to atheist claims to a better life, accepted offers at Chichester to ethnocentric bias in musical and Brighton universities to study theory. Vibrant lively discussions Primary Education to become are had in all these forums to a qualified teacher. Amber has encourage students to be critically offers at Sussex, Portsmouth and minded and ethical thinkers on Winchester universities to study whatever issues life brings to Childhood and Youth as part of us whether through academic her aspiration to become a play literature or musing on the therapist. ineffable! THE PHILOSOPHER’S DOG (PIP) CONTEMPLATES!
VARNDEAN SEES THE LAUNCH sponsored by the i360 and then EX-COMPUTER in the summer of 2019 was one of SCIENCE OF ITS ONLINE STORYTELLING only 11 UK finalists in the British STUDENT JUDE Academy of Film and Television SOCIETY AND ETHNICITY & Awards’ (BAFTA) nationwide BIRCH WORKS competition to find the country’s ON GAME FOR IDENTITY DISCUSSION GROUP best young game designers. Jude’s LEGO submission in the ‘15-18 years Game Making’ category was a Ex-student Jude Birch, who left futuristic adventure game called Varndean in 2019 and took a ‘Space Core’ using Unity. year out to gain work experience Jude, who is now at the before going on to university, has University of Sussex studying a been working as a Programmer BSc in Computer Science, said: Intern for local computer games themes/vidiyo/about “I feel really lucky to have the company Near Light and has been Jude is no stranger to success, opportunity to have worked on helping to develop an exciting as in February 2018 was one of the the game, I was able to learn brand-new game for LEGO! The winners in Google’s annual Code-In so much from my boss and game called ‘VIDIYO’, which was competition winning himself a trip co-workers. At Sussex I’ve been launched on 1 March, is a free app for two people to San Francisco developing more games in my A LEVEL TEXTILES where users can create their own and Google’s Headquarters at spare time and am planning to Some of the country’s top launch of the College’s Ethnicity STUDENT WINS FIRST music video using animated LEGO Mountain View, California! An submit one game for a university storytellers, including Xanthe and Identity Discussion Group PRIZE AT KNITTING & characters and props and can be overall total of 3555 students game development contest. I’ve Gresham-Knight, Amy Sutton, Josh that meets online at 12pm every STITCHING SHOW downloaded from the App Store from 78 countries took part in the also been participating in more Crisp and Joanna Gilar, have all Monday. Our first week began Congratulations go to Year 1 or Google Play. Further details are competition. Later that year, Jude programming competitions been invited to tell at Varndean’s with an engaging discussion Textiles student Chantelle Avery- available from the LEGO website won The Argus’s Youth in Action within uni and also against other Storytelling Society throughout about Terminology. Students McNeill who in December won first at https://www.lego.com/en-gb/ ‘Innovator of the Year’ award universities.” last term. The group has been discussed terms they prefer to prize in the 11-17 years category a great success, with students use to describe themselves, terms for the Self Portrait Competition, listening in live, either from college or from home, to Tellers who were that they think they should use to describe others, and terms others ‘Part of Beyond’ at this year’s Knitting & Stitching Show. Judges CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Cameron Myres, Natalie Symes, zooming in from their homes. We ascribe to them which they don’t Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn’s WORKSHOPS - LED BY HANNAH COE Dan Bodsworth, Nevaeh Worrell, Moad Amar, Anesu Maindidze, were even delighted to welcome like. The quality and diversity comments were ‘A compact OF UNIVERSITY OF GUILDFORD AND Yasmin Alharbi, Frano Ricci, one of our Japanese International Students who attended every of views were very enlightening and enjoyed by all. The following composition with a mix of freely worked hand and machine READING Olly Rodhouse and Spencer Maskell for their excellent and session from Kyoto. week, Dohara De Silva delivered a stitching that exudes personality.’ All our Business Studies students as well as how new businesses knowledgeable contribution It is the aim of the Storytelling cracking talk on Colourism. Future Well done Chantelle. were treated to an enthusiastic could develop their CSR to the session. We are also Society to ‘Story the Curriculum topics for discussion this term are and informative workshop in statement and activities in of course extremely grateful and the People Who Make Use of Cultural Appropriation, the Wind February covering the topic of order to compete. Particular to Hannah for offering these It’. This Spring we have a ‘Story for Rush Scandal, Immigration and Corporate Social Responsibility mention and thanks went to sessions and to all the students Business Studies’ by Stacia Keogh Sexism in Communities. and Greenwashing. Hannah, students: Hugo Tibbs, Ryan King, who attended for their efforts. and ‘Oedipus the King’, by Joshua Everyone is welcome, although from the University of Guildford Crisp, a must for any student we hope to invite minority and Reading, delivered two studying the Arts and Psychology. students in the first instance so energetic and fact packed Towards the end of term, Amy that minority views can be heard online presentations looking Sutton will tell the story of ‘The without having to always respond at key points, including how First Non-Binary God’. Students to majority view questions. The businesses incorporate CSR, can join our Google Classroom group hopes to put on events in why they do it and what for resources and contact Fleur the summer term to celebrate are the benefits. Hannah Hemmings for more details, email the diverse culture of the student engaged students by giving fms@varndean.ac.uk. Storytelling body. To join, again see the link in them the opportunity to interact Society takes place at 12pm the College Events Calendar for with the workshop through the every Thursday lunchtime, see the more info and excellent resources chat function. Discussions College Calendar for the Meet Link. join the Google Classroom or included key buzzwords used This term has also seen the email fms@varndean.ac.uk within business CSR terminology,
CHEMISTRY NEWS exams students have been allowed to take during the pandemic. The Chemistry Olympiad is open to all schools and colleges in the UK, aimed at those students in their last year of study before higher education. The competition is designed to challenge and students should see it as an opportunity to VARNDEAN WELCOMES JOHN IS PICTURED develop their thinking and problem- INTERNATIONAL HERE WITH HIS IOM solving skills, and to test their STUDENTS AWARD WON IN JUNE existing knowledge of chemistry in 2020 ALONGSIDE real-world situations. We currently Despite the challenges and THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT’S await the results with baited breath. complexities of Covid-19, we still CHRISTMAS ADVENT Only 25-30 students are welcomed 23 new International CALENDAR! selected to progress onto round students to the Varndean two in late March, which involves REGGIE WARD community in September 2020 SPORTING NEWS a long weekend of training and ... from Hong Kong, Russia, CHEMISTRY TUTOR, Competition and Cambridge assessments (this year online) Singapore, Iran, Switzerland, Italy, JOHN LUTON, SWEEPS Chemistry Challenge and runs the with a final theoretical test. Norway and the Czech Republic. UP YET ANOTHER College’s own weekly ChemSoc Four students are then chosen AWARD Society. Congratulations go to four RED JANUARY Cheerful and enthusiastic, they to represent the UK at the Varndean College students, have been really pleased to be Nicholas Lauteri, Reggie Ward, Ben Throughout January, although we here and we admire their intrepid As well as winning the Institute of CHEMISTRY International Chemistry Olympiad. Whitmore and Sam Wright, who couldn’t be together in person, spirit and the refreshing energy Materials, Minerals and Mining’s STUDENTS AWAIT have been selected to represent we could however all still be and outlook which they bring. In (IOM3) Sir Colin Humphrey’s THE RESULTS OF FUNDING FOR ‘LOST the Sussex Schools FA U18 football together in purpose by signing up the words of one student: “It’s Education Award back in June, ROUND ONE OF THE LEARNING’ to Red January, a scheme run in Varndean Chemistry tutor John CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD We are also delighted to confirm team! All boys are members of the lovely being here, the teachers are conjunction with Sport in Mind, the Luton has added yet another Russell Martin Football Academy, really engaging during classes and Seventeen second year A Level that Varndean’s Chemistry mental health charity that uses accolade to his name, ‘The 2020 one of our Sports Performance the students are so friendly.” and IB Chemistry students sat Department has applied for and sport to empower and improve Award for Lifetime Achievement’, Programmes which students We also welcomed back some of the first-round exam of the 2021 received funding from the Royal people’s lives. one of Pearson’s National Teaching can train in alongside their other our Year 2 International students RSC Chemistry Olympiad in Society of Chemistry to fund Participants could run, cycle, awards. studies. Very impressive, well done from China, South Korea and January. This, and the Cambridge ‘lost learning’ tutors who are now walk, or simply choose their Pearson’s President, Michael guys. Russia. They left us in a whirlwind University’s C3L6 Challenge back delivering extra tuition to students favourite fitness activity and at Morpurgo said about John: “The Extra congratulations also go to of madness in the Spring; battling in June, have been the only public throughout the week. the same time help raise funds work you do, day in and day out, Reggie Ward who made it through closing borders, paying insane for Sport in Mind. Each day is life-enhancing, life-changing. to the 2nd Stage of the ECFA12 football trials held in December. throughout January, our Sports prices on overfull planes, self- isolating in their home-countries, For a child to have a great teacher ‘UPWARDS THROUGH BUSINESS’ Unfortunately the trials were Department came up with a suggested fitness challenge often in designated ‘hotels’ before like you is so important. You open doors, shine a light. You spend your AWARDS CARRY ON DESPITE COVID postponed due to the pandemic, being able to go home, and then One of the key qualities of a quality of work, research skills posted online, which participants working life passing on to children so we eagerly await for them to adapting to online learning successful business is the art of and meeting deadlines. The could then record on their Red all that you know and love.” resume to see how Reggie gets on. with the additional challenge of adaptability. In this spirit, the event was held online using January log, with everyone who John, who has taught A Level Reggie is currently studying the different time zones. Well done to Business Studies programme at Google Meet presented by completed the challenge winning Chemistry at Varndean since 1993, Level 3 National Diploma in Sport all of you. Varndean have continued with College Principal, Donna-Marie a prize. has also been the lead organiser of at Varndean. their termly ‘Upwards Through Janson and Jayne Hems, the annual Chemistry Conference The Sports Department are also Business’ awards - virtually! Assistant Head of Business at Brighton University for the delighted to announce the recent Forty-six students across and Economics. Students were past 20 years; offers students collaboration with Woodingdean both year groups, studying thanked for all their efforts, invaluable support each year Wanders Football Club women’s either A Level Business or BTEC particularly during the current with their BMAT exams for entry side who have teamed up with Vocational Business courses, challenging educational climate, into medicine; arranges visits Varndean College to assist with were recognised for a range of and Certificates of Achievement and talks with Brighton & Sussex the development of our female individual qualities; including posted home. Well done Medical School; coaches students players. A fantastic opportunity perseverance, resilience, online everyone, keep up the excellent for competitions such as the RSC for everyone. engagement, attendance, work. Chemistry Olympiad, Analytical
CHILDCARE & EDUCATION VARNDEAN COLLEGE ‘STUDENT OF LAUNCHES ITS LATEST THE MONTH’ AWARDS ADULT EDUCATION Congratulations go to Anna PROGRAMME FOR Sykes and Magda Sochocka, who were the first students to have been awarded Childcare 2021 -2022 and Education’s new ‘Student of the Month’ award to celebrate those Year 1 students who have either worked exceptionally hard, produced a great piece of work or been outstanding in their work placement. Anna and Magda’s JETHRO WALKS assignment brief was to plan THE CATWALKS! opportunities for children in age brackets: 0-3 years and Congratulations to 4-5 years to support physical Year 2 Photography development. Students had Whether you wish to learn new student Jethro Sapon to show their knowledge of developmental needs, use the skills or simply take part in an who has been modelling current framework to support activity that appeals to you, for FendiFW21. What a their ideas and present their Varndean College has a course for you this autumn and is FINE ART STUDENT, fantastic achievement. plans in an interesting manner. Anna and Magda produced two currently taking enrolments for Jethro is no stranger to its Adult Education programme JOESY, WINS PLACE leaflets that met all the criteria modelling however, having in a unique and thoughtful way. commencing in September. already modelled for The Covid-19 pandemic may ON THE ROYAL Well done, superb work. top brands such as have lock downed our society for now, but looking ahead to There are a wide variety of ACADEMY WORKSHOP Prada, Louis Vuitton, Moncler and the future, a return to learning might just be one of the remedies leisure courses for those looking to learn a new hobby, such PROGRAMME Selfridges! you are looking for. During these extraordinary and unprecedented as painting, flower arranging, photography, or Bridge; you can Congratulations to second year Fine Art times, it’s still possible to plan get fit with one of our many health ahead, maybe even set yourself and fitness classes, such as Yoga, student, Joesy Fincham, who recently applied some goals and targets for the Pilates or Tai Chi; or why not to be part of The Royal Academy Creative future. learn a new language or musical workshops programme ‘attRAct’. Our popular qualification instrument? courses can provide a pathway to Courses take place at our main To be selected, Joesy had to submit a piece becoming a qualified counsellor Varndean College site in Surrenden of work based on set themes and her piece or working in the childcare and Road, or as part of our Community was called ‘Brain Storm’. The final selection education sector. We also offer a Learning outreach programme range of GCSEs, including Maths, in Bevendean, Moulsecoomb, process was then an online interview with other English, Biology, Italian & Spanish, Whitehawk & Woodingdean. candidates discussing their work which she too was as well as other courses to Learning changes lives and it is successful in. Joesy in now participating in various enhance employment skills such never too late to upskill or take up online workshops and enjoying working with other as Business Skills, Social Media for a new hobby. To find out more or Business, Photoshop and English enrol, go to the Varndean College young people and tutors from the Royal Academy. for Speakers of Other Languages website www.varndean.ac.uk/ (ESOL). adulted
FILM NEWS FILM DIRECTOR, WILL BECHER, GIVES IB STUDENT USHIKA VIRTUAL TALK TO STUDENTS WINS CHRISTMAS Ex-Varndean College student and really enjoyed doing, such as his CARD COMPETITION director of Shaun the Sheep Movie, love of crafting and creating a Congratulations went to Year 1 Farmageddon and Shaun Series film and looking through the lens IB student Ushika Kidd back in 5, Will Becher, presented a talk of a camera. Film student, Heidi December who won the 2020 to Varndean students in January Leggett, was very much inspired Design a College Christmas about his work and career in the and said, after the talk, how it card competition. Ushika was film and media industry, including gave her a better understanding presented with her prize of a £50 examples of model puppets of what was involved in the Amazon voucher by Principal, and how they are operated and industry and she was particularly Donna-Marie Janson, socially ‘perform’ on set. Students also interested to learn about the distanced around the College got the opportunity to see some way in which film makers act Christmas tree. Ushika came behind-the-scenes footage and out the scenes to get a better to Varndean in September, ask questions. understanding of the movement after having moved to Brighton When asked about his time at before modelling the puppets from Scotland, to study the Varndean, Will reflected on how into the final animation. It was a International Baccalaureate he was inspired by the things fun talk and gave students a real Diploma in which she is studying he did at college and how he insight into the world of film and English & World Literature, Maths, discovered the elements that he media. Biology, French, Spanish and History. FILM & CREATIVE MEDIA STUDENTS GET PODCASTING AND BLOGGING Eight second year group are doing so well that Jay Film Studies students; and Chloe recently contributed to Jay Taylor-Jones, a training session for facilitators Chloe Howard, Jude of other young programmer Divall, Sarah Butcher, groups organised by Film Hub Alice Johnson, James South East, part of the BFI Film Leigh, Grace Smith and Solomon Audience Netw www.lewesdepot. Newth, are members of a new org/kinocollective and www. Depot group called Kino Collective. thekinosblog.blogspot.com/ As well as producing regular Similarly, Year 2 Creative Media podcasts about films, a blog, students have been embracing YEAR 2 CREATIVE MEDIA STUDENTS and numerous social media the digital technology during accounts, they have also been lockdown and have been running presenting monthly online ‘open focus groups via Google Meet for conversations’ about film which podcasts they are making as their the public are invited to join. The final project.
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