15 Winter 2010 - Greenhead College

Greenhead
news
SHORT LETTER FROM THE
PRINCIPAL:
Dear Reader
Thanks to everyone who has asked about my
health. The bones broken in June are all healed, and
although at the time of writing my left knee is still
sore and weak I am making a ‘textbook’ recovery and
managing more time in college day by day. I am very
grateful to the support from staff and governors which
has taken the pressure off me while I recover. I am,
however, recommending that everybody revise their
Green Cross Code!
It was a pleasure to see another excellent turn-out by
parents at our New Parent’s Evening in September.
The feedback we received was very positive and most
people seem to have gone away feeling well informed.
There were some constructive suggestions which
we can bear in the mind for the future – How does
Enrichment work? Could we save a few trees in our
printing? Could we say more about what the evening
involves beforehand? etc. There is one piece of advice
I can offer right away: if you do have concerns about
your own son or daughter, their personal tutor is the
first point of contact- if you do not know their name a
call to reception should be able to clear that up. Tutors
can also give you information about other things like
Enrichment – they are very knowledgeable about the
workings of the college!
Generally speaking, things do seem to be settling
down very well and we have two excellent year
groups. The second years did great things in their AS
results; I have congratulated the first years also on
their super GCSE results – they have the capacity to
do outstandingly well.
Best wishes
MARTIN ROSTRON
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 15 Winter 2010
A Green Day at Greenhead: Green Is Good
The aim of Green Day was to raise
awareness of Green issues amongst
staff and students. There were
many events taking place around
Greenhead College, from political
discussions, with a Question Time
style debate, between UKIP, the
Lib Dems and the Green Party.
There were also competitions for
Creative Arts, Green Travel and a
Tree Quiz, the prizes being kindly
donated by Huddersfield Giants,
Huddersfield Town and the Odeon
cinema. A successful ‘swap’ took
place in which even the Principal,
Martin Rostron, became involved
by swapping his books. It became
evident that students are taking
Green issues very seriously; Nazish
Ali said that she walks to and from school everyday, despite the fact that a
bus is available, in an effort to be Green. Stalls were set up by environmental
groups to talk to, and provide information for, students and staff, with
passionate members of Greenpeace, Traidcraft, Kirklees Council (which is
one of the leading councils in Britain for climate change), the Green Building
Store, Islamic Relief, and ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ attending. Some students
were drawn out to the tennis courts where Hepworth Honda showcased
two wonderfully modern looking cars with the latest in hybrid technology,
whereas others took a more active role in the pedal power demonstrations
in the hall, which also looked at the benefits of solar power. There was also
an inspiring seminar by one of the college teachers on the Zen Buddhist
approach to Green thinking, which taught students the importance of selfawareness
whilst attempting to protect the planet.
Thank you to all who made an effort to come into college in a ‘Green’ way:
the prize winners were Jay Jones who ‘jumped’ in on jumping stilts and
Ummah Rashid who made a special effort to walk into college from Honley.
Pandora Papamichael won the creative arts prize for her wonderful 3D map
of world issues.
Special thanks have been given by the college to the RSPCA and
Mind Charity shops in Huddersfield for their contributions to the day’s
proceedings. Mind is currently looking for volunteers to work in their shop
on John William Street and will appreciate any offers of help. An in-house
extra thanks also to Julie Polzin without whom this event would not have
taken place.
by Elizabeth Gregory and Elizabeth Moore
Road Safety Awareness:
Routes-The Teenage Highway
Code toured Kirklees Colleges
and Universities for Road Safety
Week 2010. This initiative was
presented by Kirklees Council
and West Yorkshire Fire &
Rescue Service. On Tuesday
23rd November, representatives
visited Greenhead College to
raise awareness and educate
“young people, in a fun and
interactive way, about the
areas of the Highway Code that
are most relevant to them. “
Events at Greenhead involved
Volvo loaning a car with its
sides removed to display
the vehicle’s safety features.
Representatives from the
Fire Service were present in
order to perform a simulated
‘extrication’ demonstration, in
which they cut four passengers
from a car. Workshops were run
during the tutorial programme
by Steve Wright. Steve has an
international reputation as a
puppeteer “being the puppet
maker for Billy Elliot the Musical
worldwide.” Steve’s infotainment
presentations provide students
with relevant knowledge about
“being a 21st Century road user,
whether that be as a driver, a
pedestrian or a passenger.”
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