15 Winter 2010 - Greenhead College

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Greenhead news New Faces A Friendly Face: Welcome to Anita Matthews, who joins Greenhead’s community as Transition Mentor. Anita’s role is “to provide support for students who may find difficulties in coming to college. It can be anything from being a friendly face, to helping to organise work, to keeping a friendly eye on a student to making sure that they attend their study support sessions.” Prior to joining Greenhead, Anita worked “in a local High School, first in the ICT department, then the school office and finally as the Aim Higher organiser.....I have also been a foster carer since 1992, and generally work with children with behavioural problems who have a specific and special need.” Anita’s initial impressions of Greenhead are that “...it’s very friendly and welcoming which is great.” Outside of work, Anita loves “to read, travel and bake cakes (but I don’t really like cooking.) I enjoy gardening...and am particularly proud of the veg I grow. I also quilt, knit and crochet when I get the time. The things I make are usually sent off for gifts or donated.” Dramatic Magic: As a new member of Greenhead’s Theatre Studies department, Will Osmond has a long history in theatre and teaching. Will’s performance career began at age six, when he started learning the violin. Subsequent academic and professional drama experiences included reading for a degree in Drama and Visual Arts at Manchester Metropolitan University where he spent a year on a cultural exchange to Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, America. Will has been a member of multiple theatre groups, founding a community theatre society in Somerset, where he grew up. A commitment to Community Theatre projects was furthered by the establishment of Will’s company, JuJu, a West African word for ‘magic.’ Will proceeded to write and direct with this group, including working with a branch of the company aimed at assisting young NEWSLETTER ISSUE 15 Winter 2010 people from a socially disadvantaged background. Additionally, Will joined the Whirlwind Theatre Company in Lancaster and worked backstage at the Lowry centre. Will has lectured at Manchester Metropolitan University, an experience which encouraged him to undertake a PGCE and teach. He wants to provide Greenhead students the opportunity to push themselves and experience something new in preparation for their own degrees. Will is a passionate theatre goer and enjoys reading many plays, particularly American drama. However, he also likes to play on his PS3, as well as cycle, climb and kayak in the Cornwall seas when he can. By Matthew McGoldrick Biology’s Team Player: Biology teacher Charlotte Twigger joins Greenhead College after previous work in pharmaceutical research and teaching. Charlotte is an avid football fan who supports Leeds United and used to be Captain of Tadcaster Albion team until she suffered a dislocated knee injury. She says she briefly taught English footballer James Milner whilst he was studying. A real animal lover, Charlotte studied Zoology at Sheffield University and always wanted to be a vet. Nowadays she just loves spending time with her two children and the family pets. Having lived in Canada, California, Sheffield and Cambridge Charlotte has settled in well claiming “it’s nice not having Year 7s”and complimenting Yorkshire folk as being friendlier than most! By Laura Drysdale English Strikes Gold: It’s obvious that you’ve struck gold with an English teacher when they say they would like to have afternoon tea with Chaucer! Ruth Baker recently moved up from Hampshire with her husband and family. Before teaching, she used to work in software. “It turned my brain into a marshmallow!” she says. Ruth has been amazed not just by the warm and friendly welcome of the college, but also by the eagerness to learn of her new students which fits well with her own ideas of English being “a vibrant subject, even outside the classroom”. With reading being one of her favourite things , other than cake and spending time with her family and dog, Ruth is excited to be able to study as she is teaching at the college, and is looking forward to participating in English-based enrichment activities. By Liz Moore Study of a Soul: Mark Higgins is a Lancashire lad, having been born in Oldham. After a change of course at Leeds University from Civil Engineering to Psychology, or as Mark put it “from buildings to people,” he found a passion in his subject, which is his favourite part of teaching. “I really do love my subject” he said. Teaching was not his first career, having worked first in Human Resources, as a social science researcher and in a hospital. He enjoys collecting films and has a membership of Love Film, his top films being The Godfather 2 and Raging Bull. Mark likes playing a five-a-side match of football with colleagues and reads The Guardian. By Elizabeth Gregory A Gap Year to Greatness: Natasha Yates is currently undertaking a gap year as a paid Student Support Assistant at Greenhead College. After studying at Greenhead for two years, Natasha decided to utilise a year out to consolidate her team working experiences before applying to study Veterinary Science. Natasha is enjoying the opportunity to experience Greenhead from “the other side of the fence,” supporting the teaching and learning student experience. This involves forming new and different relationships with staff and students. In her free time, Natasha works at her second job which is based at a Cattery. By Thomas Walpole 4 www.greenhead.ac.uk
Greenhead news Foreign First Aid: Welcome to Greenhead’s Language Assistants-a team of eight dedicated people who spend their time and effort improving the foreign speaking abilities of language students throughout the academic year. Alongside listening, writing and reading, speaking is vital in achieving a good grade in the exam, and throughout the year “as students” we are guided by a team of eight foreign assistants who share the determination with us to achieve the best grade possible. When asked about the most satisfying aspect of the job, the majority of the team responded as follows; “…the feeling of pride when you notice the improvement in the language ability of a student, and the pleasing look on student’s faces when a speaking exam has gone well, plus the friendships that develop with both students and other assistants.” From a personal perspective, having someone to talk to you in the native language, that you are studying, is extremely beneficial. Developing and improving your vocabulary alongside observing your command of oral fluency within the language is very satisfying. Weather aside, when asked what they liked about England, the cities, people and countryside were all mentioned with great affection. Some assistants had further ambitions to become teachers in England after completing their time at Greenhead whilst others intended to travel. Gema, Marianne, Maria, Juliette, Monica, Estelle, Magali and Kristina are the eight people who devote their time to us students, enabling us to achieve the best grade we can in our speaking exam. Personally, I think speaking with my assistants enables me to be a lot more confident when speaking the language, and increases the determination I have to achieve the best grade I can. As students we are highly appreciative of their invaluable work. By Beth Harban Maths Activities Autumn Term 2010: The Senior Maths Team Challenge took place on November 8th at Leeds University, where 25 teams from around the region tried to answer some tough Maths questions. Greenhead College was represented by a team of four comprising Tom Bamford, Michael Truby, Eliot Ball and Greg Bailey. Three hours later, and after some serious brainwork our team earned a creditable 10th place. The winners go onto represent our region in a National competition. On November 4th, a record breaking 105 of our AS and A2 Maths students volunteered to spend one and a half hours after college competing in the UK Maths Challenge. This individual competition is designed to see how well students can apply their mathematical knowledge in unfamiliar contexts. 33 Bronze, 13 Silver and six Gold Awards were earned by our entrants. Well done to all who entered but special praise goes to Sam Porritt and Matthew Wedge-Roberts, both of whom gained scores impressive enough to qualify for Round 1 of the British Maths Olympiad. These two students will sit a three and a half hour paper in December, to test their depth of knowledge and if successful, they could eventually end up in the British Maths Olympiad Team. SL NEWSLETTER ISSUE 15 Winter 2010 Important Diary Dates DECEMBER 14 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (7.30pm Holy Trinity Church) 17 College closes SPRING TERM JANUARY 4 College opens 10 A-level, some AS and resit exams begin (until 1st February) 11 AS General Studies exam for all A2 students (1.30pm) 17 AS General Studies exam for all A2 students (9.00am) 25 Term 2 Enrichment Enrolment 12.05-1.05pm (6 period day) FEBRUARY 18 College closes HALF TERM 28 College opens MARCH 3 Employer/Gap Year Fair 10 Results from January exams 17 AS Parents Evening (L – Z) 18 AS Assembly (period 3, 4 and 5) 21 Governors’ meeting 22 AS Assembly (period 5) AS Parents Evening (A – K) 24 AS Assembly (period 4 and 5) 25 A2 Assembly (period 3, 4 and 5) 29 A2 Assembly (period 5) 30 Oxbridge Afternoon for those interested in applying in 2011/12 31 A2 Assembly (period 4 and 5) APRIL 12 Spring Concert 15 College closes SUMMER TERM MAY 3 College opens Purple For Pakistan Fundraising: Students donned purple in order to help Pakistan’s flood vicitms. Greenhead College’s Charity Committee organised the ‘Wear Purple for Pakistan’ day as a result of requests from the student and staff community. Collection buckets raised a total of £1500. www.greenhead.ac.uk 5
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15 Winter 2010 - Greenhead College

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