As winter falls rapidly upon us, and Christmas
begins to roll around, year 7s are coming to the
end of the very first term of their secondary
education! I sincerely hope that everyone has
begun as they hope to go on: with budding
friendships, dedicated attitudes to work and
positive relationships with teachers. I'm sure
this is not the case for all but, looking back, it is
apparent that everyone will reach this stage over
the next few years. It's quite amazing to see how much has changed
when I reflect on my life. It seems that, as a teenager, just one year
makes such a huge difference to your identity as you transform from
a child to an adult, making decisions and having experiences that will
shape your future. Priorities, opinions, friendships, attitudes, hobbies,
dreams - everything changes. And, before you know it, you're about
to leave education and be released into the big wide world. Slightly
daunting? Yes. Overwhelming? A little. Exciting? Totally...
While I can't wait to begin my life away from home, part of me is also
treasuring the time that I still have left in Totnes because I'm sure
that twenty, thirty, forty years down the line, I'll wish myself back to
this time as a care-free teenager with so many great experiences and
opportunities ahead. I have recently become aware of what a special
time this is in our lives – before the commitments of work, relationships
and children arise, we have a period of freedom to do whatever we like in
a world full of endless possibility and chance. That's why I have decided
to postpone my university education for a couple of years and make
the most of this time travelling, learning about the world and throwing
myself into new experiences – with no responsibility apart from enjoying
seeing the world through new eyes. And this feels like such a privilege.
Another edition of the Courier arrives and, with
it, the challenge of providing an editorial that is
both on time and compliments the incredible
array of things going on in College. Luckily, I am
within my deadline (by the skin of my teeth).
Whether I can adequately compliment what
goes on here on a daily basis – well, that is a
steeper challenge.
Looking through the pages, I can only offer the
following reflections.
Firstly, how I regret not realising when speaking
to author Tim Bowler that I’d not only read, but
absolutely loved,
River Boy
.
Secondly, how I wish I’d had a music department pushing me to play
and performwhen I was young, rather than leaving me to gaze in wonder
years later at what our students can do.
Thirdly, how much I love being Principal of a College where I routinely
get requests to hold art/dance 'happenings' and to allow students and
staff to dig holes in the site to make Bronze-age kilns.
And, lastly, how I always run out of editorial space whilst still having a
long list of things I could mention: the amazing PE and sports with our
primary colleagues; money raising around Kos Kindness for refugees and
Children in Need; Ms Killock’s new career as a movie mogul; homemade
fizzy drinks in science; the battlefield trip; the drama partnership with
Theatre Royal; the Fab Lab; the Barcelona visit and the year 7 Facebook
page. Apologies to anyone or anything I have missed, and thank you
to the Courier team for omitting from the Sports Day report my rash
promise to join the staff race in 2016.
Have to remember to keep that one quiet…
telephone:
01803 869200
email:
web:
Design, layout and editing:
Polly Morrow
Next issue:
Content Deadline
Friday 19 February 2016
King Edward VI Community College
Ashburton Road
Totnes, Devon
TQ9 5JX
Page 2
A word from the Principal
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A Word from the Principal
Student editorial
Welcome to our year 7s
Year 7 on facebook
Sixth Form
Maths
English
MFL
Music
Design & Technology
Drama
Dance
Activities Week
Okehampton Residential
Art
Foundation Art / Gallery
History
Science / Geography
PE
Curriculum Enrichment Day
Summer School
Careers
Mary Lidstone Trust
Dart Valley Learning Trust
Old Totnesians / SWIMBY
Fund-raising
Sixth Form / Alumni
Staff Leavers
Children in Need
Martha Harris-Davey year 13
The Courier
Contents
Student Editor
Page 3
Welcome to our new Year 7s !!
Year 7 Performing Arts Showcase
This year's new Year 7 students at
KEVICC delighted their families with a
Performing Arts Showcase during our
Year 7 Settle-In Evening, with eighty
students taking part.
Their parents, carers and friends came
into the College to speak to staff and to
find out how their children were getting
on a month after starting here, as well to
see them perform - when we all realised
what a talented year group they are!
The evening opened with a thrilling
display by Drumline, a marching band
led by Kathy Banks, our KEVICC drum
teacher. This was followed by both
individual performances ranging from
a harpist and a ballerina to several solo
singers, together with group displays of
dance, drama and music. These were put
together in their lessons and resulted
in polished performances that were
enjoyed by everyone.
I really like moving to specialist
lessons in different classrooms -
it means we can do so muchmore
here, like science experiments.
It was good to put this show
together so soon after coming
here - I love performing.
I've already got a main part
in the big KEVICC show Les
Misérables in February - I never
dreamed that could happen!
We didn't do any dance in
my old school - I've loved
doing it here.
I've already played in Sports
matches and tournaments -
it's been great.
I'm loving being at KEVICC -
it's so much more grown-up
than primary school!
Our new Year 7 intake have been busy
since the beginning of term in classroom
lessons; on the sports pitches; enjoying
our
first
Curriculum
Enrichment
Day; taking part in extra-curricular
activities; going on our annual Year
7 Okehampton Residential trip AND
putting on a stunning Performing Arts
Showcase for their families and friends!
