The Courier is printed locally on 100% recycled paper using vegetable inks. It is fully recyclable. Kind &Committed Inclusive Issue No 202 King Edward VI Community College Totnes Summer 2024 Image by Hannah Wintle Spirit Festival Courier
Within these pages we see students, staff, parents and carers going above and beyond. It is inspiring to work in such a comprehensive, inclusive and committed college. Here's to all your Summers. Alan Salt Page 2 Principal's Hello This edition celebrates our enrichment. The effort our staff put into offering a programme of extracurricular clubs and visits is truly inspiring. Be it the Sprung dance showcase, the wealth of PE clubs we offer or the Ten Tors expedition, our staff really do go above and beyond here at KEVICC. The commitment of our students is of course fully captured in this edition too. Be sure to check out our World Peace festival on pages 23 to 25. Seeing students from across the age ranges perform so naturally and with such poise was a delight, as was the support our older students showed to our younger musicians. What a culture our performing arts team have created. Lastly, a huge thank you to you, our parents and carers. It is your commitment to this college and to our comprehensive, inclusive values that provides us with the grounded, diverse student population we so happily work with, day to day. So, with this college year almost past - do check out Maeby's beautifully illustrated year on page 14 - we welcome a long, restful Summer and look forward to seeing you all again in September - when we'll be welcoming our largest Year 7 cohort in a decade.
Page 3 Dance Enrichment SPRUNG 2024 was the culmination of our dancing year. Led by our wonderful Dance Lead, Sarah McInally, the evening typified student enrichment at its best.
Page 4 SPRUNG brings together our dance community and celebrates student excellence shown in many styles, techniques and creativity. It allows the students their very first performance platform as well as a regular slot in showcasing work for others. Sarah McInally, Dance Lead Teacher Sprung 2024
King Edward VI Community College’s annual Dance Showcase is a show like no other. For me it is one of the absolute highlights of the college year: students and staff in their creative element. Alan Salt, Principal Page 5 Inspired Perfomers
Page 6 We Do Creativity This year was particularly special for me as it marked 20 years of teaching at KEVICC! The programme of dance was eclectic and was a real celebration of the achievements the students at KEVICC have; some as part of classwork, some enrichment and extracurricular and some examination. The Creative Dancers were once again a delightful addition and our Alumni student Saskia Faye Larcombe, who is now a professional Dance and Textile artist, performed for us. It is refreshing to see how many members of the community support this event and provide an exciting audience for our students. Sprung would not be possible without the help and contribution of many people. Particular thanks go to Parent’s Association for the refreshments, all the staff who have helped both front of house and backstage, Nick Rangecroft & Hannah Wintle for the photography, the Performing Arts department for their continued support, Tom Greig for the outstanding technical support, the parents for all their support and encouragement but most of all the wonderfully talented dancers performing in this year’s SPRUNG. Sarah McInally, Dance Lead Teacher I am extremely privileged and proud of all the dancers who took part. The conveyor belt of talent is strong and I am always amazed at how our students rise to the challenge of producing a very slick and well-rehearsed dance show. Sarah McInally, Dance Lead Teacher
www.kingedwardvi.devon.sch.uk Open Evening KEVICC Thursday 19th September 2024 6 - 8.30pm We have seen record applications to our College in 2023. Come and see why so many students, parents and carers are making us their first choice school. Battle of the Bands 2022 Ten Tors Training 2024 Year 7 Freshers Fai Shakespeare Festival 2023
In June we headed to Bristol and Slapton Line with Year 10 geography students. The two days were spent collecting a range of field data, in both human and physical environments. Students will then use the collected data as part of their GCSE exam next June. Page 8 Geography Fieldwork
Students investigated a range of hypotheses looking into the changing footfall, environmental quality and land use across Bristol's central business district. Students compared the success of urban regeneration approaches across Broadmead and Cabot Circus... whilst taking in a bit of retail therapy themselves. Climate Impact Page 9
The Ten Tors programme is led expertly by the brilliant Mr Earl and is supported by a host of generous volunteers, including past teachers, parents and wider staff. Students and staff give so much of their personal time to the event and its training. We are indebted to our staff, not least Mr Earl, and wider community for making Ten Tors happen. It really can be life-changing. Page 10 Dartmoor At its Best This year students enjoyed remarkably good weather, certainly when compared to last year's torrential weekend. But the heat brought a different set of challenges on event day itself...
All in all, KEVICC had three teams complete the event over the Ten Tors weekend in May. And what a weekend it was... so much personal growth, challenge, success, joy, set-backs... and a helicopter ride to boot! Page 11 We had a great weekend on the moor. The weather was phenomenal for us whilst relaxing at the camp however it was probably one of the most challenging events in recent years for the teams. Heat exhaustion was a factor for two of our teams and it was very tough going for the rest. In the end, our two 35-mile teams completed the event and did brilliantly. Our 45-mile team were stopped at the last checkpoint due to time restraints. They were very disappointed as they felt they had the energy to carry on and make it in time. The plus though, is that Molly Lates (sorry, Yates) may have finally met her match in the form of the British Army who would not put up with her lack of punctuality. Molly, being Molly though, still managed to blag a lift back in a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter (which I think was the only way to get her to stop talking). Another great year, another great set of students. Jim Earl Outdoor Lead Ten Tors 2024
Page 12 Battle of the Bands Leonard & The Zombies are one of many exceptionally talented bands that attend KEVICC. This term the guys competed in Devon's Battle of The Bands, finishing second and making the regional final. What a fantastic evening at Bomba on Exeter Quay for the final of the Devon Secondary Schools Battle of the Bands. Leonard&The Zombies put in a fantastic peformance, finally finsihing as runners up. Huge congratulations to the winners (also called) The Zombies from Plympton Academy and other runners up Vanity Project from Colyton Grammar School. All of the bands did themselves (and their schools) proud. Judges and partners, R&K Systems and Music In Devon Initiative, were blown away by the talent. Be sure to check out Leonard & The Zombies on all good streaming platforms. Nicky Hansford Music Curriculum Leader Photographs above from Battle at the Bands Finals, Bomba & Sea Change Festival 2022
Page 13 The Spotter of Whistling Ridge Ewan Whitchurch Bennett Year 10 Student Upon whistling ridge twice is a piercing gaze, Beating down upon an unknowing adversary, Stern soul steadfast, idle yet wary. Coordinates communicated and second gaze is set, Upon the marked enemy, a crosshair has met. Sight is zeroed and we are ready to converge, Unruly notes of the whistling ridge merge, With bolt-action sincerity through a deadly note. Only one shot it takes because we are the best, The note connected and drove deep into his chest, We just guessed that his soul had been put to rest, For we simply packed up, turned tail and left. Creative Writing Photograph above from X @KEVICC: students at Torcross in June commenorating the 80th anniversary of Operation Tiger Apple Woody Lock Year 7 Student Hey My name is APPLE for short Or Andrew Peter Pickle Leonard Evans for long (no-one says my whole name) I was sitting in the fruit bowl Minding my business then Orange gave me a scowl I found that stupidly unfair So I stabbed his best friend a Pear I’m a bit angry so I can’t hold out much Lots of things have happened to me this and that, as such First, my cousin was eaten last week That was my first anger peak Second, the Bananas single me out I haven’t done anything, all they do is shout Third, Worms are crawling all throughout me Why can’t they see, I wish they’d just leave me be! But on the same day my anger lifted Because the Plums before me shifted So now I have some new mates Even a few little Grapes My life’s a lot better now And when I look through my past, I just say…. How?
Page 14 An artist's Year Maeby Morrison in Year 7 created this illustrated Wheel of the Year. What a talent, we adore this.
In need of a good Summer read? Redworth Library is crammed full of them. Check out these excellent student recommendations... Page 15 Robyn Yates, Year 8, on Charlie Higsons’ Enemy series, ‘It’s apocalyptic, set in London, everyone over fourteen become a zombie. Each book is set in a different part of London and different young people are trying to take back control of the city. I like the detail, the gory imagery and ugly zombies!’ There is a lot of support for the Investigators series, Zac Scott, Year 8, gives a summary ‘it's about two crocodiles who solve crimes, in Ants in their Pants, there is an evil astronaut who controls giant ants who then destroy cities. It’s funny and exciting’. Zac Vanstone, Year 8, would recommend Bunny vs Monkey, he describes it as ‘a cool and funny comic, it’s like Dogman so if you like that one this is for you!' Hazel Beasley, Year 7, recommends The Gone series by Michael Grant, ‘there’s lots of action, it’s about the supernatural and it also has an emotional level. Plenty of gory descriptions. The books have amazing story lines and each character has unique attributes which make them really cool. Overall, it’s a great series of books’. Iris Perrens, Year 7, describes Sarah Driver Sea from The Huntress Trilogy, ‘A page turning tale of friends, enemies and kin. A fearless warrior fights for her ship, Book Reviews her tribe and her world, the most gripping book I think I've ever read; three priceless gems, one evil man, one determined girl and her lion-hearted family legacy.... step into the pages and join the rebellion!" A sign of a good book is surely when you are annoyed that you have finished it, this is what Rebecca John, Year 7, felt about Alice Osemans’ Solitaire, ‘it’s relatable on a depressing level! It shows real struggles of human beings, it’s like reading someone’s actual diary. It shows friendship problems realistically and the ending was a shock’. Isaac Davies, Year 8, is reaching the end of the epic, Mortal Engines Quartet, by Philip Reeve ‘It’s a science fiction story set in the far future, Tractionists and Antitractionists at war, cities that move on tracks, where bigger cities eat up smaller cities! The books are really addictive, there’s a lot going on which makes the books really gripping’. Just published and eagerly awaited is Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, Lia Rodgers, Year 8 is a big fan ‘Impossible Creatures is the best book I have ever read! The creativity needed to create such a complex yet realistic and beautiful fantasy world is something that could only belong to a great writer. The depth of the world design is incredible. As well as that, I love the story and I think it makes some really powerful messages. Definitely a must-read!’
Page 16 National Theatre Our brilliant students performed Wind/Rush Generation(s) at The Theatre Royal in Plymouth as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.. Wind/Rush Generation(s) by Mojisola Adebayo is a play about the British Isles, its past and its present. Set in a common room of a "respectable" university, a group of first year students attempt to communicate witha troubledghost. Theyare soonconfrontedby the full weight of Britain’s colonial past. An episodic play that fuses naturalism, physical theatre, absurdism, poetry and direct address, the play confronts the brutal reality of the history of racism across these shores. Here are our students speaking about their experiences in their own words. Dawn Shaw Head of Performing Arts
Page 17 Connections Festival "It was very much an ensemble piece and I really enjoyed the communal experience and how we all worked together as equals." Raphy Bircham
Page 18 Page 18 Wind Rush Generation "I really liked performing at the Theatre Royal Plymouth with the other schools, it added an element of competition. I also enjoyed the content of the plays, as they had real political meaning and historical context which we were able to explore and debate in rehearsals." Benjamin Loverock "I am able to express myself through these extra curricular opportunities and then focus better on my academic subjects... knowing the fun stuff will happen at breaktimes or after school" Benoit Walton-Owens
Page 19 Year 11 Prom It was a joy to spend an evening with Year 11 at The Darmouth celerbrating their time with us at KEVICC.
Page 20 Mary Lidstone Trust As a college we are very privileged in being able to offer financial support to students applying for Higher and Further Education courses each year through the Mary Lidstone Charitable Trust. As I come to the end of my second year at Trinity Laban Conservatoire I can honestly say it has been the most exciting time of my life and the most challenging! Nothing prepares you for university life. Without the Mary Lindstone Trust I couldn't afford to study in London. A full Student Finance Award doesn't even cover my rent and with a 60 hour a week timetable, with rehearsals and workshops over the weekend, my employment opportunities are limited. The bursary I receive is a life line that means I can concentrate on honing my skills whilst taking advantage of every possible opportunity. I don't know if the Trust realises how crucial their support has been to me. Whatever my future holds it has been made possible by the award I receive. Thea Chamberlian, Former KEVICC Student Above: Thea's A Level performance art piece, created during her time at KEVICC
Page 21 Opening Oxford Alice Dunn is a huge advocate of Kennicott, after moving to us from a selective setting at the end of Year 11. She is currently at Oxford studying History... My experience of applying for and receiving the Mary Lidstone Trust has been absolutely wonderful. I wasn’t always sure how financially feasible going to university would be, but the Trust has meant that I’ve been able to support myself through my studies without putting any burden on my family. Having nearly finished my first year of university, its enabled me to live a fuller life as a student, meaning I’ve been able to experience things I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to. Oxford is expensive, and the workload is so heavy that fitting a job alongside would be impossible (and is actually not allowed!). This bursary has therefore meant that I can have a university experience more similar to my peers, without having to worry about money all the time. As well as the countless social experiences and activities it’s unlocked for me, I’ve also been able to buy the books and equipment I needed in order to make the most of the course. It’s one of the many great opportunities which Kennicott offers, who not only helped me find and develop what I was passionate about, but also, through the Mary Lidstone Trust, providedme with themeans to pursue this in a higher education setting. Money shouldn’t be a barrier to attending university – even one like Oxford, which has a reputation for a large proportion of privately-educated students – and so the Trust is doing something really important, for which I am endlessly grateful. Alice Dunn Former KEVICC student Opposite: Alice in our Grease production in 2022
Page 18 Page 22 Comic Relief ComicRelief is amajor charitywitha visionof a fairer world, free from poverty. It funds programmes that help people and communities overcome the many challenges they face; such as mental health and wellbeing, homelessness and poverty, and they provide help for those who are most harmed by climate change. Running all week was the ‘One-liner joke’ competition. We had lots of great submissions, the winning pun was from Lara: ‘I'd like to start with the chimney jokes - I've a stack of them. The first one is on the house.’ We had not one, but two, delicious cake sales on Wednesday and Thursday. There were mouth-watering cookies, some beautifully iced cupcakes and so much more! Thank you to everyone who donated and those who bought some tasty treats! Friday saw a non-uniform day with everyone making a £1 donation. There was some serious squirty cream action at the pie-the-teacher event! A few of the brave teachers who signed up to get pies flung at them by their students were Mr Gillard, Mrs Smart, Mr James, Ms Vickery, Mr Holborn and even Mr Salt (belatedly)! Overall KEVICC raised an amazing £733.50 for Comic Relief and all of this money will go towards the great causes and projects that the charity supports. Words by Iris Perrens Student Council Journalist This year the school council had a meeting to talk about some ideas for fundraising and some great suggestions were made! So, over the course of three days back in March, the KEVICC community got together to raise money for this life-changing charity.
Our World Peace Festival blew us away in July. Our performing arts team have created a very special culture. The wealth of talent was one thing, but the nurturing spirit and care our older performers showed our younger musicians will live long in our memories... Page 23 Summer Festival
Page 18 Page 24 World Peace A stunning set of performances including covers of Sigur Rós, Fleetwood Mac, Will Varley, The White Strips and the Cranberries. Eclectic and brilliant, it was a highlight of the college year for us...
Page 25 Summer Soul Our festival lineup certainly stood up to Glastonbury's (rather underwhelming) set of headliners this year. Our evening began with three performances from our Creative Dance groups. This was followed by Gabriel Gutierrez on the piano. Alice Broad and Eleanor Tredinnick then gave a duet. Maya Rees-Durham then played a solo piano piece. Petal Fullalove and MiriamKempton followed this with guitar and voice. Ian Lo, Leah Reckless and Duke Frame then gave us their solo performances. Maya Rees-Durham, Issy Hoare and Etta Palmer accompanied a piano piece. Lillie Allford and Bea Butterworth sang and played guitar. Our Year 8 singing group followed this with a performance of Let It Be. Simona Luck and Poppy Whittles then gave solo performances, with a duet from Codie Tanner and Issy Hoare. Rufus MacDonald, Clyde Davenport, Gilbert BakerSharman and Fin Ledger then took their band to the stage. This was followed by the Year 8 wind group. Miriam Kempton and Arun Franklin then gave us an Icelandic inspired piano and violin duet. Sophie Sosnowski gave a solo. Arun and Fin were then back on stage with their duet, followed by piece from Nancy Goddard and Lia Rodger. This was followed by five solo pieces from Jayden Hopkins, Aishwarya Marment, Arun Franklin, Evie Ansell-Escott and Mila Chudley. The Year 12 band featuring Charlie Button, Curtis Hogarth, Remy Giles O'Connell and Evie Ansell-Escott were up next. Followed by a solo from Molly Yates and a duet from Mila and Evie. The evening finished with our Year 10 band featuring Benoit Walton-Owens, Jack Renshaw, Vera Kirby and Rosie Wolf taking on a classic Fleetwood Mac cover. Nicky Hansford, Music Lead Teacher
at Page 26 Words by Wendy Newman & Terry Hopkins Who truthfully runs Kevicc…? Well, it always was the superhuman cheerful Caretaker, Dave Willis of course! Without him and his calm and happy approach to all things, our jobs simply could not have gone ahead. Where he fixed, ordered and made good, our work followed and flowed. Dave proved himself to be of super human powers-a trait probably never requested on his CV when he was awarded the job, but which has been on show in abundance over the many years he has dedicated his calm and no-fuss approach to all of us. Who else is capable of unblocking sinks, loos, drains? Unlocking doors (when you’d forgotten your keys..) fixing roofs or sweeping drives of snowfall or slippery leaves? Repairing doors, and hinges? Ordering light bulbs and replacing handles on locks? Lifting heavy orders and transporting them from one site to another. Staying on late to lock and secure the buildings. From the literal banal nuts and bolts of his job, to the hugely demanding need of keeping us all safe, Dave performed every task without complaint and more often than not, bearing a big beaming smile. We were very happy to work during his long reign. Caretaker Dave has worked physically harder thanmany toward deserving a quieter and less busy existence in his future retirement with dear Hazel. Put simply, our days and teaching were all made easier and happier by Dave and we wish him every happiness for a long and happy retirement. Words by Chris Killock I have known Dave since I started teaching at KEVICC in the nineties. As a new member of staff I was struck by his friendly and helpful approach and particularly by his gentle sense of humour. But it was only when I started putting in place a The One & Only Dave Dave Willis, our cherished caretaker, retires this Summer... community Arts programme at the Ariel Centre that I realised what a really great bloke he was. When you are setting up for an outside event it is amazing how reliant you are on the caretaking staff. If anything goes wrong it can ruin a member of the public's experience of a play or concert. The bear traps - locked doors , malfunctioning heating systems, disappearing tables - the list seemed endless. It was at these times, when disaster often seemed to loom that Dave, with his calm personality and unrivalled knowledge of all the systems would step into the fray and make things work. There was always a great sense of relief when I knew he would be on duty. So thank you Dave - you have saved my skin on many occasions - have a great retirement Words by David Irish Some people know KEVICC and some are KEVICC. Dave Willis is the latter. He attended school here as a teenager and then returned to become part of the site team for over 26 years. Heads and teachers may come and go, but Dave has been a steadying constant in a world of continual change. He knows everything about the college and its people, its history and its workings. What he doesn’t know, isn’t worth knowing! Dave has been there throughout the decades and has worked with both students and staff in such a positive way. He is very unassuming and modest, yet without all his efforts KEVICC would not be the college it is today. It is sometimes those who quietly get on with life that have the greatest impact and their influence shouts out their importance to us all. To say Dave is going to be missed is a massive understatement and we all wish him good luck in his retirement and the adventures he has planned. The college just won't feel the same without Dave's calm, kind & reassuring presence. The college could not have been better cared for during Dave's tenure. Simply put, we will miss Dave dearly. We wish him the very best in retirement.
Page 18 at Page 27 Film: Martin Walker: Maverick Director: Martin Walker (no one else is telling him what to do) Running Time: over 31,536,000 minutes Starring: Martin Walker Synopsis: A Totally Totnes Teacher, who knows more about film than most Film Critics, decides to call it a day and leave his work colleagues in the mire by trying to work out how the hell they’re gonna replace the irreplaceable. However, they end up not missing the nuts he would leave all over the carpet for Fran The Cleaner to not hoover up, nor his stupid bike getting in the way of everything as is a cyclist’s want when you bear in mind the mile long tail-backs they love to create on the main roads. Martin Walker joined KEVICC many, many years ago (17 years ago to be exact). He was on loan initially but after an impressive first season at Club KEVICC he was given a permanent contract and went full-time, helping the Media & Film Department (as it was known at the time) to see out some excellent results and sit top of the table for results in the South West. As his legs started to creak (blame the cycling), he went back to the part-time contract and having more time on loan (at Home FC this time). However, he’s now made the permanent transfer to Home FC and we wish him all the best for the future. Like hell we do. We wish he was staying and we hope he has a stinker at Home FC, gets kicked out and has to come back here again and work for us and clean up the mess he’ll inevitably leave behind ‘cos no one is gonna be able to teach Paper 2 of the Film A Level paper like he has. We’ll also miss his good humour and company. Damn, he’s left Mr. Chilton with Mr. Brooks - aka. Mr. Magpie, who is always stealing Chilton’s stuff, demanding to have a coffee made for him immediately or he’s likely to die (despite having one made for him only an hour previously), and will bang on about political nonsense in the way a Fauxcialist with a second home in France only could. Also, Chilton will now have to put up with Mr. Dart, who will likely leave every time Chilton tries to talk about football like he used to enjoy with Mr. Walker, and absquatulate whenever a film ismentioned as Darty hates being in the room when a subject he has no interest in is raised (or knowledge of, hence making him look less intelligent than he likes), thus leaving Chilton to talk to himself (which to be fair, is probably more interesting because Mr. Chilton doesn’t constantly talk about The Smiths or The Tories). The only reason why Mr. Chilton hasn’t kidnapped Mr. Walker and tied him to a chair in The Edit Suite (though he’s still thinking about it) is because at least he has Mr. Hibbard to talk to even though he too is allergic to football. But if Hibbard leaves then Walker is gonna be brought back here akin to Kathy Bates imprisoning James Caan in Misery. And ‘misery’ is certainly the feeling Mr. Chilton is feeling right now. At this point, I’ve realised I’ve started talking about myself in the third person, which is ‘nuts’, and another reason why Mr. Walker should stay because even writing his ‘Teaching Obituary’ has Chilton's Film Review Here's Mr Chilton's take on the Legend that is Mr Martin Walker... led me to lose my grip on reality. This is a man I have grown to rely on for his knowledge of film. I’m a bit of a mainstream film lover myself, but Mr. Walker has a far more rich and balanced diet of films than I. His love for aesthetics and film history is infectious, and his lessons at KS5 close to degree level. The students probably haven’t understood the absolute gold they’ve been taught by him over the years and the privilege they had to be taught by him. The effort that has gone into his lessons - the research, the preparation, the marking – is exemplary. The care he has for what he teaches – English as well as Film – has always been clear: he is professional and ensures he always gives every student who comes into his classroom ‘the best’. So why ‘Martin Walker: Maverick’, I hear you ask? A maverick is an animal, usually a form of cattle, that does not carry a brand. It is a word also used to describe a person who acts free from constraints or organisational guidelines. Well, though he would keep to ESWpolicy, he is still his own ‘brand’ of Teacher andman: from the depth of his lessons and what he wants to teach, to his penchant for oat milk when the rest of us would glug down the old cow juice; whilst most of us would scoff back the chocolate and the cake, he would chew on a cashew nut - though whether he really did is up for debate due to the amount of them we always found on the floor. But ‘Martin Walker: Maverick’ is also fitting because – as this take on the synopsis for the original film suggests – it fits: ‘After 17 years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top Teacher, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads KEVICC’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to take it.’ This year’s Year 13s were possibly the final straw but he completed the mission. Now let’s hope he doesn’t end up like Maverick in that movie and rocks back here for another mission in the near future. We can only hope. Goodbye, Mr. Walker, we love you and we’ll miss you, you’ve been a… Rating: ***** A 17 year career at KEVICC draws to an end. What could more fitting for Mr Walker than to be reviewed by his friend and co-film teacher...
Page 18 t Page 28 Nikki Van Der Eyden Farewell by Paul Hibbard Since I began writing this, I have been referring to it as ‘Nikki’s obituary’ – which it kind of is – marking the end of an illustrious career and all that. She is such a crucial member of the department, however, that she will undoubtedly live on in the inappropriate stories that I cannot possibly relate here. No-one who has been taught by, or taught alongside Nikki is ever likely to forget her. I first got to know Nikki more than twenty years ago and remember being sent to London on an A level course. Both of us desperate to prove to the other our consummate understanding of the Geography of the capital and its Tube system, we strode confidently onto the platform without a second glance at the map. Result? Wrong platform; wrong train; wrong direction; very late arrival at course. Nikki is a unique teacher. She manages to be utterly terrifying to a degree that belies her diminutive stature and yet to whom do we all go when we are really in trouble? Myriad are the lunchtimes and afterschool sessions she has devoted to solving the problems of tearful sixth formers and staff alike. She is cultured and always well-read, pushing students to think beyond the confines of A level or GCSE to the point where they feel like it’s all beyond their intellectual capacity, driving them to complete yet more practice essays which they moan and wail about… until results day where they find themselves to have entirely out-performed their expectations. In losing Nikki, we are losing one of the department’s greatest intellects, together with an autonomous approach that is so sadly at odds with the uniformity of current educational thinking. I can think of no-one else who is as tireless and thorough in their level of planning, preparation of lessons and marking of assignments. And yet I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve tried to explain how to copy and paste from one document to another. She now claims to have mastered the world of ICT, but… the jury’s out on that one. Nikki has taught all years and a range of subjects from English to Media to the International Baccalaureate. She has organised theatre trips, the year 13 prom and devoted countless hours to tutoring students in her own time. She never holds a grudge and is unfailingly kind, while never burdening others with her own problems. She also loves dressing up and being the life and soul of many a department party. Who are the teachers that we remember? The ones who are clever and silly and funny and slightly scary and anarchic – but unfailingly sympathetic, caring and wise when we need them to be. And this is Nikki. What she has brought to the lives of so many young people over the years is already evident; the extent of the loss that she will be to the school is vast. Personally, the extent to which I will miss her is immeasurable. Our Fond Farewells We also say farewell to Nikki and Rachael who also retire this year.. Rachael Lawrance Farewell by Cris Fernandez We are very sad to have to say goodbye to Mrs Sunshine Rachael Lawrance in the MFL department. Rachael has been with us ever since I remember, always being a very valuable member of the MFL team. Rachael has a very bubbly personality and from day one, she has done an outstanding job, not only as a teacher, but most importantly, as our social events manager! Rachael has been amazing at organising MFL social events and sorting all of us with really thoughtful hampers, whether we were celebrating big birthdays, small birthday or just to show her appreciation. A great singer, fantastic cook, crafts person and an all-round kind hearted and beautiful person inside and out. If you ask her students, they will tell you she is really funny, and she has a great sense of humour indeed!! She loves banter, anything French related and is always up for a laugh. She also has changed many students’ lives over the years by offering her support in lessons and by running numerous lunch clubs. And not only that, she has always been the perfect company on trips to Paris and she has led numerous extracurricular activities to enthuse her students in their learning of French. It is a great loss to the KEVICC family and we are genuinely going to miss her. However, we cannot wait to hear all the adventures she is going to embark upon and we hope, she has the time of her life. Both Nikki and Rachael move into retirement after long, wonderful careers here at the college. We will miss them both very much...
KEVICC students have been involved in lots of KS3 mini athletics competitions this term... Page 29 Amazing Athletics Isla Perry, Dora Brudenell, Andre Mbalume, Lee Crimp, Rory Bennett, Emelia Barker and Riley Holden all won their individual events, as well as the Year 8 girls' relay team taking first place in two separate events held at Churston and at KEVICC. Our Year 8 girls team won in the CVL and the Year 8 boys team came 4th. Izzy Siska, Isla Perry and Maya Rees-Durham attended the Stover Athletics trails on 17th May and competed against a host of other schools. All three secured their places in the next round. We also took 32 pupils to Exeter Arena for a showcase of Athletic talent. So many standout performance there too.
Page 30 Superb Performers Isla Perry Words by Mrs Caroline Mudge 13 year oId Isla Perry is having an amazing athletics season this year. Still the youngest in her age group, she came second in the 200m at the Devon Schools Track and Field Championships, qualifying for the South West Championships and coming second with a personal best time of 25.59. Isla’s biggest achievement to date, is competing at the English Schools' Track and Field Championships at the Alexandra Stadium, Birmingham in July. Running the 200m and a leg of the mixed 4 x 100m as part of the Devon team We wish her all the very best! Nico Lessware Words by Mr Sam Quick Nico competed in a West England Amateur Rowing Event in Wimbleball Lake and came first in a 1,000m sprint to beat competitors from Exeter Rowing Club. Nico is in the Junior 14 category. Well done Nico!
Page 31 Sports Celebration An exceptional year of sport participation was celebrated by an invitation to our Sports Celebration in June...
King Edward VI Community College Totnes www.kingedwardvi.devon.sch.uk
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