Monday 6th January 2020

Headteacher Mr T Carroll

Tel: 01525 636700 Fax: 01525 636701

Email: office@vandyke.cbeds.co.uk

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Christmas in Germany For an hour or so on Tuesday 17th December, the Vandyke Upper School theatre became a little part of Germany. With traditional decorations, the aromas of scented candles and speciality foods and the singing of carols, it was almost like being on a German Christmas market! The students enthusiastically joined in the carol singing with old favourites O Tannenbaum and Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht. A presentation on how Christmas is celebrated in Germany was followed by an opportunity for the students to sample some German specialities such as Stollen (fruit bread stuffed with marzipan), Lebkuchen (gingerbread covered in chocolate) and Spekulatius (sounds like a spell from Harry Potter but is in fact a biscuit spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg). A quiz on their

knowledge of the language and culture of the festive time in Germany completed the students’ brief taste of Germany. We are very grateful to Frau Elding, Frau Brown and the other members of the Languages team for all their effort and hard work in preparing such an enjoyable experience. There also needs to be a special mention to Mr Cooksey for the loan of some of his authentic German decorations.

It remains crucially important that our students gain an insight into other cultures and to experience the differences as well as recognise the many similarities of Christmas in Germany.

Mr Phillips Deputy Headteacher

The Vandyke Election

2019 Hundreds of Vandyke students registered to vote in the Vandyke Election, proving that our young people are invested in politics.

An initial assembly informed students about the electoral process and our political system in the UK, whilst extolling the virtues of being enfranchised. Students were then asked to register if they wished to be part of the election, modelling the registration process for ‘real’ voters! Only registered students (which amounted to 38% of the school) were then allowed to participate in the hustings, where Mrs Moore, Mrs Monk and Mrs Quinn explained a range of factors which influence voters, introduced the leaders of the political parties (and their local representatives) before presenting the party policies. We also enjoyed the party political broadcasts from each of the 4 parties standing in our constituency (Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party). Students found these inspiring, amusing, frustrating and informative in equal measure, which provided an excellent opportunity discuss the groups each party were targeting with their campaigns, and why. Students were highly respectful throughout the hustings, and went on to

ask excellent questions including ‘How do we know whether they will keep these promises?’ to ‘How do they intend to pay for extra nurses and police officers?’

The following week the students then had the opportunity to vote. We explained that the result would be determined upon the first past the post system (with each year group representing a ‘seat’, rather than a proportional representation method.) 51% of those registered turned out, and the results were fascinating: Year 9: Labour Party Year 10: Conservative Party Year 11: Conservative Party Year 12: Green Party Year 13: Labour Party Overall, there was no majority in either the first past the post or the proportional representation methods (Conservatives received the highest polling reflecting the local picture with 35% of the votes). This offered an excellent opportunity to discuss with students the current context and divisions based on policy areas and political leadership. We surmised that that most likely outcome from our ‘Vandyke Election’ would be a coalition, and asked students to speculate about which parties this would be between and whether this would reflect the national result. Thank you to all the staff who contributed and students who took part – it was a fascinating exercise and we were all impressed with the pertinent questions and intelligent discussions inspired by the election.

Mrs Quinn

Friday 17th January Deadline for Sixth Form applications Monday 3rd February Vandyke Voice published

Monday 20th January Vandyke Voice published Thursday 6th February Year 9 Subject Consultation l 4.00 - 7.00pm

Thursday 23rd January Year 11 Subject Consultation 4.00 - 7.30pm Monday 10th February Year 11 Pixl Mocks week

Thursday 30th January Year 9 Options Evening 6.00 - 8.00pm Thursday 13th February Year 9 Subject Consultation ll 4.00 - 7.00pm

Year 11 Sport Science Trip

to Moulton College 26th November 2019

Our Year 11 Sport Science class took part in a visit to Moulton College in Northamptonshire. The aim of the visit was to experience different rehabilitation techniques used to help injured athletes or for people to use in private physio clinics. We started the day with a tour of the facilities, including the various physiotherapy areas and swimming pool and finished by watching Northampton Town FC train. The next

stop on the visit was using a cryotherapy chamber for 3 minutes. The first 30 seconds spent in a chamber at -41˚C and the final 2.5 minutes were in a chamber at -117˚C. The cryotherapy chamber can be used to help a range of injuries by helping to combat inflammation in the body. The final part of the day was spent using rehabilitation swimming techniques and heat/cold water therapy techniques. Students were able to submerse themselves in an ice bath and heated therapy pools.

The group thoroughly enjoyed the day and got a real insight into how physiotherapy is used to support both athletes and clients in everyday life. As a class, they

behaved impeccably and were a credit to Vandyke throughout. Well done to everyone involved on the trip!

Mr Conway PE Department

Student Voice Volunteers deliver

Christmas Hampers

Mrs Collins and Miss Green took a group of Year 9, 10 and 12 Student Voice volunteers to Laburnum Court sheltered Housing and Swiss Cottage Nursing home to deliver gifts of flowers and chocolates for each resident. The students enjoyed chatting to the residents at Laburnum Court about school, Christmas and Leighton Buzzard and residents were treated to some music from Tia Halliwell, Emily Brade and Jadzia Brown. These Year 9 students commented on their experience: “I enjoyed talking with the residents and I felt they really appreciated our visit”, Daniel Betley. “It was a different experience, giving to the older people, they really loved the flowers”, Holly Hammond. “I had never been in the homeless service building before but we found it very welcoming and the staff were informative and were delighted with the hampers”, Lauren Coomber.

Mrs Collins, who assists with student voice activities, had organised raffles and refreshments at the four perfor-mances of the school production "Beauty and The Beast". The money raised plus a percentage of ticket sales allowed us to fund 15 Crisis at Christmas places for the homeless nationally. These places offer a homeless person food, shelter and access to medical, housing and employment advisors over the Christmas period. Thank you to everyone who donated.

National Citizen Service

Gold Award for Vandyke Well done to Mrs Lord-Webb as she receives a Gold Award for Vandyke from the National Citizen Service (NCS). The award is given the school with most students enrolled on the programme for summer 2019.

This is a fantastic opportunity open to all 16-17 year olds in England. It helps build skills for work and life, while taking on new challenges and meeting new friends.

NCS brings together young people from different backgrounds and helps them develop greater confidence, self awareness and responsibility while taking part in a team project to help their community. The programme is recognised by universities across the country and is a real aid when it comes to writing personal statements. Anyone wishing to find out more about the National Citizen Service, please see Mrs Lord-Webb, coordinator of the programme, in the Library.

Mrs Allsopp