Page 4 - Autumn 2019 Echo draft v4

Teaching in Thailand

Year 11 student, Tommy Chapman, spent his summer
holiday volunteering in Thailand in order to help those
children who were affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami
of 2004.
Tommy writes, “After two energy-draining flights, totalling
twelve and half hours in the air, we landed in the south of
Thailand. We then travelled north to the small,
tsunami-scarred village of Khao lak.
After a few days we started to teach english to the local
Thai children. In Thailand, the ability to speak english is
invaluable; you need it for higher education and any job
in tourism, which is a massive sector over there. I taught both primary and secondary
school students, which meant the subjects varied massively from colours to past and
present irregular verbs, but whatever we taught and whoever with, the same messages
were clear. They’re not the richest people, but they live with what they’ve got and love it.
All the children were cheerful, polite, and respectful.
We drove past the repatriation centre and vast tsunami cemetery every day on the way
to the schools to teach; it was a poignant reminder of how fragile life can be. Despite all
this, the people stay hopeful of the future, smile all day and never let someone pass them
without a wave or a cheerful hello.” Charity

2 News Valuable insight into studying Medicine

The College welcomed former student, ella Bulgen, now a
5th Year Medical student who gave a personal insight into
her experience of attending Medical School.
She covered a range of topics, including, training at
Medical School and the method that she enjoyed most; she
particularly liked the dissection aspect of her course.
however, she did clarify that Medical Schools teach in
different ways, which is very important to explore before
applying.
one of the most helpful parts of the talk was the process of
applying to university and writing personal statements. ella
discussed various activities that the students should begin to
do in order to strengthen their applications.
This was very helpful as it made it clear, especially to the
younger students, that although the academic
achievements are very important, extra-curricular activities are also vital.
All the students felt that they had learnt some very important aspects of the process of studying at university
and the talk was very beneficial. Ambition

Student Bake Sale for Macmillan

Wonderful donations were made to the Macmillan Coffee Morning this year
from staff and students alike. A special mention must go to Year 8, who
worked hard on the student bake sale, and Dr White’s fantastic Tiramisu cake,
which sold out almost instantly! Thank
you to all who supported this fantastic
cause through baking, donating and
eating cake, with over £180 raised for
Macmillan! Charity

Amazing Singing opportunity for leah

Year 10 student, leah Kelley, sang the national anthem at the
opening ceremony of the 2019 World Age group Underwater
hockey Championships, in August. This event took place at Sheffield
City hall in front of 1,000 people. earlier in the year leah also passed
her grade 5 Vocal examination with a merit. Courage

The College echo - Autumn 2019 - www.ivybridge.devon.sch.uk