On the 7^th and 28^th November Sophie Hollands and I visited Hailsham Community College (HCC) for a film workshop.

 

On the first day we started off with a chat about shots and films we liked and why we liked them. We were then given lots of sheets of paper with information on angles and filming technicality. After chatting about these with Gareth Jones, the course leader, we went off in our own space, had a camera each and filmed different shots with the camera, i.e. close-up, wide shot, extreme close-up and more. We learnt a lot of technical skills in the first part of the session.

 

We were then chucked in at the deep end and were told we were making a scene from a play they had written. We got the script of around 7 lines and then got a couple of blank storyboard sheets to storyboard it. Once we had done this, we started filming. We had two students from HCC acting it out for us to film them. We used lots of props, e.g. an ironing board, table, sofa, etc. When we were doing this we learnt many skills, like patience, as we had to be silent while the other groups were filming their scene. We learnt about filming shots, angles, spacing of the camera and more. After we had filmed them we watched it back as a whole class which was quite funny as all we kept on hearing was “cut” and “action” as we did no editing outside of the camera (i.e. on a computer); it was all done on the camera.

 

After lunch we all worked in one big team where we did some filming with different props and still images. We all lined ourselves up in the camera frame so no one would get their head cut off. We then walked out of the frame. We stepped in two at a time and when each person stepped in the people in the frame had to stay extremely still otherwise it wouldn’t look right when we watched it back. The whole idea of doing this was to work as a team and to add people in so it looked like they appeared by magic!

 

On the second day at HCC we were given sheets and sheets of paper to do storyboards and write a script. When we arrived, we worked on our script and storyboards for about 15 minutes, then we got straight into filming. There were 5 groups to get through in just 5 and a half hours and we were all filming for around 45-60 minutes each. We filmed in the same space as we did last time but this time we used green screen. I really liked filming on the green screen as it was a new experience; this was not just fun, as we learnt a lot of practical skills too.

 

At the end of the day we watched each other’s videos back on the overhead projector. We did not see the final images, as Gareth is going to go away and edit it and replace the green from the green screen with a still image.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these days as it gave us lots of experience in this industry and I would like to see more days like this organised (which I’m sure there will be). Thank you very much to Mr Brennan for nominating us both and to Miss Delgado for organising for us to take part. Most of all, thank you to Gareth Jones at HCC for giving us this amazing opportunity to develop our practical skills in filming.

 

Shannon Kingaby, 10JJO1

On Wednesday 26^th November we were visited by the Aimhigher roadshow.  Over seventy year 9 students took part and were able to listen to a university graduate talk about her own experiences after leaving school. The students also took part in an interactive Q&A session and were shown 2 DVDs which highlighted certain aspects of university life and the different jobs available to you after school, depending on what choices you make.

 

The day ran very smoothly and most of the year 9s were very positive about their time. Comments made by the pupils include:

 

“It really made you think about what to do after school and how that decision can affect your jobs.”

 

“It made me think more about going to university and what courses are available to me and how you are treated much more like an adult there.”

 

“I didn’t realise how many courses there are to do and I like the fact that you can choose something you really enjoy, rather than studying a load of lessons you don’t really like.”

 

“The girl that ran it was really nice and it was good to hear about her own experience because it made it more real to us.”

 

“We all got to be involved because we used interactive keypads to answer questions. And the beanbags were comfy!”

 

Miss Delgado

Aimhigher Coordinator

Thank you very much to all the students and parents/carers who attended the evening and I hope it gave you some insight into going on to university.

There will be lots of opportunities going forward for students to be involved in Aimhigher activities and the school newsletter and website are the best ways of finding out about these.

If you have since thought of any questions you’d like to ask or information you’d like to find, please do not hesitate to contact me at z.delgado@etc-sch.com and I will endeavour to help you. If there are any other parents who did not attend the evening but would like to find out more about higher education, please also get in touch.

 

Miss Delgado

Aimhigher Coordinator

During venture week on the 14^th July 2008, I attended an Aimhigher University Summer School at Southampton University.

 

On the Monday we took part in various activities and experiments such as creating bio-diesels and extracting a chemical from an orange fruit.

 

On the Tuesday we did some physics experiments related to force, gravity and speed. We also studied audiology; where we learned in detail how the ears control balance. We also took part in a chemistry lecture where the professor showed us some tricks with liquid nitrogen.

 

On Wednesday we went to an ocean research lab, where we measured the ph levels of the water and measured how deep the water was and what type of animal species could survive at different depths of the ocean. We also measured how much salt was present in the water.

 

Each evening we had a social activity, such as bowling or karaoke. It was great fun to mix with students from all over the country and to get an idea of what university life is really like. We stayed in halls of residence, just like you would do if you went there.

 

It was a great experience and has made me think very seriously about going to university in the future.

Written by Sean Constable, 11ZDE3 J

If you know you are on the G&T register at school, please take the time to register with the Young Gifted and Talented Website (http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/HomePage.aspx?stakeholder=14) or type YGT into Google. There is a wealth of information there for you and they are currently holding a competition, so please take a look and consider entering it.

The G&T register will soon be updated, so you should be receiving letters home in the near future.

Thanks,

Miss Delgado

As I never put a write-up to this in the newsletter, I thought I would find the email sent by the gentleman who hosted this event, as it says everything I need to say about our wonderful students:

Dear Mr Pailthorpe

On Monday this week, the University of Brighton Business School hosted an Aim Higher Law Courts taster day which was attended by four of your students (Joel Thompson, Jamie Rogers, Sarah Allen and Sean Constable), accompanied by one of your teachers, Lorna Marriott

I just wanted to e-mail to say how impressed we were with your students – they came across as polite, attentive, intelligent and very well-motivated. We were particularly impressed by the extent to which they had already clearly given very serious and mature consideration to their career options. I hope your students enjoyed the day, and found it useful.

Anyway, it was a pleasure for us to host the event, and we would be happy to do it again.

On the evening of Thursday 3^rd July, Eastbourne Technology College hosted a talent competition with students participating from 7 different schools across Eastbourne and Hailsham. Over 200 people turned up to see the event and The Herald newspaper came in to take photos (keep your eye out for an article sent in by Mr Brennan!).

 

It was a hugely successful event, with a wonderful atmosphere and committed participants. We were entertained by a variety of singers, dancers and musicians from all the schools and the judges (a teacher and student from each school) gave each act a mark out of ten.

 

In the end, Matt Ginno, a fantastic singer from Willingdon, won the first prize. He happened to choose ‘Any Dream Will Do’ from the same musical that ETC are currently performing, so he was accompanied by an enthusiastic ETC crowd, which only added to his performance!

 

I’d just like to say thank you to the following students who were brave enough to get up on stage and represent ETC. They were all very good and confident and although we didn’t make it into the top 3 this year, there’s always next year’s show!

 

Heather Pegley (flawless flute playing)

Demi Atwal (beautiful singing voice)

The ETC Choir (their best performance so far)

Tendayi Mtambara, Lucas Day, James Sibounheuang and Tananka Shoniwa (super cool singing, dancing and drumming)

 

Photographs of the event can be found here.

 

Miss Delgado

On Wednesday 2^nd July Bishop Bell hosted the first annual Gifted & Talented Chess Tournament. Seven schools participated with students from years 7-10. It was an extremely tense and nerve-wracking couple of hours, with games lasting anything from 45 seconds to half an hour!

 

Those students who were knocked out early went on to play friendly games against each other, so the atmosphere was very jovial.

 

ETC took a team of 5 boys, and although Chris Clarke was very unfortunately knocked out in the preliminary round by fellow ETC student, Oliver Stoner, the other 4 members got all the way to the quarter finals. Unfortunately Shane Constable was knocked out in this round (by just one point!), but Sean Constable played against Toby Lee in the semi-finals, and in a ten minute game, Toby ended up beating Sean on points scored.

 

The final was then held between Toby Lee and James Dallaway, a year 7 boy from Cavendish. It was certainly gripping, but Toby unfortunately lost in the end, gaining himself a £15 Argos voucher as a runner-up prize. James was lucky enough to win £25 worth of vouchers, which he’s going to put towards something for his upcoming birthday.

 

Well done to all those students who participated and better luck next year ETC!!! Photographs of the event can be found here.

 

Chess and Backgammon Club will continue to run on Wednesday lunchtimes this term and from September, so any willing players need to come and improve their skills!

 

Miss Delgado

On Wednesday 11^th June the students listed below attended a Gifted and Talented course at the University of Brighton. Our students had been identified as having talent in one or more of these ability categories: Physical, Social, Cognitive, Creative and Personal.

 

The day involved taking part in various activities and working with groups of students from other schools in our area. Jack Sholl was the only student from ETC in one of the groups and he spent the whole day working with and making new friends. Well done Jack!

 

The activities included speed and agility testing, dance, outdoor education activities, climbing wall, 40 meter sprinting, golf, team building activities, new age curling and rocket ball.

 

Our students participated enthusiastically and were a credit to the school, as was Mrs Arnold who helped staff the event.

 

Here are some of their comments.

 

Steven Cleveland

“I had the best time. It was really fun and I hope to go again next year.”

 

Ryan Newman

“I met George Sampson’s brother! I made it all the way across the climbing wall. I enjoyed the golf and team games. The whole day was a great experience and I hope to do it again next year.”

 

Tom Spence

“It was a good day and I enjoyed representing the school.”

 

Gavin Scotcher

“Great day out, exciting most of the time. Brilliant to go there and get better at team work.” 

  

Other students involved were:

Sam James

Jack Sholl

Vikki Trigwell

Toby Towner

Chloe Stamp

Chloe Baker

Brodhie Turner

Jordan Lower

 

 

Mr.Ellis

On Monday 30^th June Heather Charlton, April Dutton, Tom Spence and Ryan Flack took on 5 other schools in a Trivia Challenge competition at Ratton School. They did superbly, answering some very tough questions, but unfortunately did not win. There’s always next year though!

 

Please see the report below from the event organiser:

 

After an entertaining and tense tournament, I am delighted to announce the results of the first G&T Trivia Challenge – hosted by Ratton School on Monday 30^th June 2008:

 

1.     Cavendish School Team 1 – 79 points

2.     Ratton School Team 1 – 73 points

3.     Hailsham Community School – 71 points

4.     Ratton School Team 2 – 70 points

5.     Eastbourne Technology College (ETC) – 61 points

6.     Causeway School – 56 points

7.     Willingdon School – 52 points

8.     Cavendish School Team 2 – 47 points

9.     Cavendish School Team 3 – 46 points

10.  Ratton School Team 3 – 43 points

 

We should be proud that the event was held in such a professional and positive learning environment.

 

Well done again to the ETC team, and let’s get practising for next year!

 

Photos of the event can be found here.

 

Miss Delgado