SOUTH SEFTON 6TH FORM COLLEGEWHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

spring edition

APRIL 2011

Friday April 1st – Term Ends.

Monday 4th to Friday 15th April – Easter Break (2 Weeks)

Friday 22nd April – Good Friday – College Closed.

Monday 25th April – Easter Monday – College Closed.

Friday 29th April - Royal Wedding - College Closed.

MAY 2011

Monday 2nd May – Bank Holiday – College Closed

Friday 27th May – Year 13 Study Leave Begins

Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June – Half Term Break (1 Week)

JUNE 2011

Thursday 30th June - Year 13 Leavers Ball

AS and A2 Exams

JULY 2011

Friday 1st July – New Student Taster day.

Friday 15th July – Term Ends

August 2011

Thursday 18th August – A level Results – A2 Enrolment

Thursday 25th August – GCSE Results - AS Enrolment

TERM DATES FOR 2011

WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

Welcome to our Spring Edition of Sixth Sense. It is hard to believe it is already April, that the clocks have moved forward and

summer awaits.

As always, we have had a busy few months at College with the January exams and March results; another successful open

evening as our students excelled in celebrating and promoting their college; visitors from Hong Kong; trips in ICT,

Maths and Business Studies; successes across the sports teams and preparations for our annual college production, this year The

Wizard of Oz.

We are already seeing Year 13 students deciding on their plans for university, making final choices and looking forward to the

Leavers Prom on June 30th at the Liverpool Marriot Hotel. Year 12 students will begin considering their future plans this April with

the Next Step Afternoon dedicated to making choices after college, keeping in mind that applications for University places in

September 2012 need to be submitted by December at the latest to secure a good choice of offers.

As we look forward to lighter nights and hopefully warmer days, our students have to remain focused on the all important

summer exams, either to secure their grades for University or to achieve AS grades allowing progression onto A2 courses and so

application to some of the 50,000 Higher Education courses available.

WELCOME

Information, Advice

The college recently achieved its first national award, presented by the Connexions Service, in recognition of the information, advice and guidance we offer every student in the college. This year, over 80% of our Year 13 students have applied to university for courses as varied as Midwifery to Computer Games Design. With every door open to students in the college, they know that support is available whenever required from applying for employment, to mock

interviews; preparing C.Vs or writing personal statements. We are proud that we know of the potential destinations of all our students and, more important, that our students know there is always some-one available to offer advice, support and guidance for the very real choices that they face in fulfilling their future goals and ambitions in challenging times.

Animation Day at

Recently Year 13 Information Technology Students went to Edge Hill University College for the day to experience the excellent facilities on offer and listen to guest speakers discuss how ICT is now central to animation and the film industry. However, what students did not initially realise was that the speakers were some of the most world renowned animators, specifically Tim Allen, who has worked closely with Tim Burton on his gothic fantasy, “The Corpse Bride” and other recent productions of “Peter and the Wolf” and “Fantastic Mr Fox”. Students were able to hear first hand what is involved in making an animated blockbuster and how their studies in ICT may one day lead them to Hollywood!

WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY[4]

and Guidance...

Edge Hill University College

Game for a LaughFriday 18th of March saw South Sefton Sixth Form College mark Comic Relief with a day of of events and activities. The theme this year was bad hair day and so a number of students took this as an opportunity to crimp, back comb and gel their locks into beehives and mohicans. Those who hadn’t already prepared for the day’s events were able to have their hair sprayed red by the student serivces team, for a small cost, and all in the cause of red nose day! Staff and students contributed to a break time cake sale and the thumb print cafe marked the day with red Thai curry, red nosed shortbread and red iced cupcakes!

The finale of the day was a concert performed by staff and students that included a breathtaking rendition of Adele’s, “Someone Like You” by Sarah Johnson and a mesmerising performance of Pink’s “Mr President” by Char-lotte Milburn. Both solos where bookended firstly by the staff band who rocked the crowd with soul classics including Aretha’s “Say a Little Prayer” and the college enrichment group, Band from Everywhere, who stole the show with their performance of Kanye West’s “Gold digger” and further tracks by Arctic Monkeys, Pink and The Foo Fighters.

Never to forget the objective of the day, the college raised over £560 towards this year’s comic relief appeal and a brilliant day was had by all!

WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY [5]

Thursday 24th of March saw the college host its second opening evening of the academic year, with hundreds of this September’s potential students visiting to explore all the college has to offer, from A Level Subjects to Sports, Enrichment and Pastoral Support. The best part of the evening was the students of the college who supported us in large numbers in promoting the range of opportunities available at the college. Visitors were greeted at reception by college ambassadors, adorned in their royal blue college T-shirts, eager to show visitors around. As young people, friends and family toured the college, a basketball match was played in the sports’ hall, whilst psychology students paraded the college with placards promoting their subject; a double classroom was occupied with an eye catching display of all the enrichment programme offers, from Duke of Edinburgh Award to water sports at Crosby Marina, knitting for charity to the Amnesty Group, and delicious cakes and biscuits were served in the café.

We hope very much that the evening helped answer any questions our new students may have, secure now in the knowledge of the college they will be attending this September, what they will be studying and everything else the college offers beyond the curriculum.

[6]

Open Evening

WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

[7]WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

Tickets are now on sale for the college production of The Wizard of OZ. This perennial favourite, currently revived in The West End to great acclaim, will see our own Dorothy, Ashleigh Keel, walk the yellow brick road of South Sefton Sixth Form College, through the atrium and onto the stage, to enchant audiences with the tale of her adventures in The Land of Oz.

The musical runs over three nights from Tuesday 19th April and tickets will go fast. Tickets are on sale now and we look forward to seeing you at one of the three performances. If rehearsals are anything to go by get ready to have your heart strings pulled as we journey with the cowardly lion, the souless tin man and the sad old scarecrow and watch each transformed by their adventures in seeking out The Wizard of Oz.

South Sefton 6th Form CollegeSouth Sefton 6th Form CollegeProudly PresentsProudly Presents

19th, 20th & 21st AprilShow starts at 7PMTickets available from Student Services - £2.00

Ashleigh Keel

as Dorothy

Adam Hirdas The Tin Man

Robyn Nevin

as The Cowardly Lion

Rebecca Gilroy

as The Scarecrow

Always keen to protect the safety of our students, we have now introduced a card swipe system for the main doors at the entrance to the college. This means that only our own students are able to gain direct entry to the college by using their personal identity cards. As always, all visitors to the college have to sign in at reception but they can only do so now at the main entrance and not beyond the second doors to the building. Though as we are aware it is impossible to alleviate all risk, this initiative makes our college an ever safer environment for all our students and staff alike and makes it even harder for unauthorised individuals to gain entrance.

Safeguarding

We’re Off to See the Wizard...

[8] WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

Being such a state of the art college with a wealth of opportunities available to us, it is quite easy to forget that not everyone in the world is as fortunate as we are. It can be easy to take our freedom of choice for granted, not realising that there are many people in the world who are not given the opportunity to exercise that right of freedom. Amnesty International is an organisation whose main purpose is to protect individuals wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied. Being particularly passionate about this organisation, the charities group, as part of the Enrichment Programme, decided to organise a college event celebrating 50 years of Amnesty International and the positive work it has carried out and continues to do so through campaigns, protests and petitions. Taking the well known saying ‘a cup of tea solves a problem’ as inspiration, the charities’ students fronted a college wide ‘AmnesTEA’ morning encouraging individuals to take action against issues such as child soldiers and miscarriages of justice and imprisonment without trial in exchange for a free cup of tea! However, what is a cup of tea without a slice of cake? In order to support this cause further, the students of South Sefton College once again highlighted their desire to help others and their generosity by purchasing homemade cakes, raising funds and so making a donation to the valuable work of the Amnesty International organisation.

Not forgetting about the college’s drive to achieve Fair Trade status and to mark Fair Trade fortnight, the charities’ students took one step further, ensuring that all tea, coffee and juice used in the AmnesTEA event was Fair Trade approved!

Take Action!

WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY [9]

Grab a free cup of tea and make a difference with South Sefton’s AmnesTEA morning!

Spotlight on Spanish

With such a wonderful building and facilities the college is developing further its reputation as a provider of first class adult education in the community. The college is working closely with Sefton Adult Education to deliver courses such as Computers for Beginners and Maths.If you are interested in these classes please contact Sefton Adult Education on 0151 285 5104.

In addition, with Tuesday being Adult Education Evening, the college hosts the Liverpool Badminton League and a class in the latest dance craze Zumba. Zumba is the newest way to keep fit; with disco lights and pulsating dance music, be prepared to work off those calories with a workout to remember and give Travolta a run for his money in his Saturday Night Fever hey day! If you are interested particu-larly in the dance class and are ready to Zumba yourself to fitness ring the college on 0151 288 6300 for further details.

It’s Never too

WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY[10]

Late to Learn...

The world's second most widely spoken language, Spanish is a firm favourite as an A Level option at college. With over 40 students studying the Language and a number continuing with the subject at university, Spanish is taking our learners beyond Litherland, Liverpool and Lancashire to a whole world of linguistic possibility. Working closely with our partner schools, where Spanish GCSE is a firm favourite with students, many continue their studies to A Level; some students begin the AS in Y11 and if they achieve above a grade C, a significant achievement in itself, will study A2 Spanish in their first year at college. One such student, Lewis Burt, explained why studying Languages for him, and Spanish particularly, is so rewarding; "Studying Spanish gives me the ability to communicate with others and not have a language barrier, make friends with people from another country and experience another culture, knowing I could be a part of that culture when I am older."A truly modern A Level, students not only become confident in the language but immerse themselves in the culture as well, studying literature and researching contemporary topics of environmental, social or political significance, presenting their findings in Spanish. From Madrid to Murcia, Bilbao to Barcelona, the wonders of Spain are in easy reach as to learn a language is to know a nation. ¡Qué bien!

In March a group of maths students attended 3 inspirational lectures at Liverpool Playhouse Theatre. The lectures covered a range of interesting mathematical topics:

Chris Budd, a Professor of Applied Maths at the University of Bath and Chair of Maths at the Royal Institution, talked about ‘Climate Change: Does It Add Up?’.

Horror stories of climate change and its possible effects on our lives fill the news. He explained how we are able to have evidence for something that will happen in the future; whether the doom-mongers or the sceptics are right and what cows have got to do with climate change! It was a lively talk with Professor Budd described some of the ideas behind forecasting weather and climate.

Next, John Roberts covered, ‘the hidden maths of rollercoasters’. Based in the Manchester office of Jacobs, an international engineering firm, John Roberts is one of the UK’s leading theme park engineers, with projects including the London Eye, and the ‘Big One’ at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. He is also a Visiting Professor of Engineering Design at Manchester University.

Rollercoasters are designed for fun but the maths behind them is deadly serious. John covered the history of rollercoasters and the engineering calculations that have gone into designing some of the world’s leading rides. In short, it’s all about maximising the thrill while minimising the risk!

This was followed by a talk on ‘The Maths of the Simpsons’ by Matt Parker. Few people associate Homer Simpson with Mathematics, but there are mathematical jokes hidden all through The Simpsons’ episodes. The writers of The Simpsons and Futurama have hidden references to everything from prime numbers to four dimensional objects in their tv shows. Matt showed clips from The Simpsons then took a closer look at the mathematics involved and how it got there in the first place.

At the end of the lectures student were given the opportunity to quiz the speakers on their talks and anything relating to maths.

It an informative and enjoyable event for all who attended and teachers and students alike learnt new things about maths, its uses in real life and the interesting places it can take you. Who said maths was just numbers?

What’s The Magic Number?

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3.141592=

We hope Sixth Sense has given you just an insight of what goes on at South Sefton Sixth Form College. We always welcome the views of parents and carers and can be contacted by email at admin@sssfc.ac.uk or by telephone on 0151 288 6300.

You may have an idea for enrichment, a contact we could use for work experience or simply want to share your views. Whatever the reason we would be delighted to hear from you!

The College first team have done exceptionally well this season, delivering some outstanding performances and recording a number of victories. After losing key players at the start of the season and after a very poor start to the league, the A team managed to finish an agonising single place outside the play-offs. All the players involved showed great effort and determination in all games and displayed exemplary attitude throughout the season; each was a credit to the college. With performances and sportsmanship like this, next season should be the best ever.

SSSFC FootballThe College second team went into this season hoping to improve on their semi-final appearance from last year, by winning the league, something the team are more than capable of doing. The season started fantastically well, with the team winning every game up until the Christmas break. The team were in tremendous spirits and played brilliantly, recording many five and six goal victories. However, this valient start was challenging to maintain and led to our league position slipping to just outside the play-offs, to fifth by the end of the season. This was bitterly disappointing for the team, with their attitude and effort not in question from the start to the finish of the season; something which will remain the same for next season where we hope to be in at least the playoffs again!

Everyone who represented the B team throughout the season did fantastically well but special mentions go to Jordan Sumner, who made some breathtaking saves throughout the season; Jack Corrin and Sean Occleston who established prolific goal scoring records and Adam Jones and Carter Morgan who were inspiring in midfield.

A TEAM B TEAM

SSSFC BasketballThe College Basketball team have done extremely well this year, winning the majority of their games and performing brilliantly in their fixtures. Their effort and attitude in both training and in games has been exemplary and it has been anutter pleasure to co-coach them and with the help of the coach, Sammy Kilroy ,the team have gone from strength to strength. There are several remaining fixtures to be played, so hopefully the team will show the same drive and determination as they have done all season and finish with consecutive victories.