Page 26 - link magazine

This is Greendown • 6

Languages boosted by European contacts and visits

Trips abroad and contact with people from products; and on the Spanish
other countries and cultures has always been ski trip, students enjoyed the
an important part of Greendown's curricu- sunny slopes by day, but stud-
lum. Students learn so much and quickly ied Spanish every evening.
when they are in actual contact with speakers In July, thirty five students
of a foreign language — especially if they have went to the French alpine re-
to do something like order food. For instance, sort of La Clusaz, with excur-
a year 7 day trip to France, involved young sions to Annecy, Chamonix
students visiting a boulangerie to order bread and the Mer de Glace to see
the ice-caves. This visit was
topped (literally!) by a trip up
High flying DT students the cog railway on Mont
Blanc. Other enjoyable high-
Under the guidance of Mr Stephen O'Connell lights included mountain bik-
some year 10 students had the flight of their ing, white water rafting and
lives when they were invited to the Popular guided mountain walks.
Flying Association's annual open day at GCSE Spanish students
Kemble Aerodrome. The purpose of this was were also pleased to enter-
to generate enthusiasm for flight in the next tain and practise their langu:
generation and motivate young people to twenty students from Galicia
find out more about the business and design who were visiting Swindon Col]
of small aircraft production and flight. With was a good preparation for
hands on the controls, all the students who dancers and singers from Swinc
participated came hack to school full of the town Ocotal in Nicaragua, right.
excitement of flight. choreographer and singer got 12
Ready for take off, from left, Craig Kelly, Michael bers of students performing Spat
Wotten, Joshua Hillier and dances in a packed drama
We
lighted
come
teachers of mod- a degree in French and German at Oxford
- languages to Brookes University, she now speaks five
Greendown this languages fluently. Mrs Gray joins us after
year. Mrs Nati Gray, teaching Spanish and Dutch to adults at
left, a native of Hol- Swindon College.
land who lived in Ms Natalie Lacombe, who has the French
Spain for many years, equivalent of a Masters Degree in Marketing,
L came to the UK with and did a further degree and teaching quali-
her English husband. fication at Loughborough and Leicester Uni-
Having taken A versities joins us after two years at Hreod
A day with REME II levels in England and Parkway School.
Year 10 student Adam Drake describes a visit by
the Army.
On 11th Septem- The work-related curriculum
ber a group of sol- This innovative course, now in
diers from the Royal its second year, provides students
Electrical and Me- with a double opportunity to gain
chanical Engineers accreditation in public exams. In
brought challenges Year 11, seventeen students are
designed to develop busy designing and making ce-
leadership and engi- ramic artefacts which will gain
neering skills. them GCSEs in 3D Studies and also
The first competi- a certificate from the Young Enter-
tive task between two prise `Pot Luck' business scheme.
teams involved building a go-cart and racing With a full order book, featuring
it down the field then dismantling it. a wide range of commissions from
Then we had to construct channels out of functional wall pots to individual
pipes to simulate the transfer of fuel between sculpted items and decorative
two vehicles. Finally there was a challenge to wear, there's no time to take a
pour 25 litres of water down a vertical pipe in breather. And if they're not mak-
order to raise a key attached to a float, above. ing and selling, they're out there
The key opened a box containing lost maps. promoting and marketing their The Pot Luck Company, standing from left, Cheryl Wedge,
At the end of the sessions, the soldiers gave wares! Darren Ewen, James Rogers, William Bradfield, Dan Akers,
a talk about the many different trades and To commission a piece, contact Chris Fry. Front, Todd Makes, Louise Meyer, Bein Palfrey,
careers offered by the Army. Mr Bullion at the school. Charlie Mason