Last week, staff and students took part in a week of activities to mark VIctoria College turning 170 years old. There is extensive coverage of all the activities on our social media channels - from the Knight Shield to the tug of war and Founders' Walk, culminating in Victoria College's 170th Anniversary ball. Thank you to all those who took part and supported to raise more than £6500 for the Victoria College Foundation. 

Please find below the link to our 170th Anniversary Founders' Assembly at which we were joined by Guy Dunlop, great-grandson of one of the Dunlop brothers who give their name to one of our Houses and Susie Richardson, Governor of HM Prison La Moye. They both spoke powerfully about the importance of diversity and inclusion and their own experiences.  It was a memorable week remembering the College's history, heritage and traditions but with eyes firmly fixed on an exciting future. 

170th Anniversary Founders' Day Assembly 

Open Evening 2022 was a tremendous success and we have had a lot of positive feedback from all those who attended. Our students were cooking up a storm making home-made pizza for all our guests, the musicians were playing, teams were battling it out on the football pitch, and the teachers were all poised to answer questions. Dr Hughes spoke to nearly 400 guests in the evening, but the stars of the show were as ever, our students who were helping out in departments, taking our guests on tours and representing our wonderful College community. Thank you to all staff, parents and students who helped out on the evening.

Parents and staff are warmly invited to take part in the VCPA quiz from 7pm on Thursday 17 November. Please save the date. More information to follow. 

Victoria College presents House Drama 2022!

We are proud to say that this is the first year in a while that we have been able to continue with the event without restriction, and we have some fantastic plays for you over both nights. This year we will see reigning champions Bruce try to take back the overall winners award as they go head-to-head against Diarmid, Braithwaite, Sartorius and last year's second place house, Dunlop.

Each house will stage a twenty-five-minute performance that they themselves have selected, cast, marketed and rehearsed.

This is a charitable event seeing all proceeds from ticket sales going to our selected house charities. 

Please click on the link to register.

The Education Department have asked all schools to remind parents that the exclusion for diarrhoea and vomiting remains 48 hrs from the last bout of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Philip Le Brocq joined Victoria College in 1949, was Head Boy in 1957 during the late Queen's first visit, and latterly a teacher, governor and a driving force behind the establishment of the Foundation in 2002. He joined us for last week's Founders' Day Assembly, as well as the 170th Anniversary Ball and penned this sonnet in commemoration:

One hundred and seventy years ago

Our College was founded with what a “Do”!

Its past has been moving, both high and low

But now in its ascendence- brave…

true!

It’s proud of its VCs, uniquely won,

Its academic prowess and its sport,

The way it cares for others who feel done,

And always shakes hands after one has fought.

It loves the competition of a race,

The drama of a play or music’s thrill,

To be transported by a runner’s pace -

Uplifted by another’s brilliant skill!

But most of all it is the friendship’s made

Which will out live the memories that fade!

We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education will be hosting a free webinar for our parents on Tuesday 11th October.

Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home through reinforcing the skills they learn at school:??

Tuesday 11th October @ 6pm?
How to Help Your Child Manage Their Time

Click here to register for free

In this webinar Elevate will be showing parents how to:

• Align family expectations on homework
• Work with your child on managing other activities such as your child's hobbies or sports
• Create the best weekly planner tool for your child

Please find linked here a letter about the Victoria College Co-curricular Award and Citizenship Awards 2022. 

The Co-Curricular Award was set up so that we can celebrate our students’ outstanding efforts in a wide range of areas, both in school and outside of school, under four headings: Sport, physical, arts and academic. Students can also score points in three additional categories: Leadership and service, social responsibility and charity work, and a personal challenge.

Students are invited to fill in an application form accessible via the link above.

Forms should be returned by email to Mr Akers (k.akers@vcj.sch.je) by Monday 10th October October.

In the meantime, please follow this link to hear more about the awards from Head of Co-curricular Activities - Kieran Akers – https://youtu.be/l6c7MwSeARo

If your son is in Sartorius then we need your help! Further details are on the attached letter - they are needed to help Jersey Heritage pick apples for the Fete Du Cidre on Sunday 9th October at 9-10am (Years 7, 11, 13) and 10-11am (Years 8,9,10 &12). Please can you fill in the attached FORM to confirm their attendance or not. If he cannot make it then it would be much appreciated if you could make a donation to our House Charity - all details attached.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=wJUj7am3N0Ot9xORbeJA72BXxH0Wqe9ItoX-04I2VqJUNUtJODAwODZQOURZTjlPNDAwSk5aTkJNQi4u

Please click on this link for more information about this event.

All Matters Neurodiverse Jersey have set up this Q&A session with a renowned Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) trainer. 

Please find attached the details and zoom link should you be interested.

PDA Seminar

Launch Meeting - Zoom

Parents of boys in Y8 are invited to our online Parent Information Evening next Wednesday. Parents will have the chance to hear from several key staff about some important aspects of life in Y8, as well as hear from Dr Hughes talk about his priorities for the years ahead. The link to this online presentation is here.

We are very pleased to advise you of three Off Island trips which are being planned for this academic year. Please see the attached letter for further details.

Off Island Trips 2023

Last year we introduced Career Guidance meetings for all Y9 students which were well received and very successful. We are, once again, going to undertake interviews next month. These will be very informal and conducted by a senior member of staff. To find out more please follow this link.

Please click on the link for the latest information letter.  Your son has been advised of what group he will be in next week. If you have any questions please do speak to Mrs Blackmore at m.blackmore@vcj.sch.je

Duke of Edinburgh's Information Letter

Please click on the link below to find out the status of your son's Duke of Edinburgh's Award. If you have any further questions, please contact Mrs Blackmore - m.blackmore@vcj.sch.je

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Successes

Tomorrow, Friday 7th October, we welcome Colonel Rob Guest TD to conduct a review of the CCF. This process occurs every two years. However because of COVID, our last review was in 2019. Colonel Guest is currently the Colonel Cadets at Headquarters South West.

Tomorrow, the Colonel will be welcomed to the College by the formation of a parade in the Quad. He will then conduct a tour of activities by each section, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force within the College estate. In the afternoon, he will tour Army activities at the Jersey Field Squadron and RN/RAF activities at Noirmont.

Please ensure your child has prepared his uniform to the highest standard so we can make a great impression for Colonel Guest.

We hope to have photos of the day on our social media feeds after the event.

Please note that Year 9 recruits will not take part tomorrow.

Squadron Leader Simon Blackmore

Contingent Commander 

As Year 11 pupils commence their Trident work placements next week, I would like to wish all of the pupils well in their placements. Trident is a fabulous opportunity for young people to learn about the world of work; the Year 11 pupils are gaining valuable experience across a variety of different placements including: finance, retail, education, construction and law amongst others. The Trident program for Victoria College pupils runs from Monday 10 October until Thursday 20 October due to the additional day's holiday recently announced.

A number of Year 12 students have put together a selection of their artwork which will be on show at the Jersey Library until 22nd October. 

The exhibition is located on the third floor. Congratulations to William Wheatley, Freddie, Lucas, Dakai Todd, Finn Englebrecht-Kotze and Cameron McAlister on their very first exhibition. 

Whilst the College is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Sixth Form building and certain facilities, the students have been keen to have a direct input into the incidental enhancement of their own area. To this end we are implementing a one-off £10 subscription which will give them a fund for the two years that they are in Sixth Form. Please find out more in the linked letter.

Sixth Form Common Room Subscription

Starting on Wednesday 28th September and running every Wednesday for the next five working weeks, Mr Hodder will be running a dedicated Year 13 Geography NEA Workshop in NB2 3:30pm to 4:30 pm.