St Brendan's News Bulletin 09.12.22 | St Brendan's Sixth Form College

9th December 2022

Welcome!

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

Thank you to all of our students who have been supporting our Christmas Hamper Appeal along with championing one of our core values - Service. Your contributions to local families and raising awareness on poverty are outstanding, thank you all for being an amazing group of young people.

This is a gentle reminder that next week we will finish on Thursday at 12.15pm, which means it's a half day for our students so you can begin your festivities early! We'd like to remind our Year 13 students that they will receive their timetable for their January mock exams next week. We encourage you to take note of our key dates which are listed below.

A MASSIVE well done to all of our students and staff involved in the College musical - We Will Rock You! Two nights down and one still to go tonight - the performances have been fantastic by all involved and truly showcase the talents of both our students and staff - your efforts and talents are very much appreciated. There are still a few tickets left for tonight's show which starts at 7pm, you can book tickets here.

It is the season of bugs and illness, please click here for further guidance on Scarlett Fever and Group Strep A infections. With regards to staff being absent due to illness - students know that lessons are not cancelled as work will be set via Microsoft Teams for all students to complete which is then revisited when the teacher returns.

For our final week of term at College, we have a number of fun activities planned to celebrate Christmas - from a sprout throwing, hot chocolate, music and a tombola during Monday lunchtime in the Amphitheatre to our door decorating competition and our festive food menu in Café Max and Café Min next week.

Best wishes

Marian Curran

Principal

Key Dates

End of term for Students: Thursday 15^th December 2022 (College closes at 12:15)
Start of term for Students: Wednesday 4^th January 2023
GCSE Maths and English Results Day: Thursday 12^th January 2023
Year 13 Mock Examinations: Friday 13^th – Wednesday 25^th January 2023

FAO students sitting January exams and/or Mock exams

As we highlighted in last week's bulletin, we are fast approaching the second of our exam seasons with some applied courses sitting exams as well as all year 13 A-Level subjects sitting their mocks in January. Over the last week and next, we have been running Progress to Success workshops for students identified by teachers as those who would benefit from some wider study skills and revision support as we move into the Christmas break.

Whilst these students are getting some face-to-face support, we wanted to make sure all students have access to the resources and ideas we have been sharing so you can adopt some into your study time. These links will provide you with a range of ideas, that have been developed based on research studies around the world, to use either within your planning and organisation of study or indeed to ensure you are revising effectively and using methods.

PROGRESS TO SUCCESS SESSION 1
PROGRESS TO SUCCESS SESSION 2

Academic Coaching support

Our Year 13 students are fast approaching their mock examinations after the Christmas break. These will take place from Monday 16^th January until Wednesday 25^th January. There is a range of support strategies taking place in the build-up to this time.

Many of our students are working closely with our Academic Coaching team, with space each day for 'drop-in' support in B10. In addition to this, and to ensure we get to all students who teachers feel will benefit from support, we are also running a two-week Progress to Success course across w/c 5^th and 12^th December.

The LRC is closed next week!

The LRC will be closed from Monday 12th - Thursday 15th December due to the area being used for Criminology exams. The following alternative study spaces are available:

Monday 12^th
8:55am - 1pm - B122
8:55am - 4pm - D102
1pm - 4pm - B127
8am - 4pm – B101 (breakout area)

Tuesday 13^th
8:55am - 4pm - B225
8:55am -12:10pm - B13 and B22
8am - 4pm – B101 (breakout area)

Wednesday 14^th
8:55 - 4pm - A12
8am - 4pm – B101 (breakout area)

Thursday 15^th
8:55 - 4pm - A12 & A109

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Changes to college transport and parking

Construction of the new sports facilities at St Brendan's is due to start imminently.

Please note that from Monday 5th December there will be changes taking place to the following:

Student Parking and Student Drop Off/ Collection
SB1 & SB2 First Bus services
College Coaches

Walk and Talk for bereaved families

Would you like to meet other grieving families face-to-face? Or do you know someone who might be interested?
On Tuesday 20th December, Winston's Wish is running a free, informal meet-up for bereaved young people and families at Ashton Court Estate in Bristol.
It’s a chance to get together face-to-face and share advice and stories with others who have had similar experiences of grief. The Walk and Talk is open to any young person or family who has been bereaved – you don’t have to have received support from Winston’s Wish before. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Find out more here

Y12 Careers Programme

Creative Industries Unlocked (formerly Unlock the Arts Academy) is a 6-week programme by the University of Bristol designed for local students in Year 12, who are interested in learning more about careers in the creative industries.

Through 6 hands-on masterclasses with industry partners in Spring 2023, students will gain an insight into jobs in sectors such as production, publishing, broadcasting and creative technology. Students will develop the skills needed to succeed to one of the South West's fastest growing industries.

Deadline for applications is Friday 16^th December 2022.

Students will find out if they have been selected for the programme in mid-January 2023.

Find out more and apply here!

Parent/ Carer Handbook 2022

The Parent/Carers handbook provides you with information about how you can get in touch with the right person at College, it also provides an overview of the College, term dates and the range of guidance and support we can offer your daughter/son whilst they are studying with us. St Brendan’s welcomes the involvement of all parents/carers and we hope that we will have a successful partnership with you and that working together can encourage your daughter/son, to achieve her/his potential. Click here to open the St Brendan's Parent Carer handbook 2022

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Do you enjoy a challenge? Do you want to become an independent and critically minded researcher? Do you aspire to university?
If the answer is 'YES', then you may be interested in signing up for EPQ.
EPQ is a qualification open to Y12 Level 3 students that runs one lesson a week between January and December.

To find out more information about EPQ, click here
Scan the QR code to find out how to sign up!

Chaplaincy

The Chapel is open every day for quiet reflection.
You can find Jennine Oldis in room B209, all faiths & no faiths are welcome!
If you would like to follow any of Chaplaincy's social media accounts - the links are below.
Chaplaincy Twitter
Chaplaincy Instagram
Chaplaincy Youtube