We are very proud to announce that the 7 Esher College students who entered the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad 2012 have all been awarded certificates.

The Royal Society of Chemistry International Olympiad is most certainly not for the faint-hearted.  The questions in Round 1 are designed to be interesting and challenging and are based on real and relevant chemistry, raising awareness of what the subject is all about.  This year 3632 students in the UK entered the competition and of those 7% were awarded gold, 27% silver, 32.5 % bronze certificates.  So we are very proud to announce that the 7 Esher College students who entered the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad 2012 excelled themselves in that all of them have been awarded certificates.  Well done and hearty congratulations on their excellent achievements.  Silver awards:  Michael Copland, Matty O’Toole Howes, Alexander Pateman, Patrick Smith.  Bronze awards: Lucy Knowles, Jessica Newberry Le Vay, Max Williams.

Esher College awarded its annual Sports Person of the Year Award this week to 2nd year student Sam Druce.

Esher College awarded its annual Sports Person of the Year Award this week. The award is given to a 2nd year student who has demonstrated outstanding sporting achievements and behaviour during their time at the College. The award is presented in memory of Charlie O’Donoghue, an Esher College student who tragically died in 2003.

Sam Druce was awarded the Sports Person of the Year trophy by Dan Dean, Principal of the College. He was nominated for his dedication to the Esher College Rugby team.

Russell Tomlin, Head of PE & Sport said, “Sam exhibits all the qualities that we look for when presenting this special award. His passionate and committed approach to driving the team on during his two years with us has been a joy to watch. Sam is an extremely good rugby player and we have high hopes for him taking his level of performance forward and into the professional game.”

On Tuesday 13th March 2012, around 40 of our Community Sports Leaders took part in hosting a Mini Olympics festival for the pupils of Weston Green School.

On Tuesday 13th March 2012, around 40 of our Community Sports Leaders took part in hosting a Mini Olympics festival for the pupils of Weston Green School. Two festivals were run on the day; the first festival was for the Year 2s in the morning and the second festival for Year 3 and 4s in the afternoon. Following with the Olympic theme the pupils in each festival were split into teams and represented a country, competing for the Gold medal prize. Pupils in their teams made their way round the Olympics circuit designed by our students competing in events such as penalty shootout, basketball, sprinting, long jump, sack races, bowling, hand eye coordination activities and throwing events. Each event was differentiated to fit the abilities of the pupils and had a designated Sports Leader running it.

Every pupil was awarded a certificate for the effort throughout the festival, as well as the Gold medal teams winning a wrist band each. One pupil was selected over everyone for a special prize for effort and enthusiasm, winning a London 2012 key ring. Each Sports Leader contributed excellently to putting together, setting up and running a fun filled and exciting event. All involved were extremely impressed with how well the festivals turned out for Sports Leaders and the pupils of Weston Green. Russell Tomlin, Head of PE & Sport, said “It was pleasing to see all the hard work that the students have been putting in result in a superb festival for all involved.” Weston Green were also really impressed with the Mini Olympics, Chris Weston, Green School’s PE teacher, commented on how well the festivals went, adding that it was “a very well organised event… Every child thoroughly enjoyed themselves”.

Esher College held another successful Health event on 1st March for their 16-18 year old students. It was extremely well-attended by both their own students and those from Reigate Sixth Form College.

Esher College held another successful Health event on 1st March for their 16-18 year old students. It was extremely well-attended by both their own students and those from Reigate Sixth Form College. It was delivered by a group of first year Applied A level Health and Social Care students who were supported by a team of experienced health professionals from NHS Central Surrey and a local charity Catch 22.

There were 8 health campaigns delivered - Sexual Health, Mental Health Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness, testicular Cancer Awareness, Drugs and Alcohol, Health Eating, Domestic Abuse Awareness and Mental Health Awareness.

The feedback from the students who attended was hugely positive having had fun, but equally being challenged to a wide range of activities and demonstrations such as condom challenge, food theatre, checking for cancer using prosthetic breasts and testicles to name a few.

Annie Teoh Williams, Head of Health and Social Care at the College, said “The students did a fantastic job in organising the event and we were so pleased with the turn out. This is a crucial event in helping to raise awareness for a number of really important issues that young people face.”

Applied Art & Design A2 students recently completed a live brief for the V&A Museum, in which produced multimedia interactive communication about specific galleries.

Applied Art & Design A2 students recently completed a live brief for the V&A Museum, in which they devised and produced, in small groups, multimedia interactive communication about specific galleries, designed to highlight and illuminate the character and context of particular artefacts.

Designers from the museum acted as clients, giving an initial briefing and receiving presentations of the final products from the students at the museum. They were impressed by the range, imagination and professionalism of the work on show. The resulting coursework provides excellent evidence for a number of vocationally focussed units.

It is anticipated that a similar project will be possible for the current AS students next year.

The Amnesty International student group at Esher College organised a petition to the UK government asking them to support a bullet proof arms trade treaty.

The Amnesty International student group at Esher College organised a petition to the UK government asking them to support a bullet proof arms trade treaty. The group felt this campaign was important because recent massacres and atrocities in the Middle East and North Africa demonstrate the need for a treaty that protects basic human rights. They set up their petition in the canteen, and obtained over 100 signatures from Esher College teachers and students.  The group received a letter from The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, claiming that the UK wants to see a treaty that contains strong provisions on human rights, international humanitarian law and sustainable development. They also raised £20 from a cake sale which will be donated to Amnesty.

The whole Art and Design A2 group travelled to Madrid for an intensive exploration of key galleries, the visual character of the city, and the historic city of Toledo.

The whole Applied Art and Design (Double Award) A2 group travelled to Madrid for an intensive exploration of key galleries, the visual character of the city, and the historic city of Toledo. Each day was fully occupied with drawing, photographing, art historical discussion and note taking, towards the accumulation of a resource for use in the Synoptic Assignment. Highlights included El Greco's house in Toledo, Toledo Cathedral, the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, and the Matedero art centre and studio complex.

Students are now working to analyse and interpret the fruits of their labour and will exhibit the results in the end of year exhibition.

On the 28th of January, 17 students went on an Empire and Freedom History trip to Washington DC.

On the 28th of January, 17 students went on an Empire and Freedom History trip to Washington DC.

“We arrived at Washington Dulles airport at around 3pm before going straight to our hostel in the centre of DC. Shortly after dropping off our bags, we visited the major monuments in the city such as the White house, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln memorial, giving us a good view of the Washington mall.

On the Sunday morning, we embarked on a two hour trip to the town of Williamsburg, Virginia, which was a pre-revolutionary town that was preserved for others to view the way they used to live. It was insightful and interesting as we gained a better understanding of the way life was in 18th century Virginia.

The next day we travelled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to view the battlefield of the turning point of the American Civil War. We had a tour guide drive us through the town, in which we saw building that were still standing since the battle, some of them still riddled with bullet holes and canon shots.

On the final day, we visited Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, and watched the changing of the guard that protected the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also went to see where the Kennedy’s were buried and from there we could see the entire city of DC. After that we were free to explore the Smithsonian where there were many different attractions.  After this we were allowed some time to shop for any tourists gifts before going back to the airport.

Overall, the trip was an amazing experience and we learnt a lot about American history that we can use in both our exams and our knowledge in the future.”

By Danielle Hayward, Max Dinsmore-Harris, William Clayton (AS History students)