1. Choral Showcase, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 March

Jersey Eisteddfod has not been able to offer school and youth choir performance opportunities since 2021 and the close of the Opera House, and they have missed hearing young voices sing. 

On Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 March 2023 they will be holding a “Choral Showcase” at St Helier Methodist Centre. Youth choirs will take centre-stage throughout the day which will be divided into three sessions: 9.30 -11.30, 13:00 -14:30  and !6:00 -18:00. VCJ choirs are very much looking forward to taking part on Wednesday 15 March at 16:00. All parents are welcome.

2. Ralph Vaughan Williams Strings Ensemble, Saturday 25 March

Following the success of projects like our concert with the Harmony Men and the inter-school GCSE Music Conference, the Music Department of Victoria College is looking forward to hosting the ‘RVW Strings Project’ on Saturday 25 March. This will be an exciting collaboration between various Island schools, the Jersey Academy of Music and experienced string musicians from the JSO, endorsed by the Creative Island Partnership & Jersey Music Association. Students of string instruments around the Island will have the opportunity to rehearse the ‘Concerto Grosso’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams and perform it in the beautiful setting of our Great Hall.   

Ralph Vaughan Williams Strings Ensemble

Watch this space for more information.

3. Bandtastic, Wednesday 29 March

Come to hear the Victoria College Concert Band, La Ronde Concert Band and the JMS Concert Band playing a rich variety of pieces on their own and together, in a jamboree of music. Highlights will include music from film and stage: Mamma Mia, Star Wars, Dam Busters. Tickets available from Wednesday 8 March. Watch this space for more information.

Bandtastic

4. Salisbury Cathedral Choir Tour, Thursday 30 and Friday 31 March

Two wonderful evenings of entertainment not to be missed. Please click on the link for more information:

Salisbury Cathedral Choir Tour Dates

Victoria College is once again taking part in the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation February Challenge, which tasks people with walking, jogging and/or running the distance from Jersey to Southampton Hospital - 164 miles. Two students, Seb and Jacob are even swimming the distance!

Students in Years 7-11 have been taking part in games lessons, covering the distance as a cohort and learning a little bit about what the Foundation does for local families. Many of our Sixth Form students are participating in teams of 2-6, and we also have staff who are taking part either in teams or individually.

The Foundation provides financial and emotional support to families with children receiving care abroad, for example by covering the costs of flights and accommodation for family members. To find out more about the Foundation, visit their website.

As part of the challenge we are trying to raise as much money as possible to support the Foundation further. If you would like to sponsor Victoria College's efforts, you can do so here.

Victoria College has recently launched ArtEquals, a new art initiative which will give our students the opportunity to create their own artwork & have it exhibited alongside local professional Jersey artists.

The resulting exhibition and auction in June, will kick-start the fundraising campaign for The Victoria College Wellbeing Garden and allow the students the opportunity to keep up to 50% of their sale proceeds.

If any parents would like to get involved, either donating artwork for the auction, creating your own artwork to exhibit, volunteering at the event or even helping secure corporate sponsorship, please reach out to Emily Sweeny (e.sweeny@vcj.sch.je)

Full details about how to get involved can be found on our dedicated webpage here: ArtEquals

We have an exciting design challenge taking place, in collaboration with our School charity, Durrell. If you are interested, please use the link to download the design template for the tortoise or see Assistant Head, Supercurriculum, Ms Kane in the library for a printed copy. Named entries must he handed to your Head of House by the 3rd of March for judging (please note this date has been moved forward). The winning design from each House will then be painted by the designer (alongside a supportive decorating team) onto a tortoise sculpture in April. The best finished tortoise design will then be judged across the five Houses. Each House tortoise will be featured in the 'shop window trail' organised by Durrell later this the year. For more info see your Head of House or Ms Kane.

Tortoise Takeover House Competition

A team of Ophthalmology professionals from Jersey are visiting Lahore, Pakistan in March 2023 to undertake visual screening in schools and orphanages. They are hoping to take as many pairs of children’s old glasses (or those belonging to small adults) with them, so they are asking parents to donate any old pairs that children do not need any more. If you have any to donate, please kindly put them in the box at Reception. 

Please find the latest PE rotation for Y7, starting this half-term. The information here details the new activity your son will be doing, as well as the kit he will need.

In addition, the Sports Teams training sessions and activities for the term ahead are now updated on the College Calendar. 

Y7 PE and Games Rotations 

Since the GCSE Information Evening in November, no doubt your son has been giving some thought to the subjects that he might wish to pursue in Y10 and Y11. The deadline for submitting these choices is Wednesday 1 March, before which you will have had the opportunity to meet your son’s subject teachers at Parents’ Evening. Please submit your son’s choices using this online link. For any questions, please contact Jacky Bryan, Head of Y9 (j.bryan@vcj.sch.je) or Karen Palfreyman, Assistant Head Curriculum, Teaching & Learning (k.palfreyman@vcj.sch.je).

Upcoming webinar for parents – How to Help Your Child Prepare for Exams

We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education will be hosting a free webinar for parents on Tuesday 28 February.

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. 

When: Tuesday 28 February at !8:00

Topic: How to help your child prepare for exams

How to register: Click here to register for free

In this webinar, they will be discussing:

• High Priority Work: The kinds of work students should be focusing on in the build-up to exams to maximise marks
• Time Management: How to ensure your child has enough time to prepare for their exams
• Practise Papers: How to prepare effectively using past questions and practise papers

Last year, The Institute of Directors Jersey, in partnership with Skills Jersey and Jersey Business, and in collaboration with Haute Vallee School and Victoria College launched a new scheme called the IoD Accredited Internship.

This scheme seeks to encourage students from Years 11 to 13 to gain valuable work experience in Hospitality and Retail on a casual basis, primarily weekends and school holidays.  While undertaking this paid employment students will also work towards receiving a certificate accredited by the IoD. For more information about this and how to sign up please follow the link below:

IoD Accredited Internship Letter to Parents

Later this term we will launch the university application process with Year 12. As part of this process we would like to invite all Year 12 parents and students to attend an information evening, which will outline the support available and key information for parents and students. Further information is available in the attached letter, along with information about the Pre-Public Examinations that Year 12 sit in the summer term.

Higher Education Information Evening Letter

Please find below a letter explaining the Pre-Public Examination process and a timetable for the period during the examinations. If you have any further questions, please contact Examinations Officer, Liz Croft (l.croft@vcj.sch.je) or Head of Sixth Form, Alan Falle (a.falle@vcj.sch.je)

Y12 PPE Letter 2023

Y12 PPE Timetable - April 2023