The VCJ Sixth Form would like to raise money for all those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria which have completely ruined buildings and left thousands of people without a home. 

On Thursday 9 March, there will be a non-uniform day and cake sale; all students are invited to dress down for a suggested donation of £2, and to bring a donation for the cake sale that will take place in the Quad during morning and lunchtime break times. 

All money raised will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee; If you would like to donate to this important cause, you can also do so here.

If you are interested in learning more about the dangerous subculture of Incels, Channel 4 recently aired a documentary about it. Please be aware that this contains challenging and upsetting content: The Secret World of Incels Untold.

An article in The Times on Tuesday highlights the continued issue of vapes, and the health risks of consuming high levels of nicotine and other chemicals. A particularly powerful thought is here: "Among 15-year-old girls in England, 21 per cent say they vape. One mother realised her daughter was setting her alarm for 3am each night so she could get in a few puffs to prevent waking in the morning suffering withdrawal symptoms." The full article can be found here: Harmless Vapes are Creating Teenage Addicts. If you do not subscribe to The Times and would like more information, please contact Anthony Griffin (a.griffin@vcj.sch.je).

The Nearly New Uniform Shop will be opening this Saturday, 4 March from 9 until 10:30 am. For a map of how to get there, please click on the 'button' at the top of the newsletter. 

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.   

To register, please click here.

Ralph Vaughan Williams Strings Ensemble Flyer

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

The Jersey Eisteddfod Secondary Section is open for parents to view at the Royal Jersey Showground from Thursday 9 March (10-6pm) until Sunday 12 March (10am - 4pm). All Secondary schools across the Island, who have wished to participate, will be showing their artwork including Photography and textiles submissions. There are also primary arts and amateur arts sections. Prizegiving will take place at 18:45 on Wednesday 8 March at the Showground.

With over 20 students registered already for our inaugural ArtEquals project alongside 11 local artists, we are very excited about our exhibition and auction this summer. Ian Rolls, Nick Romeril, Glen Fox, Jools Holt, Robert Allen, Katherine Cadin and Charlotte Hotton are a few of the names who have kindly offered to get involved. Watch out for more news about them soon. Please do encourage your sons to get involved; we're looking for as many contributors as possible - they can work at home or go to the art department at lunch time to work on their project.

As well as providing the boys with a great opportunity for creative reflection, ArtEquals will kick-start the fundraising for The Victoria College Wellbeing Garden and allow the students the opportunity to keep up to 50% of their sale proceeds!

Parents who wish 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 should reach out to Emily Sweeny (e.sweeny@vcj.sch.je).

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. 

Next Wednesday, 8 March, is the final internal submission for Y7 Historians to hand in their Coronation bench designs. This is run by the Tower of London in connection with the Coronation in May. Good luck to all those taking part. Please click here for more information. 

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

This year's Fair will take place on Thursday 16 March at Hautlieu School; over 35 universities and colleges will be represented from on-Island, the UK and further afield. More information is available via the link below: 

Higher Education Fair Letter

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