Year 10 Humanities Trip to Vietnam

On Monday 13th May our Year 10 learners set off for a five day residential trip to Vietnam. The aim of the trip was to support their learning in Humanities and Global Perspectives. It was a great week and the learners experienced a wide variety of activities. The highlights for many of our learners were crawling through underground tunnels used by the Vietcong during the war, the cyclo ride through Ho Chi Minh City or bartering in local markets for hats and wigs!

Learners visited a range of historical sites that demonstrated the nature of the Vietnam War had on Vietnamese society including the Vietcong Headquarters, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum. The learners were fascinated to see the range of ‘booby traps’ and the examples of ingenuity showed by the Vietcong during the war to survive.

We also visited several businesses, including Kimmy’s Chocolate Factory and the Yakult Factory. Our learners were interested to learn how quickly Vietnam has developed in the post war period with a range of new industries emerging. Many of these new businesses, like Kimmy’s factory, are as a direct result of the growth of tourism.

Learners also got to explore the area around the Mekong River. We visited several cottage industries along the river that made popped rice, coconut toffees and rice papers. Learners saw how these people survive on very little and much good use of all the resources around them. We also enjoyed a lovely cruise through the canals on traditional sampans. Some learners even got up close with some local wildlife!

Overall, it was a great trip and as well as being a positive learning experience many friendships were formed and strengthened during the week.

Ms Vicky Holdcroft, Learning Area Leader: Humanities

Y12 Bio/ESS Trip to Indonesia

On the early morning of Sunday the 19th of May a group of 16 Diploma ESS and Biology learners and two teachers ventured onto a big adventure of serious scientific work. Their main focus - data collection for Internal Assessment reports. Mr Bendik and Ms Nika picked the same location on Bintan Island - Loola resort - where they did similar work last year.

The learners were very well prepared and all their planning was done weeks prior the expedition. The whole experience tested our scientific manipulative skills and resilience. It was hot and humid. There were days when we had to get up early in the morning - 5am-to catch the lowest tide in order to work on the exposed shores of the Bintan island. Other days we had to spend hours in the hilly terrain of secondary rainforest, chock full of mosquitos and almost 100% humidity. But it was all worth it. We came back 4 days later with lots of valuable data that can be used in our final practical assessment reports.

Mr Jozef Bendik, Biology Teacher

Y12 Business Trip to the Yakult Factory

On Monday 27th May, 24 Year 12 Business Management and Economics learners went to visit the Singapore Yakult factory. During the visit learners were told about the history of the company and the background to how Yakult was established in Japan. After having a tasting session, learners were shown an informative and interesting video about the benefits of Yakult on boosting the immune system.

After the presentations, the learners were given a fascinating guided tour around the factory and were able to see the machinery that makes the Yakult bottles as well as the machinery that fills and seals the bottles. Learners were able to make useful links to the Business Management syllabus, in particular the marketing and operations management units.

Caroline De Kock, Subject Leader: Business & Economics

Climbathon 2019