WINTER NEWSLETTER 2016

Christmas Ball 2015

Winter Wonderland

Accommodation News

Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Full Time English News

Olympiad Results

Mill Road Winter Fair

Clubs News

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2016

2015!

Christmas Ball

Abbey Cambridge’s

On Saturday 5 December over 100 students and staff celebrated the end of a fantastic first term by attend-

ing Abbey Cambridge’s Christmas Ball.

Together we enjoyed fine dining and a disco in the Great Hall at Homerton College – one of the many

colleges of Cambridge University. The Hall is one of the largest and most prestigious at the university

and has a number of beautiful works of art and a most impressive architectural “hammer beam” roof – a

most suitable location for our Ball.

Our students voted for a number of awards, including as best dressed male, best dressed female as well

as best bow tie and best shoes.

The Ball proceeds will go towards our chosen charity, EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices) for

whom we raised £3000 on the night. A big thank you to all those who came; you have contributed to help

fund care for unwell children and their families across Cambridgeshire.

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The following 10 students attempted Round 1 of the British Physics Olympiad on the 13th November this year. The

paper is designed to challenge the best physicists in the country and each year around 2000 students compete

nationwide. The top 50 are invited to take part in Round 2 which is used to select the top 15 who attend a training

course at the University of Oxford for selection of the team for the international Olympiad. The paper is a real

challenge and to take part is a significant achievement. Well done to all those involved.

XIE Junyu (Arthur) - Gold (Top 50)

SHI Zimu (Joe) - Gold

AN Junlei (James) - Gold

Bryan BEH - Bronze I

Dmytro (Dema) USHCHAPOVSKYY - Bronze II

Mingiyan USHANOV - Commendation

Areesh (Johnny) MURALIGANAN - Commendation

NAW LAT Wun Dan - Commendation

ZHU Tailin (Kylie) - Commendation

ZHANG Yilin (Erin) - Commendation

The photograph above shows some of the students preparing for the paper in our weekly “Physics Masterclass”

session run by Ellen Salow and Chris Ashford.

Chris Ashford

It’s been an excellent first term at Art Club! I

couldn’t be prouder of the dedicated student

artists who come along each Tuesday.

Everyone is genuinely committed to

improving their art skills and completing

personal projects, and we’ve already

explored a wide variety of mediums and

techniques. Hopefully, this enthusiasm will

be just as strong next September, when Art will join the broad spectrum of subjects

Abbey Cambridge will offer to students.

Jessamy Queree

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Abbey FC played their first match of the season against Perse Sixth Form College on the 28 November.

In difficult conditions, and after some promising early play from Abbey Cambridge, it was the Perse Team who

found the better rhythm, scoring two fine goals in quick succession against the run of play.

Abbey Cambridge pushed hard to find their way back into the game, their efforts being rewarded with a goal just

before the half-time whistle. Unfortunately, despite a spirited first half display, the Perse scored twice more and

Abbey Cambridge went into the break 4-1 down, a score line which did not reflect the efforts of their players.

At half time, Abbey Cambridge manager Matt Harvey, looking to try something different with his team changed

formation and tactics. Abbey Cambridge started the second half brightly, with some good early passing and

movement. Abbey Cambridge Captain Hilkiah ADEBANJO, moved into the centre of midfield for the second half

quickly took charge of the game, reeling off a sublime hat-trick to bring the scores level.

With the Perse team stunned, the comeback was completed when ADEBANJO was put through on goal from a

defence splitting pass by Sanan YUSIFOV. The captain calmly slotted past the helpless Perse goalkeeper to send the

Abbey fans into wild celebrations!

With the game won and the Abbey captain receiving the match ball after his superb 5-goal-haul, Abbey Cambridge

students and staff were justifiably delighted with their start to the season. Congratulations to the team, next up DLD

London!

Alex Johnston

Mill Road Winter Fair In my opinion, it is a place where we can have fun.

There were many stalls and each of them has their

own unique ideas and products. There were also

many events, activities and special offers. Now I

know that it is not only financial donations that can

give you happiness but also helping physically will

give you happiness and fun also. And have also

learnt that I am pretty good at building a tent!

NAING Htet Thura (Perry)

As I'm a member of the Volunteering Club, I wanted

to help people in as many different ways as I could.

Even though it was tiring work we had so much fun

helping other people. If there is some work needed to

be done, I'm happy to lend a helping hand. What I

enjoyed most about this was doing it with my brother

and good friend Rex!

NAING Htet Thiha (Jerry)

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2016

It’s been a fantastic term for music in the College. We now have six different musical groups involving over 50

students. Abbey Rock Band has been learning how to play together, and making a lot of noise in Norman

House! The Ukelele Band have been learning the play the ukulele as well as guitars and percussion. Our new

Classical Band have added a touch of class to many school events and assemblies. Abbey Voices continue to

work harmoniously together, blending student and staff singing. Our two student-led bands, A-gaiN and The

Thursdvys have been producing fantastic music.

We performed at the fantastically scary Halloween Party, and recently for the end of term assembly. We’re

really looking forward to lots of performances next term, including the Speak English Week sing-a-long, and a

special new music event in March.

Any other student wanting to join in the fun should get in touch with me,

cambridge.clubs@abbeycambridge.co.uk

The stage is yours!

John Morgan

This half-term the FTE class have been going out into

Cambridge once a week to explore the city and practise using

English in an authentic environment. We have explored the

lives of some famous people who have studied in this city, and

researched the heroic contributions they have made to their

respective fields.

Ed Davison

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Dinosaurs and diamonds then the Magical Ice Kingdom; what a day! GCSE, Full Time English and a

sprinkling of AS students went to London's stunning Natural History Museum and Winter

Wonderland in Hyde Park on November 27 this term. We started by going into the mouth of a

volcano and experienced an earthquake in a Japanese shop! Some of us then got lost in Space while

others braved Dippy the Diplodocus and discovered every size and colour diamond you could

imagine.

After lunch in the stylish museum cafés, while walking to The Serpentine, Phutana

VATANASAKPISAL (Keen) and Kosol EKVIRIYAKIT (Peak) were sorely tempted to go in to

Harrods but time was ticking so we made do with the amazing window displays. Arriving at Hyde

Park, a friendly squirrel decided to touch DU Yanqing (Edward’s) hand with its nose, and then ran

off when everyone squealed with delight. We all slowed down as CHEN Chen (Ada) and ZENG

Qinwen (Amy) compared the petite Grey Heron with its larger Chinese cousin and admired the

Swans on the water.

Finally, the highlight of everyone's day had arrived: we entered Winter Wonderland through its

sparkling gates and ZHANG Zizhen (Jason) proved his map reading skills by leading us to the

Magical Ice Kingdom. We shivered as we entered the minus 8 air and threw on hats, scarves and

gloves but soon recovered to marvel at the ice sculptures of both real and imaginary animals, sit on

the Ice Throne and fly down a glacial slide. Everyone was ready to get warm again after that

adventure so we split into smaller groups to try the fairground rides, giant wheel, Christmassy food,

doughnuts, hot chocolate and buy gifts from the Bavarian markets.

LI Ziyu (Zoey) had wanted to stay later to see the lights shine at night but unfortunately we had to

head home just after dusk. We met at the Ice Rink and said goodbye to London till next time. It had

been a great opportunity to spend time with friends, SHI

Yuanyun (Lucy) reflected.

Fiona McEwan-Cox

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On a Saturday 7 November in the pouring rain, 62 students and 6 staff members boarded a

luxury coach to the beautiful city of Bath.

On arrival we were met by Amanda HO who completed her studies at Abbey Cambridge in

June, who took a few people to look around the university, and very importantly the sun came

out!

Everyone enjoyed wandering around the shops, seeing the sights and at the end of the day a

cup of tea and famous Sally Lunn Bath Bun.

A great day, and the return journey back to Cambridge was very relaxing.

Dawn Kent

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This year students and staff made a massive contribution to the Samaritan’s Purse

Christmas Shoebox Appeal. A small shoebox can have a big impact; what goes into the box is

fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. In total the Abbey Cambridge community filled a very

impressive 35 boxes that have been sent all around the world to disadvantaged children who

wouldn’t normally receive a present at Christmas. On Friday evenings the Volunteering Club

kindly helped to wrap the boxes which was a massive help. Tutor groups were assigned a boy

or girl aged between 2-14 then purchased gifts to fill their boxes. The generosity of students and

staff was clear to see, especially from Duncan Colquhoun’s tutor group who filled a total of 5

boxes!

Overall this project was a huge success and we look forward to doing it again next year!

Gemma Deane

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2016

Abbey Voices are looking for singers to take part in

Speak English Week! If you would like to take part

please email

cambridge.clubs@abbeycambridge.co.uk for more

details

Host Family Awards

We love to know what Abbey students think about their

accommodation, so every year we ask the students to

complete surveys about where they live. As part of this, we

run an annual competition to find out who lives in the best

host family! I’m pleased to say that, year on year, our

students have consistently rated their host families higher,

and have lots of positive things to say about them. In joint

first place this year are hosts Judith Belshaw, Louise Gillibrand and Zhi Ming Peat;

in joint second place are Shia and Rob Mortimer and Maureen Saward. Students

commented on their “tasty meals”, how “nice and

kind” they are, and how hosts will discuss “lots of

interesting stuff” with them over dinner. Well

done to all of our host families – keep up the

excellent work!

Jessamy Queree

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2016