Spring Term - Helston Community College

Helstonian News 

Each year over 5 million visitors are attracted to Cornwall, 

and according to the latest County council statistics for 

2009 during their stay they spent in total £1,798.944.000 

before returning home. 

The tourism industry provided employment for 60,139 

Year Ten visit the 

Budock Vean Hotel 

people, which works out at 25% of all employment in the County. So it goes without saying the industry is 

a very important contributor to the Cornish economy. 

But what is more important, just think of the opportunities that exist for anyone seeking a worthwhile 

career 

So the visit to the privately owned Budock Vean Hotel, near Mawnan Smith proved a real eye opener for all 

those who took part. 

All the students had the chance to look at the different departments required for running a hotel of this size, 

with members of staff demonstrating the various skills required to make a hotel guest’s stay a comfortable 

and enjoyable experience. 

The simple task of making a bed has to be done 

properly to maintain a certain standard. 

Trying to identify mistakes in the preparation of a 

room, prior to a guests arrival, proved to be a bit 

of a test. 

The skill in 

folding a 

knapkin 

Or 

In the kitchen 

preparing that 

evenings 

dessert. All 

present a 

challenge. 

Learning how to mix cocktails (non-alcoholic) 

was a popular activity. 

Laying table ready for the evening meal has 

to follow a set routine.

HELSTONIAN NEWS 

THE 

Helston Community College is crowded 

with enthusiastic young talents. We 

constantly hear how great our Jazz Band BUBBLE GUM TREE 

performed or see the medals achieved by 

our students following exhausting sport matches. However, the College has another talent which is also deserving of 

high praise, - that shown by our drama students. 

There is no doubting the variety of talent which is displayed with each new production, expertly produced by a keen 

and talented production team. 

“The Bubble Gum Tree” was a perfect proof. During the last 3 days before half-term, I could hear students as well as 

teachers talking about “The Bubble Gum Tree” all around the school. 

On Friday 10 th February, I used the last opportunity to see the play, and I knew it was the right choice to spend my 

evening as soon as I entered the South Side Hall. The play was historically based on events during the years when the 

Berlin Wall, which separated West Berlin from East Berlin, still existed. When my eyes captured old-fashioned 

costumes and unusual, but nevertheless good music tracks reached my ears, I felt as if I was carried away to the 

post-war Germany. 

Although, “The Bubble Gum Tree” had several heart-breaking moments it was also filled with uplifting ones. The 

conversations between the characters left an audience giggling throughout the whole play. Moreover, the ballet 

skills that were shown by the students allowed us to see many students in very different roles as majority of them 

never stood next to the ballet barre before. 

Many people said the students “should go on tour” with such a high-standard play. So, if you didn’t come to see “The 

Bubble Gum Tree” then let me assure you that you missed a treat. 

(Special report for the Helstonian by Sandra Macijevskyte)


Two Year 7 students from 

Helston Community College are 

the youngest people to achieve 

the Blackbelt in Sandokai Karate. 

Youngest Cornwall County Sandokai 

Karate Blackbelts 

Matthew Shaw and Sam Smith have been involved with traditional Sandokai Karate since 

2009. They progressed through the 9 belts (Red, White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Purple, Blue, 

1st Brown, 2nd Brown) in preparation for their Black Belt grading on Sunday 19th Feb 2012 at 

HCC. 

Approximately 50 fighters, aged between 6 and 60, attended from across Cornwall, with the full 

range of belts. 

After 2-hours of training the grading commenced. Grading across all belts is divided into 

sections, which includes the Kata (a series of up to 40 synchronised moves), Ippons and Kihons 

(Blocks and strikes - called in Japanese). This culminates in actual combat fighting (Kumite) in 

which Matt and Sam had to fight 6 opponents of all ages, grades and sizes. Of which some were 

4-years older, 12 inch taller and of a higher belt! 

Both Matthew and Sam were successful and received their Black Belt (1st Dan), along with the 

formal title of Shodan. They will continue at the club as Sampai, or junior instructors. 

At 11, Matt and Sam are currently the youngest of the Sandokai Black Belts in Cornwall and have 

achieved this rank in virtually record time. 

The club was founded by Shishidan Kevin Whale (7th Dan) of Penzance. 

The Helston club meet at Helston Community College gymnasium every Tuesday and Friday 

evenings (7pm - 9pm) all year round, under the direction of Shihan (6th Dan) Kevin Gilbert.


Following a 5 day 

challenging walk in 

half term, 6 Air 

Cadets from 3 

Squadron Helston 

eventually walked 

into Falmouth’s 

Events Square just 

after 12.00 on 

F r i d a y 1 7 t h 

February, finishing 

the walk they had 

began on the 

Monday morning at 

Land’s End. At a 

distance of over 

Reece Greig Year 10, who 

helped organise the event 

with Squadron member Joe 

Davies at the finish. 

120 km, the team have overcome an 

arduous challenge, despite a number of 

injuries, in order to raise as much 

money as possible for the Afghan Heroes 

Successful completion 

of the Afghan Heroes 

Charity walk 

The Air Cadets from 3 Squadron Helston 

Charity, a total of over £700 with more to come in. They would like to take this 

opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to them throughout the period of 

collection and for those who supported them on the walk along this stretch of the South 

West Coast, from townsfolk to beeping horns, the support given was tremendous. 

Big thanks to Ann’s Pasties on the Lizard who kindly fed them, Lizard Peninsula Bowmen 

for the use of their facilities one evening, Falmouth Backpackers Lodge for the comfy 

beds for the final night and Harbour Lights Restaurant in Falmouth for a fish and chip 

lunch at the finishing line. Final praises have to go to the families involved for their 

support throughout this challenge. Well done lads!


This year’s parents option information evening 

attracted a lot of interest from parents, carers and 

students, anxious to seek expert opinion on which 

subjects would best suit their chosen career path. 

There was plenty of help on hand, with staff able to 

Year 9 Parents Option 

Information Evening 

advise on all aspects of the College curriculum. In addition to the excellent academic standards achieved 

by Helston, the College also has an extensive network of vocational courses and workshops which 

include Construction, Agriculture, Automotive Engineering and Computer Aided Design. 

Anyone wishing to obtain further details of the College Sixth Form or seeking advice, contact 

Mrs. J. Trimble, Tel: 01326 575022, Email: jean@helston.cornwall.sch.uk


The College farm is a very popular study area 

available to students, where a great deal of 

emphasis is placed on animal husbandry. It 

also provides the opportunity to adopt 

livestock that is born on the farm, which needs 

to be adopted by someone who would take care, and provide a loving home. 

An appropriate time then to offer you the opportunity to adopt a couple of Guinea Pigs - free of 

charge - which were born just before Christmas and are now ready to move on to a permanent, 

address. 

An ideal little pet for someone who hasn’t room for a horse, dog or cat is - the guinea pig. 

If handled correctly early in their life, guinea pigs become amenable to being picked up and carried, 

and seldom bite or scratch. They are timid 

explorers and often hesitate to attempt an 

escape from their cage even when an 

opportunity presents itself. Still, they show 

considerable curiosity when allowed to walk 

freely, especially in familiar and safe terrain. 

Guinea pigs that become familiar with their 

owner will whistle on the owner's approach; 

they will also learn to whistle in response to 

the rustling of plastic bags or the opening of 

refrigerator doors, where their food is most 

commonly stored. 

Guinea pigs should be kept in pairs or 

groups, unless there is a specific medical 

condition that requires isolation. Lone 

guinea pigs are more likely to suffer from stress and depression. 

Can You Give Me a 

Home 

Can you give me a home? 

Grass is the guinea pig's natural diet. Their molars are particularly suited for grinding plant matter, 

and grow continuously throughout the animal's life . Guinea pigs benefit from feeding on fresh 

grass hay, such as timothy hay, in addition to food pellets which are often based from timothy. 

Alfalfa is also a popular food choice; most guinea pigs will eat large amounts of alfalfa when offered 

it, though there exists some controversy over the feeding of alfalfa to adult guinea pigs. Some pet 

owners and veterinary organizations have advised that alfalfa consumed in large amounts may lead 

to obesity, as well as bladder stones due to excess calcium. 

If guinea pigs do not ingest enough vitamin C, they can suffer from potentially fatal scurvy. Guinea 

pigs require about 10 mg of vitamin C daily (20 mg if pregnant), which can be obtained through fresh, 

raw fruits and vegetables (such as broccoli, apple, cabbage, carrot, celery, and spinach) or through 

dietary supplements . 

But be warned 

A number of plants are poisonous to guinea pigs, including bracken, bryony, buttercup, charlock, 

deadly nightshade, foxglove, hellebore, hemlock, Lily of the Valley, mayweed monkshood, privet, 

ragwort, rhubarb, speedwell, toadflax and wild celery. Additionally, any plant which grows from a 

bulb (e.g., tulip and onion) is normally considered poisonous. also Ivy and oak tree leaves. 

Would you like to adopt a Guinea Pig? 

If you could provide a permanent home for a guinea pig - there are four male and four females 

looking for a new owner, then please contact Nigel Philpot on 01326 572685 (Ext. 259) 

Nigel would also like to hear from you if you have spare hutches which you might be able to donate 

to the care of the livestock, as the housing of new arrivals is a constant problem.


Area Final Winners in the 

Rotary Youth Speaks 

Competition 

Helston Community College Intermediate 

team from Year 9 emerged winners of the 

Area Finals. Holly Bardell, Rosa Higgs and 

Milly Hayton won their event, and our Senior 

team from Year 11 Poppy Pellow, Annie 

Taylor and Shannon Farmer were runners-up, being congratulated by Deputy Head Teacher, 

Wayne Jenkins. 

The teams expressed their appreciation of all the work undertaken by Vince Davis and Pippa 

Renyard in preparing them for the event. The detail of picking up small points in preparing their 

presentation made a big contribution to their success. 

The competition sponsored by the RIBI encourages speaking and presentation skills in young 

people and are pleased that schools seem to agree. The RIBI Youth Speaks competition, as a 

result, continues to go from strength to strength each year, producing some superb quality 

speakers in our young people aged from 11 to 18. 

This year, the competition has been granted the prestigious Inspire mark by the London 2012 

Inspire programme. Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic 

Games and Paralympic games said: “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 

Games starts now as projects like RIBI Youth Speaks are enabling people to be part of the 

Games.” 

In May 2011, the final of the RIBI competition was held in the stunning surroundings of Cranleigh 

School in Surrey, where eight senior and intermediate teams presented to a large audience and 

some very particular judges, including the actress Penelope Keith. Thousands of young people 

took the challenge across the UK, competing in school, district and regional competitions. 

So, our best wishes go to the Helston teams who will now go through to the next round at 

Bodmin on 10th March.


A large representative gathering of 

staff, students, friends and relations 

attended the special celebration, 

introduced by Dr. Pat McGovern in 

the College Main Hall in memory of 

Mr. Gerald Symons. 

Having devoted 36 years to the 

A St. Pirans Day 

Celebration and Thanksgiving for 

Mr. Gerald Symons 

College, it was quite evident that he was remembered with a good deal of affection, and various 

tributes were made about his dedication and enthusiasm for the task in hand by his colleagues. 

Miss Debbie Tall recalled his early days when he first left school and set about earning a bit of 

pocket money by undertaking various jobs starting off as a window cleaner, then progressing 

onto better things, including at one stage working in a butchers shop. 

But he was eventually drawn to a career in teaching, and it was former Headmaster Freddie 

Worral, who remembered appointing him as a Maths teacher at Helston. 

But Gerald’s interests were really aroused when Headmaster Worral asked for a member of staff 

to look at the possibilities of these new fangled things called computers. This was at a time in 

the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when the first stirring of interest in computer technology became 

apparent. 

Gerald was fired with enthusiasm and immediately volunteered and was accepted in this new 

post. There was only one snag, there was no money to buy a computer (what’s changed?), but 

this didn’t deter them. With the Headmaster’s permission the staff decided to raffle a car—a 

mini, - which really caught the publics imagination. It wasn’t long before the prize had been 

paid for, and a grand profit made to purchase that first computer. 

Other members of staff attended courses to master this new technology, again spurred on by 

Gerald and that sense of urgency and enthusiasm for his subject remained with him throughout 

his working life 

Various musical items, mostly with a Cornish flavour, went towards making the whole evening a 

great success, attended by Gerald’s wife Wendy, accompanied by family relations. 

At the close of the evening the Memorial Plaque designed by Mr. Sean Ellis was dedicated by 

Canon David Miller, with the closing prayer conducted by Pastor Steve Ovens. 

Miss Debbie Tall 

Mr A.R. Worral, Dr. P.McGovern, 

Wendy Symons and Gerald’s sister Christine Neal 

HSJOrchestra 

Senior Choir 

“Gans Karensa”


The first round of the competition involved students 

making either a batch of muffins, cupcakes or 

scones of their choice at home and bringing them 

into college to be judged during a lunchtime . After 

much deliberation Mr Dudley choose 10 students to 

Year 8 Master Chef 

Competition 

go through to the final. These students were asked to cook a pasta dish, costing no more than £5 for a 

minimum of two people and they had up to an hour and a half to cook and serve up their master pieces . A 

number of teachers judged the dishes and 80% of the mark was judged on the taste and 20% was on the 

presentation. The judges were extremely impressed with the quality and ability of all the students. The 

wining dish was produced by Charlotte Rees and consisted of a spinach and ham cannelloni with a 

béchamel roux and salad, she was followed in second place by Holly Barnes, who served up stuffed 

peppers with bolognaise and spaghetti, and third place was given to Megan Williams who cooked a 

bolognaise cannelloni pasta with a cheese sauce. All the dishes were of a very high standard so well done 

to all you took part !

Helstonian News Music master returns 

Mr Ronald Lees, who was a pupil of Helston Grammar 

School visited HCC to reminisce on his days growing up 

in Cornwall and attending the School. Ronald had enjoyed to his roots 

a long and successful career in music and he was keen to 

see how music provision has changed here. On the visit to HCC, Ronald was inspired by the great stride the 

school has made in music over the years. He took a wander through the music block and had the chance to exchange 

ideas with Sam Parker (Head of Music) and Clive King (Musical Director) and was pleased to meet the 

keyboard teacher Richard Penrose. After discussing ensembles, Ronald is now preparing material for the keyboard 

for HCC to use and develop. Clive King gave the Helston School Jazz Orchestra CD to Ronald, who was 

stunned and impressed by the ability of such young musicians. 

Ronald has a big family connection to the Helston area. His maternal grandmother was brought up in Porthleven 

and was in service at Beacon Crag, the big house on Breageside. His great Uncles Stanley and William 

Oliver were second generation boat builders in Porthleven and in fact the College’s boat “The Provider” was 

built by his Uncles. They were also both fine musicians and were members of Camborne town band as was 

Stanley’s son Alec. His maternal grandfather was a master granite mason from Constantine, and had his own 

stone yard in Liskeard. Ronald’s family moved to Porthleven in 1952, where his father became the Methodist 

superintendent minister. Ronald largely taught himself to play the piano but whilst a student at Helston Grammar 

School had guidance from the then Headmaster’s wife Delphine Martelli. She was a concert pianist at college 

level and helped iron out any bad habits Ronald had picked up and with the 

additional support of the class teacher Edward Weymouth; Ronald gained his scholarship to the Royal 

Academy of Music, London. 

From Left - Clive 

King, Ronald Lees 

and Sam Parker 

Ronald speaking to 

a Year 7 music class 

Ronald was awarded a composition scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, London, this is where he found 

his true vocation whilst studying piano with York Bowen. Following post-graduate piano studies with the 

somewhat controversial Russian teacher, Tanya Polunin, he became her principal assistant before building a 

large and varied private practice in Bristol. After his appointment as the Recognized Teacher of Piano for the 

university music department there, he formed a piano duo with the senior lecturer, Kenneth Mobbs, appearing 

as soloists in several concerts with the Bristol Sinfonia and the Academy of the BBC, including radio and TV. 

From 1977 – 2001 he was a full-time lecturer in Piano and Piano Pedagogy at the Cork School of Music, where 

his design for the full-time diploma course won praise from the Irish Arts Council (The Place of the Arts in Irish 

Education report, 1978), and provided the platform for the present BMus degree course. He designed a piano 

laboratory for the school and pioneered a three-year group-piano course for beginners, catering for almost 

eighty children, almost all of whom moved on to individual lessons at a later stage. For thirty years Ronald was 

a member of the international examiner and seminar presenter panel of the Associated Board of the Royal 

Schools of Music, which included giving a major series of seminars at the Academy of the Performing Arts, 

Hong Kong, setting up a new exam centre in Swakopmund, Namibia, and advising the president of Guyana on 

a proposed music school. He was elected warden (national chair) of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (UK) 

for 1974, and established the UK Register of Professional Private Music Teachers (now online). He co-founded 

The Suzuki Education Institute of Ireland, of which he remains vice-president, at the personal request of Dr 

Shinichi Suzuki. Recently Ronald adjudicated in the Hong Kong Music Festival, (repeat invitation for 2015) and 

currently is very pleased to act as mentor to the piano department of the Cork County School of Music, which is 

developing an exciting new piano ensemble programme to run alongside the choirs, bands and orchestras. 

Other interests – words, antiques, designing things, growing unusual vegetables, and thinking wistfully of old 

Citroen motor cars.


The Helston Phoenix Mentoring Project 

Phoenix Mentoring 

Who are we and what do we do? 

The Helston Phoenix Mentoring Team, Fire Station Manager, Keith 

Stringer, Firefighter Mark Skinner and Project coordinator 

Karen Harvey, Helston Community College, work with young people from Helston Community College who have completed the one 

week Phoenix Project Course run by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. The project is a voluntary project based at Helston Fire Station, 

Church Hill, Helston, Cornwall. 

The mentoring team work with single sex groups and mixed abilities. We use a systemic approach; working with families, the school 

and outside agencies. 

We follow the aims and objectives of the ‘Phoenix Project’ to raise aspirations, motivate the young people and enhance their 

employment prospects. 

Watch this space; The team are pleased to announce that Deputy Chief Paul Walker, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has agreed to 

affiliate the Helston Phoenix Mentoring Project into Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. We will be attached to the Phoenix Project. We 

can assure our supporters that there will not be any change in the way the project is managed. 

Our project will continue to run in the same way as it has always been run. We will though be able to have a wider range of services on 

offer for our young people. 

Donations made to our project will remain with us and will not be shared with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. All 

monies raised are spent on providing activities for our young people. That will not change. 

The team would like to say a huge thank you to Paul for the seamless transition. 

Our young people take great pride in their community projects. We are working with RNAS Culdrose, Helston Town 

Council and the National Trust. Learning to work as part of a team is the predominant factor for all the young people on these courses 

Who can use the Helston Phoenix Mentoring Project? 

The team fundraise to provide free extracurricular activities after school and during the school holidays for local school 

children ages 11-16 from Helston and the wider community. 

This year we completed a successful Sail in to Life Project with the Sea Sanctuary, Penryn and Falmouth School of Sailing. We are now 

fundraising for a project for August 2012. The project for 24 young people is called ‘Schools out for summer!’ 

If the team are successful with their fundraising for the partner project ‘ Schools out for summer’ local schools will be offered the 

project free of charge; the follow up mentoring sessions for the following year will be provided for a nominal fee. 

The project will involve the groups being split into 2 groups of day. Each group doing 

12x 1 day Phoenix type project held at Helston Fire Station on Monday & Wednesday 

12 x 1 day Sailing at Falmouth School of sailing on Tuesday &Thursday 

24 x 1 day Surfing; we hope to enlist the help of ‘Surf Action’ Friday 

Project 

We rely on donations and grants to sustain these projects. If you would like to donate to our organisation please follow the link. 

Events: 

30 November Grp 5 Mentoring at Helston Fire Station 8.30-11am 

2 December Grp1,2,3, 4 Mentoring at RNAS Culdrose 1- 4pm 

7 December Grp 4 Mentoring at RNAS Culdrose 1- 4pm 

13 December: Christmas Party 6 -8pm Helston Fire Station 

15 December Groups1/2/3 Final Presentation at Culdrose – 1 -3.30pm 

3 January Grp 6 Mentoring at Helston Fire Station 8.30-11am 

4 January Grp 4 Mentoring at RNAS Culdrose 1-4pm 

5 January Grp 5 Mentoring at Helston Fire Station 8.30- 11am

Spring Term - Helston Community College

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