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Mayor tells our students: “Penryn is proud of you”

Mayor Mark Snowdon really delighted to be asked to speak to the entire college

Every one of our 1117 students sat up and listened to Penryn Mayor, Mark Snowdon, welcome them back after the summer break in the traditional whole school First Day Assembly.

It was the largest audience the mayor has addressed in office so far and possibly one of his most important – the future citizens of Penryn.  He was accompanied by Lady Mayoress, Mrs Snowdon.

Mr Snowdon, an ex-pupil of Penryn College himself, encouraged every student to “try your best” and wished them all good luck for the next year.  He spoke enthusiastically about the town’s long history and its special 2016 Penryn 800 celebrations.  Finishing with a broad smile, he declared that being invited to speak at the assembly was definitely “a highlight of this year.”

Mrs Hunter congratulated all students on their academic progress last year.  The school then listened the inaugural speeches of Head Boy, Ethan Mcfadzean-Griffiths and Head Girl, Amy Walker.  Amy and Ethan had their own advice and encouragement for their fellow pupils, urging them, “You must seize any chance you have to give it all a go.  Having a passion for something we’re interested in builds that determination to achieve.  It gives us the grit to get through the hard times.  We get what we put in.  So put 100% into this year and we know we’ll get the prizes at the end.”

Amy and Ethan’s complete speech below:

Ethan Mcfadzean-Griffiths, Head Boy,  and Amy Walker, Head Girl, addressed all students on the first day of the new school year:

“Welcome to Penryn College.  New staff, on behalf of the student body, we’re excited to work with you.

Welcome also to Year 7.  Our new assets to the school are you.  We both remember what it felt like to go from being the oldest in your primary school to the youngest in Penryn College.  It is a massive jump.  We want you to be feeling excitement for the year to come and all the new friends and people you’re going to meet.  There is always someone to help.  We have an extremely strong prefect team this year who are there for any of your concerns or worries, you can identify us by the grey polo shirts.  Make the most of what the college has to offer you and just get stuck  in .  We are each of us in control of our own success.  For each one of us to achieve our own personal best, we HAVE to put all of what we’ve got into this year.  It’s down to us now.

This is especially important for all the year 11 students. By August next year, we will all be handed an envelope with our results in that will determine our next steps.  We know many of Year 11 students have worked their socks off since year 7.  Keep working but also remember it’s important to keep a balance.  Some of us, however, still need a wakeup call.   Set the alarm.  The clock has started ticking.

Year 10s, you’re now starting your first year of GCSEs and, again, remember every lesson counts and will go towards year 11 results.  It’s really important to stay focused.  And all of you in Key Stage 3 – you still have the chance to find out what you like and what you’re good at.  What you do this year and the habits you get into determines what you can do for exams.  Make sure you try everything on offer and give your very best to give you the best chances for the future.

We are all entering this year with energy and a positive attitude as well as a drive to succeed.  This makes every member of staff really want to help us in any way that is possible.  But we have to be the ones to act upon what they give us. At the end of the day our teachers can’t take the exams for us!

During the last summer term the iPads became a major success.  They were used in a lot of lessons for research and practical learning.  They are an amazing help for homework and sending emails easily.  Communication between students and staff has been improved massively because of them.  But we are still adapting to the use of our iPads and they are new to year 7.  Sometimes we forget our iPads.  We bring them uncharged or we don’t sort out simple ICT fixes. This needs to stop. We’re one of very few lucky ones in Cornwall who have been given an iPad for lessons and personal study.  It’s our responsibility to make sure we can use them in class.

This year we will improve the power of our student voice.  We know it’s natural for people not to like changes or to question decisions made or why individual rules exist.  We think too many people are ready to moan and complain but not enough people voice their concerns to us or the student council or tutors or someone who can make your voice heard.  We now have a prefect group whose job it is to make your ideas happen.  We will also soon have student leaders in each House.  It’s your responsibility to make things better as well as saying when something in school works well. Tell us the best way of hearing what you want to say and we will set it up.

Penryn College offers each of us so many opportunities to develop our interests – in class, trips, clubs and activities.  You must seize any chance you have to give it all a go.  Having a passion for something we’re interested in builds that determination to achieve.  It gives us the grit to get through the hard times.

We get what we put in.  So put 100% into this year and we know we’ll get the prizes at the end.

Thank you”

7^th September 2016