A Challenging Start to the New Year

The Public Service Team from Dunstable College held a Challenge Day for all students from Levels 1, 2 and 3 on Monday 9 October. Students participated in a day-long competition featuring pool, table tennis, squash, swimming relays, a bleap test and football tournament. The three teams had to nominate a captain and include both boys and girls. The team was given a full list of activities and had to ensure that each team member participated in at least one event and a maximum of three. It was essential that team members shared the benefits of their knowledge and experience with each other if they wanted to win, as several team members had never participated in some of the events before. Points were scored for each event with the overall winners receiving certificates and a trophy.

The purpose of the day was for the students to bond, develop their leadership and team-building skills and to boost morale.

The eventual winners were the Level 3 National Diplomas, their captain Ross Howse collected the winning trophy to massive applause from the group.

Tutor Haydon Littlewood comments, “A very well fought out battle among all three groups resulted in the final scores being only 5 points difference between 1st and 3rd places. The day proved that team spirit and determination is very much alive and well amongst the Public Service students!”

The photo shows the swimming relay.

Royal Navy Presentation Team

Martin Rawles reports:

The Royal Navy came to Dunstable College to carry out their annual presentation to the Public Service Students on Monday 2 October.

A very thorough and in-depth lecture, which included the usual searching questions from the eager students, started the afternoon off. Next the group was split into two halves and one half was taken to the Leisure Centre to take part in the ever popular Unarmed Combat Demonstrations with some students soon becoming “volunteers”. The other half was given a demonstration in field cookery; students were taught how to cook in the field and soon ration packs were turning into hot steaming meals of beans and bacon followed by hot chocolate.

At the end of the day many students who had not considered the Royal Navy as a career became a little more interested and some were even adamant that this was the career for them.

Everybody agreed that the afternoon was a very enjoyable first visit from a Public Service and looked forward to the next one.

The photo shows a brave student trying out the field food

Athletics presentation

Natalie Kimble, age 18, writes
"I’m a student from Dunstable College’s Learning Warehouse Leighton Linslade also studying the Travel and Tourism National Diploma. I have been a member of Leighton Buzzard athletics club for over 9 years and have competed in many competitions, achieving many Personal Bests.
I went to the presentation evening on 24 November 2006. I won the Senior Athlete of the Year and Service to the Club Awards"

World Champion student!

Kara Kimble, age 17, writes
"I am a student studying Travel and Tourism at Dunstable College’s The Learning Warehouse Leighton Linslade. On November 7 2006 I flew to Malta with the Great British Kickboxing team to take part in the World championships.
I was in Malta for one week where I trained in the hotels gym with some team mates. Then on Sunday 12 I fought for the title. I entered into 3 categories; point scoring, light continuous and full contact. I am pleased to say that I took first place in all 3 categories, and I am especially pleased I came first in full contact as that was the one my instructor really wanted me to have."

Animal Magic

Student Kara Kimble from The Learning Warehouse in Leighton Buzzard reports on a Travel and Tourism trip to Woburn Safari Park, which united students from there and the main Dunstable Campus, studying the BTEC First Diploma and National Diploma in Travel and Tourism Years 1 and 2.

On Thursday 21 September 2006 we participated in a vocational workshop on customer service at Woburn Safari Park. We listened to a presentation on why customer service is so important for the Park, how they communicate with internal and external customers and how they deal with complaints. We were then given different scenarios to do with customer service and we had to act them out. Our tutor Maggie Parsons observed our role play and assessed us.

We also enjoyed a safari adventure. In our coach we followed the road safari where we were able to get close to all the animals. As part of our assessment for unit 13 Holiday Representatives we carried out a role play of a coach commentary where we all spoke on the microphone. Some groups spoke about different animals whilst other groups talked about health and safety and the park. Jo Turney, our tutor for this unit, observed our role plays as part of our assessment.

It was an excellent experience and a lovely day out! All the different groups got on well and we are looking forward to our next day trip.

After the trip, the staff at Woburn Safari Park praised the group for their excellent behaviour and participation, saying they were one of the best groups they had ever had there.