Blog Revamp-Summer School Time!!

Hello Bucksmore!

Rory no longer rules the roost for Bucky Blog, I'm Jenni I work at head office and i shall be updating throughout the summer as all four schools are now underway! They're off to a flying start and we already have loads of photos that are brochure and website worthy :)

The kids seem to be having a great time, i went down to Plumpton and King Edwards last weekend and the centres were great-really bright and well signed with lots of displays of what will happen throughout the week.

I met all the children and they were so lovely I didn't want to leave, plus they seemed to be having a great time (even with English lessons :)....the trips are going down a storm as you will see from the pictures. My email is jenni@bucksmore.com if anyone wants to enquire about anything children and parents alike.

Until next time.....

Getting Fit with Chris

Chris McNaughton who runs the Bucksmore Head Office so efficiently and effectively is also a qualified gym coach. He was trained when he worked for the RAF. Two of our staff made the mistake of going to his circuit training class! They can hardly walk now. Chris has taken part in a few iron man contests and sometime forgets we are not all as fit as he is.

World University Entrance and IB Preparation Course

Bucksmore Summer Programme is running an exciting new programme at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, from June 30th - July 17th 2009 for International and UK students hoping to study at one of the top Universities in the UK or the US.
The World University and IB Preparation Course is aimed at students who are mid way either through the IB Diploma or A Levels, or who will be doing other international school leaving examinations in the summer of 2010. All the World University Preparation Course students will be applying to leading U.K. or U.S universities for admission in 2010/2011.
The aim of the course is to help international and UK students improve their overall academic performance as well as maximise their chances of being offered a place at one of the World’s leading universities. By the time the students have completed the course they will:

• fully understand dates, deadlines, content of the application and entrance requirements;
• be prepared for any university entrance exams or interviews they may face;
• be better prepared for the IB Diploma Higher papers in certain subjects as well as the IB Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge;
• be able to write impressive essays or personal statements in support of their applications;
• understand how to continue their preparation after the course to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
• All students will be advised individually on their university applications and as far as possible draft applications will be completed by the end of the course.
• Online support with applications will be available after the completion of the WUP course, if required.
  

For more information don't hesitate to contact us.

Bucky Adventure

Some students have been getting in touch with me and asking about the Bucky Adventure course at Plumpton.

It is really the same as Bucksmore Summer except that the afternoon activities are different and exciting! Horse Riding, sailing, raft-building, mountain biking, wall climbing ........

On the Bucky Adventure course we go to the Ardingly Water Sports Centre where we learn sailing, kayaking and raft building and to the South Downs near Plumpton College for riding lessons, mountain biking and wall climbing. There is also a great survival night organised by Woodcraft Education centre which teaches the Bucky Adventure students what you need to survive - how to make a shelter, a fire and how to cook your own food as you camp out in Plumpton College woodland grounds. Your woodcraft instructors will also give lots of information about plants, animals and outdoor life.

Gillian MacFarland back at St Hilda's

Great news: Gillian MacFarland will be back with us at St Hilda’s this year. Gillian was a Cambridge blue at rowing but has now changed camp and is studying at Oxford University. Gillian was a councillor at King Edwards last year and was very popular with both the students and other members of staff.

Criticism of the First Blog

This blogging is more difficult than I thought. It's the reason why I haven't posted another blog for some time. People said my first Bucksmore Summer Programme blog was a) boring b) had a word in it that didn't exist - 'moreish' (I have since put in a link to the Cambridge Advanced Learners dictionary to prove it does exist!) - and c) was difficult to read.
I apologise and hope to do better. You will see my next postings will be much more exciting and easier to read (they won't be very long 'for starters') but there is one thing I won't change: I'll keep on using expressions and phrases that you can use. You must trust me they exist!

Starting the Bucksmore blog

Starting is always difficult. So much happens in the Bucksmore year. But I have to start somewhere and three days before Christmas is as good a time as any!

We've just finished sending out our Christmas cards to our old students and to everyone we work with.

Because we are changing our name from Buckswood Summer Programmes to Bucksmore Summer Programmes in 2009 we have also been preparing a big mailing for the first week of 2009 to tell everyone we have changed our name.

After 30 years of being called Buckswood Summer Programmes, it's been strange to be now calling ourselves Bucksmore Summer Programmes. But now everyone at the office has got used to it and many prefer it.

Many of our students and agents have also said they prefer it as it is easier to read and pronounce.

There is an English expression 'more-ish'. It is when something makes you want to have more and more of it. For example, eating chocolate is 'more-ish' - once you begin a box of chocolates you can't wait until you get to the end! We hope that as we improve the Bucksmore Summer experience every year that will become more and more 'more-ish' as well! Bucksmore-ish Summer Programmes!

Anyone recognise the student in the picture taken at our Plumpton centre July 2008?