Heading to China

Presentation Evening is a fantastic night for catching up with everyone's news. Topping it all this year is the news that Gavin Henderson has won a placement in China, and I have to apologise for not having the wit to spell the destination correctly. He won his placement through competitive presentations at Napier University where he is studying in Edinburgh. We look forward to hearing what he is up to and to learning all about China. This is a really fabulous opportunity.

Good to See John

Kevin ran into John Benson at the Oppenheimer gig. John is studying biomedical Engineering at the University of Ulster and really enjoying it. Great to hear.

Spotted on a Bus

We were delighted and intrigued to hear that Nicky Shannon was spotted on a bus in Leeds looking smart, healthy and happy. We would love to see you Nicky and catch up with your news.

Alicia Cries with Envy

Joeleen Lynch is on her year abroad from Aberdeen University at the University of Guelph in South West Ontario studying history of art She is having a ball and got to see polar bears in a nature reserve - she loves her polar bears. she finishes her course in April but is staying on until June to work and travel. She will be meeting up with her old classmate kathrun Denvir, studying English and Japanese at Leeds University. Kathryn heads off to Tokyo on Tuesday for six weeks to stay with some university friends. Then she heads off to New Zealand for a week in Auckland on her way to Los Angeles in the US where she will start her five month Zig Zag tour of the USA (this is where Alicia goes green with envy!). she will eventually meet up with Joeleen in New York and then head back to Leeds.

Candle at Both Ends

Matthew Gould called in to update us on his year out so far. He has been in Meridan in Mexico, working in a school, in Uganda building classrooms and doing youth work, and he is already booked in to work for Camp America. How did he do all that? When he gets all this done, he'll be off to take up his place at Queens.

A Real Surprise

I received a real surprise of an email this week, from Anne Marie Mueller. Anne Marie is a Shimna Old Scholar of sorts! She came to stay in Newcastle as part of our exchange programme with our German partners, the Am Thie Grammar School in Blankenburg. She is now a medical student in Berlin, and would love to come back to Newcastle and to do a medical residency in a hospital within travelling distance. I am trying to find out what I can about securing such a placement. Anybody able to advise me?

Leanne Comes Back to us

We are delighted the Leanne Spiers will be back in our art department for a five week placement. It will be great to see her, and great for our students to meet up with first hand experience of art college.