Farewell with a difference
COMBERTON VILLAGE COLLEGE
It’s a cliché, but this year has been like no other.
When the Covid lockdown forced us all to learn and work from home in March 2020, the 2020 leavers were particularly hard hit as they had to give up their prom, their Celebration Day, and all the rights and rituals that go along with the last year of secondary school. We were worried that 2021 leavers would face the same fate when we had another lockdown this year. However, we were lucky enough to be back in school, so, with some ingenuity and a lot of hard work, Year 11s were able to celebrate their five years at CVC in style! Head of Year Mrs Roberts came up with a plan: a Celebration Day and a Prom rolled into one.
A new noun was born — Promation — and in a very short period of time the ice cream van was booked, garden-style games were purchased, food and entertainment were organised, and our prefects started spreading the word. Our theme was based around the Secret Garden Party. It was fabulous to see the year group looking so stylish at the start of the day. As always, we worried what the weather would bring, but Friday 28th May was sunny and warm, and nearly 290 students were able to enjoy an exciting, funfilled day. Yearbooks and hoodies were given out and much of the morning was spent writing messages to each other, receiving letters they’d written to themselves in Year 7, and getting awards from tutors, some of whom have seen their forms through all five years at CVC. The back field had been transformed into a garden party wonderland, complete with bunting, games and a DJ booth staffed by our very own Mr Herbert. Students enjoyed their time talking to friends, eating painau-chocolat and pizza, signing their old school shirts, and simply having fun. There were some excellent dance moves on display too! The day culminated with a safe and socially distanced final assembly in the Performance Hall. It was the last chance for the pastoral team to say goodbye to this amazing year group. Although it’s always sad to see them go, our Year 11s have made us so proud over the last five years, and getting to see them all together, one last time, and to tell them how much they meant to us, was something we all needed. We concluded the final assembly, as always, with some spectacular and hilarious goodbye videos from various teaching departments. Watching Year 11 get on their buses and depart for the last time was difficult for the whole pastoral team, but we are excited for them to take their next steps. We are lucky to have many of them coming back to attend Comberton Sixth Form and are excited to see what the future holds! PJ Burns, Assistant Head of Year 11
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