On Wednesday 23rd October, Bellver’s Year 12 students went on a day trip to Madrid in order to attend the 3rd British Education Fair, organised by the British Council. They were accompanied by Mr Déperrois, Principal of the school, and Mr Lynch, the school’s UCAS coordinator.

At the fair, the students had the great opportunity to meet around 30 British universities such as Imperial College, East Anglia or Sussex. 

In addition to their visit to the British Education Fair, Year 12 Bellverians went on a tour of the European University of Madrid in the afternoon. There, they were taken around the university and given a presentation of the courses that the university runs. Visiting a university made the trip more realistic to our students. They were able to see what a university campus looks like and realised that they will soon be one of those students who are going to their next lecture. 

Bellver’s pupils felt that it was a very productive trip and have come back to the island fully motivated to achieve their best in their future exam in order to one day be a university student too.

After a successful presentation from the Islands Lions Club, Bellver is pleased to announce the start of the Bellver Leo's Club. A group of Bellver pupils have begun to set up their own charity organisation, electing their own director, treasurer and deputy to run the group. They are beginning to plan and develop ideas aimed at raising money for areas on the Island that they believe need help. Keep tuned to find out what the Leo's Mission will be and how you can help make a difference too.

The New Year has started off on a high for all the year 13's who have completed their UCAS applications for University. Every applicant has been given offers from the Universities of their choice, which highlights how hard work and dedication pay off in the long run. Miss Roden is pleased to announce that this year we have a wide range of courses that Year 13 have applied to and at the end of the year they will be heading to very different areas of the UK to continue their higher education.

Our pupils have been accepted on courses ranging from business management and history, journalism and broadcasting, to criminology and forensics. Some of our students are also heading into the sciences, with offers in medicine,  pharmacology, engineering and clinical psychology. Being a multicultural school it was unlikely our Year 13's would head to
one place and next year if you are heading to the UK you should find our Bellvarians in Brighton, Bath, Bristol, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Keele and Portsmouth. So if you see any of Year 13 out and about ask them where they are heading to, to begin the next chapter of their lives.

Three students of Bellver, who want to study Medicine, had the opportunity to visit Son Llàtzer Hospital thanks to the collaboration of Dr. Cuadrado. For two days they were able to contact resident doctors and learn about their recent experiences in university life. They also attended talks and two surgeries (one in the Experimental Surgery). It has been a valuable and stimulating experience for these students.

Bellver International College is busy preparing the annual "Art Night" to be held next Thursday evening, the 18th of October from 7 to 9. Tickets are on sale in the school office or at the door, for 5€. There will be a raffle ticket winner! Wine and snacks will be served. This year´s theme is Andy Warhol´s "Garage". The student´s exhibit, from Infants to Seniors is inspired by the art work of Andy Warhol. Distinguished judges will select the winners of this year´s art competition. The atmosphere will be based on the 60´s and 70´s, featuring the "Bellver Rock Band" and the year 12 singer "Jerri". There will be senior Drama students acting as "Living Sculptures" by impersonating some of Warhol´s icons like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and Andy Warhol himself !

On Tuesday 16th October, Year 5 will be the stars of an assembly that they have written and produced with their teacher, Mrs Taylor. The assembly will be based on this terms topic; ‘The Ancient Greeks’. The children have enjoyed this topic so much that they wanted to share what they have learned. Parents are invited to attend the assembly which will be held in the hall at 15.15.

During May, Bellver College hosted several members of the Paralympics GB Swimming team for their GCSE and A-Level examinations. These swimmers achieved four gold medals, three silvers and four bronze medals at London 2012. We are very proud in their achievement and will continue to support them wherever we can. Congratulations to you all.

Bellver hit the television news within three days of the start of the new school year.  IB3 – the TV channel for the Balearics set up their cameras outside the school and watched as the enthusiastic Bellverians returned to school after the long summer break.  They interviewed the head, and then filmed in the classrooms .  Bellver was the only English
International school featured on the programme. Information was also gathered from Spanish schools and the French school in Palma.  The TV company was particularly interested in Bellver's policy of keeping class sizes small to give every pupil the opportunity to shine.  They learnt of the waiting lists that exist for some year groups and the strictly enforced entrance criteria. Bellver wants to work with those hard working young people who can add value to the school community  - this is one of the important messages of this new school year.

We were glad to share it, on television with the wider community.

Bellver College in Palma is part of the history of Palma – this year it celebrates 61 years of educating young people in Majorca. Mark Muirhead, the owner died suddenly at the end of 2011 creating great sadness for the whole school community. Questions were asked about the future but there is no change, it is business as usual for Bellver. Under the ownership of Stephanie Muirhead  Bellver continues to thrive. Bellver's mission is to provide its students with every opportunity to achieve success morally, socially, ethically and academically.

Bellver celebrates the life and vision for the school of Mark Muirhead by awarding the first Mark Muirhead Scholarship. The deserving student will be awarded the Scholarship for the duration of their time at Bellver and all school fees will be waived. The first scholar to receive this award will be announced at the Annual Prize Giving ceremony on Friday 15th June 2012.

Bellver comes to the end of a year of great change with pride. The plans for next year are already in place with some fine new additions to the teaching staff. Investments in new technology will be made for the whole school. The Senior School Science Department is expecting delivery of a state of the art interactive whiteboard. Fosh Food will be supplying school lunches from September – another first for Bellver.

Bellver is a school community ready to face the challenges of the future. The Mark Muirhead Scholarship is the beginning of a new era. Bellver looks forward to 2013 and beyond.

At the end of May after they had completed their AS Level exams, Year 12 from Bellver International College embarked on a University Road trip around England organized by Miss Roden. The Lickey Hills in the west Midlands was the base for their stay, with each day filled with a trip to a renowned University and city.  Each University put on highly informative and motivational presentations and talks by professors and students about University life and the application process. England did not let the students down with glorious weather shining upon them every day. The University of Birmingham was the students’ first port of call, followed by The Universities of Liverpool, Warwick, Imperial and Kings College London. They were able to take in sights, such as the Bullring, Brindley Place, the Albert Docks, Oxford Street and the Houses of Parliament, whilst enjoying the atmosphere of the Queen’s Diamond jubilee and the run up to the Olympics.  It was an invaluable trip where the 6th formers gained insight into what life holds for them at the end of next year. We wish them all the success they deserve in the future.