George Marshall's (Director of Student Engagement) Quote of the Week:
People who wonder whether the glass is half full or half empty are missing the point. The glass is refillable.
Due to serious allergies within the College community it is essential that Varndean College is a nut free campus.
Please do not bring nuts on to the College site.
Dates for your diary:
Spring Term ends on Friday 8 April
Summer Term starts on Monday 25 April
...in Tutorials this week:
Level 2:
Progression & Ambition
Year 1:
Finance & Wellbeing
Year 2:
Gap Year
RAMADAN
Ramadan is a holy month of religious reflection and fasting. Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
During this month Muslims are encouraged to increase their good deeds, from acts of charity and community engagement to increasing good values such as generosity, solidarity, equality, kindness, patience and forgiveness.
Fasting means not eating or drinking between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The exact dates of Ramadan change every year. This is because Islam uses a calendar based on the cycles of the Moon.
In 2022 in the UK, Ramadan will begin in the evening of Saturday 2 April and will end on Sunday 1 May. Ramadan is expected to begin around Saturday 2 April. It begins upon the sighting of the new moon. The end of Ramadan is marked by a big celebration called 'Eid ul-Fitr' (the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast). The last day of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, is expected to begin on the evening of 1 May.
If you are observing Ramadan, make sure you stay healthy and speak to your tutor if you needed any support.
For the duration of Ramadan, students who are observing Ramadan are welcome to spend their lunch break in the tutorial block.
Therefore, if the tutorial block is a space where you usually spend your lunch break, and you are not participating in Ramadan, please make sure you eat your lunch before you enter the block. Thank you!
Workshops for year 2 students:
Get Ready for Exams Workshop
Tue 3rd & Thu 5th May
Approx 40 mins workshops:
10.00 am
11.00 am
12.00 pm
Please book your slot via this form
https://forms.gle/bp67KMLZ7ZniQpZNA
Please sign up - spaces are limited!
The sessions will cover:
how to beat stress and build a study habit
why the brain gets stressed about tests and how to manage that stress
how to plan in well-being to support stress management around tests
Apply by completing the following google form by Friday 29th April 2022
If you need further information please contact:
Emma Hadder (Peer Mentoring) emh@varndean.ac.uk
Iona Todd (Academic Mentoring) itt@varndean.ac.uk
Work Experience Opportunity
Please book a space via My Varndean Homepage if you are interested attending.
Sexual Health & Contraception Confidential Drop ins with Sophie:
Thursdays & Fridays:
10.10-10.30 am
12.00-12.50 pm
in the Tutorial Block
Sexual health screening - assessment and prompt referral onwards i.e. same day. This includes full STI screening and HIV testing. Ensuring follow up as appropriate for example to cover window periods.
Pregnancy discussion and referral as necessary ( testing availability to be further discussed)
Emergency contraception - referral pathways
HIV prevention - short term and long term including emergency prevention within 72 hours.
Condom demonstrations/discussions.
Advice on PREP, PEP, HPV and Hep A,B vaccines.
Sexual assault assessment and referral to i.e. SARC/Police/Independant Sexual Assault Advisors
Domestic violence/ harassment issues
Contraception assessment and advice and same day referral
Referral and introductory accompaniment to services across the LGBT* spectrum over the City e.g. WISE, RISE, Mankind, Allsorts etc.

C Card Scheme @ College
Scan and collect from the tutorial block (welfare office room 65) at lunchtime
As part of the IB, a group CAS project must be completed and for our project, we decided to create a ‘tour’ of Brighton highlighting its importance in many social causes such as Pride, BLM, and Feminism. The diversity in Brighton is a part of the city that we are proud of and believe that this map is a good introduction to where more about the city's involvement in these movements for both international students and those wishing to find out more about the local area.
CAREERS
Business Admin Level 3 Apprentice Opportunity
Join the Environmental Enforcement team based at Hollingdean Depot!
The link to the job is here!
Closing Date for applications: 21st April 2022
The apprenticeship will study towards the Business Admin Level 3 apprenticeship standard. Training is with Chichester College Group and the duration is up to 24 months depending on experience.
For more information please contact Sarah Bearham on sarah.bearham@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 290740!
Job opportunities
Maximum number of per week should be 10hrs otherwise it will affect your at college!

Please email the Careers team to book an appointment or if you have any enquiry email: careers@varndean.ac.uk
LIBRARY NEWS
LIBRARY SURVEY
It's that time of year again! Over the next few weeks we are running our library annual student survey. We always appreciate your feedback about our services, and it would be really helpful if you could complete the short 5 min survey below to let us know how we're doing. Thank you!
NEXT TERM
After the Easter holidays, during exam time, the library will be silent study only in order to help students revise. You will however be able to use Room 27 (next to the canteen) as a study space if you wish to work together quietly.
LIBRARY EASTER OPENING HOURS
Tuesday 19 April 10:00am-4:00pm
Wednesday 20 April 10:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 21 April 10:00am-4:00pm
Friday 22 April 10:00am-4:00pm
NEW BOOKS
NEW ON CLICKVIEW
Thelma
A confused religious girl tries to deny her feelings for a female friend who's in love with her. This causes her suppressed subconsciously-controlled psychokinetic powers to reemerge with devastating results. (15)
Then Barbara Met Alan
the story of Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth, two disabled cabaret artists who met in 1989 and became the driving force behind Direct Action Network - whose protests pushed disability rights into the spotlight. (PG)
Chernobyl: the new evidence - episode 1
Newly declassified evidence from KGB archives reveals that the KGB had concerns about the safety of the Chernobyl nuclear plant even as it was being built. (PG)
Strangeways Riot: 25 days of mayhem
The events, minute by minute, of inmates seizing control of Strangeways prison in Manchester in April 1990. Under the eyes of the nation's press, the siege would last for 25 days. (E)
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email on library@varndean.ac.uk and we will do all we can to help. Visit the library website for further information and everything you need to know about using the library.