May we take this opportunity to send Christmas greetings from everyone at Bethany and to wish you all a healthy and happy 2010.

The Autumn term drew to a close with the annual Carol Service at St Dunstan's Church in Cranbrook, attended by students, staff and parents.  Reverend Bentham would like to pass on his thanks to all those who attended as well as to all those who read, made music or helped in any way.  During the service a collection was taken to support two charities that work with street children; the Blue Dragon charity in Vietnam and Toybox in South America.  £2,600 was raised and a huge thank you to everyone for their generosity.

This term's heat of our Masterchef competition took place during the penultimate week of term.  The theme for the Chef School students was to prepare a delicious starter or canape to serve before a Christmas Day lunch.

 

 

Some of the dishes presented included: smoked salmon parcels, parmesan shortbread, duck in filo tartlets, salmon fishcakes, venison stuffed tomatoes and goats cheese filo triangles with cranberry relish.

The judges for this heat were Dominic Knight, head chef from The Chequers Inn in Goudhurst and Ms Bicheno.  We are very grateful to them for giving up their time.

The winners were announced at the end of term assembly.  In first place: Luke Shaw for his duck in filo tartlets, in second place: Antonia Brattle for her salmon and mango cocktail and in third place: Max Kelly for his goats cheese filo triangles with cranberry relish.  Well done to everyone who took part.

The prefects' supper is an occasion to thank the prefects for the hard work they have put in assisting staff during the term.  The fancy dress theme for this year's event was cartoon characters and staff and prefects came up with some great costumes.  A good evening was had by all!

The John Downton Awards for Young Artists took place at County Hall in Maidstone in November.  This exhibition was first organised in 2000 at the request of Miss Hilda Downton, sister of the celebrated Kentish artist, poet and philosopher, John Downton, to recognise the achievements of young artists in Kent.

The exhibition commemorates the life and work of John Downton by encouraging and celebrating the creativity and diversity of expression and approach by the county's young artists.  Schools and Colleges from the across the county were invited to participate and the best examples of their painting and drawing submissions were exhibited.

Bethany submitted ten pieces of work of which seven were selected to hang.  Two of our students are pictured below with their work.