Up Ben Nevis

Willmott Dixon/SATRO 3 Peaks challenge well underway now - all teams departed up Ben Nevis by 3.30pm Saturday.  First teams expected back down at 7.30pm.  Not bad going!

3 Peaks Teams ready to go!

Well they 49 team members made it up to Scotland despite the weather!  This mornings report from Richard is: "We all arrived safely last night in Glasgow.  The weather is light showers.  We will leave the hotel by 10am .  The challenge starts at 3pm"
So, the final countdown is beginning........Keep checking in for more news.

AND THEY'RE OFF! 3 PEAKS HERE THEY COME

49 enthusiastic employees of Willmott Dixon Construction in Cobham set of this morning for the long drive up to Ben Nevis to begin the SATRO/Willmott Dixon 3 Peaks Challenge this weekend.

Looking forward to hearing how they do!

3 PEAKS LOOMING!

Counting down to tomorrow's send off of 49 intrepid employees of Cobham Construction firm, Willmott Dixon to the 3 Peaks - Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowden - to raise money for SATRO, their nominated charity.  Minibuses will be revved and ready to go at 9.45 on Friday 29th June, and one of SATRO's Construction Buses and several members of staff will be on hand to wave them off ( and be grateful they aren't having to make the climbs)!

Aiming to raise £50,000  - we will keep in touch as they progress over the weekend.

SUCCESSFUL SCIENCE FESTIVAL WINNERS!

Yesterdays hugely successful Science & Engineering Festival at Brooklands produced some wonderful projects by students and some great winners of prizes.

The winners were:

Blenheim High School – the Young Innovator Award for their Head On app (which also won the NDS Red Button Challenge earlier in the year),

Team Achievement Award – Reading Girl’s School with Nanobite.

The Personal Achievement Award went to Andy Salmon of St Bede’s School for his Outdoor Interactive Music Activity.

Best KS3 Exhibit to Colet Court. Best Engineering Project went to The Royal Grammar School for the racing car simulator pedals; Farnham 6^th Form College took Best Chemistry Project. 

Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 is Max Capel of Farnborough 6^th Form College. 

 And the unexpected star of the day was STEM Teacher of the Year, Ruth Hopkins of Howard of Effingham School who had no idea she had even been nominated!

   WELL DONE!

THE 15TH SATRO SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL IS ON!

Brooklands Museum in Weybridge is buzzing with the arrivals of science and technology companies setting up their interactive exhibits and 500 students from around the county and beyond.  Marquees, exhibits, an Eco Bus, the Army and satellites - just a few of the things on offer!

Schools Exhibition

Working World Marquee

COUNTDOWN TO SCIENCE FESTIVAL AND 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE

What a week this is going to be.  Not only will we be having our biggest and best Science & Engineering Festival at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge on Tuesday 26th , but the 49 intrepid Willmott Dixon employees will be setting off on Friday 29th to tackle the 3 Peaks Challenge to raise money for SATRO.

All this in addition to another packed week of schools' activities with 6 events in schools around the county:
St Albans Primary - Sports Stadium Challenge
Chandlers Field primary - Sports Stadium Challenge
St Johns & King Athelstan primaries - SATRO Junior Business Game
Heathside School - SATRO Business Game over 2 days.

Lots of news, photographs to come!

Rocket launch in Burpham!

What a fantastic day 120 pupils from Burpham Primary School had on Friday when they had a Discovery Science Day.  Years 3 and 4 investigated gravity and dropped eggs, while years 5 and 6 looked at hydraulics.  And for hydraulics, read ROCKETS!

What a week it has been!

It has been a fantastically busy week for SATRO activities with 9 events over 5 days at schools throughout the county - 3 taking place today - and next week is even busier.  Look out for us at:

Guildford Grove Primary School
Dovers Green Primary in Reigate
Buckland Primary in Staines
Leatherhead Trinity
Yattendon School
and even across the border in Berkshire at Hatch Ride Primary in Crowthorne.

2 Discovery Science, 1 Healthy Eating, 3 Sports Stadium Challenges,a junior Business Game and to round it all off, Tuesday evening at Esher College sees the launch of this summers' Nuffield Bursary placements programme as the lucky 45 students are brought together and given a taste of what lies ahead!

LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER JAM-PACKED WEEK OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Back to school this week for the last half-term of the Academic year, and straight into a huge number of SATRO activities in school around the county.  We will have reports on all of them throughout this week, so here is a preview of dates and schools:

12th June
* Sports Stadium Challenge at Banstead Primary
* Science at Horsell Junior School
*Fun Maths at St Albans
13th June
*Sports Stadium Challenge at Wallace Fields
14th June
*Primary science at New Monument Primary
*Sports Stadium Challenge at ACS, Cobham
15th June
Invest in Your Success Soap Challenge at Bishop David Brown
Sports Stadium Challenge at West Hill School
Primary Science at Burpham Primary School

PHEW!

STATIONERY AT SOUTHFIELD PARK

Rounding off the week before the Jubilee long weekend and half-term was another Junior Business Game at Southfield Park Primary School in Epsom with 60 lively Year 5 and 6 students.

Setting up the companies and trading was fast and furious, as they soon realised that business is not as easy nor as boring as many had thought!

" All children really focussed and engaged - even those who find Maths/socialising tricky.  It gave them a real flavour of how they can put their skills to use in the 'real world'"

"I think the game helped me understand how school subjects like maths help you in business. I want TO GIVE THIS DAY A 5-STAR RATING"

RIVERVIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL

  Tuesday the 29th May 2012 saw the first ever SATRO Junior Business Game at Riverview primary school in West Ewell.  There was great excitement amongst this small group as they lsiened to the challenge and then proceeded to set up their companies and take on the important roles .

The teachers' comments really reflect what the children got out of it:

"Children were able to use skills in a different way.  Those children who sometimes struggle in lessons were able to 'shine' in different ways. Great way to develop teamwork - key skills linked to business and communication"

And best of all from one of the pupils!

THE BENEFITS OF BUSINESS - AND VOLUNTEERS

We are in full swing with our busiest season for school activities but this Jubilee half-term break gives us the chance to catch our breath and reveiew some of the recent events at Surrey schools.

The end of the term saw a great SATRO Junior Buiness game held at ST DUNSTAN'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY school in Woking.  10 lively teams working with business volunteers- from ASTRO to Wriggles - set up a company making and selling stationery and dealing with the challenges the working world brings.

"I learnt if you don't succeed try again and always measure properly"
"Business is not simple!"
"Being a Managing Director is not all about saying 'You're fired'"

Sounds like they got a lot out of the day!  Winners of the game were Bobby's Team.

IT'S VOLUNTEERS WEEK!

1 June saw the start of Volunteers week (http://www.volunteering.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/volunteers-week) so SATRO  just like to say a big thank you to each and every one of our NEARLY 900 volunteers – without you we couldn’t do the wonderful things we do!

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our Volunteers Thank You event on 18^th July. 2012