The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic has ruled in accordance with the Public Health Protection Act in effort to prevent the danger of rise and spread of the COVID-19 disease that starting 11 March 2020 all schools must be closed. In line with this measure, the English College in Prague is closed to students from this date as well and we will keep you informed regarding re-opening as soon as directed by relevant authorities.
From Thursday, 12 March 2020, lessons continue remotely online using Google Suite applications. Teachers deliver their lessons as normal according to the timetable and assign work via Google Classroom. Students are expected to be online during the lessons, check their emails regularly and continue with their education.
Kind thanks from the Arts Faculty to all students involved in the Romeo & Juliet production, and to all who came along to support. This was a combined creative effort involving Drama, Dance, Music and the Visual Arts, with a number of students active either as performers, musicians, costume designers or set designers.
Based on recent school cross curricular themes of the environment and technology, we explored the characters of Romeo and Juliet in a post apocalyptic world with an uncertain future. Our hope is that by creatively re-interpreting the historical text through a variety of art forms our students gain knowledge and insight of how to use the Arts to explore these themes, alongside the development of valuable 21st century transferable skills, such as collaboration, confidence, imagination, innovation and risk taking.
Romeo & Juliet – what could possibly go wrong?
Take as many Year 4 Drama students as you can get away with, add some enterprising Art students, and a liberal sprinkling of choral enthusiasts, let the dancers in….
It seemed a daunting prospect – all those lines to learn, dance moves to choreograph, props to create, costumes to design, songs to rehearse – apocalyptic indeed! Could ECP really pull off a Shakespeare play? Would the audience understand?
Experience dictates that the more people and aspects involved in a project, the more scope for things to go wrong. Fortunately, the production of Romeo and Juliet by so many of our classmates at the English College in Prague was not the case. The acting was, in general, pretty good and it was inspiring to see some new faces making their acting debut. Yes, some lines got missed, mumbled or messed up but come on, this is Shakespeare – not exactly everyday stuff. The show went fine and although not many would claim to have understood all the lines, we grasped how the story and individual characters developed.
Highlights
The design of the play was brilliant – the Art Department’s close attention to detail was noticeable, as were the costumes. The throne zones of the two houses, Capulets and Montagues occupying different sides of the stage was a very nice touch adding to the tension between the two rival families. Arina’s poise and Bibiana’s absolute stillness were a skillful supplement.
Both the music and the dance scenes made a great impression and the audience was appreciative of that. In fact, we wanted more! Couldn’t we have been treated to another routine in the second half? The Fight song was rousingly motivational but perhaps a more energetic and violent song would have conveyed the mood more appropriately. We loved the simple but so effective sound-compilations that the cast produced using just their hands as musical instruments – it made for a magically moody finale. Scenes and acting that stood out for us were Nicholas Roussouw as Friar Laurence, Bibiana Nesvadbová’s monologue and the sensational scene as Romeo’s lips met Juliet’s sending a buzz of electric tension whistling through the audience. Training the fight scenes paid off as resounding thwacks, whacks and smacks reverberated from the stage.
So we would like to congratulate the ECP Drama, Music and Art Departments for putting together a wonderful performance which was very unique in its presentation. It was most entertaining to see a traditional Shakespearean play done in such a different, yet entertaining way.
In its 25th anniversary year, the English College in Prague (ECP) is delighted to announce that its Czech Patron, Karel Schwarzenberg, has agreed to the use of his name in connection with a new Schwarzenberg Scholarship. Mr Schwarzenberg is also supporting the scholarship financially.
It will enable a Czech student to attend the final four years at the English College in Prague. The scholarship is to attract a student who might not ordinarily be able to attend the College without a scholarship. Suitability criteria will include the likelihood of significant improvement in the student’s life chances and in comparative academic success.
Headmaster of the English College in Prague, Dr Nigel Brown, said: “The Schwarzenberg Scholarship is an important addition to the ECP Scholarship Programme. We have been celebrating our two Founder Patrons, HRH The Prince of Wales and President Václav Havel, by enabling young people to benefit from an education at the ECP thanks to scholarships in their names. Now we are able to add a third scholarship named after our current Czech Patron, Mr Schwarzenberg. It is an excellent development during our 25th anniversary year.”
The application deadline is 3rd April 2020.
In addition, ECP students Alfred Byrne, David Jehlička, Julie Weissová and Selma Kaymakci have recently visited Mr Schwarzenberg. They recorded the interview they held with him and felt inspired by the conversation. Among other things, they asked the ECP patron about his support for student scholarships at the College. The students felt very privileged to have the opportunity to speak informally with Mr Schwarzenberg.
This week, the English College in Prague celebrated its 25th anniversary in spectacular style. It has bought its building from its landlord, Prague 9 Council, thus securing its continued future in Vysočany. The ceremony took place in Prague 9 Town Hall with the Mayor, Ing Jan Jarolím, shown centre with ECP’s Founder Governor, Ann Lewis CMG. The photograph also shows ECP Headmaster, Dr Nigel Brown (3rd left), and ECP’s first alumnus Governor, Petr Fiman BSc, MSc (back row, 4th right).
Founder Governor
Ann Lewis said: ‘As one of the Founders of The English College I was present when the original lease was signed in September 1993.
In those days Vysočany was a dilapidated industrial suburb. It has been transformed over the years and now we are delighted to be at the heart of a vibrant modern community. Our building, which contrives to be both spacious and intimate, has been much loved by generations of English College students and staff.
We are glad that we now have a secure home alongside the Town Hall. Over the coming years, we look forward to enhancing the premises further. We are grateful to the Mayor and his colleagues who have shown us friendship and courtesy, and look forward to remaining good neighbours.’
The ECP’s imposing sandstone coloured building is well known in Vysočany. It stands just behind the metro station and next to the Town Hall and Galerie Fénix shopping centre.
Early Days in Vysočany
The ECP first opened its iconic blue doors on 4 September 1994. At that time, it had signed a ten year lease, which was extended until 2024.
There were originally 117 students. Now, 25 years and 1350 ECP graduates later, 370 mainly Czech current students are all studying for the International Baccalaureate. They will be applying to top universities around the world including Oxford and Cambridge.
But even back in those early days, the Governors were saving hard for the day when purchase of the building could happen. Now that day has finally arrived. Consequently, everyone is excited at the prospect of planning improvements to provide an even better teaching environment for its students.
On 31st January 2020, the nationwide daily MF Dnes released an article on the international school leaving exam – the International Baccalaureate (IB). The English College in Prague receives a great deal of coverage due to its experience with the IB and a great record of results. These results contribute to success of ECP students in getting to the world’s most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
The article includes two quotes from the ECP Headmaster, Dr Nigel Brown. The first one points out the importance of good relationships during the studies and further careers of the students. In the second quote, Dr Brown speaks about the need to stimulate creativity and curiosity in students.
MF Dnes also quoted ECP student Emma Horáková. She praised the relationships between students and teachers: “The teachers and students maintain a professional and respectful relationship, the pupils always feel like they can talk to the teachers about anything and that their voices are heard.”
From January 1st 2020, the English College is powered by renewable electricity
The Changes Committee of the Student Council and the Environmental Group made a joint request for a switch to a renewable electricity provider. It is in line with acknowledging the global climate emergency and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The school has switched its electricity contract to PREekoproud. Purchased electricity consists of approximately 69% biofuel energy, 28% hydroelectricity and 3% solar energy. An issued certificate (EECS-GO RES-E) proves origin of this energy. Unexpectedly, the new electricity provider is marginally less expensive.
The English College has set an example to individuals and other organisations. Every step to reduce harm to our planet is praiseworthy and the Student Council thanks the school for its cooperation on this. The student body believes that the school could challenge itself to become even more environmentally sustainable.
This week saw 2020’s first visit from ECP graduates, offering advice to students in Year 5 and 6 thinking of a career in medicine. It was Michael Barabas’s second visit to the ECP since leaving for university in 2009. But for Yagmur Caglar, this was the first time she had been back in school since graduating in 2016.
Where to study – Prague or the UK?
Yağmur is in the 4th year of a six-year degree course at the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. But when studying for the IB, she was not sure what she wanted to study at university. She thought she might study Civil Engineering. It was a lecture at school from a representative of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) that decided her. She said “I knew, after hearing about MSF’s humanitarian work, that I wanted to help people. That is why I decided to become a doctor.”
She chose to stay in Prague and had some good advice for ECP students also thinking of medicine as a career. “Make sure that the course you apply for is internationally accredited so that you will be able to work in your chosen location.”
Yağmur is studying at the First Faculty of Medicine at Charles University
Alternative Routes
But a first degree in Medicine is not the only route to becoming a doctor. Michal was initially attracted to a career as a research scientist. His first degree was in Pharmacology from University College London. However, it was while at UCL that he realised that he didn’t want to spend all his time in a laboratory. So after completing his first degree, he switched to Medicine, achieving an MPhil and MB/BChir at the University of Cambridge. This is less well-known route into medicine, but one that Michal has benefited from. He told us: “I was a little older than most of the other students on my course, something that stood me in good stead, particularly when it came to dealing with patients.
Michal is now just about to take up a new position at University General Hospital here in Prague. This is after completing his first two Foundation Years as a hospital doctor at the UK. First it was at Hinchingbrooke and then at Papworth hospitals, the world-famous centre for heart transplants, both in Cambridgeshire.
Michal showing the huge Papworth Hospital estate in Cambridge
The English College in Prague Network
The English College established the English College in Prague Network (ECPN) in 2015 as the College’s extended alumni network. It is for all ECP alumni, their parents and former members of staff. Its aims are to support the ECP and to promote a life-long relationship between the College and its members.
All alumni automatically become members of the ECPN. We are very grateful to those who, like Michal and Yagmur, give up their time to come back into school to share their experience with current students. Amongst the careers covered since the launch of the ECPN are the diplomatic service, journalism, law, economics and business, interpreting, art, design and photography, sports management, medicine, dentistry, astrophysics and aerospace engineering.
“What do we have to overcome to get to Mars?” That was the main question of the recent lecture delivered to ECP students by Mgr. Petr Brož, Ph.D., a researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences. He talked about the complexity of the mission to Mars project and also outlined the necessary technologies which we are still missing to be able to fulfill this ambitious dream.
Student voice
Our Year 4 student Victor Slimák said the following about the event: ”The lecture given by Petr Brož on Monday about the journey to Mars was very interesting. It was very interactive which kept the audience’s attention and also made people think. Dr. Brož talked about various challenges that we face before we can live on Mars. These challenges include: food provision, shielding from radiation and the time of the journey. First we discussed what we would need to be able to complete the journey. Dr. Brož talked about growing food on Mars or in space. Many students had questions about the science of growing plants using martian soil or bringing soil from the Earth to Mars.
The problem of radiation also came up, as the journey to Mars would take about 9 months. Lead can be used as shielding, however, it is very dense and thus it would weigh a lot. Another option is to use water which could later be used by the astronauts. Elon Musk’s company SpaceX also came up in the talk as they are revolutionising space travel and the recovery of their rockets. I found the whole lecture very fascinating and enjoyable and I would enjoy similar lectures in the future.”
About the lecturer
Petr Brož obtained his Ph.D. in 2015 at the Faculty of Science of the Charles University in Prague. He has been working as a researcher at the Department of Geodynamics of the Czech Academy of Sciences since 2010, where he focused on the volcanism across the Solar system. He specialises in volcanic activities on Mars; primarily on small volcanic objects created during short term volcanic activities caused by magma degassing and water/magma interactions on the surface of Mars.
Congratulations to the following students who became winners of the ECP ISSAP Slalom Race 2020 in ladies’ and gentlemen’s categories of skiing and snowboarding.
Skiing: Veronika Šolcová, Year 2 Jiří Veselý, Year2
Snowboarding: Veronika Vojtová, Year4 Viktor Kubička, Year3
Here is a reflection from one of the winners:
The annual ISSAP Slalom Race which took place this past weekend was all we expected it to be, and it was much more than that. Although the lack of snow was a problem, we made the most of the situation. With the kind help of ECP staff and ski instructors, we improved our skiing and snowboarding skills, tried new tricks and then we showed off in the final race on Monday. As it was my first year, winning the slalom race was definitely a thrilling and exciting experience that I will never forget. I felt exhausted but elated and can’t wait to take part in next year’s ISSAP Slalom Race.
