We are writing this final blog of 2015 with much hope and optimism for the coming new year. It has been a very busy and productive Autumn term filled with added curricular activities that enhance our academic offer, not to mention all the extra-curricular opportunities that have been arranged. We are very proud of our young people and of all their achievements, they inspire all our staff to work tirelessly on their behalf and they should be commended.

We need no further evidence of this inspiration after seeing our young people from across school and the Learning Centre perform in our Winter Showcase this week. Those who were not taking part in the two morning performances were able to come and watch, and it was wonderful to see how much everyone enjoyed the shows – the audiences certainly needed no encouragement to join in the singing at the end! We would like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work and congratulate them on their fantastic performances.

The Winter Showcase is by no means the only event taking place in the run up to Christmas. Our ‘Total Vocals’ group, along with our Lumenus students, were invited to sing at the Salvation Army’s carol service in Shaw on Wednesday. They had a wonderful time and did New Bridge proud as you can see..

Next Wednesday 16th December our choir will be carol singing at Costco in Chadderton in the morning and Asda on Hollins Road near the school in the afternoon – you are very welcome to come and join us!

This week our New Bridge Enterprise group ‘Enspire’ have taken the products they have been developing in their enterprise lessons at school and tried their hand at trading at local markets to raise funds. The post-16 students from our Digit4ll pathway are taking part in a nationwide competition and this was one of the first fund-raising events. They set up stalls selling personalised Christmas trees, candles and mugs. The students really enjoyed themselves and were fantastic on both days in Stretford and Oldham shopping centres. Please email nbprinters@newbridgegroup.org if you are looking for any last minute Christmas presents!

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We will be holding our very own Christmas markets for all our young people on Monday afternoon as part of this term’s ‘Super Learning Day’. Students at the Learning Centre have been busy making items for their market and down at school there are big plans to transform the theatre…we don’t want to give too much away and spoil the surprise, you will have to wait for the pictures!

Next Wednesday is our eagerly awaited Christmas dinner when somehow we manage to find enough tables and chairs to spread out all along the corridors for EVERYONE, staff and guests included, to sit down together in classes for a fantastic lunch. There will be well over 300 places laid out at the school site alone – it really does have to be seen to be believed and the atmosphere is incredible!

This year, after our Christmas dinner is finished and the last cracker has been pulled, the school site is getting up to something different…our first ever ‘Sponsored Santa Stroll’! Everyone in the school will be taking part – our energetic Sports Pathway Santas will be ‘dashing’ (sprinting) up to the Asda on Hollins Road where our choir will be singing carols, a big crowd of somewhat more sedate Santas will be ‘strolling’ up to join them and a crack team of Santas will be patrolling the New Bridge campus, checking everything is ready for Christmas. We’re hoping to raise as much sponsorship as possible and we will be setting up a page on www.justgiving.com We will post a link here when it is ready but, in the meantime, you can use the sponsor form below if you would like to get involved: New Bridge Santa Stroll Sponsor Form

Next week is going to be extremely busy. There will also be a ‘Stars in their Eyes’ talent show at school and a football match where students at the Learning Centre will take on the team from school. The Learning Centre is arranging a series of fun activities to raise funds, culminating in a Christmas Gameshow Extravaganza and we’re really looking forward to finding out more about that!

We would like to congratulate Louise Preston and Helen Sheehy in obtaining Qualified Teacher Status. They have worked very hard with Jenny Richardson and Manchester Metropolitan University and they deserve a massive ‘well done!’ from us all.

We break up at 3.30pm on Friday 18th December and return at 8.30am on Monday 4th January. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a merry and peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Judith and Roger

Final note from Judith:

• This will be the last blog entry that I will write with Roger as he is retiring from his post as Head of the Learning Centre at Christmas.     I can honestly say that Roger is one of the kindest and most approachable colleagues I have worked with. His commitment and enthusiasm for the job is amazing, he is truly inspirational. He will leave a great gap within the New Bridge organisation and I’m sure you will all join me in wishing him all the very best.

Click here to read what Graham has to say.