Hello again! Thank you to Debbie for doing an amazing job of keeping you all updated on events while I’ve been away on paternity leave. I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to be able to spend a couple of weeks getting to know my new daughter but it’s also been brilliant to return to the buzz of school life and catch up with everything that’s been going on.
What a week to return to as well as it featured our Christmas Extravaganza, a collaboration with Hollinwoood Academy. The production showcased the learning of our pupils across the Expressive Arts this term, with a big sprinkling of Christmas spirit thrown in. It was a fantastic event with superb performances including a rock band, Led Zenadin; a ukulele band; a signing choir; a boomwhacker three piece group (you had to see it) and our Lumenus Theatre Company who performed several pieces including a teaser from our upcoming production of ‘The Greatest Show.’
Well done to all the pupils who took part, you really did an outstanding job. Thank you to everyone from the staff team who worked behind the scenes to make it all happen and thank you to all our families and friends who attended, it really makes a difference to our pupils to see you out there in the audience cheering them on. We intend to welcome you back for ‘The Greatest Show’ later in the year, and judging from the little taster we offered this week, it’s absolutely going to live up to its name.
Next week is going to be a very busy week indeed:
On Wednesday, it’s Christmas jumpers all round as we sit down together as a whole school for our Christmas dinner. It’s a significant task seating and feeding 240 pupils and over 100 staff but with their years of experience, Mr Fieldhouse and our Kitchen team have it all in hand and it’s sure to be a wonderful event. We’ll be walking off our dinner in the afternoon with our annual fundraiser, the Santa Stroll organised by our PE team. This year we’re raising money for a table cricket table. This sport is keenly participated in by many of our pupils who have successfully competed in regional events. The addition of a new table would help with their continued success. We’re asking all our families for a donation of £1.
Thursday will be a Super Learning Day, which this term is on the theme of ‘giving’. Mr Hanif has led the whole staff in organising the day and we’ll be hearing how it all went next week.
Finally on Friday afternoon we’ll be having our annual Talent Show organised by Mr Thompson. I’m yet to witness what I’m told is a spectacular event as I wasn’t here this time last year, so I’ll report back on how it all went next week.
This week our curriculum focus is on pupils studying for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award..
As part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, the Activ8 group have this term been venturing out in all weathers, come rain or shine, working on developing their stamina and endurance in preparation for the expeditions starting in the new year. They have been undertaking long walks around the Oldham area (Pots and Pans, Dovestones and Ogden reservoir) in various conditions (usually cold and wet!) across varying terrains that they will be encountering on their respective expeditions, often taking part in team building challenges on the way..
The pupils have been developing their navigation and map reading skills, and learning and improving their camp craft skills such as practising putting up tents and cooking on the trangias and gas stoves. All of the group have progressed their skills and knowledge and are looking forward to the new year when they can put this training into action on their expeditions. The group are also hoping for some better weather as spring approaches along with the impending D of E residential schedule!
The Key Stage 4 options D of E group have been developing their resilience and teamwork. They have been accessing various places within the local area, whilst developing the skills needed for their D of E expeditions. Next term the group will be developing their camp craft skills and continuing to build on their positive work this term..
On Wednesday our football teams headed back to Man City to play in the latest round of the ‘One City’ football tournament. Thankfully the event was indoors and it was a successful (and dry!) day, well done to everyone who took part.
On Friday we were visited by Mr Handrick and his team of Digit4ll students from Medtia; here’s his report:
It was great this morning to go and show our new Sea Clear Enterprise bag to the staff and pupils at New Bridge School. It was good for our students to chat with their old friends and teachers, as well as telling people about all the hard work that Digit4ll Key Stage 5 as a team have been doing this term. We sold lots of Reindeer Food and lots and lots and lots of our Sea Clear bags..
For every one of the cotton shopping bags that the students sell, we donate 10% to Plastic Oceans UK Charity. If you want more information about what we are up to and all our other products that we sell, please click on the link here and take a look at our new website..
We are really trying hard this year to do lots around social media to help promote the awareness about plastic in our oceans by selling our bag, so if you would like to follow, like and interact with us that would be ace! So go on click the links and don’t forget to #wavethebag
You can follow us on Facebook here @SeaClearEnterprise, on Instagram here _seaclear and on Twitter here @_SeaClear
Have a wonderful week,
Gavin
You can find Dawn’s blog for the Learning Centre here
For news on our Key Stage 5 pathway groups at Medtia Square please click here
Click here to read this week’s news from Graham
You can find my previous blog posts here
