Issue 8 pdf Autumn 2015

to the Autumn 2015 edition of our school magazine.

We hope that all learners, and especially those who joined the school at the beginning of September, have had a good term.

In the following pages you will see a selection of the activities that our learners have enjoyed this Autumn. There are so many people to whom we are very grateful for the work they do to raise funds for the benefit of our pupils, to those who donate money to school funds and to those organisations who support our school. A few examples of the help we have received recently are highlighted, however, I would like to add my personal thanks to all the parents and carers who support our Home School Association events, and to those individuals and organisations that enable us to enhance the wonderful facilities and learning opportunities we offer our learners.

Many thanks, we couldn’t do it without you.

Paula Wareing

During the term Student Council/Interact Club have been busy;  Each class voted in new members.  Pupils’ visit to Foxfield School.  Meeting with Merseyside School Forum.  Organising Merseyside School Forum Fundraising.  Supporting the Rotary Conference.

Rotary Conference Jenny Schwarz, President of West Wirral Rotary Club and Matthew during the Rotary Conference, held at Chester Race Course.

Fantastic day.

Merseyside School Council Forum Chloe and Leanne had a brilliant day and were involved with the decision making for the new fundraising venture 2015-2016.

Pauline Freeman

This term we have been looking at digital creativity, focusing on design, style and imagination.

Learners in Fusion have created collages of images, using Pic Collage on the iPads. They have added borders, backgrounds and Word Art. KS3 and KS4 groups have been exploring magazine covers, choosing designs with interesting fonts and features.

We have enjoyed using our new Alpha Touch screens, that run Android software like giant tablet computers. Coding has continued to feature; we enjoyed programming a skeleton to dance for a Hallowe’en scene. We have used Purple Mash online, to access software and save work. This term we are creating animated Powerpoint slides, saving MP3 music files to add audio effects to the slides.

Mrs Hughes

This term we have been visiting local supermarkets and cafes, developing life skills and social interaction. Bob enjoyed working in a Garden Centre, organising stock. Kim and Bob used the self service tills independently. The group has been out shopping for ingredients, shopping for healthy break time snacks and visiting different cafes. All learners are encouraged to order independently and look at the coins they are handing over, counting and adding up where appropriate. Sean and Kim enjoyed developing their daily living skills onsite, making snacks such as toast.

Everyone enjoyed mixing Angel Delight with the handmixers.

Mrs Hughes

Learners in Flair group have enjoyed a multi-sensory curriculum, mixed with a balance of activities for physical development. Swimming skills have improved and they have enjoyed building a base in the Immersive & Sensory Room. Topics have included African literature, Autumn and, 3D Shapes. Kieran especially enjoyed the big pile of leaves .

This half term, we have begun preparing for Christmas, developing Makaton signing, and body signing . We have been listening to the new Singing Hands DVD and practised songs to sing at the Carol Service. We made some very glittery candle holders to take with us.

Mrs Hughes

This term’s topic has been Africa. All groups have either read or been read to, a selection of African traditional tales, poetry or non-fiction books.

They have participated in discussions about life in England compared to life in different parts of Africa, explored diverse aspects of the African culture and used their reading skills to skim and scan, predict and infer information from the various texts. By developing reading skills they have been able to build up an image of how story telling can enhance a culture and enrich others’ literary experience. These ideas have been the central talking point in our Literacy and Homework Clubs on a Tuesday and Friday lunchtime. These have been widely supported by learners from across the school community, allowing them to meet and mingle whilst improving their own learning. The clubs have reinforced the work begun in class and use a mixture of fun and work based activities to advance budding readers.

Reading has been a key focus this term and there have been many young people actively participating in the ‘Reading Buddy’ scheme. This has allowed learners from across the Key Stages to act as reading supporters for others, boosting everyone’s enjoyment. Some of the books we have especially enjoyed reading have included: Journey to Jo’Burg, Mama Panya’s Pancakes, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain and Maasai and I. We have spent time talking about the themes in these texts, discussing how friendship and respect for others is important and linking these with our focus on British Values. Flair and some of the Post 16 classes have carried on the African theme, listening to the rhyming patterns in simple poems inspired by descriptive African words. It has been very exciting to see the enthusiasm for reading, which has developed as a result of the study.

Mrs Cliffe

Key Stage 4 learners have tried out Batik technique.

They have learned what equipment and tools are needed, what they are called and how to use them.

Acorn Group has completed a push along toy, they really enjoyed pushing their finished products around the school corridors to show to staff and other learners.

Flair group has enjoyed looking at, tracking and interacting with the resources in the Sensory Room and Immersive Theatre.

Ms Hoffmann

Fundraising for our pupils I am pleased to say that it has been a busy and successful year for fundraising, with several events over the past few months. March saw Mr Stubbs, Annabelle Branch and Ray Lawton bravely spring into action, flying through the air on a backwards bungee jump at Tatton Park. In April, staff, pupils, families and friends took part in a bag pack at Morrisons New Brighton. After hours of hard work, and lots of laughter, the team raised nearly £400 for school funds! We hope to return to

Morrisons for another pack next term, and we extend many thanks to the store team for their continued support.

Another recent highlight was the first Meadowside Pub Quiz and raffle at the Queen’s Pub in Liscard. Staff, past pupils and friends of Meadowside had a brilliant evening battling it out to become quiz champions! Unfortunately our staff team, Diane Ross & The Supremes, didn’t win on the night, but Ms Wareing and co. will be back next term to secure a victory!

In September, staff had the arduous task of eating lots of cake during our Macmillan Coffee Morning. Pockets were lighter and waistbands a bit tighter, but with the help of our ’star bakers’ we raised £72.29 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Thank you to all of those who have been involved in fundraising this year. I look forward to some exciting fundraising activities in 2016.

Loren Miller

We would like to say thank you to Wirral Lung Exercise Group, based at Moreton Community Centre, whose generous donation enabled us to buy a magnificent Christmas tree, some unbreakable baubles and some lovely crackers for Christmas lunch on 17th December.

It was lovely to see so many families at our H.S.A. Welcome Barbecue in September. As ever , it was a good opportunity to catch up with friends after the summer holidays and for parents and carers of new pupils to get to know each other.

This term H.S.A. have funded the purchase of two large noticeboards which enable the safe display of learners’ art and other work.

The H.S.A. would like to thank Mrs Vickers for her contribution to the work of the association, particularly in her role as Treasurer in recent years.

We do appreciate how busy parents and carers are, however, should you be willing to meet once a term for an hour or so to help plan future events and to discuss how any funding raised is best allocated for the benefit of our learners, then please speak to Debbie or Hayley via the School Office.

Acorn has been learning all about portraits; they have finished their painting and now are making busts of themselves. They really enjoyed papiermâchÊ and the models are nearly ready for painting.

Post 16 L has enjoyed exploring blending colours then using different methods of mark making to make a portrait based on the work of the artist Paul Klee.

Ms Hoffmann

Fusion group has been learning about religious celebrations. Kim really enjoyed dressing up in a wedding dress when we celebrated a Wedding Day.

Acorn group has been learning all about the Bible. Some learners used a quill to write the Ten Commandments.

They discussed rules for being a good friend and a good family member.

Class 16L has been making dolls for the school’s Nativity scene.

Ms Hoffmann

This term, learners in Key Stages 3 and 4 have practised their basic number skills, such as adding and subtracting ,and money skills by sorting coins and making different values.

Learners in Fusion group have been out and about practising their maths skills as part of their Active Start.

Learners in Flair group have enjoyed listening to maths songs and using the Immersive Theatre.

They have also practised basic number activities.

Learners in Post 16 have worked on the topic: Domestic and Everyday Life.

They have practised everyday Maths skills, such as planning a trip to the cinema using bus and train timetables and looking at cinema websites or looking at online supermarkets to plan a bonfire night party.

Mrs Ubeda

In Citizenship this term Key Stage 3 has been exploring the idea of Community and Identity. What is it and how do we celebrate our national identity? Key Stage 4 has been focusing their attention on Rights and Responsibilities.

They have been investigating how to become responsible citizens and developing a caring and positive contribution to their immediate and national community. This has been in keeping with our work on British Values. Flair and some of the Post 16 classes have carried on the theme of communities, looking at how some groups face inequality and how they deal with this on a global scale.

Mrs Cliffe

This term is very busy in P.E. We have taken part in lots of different activities. Key Stage 3 pupils have been taking part in hockey, tag rugby and team work skills playing Hungry Hippos on the scoot boards.

Tranmere Rovers Community team have been in school teaching football to Key Stage 4 pupils and Dance to Post 16 Pupils.

We have also taken part in a football tournament and two New Age Curling tournaments through the Liverpool School Sports Partnership.

Post 16 pupils enjoy their leisure activities on a Tuesday afternoon. They take part in Tennis, swimming and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

Wirral Inclusive Tae Kwon Do has been in school for 3 weekly sessions. Pupils are learning control, coordination, balance and other cross curricular skills while having lots of fun.

Mr Stubbs

In Science this term Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils have been learning about keeping healthy, looking at what makes up the human body, eating healthily and lifestyles and benefits of regular exercise. Fusion group has been out in the community trying out different exercise equipment. Flair group has been learning about space, looking at earth and beyond.

Mr Stubbs

In PSHE this term pupils have also been learning about healthy lifestyles and what we can do to stay healthy. They have looked at planning balanced meals, food and exercise diaries, different types of exercise, using different equipment to experience the negative effects of being drunk and how your senses are altered and the differences in good and bad drugs.

Mr Stubbs

Flair Lessons have involved experiences related to London Life: songs and stories related to the Queen, tourist attractions, celebrations and the Brit scene in the 1960’s and 1970’s such as motorbikes and music.

Acorn History The topic on Kings and Queens included activities related to Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria and Henry Vii. Pupils have completed research tasks, learnt about Victorian Education, the Tutors and the story of Guy Fawkes.

Geography The Acorn group has been busy using maps, globes and the internet to find the names and the locations of the oceans, seas and major cities associated with the United Kingdom. The have competed in team quizzes and team building tasks to find out facts based on London, Liverpool and some local places.

European Day of Languages Meadowside School held a whole school European Day of Languages event in October. Pupils visited classrooms that had been transformed into different countries where they could learn about and experience activities related to the country, such as its location, national language, culture, music, dance, food and crafts. Pupils from different Key Stages worked in mixed groups and visited several countries within Meadowside School that included; France, Italy, Greece, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain. It was a great way for pupils to learn and have fun too.

Mrs Jones

The Acorn group has worked on kitchen safety and basic hygiene rules. They enjoyed a cup of tea after making it to demonstrate their understanding and listening skills.

KS4 pupils made lots of foods including fruit salad, scary Halloween fingers, parkin and mince pies. The fingers were so realistic that some pupils and members of staff were reluctant to try one!

Fusion Practical food lessons pupils have involved making toast, fruit salad, sandwiches and a smoothie and then enjoying what they made by eating their food in the lesson.

Yum!

Post 16 This term learners have been working on adapting recipes by changing one or more ingredients to make different meals. The majority of pupils now eat the meals that they make in the morning for their lunch.

Post 16 and Past Pupils’ Social Club This termly event was held on Thursday 8th October. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to catch up with so many pupils who have attended Meadowside School over the years. Ms Hoffmann

Environmental Education In Post 16, the aims of Environmental Education are to encourage a personal responsibility for the environment and a greater understanding of the effects of human behaviour on the environment.

Each group is responsible for an area inside the school and an area of the external school environment: 



*

16L Safety signs in school, and the courtyard garden opposite Gold Room, the Sensory Garden and the pots outside the main entrance.

16V: Display areas in one half of school, and The Kitchen Garden and two raised beds in the Sensory Garden for early harvest vegetables.

16C: Display areas in the rest of the school, the Sensory Garden out side Gold Room for early harvest fruit and raised beds under the vines.

If you are able to visit the school, you will see a noticeable improvement as a result of the learners’ hard work. Well done, everyone!

The focus for Environment in the Wider World is on mankind’s effect on the environment. Allocated aspects for this term have been Reduce, Reuse and Recycle with 16C, Recycling with 16V and Litter with 16L.

This work leads to accreditation supported by the Quality and Credits Framework.

Mrs Vickers

Careers Education Acorn Group has been focusing on personal finances, understanding how to manage their money and beginning to understand how to become a critical consumer, for example, querying advertising claims. Learners have discussed how finances play a vital part in people’s lives and the need to take responsibility for their own financial well-being.

Key Stage 4 learners have focussed on economic well-being in greater depth. They looked at the role of money in a personal context e.g.how to manage a family budget. They also looked at the role of money in a world-wide context, investigating trade and looking at how to help people who are less fortunate than they are.

Post 16 groups have been developing their understanding of self-awareness and providing information for their All About Me booklets, in preparation for their Annual Review meetings.

Many Key Stage 4 and Post 16 learners are engaged in Work Experience placements, including two who are working as PE Technicians at Woodchurch High School and four who are working at branches of Best Bites, a social enterprise café.

Flair Group has been experiencing sensory activities which support the development of an awareness of themselves and others, including an awareness of personal space. Tasks included using Sensory Books, puppets and materials with a range of textures.

Fusion Group has explored feelings in the context of the learner as an individual, developing self awareness and understanding feelings as well as considering their own strengths and weaknesses as learners.

Mrs Vickers Special Achievement Three learners have been working in partnership with the Royden Park Project, The project aimed “to support a successful transition to adult independence, by providing work experience and practical skills to young people who often meet barriers when joining the workforce.”

Sam and Kenny achieved NVQ Level 2 in safe use of a petrol trimmer. It has been great to work with Dan, a past pupil from Meadowside School from many years ago!

Jenny Wilson

Links with Primary Schools This term we have further developed our programme of links with local Primary Schools for children with special educational needs. Pupils from Elleray Park School, Gilbrook School and The Lyndale School have visited our school once or twice a week together with their staff.

Meadowside staff have run Rebound Therapy, Art, Cookery and Soft Play sessions which the primary pupils and their staff have thoroughly enjoyed.

These sessions will continue next term but we will also be offering Boxing, sessions in our Immersive Theatre and pupils from Gilbrook School will be joining us for fun swim sessions in our pool.

We are fortunate to have such wonderful facilities, and look forward to welcoming staff from Hayfield School who will be using our Immersive Theatre in the New Year.

Jenny Wright

We have been able to run some new after school clubs this term. History Club, where pupils looked at Ancient Egypt, was very popular. Pupils got to make Pharaoh head dresses and turn each other into real life mummies.

Pupils have also taken part in Science Club, looking at the world of forensic science. They have learnt how to take fingerprints and what a crime scene might look like.

This term we have also offered Wii U Club, Multi Sports Clubs and Swimming Club as part of our after school programme.

Mr Stubbs

Signing Singers The Signing Singers have had a very busy schedule this December. We have sung at Birkenhead Pyramids, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons supermarkets, raising over £1000 for school funds. It was fantastic to welcome some past members of the Signing Choir, ex-Meadowside pupils who came along specially to join us. Thanks Laura, Kate and Paul!.

We took part in the Merseyside Special Schools’ Signalong at Foxfield School, and sang at Tesco supermarket to raise money for the RNIB. We also sang at two Residential Homes for the elderly. We have really enjoyed singing and signing in the community, it’s a fantastic way to reinforce our signing skills. The Christmas songs teach us a host of new Makaton signs that we remember throughout the year.

Mrs Hughes

School Lunches at Meadowside We launched our new menu at the beginning of this term and it is proving popular with pupils and staff alike.

Sharon and Shelley are excellent cooks and each day we look forward to a main meal or a vegetarian option served with a salad platter and vegetables. Sharon also bakes her own homemade bread each morning.

We have a cooked pudding twice a week with yoghurt and fruit available every day. Pupils can also help themselves to a delicious fresh fruit platter every day.

Kate Green

Woodchurch High School Some learners have visited Woodchurch High School to take part in an Art project. It has been wonderful to see the skills and creativity that they have used.

Their work is currently displayed in our Meeting Room.

Jenny Wright

Governors, staff, pupils and the whole Meadowside community would like to say thank you and farewell to Mrs Vickers who is retiring at the end of this term after 14 years at Meadowside School. We would like to wish Mrs Vickers a long and happy retirement.

Congratulations to Mrs Dunn on the birth of her son, Joshua.

We would like to thank Helen McCall who completed her term of office as a School Governor earlier this year, and also Peter Wilkinson who has been a Governor for 8 years.

A large print version of this magazine is available on our website Meadowside School. Pool Lane, Woodchurch, Wirral. CH49 5LA Telephone: 0151 678 7711

www.meadowsideschool.com

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Thanks again to our sponsor Newhall Publishing, for printing this edition of the magazine.