Meadowside Magazine Spring 2021

Meadowside Magazine

Issue 23 Spring

2021

Find out about our lockdown Bubbles.

Read about our Blended Learning, in school and at home!

Welcome

to the Spring 2021 edition of the Meadowside Magazine. After the partial closure of the school for the first half of this term, it was wonderful to see (and hear!) the school full of pupils again on March 8th.

Everyone adapted very quickly to the measures we have put in place in response to the on-going Covid–19 pandemic, including twice weekly testing for pupils for whom we have consent and all of our staff.

I would like to thank parents and carers for supporting their son’s or daughter’s participation in home learning or attendance at school this term; we know it has been a very demanding time. I am very proud of the way Meadowside staff have worked so hard to run a school on site, a home school, made welfare calls and food deliveries every week and have also set up and run a Covid-19 test centre.

As well as welcoming and settling the learners back into school, we are now assessing what support and interventions would best help them to ‘catch up’ with their learning. We are also planning for the Summer Term when we hope, subject to government guidance, that we will be able to put back in place a full lunch menu with pupils eating with their bubbles in the Hall. We are also planning for the return of more usual activities such as After School Clubs, Sports Day and possibly even a few trips off-site if the wider lifting of Covid-19 measures goes ahead on June 21st as currently planned.

I hope that you enjoy the Spring Break and would like to remind you that school re-opens on Monday 12th April 2021.

Paula Wareing Head Teacher

Maroon & Pink Bubbles It has been lovely to see all the amazing work produced this term so far from all pupils, whether in school or at home.

Art Pupils have enjoyed looking at a variety of artists and creating work in the style of their chosen artist. We have looked at pattern in relation to animals and camouflage and some lovely model lizards have been created using a variety of methods.

English Pupils have carried out a range of work in English, focusing on poetry and description.

We have read poems and identified rhyming patterns. Pupils have learnt about use of adjectives and similes to enhance their writing and give the reader a clearer picture in their head.

We have continued to work on the correct use of full stops and capital letters within all written work, not only English.

Computing We have focused on E-Safety during this term. Pupils have considered how they should behave online and where to seek help if they have any concerns.

We participated in Safer Internet Day following the BBC live lesson.

Maths Key concepts covered this term so far have been : Number —pupils have used subtraction methods best suited to them, such as using number lines, counters and column method.

Measure —identifying heavier/lighter items, the use of balance scales and the use of scales to measure in grams weighing ingredients.

Statistics—Creation and interpretation of charts, relating to pictograms, tally charts and bar charts.

Geometry— using set-squares and identifying right angles within the environment.

Science

We have been busy in Science this term: as well as learning about food

chains, we have been learning about electricity and separating materials. The class have enjoyed making circuits and identifying which ones will work, and when they don’t work, why not? They have copied images of circuits and made real life versions, and were challenged by trying to make a spinner fly.

We have focussed a lot on dissolving, trying to describe the difference between that and melting. We made milkshakes, by dissolving milkshake powder in milk and used vinegar to dissolve egg shell to make bouncy eggs! Mrs Dunn

What else have Bubble 1 & 2 been learning about this term?

Life Skills Safety has been the topic with lessons have been based on

Electricity, Medicines, Fire, and Road and kitchen safety. Pupils played interactive learning tasks, participated in practical tasks and could be a Safety Inspector by checking the classroom or their home by checking for potential safety issues.

RE

World Religion Day, finding out about another religion Rastafarian, the 10

Commandments and the Epiphany and stories about Jesus were learnt about this term.

This also included learning about Bob Marley and his music, the importance of music to religion and pupils talking about the importance of rules and writing their own commandments.

Music Pupils have been learning how music, emotions and feelings can be linked. Pupils especially enjoyed creating Art to music in the style of Jackson Pollock.

Mrs Charmley & Mrs Jones

Gold Bubble The pupils in Gold Room have enjoyed a wide range of sensory activities including Bag Book stories, Attention Autism and our sensory parachute. We have been focusing on consistently using Makaton, symbols and our PECS books to help us to communicate and engage in a wider range of activities and increase our independence. We have also been learning about how to work as a team in creative activities such as Art and Music as well as during break times outside.

It has been really important for us to build up our new routine as we settle into our new class. The pupils have adapted really well to a new classroom environment and are finding the new routine interesting and exciting each day.

A highlight of our term so far has been exploring a range of different

assistive technologies including the use of switches to power different devices including making milkshake with a blender and making choices on the computer. We have also been exploring a range of different life skills and have used symbols to help us to make a cheese sandwich and toast.

Our home learners have had the opportunity to experience a wide range of sensory activities as well as engaging with stories, phonics activities, games and nature walks in their local area.

Mrs O’Connor

Pupils from Brown room and Silver room made up the Silver Bubble and they have been working very hard during lockdown 3.0. All pupils have either been in school full time or accessing blended learning, where they have been part of lessons/ learning in school or at home. The pupils Mental and Physical Health & Wellbeing has been at the forefront of our minds, with lessons contributing to helping them cope.

In Parkour, pupils have been learning about coordination, safety, balance and physical fitness, through precision jumping, break (safety) rolls and basic vaulting. Pupils have been able to show some good skills through putting them into simple Parkour sequences i.e. precision jump from a height into a safety roll.

Pupils have been learning about making foods from the ingredients in their cupboards and cooking on a budget. They looked at what are considered essential store cupboard staples, researching what they are, cooking/essential ingredients, recipe research Despite not being able to access a full kitchen they have developed skills using a blender, a grater, a microwave and several of Mrs Hughes’ kitchen gadgets to make pancakes, hummus, popcorn, cakes and more

In Environmental Enterprise lessons, pupils have been making bird feeders using recycled materials brought in from home, with bird seed and peanut butter. They then put them outside to watch the different birds and squirrels eat them which also linked to their Science accreditation. The pupils also decided they wanted to make a ‘bug hotel’ by using an old tool box donated to school and using natural materials from the sensory garden.

They also learnt some new skills along the way.

Pupils have taken part in 5 day drama therapy sessions looking at ways of developing their mental health and communication.

Pupils have been learning about keeping safe while online, looking at Internet Safety, Cyberbullying, dealing with online comments, blocking people, changing passwords, meeting up with people, and how to spot people lying online.

Mr Stubbs and Ms Hoffmann

Orange Bubble was made up of members from Bubbles 8 & 9

Maths and English In Maths, we have been learning about the calendar and time, shapes and symmetry.

In English we have been making our own travel posters and brochures

Computing We have learnt about Internet Safety and how it is important not to talk or meet with strangers.

Careers, Citizenship and PSHE We have worked on the topics “Communities and diversity, “Government and Parliament” and “LGBTQ+”. We have learnt that not everyone is the same and that there are many groups and communities.

PE This term we have tried a new sport called Parkour. This sport includes jumping techniques and rolls. We have practised precision jumps and forward rolls.

In Media, we have been learning about life in Nazi Germany, propaganda and the ration system. We created a propaganda poster about the importance of family in Nazi Germany and the role of the Hitler Youth and the League of German girls.

Life skills Orange bubble have made lots of great things in Life skills this term both in school and at home including pancakes, omelettes, crudités and hummus using store cupboard items. We especially enjoyed making muffin pizzas and taking them home for tea.

We have learnt to read and follow a recipe and to make a shopping list as well as checking the cost and adding it all up.

14-19 options

In Mini-enterprise we are learning about running a business. We have made and sold products while learning about marketing, packaging and finance.

In Art we have learnt about animation techniques like flip books, stop motion and 3D modelling. We enjoyed making stop motion videos of a melting snowman, flower petals flying away, worms going into apples, etc.

We used playdough, Lego and an app called “stop motion”.

Ms Ubeda and Ms Goalen

Pupils in Yellow Bubble have enjoyed an interesting few weeks being in school over the latest lockdown period, where they have been able to participate in a series of socially distanced activities and keep up to date with friends who were home learning, via zoom sessions and virtual assemblies.

In swimming lessons the pupils have been practising their front crawl and back stroke. Once all pupils return to school , the group will be learning how to breathe correctly to help improve their technique.

In Life Skills, pupils have enjoyed making their own breakfasts. They have been learning about kitchen safety and the dangers, risks and hazards associated with working in a kitchen environment. Pupils have used knives to slice bread and bagels, before safely operating a toaster.

Pupils have been putting food into a fridge to see how it needs to be organised to keep food safe.

Pupils have been introduced to several new topics this half term, including learning about poetry in English and gymnastics in PE. In Citizenship, pupils have been introduced to a topic on Government and Politics, where we have been discussing the recent problems faced by the Prime Minister in tackling the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and the US Presidential election. Most of the pupils could name Donald Trump and Joe Biden. We also watched the first day of new military coup in Myanmar and military rule beginning.

Music In music pupils had to respond musically to the tempo and the volume of the music.

They really enjoyed using the percussion instruments.

Life has been difficult for millions of people around the world recently, including here at Meadowside. We missed seeing all of our pupils in school and staff have been working very hard trying to make sure those who were working from home, have been kept busy and up to date with their learning, as well as checking on people’s well being with home visits.

A massive well done to Luke and Lincoln who completed all of their home learning tasks while they have been away!

In Science, we have been studying Chemistry, where we have been investigating how substances dissolve. We made predictions and then, using hot water, sampled how several substances, including paint, juice, flour and salt reacted when being stirred in to the water.

In Physics pupils have been learning how to wire a plug.

They have also been working out the problem of why some small appliances are not working .

Yellow Bubble pupils and staff would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter!

Mr Pemberton and Mrs Brown

For this year’s Comic Relief fundraiser, the Red

Nose

Day

Dance

Challenge

proved to be great fun for our Bubbles to each play a part in a group project. Each bubble practised a clip from Harry Styles’ Treat People With Kindness video and it all came together so well that 6 clips

from it were included on national television! It was amazing to spot our staff and pupils on the Red Nose Day show.

Mrs Hughes

The Danceathon organised Roebuck also brought together (in their socially Bubbles) to raise over £300 Relief!

by Karen everyone distanced for Comic

Staff and pupils danced their way through many styles, dressed in red to mark the day. Some staunch Everton supporters even added a splash of colour on top of their favoured blue!

Well done everyone and thanks to our families and friends who made that possible.

Mrs Hughes

In February, we marked Children’s Mental Health Week, promoting positivity and checking on how our young people were coping during the most significant crisis of our time.

Activities included ‘Dress to Express Yourself’, with pupils able to wear clothing and accessories that expressed who they are.

We had ‘Inside Out’ day, wearing an item of clothing inside out to show that what you see on the outside may not be what someone is feeling on the inside.

Some pupils accessed a series of neuro dramatic play workshops, This is research based intervention that emphasises basic trust, security and ritual, with simulation, exploration and risk. Ritual and risk form the basis of children feeling safe in the world as well as the desire to explore it.

We played ‘feelgood’ songs for pupils to arrive to and hopefully, heled everyone feel positive and able to boost their mental health.

Mrs Hughes

Easter at Meadowside School usually involves a rendition of singing Spring Chicken, the Easter Bonnet Parade and a school full of families and friends joining in with Easter activities. With restrictions still in place, we have had to adapt.

Two of our Post 16 Bubbles have lessons in Mini Enterprise, developing ideas to make money via products or events. Both involve budget planning, marketing and promotion. Bubble 8 promoted the Easter Bonnet Competition and Bubble 9 the Decorate an Egg competition, as well as making Easter based products to sell.

The joint ventures did make a small profit, which they will invest into new ideas or events in the Summer Term. Well done and thanks to everyone who took part.

Mrs Hughes

We also enjoyed a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! Pupils were excited to see the visitor outside their windows, waving and adding to the Easter fun.

Thanks again to Karen, and to the Home School Organisation, for organising that.

Mrs Hughes

If you’re not signed up to ClassDojo, you’re missing out on regular updates from across the school, instant communications between home and school and a safe way to see what the school community has been doing. Most pupils love getting Dojo points in class and aspire to win a trophy each week/term for the most Dojos. Points are not all about classwork and can be awarded for many reasons.

Please get in touch for a code and if you would like support setting it up, we would be happy to help.

With no mixing between Bubbles, pupils have not been able to enjoy Clubs in the usual format but the clubs have carried on, with Mr Stubbs organising several different clubs via ClassDojo.

The clubs that ran over lockdown were Lego Club, Keep Fit and Dance Club. Mrs Stubbs made his whole family out of Lego and posted some new dance videos for pupils to dance along to. We got some great feedback from families at home joining in.

Special mention to Grace, who took part in the half term Walking Challenge, walking an amazing 34.84km.

Mrs Hughes

After School Clubs

One year on from the announcement of the first Lockdown, we took part in the National Day of Reflection.

Pupils observed the one minute silence and used the day to consider the impact that the pandemic has had on them and the world.

Some classes thought positively about the future, writing down what they were looking forward to and decorating the classroom doors with flowers and thoughts.

We are all thinking positively about the future and looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the school and then hopefully our wider school community– parents and families.

Mrs Hughes

Our website www.meadowsideschool.com is updated regularly with our latest information and news.

We are also available on Twitter at https://twitter.com/meadowsidech49 and Facebook at https://facebook.com/meadowsideschoolwirral

You can also contact the Office on (0151) 678 7711 Meadowside School, Pool Lane,

Birkenhead,

Wirral CH49 5LA