Welcome to the Autumn 2024 edition of the Meadowside Magazine.
It has been a very busy term, with a packed timetable of curriculum work, extra curricular activities and an array of special events.
We have enjoyed a very Christmassy end of term, with pupils and staff working hard to build social skills, improve confidence and prepare pupils for life beyond Meadowside School.
We hope that you all enjoy the forthcoming holiday and would like to remind you that school re-opens after the Christmas Holidays on Tuesday 7th January 2025.
Paula Wareing Head
Teacher
Family Support
What a busy term it has been!
We had a Macmillan event in September and raised over £200.
Thank you to those families who took part in the Digital Parenting workshop in October. There was some fantasticadvice given around keeping safe online.
MilkshakeMonday has continued to be popular withpupils. We have noticed positive changes. Also this term some pupils who have made a big effort towards their attendance were nominated to attend a cinema trip.
Upcoming workshops
Health Passport 21.1.25 @ 1.45pm
Deputyship—25.2.25 @ 1.45pm
For more information please let me know via dojo or the school office.
Ifyou need any support throughout the break, the information below may be useful:
www.familytoolbox.co.uk
www.neocommunity.org.uk
www.involvenorthwest.org.uk
ww.branch-wirral.co.uk
www.wirralinfobank.co.uk
School Nurse drop in clinic at St Catherine’s Hospital Every Thursday including school holidays.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year LauraLawton
Pupils and staff enjoyed Pudsey Bear’s visit, for Children in Need 2024. Pudsey visited each ofthe classrooms and metlots of pupils. He was happy to pose for photos and pupils were very pleased to meet him.
Some classes worked on Pudsey themed activities, counting spots, colouring patterns and matching pictures.
We raised £107 and pupils wore Pudsey clothes or Pudsey colours/spots.
Mrs Hughes
Student Council have formed a working party ofUpper School members, working together to planevents and initiatives for the coming year. They will feed back the outcomes to the rest ofthe school, who in turn feed back to their respective classes. This is anessential communication skill, equipping pupils to considerthe views of others, leadership skills and teamwork.
The Student Council organised a Bag2School collection, raising money for school and the Water Aid charity.
The most recent Student Council initiative has been the Merry Mile, building on the success oflast year. Pupils were invited to enter, paying £2 for a hat and end of mile refreshments.Despite some wet weather, pupils had a great time and raised over £60!
Maths
Inthe first part of the Autumn term the focus was on Place Value and the understanding of number value, rounding numbers, larger value numbers and decimals.
This has thenlead into work relating to addition and subtraction.
Key Stage 4and Post 16have carried out some work with measurement and length. They have enjoyed estimating and measuring heights. Mrs Charmley
This term, in English, KS3 have been reading the Roald Dahl book, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. The pupils have had lots of fun reading about the different characters in the story, especially when they misbehaved. We have loved singing the different Oompa -Loompa songs.
As part of the story of Charlie and The Chocolate factory, the writer Roald Dahl focuses on the different aromas that Charlie can smell from the factory. During lesson time, we set up our own chocolate factory and melted chocolate, thinking about the different aromas that Charlie could smell. Pupils made chocolate apples to coincide with Bonfire night, and crispy cakes with gingerbread man sprinkles, so the cakes would have a Christmassy aroma.
KS4 pupils have been reading a book by Anne Fine, called Bill’s New Frock. Whilst reading the story, pupils have been thinking about gender roles and gender stereotypes, and how jobs roles can become stereotypical. They have also been imagining the nightmare of Bill’s day, having to wear a pink dress.
Mrs Roberts
This term, in MFL, pupils have beenlearning French numbers up to 50, the months of the yearand the days ofthe week. Once pupils had learnt how to say their numbers and months, they were taught to recognise the question for their birthday and how to answer. This month, pupils have been learning about the different French words associated with Christmas. Joyeux Noel! Mrs Roberts
Science
It has been lovely getting to know new groups within Science this term. Key stage 3 classes have had so much fun learning about rocks and fossils. Highlights have included burying a T-Rex under layers of sediment and creating our own mould and cast fossils.
They have also learned about classification systems in Biology and about the separation of materials in Chemistry.
Key stage 4 spent their first few weeks recapping, then extending their knowledge of space and our solar system. They have then been learning about ways of keeping healthy. From understanding ways to maintain good physical and mental health to the systems within our bodies that help keep us going.
We had a super lesson learning about the component parts within our blood and also finding out about what happens if you choose to donate blood to the NationalBlood Bank.
Mrs Boyd
The Horticulture group, invited everyone to take part in a pumpkin decorating competition in October. Mel organised the prizes and certificates and there were some fantastic entries. Some families are very creative!
A huge well done to all who entered and a big thanks to Mel.
This term, in Drama, pupils have been studying how to construct shoebox theatre for nativity themed puppet shows. They wrote their own nativity scripts and made their puppets out of recycled materials. The pupils made a silhouette of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The pupils used a shoe box and cut out the front as a stage, then they performed their puppet show in front of the class.
Fusion
During the first halfof Autumnterm, Fusionhave been learning about ‘Seafarers!’ We have learned about famous seafarers and how to stay safe whenaround water. We have created a treasure map display, by applying our fine motor skills to different crafts.
Inour PE sessions this term, we have been playing Polybat theme games. We have been practicing taking turns, following instructions and applying ourgross motor skills.
Recently, Fusion class got in the Christmas spirit by creating festive bakes and crafts including ourclass gingerbread house. We have all thoroughly enjoyed our half term.
Mr Kophamel
Off-Site Learning
Learning outside the classroom is an important part of the curriculum, with meaningful and impactful experiences for pupils to make sense of the world around them.
This term, Flourish group explored several local parks, conquering some fears and anxieties around other people’s dogs as well as an opportunity for some fresh air and exercise.
As the weather turned colder, we went to some indoor venues– the Vue Cinema in Birkenhead one week and the public library in Wallasey. Pupils enjoyed browsing through the books and taking some back for their Reading for Pleasure sessions in school.
Mrs Hughes
We were very lucky to be able to take 3classes to ChesterZoo, forminimal cost. Pupils had beenlearning about the classification ofliving things in Biology lessons so a visit to the zoo enabled pupils to see a wide variety of species.
Visiting the zoo in the colder weather meant less crowdsand more active animals so everyone had a great day.
The KS4 Optionat Activity forall has gottenoff to a great start this year. Pupils have enjoyed using the indoor football area, climbing on the wall challenges and eventually getting up on to the adventure high ropes. The aim of the centre is to increase participation inphysical activity and pupils have certainly met that target! The group ended the yearwith a pub lunch to celebrate.
Formal Curriculum
During Autumn Term, the pupils in 4CZ have enjoyed our learning, fully grasping the formal curriculum in our small pastoral setting.
As a class we have been reading the wonderful Fantastic Mr Fox. The children have loved our drama and theatrics, as we have fully immersed ourselves into our learning about Roald Dahl.
Life skills lessons are our favourite time of the week. The children have loved designing and making their own Pizza and Chocolate Brownies. As part of our weekly learning, they have learnt to make tea and toast, becoming confident in the progress of preparation, making, serving and cleaning the kitchen area.
PE has also been a firm favourite with everyone progressing well in Table Tennis.
For most of our class, having Options Lessons is new this year. The children have adapted well to this change and are progressing well in lessons such as Duke of Edinburgh, Swimming and Woodchurch High School Farm.
We are in full Christmas Spiritin class atthe moment!
Merry Christmas from Ella, Mr Brown, Amy and all the pupils of 4CZ
Anti– Bullying
‘Respect’was the theme of Anti-Bullying weekthis year, and pupils worked hard to consider how they can respect themselves and others.Pupils listened to stories, discussed how they like to be treated, and role played different scenarios, thinking about how they could respond to the same issue in a respectful way, or a disrespectful way. They learnt that if they can be kind and respectful towards themselves, they are less likely to accept poor treatment from others. Pupils were reminded of the STOP principle–Several Times On Purpose, and reminded of the different ways they could identify bullying and what they should do if they feel they’re being bullied orif someone else is.
Mrs Dunn
KS3 pupils have studied Celebrations, included Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light. They looked at Rangoli patterns and Diva lamps, that guided Rama and Sita home from Lanka back to Sri Lanka. The lamps were decorated with jewels and the Rangoli patterns coloured with chalks.
Post 16 students studied Rites of Passage in different religions. They learned that when an Islamic baby is born their dad whispers prayers in both ears .
Students enacted humanist naming ceremonies, and they chose their own songs, poems, food and music for the celebration
In Geography we have learned about different biomes. There are five major types of biomes: aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra, though some of these biomes can be further divided into more specific categories, such as freshwater, marine, savanna, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, and taiga. Pupils enjoyed locating them on the maps and globes and discussed the vegetation, the animals and climate ineach biome.
History lessons this term have included finding out about the slave trade and Liverpool’s role in that period. The iconic Super Lambanana has its origin in Liverpool’s history as a port city that traded in bananas and sheep. As one of Britain’s premier ports, Liverpool played a crucial role and became one of the wealthiest cities of the time.
Pupils enjoyed looking at little replicas of the Lambanana.
The Into Film Festival is the largest event of its kind in the world, and the 2024 edition hosted over 356,085 attendees, at 2,500 screenings and events, across nearly 500 cinemas, showing over 60 films. The festival was a great way for our pupils to access a real cinema experience. Pupils visited several local cinemas for films that included Kung Fu Panda 4 and Kensuke’s Kingdom. Kensuke’s Kingdom was one of last year’s English texts so it was great to compare the book tothe film.
Some pupils attended the cinema as part of an attendance incentive, some for curriculum links. Everyone had a great time and are looking forwardto next year
Christmas Carol Singing
The Carol Singers had a busy December, with lots of performances and fundraising. The first group sang for the Tuesday Coffee morning group at Wallasey Village United Reformed Church, where over 100 members enjoyed the singing so much they donated over £100!
All of the Signing Singers came together to host the Christmas Signalong, with other local schools attending. We welcomed Hayfield, Foxfield, Stanley, Orrets Meadow and Gilbrook schools and had a wonderful morning of singing and signing.
We sang at Autism Together’s Café in Bromborough and were very pleased to see some ofour past pupils settled and thriving.
The MoretonLung Exercise Group enjoyed a performance at their meeting, providing a lovely lunch for the singers and donating the money to buy our school Christmas Tree.
We also spenta whole day singing at Birkenhead Pyramids, raising almost £500, a morning at Bidston Tesco and visited two Care Homes to perform for the residents.
The Carol Services atHoly Cross church also provided an opportunity for the singers to shine.
Ahuge thank you to all of the Signing Singers, for theirenthusiasm and energy, singing at all of these events. Mrs Hughes
We put on two separate Carol Services this year, at the beautiful Holy Cross Church. For some pupils, just being there was a great achievement and everyone worked very hard to make them both just wonderful.
The Carol service has long been a Meadowside tradition and past pupils and staff love to return to join in each year. It is a tradition we hope to carry on for many years.
Thank you to Holy Cross Church for allowing us to use the church and supporting us throughout the year.
This lovely poem, writtenbyZoey inYear 14, was read out as part of ourtelling ofthe Christmas Story, at the Carol Service.
Jesus’s Birth
In a stable many years ago, there was a mum called Mary and a dad called Joe.
They were having a wonderful little boy called Jesus. He wasn’t any ordinary baby, he was a miracle, the best baby that anyone has ever seen.
He was the King of the world and our guiding light. He was so precious people from all over the world went to visit him and give him lots of lovely gifts
Even though it has been over 2000 years since Jesus was born, people all over the world still celebrate his birth to this very day because that’s what Christmas is all about So Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The Options DofE group have been looking at and setting up the new equipment, which includes rucksacks, head lamps, tents and camping stoves in preparation for when they go on their two day expedition in the spring/ summer term towards their Bronze award.
Animals Visit
Pupils enjoyed a visit from a very unusual collection of animals in December. Our Site Manager Simon brought in some special guests for pupils and staff to meet. There were:
Two different snakes, a Royal Python and a Common Boa, a parrot, a dog, a Bearded Dragon, an Argentinian Tegu, a tortoise, some rats, a Leopard Gecko and a Leachianus Gecko!
Interacting with animals can improve mood and promote positive emotions. It was lovely to see some pupils who struggle with social interactions engaging so positively with the different animals The animals were definitely way out of the comfort zones for some, but there were some very cheery faces for those who didn’t mind!
Thanks to Simonand Sarah.
The final week of term saw a great afternoon of talented performances. Pupils enjoyed taking part in Meadowside’s Got Talent, performing songs, dances, impressions and more. There were some real hidden talents and it was a great opportunity for pupils to really shine.
The judging panel took their roles very seriously, thanks to Mrs Nice, Mrs InBetween and Mr Bad Santa for their comments and a very smartly dressed Mr Gopsill as presenterof the event.
Our website www.meadowsideschool.com is updated regularly with our latest information and news.
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We even have an Instagram account and a YouTube channel! You can also contact the Office on (0151) 678 7711 Meadowside School, Pool Lane, Birkenhead, Wirral CH49 5LA
