I hope you are all keeping well and managing to cope in these challenging times. I hope you liked the video blog last week? (you can find it here if you missed it) It was great to see what the Learning Centre staff have been up to during this period of lockdown. It’s back to a more traditional written blog this week and I’d like to start with some exciting news for all students, especially the ‘Arty’ ones!

As Artist Grayson Perry stated on this week’s ‘Grayson’s Art Club on Channel 4′, “Art is good for you!” I know I’m slightly biased as an Art Teacher, however I have long championed the positive impact that being creative has on our wellbeing, it can be very relaxing and therapeutic. I feel my most calm and content sat on a hill painting and just to prove it..

So now the Big Art Challenge goes out to you all. I’d like to launch our very own Big Art Competition titled ‘Everyday Heroes’, a theme which seems close to all our hearts at this time when we’re seeing ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help others. This is our small way of celebrating these amazing people whilst also doing something that helps our own wellbeing.

I’m inviting all students to create a piece of artwork depicting a portrait of an Everyday Hero of your own choice. The top 3 entries will have their artwork printed on canvas which will take pride of place in an exhibition of all entries to be held at the Learning Centre Gallery. Competition rules can be found on the poster..

So GET CREATIVE EVERYONE and remember ‘ART IS GOOD FOR YOU!’

Now to another creative venture. A huge well done to everyone involved in making the video ‘We Will Rock You!’ Here are some stills starting with an excellent Freddie Mercury from Daniel!

Sophie L ‘Rockin it’!

Kimchi definitely remembered all her moves..

Zachariah and Mr Thompson giving it some ‘wellie!’

Mrs Wilson rocking on drums..

Is that Mrs Pilgrim by any chance?

Unsure who this hairy rocker is….?

In case you haven’t seen the video yet, you are in for a treat..

Now here’s just a taste of what else some of our students have been up to. Firstly, here’s a DofE report from Mr Taylor..

We have offered and encouraged our students to complete their programme by undertaking work from home. Through email and remote learning we have posted a walkthrough of the exploring and self-posting of evidence onto their own DofE profiles. Those that can are posting some of their own evidence onto the sites whilst others are taking pictures to be posted by staff. Unfortunately, I cannot download the pictures once they are on the site but here are some that have been sent to me to download.

• Volunteering – in normal times at New Bridge, this may be buddying or supporting others, working on the environment etc. In the new lockdown situation, students are now helping around the house with cleaning, car washing, gardening, chores etc. Josh has been helping with his dad’s tax returns and his nan’s garden..

• Physical skills – students were building up stamina and strength through walking. They are now encouraged to take up such things as Mr Smith’s PE challenges, dog walking/daily walk if possible. Kyle and his mum have designed a daily programme for him and Josh has created a sort of gym in his backyard – he has a punch bag, cones for his dribbling practice and such..

• Skills – many students are using the food preparation skills they have learned and they are now helping at home. Well done Kyle, Sophie and Josh..

• Expedition – the expedition sections we will tackle when life resumes as “normal”.
• Showbie – we are also using Showbie to deliver aspects of the DofE Training Framework and the students are currently working through First Aid as it relates to the expeditions.

Moving on to E-Base1, Mrs Thornhill would like to share some more of the great work one of our students has been doing around the place!

Maths – “I can sort by colour”

“I can follow a pattern of 2 colours”

English – “I can find a given letter”

“I can write the letters of the alphabet”

Everyone is really impressed with how engaged she is with these activities and how much she enjoys accessing them – a big ‘well done’!

Now to one of our IB students, Thomas, who’s been keeping VERY busy whilst at home by the looks of things – Mrs Brierley reckons he’s being doing even more work than if he’d been at college and we think she’s right..

Well done you two, you definitely are ‘stars of the month’ for activities and work undertaken! (I’d like some of those cupcakes next time Thomas).

Watch out next week for another exciting competition for you ‘green fingered’ people. I’m missing you all loads! I can’t wait to see more pictures of what you’re up to whilst at home.

Remember to GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR VERY OWN EVERYDAY HERO DESIGN! This isn’t the only challenge we’re setting though….from Monday staff are going to be sharing the Showbie code for another exciting competition that will be open to all our young people across the Trust! If you would like a sneak preview, please click here to find out more…..

Take care everyone and stay safe,

Dawn

You can find Gavin’s blog for the school site here

For news on our Key Stage 5 pathway groups at Medtia Square please click here

You can find my previous blog posts here