pupils and staff in puffins class enjoying table top ... · pupils and staff in puffins class...
TRANSCRIPT
DATES for your
DIARY
End of Term :
Friday 20th December
Back to School :
Monday 6th January 2014
INSET DAYS
Monday 24th Feb 2014
Friday 4th April 2014
Half Term
17th Feb-21st Feb 14
End of Term for pupils
Thursday 3rd of April 2014
Back to School :
22nd April 2014
Please see the back of this
newsletter for Hampshire’s
Agreed Term Dates for
2013/14 with our
Inset Days marked in yellow
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Shows—16th & 17th Dec
Christmas Lunch—18th
Carol Service—19th
Santa to lower school—
20th December
Pupils and Staff in Puffins Class enjoying Table Top Tennis on a lovely new
gift donated to the school by Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Cricket
Whilst at a table top
cricket tournament last
academic year staff were
approached by members
of the Portsmouth and
South East Hampshire
Cricket Supporters
Association who said they
wanted to help school buy
the necessary equipment
to enable us to play table
top cricket at school and
practice for our
tournaments. True to their
promise, teacher Jane Royer was invited to the associations’ annual meeting attended by James
Tomlinson, a 1st team Hampshire cricket player, and was awarded a cheque to buy this fab
equipment. Jane said it was a lovely day. We are very grateful to the Association for giving us this
money and allowing us to provide another sporting activity that our young people can access and
enjoy.
Kingfishers
We have enjoyed learning and experiencing many different things in Kingfishers Class again
this term. Here are some of our favourites…
In Science , we have been learning about Electricity and Magnetism. We particularly
enjoyed learning about how to make circuit and experimenting with the magnets.
(Benjamin photo & Alan photo please!)
In History, we learnt about World War One machines and then went on a KS3 trip to
Fort Nelson. We all enjoyed looking at the war machines and watching the gun being
fired. (William photo please!)
Our RE Day this term was about the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah. We learnt
about why some people celebrate this special day and what other people do to cele-
brate their own special days. We really enjoyed making our own firework pic-
tures to show what happens during New Years Eve
celebrations (Ben photo please!)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
— from everyone in Kingfishers Class.
Jess Williams – Class Teacher
Kingfishers
We have enjoyed learning and experiencing many different things in
Kingfishers Class again this term. Here are some of our favourites…
In Science, we have been learning about Electricity and Magnetism. We
particularly enjoyed learning about how to make circuits and experimenting
with the magnets.
In History, we learnt about World War One machines and then went on a KS3
trip to Fort Nelson. We all enjoyed looking at the war machines and watching
the gun being fired.
Our RE Day this term was about the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah.
We learnt about why some people celebrate this special day and what other
people do to celebrate their own special days.
We really enjoyed making our own firework pictures to show what happens during
New Years Eve celebrations.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from everyone in Kingfishers Class
PUFFINS
This term Puffins topic has been light and dark. We have been exploring day time
and night time, going into space, bonfire night and under the sea. All of these
have allowed us to look at the differences between light and dark, why we need
lights, that we the need the dark to see lights and fireworks.
Our assembly this term was on fireworks and we experimented with
musical instruments to make firework noises and used bubble wrap
which we all enjoyed.
Ryan exploring a
glow stick in the
dark
Abi playing a light up tamborine
Izabelle making firework sounds on the
bubble wrap
LADYBIRDS
Lisa Moss - Class teacher
What a fantastic start to the year Ladybirds have had!
We have been learning all about Machines and how they work.
We have particularly enjoyed
our weekly Food Tech
sessions. Each week we have
used a different electrical
appliance. We have used an
electric whisk to make our own
butterscotch whip, chocolate
ice cream and even cupcakes!
Ladybirds would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
It got very smelly when we used
an electric blender to make our
own tomato and onion pasta sauce
and vegetable soup.
Then to warm us up on these cold days
we used a toaster to have toast and
butter. Yummy!
Kestrels’ Class
Post 16 have been accessing the local community to help facilitate their learning. On a
Friday morning, students have visited the Blue Moon café which is run by Havant Day
Services giving them the opportunity to use their money skills in a functional situation and
socialise with other service users. On a Wednesday afternoon students have been going to
the Acorn Centre where they socialise with members of the local community and take part
in different activities. We were lucky enough during one of our visits to meet the Mayor of
Havant. This term students have been accessing Waterlooville town centre as part of their
social sight curriculum, they have been learning to recognise different shops and what
products can be purchased in them.
Louise Park—Class Teacher
USUAL REMINDERS PLEASE :
Let us know when and why your child is absent from school
Tell us when you change telephone numbers and contact numbers
Clearly label all medication when sending it into school
Label all cases and overnight bags - saying if it contains medication
If you think you may be entitled to free school meals please check via
http://www3.hants.gov.ukhc3s/freeschoolmeals.htm or call and speak to Judith Wilkins at the school.
MAVE ASH—CLASS TEACHER
Hawks Class
In Hawks class this term we have been travelling about in
the community a lot! We are getting used to meeting
different people, recognising social sight signs and
enjoying the facilities of the Acorn Centre, Blue Moon
Café, Bedhampton Community Centre and Waterlooville
swimming pool. The pupils who attended the swimming
pool gained a huge amount of confidence in the water
over the 7 weeks they attended.
We were lucky enough to meet the Mayor and
Mayoress at the Acorn Centre one day.
We also visited the Portsmouth City Museum as part of our exploring other countries topic about
Egypt. We were very lucky that the museum has an Egyptian display on at the moment and we were
able to see real Egyptian artefacts as well as a real 2600 year old mummy. We laid down next to him
and he would have been as tall as Simon and Adam! But his toenails were definitely longer! (they
were poking out of the bandages!)
The girls who have been attending the keep fit
group on a Friday at the community centre have
really enjoyed the music and dancing. We will
be continuing this activity next term too.
ALISON BROOKER
Chair of Governors
RACHEL MADOCKS SCHOOL GOVERNORS
Parent Governor—Bob Howard
Parent Governor—Sonia Rigby
Parent Governor—Julie French
The governing body is made up of 12 volunteers. Currently
we have one local community, two staff, two local authority
and four parent governors, with vacancies for one community
and one staff governor.
Your parent governors are Louise Smith, Sonia Rigby, Julie
French and Bob Howard.
We welcome both positive and negative feedback from parents and
so should you wish to bring anything to our attention please contact
one of our parent governors who will be happy to raise this at our
next full governing body meeting.
We are working on the Governors page on the school website to enable
you to identify and contact us more easily. There will also be links on
this page to most recent minutes from our meetings and relevant policies
for you to read.
We work alongside the Leadership and Management Team to ensure
the best possible outcomes for our students and the long term
planning of the school.
WORK EXPERIENCE
This term I have had two apprentices helping me on work experience. Simon Rickwood and
Jerry Austin from Hawks are both now fed up with autumn leaves but still in love with the
Black & Decker drill ! I’m sure they enjoy their hour learning with me as much as I do with them.
Should we have any snow fall, they will both be learning how to use a shovel next term !
Well done Simon and Jerry—Mike Foster, Site Manager
Adam has been a ‘godsend’ helping in the office since Judith broke her foot !
John Hughes
Class Teacher
Shelducks are loving PSD and Science.
In PSD we have been exploring different feelings. We
have learnt about being happy, sad, tired, scared and
angry. One of the best lessons this term was one
where John tried to scare us with a Halloween
costume. Although he did make us jump with fright,
once we had realised it was him we all found it
hilarious because he was actually wearing a LADIES
black dress and a LADIES wig. Unfortunately he
wouldn’t let us include a photo in this newsletter.
Sorry!
Our other favourite subject this term was Science. We
have learnt lots of amazing things about magnetism
and electricity and although investigating magnets was
great fun, learning about electricity has been the best.
We have all learnt that batteries provide power and are
needed in a simple circuit to make a bulb light up.
All of us have experienced
making circuits and some of us
got so good that we were able to
make more complex circuits with
switches, buzzers and motors.
Thomas Edison would be very
proud of us, knowing we are
putting light bulbs and electricity
to good use in our quest to learn.
Woodpeckers Class
We have been very busy in Key Stage 4 visiting different countries around the world. We
have been to France, Africa, Japan, Brazil and the Caribbean. We have looked at what
different cultures eat and have tried some of these foods ourselves from France, Japan
and the Caribbean. We have also looked at the different types of dances and music that
Brazil and Africa have, and the different cultures.
This is Shannon, Frankie, Josh and Ben
experiencing what it would be like to
wear Japanese clothes. They are all
dressed up in Kimonos. They had to say
whether they liked wearing the Kimonos
or not.
This term in history Key Stage 4 have been looking at the past and present.
This is woodpeckers dressing
up in the 1960‘s. They had lots
of fun. They had to identify
whether the items of clothing
were from the past or from
the present.
Jo Monk—Class Teacher
Roadrunner Class
This term Roadrunner Class have really
enjoyed working with pupils from
Skylarks class during Enrichment time
on a Friday afternoon. They have helped
us to make props for our class assembly
and helped with some art projects. We
enjoyed learning all about the different
smells Skylark‘s class use to help them
recognise different colours.
Before the weather got too cold
we learnt about safety when
crossing the road and practiced
our skills on the roads around
school. We also looked at safe
places to cross the road and played
interactive games to test our
knowledge.
In Science we have been learning about organs in the body. We learnt about how the heart pumps blood
around the body and showed this by squeezing water out of bottles. Some squeezed fast to show a fast heart
beat and some squeezed the bottle slowly. Some of us also got a bit wet!
SAM GURNEY
Class Teacher
Dear Families and Friends,
Our newsletter illustrates clearly how busy
everyone has been learning lots of new and
exciting things this term. Students clearly
enjoy their time learning at Rachel
Madocks—just look at the smiles that are
visible in every photograph!
Everyone is getting very excited about
Christmas and the sense of anticipation for
our annual performance extravaganza is
mounting. We hope as many of you as
possible will be able to join us to enjoy the
show and share in our festive fun.
2013 has been a year of change as our
school transformed from ‗old and blue‘ to
‗smart and new‘. 2014 looks like being very
positive for us all as we enjoy new facilities
and extra, bright spaces. We look forward
to showing you the results of our makeover
early in 2014.
We hope 2014 will be happy and successful for everyone.
Merry Christmas on behalf of everyone at Rachel Madocks.
Jackie
Parents and visitors alike tell us positive things about our pupils and school every day.
Please let OFSTED and the public know your feelings about Rachel Madocks via
http://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk
Patents, Carers and other family members are able to complete the questionnaire as individuals.
It is very easy to register and answer the questionnaire
and is helpful to us in the running of the school.
SKYLARKS
In Skylarks class we have been working on our Asdan accreditation unit,
‗Sensory food‘ preparation.
Students have been looking at sweet and sour foods this term and choosing
from different symbols to express their likes and dislikes.
Young people had the opportunity to come and have fun on-site with various activities happening each day and spent
time with their
friends.
KIDS had a fabulous summer …………………………………...
We also enjoyed trips to places such as QE2 Centre to have a go at canoeing,
archery and the ropes course, Intech Science Centre, the cinema and a big highlight was going to Chessington World of Adventures where we tested our
nerves on the rides and watched the Madagascar live show (we even got to meet some of the characters!)
If you would like any more information about KIDS services
please contact Vicki Gates on: 07827 989317 or email: [email protected]
Horizon Leisure Centres in Waterlooville and
Havant are hoping to launch additional needs
swimming sessions when their new disabled
access facilities are completed at their Havant
pool. If you are interested in these and other
leisure opportunities in the community please
contact Rishi Ghosh, the Havant District
Bridging worker for Leisure Activities on
07881 340 132 or via email at
We warmly welcomed new staff this term
Learning Support Assistant: Katherine Whitney
Joining us next term :
Learning Support Assistants: Amy Ennever
Supply Teachers, Claire Adamson and Maureen Fuller will be returning to work with
us for a term.
We appointed a new teacher this month. Kerry Cole is currently
working at a school in Wales but she is relocating to Hampshire
and is thrilled to have been successful at interview yesterday.
Kerry is a very experienced SEN teacher and excited to be joining
our staff team after February half term.
We are very sad to announce that pupil
Lucy Ashworth McMillan passed away Monday 11th of November.
We all miss Lucy and are thinking of her mum Louise
and their family and friends.
STAFF—We say Goodbye and Good Luck to :
Teacher, Jess Williams who leaves this term
and
Teacher, Louise Park who is leaving us to join the staff team at St Francis School in Fareham
And we wish a very happy and well earned retirement to
Learning Support Assistant Judy Smy
This term in Herons we have been working very
hard and learning lots of new things in a range of subjects. We would
particularly like to share with you the work we have been doing in our Science
lessons. We have been learning all about electricity and how to a make a light,
buzzer or motor work by building a simple circuit. We really enjoy using the
electricity kits and can now also add switches into our circuits.
Herons Class
ALISON FRANCIS—Class Teacher
EAGLE APPEAL FUND
Registered Charity 1099667
Our main fundraising focus at present is to support After School Learning
Clubs. With parental contribution we have raised enough to run a few clubs again
next term but we want these to continue and need help to fund them. If anyone
has any contacts, family members or friends who are keen to help us achieve
this aim, please get in touch with me at the school or via email at
Coleen Smith
Eagle Appeal Coordinator
Pupil Kelsey Passingham-Crespin and her dad Andy Sellence took part in the
Great South run and raised £500.00 in sponsorship to purchase an IPAD and
specialised software for Ladybirds class. Andy said ―Kelsey thoroughly enjoyed
doing this, it was a pleasure to raise these funds for such a great cause. The
Portsmouth News were on the start line and took photos that featured in the
paper.‖ Andy is very proud of Kelsey‘s achievement on behalf of her school.
Rightly so !! Well done Kelsey and of course Dad from all of us at Rachel
Madocks.