Newsletter Spring Term 2013

Bents Green Secondary School

It would seem that we have ended the Spring term as we started, with snow! Like many of you I can’t believe we are at the end of term already.

As we move forward with our developments in school we are focusing on our partnership to ex-

tend our provision. An exciting project is getting underway with Post-16. In order to accommo-

date more students, and offer greater choice of courses we are working with Autism Plus. They have opened a new site in the City Centre which we are going to access for some students. Over the summer term, as part of their programme, students in Post-16 will travel with us into the City and have lessons in the Brewery to give them more space and help with transitions as they leave at 19. The students will update you all in the next newsletter. Jan Wiggins, Headteacher

When Princess Anne came to we were asked to be part of the event at Autism Plus.

Isabel Ingham, one of our Post-16 student’s, was asked to present a posy of flowers at the end of the visit. As you can see she looked beautiful and really enjoyed the day! Celebrating Christmas 2012

The Christmas celebrations seem a long time ago now, but we all have happy memories of over 350 families and friends taking part in our celebration of Christmas in Parish Church at our ‗Carols by Candle night Concert‘ and we managed to raise almost £1000 in donations for W.O.R.K. Ltd. Families of different beliefs shared in the church service, Adam Khan from Y8 spoke about his Muslim faith. The immensely talented Zak Meyer and Max Day delighted everyone with stunning piano recitals. We admired great photographs taken by Post-16 students and GCSE photography student Isaac Walker. Jordan Love, Jordan Jarvis and Zak Mappin sang beautiful solos. Our guitar and percussion groups accompanied the whole congregation singing lively, modern carols. Everyone joined in singing the Spanish carol, Feliz Navidad, to re- member our friends in Bolivia. The Post -16 band entertained us by performing a selection of their favourite songs. We are very grateful to the families of Matthew Bradshaw, Rob- ert Gillespie and Dominic Cook for serving our refreshments. Delicious home-made mince pies were made by Sue and her staff in the school kitchen. Many thanks to the musicians who played at this event, and to the parents and staff who supported the concert. Back Row: Louis, Andrew, Chris, James, Robert, Louis, Luke Askham, Luke Flowers Front Row: Nick, Daniel, Brandan, Isabelle, (and Kyle Rawson on guitar - not pictured)

GARDENING NEWS

Plants and planters wanted! The Year 11 outdoor learning group has been working really hard to complete our bog garden. We are almost ready for planting. We need bog-loving plants, such as grasses and iris. If you have any spare plants please get in touch with Emily Whiteley and we can arrange transportation! We would also really appreciate some unusual containers i.e. wellies, boots, sinks, pans, crockery etc. to use for some spring colour plant- ing. On a very cold afternoon 25 pupils helped plant a hedge of 180 trees in the Land Based Learning garden. They all did really well learning not only about the importance of trees but how to work as a team. A big thanks to Sheffield City Council Parks and Countryside warden Jez Platts for facilitating the day and providing the plants for free! We were also able to extend our school fruit orchard to include greengages, plums and cherries alongside the apple trees. A huge thank you to everyone that sent in the Morrison‘s Let’s Grow vouchers. Altogether we collected over 3705, 400 more than last year! We have used the vouchers to Hedge planting February 11th 2013 obtain an irrigation system, weather station and some handy ―trugs‖!! Watch this space for more gardening news!! Bents Green School Award Scheme

The Student Council and staff have developed a Rewards Scheme where pupils are able to collect credits known as 'stars' each day from all members of staff. Stars can be gained by going that 'extra mile' in areas like; excellent work, positive contribution to the classroom, offering to assist pupils and staff in school. Although the scheme has only been running since late December the pupils have already collected over 7100 stars!

The pupils can look through the catalogue of rewards and are able to cash in their stars for a reward. The rewards range from special BG stationery for 50 stars up to excursions to the coast or theme parks. New ideas are coming all the time from pupils and staff alike, so we hope the scheme will continue to support our pupils‘ understanding of saving for something special as well as giving them a positive focus.

Boccia Festival February 2013

The Paralympic game, Boccia (pronounced bot-cha) involves players rolling, throwing or kicking a ball towards a jack. At the beginning of February seven of the Y8 students attended the Sheffield Boccia Festival at the English Institute of in Sheffield. They were split into two teams and they played a number of games against other schools from across the City. Our two teams performed extremely well as this was the first time we had ever tak- en part in this event. Team 1 involved Jack Challenger, Joshua Theaker, Joseph Odams and Joshua Walton. They finished in 3rd place and received certificates.

Team 2 involved Robert Gillespie, Matthew Robinson and Lucien Tansley. They finished as winners of the tournament and as well as winning the trophy they also received certificates personally signed by Jessica Ennis.

Well done to all seven boys who certainly did the school proud!

Year 8 Independent Travel Skills & News

This term we have been developing our independence skills travelling on public transport. We have been learning how to find our way around Meadowhall, used bus timetables and looked at key buildings and City Centre. Denver Bell from Post –16 has been supporting us as part of his work experience. Our Sheffield Wednesday supporters were particularly pleased to visit Tom French‘s café next to the football ground where we met some of the players. The Riverside Café serves delicious food and is an experience not to be missed. Carl, Aaron and Dominic are enjoying going to Silverdale School for some of their PE lessons. Kris Pickstone has recently joined us and is turning out to be a very good chef, he even likes washing up!

POST-16 NEWS

At the end of April, 8 students from Post -16 will be taking part in a 2 night/ 3 day residential trip to the Outdoors Cen- tre near Bakewell in . For the first time, the trip is being run jointly with Ashgate Croft School and has been organised by Richard Windle, who after leaving Bents Green last year took up a teaching role there. We believe this will be an excellent opportunity for all involved, particularly for the students who will be able to spend time with other young people facing similar challenges as themselves.

The emphasis of the visit will again be to focus on the students‘ independence and daily living skills and the ability to work as a team. Activities will be planned for the 3 days and will be a mixture of educational workshops and leisure activities, but with the specific intentions of developing personal, social and problem solving skills, building confidence and of course, having fun!! Y10/Y11 Bronze Arts Award

The Y10/Y11 Bronze Arts Award pupils met the well - known actor Dominic West after his performance as Professor Higgins in ‗My Fair Lady‘ at The , January 9th 2013. The pupils asked him lots of questions about his work and what he enjoyed the most; starring in films: ‗Johnny English‘, BBC dramas: ‗The Hour‘, ‗The Wire‘, ‗The Story of Fred West‘, Theatre; ‗Othello‘ and other Shakespeare, or musicals etc. Dominic said he wanted to have more roles in musi- cals and loved performing in his home town of Sheffield. He was extremely generous with his time and spent half an hour chatting to us and taking lots of photo‘s with him in between his two performances that day. Pupils have written a letter to thank him for his time.

Music Department Instruments

receive a Face Lift!!

A British company called ‘Percussion Plus’ manufacture the instruments that the pupils use during their weekly music les- sons. We have recently had all these instruments refurbished and re-sprayed so that they all look and sound brand new. Thanks to Percussion Plus for doing this for us, especially as they did it for free and Judith Ennis enjoyed looking around the factory and seeing how these instruments are hand- made!!!! The photo shows pupils from Y9B enjoying the ‘new -look’ instruments.

School News

A Fashion Show has been booked for Wednesday 19 June at Bents Green School. Tickets are £5.00 – there ‘Rubicz’ Cube will be refreshments and a raffle, everyone welcome. Please arrive for 6.45pm—the show starts at 7.00pm. There Challenge should be some good bargains! Please send payment, to- gether with your name, child‘s name and contact number to school in an envelope marked ‗FOBG Fashion Show’ Thank you for your Support. For further details please ring Anne Gaydon

RAGS COLLECTION—after the Easter break

Please have a clear out over Easter and bring items into school anytime during the first week back after the holiday. Not the Prize!!!! SUMMER FAYRE – Saturday 6 July Stalls, refreshments, tombola , bouncy castle etc. Talk to Luke or Max (Year 8) 4 further information about 2013 FOBG Meetings at School this event and prize ! 12.00noon—3.00pm Friday 22nd March, Friday 20th April; Friday 18th May; Friday 15th June & Friday 6th July New members welcome