Round Oak School, Support Service & Sports College ROUNDOAK SCHOOL, SUPPORT SERVICE AND SPORTS COLLEGE IS TO BECOME A YOUTH SPORT TRUST GOLD PARTNER ROUNDOAK SCHOOL, SUPPORT SERVICE AND SPORTS COLLEGE in Warwick is to become a Youth Sport Trust GOLD Partner School for its commitment to PE and school sport. Youth Sport Trust Partner Schools can demonstrate how they are delivering high quality school sport and improving the PE experience for every young person. Importantly, they are also using sport to raise achievement levels across the school. As a partner ROUNDOAK SCHOOL, SUPPORT SERVICE AND SPORTS COLLEGE will receive additional training and development opportunities and can become involved in national education and sport initiatives. Jane Naylor said: “We are absolutely thrilled to become a Youth Sport Trust Partner School which recognises our commitment to delivering the best possible experiences for young people through PE and school sport. “There are a whole range of educational, health and wellbeing benefits from delivering high quality PE and school sport and we see on a regular basis that when sport is delivered well it can transform the lives of a whole range of pupils.” Annette Montague, Education Director at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “Youth Sport Trust Partner Schools share our belief that sport changes lives and understand how it can be used across the curriculum to improve attainment. PE and school sport can be a catalyst for young people to live healthy, active lives and we are delighted to be working with schools across the country to support them develop this provision. “We have increasing number of schools applying for our partner school status which is a testament to the ongoing commitment that schools have in making a difference for young people and creating a world class system for PE and sport.” This term choices for KS4 and KS5 Sport were: KS4: Golf ,Windsurfing, Activities at Ryton Pools Rounders/Cricket, Athletics Canoeing, Country Walks KS5: Canoeing, Country Walks Golf, Fencing, Athletics Windsurfing, Badminton Onsite mixed sports All of our pupils have improved tremendously with Sandra and Jill’s teaching, both in skill levels and in water confidence. They all enjoy the sessions enormously and are very enthusiastic about them. Sandra and Jill were both immediately very sensitive to each pupil’s individual struggles. They are both very skilled at encouraging timid swimmers to go just one stage further, and encouraging reluctant swimmers to use their time more constructively. Pupils are always richly praised for their efforts and come back to school very proud of their achievements. As a result of these few weeks the entire group are now swimming without armbands, and most are happy to swim on both front and back. Three are now confident enough to swim a couple of widths with no buoyancy aids at all, and one of them has even advanced enough to begin swimming with breaststroke arms. Another pupil, who was quite intimidated by the water (would only leave the side with armbands and 2 woggles and adult support) is now kicking his way furiously across the pool, holding only a small float out in front of him! His smile as he comes out each week is enormous! We are so grateful for these extra swim sessions with such expert professionals. They have been quite life changing for most of our group. George Isaac Assistant Swim Instructor This year three pupils from Round Oak have been working as Young Ambassadors for the Central Warwickshire School Sport Partnership. Natalie Bemrose, Nathan Jones and Bethany Quinton were awarded their role of Sports Ambassador after contributing so much to school sport here at Round Oak. They have been meeting with Ali Knight, School Games Organiser for the Partnership, at Campion School every half term. Young Sports Ambassadors from Kenilworth and Aylesford Schools are also part of the group. As the meeting on Thursday was the last one for the year, I’d like to thank Natalie, Beth and Nathan all their hard work and excellent ideas. They have been fantastic Ambassadors for the School and I am very proud of all they have achieved. Natalie and Beth will be leaving Round Oak this term but they will be continuing their role as Sports Ambassador while at College. Well done to you all. On Wednesday, Carrie, Jeffer , Edward, Jack Washbrooke and Natalie Bemrose along with Kath, Nick and Marion went to visit the Olympic Park in London. We had tickets to visit the Athletics Stadium, where we watched the finals of the Sainsbury's Schools Championships. Although the weather was dull and with an early start, everyone had a fabulous time. We felt very privileged to be there and experience the ambience and excitement of the forthcoming Olympics. On 18th April Round Oak School became home to one of the Coubertain Oak trees, a ribbon of 40 trees from Much Wenlock in Shropshire, through Stoke Mandeville to the Olympic Park in London. On the day of planting we were joined by many VIPS including the Mayor of Warwick and Nigel Murray as well as the local press. Thankfully the weather held out and the whole school were able to take part in the ceremony and become part of this event in this historic event. In 1890 Baron Pierre de Coubertain, considered the father of the modern Olympic games visited Much Wenlock to attend a special Wenlock Olympian Games held in hid honour. During Coubertain’s visit an oak tree was planted in his honour on the Linden Field where the games were held. It is from the acorns of this tree that the trees forming this ribbon are grown It was a proud moment for Round Oak to become involved in the London 2012 Olympic games and our tree can live for 300 years so we hope will become a permanent reminder of the Olympic legacy. Representatives from Round Oak School were invited to witness the final Cobertain Oak Tree be planted at the Olympic Village in London. On Monday May 28th, Sue Backhouse took Joshua Buswell and Beth Quinton to London to be part of the event. It was an early start for everyone catching the train down to London, then negotiating the tube to get to the Olympic village but Beth and Josh had a great time and behaved impeccably throughout the day The day involved ceremonial planting and speeches as well as photo opportunities from the press and a tour of the village. It was a fantastic opportunity to be part of the build up to the Olympic games and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. On Wednesday 25th April, Adam Thacker, Adam Cave and Beth Quinton went to Campion School to take part in a golf leadership course. It was an informative afternoon for them, helping them to develop further sports leadership skills in a new sport. As always they conducted themselves with maturity and enthusiastically took on this new challenge. They were a credit to themselves and Round Oak and impressed everyone involved in the course. On Tuesday after school, two of our aspiring Sports Leaders, Taurai Horton and Nikita Shanks, travelled to Campion School to attend an Indoor Rowing Competition Assistants Course. We were joined by 5 students from Campion. The course covered the safety elements that should be considered when running an event, the technique that should be used and lastly the way to use ICT to create races. All the leaders will have the opportunity to help run a primary event later in the year. Well done to Nikita and Taurai for taking part in this course. On Thursday 31st May, Ridgeway School held an Paralympic Day and asked if our sports leaders would come and help organise the event. Natalie Bemrose, Alex Chamberlain, Danny Day, Adam Thacker, Jonny Shaw and Jack Washbrooke went along to help. They helped the staff to run Indoor Rowing, Boccia, Javelin, Hurdles, Jumping, Kurling Target Throws and racing and were an invaluable support to Ridgeway. Ridgeway staff were impressed by their leadership skills and their willingness to help. Well done to all of you! On 26th April three KS3 and 4 Indoor Rowing Teams from Round Oak travelled over to Kineton High School to compete in the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Special Schools Indoor Rowing Competition. In total there were seventeen teams taking part and very quickly a very competitive and electric atmosphere developed! The teams worked together as a relay team to cover distances in the quickest time possible. This involved very slick changeovers from one rower to another ensuring everyone played their part and supported each other fully. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to be part of this event! Our pupils gave their all and their teamwork was amazing. Once all the races were over the results were announced and we were over the moon to come 9th, 5th and 1st out of the seventeen teams! We were so pleased to win the shield again this year and are really proud of all our rowers! Well done to Taurai Horton, Reg Celms, Shaun Kainth, Nikita Shanks, Chelsie McDonald, Phillip Lockwood-Jones, Harry Jay, Courtney Garnett, Ruth Edmond, Ryan, Alex Crowley-Palmer, Timieka Simmons and Jessica for their fantastic efforts on the machines and to Bethany Quinton who couldn’t take part through injury for her coaching and motivational skills! On Wednesday 25th April a group of students attended the Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium in Leicester to take part in the DSE Midland Disability Athletics Championship. Tomas Bevan, Ciaran Bevan, Jamie Bloss, Katie Morgan, Ty Stringer, Jamie Smith, Jessica Smith, Carrie Mansell, Kirsty , Jayden Lucas, Jessie Lewis, Sam Barnett, Sam James, James Archer and Melanie Mul- roney represented Round Oak with great sporting attitudes.