OASTLERS NEWSLETTER Oastlers School, Flockton Road, Bradford, BD4 7RH, REMINDERS Tel: 01274 430 7456, E:[email protected] Safe, Secure, Successful GCSE Results Day MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD th Welcome to our ‘Covid’ Newsletter! forward to coming back – it’s been too Thursday 20 long! August 2020 What very difficult and challenging times we currently live in! I sincerely 9.30- 11.00am hope, above all, that you are all well, So, keep doing what you are doing for safe and virus free. now – plenty reading, completing tasks from the VLE, keeping in touch During the lockdown period, we have and most of all been running a ‘care hub’ and many keeping safe. children have been attending the hub, taking part in activities each day of which I am pretty sure have been enjoyable and supportive during this uncertain time. We have a routine - wash hands, sanitise, Lexia then get going with whatever activity is planned. We don’t forget the hand washing routine all day long and we Lyndsey Brown try our very best to ensure we are operating the social distancing rules, We wish all our Year 11 which are currently at 2m but that might change soon to 1m. There is and 12 leavers the best so much happening now in terms of updates and guidance. What is im- of luck for the future. portant to say, is that we will be re- turning to school, one way or the We will miss you and other, in September. I cannot say our doors are open for enough how much you have all been missed! I hope you are looking you always! WELL DONE MATTHEW Wow! We are amazed how well Matthew has done putting up fencing for someone in his neighbourhood. I know who I’ll be asking for help when September 2020 it comes to fencing! Leavers assembly will be on: Friday 2nd October from 9:30 - 11:00am NEWS FROM THE OASTLERS ‘CARE HUB’ WELL DONE CALLUM! England Cricket Stars past and present have been sending messages of encour- agement to Callum after watching him in remote training during the Covid-19 lock- down. Rory Burns and Sam Curran started 2020 on England’s victorious tour of South Africa. And now they have taken time out to watch some innovative online coaching sessions with a promising young talent from Yorkshire. Oastlers School has been using technology to give Year 10 student Callum the chance to continue practicing his batting and fielding skills. The school has stayed open throughout the lockdown acting as a local care hub for young people unable to be home-schooled. Twice a week Callum receives a one to one training session from a professional coach based in Surrey. England international Sam Curran has been a rising star since his test debut two years ago and has been impressed with what he has seen. “I’ve seen some amazing videos of your sessions which you have been doing during lockdown and it looks great.” The Surrey all rounder also invited Callum to visit him after restrictions are lifted in a personalised video. “I really look forward to meeting you in person at the Oval and to show you around the ground.” Robert Fairbairn, part of the Oastlers School leadership team, explained how the training sessions were set up. “A couple of years ago we were invited to take some learners down to The Oval as guests of Surrey County Cricket club. Around that time we had identified we had a fantastic young cricketer in our midst. Now during the lockdown period, Callum has been working with one of Surrey’s coaches, Michael Jacobs, and the outcomes have been stunning. These virtual reality, one-to-one sessions, have really helped Callum and it’s been absolutely special and amazing to watch him develop.” Former England Captain, Alec Stewart, is Director of Cricket at Surrey CCC also passed on his regards; “We would like to wish Callum all the very best from everyone in the Surrey dressing room, players and coaches.” Before lockdown, Michael Jacobs was coaching Under 9s for Sur- rey County Cricket Club. Now he is coaching Callum from his gar- den in the Surrey suburbs. “These one-to-one sessions work the same way they would face-to-face. Before we start, I have a quick chat with Callum, make sure the technology works. Then I get one of the teachers to feed some balls to Callum, whilst observing so- cial distancing. We are lucky, in that Mo from the school is a pretty handy club cricket bowler. I get Callum to work on a prescribed skill, if it goes really well, we move onto the next one. If he needs to work on something, I can give him some feedback, and then work on it again.” Surrey Captain and England opening batsman Rory Burns also sent Callum a personal video message, “It’s great to see you have been managing to practice and train during the lockdown. Particularly with the great man that is Michael Jacobs, he coached me as a youngster. So I’m glad that he is sharing his knowledge with you.” John Neal, Head of Coaching Development at the ECB dropped into a session on Microsoft Teams, to see how it works. “In this time, where we are not allowed to be in the same place and so close together to coach. It is fantastic to see coaches, players and schools, innovating and showing creativi- ty to demonstrate how coaching can still be delivered to motivate and inspire young players.” Head of Oastlers School, Lyndsey Brown is delighted with the results. It’s fantastic to see Callum working with an elite coach during lockdown, I’m so proud just to watch this learner really focussed and enjoying his cricket. On a serious note, this type of activity is about helping our children to heal as they deal with a really difficult situa- tion of coming into school during a lockdown where many of their classmates are not there and they have to social distance with staff.” Oastlers invited media trainer Paul Holloway to make a short film on Callum’s cricket sessions. Paul has worked on projects improving Oastlers’ students digital and em- ployability skills prior to lockdown with social enterprise, Digital Advantage. “The whole film was recorded and edited remotely. One thing that comes across, is the passion and enthusiasm the staff have for the students at Oastlers. I’m a big cricket fan and I was delighted this film has been watched by some cricket superstars who then took the time to send Callum such personal words of encouragement.” You can see the film of Callum in action on twitter @Oastler_School JADE - 5D PAINTING Jade has created some amazing pictures using a technique called 5D Painting. This is a similar technique to cross stich- ing where small diamonds are applied to a sticky canvas to create a work of art. Jade well done! We love every piece you have created. Raj Kaur ENGAGE IN THEIR FUTURE ACTS OF KINDNESS - THANK YOU NHS CUP NOTHERN REGION For the past few weeks a group of 2020 learners in the care hub have been baking buns and cakes for the staff at Airedale and Bradford hospitals. Lee Kayden (captain) scoring a - anne, sam, Lisa, Ellesha, Kenny, header in one of the games Stefan, Jayden, Hammad, Matthew helped the team go on to win and myself. Each week I have dropped them off with one of my the tournament. neighbours who works at Airedale or Immy at work has sent them into BRI Oastlers were unbeaten with his wife. throughout the tournament and managed to not concede a The learners have loved making the cakes and buns and giving some- goal in the process. thing back to the NHS staff. Its lovely Winning this prestigious tour- to see all the learners doing some- thing for others. Its been really heart- nament means that Oastlers warming to see and everyone loves will now play in the National taking part. Lucy Harper Finals at St Georges Park (The home of England training facility) Lyndsey said “Well done lads!” Sean Regan OASTLERS CAR WASH When the sun is shining the staff and learners are out cleaning cars. They have loved the group activity and the exercise that comes with cleaning cars. They have become quite good valets! LIFE WITH ISOLATION PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT BY OASTLERS They are good and bad things about being in isolation. Lyndsey identified a need within our The good things: DAP School partners that those ● There would be a less settings would require specialised chance of getting Covid19. PPE when they considered reopen- ● We do not have to go to school ing. She asked if that was some- ● And more time with family. thing do'able at Oastlers. My initial Bad things: thought was that we could make the ● We cannot go outside or go to see your friends. clear face screens easily on the ● There is less stuff in shops laser cutter, but that the head to buy because everyone is straps would be difficult as the ma- panicking. chine bed is only A3 size which is ● And there are less sports on TV. too small for them. Maybe we Protection: could share the job with a school To keep yourself more protect- with a larger laser cutter? After a ed you should wear a mask to cover your mouth to stop peo- bit of digging, I found an existing ple from coughing or sneezing strap design which was freely on you.