Beech House School

Beech House School

Leaf Project
Beech House School visited Touchstones for a Fair Trade Funtastic workshop. This involved them finding out how the cooperative movement that started in Rochdale gave rise in 2000 to pay farmers a better more fair price for their goods, and especially chocolate!

Wednesday saw them go to Broadfield Park for a Drum ring session and a walk around identifying the different trees that make up the park given by the Ranger. The pupils collected a lot of seeds and leaves from the ground to make individual bookmarks back at school. Although cold they had a very good time.

Thursday saw a Liquid landscapes workshop back at Touchstones. Here the pupils learnt all about the water cycle, especially around Rochdale.

The Challenge 2012
A group of our Year 11 students: Jackson Cowie, Matthew Goss, Lydia Nightingale, Jennifer Garrity Arifah Tahir, Ameer Ali, Heather Gee, Bushra Ahmad, Rabia Tahir and Shakeal Mahmood completed ‘The Challenge 2012’ over the school break for summer.

This programme, run by The Challenge Network, helps students to improve their teamwork, leadership and communication skills whilst making a significant positive difference to their local Rochdale community.

All of our pupils excelled throughout the programme and they recently graduated on 14 October 2012. Well done to all of you and of course the school wish you every success for the future.

ISA North of England Senior Swimming
Boys Under 16 Freestyle Relay - Silver Medallists
Jack Cryer, James Hart, Harry Hayden & Jamey Riley
Boys Under 16 Medley Relay - Silver Medallists
Jack Cryer, Sam Clutton, James Hart & Jamey Riley
Under 20 Boys Backstroke - Bronze Medal Jack Brook

ISA North of England Art
Key Stage 1 & 2 photography – “Meadows” - Year 1 - First
Key Stage 3 & 4 Drawing - Jeniffer Garrity – Third
KS3 & over – Sketch Book – Ameer Ali – Third
Key Stage 4 – 2D Individual - Joe Winfield – Third
Key Stage 1,2 & 3 - Design - Year 2 - Second

Poetry
Anusia now has the chance to be selected as one of the top 100 poets in the competition. Winners will then be invited to a poetry slam to perform their poem in front of a panel of experts and a live audience. Winners from two age groups will win top of the range laptops. Well done Anusia!

‘Making History’
It always starts the same.
Silence.
A blank canvas waiting for a touch of paint to bring it to life,
The amber spark dancing as it touches the fuse,
Nerves, bone, muscles and sinews pushed beyond limits.
Focus and determination etched into every face.
Fluttering flags and flashing lights. A ‘Home Advantage’.

It’s begun.
A tidal wave of sound punching the heavy air, washing over them, flooding into their heads and driving them forward.
One moment to make history or break trust.
Nearly there. One last effort.
Goosebumps shivering, tingling and trickling like water down every spine,
Hearts beating like drums and hairs standing on end,
Clasped hands, whispered prayers, clenched fists….

It’s over.
An eruption of sound. The sensation of flying.
The whole world turns gold, silver or bronze.
Hazy dreams collide with reality.
Celebrations, more tears, condolences and champions,
Pure disbelief and raw emotion.
Challenge the ‘impossible’, ‘Inspire a Generation’.
Everyone comes together in triumph.
That’s what makes The Olypmics.
That’s what makes history.

By Anusia Battersby. Aged 15.