Redwood School

Christmas Fayre success!

I would like to say a big `thanks` to all parents, carers and pupils who made the Fayre a success on Wednesday! Looking at the variety of stalls you could have been misled into thinking it was the Manchester Christmas markets! I know that everybody had a great festive time and also helped to raise funds for our various projects. A particular thanks to those who donated the prizes and Ms Brophy for co-ordinating with staff! So far we have raised £1200!

Post 16 Internships

You will be aware that our Post 16 Internship Programme, which commenced in September, is a huge success with students, staff, parents and the employers at Rochdale LA and hospital respectively. This week we found out that the government Minister for Skills is very interested in the programme and has asked the head of 6th Form, Michele White, to liaise with the department to review progress! Exciting developments!

Your views

All parents and carers will have received a brief survey today asking for your views on the information we send out to parents via home school books, IEPs, annual reviews and reports. Your views are vital as we look to review our current systems. Please take 30 seconds to complete the survey and return to school by Tuesday 10th December. Your support is much appreciated!

Key 103 Toy Appeal

We are also using school as a base to support the Key 103 Toy Appeal for `Kids at Xmas`. If you would like to donate a small present please send it into school clearly explaining it is for the Key 103 Appeal.

December dates

You will find an information sheet today with all the relevant Xmas related activities and their dates.

Rochdale Football Club

Rochdale FC will be in school next week for ‘penalty shoot out’ sessions which will take place in PE lessons on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday and Friday. Sponsorship forms will be sent home with students next week.

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 boys: Lewis I, Dwayne, Issac K, Ubaid and David L were all part of The Ability Counts Team (representing Rochdale). Hamza turned up too early and went home before the rest of us got to the Town Hall!! We lost 3 games but drew against Wigan; thanks to a great goal by Issac. Our star players were Lewis (KS3) and Sheraz (KS4). David also played well in goal. We are still developing as a team and are mainly very young- the league is under 16.

Claire from Newlands School came into Redwood for a Science moderation meeting with Mrs Sheerins and was impressed with the behaviour of our students while she was here. Well done everyone.

Year 7 Blue went to the All-in-One garden centre for Christmas decorations…expensive!

Thank You to all who attended and supported the Christmas fair; the pupils worked hard baking lots of nice cakes and made Christmas things!

Key Stage 5

6th Form’s Pre-Internship group based at Rochdale Town Hall are working really hard on their programme.

Follow the students and share in their experiences!

Name of Intern: Ismah Job role – Admin Assistant
1st Rotation Placement: Adult Services Department, based at No1 Riverside

Intern’s comments – “My duties consist of sorting the post and delivering to the relevant departments, booking rooms using the booking system, forward room bookings via e-mail, disposing of confidential waste, scanning and saving documents, and making tea/coffee. I’ve really enjoyed it”.

Colleague comments – “She has followed instructions well and completed tasks independently using her initiative on many occasions. She is very confident and mature”.

The college links catering group, on Monday, have been making fruit salad and ginger biscuits. Brandon C, Mark, Habib, Nathan, Fahad, Sandra, Paul, Ian, Ismah and Adil worked hard and put their knife techniques to good use and cut up their various exotic fruits safely and practised their rubbing in method to make the ginger biscuits.

Catering tutor, Julie said: “the group are fantastic and work really hard. They are good at following instructions and listen well.” The group enjoyed a taste of their food once it was made and were impressed with their own results.

On Monday, Catriona’s tutor group got into the Christmas spirit and helped decorate the Social Area. In the afternoon students sat back, relaxed and joined in with some Carol singing with John and Kath, our friends who call round every year to sing Christmas Carols. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, listening and joining in with the singing and eating mince and apple pies. A big thank you to our wonderful friends John and Kath for making it a lovely afternoon. We hope to see you again next year.

On Wednesday, Julie and students from Hannah’s tutor group helped run the café at the Christmas Fayre. Students helped serve our guests with tea/coffee and a slice of cake. The atmosphere was lovely and it was lovely to see so many of our friends and family.

Don’t forget on Wednesday 18 December, 10am till 2pm, 6th Form are holding an Enterprise Coffee Day and Sale. Students will be busy over the next week making products to sell. Come along and pick yourself a bargain or two or just pop in to say hello and enjoy a brew and cake. We look forward to seeing you all. Please bring along family and friends as everyone welcome.

Friday 13 December, 6th Form are having a Christmas Jumper Day. Staff and students are encouraged to wear a Christmas Jumper and make a donation. All monies raised will go towards Save the Children.