Redwood School

Driving Inspiration Programme KS3 – Redwood & Oulder Hill

This week pupils in KS3 from Redwood and Oulder Hill Schools have been taking part in a joint project to learn about the Paralympic history and its values – Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality and how these can be applied to our everyday life. This has included a Visual Artist, Pippa North, Mark Briggs Sledge Hockey Paralympian, and David Dunn who is working with students to record sounds and compose a piece of music! Pupils have designed and created a large moveable swan and extra firebirds and composed a piece of music reflecting flight and sledge hockey. What an awesome experience.

Whole School Winter Olympics Day

We will be celebrating our own whole school Winter Olympics day on 14 February and final details are now being made. Our day includes an inspirational input by John Willis, who has certainly overcome his own barriers to achievement. John will be speaking to all the staff and students at the start of the day at the Gracie Fields Theatre.

Year 11 Parents Consultation Evening

Parent / Carers will have received information relating to the Year 11 Parents Evening session which is to be held on Tuesday 25 February.

‘RedAid’ – Parents / Carers information

Parents / Carers may be aware of a recent development within school in which we are working towards ‘RedAid’ becoming charitable status to support fundraising activities to provide additional resources for our youngsters. After the first initial meetings, a series of events are being planned which parents / carers can become fully involved throughout the year. More details will be circulated in the next few weeks.

Redwood – Sponsorship

Damien McNulty has secured a place in the London Marathon and has chosen to raise money for our Wheelchair Roundabout appeal. Please find more details in the attached letter.

KS3

Next week in Key Stage 3 we will be holding a Winter Olympic day in preparation for this Year 7 Red took a virtual trip to Denmark and made Danish pastries!

We have been lucky enough to get involved with Pippa North an artist, Dave Dunn, the man in charge of sounds and Mark Briggs who is Great Britain Paralympic sledge hockey captain. These people are part of the Driving Inspiration which is funded by the lottery to have involvement in the Olympics. Pupils have been working with these amazing people to create swans and sounds to be part of the ceremony torch lighting held on the 1st march at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire.

Many groups have taken part in the Driving Inspiration art work making swans using lots of different art materials and techniques. Pupils had the opportunity to try sitting in a modified sledge and manoeuvre their way around the hall. They also tried on the protective armour used in the sport and were timed to see how long it took them to put it on.

In the music sessions pupils create sounds for a musical soundscape representing the Paralympic sport of sledge hockey. The pupils then composed the sounds to represent swans which are to be used in conjunction with the art work being created as part of the project. Pupils worked with the visiting musician to sample and layer all the sounds to compose a soundscape to be played alongside the art work at the Paralympic Opening Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville. Pupil participation was excellent and the results stunning.

Faye, Rahim, Akasha and India went to the Cherwell Centre in Heywood. It is a centre for adults with learning difficulties and has a petting farm and café. Some of Redwoods ex-pupils work there and came to say hello! All the pupils enjoyed watching the snake being fed, touching the lizard. Geko, guinea pig, rabbit, tortoise and hedgehog.

KS5

In Mandy's Vocational Education group students have been looking at job roles within the theatre. The group watched a performance of Hansel and Gretel and looked at the different types of costumes worn on stage. Billie, Mujtabaa, Kenny, Dexter, Ryan and Ragnar also listened to the opera and this week Kenny and Billie acted out the role of prop manager and went around the department hunting for props for the basket. 

This week as part as their Sports option Ian, Ismah, Rizwan and Sandra started Horse Riding. The group were given the opportunity to learn some new and exciting skills. They went out for a “hack” (a walk around the roads or countryside) and then come back into the riding school to do some trot work. The students thoroughly enjoyed it!
In Lifeskills with Saj, the students made an authentic Pakistani Chicken and Spinach curry and Mango Lassi. The group shopped for the ingredients and then prepared the dish. Brandon S, Sheraz, Ian, Jobie, Raymond and Joshua worked really hard and put into good use their knife skills that they have been learning over the last few weeks and chopped up all the fresh ingredients. The dish was delicious and Saj was very proud of their team work and enthusiasm.

6th Form’s Internship group based at Rochdale Infirmary are continuing to work really hard on their programme. Follow the students as the work at their 2nd placement and share in their experiences!

Intern Name: Jade
2nd Rotation placement: Domestic Services based at Rochdale Infirmary
Job role: My duties consist of cleaning corridors, toilets, high dusting, cleaning windows, mopping floors (spot checking), washing and drying hospital laundry.
Intern Comment: “I really enjoy this new placement because it keeps me very busy. I get on really well with my colleagues and I have learnt how to use some industrial equipment. I can do many of my jobs on my own now.”
Colleague Comment: “Jade has been doing extremely well, her cleaning skills are excellent and she has been offered COSHH training.”

The Student of the week this week is Habib, he has been working really hard on his behaviour contract and has been keeping to his target.

Most Improved Student of the week is Farhaz, he has been more settled in 6th Form and has shown some improvement in his behaviour. He has been doing well staying in his lessons and carrying out his written tasks.

KS4
Mrs Wards creative group have continued with their owl theme this week. They have made Some beautiful valentines cards. I wonder who they are going to send them too?

This week Cook and Eat made their ‘world’ famous cheese and onion pie. They had over 25 orders. It was very hard work, but we reckon it was our best pie yet! It went down a storm!

This week the SSC Art group have been studying Teepees. They looked at different Native American designs and then had to make their own Teepee. They then did a Native American dance.

During Thursday Tech Morning students have been designing and making Plastic acrylic Stationery holders. They have each used a computer aided design tool linked to the laser machine which cut out our individual designs. They will be finishing them next week.

4B visited Touchstones in Rochdale as part of their accreditation.

The Bridging year have had a visit from Jill Eckersly from Prince’s Trust to discuss the Team Programme. Activities include: Abseiling, Canoeing, Climbing, team building, gardening, First Aid and many more. Most of the students are keen to complete the course in the summer holidays.