Redwood School

Redwood School

Welcome to 2016.

Firstly a belated happy new year and I hope that you and your family enjoyed the break. We welcome new year on the back of a very positive autumn term with significant improvements made within the school. We now move forward to continue to provide the best opportunities we can for our youngsters, both educationally, socially and by offering various programmes to ensure our youngsters achieve their personal best.

Curriculum model – Preparing for Adulthood
Information wiill be sending out to parents and carers an overview of our curriculum model, from Year 7 to Post 16 which is entitled ` Preparing For Adulthood `. It will explain the various stages in the career of your son / daughter as they progress through school and the opportunities they have within the following areas: school life (academic), working life (vocational) and preparing life skills (experiential).

Young Leaders Project
Our Young Leaders group invited me to their session to seek approval on a community project they are planning for the spring term. The presentation was excellent and I know that they will be working on this community based project in the coming weeks. Well done to everybody involved and I look forward to its success.

Year 7 Reviews
The Year 7 review meetings commenced this week with an emphasis on the successful transition from Y6 and how the school is meeting the needs of each youngster. The input from parents / carers in these meetings is crucial to ensure that both school and home are working closely to ensure each youngster is making progress towards their individual targets.

Year 6 Transition programme
Current Year 6 students in Springside, Newlands and other schools will now have had a place confirmed at Redwood for September 2016, and as part of the transition process will now receive the newsletter to keep updated on school developments. So welcome to these students and their families and I look forward to meeting you again in the near future.

House Assemblies
An exciting whole school development in the autumn term was the introduction of a house system with all students and staff being allocated to one of four houses, Ash, Oak, Elm and Birch. This term we will be starting house assemblies and organizing inter house activities.

KS4

During the last week of term KS 4 students spent a day doing creative activities based on our Redwood Values and the British Values. These values are what our new whole school house point system is based upon.
 
The British Values are: Democracy – have your say express yourself. Individual liberty– Be yourself. Rule of Law– We are all equal and need to follow the rules. Mutual Respect– Respect yourself and other people.

The British Values: Work hard– Always try your best, even if you find it hard. Be helpful– Helpfulness makes everybody's day a bit brighter. Good manners– Be polite, always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. Be truthful - When we tell the truth our relationships grow stronger and richer. Be inspiring– Help others to become motivated.
 
KS5

Before the holidays, students were working hard making items to sell at the 6th form enterprise fair. In addition to the ever popular hot drink and a cake, we also made 3 different types of soup, baubles, Christmas cakes and decorations. It was, as ever, great to see friends and family, and we raised a terrific £433.44 which included £122.70 raised by REEC which will go towards trips and residentials.
  
We had a fabulous time finishing off the school year at the Christmas Disco, where many of the staff and students were wearing their Christmas jumpers.
 
KS3

Year 8/9 Green are doing Design Technology this term and will be looking at making racing cars, bridges and origami paper craft. Year 7 students will be learning basic cooking skills and Lilac with Mrs Gowers are looking at a sensory story called Oliver's Vegetables.
 
Mrs Walsh’s Year 8/9 English class will be looking at the book Bad Lads by David Almond this term and will be monitoring their own read progress. This a powerful and emotive tale about standing up to bullies and by the looks on students faces fun as well.
 
Ms Butterworths Year 7 Purple Computing class are looking at computer accessories this term. Students have been personalising their folders and looking at what paraphernalia is used in making the computer work.
 
In Science this term Year 7 students will be looking at properties and changes of materials and doing experiments classifying different materials.
 
Year 8/9 students will be looking at the different types of energy. This will involve experiments to see how energy can be transferred and changed from one form to another as well as looking at energy resources.
 
Mr Halls Year 7 Maths class will be looking at fractions. Students are looking at applying math theory to real life situations through the use of fun games.