Jan 26, 2024
On Monday 22nd January Oak class went on a theatre trip to Dorchester!! Dorchester Arts had organised ‘Frozen Light’ specialist PMLD theatre company to visit the Corn Exchange with their ‘Bar at the Edge of Time’ show. We were able to have the whole session to ourselves. The show was based around a cocktail bar with the performers being the bar tenders then the musicians at a gig. Throughout the session the cast were really looking to see how our students reacted, encouraging them to touch, smell and taste items they had to show; their mocktails were delicious and the smoke machine bubbles were fun to watch…….and pop! Once the music started the students were encouraged up dance, the ping pong balls on the drums was quite spectacular – we were even allowed to bring some home! All in all a lovely afternoon, we’ll definitley be keeping an eye out for more Frozen light performances
Jan 24, 2024
On Wednesday 17th January 2024, Rowan class went to Hampton Court Palace to learn about Tudor Britain. We found out so much about Henry VIII and his 6 wives!
We had an amazing time exploring the palace, dressing up in Tudor costumes, feeling replicas from the time; including fur and feathers! We then went on to explore the kitchens. Here we crushed herbs, learnt about medicines and foods, as well what jobs people did in the palace.
We then had a wonderful time in the maze- luckily, we all made it out…eventually.
Of course we visited the gift shop. Many thanks to the Friends of Mountjoy, who kindly donated £5 per student, for them to take home a memento of the day.
We were very lucky to have a beautiful coach take us and bring us back. All the students were exemplary offsite and we are very much looking forward to more trips like this!
A special thanks to the Access Fund for covering all costs of travel and ticket entrance to support learning outside of the classroom.
Jan 24, 2024
Ash class had a great day yesterday at Employ My Ability despite the rainy weather. We had a quick tour of the animals, horticulture areas and saw some of the classrooms. We then went into the cafe where some of the students from EMA served us a drink which the venue covered. The students then went up individually to the counter to order something from the menu using their own money. After lunch we were able to have a walk around the gardens before going back to school.
Jan 24, 2024
Rainbow Harp for Mountjoy
We are very excited as we have a new addition to our musical instrument collection! A Rainbow Harp!
Polly Orr- Ewing, our music therapist, felt this would be a great addition for our students as it is very sensory and makes a beautiful relaxing sound without too much practice needed!
She kindly donated all proceeds from her Christmas Fundraising Concert and organized a “Just Giving Page” to raise the money and we excitedly received it last week. It is now being used in music therapy sessions and with students in class.
A huge thankyou from all of us at Mountjoy to Polly and her family and we look forward to integrating it into our music lessons over the coming years!
Carrie Shead-Jones ( Music lead)
Jan 19, 2024
For the past 18 months Oak and Ash class having been volunteering at the Asker Meadows Nature Reserve in Bridport. With funding from Bournemouth University and the support of Wen Fern and the volunteers we have collected litter, monitored water in the River Asker and planted trees. Alongside this artist Sarah-Jane Ross and poet Jonny Fluffypunk have gathered their ideas to create some amazing pieces of work. The project has allowed them to experience the meadows as a community space close to our school. The work produced has expressed their experiences through poetry and art and really captured the joy of being out in nature and caring for the environment. It’s better than being in the classroom according to one student.
On Monday 15th January we held an exhibition at Bridport Town Hall as a celebration of their hard work welcomed by the Mayor of Bridport. A group of students read poetry alongside Jonny Fluffypunk and everyone got to view their amazing art work and poems. Each student was presented with a book of the poems, a certificate naming them as official litter pickers by the Mayor of Bridport and their own litter pickers (pinchy num nums). If you would like to purchase one of the books of poems they are available from the school for £5 (any money raised will go back into the Nature Reserve project).
