Rowan Class – Sensory Trust & Holi Celebrations

Rowan Class – Sensory Trust & Holi Celebrations

Rowan class have had a great few days. We have had the Sensory Trust: we planted small plants and seeds. We have also had a great time tie-dying this week as part of our Holi celebrations. We used up the dye to create items for Mountjoy Market Place next week. We are always thinking of ways we can reduce, reuse and recycle.

 

Magdelen Residential

Magdelen Residential

Rowan, Juniper and Oak had an amazing 2 night residential to Magdalen Farm. We enjoyed orienteering, feeding pigs, goats, chickens and cows. We also made smoothies on the blender bikes, built dens in the woods, made pizzas in the outdoor wood oven, collected eggs, sang songs around the camp fire, star gazed and of course ate lots of lovely food. We were really looked after by all the Magdalen staff especially our guide: Tilda. Your young people were exemplary and did us all proud. 

Rowan Class at Kingcombe Wildlife Centre

Rowan Class at Kingcombe Wildlife Centre

Rowan have been visiting Kingcombe Wildlife Centre every Tuesday this term.  We’ve had a great time working towards our Silver Outdoor Learning Award.  Some of the activities have included; river dipping, a 1 mile walk, bird watching, identifying of plants, trees, and wild animals.  The students have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and have blossomed learning outdoors.

H said “Going to Kingcombe made me feel calm and relaxed”, E said “My favourite activity was river dipping even if the water was cold!”. G said “I enjoyed getting stuck in the mud and my friends helping me escape!”

We finished off our outdoor activities this week staying in school having a fire on the backfield cooking “Smores” and drinking hot chocolate.

 

Visit from SSCO Pepper and SSCO Hann

Visit from SSCO Pepper and SSCO Hann

Today, we had a great visit from SSCO Albert Pepper and SSCO Stuart Hann to talk to our older students regarding online safety.  They spoke to the students about how to stay safe and how to speak to each other whilst online but also who to talk to if they are at school or at home and are worried about anything they see or hear.  All the students were great and answered questions and scenarios with enthusiasm.

Chestnut & Rowan went Kayaking

Chestnut & Rowan went Kayaking

On Friday Chestnut & Rowan visited Sandsfoot beach in Weymouth for a kayaking session run by Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre . Most of the students had either never kayaked or only done it once before. After helmets and life jackets were on the first group set to sea with the WOEC staff all learning how to hold the paddle and navigate their way around the small cove before swapping to the next group, confidence grew within each student and everyone enjoyed the morning.  A picnic followed in the gardens above the bay.

Rowan Class – Hampton Court Visit Jan 2024

Rowan Class – Hampton Court Visit Jan 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.