St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletterst-josephscranleigh.surrey.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/...St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletter Web: Volume 6 Friday

St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletter

Volume 6

Friday

23 July 2014

Letter from the Principal

Dear Families and Friends

Well we have reached the end of an Outstanding year for learners and staff alike. This

afternoon, colleagues will be having their own presentation of

peer awards for the members of staff who have gone the extra

mile. We will also be saying goodbye to a few colleagues -

fortunately no teachers or school leaders this year.

Yesterday, at KS 4/5 Presentation Evening, we said goodbye

for the final time to a number of our young people moving to

pastures new. You will see inside that this really was the last

in a number of events, including Leavers Mass, Surrey

Presentations and the Proms night. I always feel incredibly

proud of all that the leavers have achieved. It was often

difficult for families and staff to keep tears at bay as they came

up to receive their Records of Achievement.

Most of our learners will of course return in September for

another exciting year of learning at St. Joseph’s. I know the Key Stage leaders, with the Leader

of Learning and Achievement, have worked particularly hard this term to ensure that our

curriculum meets the very different needs of all learners at the school and college. They will be

letting you know any significant changes as soon as they can.

I am pleased to tell you, that in the Autumn Term we will

be opening a second Supported Living Unit in Beare

Green, for 7 young adults with complex needs. Alan Day,

Leader of Residential Services has worked tirelessly to

make this happen.

Next year’s (2014/15) Whole School Target is to for all of

us at St. Joseph’s to work with families to promote further parental engagement in their child’s

learning. Do let us know what we could do to make this easier/more possible for you. A

questionnaire to gather your voice will be going out to all families in September.

It only remains for me to wish you all a very happy

Summer Holiday. Let’s hope the good weather we have

had over the past few weeks continues.

We look forward to welcoming

those returning to school on

Wednesday 3rd September between 10.15am and 10.30am.

Thank you for your support over the past year.

With our prayers and love,

Amlets Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 7DH

Tel: 01483 272449 Fax: 01483 276003

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.st-josephscranleigh.surrey.sch.uk

St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletter Page 2

Today we say good bye and good luck to the fol-

lowing staff. We thank them for all their hard work

and wish them well for the future.

Jake Willard

TA

Frances Pratt

STA Jo Whitfield

TA

Vicky Hussey

Senior Office Administrator

David Millar

TA

Yola Wilkins

Deputy School

Business Manager &

Clerk to Governors

Jonathan Pool

Music Therapist

Alex Gill

TA Julie Fluker

STA

Kishan Parekh

Dance Specialist Educator

Congratulations to Briony Moore (OT) and her

fiancé Stuart who are getting married this summer.

Lucy Ingham

52 Week Care Worker


Contents

Pages 2 & 3 Staff News

Page 4 Staff Profile: Charlotte McCulloch

Page 5 Bastille Day

Page 6 Geography Mark, Schools in Bloom; Pavilion News

Pages 7 Leavers’ Mass Report

Page 8 St Francis Class Outings

Page 9 Leavers’ Presentation at Sandown; Prom Night

Pages 10 St. John’s trip to Portsmouth

Page 11 For Sale

Page 12 Dates for the Diary - Autumn Term 2014

Further congratulations go to John Wright our

Chaplain and his wife Claire on the birth of their

daughter.

Georgia Lindsay Therese was wel-

comed into the world last Friday at

1.00am weighing 8lb 3oz. Both

Georgia and Claire are doing really

well and resting at home.

Many congratulations to Fairley Allan who

graduated on the 11th July as a Master of

Arts at the University of Sussex. He studied

in his spare time for three years, writing

papers on Makaton, the teaching of a social

sight vocabulary and carrying out research

on the transition from St. Joseph's to

post-19.

The graduation ceremony was held at The

Dome in Brighton. Sadly the Chancellor of

the University, the actor Sanjeev Baskar,

was away filming an episode of Doctor Who.

Jean Bowler will also be leaving us this Summer because she is

retiring.

Jean has worked at St. Joseph’s for 21 years. In that time she

worked as a TA for 14 years and then applied for the position of

OT Assistant within the Therapies Department and was a

successful applicant. Jean has been the backbone of the OT

department and a valued member of the wider team. During the

seven years she has gone from strength to strength in developing

her knowledge and skills and leading on a number of OT

interventions. These have been namely eating skills, sensory

circuits, Jump Ahead (motor skills project) and self-help skills with

small groups and individuals. She has been their stalwart and

they will all miss her.

Jean is retiring to spend more

time with her family and friends

and we wish her much health

and happiness for her journey

into the next exciting phase.


What type of person are

you?

Describe yourself in five words: Funny, intelligent, resourceful, bubbly, gregarious

What’s top of your to-do list? Sand my garden furniture

What’s your favourite biscuit? A rich tea cream finger

What’s your top holiday destination? USA

What wouldn’t you do for £1 million? ‘try me …..’

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Miranda Hart

Complete the following sentences

The celebrity I’d most like to have as a teacher at my school is:

Jeremy Clarkson

As a child I wanted to grow up to be: An astronaut

My most embarrassing moment in school:

I’ve only been here 6 months, so hopefully none!

If I’ve learned one thing, it is: Everything happens for a reason

I shouldn’t be telling you this, but …..

I once accidently ate bird poo

Tell us your best joke

What time does Andy Murray go to bed? Tennish!

Charlotte McCullough School Nurse


14 Juillet – Bastille Day

Today we celebrated the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution!

We had some wonderful actors dressed as Marie-Antoinette and Jacques (a

French peasant). We visited all the classrooms delivering hot, freshly

baked, buttery croissants. Delicious!

For lunch we ate a French feast cooked by the lovely ladies in the kitchen.

The menu consisted of Ragout de Boeuf or Ratatouille, finishing with a

yummy Tarte au Citron.

In the afternoon we all assembled in the school hall for a performance by our actors. They depicted the main

facts of the French revolution ending in Marie-Antoinette’s head being cut off by a ‘revolting’ peasant. We

waved our flags and listened to the Marseillaise (The French National Anthem).

As we all know Marie-Antoinette is reported for saying ‘Let them eat cake’ so we finished our lovely day with

cakes!

We raised just over £310 at the Fun Day selling the learners’ enterprise

products, other goods and through the raffle.

The money is being split 50/50 between long term planning for the swimming

pool roof and Missio a Catholic charity.

Missio supports Churches in 157 overseas countries by training priests,

building churches and combating injustice, disease, poverty and exploitation.

Thank you to everyone who supported us on the Fun Day.


We have just received the good news that the school has gained the Bronze Primary

Geography Quality Mark. Geography Subject Leader Lucy Spiers worked on the Mark

over the year and submitted our evidence in May. This means that the school has been

recognised for its work towards how learners enjoy and achieve in Geography and its contribution to global

learning, citizenship, sustainable development, cultural and social inclusion, community engagement and

understanding topical issues.

The World Water Day event we held back in March was one of the contributing pieces of evidence, a day

enjoyed by all!

Geography Quality Mark Success

2014 Blooming Schools Competition

Last week we heard that we had been awarded

Silver-Gilt in the South and South East 2014

Blooming Schools Competition. We only

missed out on Gold by one mark.

In the Justification & Report the Judge, Jean

Griffin, praised our impressive building and

grounds and commented that Horticulture is at

the heart of the outdoor classroom.

Jan Durrant (Horticulture Specialist Educator)

and Gareth Davey (Assistant Gardener) will be

attending the Awards presentation event on the

17th September at the AMEX Stadium Brighton.

Pavilion News

We thought you would be interested in a summer update

on progress regarding the building work of the Pavilion.

The walls have been completed, the concrete floor has

been laid, the new roof timbers have gone down and the

roof has been tiled - leaving an opening for the resident

bat. The internal walls have gone up and have been

plastered, the kitchen units will be going in soon as will

the utilities. The workmen have been taking advantage

of the good weather to connect the final drains and start

to lay the base for the foot path.

You will see from the photos below there has been a lot

of progress over the last few weeks, and we thank

Pilbeams and the new site manager, Wayne Bowles, for

keeping everything on track.

Steve Fudge


Leavers’ Mass

On Thursday we celebrated the Mass for our leavers. The whole school joined together in

the school hall to celebrate the time that learners and staff have spent here and the

friendships formed.

It was a lovely service with the stage decorated with plants grown at St. Joseph’s and music provided by

our folk band, with signing and singing led by the Therapies team. The site and building team did a great

job of transforming the hall into a special place to celebrate and pray.

Some learners who will be leaving us found the service moving and emotional. They were reminded that

you can feel sad when you are leaving a place that you have been happy at, so in a way, being sad is a

good thing because it reminds you how much love and good times you have experienced.

All the leavers were presented with an olive wood, holding, hand cross made in the Holy Land to remind

them of their time at St. Joseph's. Staff who were leaving were presented with a candle to remind them to

carry the light of St. Joseph's in their hearts wherever their life journey takes them next.

Father David gave all leavers a special blessing and after the final hymn, Father David led the leavers, their

families and friends to the chapel to enjoy a lovely afternoon tea provided by the kitchen staff.

Here are the comments made by our leavers when asked what they will miss most about St. Joseph’s.

"Going out on trips on the minibus" Peter

"I have mostly enjoyed music, art and

ICT particularly the animation. I have

been here for 5 years, and made good

friends particularly Jordan" Toby

“Our day out at Chessington was

my favourite” Rachel

'I have made good friends' Alex

“My best time was in St

Francis class” Lukas

“The friends I have made”

Robert

“The food in the dining room” Aaron

“The worksheets at Satro bus

and the work experience in the

office” Ahmed

“I like St. Joseph’s. It is a

nice school” Cameron

“I am going to miss my fun,

mostly understanding and

slightly dysfunctional St.

Joseph’s family” Moira

“Seeing my mate Brendan on

work experience”

Ian


Fun on the ocean waves for St. Francis Class

Last week the leavers group in St. Francis class were lucky enough to have two exciting trips out. The

first was on Monday when they travelled down to Southsea Portsmouth and boarded the Hovercraft for

a round trip to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Everyone really enjoyed the experience of trying alternative

public transport as part of their Travel Project.

Later, they had lunch together at a seaside café, the warm weather allowing them to eat outside.

St. Francis Class - Road Truckers

Later in the week there was more

excitement for the class when they were

invited to Dunsfold aerodrome and were

treated to rides round the race track in

some Cranleigh Freight trucks.

The owner, Colin Young joined them and

gave lots of encouragement to the

learners. They all thoroughly enjoyed the

experience and some even had more than

one go.

Mr Young, is a supporter of St. Joseph's

and handed out the certificates at the

Block Work Presentation Evening back in

April this year.


Surrey Special Schools

Presentation at Sandown Racecourse, Esher

On Friday 18th July ten of our leavers attended

Sandown Racecourse with their staff for the FE

award celebration. After refreshments, all Surrey

special schools joined together for the presentation

of certificates and National Record of Achievements

to the leavers.

The event was attended by some of our parents who

enjoyed the beautiful setting and the presentation

ceremony. Certificates were presented by Lady

Toulson CBE who congratulated all the learners on

their achievements.

Surrey Special Schools Proms Night

Following our usual tradition we had a very special Proms

Day/Night for our leavers on Friday. After college finished

learners and staff put on their suits and posh frocks and

assembled on the front law for a photo shoot. After this, we all

headed off to Weatherspoons in Godalming for a special meal

together. Other staff who lived locally joined us to wish our

leavers good luck.

At 6.30pm four special cars arrived – two cabriolets, a taxi

and an executive car. After another photo shoot with the cars

the leavers were whisked away to Park Barn Day Centre.

There we met up with the other Surrey Special schools for a

disco and buffet. Every learner had the opportunity for a

professional photograph to be taken at the beginning of the

evening.

Even though the weather was very hot all the leavers and

staff enjoyed themselves dancing to favourite tracks and

having fun.


On Thursday 10th July, the motley crew from the class of St John boarded the minibus and set out on a treacherous (and very exciting) journey to Portsmouth.

First port of call was the Historic Dockyards, where some spontaneous signing of “big boat” suggested that we were indeed in the right place. HMS Victory and HMS Warrior not only taught us about size, they also lent to some rather lengthy counting tasks, for although there were only 3 masts, there were many very tiny windows to keep some of the learners occupied for a fair while!

However, with the deck hands growing rowdy and ravenous (and that was just the staff!), we tucked into the veritable feast provided by our lovely galley staff, then headed a few leagues under the sea, to take in the sights and sounds of the Blue Reef Aquarium.

After a call from the ‘crow’s nest’ for “ice-creams ahoy”, we turned hard to port and set course for School. The crew returned to port weary, but all headed home ship-shape, knowing that we had just had the best ever adventure…….so far!!!

St. John’s Nautical Day Out Report by Captain Danielle Copeland,

Mistress and Commander of The Iveco 05


FOR SALE TO LEARNER FAMILIES

iPad 2 (used) - £70

We have a number of iPad 2s that have been used by learners in St Joseph’s over

the past couple of years that are being replaced. Instead of taking up the supplier option of trading these iPad

2s in, we wanted to first give our learner families the opportunity to purchase at the trade in cost of £70.

If you wish to purchase a personal iPad (for home use) please email Sue Collins our Business Manager

([email protected]) or by post to the school address. Provided your “order” is

received by 15th September 2104, Sue will ensure one is reserved for you. Only one iPad can be purchased

by each family.

Payment for purchased iPads will be done using the “School Money” system that many of you use already for

trips, life skills, pocket money, etc. Once payment has been processed the iPad will be sent home with the

learner.

This offer is available exclusively to learners’ families until 15th

September 2014, after which any unsold iPad 2s will be offered

to staff at St Joseph’s for the same price.

mailto:[email protected]

Page 12 St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletter

The next newsletter will be published on 12th September 2014

Dates for the Diary

Autumn Term 3rd September Learners return to School between 10.15 am - 10.30 am

17th September 10.30 am - 12.00 noon - Family Learning Coffee Morning - details to follow

19th September Jeans for Genes Day

21st September Greenpower Car Event at Dunsfold Park - timings to be confirmed

29th September Anti-bullying Week

15th October 10.30 am - 12.00 noon - Family Learning Coffee Morning - details to follow

w/c 20th October “Express Yourself” Arts Week Celebrations - further details to follow

24th October Last day of term - learners finish at 1.00pm

w/c 27th October HALF TERM

5th November Learners return to School between 10.15 am - 10.30 am

14th November Children in Need

w/c 17th November Road Safety Week

19th November 10.30 am - 12.00 noon - Family Learning Coffee Morning - details to follow

Documents

St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletterst-josephscranleigh.surrey.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/...St. Joseph’s Specialist School & College Newsletter Web: Volume 6 Friday