Community Newsletter

Everyone matters, every day counts
Spring Term 2014/5
Tickets are on sale now from the Connaught Theatre Box Office
01903 206206 or www.worthingtheatres.co.uk
for this year’s college production,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Dates of performances are Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March
at 7:30pm.
As it says in the title, it will be amazing…!
Oak Grove College Learning Through Making Exhibition of Sculptures at Worthing Museum
Learning Through Making is a fully integrated part of the students’ educational experience at Oak Grove College.
Contact with the natural world is essential to the human spirit, and our students, working with nature and its
processes, with time, the seasons and their materials, have many rich and meaningful learning experiences.
Working with staff and volunteers, groups from other schools and local businesses, young adult mentors and artists, for our students learning in the outdoors can be a real community project. The sculptures in this exhibition
are examples of the creative work undertaken this autumn, outdoors at Oak Grove College. The exhibition runs
until February 21st 2015 and the artwork will be changed as the year progresses.
Concordia International volunteers from
Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Turkey
and India worked in the grounds this autumn.
They arranged a produce sale in the
courtyard of surplus vegetables and fruit
from the garden.
EDF Volunteers—On 16th and 17th September
over 60 volunteers from EDF worked in the
school grounds to help prepare our outdoor learning environment for the autumn. It was the first
time OGC had hosted quite such a large number
of volunteers but the days were very successful.
Such regular volunteer support
from the local corporate community is a very valuable asset to
the school and is much appreciated. The EDF Helping Hands volunteer scheme makes a huge difference both to our students and
our outdoor learning environment
and we look forward to future
collaborations.
FireBreak Course
Eight Oak Grove College students were fortunate enough to have the chance to attend
Shoreham Fire Station for a week and
complete the FireBreak programme. Students
took part in a structured, disciplined
programme of events, which combined practical training with classroom-based workshops,
including first aid, climbing ladders, using the
breathing apparatus, running out the hose,
and many other exciting activities. All
students responded really well to the week,
and used the firefighters as role models. The
week culminated with each student’s family
and friends witnessing what they had achieved throughout the week at the Pass Out event.
The Outdoor Gym
It is with much excitement that we
unveil our outdoor fitness equipment on
the back field this week. This will enable
us to run some new fitness lessons and
clubs. We have four pieces of equipment that include: rowing machine, air
walker, chest press, shoulder press and
cross trainer. These look really smart
out in the grounds and we are really
keen to start using them. We also plan to raise additional funds so that we can add more
pieces of equipment in the future.
Sports Leaders
At Oak Grove College we have been running
Sports Leaders awards for the past eight
years in KS4 and now the 6th Form. They are
awarded by Sports Leaders UK, which
provides
nationally
recognised
leadership awards and
qualifications. All of
the awards and qualifications are practical learners learn by doing. The Young Leader Award is a great introduction into leadership, giving learners knowledge of how to
organise and lead small games and activities
that can be used as part of community club or sports club sessions. It also aims to help
learners to build confidence and self-esteem as they take on responsibility of leading their
peers and younger children. Oak Grove College has a long tradition of producing confident
leaders and we look forward to continuing this in the future.
Friends of Oak Grove College
This is the logo for FOGC as designed by Lucy Scully, from the 6th Form,
and it will be used for all FOGC communications.
Our first main fundraising event was Christmas Tombola. Donations of
chocolate and toiletries were wrapped during the weeks leading up to
the Christmas Fair in December.
We are raising money to purchase items that the students have asked
for. Initial funding raised by Friends of Oak Grove College will be used
to purchase some special PC keyboards and some bean bag seating for some of the classrooms.
If you are interested in learning more about the group and what the Friends of OGC are
aiming to do, please look at the new Facebook page for further information. https://
www.facebook.com/groups/1377574475866174/
The Friends of Oak Grove College is a charitable group whose aim is to increase the provision of additional resources, facilities and equipment in order to support the work of Oak
Grove College. It is also the aim to raise awareness of Oak Grove College within the local
community.
Eyegaze arrives at Oak Grove College
We are looking forward to using Eyegaze technology with our students this year. Eyegaze technology enables students from Koa and Animus hubs to
interact meaningfully with their environment. It
works by tracking where the students’ eyes are
looking and allows them to control what happens on
the screen. Over the coming term we will be using
the technology with students for whom it is
appropriate to have greater access to a range of
activities and work in a structured way using the Eyegaze learning curve.
Bedford Age Group Championships 2014
Jordan Okonta travelled to
Bedford International
Stadium to take part in the
age group championships
and had a solid day despite
the strong winds. He
achieved third place in
400m and second place in
the long jump. Jordan
continues with his
consistent performances
and will be competing in
Bournemouth and Havant
shortly.
Girls Football
On Monday 10th November the Oak Grove
College girls football team took to the field once
again in the annual Brighton and Hove Albion
girls tournament. There were some brilliant performances including a 7-1 victory in the group
stages. A close semi final ended in a narrow 1-0
win and the girls met Northease School in the
final. Penalties were needed to decide the
overall winner. Unfortunately, even with some
excellent saves from Michelle, the Oak Grove
College team were not victorious. However, our
girls were gracious in defeat were very unlucky
not to walk away with the trophy.
Southern Sports Partnership Awards
Several students went to David Lloyd Health Club to receive
Sports Awards on behalf of the school after a very successful
year of sport. Dominic Reed collected certificates and badges
for the MLD football team, which won at local level and
achieved third place in the School Games Championship. Freya
Parsons and Daniel Price collected a trophy as well certificates
and badges for the indoor athletics team, which achieved first
place locally and second place in the School Games Championships. Sam Gratton collected a trophy, certificates and
badges for the Boccia team, which won at both local level and
the School Games Championships. Jordan Okonta collected a
Certificate of Honour for achieving National Athlete level.
Premier League Player Football Kit Scheme
Oak Grove College footballers were fortunate
enough to win a new 15 man Nike football kit. The
kit is funded by premier league players themselves and the students at the school were very
excited when they found out the good news.
Claire Moyle wins award
On Tuesday evening at Worthing Harriers AGM Claire was awarded the
club partnership award from England Athletics. This was in recognition
of the work that she has done to forge positive links with the club and
develop high quality sports opportunities for disabled athletes. It also
recognised the development of the wheelchair racing group and the
number of disabled athletes competing at National levels. Well done
Claire.
History Trip
William Long and Ryan Turton both in year 11,
recently attended a 4 day trip to the First
World War Battlefields, as part of the Institute of Education 100 Year Remembrance of
The Great War. This trip was for schools from
Portsmouth, Worthing and Brighton. We visited
the Memorial Museum at Passchendaele, Tyne
Cot Cemetery, Langemark German Cemetery,
Menin Gate evening service, Newfoundland Memorial Park, Thiepval Memorial, Dartmoor
Cemetery, Ulster Tower, Thiepval Wood, Flanders Field Museum, the Death Cells at Poperinge
and finally Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Both boys were amazing. They made friends with
both students, teacher colleagues, trip organisers, battlefield guides, passport control (!),
Ypres locals (!) and members of the British Army with ease. As part of the tour we found the
grave of Ernest Bradley at Tyne Cot Cemetery. Ernest lived on Tarring Road, and died on the
Belgian Battlefields in 1915 at the age of 21. At the final remembrance service at Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Ryan was selected by the other teachers present, to lead the laying of a
wreath as an act of Remembrance with a serving Corporal of the British Army. Both boys
were fantastic representatives for the college. David Holloway
Trip to Auschwitz
On the 12th November, two 6th Form students,
Daniel Mottau, Jack Johnson and I were given
the valuable opportunity to visit Auschwitz, a
former Nazi concentration and extermination
camp in Poland. Before going, we participated in
an educational orientation seminar in London,
where we were moved to hear the story of
Susan Pollack, a survivor of the Holocaust.
Natalie Brees
Northbrook College Links
Our relationship with Northbrook College
continues to develop and this year we have
two groups of students spending time at
Northbrook as part of the 1 year transition
course in the 6th Form. By spending time at
Northbrook, the students are becoming
familiar with the structure and surroundings
as well as gaining an insight into possible
courses available to them when they leave
Oak Grove College.
Food Technology
Anyone who has heard of Jamie Oliver will know of his
passion for cooking, and that he’s also passionate about
making sure that all kids are given the opportunity to learn
about food and good eating habits while they are still
young. So you might not be surprised to know that Jamie,
together with Edexcel, created Home Cooking Skills Level
1 and Level 2 qualifications. These have been set up specifically to help students develop the essential skills they
need to cook simple, nutritious, affordable food.
Here at Oak Grove College we’re also passionate about
cooking, and adopting Jamie’s qualifications seemed a good
step forward. It sums up what we are trying to do for the
students and also gives them the opportunity to formalise, in a qualification, the skills that they enjoy
and that will take them through their lives.
Outdoor Learning Conference, Wadebridge, Cornwall – October 2014
This was a joint presentation, part of a day programme of workshops for
teachers, youth workers and advisors from the south west, by William
Bauress, Caroline Elderfield of Oak Grove College and Matt Strevens,
Headteacher at Trythall CP School, Penwith, Cornwall.
Over the past four years Oak Grove College and Trythall School have
been working together on an approach to learning which emphasises the
importance of our relationship to place, to nature and how making can be
central to children’s learning experiences. These are all areas that have
been overlooked in recent times and, if neglected, represent a significant loss.
Headteacher Matt of Trythall: “The work we have done with Oak Grove
College has been critical in taking our outdoor learning to a level where
we are recognised as outstanding. Many local schools now visit the school
to see how we work, using our model (based on the Oak Grove College
model) for their own developments. So really, your work is making a difference to a large number of children in Cornwall.”
The conference was well attended and there was a distinctly enthusiastic interest in all aspects of children’s learning outdoors.
Maybridge Keystone Club “Safe and Secure” Garden project
This year, the outdoor and practical learning team has been working on the secure garden project with Year 11
students as part of their Prince’s Trust accreditation. This
local community project began earlier this year, when
Maybridge Keystone Club sought the help of volunteers to
transform their woodland area into a specially designed
resource for the use of growing programmes by community
groups including those with dementia.
Oak Grove College staff, William and Caroline have been
collaborating with Garden Therapy Community Interest
Group Breathing Spaces since the beginning of the project,
on design, planning, and the resourcing of materials and
labour for the garden. The second cohort of Prince’s Trust
students is now working in the garden on Tuesday afternoons.
The garden, which was officially opened on November 17th
2014, represents the first of a three phase project to develop the club grounds for increased local community use. Meetings are already taking place to plan phase two which
will include an orchard, poly tunnel and a further growing area to the north west of the site. Another opportunity for Oak Grove College students to share their practical skills and help in the local community.
And a big thank you to our many supporters…
Outdoors this term we are busy upgrading the herb garden and finishing off groundwork for
the new play area. Special thanks goes to:
Topps Tiles
PMLD Autumnal Walk
Class CA enjoyed an
autumnal walk at Highdown Gardens
collecting leaves for this term’s
autumn theme. There were lots of
beautiful red, orange and yellow
leaves to look at and earthy smells
to enjoy.
The boys experienced a leaf fall
under a tree!
Gamelan
Oak Grove College has been privileged to
host the West Sussex Music Network
Gamelan in school this term. Some of our
older students may remember we had a
similar set in school when we staged ‘The
King and I’ many moons ago! This time we
have the larger Gamelan which is from
Java and is made up of metallophones,
gongs and percussion. All our students
have had the opportunity to play and have
found it to be a relaxing and enjoyable
experience.
Northbrook College Fine Arts B.A. work placements at Oak Grove College
Fine Arts undergraduates Chloe Bedwell, Debbie Attwood, John Day and Margarita Stefanaki
are all working in school on programmes that support OGC student learning. All four are
working in the outdoor environment to gain experience of working with special needs children
as part of their B.A. Professional Practice module that forms part of their degree studies.
Their work is on show as part of the Learning Through Making exhibition at Worthing Museum
until 21st February 2015.
Chloe and Margarita have one day a week placements, whilst John and Debbie are each here
for half day. Their presence provides greater opportunities for students by encouraging
independence, promoting greater progress, and in developing an appreciation of the world
around them.
Artist Kim Thompson is also on a placement here as part of her Northbrook based P.G.C.E.
until Easter 2015.