July 2012 - Ridgewood Community High School

RIDGEWOOD RECORDER
July 2012
www.ridgewood.lancs.sch.uk
After a long and very busy year it is time for this year’s final edition of the Ridgewood
Recorder. This final term has been packed with activities and adventures and we have
lots of exciting things to share with you. We hope you enjoy this special edition.
Ridgewood CHS Prom 2012
Ridgewood Prom was held on Wednesday 27th June 2012 at
The Queen Vic, Burnley. Pupils enjoyed a morning of
pampering, then a ride to the venue in a white hummer
followed by a sit down meal and prom cake. Mrs Entwistle
gave a speech and made a toast to the class of 2012. Staff and
pupils had a fantastic day with lovely memories to keep
forever.
In June we had a visit from Phil Packer. Phil is an Army veteran who was seriously injured in
2008 whilst serving his country . Phil suffered serious spinal injuries and was told he may
never walk again. Following his injury, Phil felt the need to try to help others who had been
injured or wounded. He has since founded the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) and has
undertaken several challenges to raise money for several charities. This year Phil decided to
walk 2012 miles in the year 2012. We were very lucky that as part of his journey Phil passed
through Burnley and decided to pay us a visit. Following his visit to Ridgewood he wrote “When I arrived at Ridgewood, I was feeling quite tired and exhausted from my long day. My
tiredness soon evaporated with the warm and heartfelt welcome I received from the
students and staff. They were excited to be a part of the BRIT 2012 Challenge and their
enthusiasm, good spirits and energy soon picked up my flagging energy levels. I had a
fantastic time with everyone and was quite sad to go at the end of my visit. “
Thank you for sharing your journey with us Phil.
A right ‘Royal’ feast.
Pupils, Staff and even Parents have been working with our visitor Chef Ady Delaney (who has cooked
for the Royal Family) over the past term. Pupils created a variety of dishes including curries, soups and
stir fry’s. The whole school enjoyed the experience of having a professional chef in school, and have
learnt lots of new culinary skills.
Ridgewood’s Expeditions
As a thank you from the ‘Learning Outside the
Classroom’ team for our work towards inclusive
outdoor education across Lancashire, Mrs
Naylor and 2 of our students were invited to the
official opening of the brand new inclusive
climbing wall at Hothersall Lodge, Longridge.
The wall has adaptations to enable all students
to use the indoor climbing wall facilities.
Ridgewood also won the competition to name
the wall- ‘The Wall at HothersALL’.
A group of students were given the opportunity to take part in “Riding for the
Disabled” lessons. Herds House Farm successfully won a lottery bid and
selected our school to partake in the project. Everybody had a fantastic time.
Hopefully we will be selected again next year.
FE 1 had a fabulous time on their residential at Hothersall Lodge,
near Longridge. They went canoeing, climbing and walking, as well
as exploring the indoor cave. Everyone showed courage and
determination. Well Done FE1!!
This year Ridgewood has been lucky to receive additional funding
to encourage children to access the outdoors. Year 8 with their
new staff team for next year have been Wakeboarding at Blackpool
Wake Park. Students are looking forward to improving their skills
in the new term.
In June, 11 students and 6 staff set off on a 3 day camping expedition to
complete their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. Day 1 - We were
dropped off by minibus near Clitheroe and walked to Waddow Hall
Campsite to pitch our tents and set up camp. Day 2- Mr Ramsden
pushed our limits by leading us on a 12 Kilometre walk over open countryside followed by a BBQ and baked potatoes. We later all relaxed
around the camp fire. Day 3 - After a wet night under canvas we then
walked 8 Kilometres in the rain to catch our minibus back to civilisation
and a hot shower. Everyone was exhausted but filled with an enormous
sense of achievement. Well Done to all who survived!!!
The Sports Round Up
The Lancashire School Games
Ridgewood pupils have represented Burnley across all school games this year.
Secondary School Games
KS3 Athletics team won the local Secondary Quad Kids event against all Burnley High Schools
going through to the next level to represent the town at Preston Arena. This included 4
events: sprint, distance run, throw and long jump. The same team then went on to win the
Athletics event at the Disability School Games event a week later!!
Disability School Games, Stanley Park, Blackpool:
Results also included: Gold for U16 Girls Football, Gold for New Age Kurling team, Silver for
Cricket...and numerous individual medals in Athletics!!
Disability Swimming Gala
At Salt Ayre Pool, Lancaster. 40 students attended. Numerous medals achieved by all
swimmers. Particularly well done to 2 of our Y7 pupils, Thomas and Jack, who came away
with individual Golds.
Sports Day 2012
As a part of the build up for the 2012 London
Olympics, we decided that we would have a ‘mini
-Olympics’ ceremony as part of our sports day.
Rather than focus on who could run the fastest or
jump the furthest we wanted to focus on the core
‘values’ of the Olympic games. The students were
awarded stickers and wrist bands for striving to
achieve the 6 values which are—honesty, self
belief, team work, passion, respect and
determination. Well done to everyone who took
part!
New Beginnings!
Mrs Jane Kay has spent the last 20 years working in Calder View and
Ridgewood schools. Jane has made a massive contribution to the life and
work of our school and the list of her achievements would probably fill
this edition! Here are just a few examples; establishing our Pupil Council,
organising our Creative Partnership projects and themed days and running the Year 9 residentials to Whitehough Camp School. Thank you Jane,
we are all going to miss you. Have a wonderful retirement.
Mr Michael Long also retires at the end of the term. Michael has taught
Music and RE across the school for many years. An inspirational music
teacher we could always rely on Michael to find that ‘special’ piece of music
for our special events. Michael set up his own music lending library for both
pupils and staff.
We all wish Michael every happiness in his retirement.
Mrs Helen Lord has been a member of the schools team of brilliant Teaching
Assistants for nearly 20 years. She has worked across the school with many
of our students, past and present and has always ‘given it her all’! Helen will
be missed by both her colleagues and of course the children. Our loss will be
the gain of Holy Trinity School, Burnley, where Helen is taking up the role of
Learning Mentor. Good Luck Helen!
Miss Sophie Greenwood has successfully completed her 2 year apprenticeship
with us and has secured herself a place on a Teacher Training Course at Edge
Hill University. Congratulations Sophie, you have been a star!
Good luck with the course, we hope you’ll be back doing your teacher
placements with us!
A big thank you to Miss Amy Price who has been with us for the past year
covering Miss Hotham’s maternity leave. Good luck in your new job Amy!
Miss Hotham returns to Ridgewood full-time in September as Class Teacher and
our School Sports’ Coordinator. The thing is, she’ll no longer be Miss Hotham as
she is getting married. Congratulations Sally—soon to be Mrs Fawthrop.
Mrs Wendy Crawford Smith , another member of the schools team of Teaching
Assistants is retiring at the end of term. Wendy’s contribution to the creative
areas of the school will be missed as she is such a talented artist. What will Mr
B do without you in Ceramics Wendy?! A keen orienteer Wendy has also run
clubs and events for us. Thank you Wendy, enjoy your retirement.
Mrs Barbara Smith joined Ridgewood in 2005 having previously been a teacher at Primrose Hill School. Musically talented Barbara has taught Science and
Spanish across the school whilst setting up and running Ridgewood’s Guitar
Club. Barbara has helped out the music department on many
occasions. Enjoy your retirement Barbara and thank you for your contribution to
Ridgewood.
In September we will be welcoming 3 new teachers to our school.
Mrs Karen Stracey joins the Key Stage 4 department. She will be our Maths Co-ordinator, so
we’d better do some homework over the holidays!!
Mr Chris Bridges a music therapist and music teacher joins our FE department. A talented
musician we are looking forward to Chris continuing to develop our Creative Arts Curriculum.
Ms Clare Thompson is also joining our FE department. Clare already comes into school to
support our pupils but will now be with us full time. Clare will be our English Co-ordinator
and is really interested in developing our communication curriculum.
Work Experience 2012
All students in year 11 took part in a Work Experience programme. Some students went out on a 2 week
placement. Work placements included, Jones Metcalfe (EFS) Ltd. Paddiwacks Nursery, St. Johns R C Primary
School, Happy Faces Childcare Ltd. St. Stephens CE Primary school, Pendle Leisure, Burnley Tyre and Battery
Ltd, Burnley Central Library, Currys Ltd. Casterton County Primary School, Basnett Street Nursery School, Sir
John Thursby Library and The Chai Centre. Other students stayed in school and ran our Ridgewear Clothing
Store and raised lots of money for school funds and to help pay for our first ever School Prom. Students from
Mrs Naylor’s class worked in the Hair and Beauty Salon on Monday afternoons throughout the year taking
appointments and carrying out hair and beauty treatments on staff. ‘Well Done ‘to all students for all their
hard work and a ‘BIG THANK YOU’ to all the Placement and School Staff for helping to make this another
successful year.