OCTOBER 2016

A successful education experience for all

Newsletter 4

Message from the Head

I am extremely proud of my first half term as Headteacher in seeing the

achievements and developments of Stevenage ESC. The students now look very

smart in their uniform and are proud to wear it. Attendance of students has

supported the progress made in the classroom and will be presented to parents/

carers at our first ‘parents evening’.

Now we have our new mini-bus it will allow the Centre not only grow our students academically

but provide them with essential skills through outdoor activities and enrichment opportunities. The

success of the sailing trip not only provided students with leadership skills, teamwork skills, social

skills but the adventure of a life time; this is all thanks to the staff that gave their time and energy to

such an amazing trip. Through the work with Princes Trust and project lessons there will some more

exciting events to look forward to next half term.

Dan Nearney

Dennis Wise and Frankham Group - Minibus update On Tuesday June 8th there was great excitement as the Centre received a visit from Dennis Wise, ex-Chelsea and England footballer and Steve and Anthony Frankham of the Frankham Group. They came to the Centre as part of our bid to their charity for a minibus. We are delighted to report that the minibus has now arrived and the students have already had a maiden voyage in it.

We are deeply grateful to the trust for giving us this valuable resource as it means being able to extend the off-site activities that we offer our students. Dennis Wise and Steve Frankham will be returning in the near future to officially ‘launch’ the minibus.

Left: Dennis Wise with our Staff.

Right: Dennis & former student Shane

Ben Scott

19/10/16

My recent school activities.

We cooked a cottage pie. We cooked it in the

cooking room with Mrs Parker. It took two hours to

do. The best part was it was tasty. I learnt the

difference between a cottage pie and a shepherd’s

pie.

We watched a film called ‘Invictus’.It was about

nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team.it

was a really good film because it showed how

nelson Mandela bought all of Africa together.

I went to the golf range with students and staff from

the esc. We went with Mr Nearney and

Mrs O Sullivan. It was quite hard but I got use to it

with some help and really enjoyed it.

I walked to an underpass near Sainsbury’s with a big

painting. This was for the towns 70th birthday. We

were meant to go to Sainsbury’s after but we didn’t

in the end.

When we went bowling I really enjoyed it. The

reason I liked it so much is because I won and it was

the first time I ever won bowling. I got two strikes

and that was good.

Table tennis was really funny because Mrs Briars

and Mrs Hylton kept getting the rules wrong. We

played a game where you hit the ball and keep

running round the table, it was really funny.

Harley Mansell Baker 19/10/16

Sailing

Day 1

Last week we loaded the minibus with the

food for the week and our gear, the journey

was a long and unforgiving one it took two

and a half hours when we got there we

loaded our stuff onto trolleys, which we used

to take our stuff to the boat. Although I was

immensely scared of what lay ahead, I

endured it and helped to load the stuff on the

boat. We then sat down assigned the bunks

and met the crew, there was Charlie, Jelly

(Elena) and Hue which was the captain while

Charlie was the bosun and Jelly was the first

mate (I liked all of them) as Charlie was the

funny person of the group, Jelly was the

serious one of the group and Hue was the

person in charge. We stayed where we were

for the night.

Day 2

We set sail for Cowes in the morning after a

lovely breakfast; it was very warm (it got

colder).

Pupil work this half term:

Emily King

19/10/16 The Cirdan sailing trust

Recently, I spent a fantastic week away on the ship, Queen Galadriel. It was great fun and extremely fab to be on. I

will recap the week, once I have finished writing a brief history about the ship, how it was built and who invented

it.

Queen Galadriel is a Baltic trader that is 32 metres long by 6 meters wide. She was built in 1937 in Svenborg, and

was originally named else after the captains’ daughter. The ship’s first use was as a trading cargo ship.

Day 1

We said our goodbyes to our parents and carers, we all loaded up the minibus together and we then set off. Once I

had got out of the bus, we were asked to grab some trolleys to later wheel to the ship. It was then the crew came

along to meet us. Their names were Jelly, Huw and Charlie. They kindly offered their service of strength to get the

heavier luggage on the trolley. We wheeled everyone’s things over to the boat, which was a rather long stroll. I was

gobsmacked when I got on the boat for the very first time - it was a lot fancier than it was in the pictures; I thought

that it was going to be one extremely long and boring week, however I was proved wrong.

2 days later…

Day 3

Today, we set our first sail over to the Isle of Wight, to moor up at Cowes. We had a ride on the Tender over to

Alum bay. I went straight to the cliff and climbed up a 50 foot summit, which took me a very long time. We got

back to the boat, scrubbed off and I got onto the net at the front of the boat. I wasn’t allowed on there for very

long, as it was almost time to come down for dinner. Jelly came and called out ‘time for dinner’. I did as I was told. I

was fast asleep after dinner.

As you have read, this week has been rather interesting and weird. But it was very enjoyable, though.

Me and Jelly scrubbing the deck!!!

Reggie Barton

19/10/16

MY RECENT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

First we cooked cottage pie with upside down cake then a day later we cooked a curry with Mr Nearney and an apple

crumble which was not nice.

For the activities we done basket ball, football, table tennis, golfing, bowling but I was not here for bowling but

football was really fun but I liked golfing the best with Mr Nearney and Miss o Sullivan. Basketball was good as

well but table tennis was so funny.

They also watched a film about Nelson Mandela but I was not there though, but they

said it was good because it talks about him being sent to prison for 27 years because he

didn’t agree with black people being separated from white people.

Me and Ben both went to the under pass to take pictures with a massive painting but it

didn’t go to plan so we ended up having to go back to the school.

Sailing Trip with the Cirdan Trust 10 – 16th October 2016

The students of SESC have been amazingly fortunate in having been awarded a grant which allowed them to go on a sailing expedition with the Cirdan Sailing Trust. Students travelled to Portsmouth to meet the ship on Monday 10th October and spent the next 7 days sailing around the south coast of England.

All students assisted in sailing the boat as part of a watch. They helped with feeding everyone and keeping the boat shipshape and in good order to work effectively.

Before the trip, students worked with Miss Baxter and Miss Lake to plan the menu and activities for spare time. They have even helped with the budget for the food and cleaning supplies.

This was a very exciting opportunity for our students and we are extremely grateful for the Cirdan Trust for making this possible; it is a once in a lifetime chance with many skills to be learned. Students completed a unit for the Prince’s Trust during the voyage as well as gaining a national governing body award for yachting. Day 1 - Monday 10th October

Nine of our students helped pack up the minibus before setting off for Portsmouth to meet the boat. By 4pm they had arrived and loaded the ship ready for their adventure.

Day Two - Tuesday 11th October 2016

Our students had a good first night and a hearty breakfast of sausages, scrambled eggs waffles and spaghetti hoops. Then they carried out various jobs on the boat. Day Three - Wednesday 12th October 2016

This morning students sailed down to the Isle of Wight.

Day Four - Thursday 13th October 2016

Pupils explored on land on the west coast of the Isle of Wight. Keeping the boat 'ship shape' also features on the list of activities keeping pupils occupied on their trip!

Day Five - Friday 14th October 2016

Pupils sailed back round the north west coast of the Isle of Wight and headed towards Southampton. Day Six -Saturday 15th October 2016 Nearing the end of their week long trip, pupils returned to Portsmouth. Day Seven - Sunday 16th October 2016 Pupils assisted in cleaning and clearing the boat and loading the minibus before returning home.

MacMillan Coffee Morning

On Friday 30th September 2016 we held a Coffee Morning in aid of MacMillan.

We have smashed last year’s total of £239.10 and this year have raised a massive

£421.00!

Thank you to all who contributed to the event by bringing, and/or eating cake! Lots of members of the community came along to this event.

Special thanks to Gill Briars who organised the whole event and Kelly Parker who helped to construct the profiterole tower!

Term Dates for 2016-17 AUTUMN TERM STARTS: Tuesday 6th September 2016 HALF TERM: Monday 24th - Friday 28th October 2016

1/2 DAY INSET: Monday 31st October 2016—Centre Closed to pupils from 11.30am LAST DAY OF AUTUMN TERM: Wednesday 21st December 2016 - 12.30pm finish

SPRING TERM STARTS: Thursday 5th January 2017

HALF TERM: Monday 13th - Friday 17th February 2017 LAST DAY OF SPRING TERM: Friday 31st March 2017 - 12.30pm finish

SUMMER TERM STARTS: Tuesday 18th April 2017

HALF TERM: Monday 29th May - Friday 2nd June 2017 LAST DAY OF SUMMER TERM: Friday 21st July 2017 - 12.30pm finish

OUR STAFF

Head of Centre: Dan Nearney Deputy Head: Anne-Marie O’Sullivan

Teaching Staff, including Outreach: Jane Baxter, Liz Elvin, Rony Ford, Rose Hylton, Paula Hayward, Kelly Parker

Support Assistants: Gillian Briars, Jenny Lake, Tina Stanley

Primary Transition Support Workers: Helen Fleet, Amy Sawyer

Secondary Outreach Support Worker: Laura Read

Admin: Heidi Nash, Emma Saunders