NEWSLETTER Ne ws le tte r Fe b ru a r y 2 0 1 6 V o l u me 3 - Iss u e 33 We bsi te : w ww . oa k l an ds . h ou ns lo w .s c h .u k

Head Teacher's News Dear parents, families and friends, We have had a productive half term at Oaklands. At this time of year, with cold and rainy weather it’s a great opportunity for pupils to concentrate on classroom and school based work. I have been delighted to see excellent lessons going on. I always enjoy meeting families during annual review meetings and discussing the fantastic progress our pupils make. Some groups have continued to brave the winter weather to activities such as a Panathlon at which our pupils won many medals and were very proud of their achievements. This term once again sixth form pupils are taking part in employer based work experience placements; with 9 pupils having that opportunity this term. Both Carissa and Robert, our job coaches are working hard to make contact with local employers. We would be very interested in hearing from you if you have any contacts that might be willing to have one of our pupils on a work placement. During January I had the pleasure of showing our local Councillor, Councillor Bruce around the School. He enjoyed seeing pupils working in the gym, classrooms and sensory rooms, outside PE and in the sixth form. Councillor Bruce was interested to hear about our planned new building. The application for planning permission is due to be heard at the planning meeting taking place on 10th March. This week has been Performing Arts week – and we will have more news about all of the exciting opportunities and activities that the students enjoyed during the week in next half term’s Newsletter. I hope you are all able to enjoy the half term break and that we will have some spring weather which will allow us all to get out and about to enjoy the break.

Anne Clinton Contents: Head Teacher’s News Forthcoming Events Panathlon 2016 Multisensory Lessons with C1 ICT Lessons with A2 Yellow Group News C4 Ice Skating English Lessons with C5 February Half Term Activities at Orleans House Gallery

Dates for your Diary (See website for details):

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Monday 8th February 2016 to Friday 12th February 2016 – Performing Arts Week, Performance on Friday 12th February 2016 Families welcome

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Thursday 24th March 2016 – School finishes (Early close at 1:45pm)

Monday 15th February 2016 to Friday 19th February 2016 Inclusive – Half Term Thursday 3rd March 2016 – World Book Day Friday 11th March 2016 – Parents Event, Welfare Reform by CAB – Details to follow Thursday 24th March 2016 – Easter Service at 10:30 at Oaklands. Families welcome to attend Friday 25th March 2016 to Friday 8th April 2016 Inclusive – Easter Holidays Monday 11th April 2016 – Inset Day (School closed to Students) Tuesday 12th April 2016 – Students return to School Friday 22nd April 2016 – Parents Event (Details to follow) Monday 18th April 2016 to Friday 29th April 2016 – 6th Form Work Experience Placements

On the 29th January, C5 visited Featherstone High school to represent Hounslow alongside other local schools. We had a very enjoyable and successful day, playing sports including Boccia, Table Cricket and New Age Curling. We won lots of medals, including a gold in the New Age Curling! Overall, Hounslow schools came in third place! Well done!

C1 have been exploring all of their senses in their multisensory lessons. Every week they explore sight, smell, sound, touch and taste as well as exploring their bodies through massage and movement.

Using white umbrellas to look at laser lights and projection. Looking at our reflections using mirrors. Making eye contact.

Exploring tactile materials using our hands.

Exploring all the senses using shaving foam!

A2 have been doing the following ICT activities: Matching pictures on the IPad “Magic Sorter”

Finding named photos within the IPad (free) “Chooseit maker 3” app

Making marks with colour on the IPad “Draw with stars” (free)

and IPad “Fingerpaint”(free)

Using 2Paint a Picture (PC)- for splash paint, mark-making, colouring, copying lines, tracing faces, drawing and trace letters

Tracing lines,shapes and letters in Little Writer app

Using “Facemaker” (PC)- adding features to photos of themselves

Using activities from the HelpKidsLearn website (eg bus cause effect, pop bubbles, number songs)

P.S We plan soon to have a parents and carers’ coffee morning looking at suitable ICT resources for students at home.

Riaz helped to pick out some of the ingredients needed as part of functional skills in order for the students to make their own pizzas.

Here, Mohammed requested the necessary ingredients using symbols and was able to identify what he was going to be making when asked.

Zahra was able to work independently when building her own clock in D.T.

Through the schools partnership with England RFU, the school was offered the opportunity to take a group of pupils Ice skating in February as part of the England’s RFU ‘Inspiring children into sport scheme’. A group of C4 students spent a morning at Richmond ice rink located at Strawberry Hill House. It was a great opportunity for pupils to access a different type of sport, some for the first time. All the pupils in the class had a good experience skating and some of them showed real ability. All the pupils really enjoyed the morning out and it was a valuable experience for them all. They also got to meet the RFU England’s mascot too.

C5 have been reading Anthony Browne stories. “Willy the Wimp” is about a chimpanzee who has low self-confidence. Fortunately he decides to embark on a programme to build his strength and his confidence and his life changes. The class enjoyed discussing bullying and how to cope when other people are mean. They also enjoyed talking about the things you can do in your spare time that are enjoyable and the benefits of having friends.