DRUMBEAT SCHOOL Weekly Newsletter Dear Parents/Carers Everybody has settled well into the term and are working hard. It has been a great achievement week with pupils cooking, gardening, swimming and using their literacy skills to find out more about Roald Dahl. We have had our first coffee morning which has been a success. We discussed how we can do more for your children and the formation of the Friends of Drumbeat. Our first event will be a Christmas Fête at the end of the end of the term. All parents are welcome to be involved with Friends of Drumbeat and we also welcome any enquiries about becoming a Parent Governor. Have a lovely weekend. Marie Neave Executive Headteacher Could we please remind all parents and carers to clearly write their child s name on each item of uniform. Events coming up... Monday 17 October to Friday 21 October Flu Vaccines for all students Thursday 20 October Zebra Class trip to Crystal Palace farm & park Friday 21 October Parents Coffee Morning from 11am 12pm at our Downham & Brockley sites. Friday 21 October students last day before half term Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October half term Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October half term Monday 31 October Students back at school Drumbeat School & ASD Service 1
The Outreach Team This week Donna and Anna from Outreach spent a lovely morning with some students doing Sherbourne Developmental Movement sessions. The children are beginning to learn the different patterns of movement and are already initiating some of the movements, displaying developing communication skills. Some students are beginning to do paired work and are able to choose their favourite movement from the session and tell an adult about it! Please look out for photos to follow in the next issue. Julie has also had a wonderful time at the allotment with Cynthia, Gary and sixth form students. They have been clearing the old plot to make it nice and tidy for the new plot holder and getting ready to move onto our bigger plot in November and start planting for Spring. Drumbeat School & ASD Service 2
The Kangaroo Class Kangaroo Class have been looking at the story of Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. We have been exploring the different parts of our body, especially our feet and hands. We have also been engaged in activities which involve exploring a skeleton, making our own skeleton, using straws, as well as making playdough and marshmallow people. Some of the children have enjoyed looking through the pictures in the book with an adult. Drumbeat School & ASD Service 3
The Zebra Class Last week the Zebra & Panda class had a wonderful day visiting Mudchute farm for our first full day out. We travelled by public transport, going both by bus and by DLR which the children found very exciting. At Mudchute, the students used their aided language boards to help them to make comments and to identify the farm animals. We had a fantastic trip and all the students were so interested and engaged. This week we will continue our ongoing work about Our Amazing World and visiting the Centre for Urban Ecology on the Greenwich Penisnula where we will look at the wildlife, find small creatures and do some pond dipping. The Zebras have also been playing the xylophone along to Lee s guitar in their music lessons and we have been doing lots of cooking. Last week we made jam tarts and this week we made chocolate krispie. Drumbeat School & ASD Service 4
Key Stage 3 On Thursday afternoons KS3 go to their hobbies groups. Michele runs a group called Caring for Others. Students will be learning about caring for ourselves, for our family and friends and looking after our pets. This week we learnt how to change a baby s nappy and give them a bath. We also dressed the babies, gave them cuddles and took them for a walk in the buggies. Johannah bathed the baby and changed its nappy. Kedisia gave the baby some water. Ejiro dressed the baby in a clean baby grow. Drumbeat School & ASD Service 5
Issue 4 7 October 2016 The Jubilee Class This week as part of our BFG project we had a huge amount of fun making the BFG's suitcase. We all made a mini version in our own individual style. Jay, in particular worked really hard on his one. We are also going on a trip to Mudchute farm, it will be our first class trip on public transport and we are all very much looking forward to it. Drumbeat School & ASD Service 6
The Waterloo Class This week in Waterloo class we started our culture club where we find out about different countries. We are learning about India. We made some onion bahjis, tried on saris and pretended to get on an aeroplane. We found it funny when Becca and Judith dressed up as air hostesses and John was the pilot. This helps us to learn about different countries and cultures. The Conga Class On Wednesday the students of Conga Class went to the charming little Café at St Augustine s Church in Honour Oak Park. After a lovely, short walk, we have climbed One Tree Hill where the church is located. Each student had a chance to order a tea and a slice of cake (Victoria sponge turned out to be the favourite!) and eat it in the beautiful surroundings of the old Victorian building. Afterwards we explored the church, and were treated to a piano recital by the local vicar. We had a great time and will certainly visit St Augustine s again! Drumbeat School & ASD Service 7
6F2 Class Every Tuesday afternoon this term 6F2 attend Glassmill Leisure Centre in Lewisham for swimming lessons. We have a specialist instructor Michael who is experienced in working with young adults with Autism. We are very lucky as we have the teaching pool all to ourselves; the floor is raised to a level which we can all access easily (great for those with sensory processing difficulties); and the blinds are down so that we have privacy. Last year some of the students found it very difficult to even get in the pool especially Jack and Daniel this year we have 3 swimming lessons and last week we were all in the pool together! Amazing - well done especially to Jack and Daniel! Drumbeat School & ASD Service 8
Extended Services What s cooking? This week we were working on independent skills. Students were encouraged to follow the visual recipe with little support. We are working on measuring our ingredients and understanding metric and imperial values. A special mention for Traivonn who has demonstrated outstanding independent skills in cooking club. Meanwhile the cooking club at Drumbeat Downham practiced their cooking skills at making their own Pizza. Great focus and concentration from Tremaine. Drumbeat School & ASD Service 9