Thursday 17 December 2015

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at The Castle School



We hope you have a wonderful holiday and look forward to welcoming our brilliant pupils back on Tuesday 5th January 2016

Christmas Shoe Box Appeal


Thank you so much to everyone who has donated items or even whole boxes for our shoebox appeal.


We have an incredible 47 packages which have now been collected by the charity Loose Ends, who help homeless and vulnerable people in the Newbury Area. Please click here to have a look at their website.


Thank you everyone involved.


Friday 11 December 2015

Castle-Made calendars for sale

Some of our industrious pupils have developed and produced a 2016 calendar for you to purchase.

As part of our GO (Guided Options) sessions in Key Stage 4, some of the pupils have been learning about digital photography. They have created this 2016 calendar using the photographs they have taken.

If you are interested in buying one of our calendars (at the real bargain cost of £2.50) please let Liz Wiltshire (Tintagel Class Teacher) have your order as soon as possible so that we can make them for you before we break up for Christmas.
 
A wonderful stocking-filler :-)
 

 

Friday 4 December 2015

Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Dear all,

The pupils in Tintagel Class have decided that this Christmas they want to support local people who are homeless by making up shoeboxes full of useful and nice items to help them through the winter months.
 
Please see the poster below for Tintagel's shoebox project which outlines the type of items we are looking for.

Thank you to anyone who has already donated items or whole boxes. We have already put together about 25 packages 😊 

If anyone else wishes to make a donation we'd like them by Monday 14th December.

Thank you  

Liz Wiltshire (Tintagel Class Teacher)

Tuesday 1 December 2015

"Beyond" Relaxed Performances

The wonderful staff at the Watermill Theatre want to get ideas and views from you. Please read below for more information

‘Beyond Relaxed Performances’

Welcoming people with autism to The Watermill
Following The Watermill’s first Relaxed Performance of Alice in Wonderland, on Monday 30th November at 6.30pm, you are warmly invited to The Watermill for a Q&A, where you are the experts with the answers.

Saturday 12 December at 10.30am
The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury, RG20 8AE

Under generous funding from Greenham Common Trust, we are looking to offer participation opportunities to young people with autism and ASD, particularly teenagers. The aim is to provide a safe and creative space to make theatre, express yourself and practice interaction.

But we need your opinions… Is this the right age group? What structure will fit your life best, one-off workshops or a weekly group? What time? Where?
If you would like to be part of the conversation about what this new provision will look like, please join us on Saturday 12 December at 10.30am.

This event is free but please contact Lixi at lixi@watermill.org.uk or call 01635 570918 to register your interest by 4pm on Friday 11 December, or for any further information. If you are unable to attend but would like to share your views, please get in touch.

Visual Story
For attendees who would like some information about the theatre ahead of the event, our Social Story is available on our Access webpage:

https://www.watermill.org.uk/access or if you are not able to access the internet, contact Lixi for a printed copy to be posted to you.


Strictly Come Castle!

In September the boys in Donnington and Tintagel classes worked with Zoie Golding from Fuzzy Logic Dance Company. Over a period of 7 weeks the boys developed a dance that focussed on the idea of how reading books can inspire our imaginations. 

In November the project culminated in a showcase of dance at the Newbury Corn Exchange where many West Berkshire Primary and Secondary Schools participated.

The Project is suitably titled, ‘ManMade’ and was set up by Fuzzy Logic Dance Company to inspire and engage boys in dance. 

The night was a total success with the boys performing their movement with focus, precision and energy. Dancing live on stage, with expressive lighting, in front of hundreds of people was awe inspiring for them and was an experience I’m sure they won’t forget in a hurry. Below are some wonderful pictures from the event.