Farewell to another year
Date published: 17 July 2009
Pupils Missy Carrington and Declan McDermott enjoy learning about the importance of their vegetables with Toby’s head carver Richard Brown.
OLYMPIC gold medallist Tessa Sanderson kick-started a super sports initiative to get young Oldhamers active.
The javelin thrower visited Radclyffe School and Athletics Centre to introduce Gold Factor, which unites a number of different organisations to boost young people’s enthusiasm for sport in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.
Radclyffe teamed up with Oldham Athletic Community Trust, Oldham Community Leisure and the Football League Trust to run taster sessions for more than 100 children.
Hardial Hayer, head teacher at Radclyffe School, said: “Tessa Sanderson is a true ambassador for athletics and her presence can only inspire everyone to take an active part in sport.
“It would be fantastic if one day a youngster from Oldham tries to emulate the success she has achieved.”
Alan Hardy, Oldham Athletic’s chief executive, said: “With the Olympics on the way, Gold Factor is an excellent way to get the people of Oldham excited through taking part in sports and athletics.”
The next Gold Factor event will take place in September and will aim to introduce even more youngsters to a range of different sports.
Veg on the menu
BUDDING Jamie Olivers donned their chef hats and aprons for a behind-the- scenes peek at a Chadderton restaurant.
Year 4 pupils from Chadderton Hall Primary School were invited to their local Toby Carvery in Burnley Lane to find out about the journey their vegetables take from the farm to their plates.
The youngsters learned about the importance of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, how to cook them and they even enjoyed a blind taste test.
They watched a demonstration by Toby’s own master carver, Richard Brown and tucked into a delicious carvery meal complete with a selection of fresh vegetables.
Teacher Andrew Nott said: “The children loved the chef classes. They’ve learned a lot about the importance of eating freshly-prepared vegetables and have an understanding of how the restaurant works.
“One of the highlights was watching the children enjoy their greens during the carvery meal, with many trying the vegetables that they said they had disliked before.”
Pupils Missy Carrington and Declan McDermott enjoy learning about the importance of their vegetables with Toby’s head carver Richard Brown.
A tasty riff for lunch
ROCK band Not The Majority cranked up the volume during lunch time at St Augustine’s School in a bid to raise money for charity.
Pupils paid £1 to be entertained by the band while they ate their lunch at the school in Grange Avenue. All money raised will go to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Royton.
Wacky Wax is a winner
ALAN Sugar, Richard Branson and Donald Trump had better watch out for there’s a new bunch of business superpowers in town. Scores of youngsters from 12 local schools took part in the Year 6 Business Challenge, which is run by Caroline Ireland, head teacher at Greenacres Primary and St Thomas Leesfield.
Pupils create, design and make a product they can sell to raise money for charity. The schools set up stall at Tesco’s Huddersfield Road store to sell their wares to the public, including three judges disguised as mystery shoppers.
The winning team came from St Anne’s RC Primary, in Greenacres — its home-made candles sold out and earned £295 which the pupils donated to Francis House Children’s Hospice.
Supergrounds boost for Crompton
EXCITED children at Crompton Primary School marked the official opening of a new greenhouse, willow dome and flag pole in their school grounds.
The facelift came as part of the £6 million Royal Bank of Scotland Supergrounds programme which has already transformed over 500 school play areas across the country.
The £4,000 cash award from Supergrounds, and an additional £352.52 raised by the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA), helped to complete the project and develop the grounds even further.
They’re a class act at Yew Tree
DEPARTING pupils at Yew Tree Community School have spent their last few weeks singing, dancing and being dramatic.
The Year 6 youngsters have been practising for their end of year production which is based on a host of famous musicals including “Fame”, “Mama Mia” and “Grease”.
Staff led by Emma Gibson and Sally Brown have worked tirelessly with the children to bring the production to life and help them perform to around 700 people.
Tots in Year 2 have also been rehearsing for their version of “The Town Mouse” and “The Country Mouse”.
Deputy head teacher Rais Bhatti said: “It’s great seeing the children enjoying their last few weeks at the school and bringing so much joy and fun to others. The parents and staff have been great as always.”
Crowd pleasers
PUPILS at Thorp Primary School, Royton, wowed audiences with their production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat”.
Youngsters spent several weeks rehearsing for the four sell-out shows directed by music teacher Gillian Farmery. Deputy head teacher Heather Burton said: “The production went really well and the parents thoroughly enjoyed it. All shows were sold out.”
Chefs’ civic serving
Young chefs from New Bridge Learning Centre prepared a buffet for civic heads and councillors at Oldham Civic Centre.
They served up a hot and cold feast before a council meeting, and the first guests were the Mayor and Mayoress, councillors Jim McArdle and Kay Knox, and Chief Executive Charlie Parker.
Mr Parker said: “It was delicious and one of the best meals I have had at the Civic Centre.”.
Fashion with a message
A FUNDRAISING fashion show encouraged teenagers to embrace their body shapes and cherish their individuality.
A group of Year 12 girls from Crompton House School, led by head girl Saba Iltaf, organised the event to raise money for breast and prostate cancer research.
But the girls decided they would also tackle their fellow pupils’ self-confidence issues with a series of workshops with the message “wishing to be someone else is a waste of the person you are”.
Saba, who secured clothing for the show from New Look, said: “For a lot of the pupils, the message we were trying to get across has sunk in. People come in different sizes and shapes and beauty comes from within.”
Making a meal of the big move
YOUNGSTERS bid a fond farewell to their old school buildings by enjoying a lunch-time picnic.
Pupils from Byron Street Infant School and High Barn Junior School merged in January, 2008, to form Royton Hall Primary but have been working on split sites ever since.
Both buildings close today and all the pupils will move into a new school building on the High Barn site in September.
Janet Dornan, deputy head teacher, said: “The children had a fantastic time and it was so nice to see the older children with the younger ones.
“It was a positive step forward and we can’t wait to go into our new school.”
They’re a class act at Yew Tree
DEPARTING pupils at Yew Tree Community School have spent their last few weeks singing, dancing and being dramatic.
The Year 6 youngsters have been practising for their end of year production which is based on a host of famous musicals including “Fame”, “Mama Mia” and “Grease”.
Staff led by Emma Gibson and Sally Brown have worked tirelessly with the children to bring the production to life and help them perform to around 700 people.
Tots in Year 2 have also been rehearsing for their version of “The Town Mouse” and “The Country Mouse”.
Deputy head teacher Rais Bhatti said: “It’s great seeing the children enjoying their last few weeks at the school and bringing so much joy and fun to others. The parents and staff have been great as always.”
Sports day to savour
YOUNG athletes at Kaskenmoor School, Hollinwood, showed what they’re made of during their annual sports day.
Youngsters took part in traditional favourites such as the egg and spoon race and the obstacle course as well as having a go at the tug o’ war. Mark Revill, sports teacher, said: “The whole school enjoyed the sports day.
“They liked the fact that they were competing against each other and working as a team.”
Play gets message across
BUDDING actors at Counthill School, Moorside, staged a special production to raise sexual health awareness among young people.
The Year 9 and 10 youngsters performed “All Night Long”, following a 10-week project with Deborah Pietkiewicz, from Brook Advisory Centre. School learning mentor, Joanne Booth, said: “They also focused on the dangers of drugs.”
A lesson in courtroom life
Youngsters from St Anne’s Junior School, Royton, took the opportunity for some first-hand experience of life at Oldham Magistrates’ Court. Pupils took part in a mock trial under the guidance of District Judge James Prowse. The Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, also attended.
