Headteachers Message - Oak Tree School

Summer Term News

Headteachers
Message

I can't believe how quickly this year is going,
with half term fast approaching!
In just over a week, we will be saying
goodbye to our year 11's and wishing them
the very best for their futures, as they begin
the next stage in their education journey.
I am incredibly proud of each and everyone
of them, not only with all they have
achieved during their time at Oak Tree, but
also they way they have adapted and
managed significant distribution and
changes over the last 14 months.
                                                  Covid-19 Testing
They will all be greatly missed and I hope        It has been advised that children and
they stay in touch, sharing all their future      parents take Covid test's during the school
successes.                                        holidays, in a bid to continue protecting
                                                  ourselves and others. With half term
With Covid-19 restrictions lifting, and more      coming up we are able to offer LF testing
facilities becoming available it is my hope,      kits to all of our students. If you would like
that we can run some exciting trips before        your child to bring one home, please
our summer break, giving you some great           contact your child's tutor or contact the
experiences outside of the classroom,             school office on 01872 264221.
something I am very passionate about.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes,
Dan

Parent                                               Fishing
and Child                                            Competition
Support                                              Last Saturday one of our students JP took
                                                     part in a junior angling competition.
                                                     This is a first for the school and we were
New for this academic year….
                                                     delighted that he not only caught over 5lb’s of
Let’s Talk ‘Supporting our children with self
                                                     fish during the match but came third overall!
regulation’ virtual workshop for parents and
                                                     The match was for ‘Silvers Only’ which meant
carers coming to you next Tuesday!
                                                     that no big carp would be counted. Catching
Details of the date and time are attached on the
                                                     this many small fish shows dedication to task
flyer below. If you would like to join us and meet
other parents/carers then please contact Michele     and great focus to keep working and catching
Haigh, Parent and Child Support Worker on the        during the two and a half hour match time.
school number direct or email                        He learnt some of his skills with our Outdoor
 Michele.haigh@oaktreeschoolcornwall.co.u            Ed instructor Dan Tolchard, who has helped
k                                                    him become pretty self-sufficient. He ties his
                                                     own rigs, hooks, baits, lands his own fish, and
You are more than welcome to join with no video      can usually take the hook out without help.
if you would prefer.                                 Far from being, a boring activity fishing keeps
                                                     the brain active and uses many mental and
Hope to see you there J                              practical skills from tying small knots to
                                                     keeping calm when that massive carp comes
                                                     off your hook at the last moment. All these
                                                     things help with skill acquisition and personal
                                                     development and create confidence and
                                                     independence so our message to everyone
                                                     is:
                                                     GO FISH!

Reading
You are never too young or old to experience poetry. Poetry can express an entire range of
emotions and can be humorous, imaginative or thought-provoking. It can help children to
become fluent readers and creative writers. Furthermore, they can be short, quick and perfect
for reading aloud!
This nonsense poem by Spike Milligan is one of my favourites.

On the Ning Nang Nong
Where the Cows go Bong!
and the monkeys all say BOO!
There's a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang
All the mice go Clang
And you just can't catch 'em when they do!
So its Ning Nang Nong
Cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
Trees go ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!

Spike Milligan

Interesting fact: In 1998 On the Ning Nang Nong was voted the UK’s favourite comic poem.

Readers of
the Week
1 quiz: KP, WO, KV, LE, BM,
ACA, BRU, HWA, FS, AT
2 quizzes: JZ

Dear
                    Philomena...
...I am a 14-year-old boy and I am really struggling with puberty at the moment. All of the
physical and emotional changes I am experiencing are really affecting my self-esteem and I
don’t know what to do to get through these challenging times. I understand that everybody
goes through puberty but I am finding it so difficult and it’s making me feel confused. I have
tried talking to my friends and family but I find it very difficult to explain how I am feeling and
what I am going through. Can you please provide me some ideas that can help me manage
these difficult times?
Yours Billy

Dear Billy,
It is very difficult to discuss personal things with people especially family but just remember
that It is important for you to recognise the many changes you have already successfully made
in your life, whether they have been positive or negative. You are correct that everyone
experiences puberty and everyone experiences it in a slightly different way and so trying to
give you specific advice is almost impossible. Start by trying to understand the emotions and
physical effects associated with puberty can really help you to manage change more
successfully, now and in the future. If you are having problems speaking to friends and family,
try talking to a teacher at school or a key adult. If this is difficult below are some useful links
that might help? Good luck and I am sure everything will be fine.

https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/puberty
https://healthyschoolscp.org.uk/pshe/puberty
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/stages-of-puberty-what-happens-to-
boys-and-girls/

Term date changes:

Please see our website for changes to
the term dates 2021-2022. There is
the addition of the Queens Jubilee

https://www.oaktreeschoolcornwall.co.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2021/05/21-22-Term-Dates.pdf

OTS Eco-Blog
Learning outside the classroom has always
been at the forefront at Oak Tree and this
week, our staff team received extra training to
top up skills and knowledge for more outdoor-
focussed lessons as the weather improves. We
had a load of fun working things out together,
from small team activities to identifying and
classifying leaves and plants. There were
certainly a host of cross-curricular takeaways
that we’ll be passing on to our students.

Nature really is an incredible areana for
learning. A great example right now is The
Great Bug Hunt competition that is currently
taking place via School Science, a brilliant way
to get involved with some insect identification.
And why are insects so important? Well, with
more than 1.5million species that have been
named (three times the amount of all other
animals combined), insects are crucial to life
on earth. Insects pollinate many of our fruits,
flowers, and vegetables so without them, we
wouldn’t have half of the produce we’ve come
to rely on (not to mention silk, beeswax and
honey).

With one more week of this half term, you
might already be thinking ahead to planning
fun activities during the breal. If so, it would be
worth checking out Rogue Theatre who are
back in Tehidy Woods to entertain with their
magical performances and wonder walks. ‘The
Path to the heart of the Wild’ leads
adventurers into a world that remembers the
language of nature and the roots that connect
all life together. Tickets are on sale now online
via their website.

https://rogueotherworld.co.uk/box-office/