March 2023

It’s been circus time in Beech class this term. After completing a series of Duke of Edinburgh skills taster sessions last term, circus skills and clowning came out as a clear favourite. This term we have covered everything from juggling and dressing up to silly noises and tiger taming. Our messiest session was the foam pie splat session where one of our very brave Oaklands PSAs volunteered to have foam pies splatted at her. Of course, an Oaklands circus skills course would be incomplete without input from the Clown Doctors. Doctor Squash and Doctor Beats have delivered some high quality lessons on how to wear a red nose and, of all things, tight rope walking. We’ve had a lot of laughs this term and are planning to share some of the fun with the rest of the school during an end of term circus fun day.

Whilst not clowning about, we’ve been busy in other ways. We’ve been selling our popular homemade pizzas and soup around the school, running the school tuck shop and visiting different local green spaces. Some pupils have been learning karate and have nearly earned their first belt. Others have been supporting the Wester Hailes food bank, visiting monthly to deliver donations and make up children snack bags. We’ve had small group sessions on puberty and emotions as well as literacy and numeracy activities and daily opportunities for movement and exercise.

 

August 2022

It has been a delight to welcome pupils back to Beech class following the summer break. The pupils have been doing a great job of showing their new teachers how things are done Beech style. The Beech teachers for this year are:

Ele Arbuckle – Monday – Thursday

Angela Harrison – Fridays

It’s always nice to have good weather and we have been taking full advantage of it in Beech this term. We’ve been out walking and cycling around the cycle paths (munching a few blackberries on the way) as well as getting out into the woods for some musical jam sessions and into the allotment to harvest our potatoes.

Some of the pupils will be starting to work on the Duke of Edinburgh Award this year and we have had a few taster sessions of possible activities for the Skills section. Last week we tried out clay and music and in the next few weeks we will be trying out woodwork, photography and card making.

We’re all looking forward to a fun filled term, focussing on developing skills, communication, staying active and generally having a great time.