We aspire to provide all our learners with access to the highest quality of learning and teaching alongside a mix of evidence based Autism specific approaches in order to maximise their success and encourage achievement in its broadest sense.
Our aim is to help all our pupils be the best they can be as:
It’s been far too long since our last newsletter but once again we’ve find ourselves working in this really challenging way during another lockdown.
Many of you will know that the last few weeks in school has been particularly challenging for us as a community, and I want to say thank you for all of the support that we have received. The young people who are attending Meadowpark regularly have been incredible during this time as has the whole staff team.
Despite these tough times there are things to celebrate and look forward to. The kitchen garden is really taking shape thanks to the tireless efforts of Stefano. He’s been out literally in all weathers building the decking and planters, and we are really looking forward to welcoming the participants and seeing this project grow (pardon the pun).
One of our pupils, Max, is getting quite a lot of press for his very creative work during lockdown. He has been featured recently in the East Lothian Courier because his sculptures are not only fantastic, but they are also helping to raise lots of money for two very good causes: Can Do and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
We are really proud of what he is doing, and you can read more about his work and how to donate if you would like to on the East Lothian Courier page here.
Finally, I’d like to say a really big well done to all of our amazing pupils who are learning from home. You’ve really done a great job in coping (as have mums, dads and carers !), and I’m really hoping that things will start to get back to normal soon.
Firstly, a very Happy New Year to you all, and I hope you had a good Christmas as far as was possible.
It is the start to 2021 that we really didn't want, but I wanted to say thank you to you all for being so understanding and supportive. We are in good shape for Monday and many of you will have already heard directly from our teachers to explain how the access to online learning etc. will work.
There are bound to be glitches, but nothing we can't solve, and if you haven't been contacted by your child's class teacher yet, please don't worry. On Monday, we will be continuing to contact everyone to ensure that the technology is working as it should, and that you have all of the information you need.
Best wishes,
Mr Johnson and the Meadowpark team.
Firstly an apology for not getting a newsletter out last week, we were just working too hard!
I think “Festive Fun” sums everything up at the moment. Christmas for me has always been the best time to work in schools, and this year is no different.
We had Christmas jumper day last week and managed to raise a fabulous £44 for Save the Children by doing that. Thank you to all the families and carers who supported it.
There has been some brilliant Christmas crafting going on this week (as well as Literacy, Numeracy etc…..promise). It’s such a shame that we couldn’t host a Christmas Fair to show off the skills, but I can clearly see an enterprise project leading to a summer fair and festival. We have really enjoyed supporting our good friends at Our Community Kitchen, by making Christmas cards. These are to be sent by the community kitchen to members of the local community who for a variety of reasons may be quite isolated. I’m sure they’ll appreciate them and enjoy our Christmas messages.
I’ve been really proud to hand out Diligence Awards to a number of our pupils today. Those young people who gained awards will take the certificates home and I’m sure our parents and carers will all be very proud of them too. Not everyone gets an award and it is a big achievement so a real “well done” to them.
Monday and Tuesday coming will no doubt be full of more Christmas fun. We will be having an end of term assembly on Monday just before lunch, followed by a screening of an online pantomime in the afternoon (oh yes we will……). For those young people who aren’t in school at the moment, I’ll send links to the assembly and the panto so everyone can be fully involved.
Wishing you a very happy and safe Christmas,
Mr Johnson and the Meadowpark Team
I’m really excited to report that our project with the Our Community Kitchen is about to make a leap forward as the funding is now in place to begin the "big build". Pretty soon after Christmas we will be having the decking and planters constructed, ready for us and the wider community to get planting and grow some tasty veg.
On the theme of food, Tyne this week have been developing their independent living skills cooking pizzas from scratch.
Leven have also been refining their culinary skills this week with some tasty fruit salads.
Esk have been continuing their history project about this school building over the years. They have produced some very artistic photography as part of that project.
Forth have also been showing off their artwork skills, and I particularly like their modern Christmas tree art designs.
Well done to all!
Have a super weekend.
Mr Johnson and the Meadowpark Team.
At a meeting this week I was hearing all about the work of Venturing Out. Venturing Out is a Not for Profit Community Interest Company that offers a huge range of activities and experiences for families in East Lothian whose children have additional support needs.
What I particularly like about Venturing Out, is that the team work with the whole family. In fact, they can also work sometimes with just the parents in order to give some much needed “away time", and to allow parents to gain the skills and experience in certain activities to then be able to support their child confidently when they all take part together.
There’s a whole range of activities available like paddle sports, coasteering, bushcraft and mountain biking.
The Venturing Out website gives all of the details and links to get in touch with them. Why not have a look?
Another typically busy week here at Meadowpark.
Esk have been learning about plant lifecycles, and went out on Tuesday to learn how to work out the age of a tree as part of their John Muir Award.
I’ve seen more examples of the creativity in Tyne class with some brilliant painted pebble designs (photos next week I promise).
Clyde have been involved in some very grown up discussions around LGBT issues, and raising some really insightful points.
Leven have been working very hard in literacy and numeracy. I was especially impressed by their writing on the dangers of plastics for wildlife.
So much great work and learning going on.
Have a super weekend.
Mr Johnson and the Meadowpark Team
