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	Newsletter
Ready for the Easter Break Life in school has been very busy as usual over the last term. We have had several new pupils and new staff too. As most of you know I was appointed as the Head of the new special school in Newsome (its name not yet known) which means that I will be leaving Turnshaws—but meeting up with everyone again in the new school. I will still have very close contact with the school and will be popping in and out on a regular basis, even if it is only to say hello to all the pupils and staff. The school will be in good hands and will be supported as always by our Governing Body. Have a lovely Easter holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone back on 28 April. We will also be welcoming Paul, the new teacher in the Early Years. Gill Taylor
Comings and Goings in Class 1
This is Katie who has recently joined Class One and has settled in really quickly. Katie is a very happy and friendly little girl, who loves doing anything noisy or messy! I would like to thank everyone for the privilege of spending the last six months at Turnshaws. It has been the most amazing and rewarding experience and I have loved every moment. I will be very sad to leave, especially the children in Class One, but plan to keep in touch. I wish Paul the joy and happiness I have had and continued success for everyone at Turnshaws . It has been an awesome place to work—Thank you everyone! Jill Hutchinson
Class 7 Visit Local Sites of Cultural Importance
Thursday afternoons have been Class 7’s time to visit sites around West Yorkshire that show what a rich cultural heritage we possess. Earlier this year we visited Huddersfield Art Gallery, the Tolson Museum, Dewsbury Museum and the Natinal Mining Museum. This term, the class have been making their own packed lunches in the morning, meal preparation session before setting off at midday for places further away. The class have visited Cannon Hall, Imax at Bradford, Oakwell Hall and the Colour Museum in Bradford. This last museum just outside the shopping centre was visited twice. On the first visit we looked around the exhibits that explain the importance of colour in our lives. On the second visit, the class took part in a workshop session based on stained glass painting. The students in Class 7 have enjoyed their educational visits this term and we hope that they will get the chance to re-visit some of the places visited during the coming holidays.
Red Nose Day
We had loads of fun during the day and finished off with a big fashion/hair parade. We sold all our red noses and lots of raffle tickets and raised £200 in the process for Comic Relief. A big thank you to all those who bought noses or raffle tickets.
A Joint Venture
Since September 2003, staff and students from the 16+ groups at Turnshaws and Highfields have been involved in a very successful co-operative educational venture or could it be adventure? On Mondays some students from Turnshaws join Highfields students at Huddersfield Technical College for ‘taster’ sessions that so far have included motor vehicle engineering, holistic therapy and painting and decorating. A smaller group has been working at the Birkby site, working on communication and numeracy skills. In the afternoon, a large group of 17 students from both schools has enjoyed the facilities at the Arena Sports Centre at Deighton where a range of sports and drama have been on offer. Students from Turnshaws have shared the timetabled session in the pool at Huddersfield Sports Centre on Tuesday mornings and this activity is due to restart in the Summer Term. On Wednesday a group of students from Highfields comes to Turnshaws to join an ‘Enterprise’ session or use the ICT facilities that we have avilable. At midday, a mixed group of students goes to Dewsbury College for lunch, before joining College students in their afternoon activities. So far this year, they have included art, paper craft, fashion, video-drama, music and sport. Students and staff enjoy these College links which enable our students to get used to the busier environment that will greet them when they leave Turnshaws or Highfields. Now that you have read this summary of the very successful on-going link between Turnshaws and Highfields, please consider buying or ordering one of our ‘Enterprise’ products.
News from Class 4
In February we had a great day out at the Bombay Stores in Bradford. We bought some shiny, sparkly, highly coloured materials to make a Chinese dragon. You will be able to see it at our concert on Thursday 10 April at 10 am. We went to the Mandarin restaurant and had a Chinese banquet with Class 3. The children were so well behaved, we’ll have to go back. On Wednesday 9 April we are going to see “Rumpelstiltskin” at Lawrence Batley Theatre. It’s been a very exciting few months. We’ve been working hard in the classroom too. This term we’ve been studying the weather, keeping a record of all the sunny days and the wet days. We went to Morrisons in Design Technology to find out how bread is made. Then we made some delicious bread ourselves. Everyone really enjoyed it
BBC Voices Project
The school has really been buzzing this term with this project. Claire, the producer, and her colleagues have been busy interviewing lots of people from our school from their specially built little studio off our school hall. On Tuesday 15 April at 9.14 am the broadcast will be about Sport and Turnshaws and will include an interview with Basil Richards, the former Huddersfield Giants rugby player who has been running sporting activities at lunchtimes for our students. On Wednesday 16 April at 10.50 am Ian Powell will be talking about Table Cricket, and there will be an item on Riding for the Disabled. During the second week of the Easter holiday there will be coverage of the Dolphin Therapy which took Aiden Firth to America. Also after Easter there will be a Parent and Teacher Audio Diary. Please try and listen to the broadcasts and remember that the team would welcome your support, ideas and involvement. Claire can be contacted on 07736 481 299
News from Class 2
Aiden Firth has just returned from Dolphin Therapy in Florida. One of the highlights was when he did the sign with his hand for ‘up’ for the dolphins to jump out of the water. Hugh Shaw has a link at Lepton C of E School—he’s enjoying seeing his old friends and joining in their PE session. A teacher from Crosland Moor School is joining Class 2 on Monday mornings to ‘Team Teach’ RE with Denise. Denise then goes to Team Teach RE to a class of 34 children at Crosland Moor School on a Monday afternoon. Just a quick reminder to carry on collecting tokens from crisp packets and the Sun and News of the World newspapers
Fuzzy Felters
Make sure that you visit this great website: www.fuzzyfelters.com Its author, Henry Morris has been an ‘artist in residence’ for two weeks during this half term. Henry from Trinidad is very laid back, almost horizontal and the atmosphere he creates in the classroom is calm and industrious. He worked with Class 7 for a whole morning last week and the two and a half hours just flew by. Nobody took a break. Henry showed us some of the items that he had made form the Merino wool that he uses to make felt. He was wearing a very colourful, one-piece jacket that was totally seamless and didn’t contain a single stitch. He makes scarves, hats, belts, very interesting ‘heads’ and wall hangings. Henry carefully explained how felt was made before we set off making a wrist bangle, a braided hair decoration, a scarf or wall-hanging and a mitten or bag. Rachael, Colin, Oliver, Jonathan and Lydia were very productive and really enjoyed the workshop organised by Henry. We are sure that all the classes who worked with Henry benefited from these sessions
We welcome two new Educational Teaching Assistants into school this half term. Kirsty Wilde has joined Class AP2 and Tracey Parsons has joined Class AP1. We think they are getting used to us all! We also welcome Stuart Mayo into Class 5 and Sulaman Mohammed into Class AP2. We hope that they will enjoy their time at Turnshaws.
Children from Kirkburton playgroup have been having a very enjoyable visit to Class AP1. They have joined in at snacktime and had a go on the communication machine and touchscreen computer. They have all played in the sand or water and joined in play on the trampoline and with big balls. Both sets of children have been very interested in each other and begun to have little interactions, which has been great to see.
New Tax Credits—From the Inland Revenue 9 out of 10 families with children will qualify for New Tax Credits (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) To claim your entitlement you need to complete a tax credit claim form. If you previously had the children’s tax credit included in your PAYE tax code, or if you claimed the Working Families Tax Credit, you will still need to complete the form if you haven’t already done so. What have you got to lose? To request a claim pack please phone 0845 300 3900, log on or call at your local Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre THERE’S MONEY WITH YOUR NAME ON IT! DON’T MISS OUT www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Home.aspx
Fund Raising
In February the Doreen France School of Dancing held performances by their students at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. Both Turnshaws and Highfields were able to run raffles and the proceeds from these and from the sale of tickets was divided between the two schools. Turnshaws received £999—so many thanks to Doreen and her students. We have also been promised money from the HSBC, Yorkshire Building Society, and the Parish Council to fund the projects set up by the BBC team.