Makaton At Orchard Brae

Following on from our successful launch of the Makaton Taster Session for Santa’s, Aberdeen City Health And Social Care Partnership, released this wonderful video.

It contains interviews with our music therapist, Emmeline as well as our colleagues in Speech Therapy and of course, footage of our amazing Makaton Minis and Makaton Choir.

 

 

Basketball Coaching Clinic

One of our Senior pupils from Howes Hoose has been very busy this morning.

He participated in a basketball coaching clinic at Oldmachar Academy run by Active Schools.  This clinic was open to teachers, senior pupils, coaches and volunteers and designed to give them an overview of how to structure basketball sessions along with offering a range of activity ideas, drills and practices.

We can’t wait for him to put these new skills he has learned into practice in school!

 

BBC Reporting Scotland – Makaton Choir

In case you missed our wonderful Makaton choir on BBC Reporting Scotland last night, you can download it using the link below (we’re on 22 minutes into the program).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009y3j/reporting-scotland-evening-news-29102019?fbclid=IwAR2X5AqXNbx7Za1lZxYNVxxjNArUcHqaMvI3SnwzMAfuH7moMUuo0EzXnVQ

 

Creative Learning Award for the Makaton Choir

We were delighted to be invited to the Aberdeen City Council Children and Young People’s Services Awards today which were held at the Beach Ballroom.

Arriving at the Beach Ballroom

The Makaton Choir, led by Emmeline, our Music Therapist, had been nominated for the Creative Learning Award. There was tough competition with two other schools nominated so we were delighted when Orchard Brae were announced as the winners.

Our Makaton Choir delegation with the Lord Provost

Well done to our senior pupils for representing the school today. It was wonderful to be present at the Ceremony, celebrating learning and achievements from across the City. Congratulations to everyone that was nominated!

The obligatory Awards Selfie

Our Certificate and Award

Makaton Choir Workshop

On Tuesday, our Makaton Choir hosted some very special guests in school as part of a choir workshop organised by our Emmeline, our music therapist.

The two choirs that visited us were ‘The Kitty Choir’ from Kittybrewster Primary School and ‘Singing Hands’, an Aberdeen based BSL signing (British Sign Language)  choir.  We all had a wonderful afternoon sharing our different approaches to choir.

The Orchard Brae Makaton Choir performed “Happy” and “Summer Holiday”, Singing Hands performed “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” and “Give Me Sunshine” and The Kitty Choir performed “Sing”.

The three choirs then collaborated and sang our Makaton signed version of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” alongside the BSL version.  It was very interesting to see the differences and similarities between Makaton and BSL.  We then rounded of the afternoon by all learning the Makaton signs for “Shotgun!”

Everyone had a wonderful afternoon and Scott, the hearing dog was a big hit with all of the pupils!  It was wonderful to have the opportunity to share our learning and learn from others too.