Please find below an updated version of the Orchard Brae Covid-19 Risk Assessment.
The Risk Assessment and the associated documents and links can also be found on the Covid-19 page of the website.
Category: Uncategorised
School Transport Information For Parents And Carers
Please find below the latest information from Aberdeen City Council regarding School Transport Information & Guidance for Parents/Carers and Children.
It can also be viewed by following the link below:
Happy Holidays!
We would like to thank all of our pupils, families and staff for their hard work, enthusiasm and endless support over the last four months! You have amazed us with your strength and resilience during a very challenging and difficult time.
Last night’s virtual prom was a wonderful way to say goodbye to our school leavers and we wish them all well for the amazing journeys that lie ahead of them.
We also have to say farewell to some staff members too as they leave us for pastures new.
We say a fond farewell to Niki Anderson, our Head of Early Learning and Childcare, who is retiring. Niki has been part of our community for many years both at Hazlewood and Orchard Brae. We will miss her very much but wish her every happiness in her retirement.
We also say goodbye to Sam Stephen, our dance and drama instructor, who is heading off for new adventures in London. Thank you Sam for your endless enthusiasm and boundless energy and for organising an amazing virtual prom! We wish you well for the future.
Cara Blackstock, PSA in Room 8 will be leaving us to train as a teacher and we wish her every success in her future career.
Tracey Catto, from the Admin team, left us at Easter but farewells then were overshadowed by events so we would like to wish her well in her future endeavours.
Goodbye also to Jacqui Clutten, who has been a children’s escort for 17 years and farewell to her fellow escort Connor Cadger.
But as we say farewell to what has been an unusual year to say the least, the staff at Orchard Brae would like to share a little something to brighten up your summer!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!
Autism Outreach Service – Free Webinars from Children in Scotland
Children in Scotland is a national charity that is delivering some free webinars throughout the month of July. The webinars are on a range of topics and are aimed at parents and carers of children with additional support needs. The webinar titles and dates are listed below.
If you are interested in joining in one of the webinars you can book by clicking the link here which will take you to the Children in Scotland booking page on eventbrite.
Tuesday, 7 July 2020, 10.30 till 12.00
Discussing coronavirus and lockdown with children/teens with ASN
Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Monday, 20 July 2020, 15.00 till 16.30
Supporting children/teens with ASN to manage health anxieties
Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Thursday, 23 July 2020, 10.30 till 12.00
Understanding children’s rights and additional support requirements
My Rights, My Say
Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 10.30 till 12.00
Creating positive home routines for children/teens with ASN
Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Friday, 31 July 2020, 15.00 till 16.30
Supporting children/teens with ASN with their transition back to schooling
Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Music With Emmeline – Monday 22nd June
Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.
Vocal Warm-Up: Horse
This week’s vocal warm-up is going to be making the sounds of a horse! Can you take a deep breath in and make a horsey sound with Emmeline to warm up your voice?
Shine: Part 1 – Chorus
This week’s Makaton song is going to be ‘Shine’ by Take That. A song that we are sure most of you are very familiar with! Today we are going to learn the chorus, the words are;
So come on, oh come on, get it on
I don’t know what you’re waiting for
Your time is coming don’t be late, hey hey
So come on
See the light on your face
Let it shine
Just let it shine
Let it shine
Music With Emmeline – Tuesday 16th June
Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.
Action Song: Move Your Finger Round Your Tummy
Move your finger is a lovely action song that a pupil has taught Emmeline during lock-down. It incorporates many different actions and is very good fun! We hope you enjoy singing along with it with Emmeline and trying out the actions at home.
Days like This: Part 2 – Verse 2
Today we are going to sing and sign the second verse of Days Like This. Here are the words;
When you don’t need to worry there’ll be days like this
When no one’s in a hurry there’ll be days like this
When you don’t get betrayed by that old Judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there’ll be days like this.
Primary Department Activities – Week Beginning 1st June
Here are some fun activities for you to try at home this week.
If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Story Of The Week: ‘Hole At The Bottom Of The Sea’ By Jessica Law
This week’s story is one of our favourite Barefoot Books stories. Sing along and see what you can find at the bottom of the sea.
Click below to watch and listen to the story:
The book study below has some great activities for you to try at home based on the story.
Links and additional documents to support the activities can be found below.
Activity 1: Sea Creature Characters
These characters can also be downloaded using the link below:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-tp-1184-under-the-sea-small-world-characters
Activity 3: Makaton Signs
Watch and learn the Makaton signs with Mr Tumble using the link below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/something-special-crab-fish-octopus?collection=makaton-signs
Other Activity Ideas:
Design Your Own Sea Creature
These templates can also be downloaded using the link below:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/us-t-2549335-sea-creature-templates-cut-outs
Move Like A Sea Creature
These can be downloaded using the following link:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-29366-ocean-animal-movement-cards
Create A Sea Themed Mobile
These instructions and templates can also be downloaded using the link below:
https://www.rif.org/sites/default/files/Support_Materials/Activity_US_HITBOTS_SeaMobile_0713.pdf
Science: Minibeasts
This week we are going to continue looking at animals known as minibeasts, which you can find in your garden or local area. Here is some interesting information about minibeasts. The download links can be found below each activity.
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-10435-minibeasts-and-their-micro-habitats-powerpoint
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t2-s-1165-insects-photo-powerpoint
Now that you know a bit more about minibeasts, why don’t you try these activities?
Minibeast Interactive Game:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-5145-minibeasts-what-am-i-interactive-powerpoint-game
Sorting Activity:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-5064-minibeasts-legs-or-no-legs-sorting-activity
Description Game:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-19367-minibeast-description-cards
Classification Game:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-12808-minibeast-classification-game
Minibeast Hunt:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/T-T-019-Minibeast-hunt-sheet
Challenges:
Make Your Own Minibeast Hotel:
Be Resilient!
Education Scotland, in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council, produced a Resilience Alphabet full of fun think, say, do activities designed to promote resilience and develop coping strategies. There are a series of activities for each letter of the alphabet, so pick a letter and give it a go!
Learning Grid: Life Skills
Here is a learning grid for Life Skills. It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help develop and promote your child’s independence in a range of household and life skills tasks.
These activities are only suggestions and we would recommend that, where appropriate, you adapt these activities to meet your child’s ability level.
Learning Grid: Get Active!
Here is a learning grid for Getting Active! It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help promote physical activity both in and out of the home on a daily basis.
These activity are only suggestions and we would recommend completing one activity each day. However, we would love to see what other creative ways you and your family are using to Get Active daily!
Links to YouTube Channels and websites can be found below.
Oti Mabuse Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/mosetsanagape
Joe Wicks – Body Coach YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/thebodycoach1
Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://www.cosmickids.com/
Cosmic Kids Yoga YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Learning Station YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLearningStation
Bumble Bee Physio: https://www.facebook.com/bumblebeephysio/
imoves.com also have lots of fun exercise activities for you to try at home. Here are some of the challenges and the links to access them:
Mountain Bike Challenge: https://imoves.com/home-learning/723
Exercise And Health: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1272
Wellness Warrior – Fruit And Veg Dance: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1332
Positions And Directions: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1334
Samba Carnival: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1340
Disco: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1346
Balance Challenge: https://imoves.com/home-learning/964
Strong Core: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1393
Secondary Update: Week Ending 29th May
Thanks to everyone that has shared photographs of their remote learning this week. It gives us all joy to see your photographs or hear how you’re getting on. We hope that you all have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine. It looks like it’s going to be very warm so remember your suncream or protective clothing if you’re advantage of another spell of fine weather.
This week you’ve all been very busy! Here are some of the photos that have been shared …
Life Skills
Pupils from Howes Hoose have continued working on their life skills both indoors and out. It makes us very happy to see how you’re transferring your skills and becoming very independent at home.
Minibeasts
One of our Room 14 pupils made a ladybird using playdough and a rock he found when out on a walk.
He also recreated his favourite scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This took a lot of time, making paper mache rocks and a spider’s body, and then painting the box to hold the scene. I’m sure you’ll agree it looks amazing!
Family Time
I know from staff as well as pupils that it can be tough just now trying to find creative ways to keep the family entertained. Please always remember that we’re all doing the best that we can! One family in particular have been going to great lengths to entertain themselves and even features on a TV series of Lockdown Diaries.
Fitness
Our PE colleagues have shared some links for fitness videos you can try at home. Why not give them a go as a family? The feedback from one of our young people was that the whole family enjoyed lots of fun and laughter as a result.
https://imoves.com/home-learning/1257
https://imoves.com/home-learning/1330
Thank You!
Finally, thank you to Mortey and Sam from Aberdeen Bon Accord Rotary Club. They visited school this week, having been in contact to arrange a way of accessing the grounds to avoid being in contact with anyone, and very kindly cut our grass. It had been growing very long during the period of lockdown. This is very much appreciated by us all.
Music With Emmeline – Tuesday 12th May
Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.
Move With The Music: Violin
Today we would like you to try moving with the music Emmeline is going to play on her violin. When Emmeline is playing high notes are you able to stretch up tall and when she plays low notes can you crouch down low. Also can you move in time with Emmeline’s music? Pay careful attention to whether she plays fast or slow. You can also just listen to the music and imagine something moving high and low, fast and slow too – maybe a bird or a butterfly.
All the Small Things: Part 2 – Verse 1
We hope you enjoyed learning the chorus to this song yesterday and today we are going to learn the first verse. Here are the words;
All the small things
True care truth brings
I’ll take one lift
Your ride, best trip
Always I know
You’ll be at my show
Watching, waiting
Commiserating
Expressive Arts – Week Beginning 11th May
Our Expressive Arts team have been busy creating more videos for you to enjoy at home throughout the week.
They include an art activity from Diane for you to copy, drumming from Keith and a trash band video from Keith and Emmeline as well as information about Sam’s online dance classes. Don’t forget that Emmeline’s musical activities will be posted daily.
If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Art: Printmaking
Drumming: Session 7 – Practical Rhythm Skills
Trash Band: Session 4 – I Know A Chicken
Dance: Online Classes
Sam is holding two online dance classes this week on Wednesday 6th May and Friday 8th May at 1pm.
Both of these classes will be taking place through his YouTube channel. You can join in by searching Sam Stephen on YouTube or you can subscribe to his channel by following the link below: