Monthly Archives: December 2018

Wessex Water’s Generous Gift to Fosse Way School Student

Wessex Water’s Generous Gift to Fosse Way School Student

A talented year 11 student on the roll of Fosse Way, the outstanding special school in Radstock, is the fortunate beneficiary of a generous donation from local utility company, Wessex Water.

The young man concerned is one of a small number of academically-able autistic students from Fosse Way who, with specialist support from members of Fosse Way’s teaching staff, are able to receive mainstream secondary education at the nearby Norton Hill School. This ground-breaking initiative by the two schools enables Fosse Way students to study an extensive range of subjects at Norton Hill while also receiving support and guidance from staff at Fosse Way’s base on the campus which is known as A5. Since A5 was established in September 2006, it has proven a highly successful venture that has frequently enabled Fosse Way students to gain impressive numbers of GCSE and A level qualifications. Some Fosse Way students have been so successful at Norton Hill that they have far outstripped their initial ambitions and taken up degree course at universities including Oxford.

One of the current A5 students has regularly made use of a laptop during his lessons in order to present his work to a high standard and compensate for handwriting difficulties. However, the machine could never store more than a fraction of the conscientious student’s daily output and was always reliant on the use of a memory stick to store his work. When a change to Norton Hill’s security policy meant the memory stick could no longer be used it became clear that a replacement machine was urgently needed. Mindful of the student’s needs, Norton Hill’s Director of Information Technology kindly loaned one of the school’s own machines while a long term solution was sought. A little research soon established that a Chrome Book, rather than a conventional lap top, would best suit the student while being fully compatible with Norton Hill’s information technology systems.

It was then that A5 teaching assistant Cassie Green mentioned to A5 Co-ordinator, Tim Carter that she had heard of a charitable scheme whereby Wessex Water, based at Claverton Down in Bath, makes donations available to deserving causes. Hopeful of a little help towards the cost of the Chrome Book, Mr. Carter penned a letter to Wessex Water outlining the student’s pressing need for a device that would present his much toiled over work in the best light.

Within a few weeks a letter was received from Wessex Water’s Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Marilyn Smith. Therein Ms Smith explained that the company’s community involvement committee had recently met to consider Mr. Carter’s request. However, rather than make a donation that would go some way towards the cost of the Chrome Book the committee had concluded that they would like to fund the new machine outright! Ms Smith confirmed: “ I am pleased to tell you that they  you that they have agreed to contribute £300.”

It goes without saying that the year 11 student as well as the staff of Fosse Way’s A5 base are delighted with this donation and are extremely grateful to Wessex Water for their generosity. An order for a new Hewlett Packard Chrome Book was swiftly placed and is now proudly used in lessons at Norton Hill throughout the day. Mr Carter commented: “For success at GCSE it is essential that our student is able to present his work clearly. He now has all he needs to demonstrate the high standards he is capable of achieving. We would like to thank Wessex Water for their tremendous donation. It is sure to make a huge impact on our student’s work during this critical year in his education.”

70 nominations for inaugural Our Young Stars Awards

70 nominations for inaugural Our Young Stars Awards

More than 70 young people have been nominated for Bath and North East Somerset’s Our Young Stars Awards. The awards will recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of extraordinary young people in the district. Nominations closed at the end of November and a panel of judges are now in the process of selecting the finalists… Read More…

HEDGEHOG’S RECYCLING NIGHTMARE!

HEDGEHOG’S RECYCLING NIGHTMARE!

Recycling is a good thing to do, but for one little hedgehog it resulted in a near death experience! Tania of Hopton Castle, South Shropshire was checking her recycling box before putting it out for collection the following day.  To her amazement she found a tiny hedgehog trapped in an empty cat food tin. She… Read More…

Make the world better with a sweater!

Make the world better with a sweater!

On December 14th make sure to wear your ugliest Christmas jumper to school or work for Christmas Jumper Day! In case you don’t know – Christmas Jumper Day is an annual event that helps raise money for Save the Children. It’s basically a celebration of ugly Christmas themed jumpers, while also helping fundraise for a… Read More…

How to make Lebkuchen

How to make Lebkuchen

Nothing says Christmas like these chewy German biscuits and they’re pretty easy to make at home, so why not get together with the family and make some festive treats?   You will need: 250g self raising flour (substitute for gluten free if you like) 2tsp ground spice 1tsp finely grated lemon zest 1tsp orange zest… Read More…

Help the NHS help you this winter by taking simple steps

Help the NHS help you this winter by taking simple steps

People living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Swindon and Wiltshire are being urged to do their bit to help the NHS cope with an increase in demand for services this winter. As the season gets underway and Christmas approaches, health and care leaders from across the region are asking people to do as… Read More…

New bus to provide reliable mobile library service

New bus to provide reliable mobile library service

Bath & North East Somerset Council is to take delivery of a brand new mobile library bus next year as part of its continued investment in community library services. The custom-designed £120,000 vehicle will enter service late next spring, ensuring a reliable mobile library service is provided to communities across Bath and North East Somerset.… Read More…

Waste and recycling changes over the Christmas period

Waste and recycling changes over the Christmas period

Waste and recycling collection dates will change over Christmas and new year. There will be no collections on Christmas Day (Tuesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Wednesday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Tuesday 1 January). There will be catch-up collections on Saturday 29 December, 5 January and 12 January. Garden waste collections will stop from… Read More…

Staff in Sirona care & health are helping children in the third world with this year’s ‘flu vaccine campaign.

Staff in Sirona care & health are helping children in the third world with this year’s ‘flu vaccine campaign.

The not-for-profit social enterprise, which provides NHS and Local Authority funded health and care services in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and surrounding areas, is supporting UNICEF’s Get a Jab: Give a Jab initiative so for every vaccine given to a member of Sirona staff, three are given to  UNICEF for children in developing… Read More…

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