The Forest School newsletter July 2008

PAUL CAIRNS
As usual, the end of the school year is a time for saying goodbye to people as they move on to new things.
This year we are very sad to be saying goodbye to Paul Cairns our deputy head teacher. Paul has decided to take early retirement and leave The Forest School.
I am sure that all of our parents and carers will join me in telling him how much he will be missed and in wishing him a happy, healthy, long retirement.
Paul’s outgoing, enthusiastic personality has been a part of The Forest School for 14 years and, during that time, he has achieved many things: starting courses leading to external accreditation, re-designing the leavers’ curriculum, leading work on Team Teach, organising fun events for the pupils, being the voice of sports day and swimming galas and making The Forest School Quiz Nights the highlight of the school’s social calendar.
As well as all these very public duties, Paul’s caring way of supporting pupils in their learning, with social and emotional difficulties and behaviour problems, means that he has had a positive impact on every pupil he has worked with. Paul will be remembered for many things: dressing up in strange clothes and taking the lead in school productions, Morris dancing, playing silly games, singing ‘Happy Birthday’ inviting the whole school for tea, promising extra holidays that never happen! and sometimes his ‘raised voice’ can be heard in the corridors!
Most of all he will be remembered as a thoroughly professional, talented teacher who has helped hundreds of young people to realise their potential and achieve things they never thought possible.
WE WILL ALL MISS YOU MR. CAIRNS, PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH.

We also say ‘goodbye’ to Zeena Powell ATA who is leaving The Forest School to work at Ripon Cathedral School and ‘au revoir’ to
Liz Shaw who is about to go on maternity leave. We wish both of you all the best in the future. Monica Uden

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Mon 21st July – Sports Day 1.30 – whole school weather permitting !

School Closes on Tues 22nd July at 3.30pm and Re-opens in September for pupils on Tuesday 2nd September

COFFEE SHOP IN AID OF THE FOREST SCHOOL
St Paul’s United Reformed Church, Victoria Avenue, (opposite the library) will be holding a coffee shop in aid of The Forest School on SATURDAY 16TH AUGUST between 10.30 – 12.00. Please support this event .

LOST PROPERTY
A grey coat with hood has been lost by one of our pupils – it is named with ‘Josh Lodge’ inside – please check that this hasn’t come home by mistake.

All property found in school will be on display in school on Sports Day so you may wish to have a look and be reunited with any items that have gone astray during the year.

TIME TOGETHER HARROGATE BOROUGH COUNCIL
HBC have planned a Summer Activity Session to provide a leisure activity for young people who have Autism or Asperger syndrome. It is aimed at ages 12 – 18 years and places are allocated on a first come first served basis. It will be run at Fairfax community Centre between 4-7pm on Tuesdays 29th July, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th August at a cost of £5 per session including a cooked meal. Please contact Danielle Barker on 01423 556719 who will answer any queries, take your booking and send your child a registration form.

HENSHAWS HOLIDAY CLUB
This is open to all young people over the age of 5 yrs. Activities run throughout the summer and include cycling, Wet and Wild Day, Lightwater Valley, Urban Arts, Pugneys Country Park, The Seaside, Movement to Music Day and Eden Camp. Please contact Vicky Cheney or Audrey Davies at Henshaws, Bogs Lane, Harrogate HG1 4ED. Tel 01423 886451 or e mail Vicky.cheney@henshaws.org.uk for information.

PARENTS SEMINARS -A flyer is attached giving details of seminars being run locally by the National Autistic Society.

LEEDS RHINOS
Many thanks go to Mr Todd, who was key to the fund raising opportunity at the Leeds Rhinos game on 28th June. Proceeds raised at the event will go towards the school fund. Thanks to our other volunteers who sold programmes on the day.

SCHOOL MENUS ARE ENCLOSED FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL TERM.
The cost of a School Meal has been raised and this will be advised to you when we have received the full details

REVIEWS
The Review list for next year has been completed. Please telephone the school office if you would like advance notice of your child’s review date. If you feel transport to the meeting is a problem, please advise us and we will try and arrange this for you.

RETIREMENT
As you are now aware I am retiring after 33 years as a teacher – the past 14 years here at The Forest School.
The years and the job have been kind to me and I can honesty say I have been privileged to work with some of the very best teachers and non teachers in the country and some of the best kids in the world!
I have always strived to bring a little bit of fun and humour into the very serious business of education and I hope your children will remember some of the best of times whilst they have been with me at
The Forest School. For me there are many happy memories; I shall particularly treasure all the experiences (good and bad) of the many residentials I have been on with your children. A little girl once told me that being away on residentials with the school was like “making memories”. For me these are the important times when your children learn to be independent and you get a break from bringing them up. Remember to say a big ‘thank you’ to all those staff who give up their time – it really is hard work!
I have been blessed to work with some very, very good people and I know that I leave your children in some very capable hands.
I’ll say goodbye to you all now – at least goodbye as a deputy headteacher. Next time you see me in the street, please stop and say ‘hello’ and tell me how your child is getting on.
Thanks for putting up with me for all these years. Paul