Comedy Big Draw

4th April 2022Sarah Hall
On Friday 1st April local artist, Bethan Laker, came to Newminster Middle School to work with all of the pupils on a ‘Comedy Big Draw’ project. She led workshops throughout the day which encouraged the pupils to be creative with recycled materials to make original, patterned filled comedy photo props to make a happy photo.
Bethan is an artist based at the Mushroom Works Studio. She creates commissioned art pieces and works with community groups and schools helping people create interesting art using many mediums.
Jessica, year 7, said, ‘I loved the open brief and being creative with cardboard, paint pens and collaging. It was such a fun activity.’
Pupils were put into groups of around 10 people and had to work as a team to create props to take a photo to make people smile.
Thank you so much Bethan for a thoroughly enjoyable and very fun day!

Comic Relief 2022

16th February 2022Sarah Hall
Pupils at Newminster Middle School are invited to come into school on Friday 18th March 2022 wearing non uniform with a ‘Splash of Red’ to support the charity Comic Relief. Each student in school will also be working with local artist, Bethan Laker, across the course of the day, as part of a ‘Comedy Big Draw’ event.
Red noses will be on sale during registration periods (year 8 pupils will come around) from the first Monday back after half term. They are priced at ÂŁ1.50 each and pupils will need to bring cash into school if they want to purchase them.
Lego have teamed up with Comic Relief this year and are running a competition to create a lego habitat for each of the nose characters (more info in slides attached). Pupils need to send their habitat designs or photos of their ‘lego makes’ to Ms Jones (charlotte.jones@the3rivers.net) before Friday 18th March 2022. Ms Jones will send the best designs in from our pupils and we will also have prizes for the best from Newminster.

Sign2Sing Newminster Style

16th February 2022Sarah Hall
On Thursday 15th February 2022, pupils at Newminster Middle School raised money for the charity SignHealth. They raised nearly ÂŁ500 by holding a non uniform day and learning to sing and sign,using makaton, two songs, ‘Gospel Medley’ (which actually had 3 spirituals within it – ‘Oh When the Saints’, ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ and ‘Swing Low’) and ‘Believe’.
We learnt that being deaf does not stop you achieving your dreams and goals. We were shown video clips of Rose Ayling-Ellis winning Strictly Come Dancing 2021. We learnt about how she was not able to hear the music so she had to feel the vibrations, watch her partner carefully and count the pulse of the music in her head when she danced.
I have loved learning Makaton signs and hope to continue this throughout my time at Newminster Middle School. I am already looking forward to next year’s Sign2Sing event.
Article written by Isla in year 6