NBC Blog – 26.1.24
Maths Update
“Since starting the new term, both groups have worked extensively on measurements.
Nic’s group have worked extensively on time-based questions. These range from telling the time, through to complex time management questions. Both groups have looked at conversion of metric measures, which allows revision of multiplication of multiplication and division by 10, 100 and 1000.
Martin’s groups have worked on Area and Perimeter. This has been around multiple complex questions , involving compound shape and calculation of missing sides.
The work, in all groups, has been challenging, but most of our students have worked hard and mastered their work. The realisation that they are over half-way through the taught elements of their course, seems to be galvanising their work. We both strongly hope this continues and express our sincere thanks , to the various team members, who assist us in class.”
Tutorial – PSHE
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be back and share all things PSHE with you all.
Throughout the course of this term, we will we be tackling an array of topics and subjects.
First, during PSHE, our students have been looking at safeguarding; the topic of discussion this week was financial abuse.
Over the last week classes across the college, have had lots of group discussions and collaborated and put together some fantastic work!
Students have explored the deeper meaning of the terms ‘financial abuse’, ‘tricky friendships’ and ‘Cuckooing.’ Then, we discussed this within groups. Our young people were amazed that the term ‘Cuckooing’ is when criminals take over the home of a person and use it for criminal purposes, such LV as dealing drugs. The terminology comes from the behaviours of Cuckoo birds, as they dominate other birds, take their food and nest.
In addition, scenario-based questions have been a huge success and have contributed to productive and meaningful learning for our students. We then watched a case study from real safeguarding stories, based on a character named Trevor. This story pulled quite a few heart strings amongst our students. We have sign posted our students to the appropriate services. To view this case study, please click here:
Trevors Story
https://realsafeguardingstories.com/story/trevors-story-scams-and-doorstep-crime/
In the coming weeks, our students will tackle another sensitive topic of hate crime. Furthermore, I am pleased to announce that, the Oldham Youth Service will be delivering the workshops.
Have a lovely weekend! “
Mrs. Sarwar
Bridging the Gap
“This week MMU students Kian, Waj and Sam were asked to be involved in an Aim Higher tour of Manchester Met University with Ivan, Luke, and Samuel Laycock. Our students stood up in a lecture theatre and spoke about how they have found their work experience placements. Please see the videos below.
Our students also received a hot meal voucher, Thank you Luke!
In the words of Andy Cox – Assistant Headteacher at Samuel Laycock…
“The New Bridge pupils did a wonderful job.”
This week has flown by down at Platt Lane. Declan and Liam have been preparing the pitches for Rochdale FC to come and train. Tuesday, we had to work hard removing all the left-over snow and ice. It was a cold task, but we got it done!
Declan and Liam have completed all their ongoing risk assessments online, getting to 100% as well as doing all individual tasks assigned on their personal online app. They are absolutely smashing it!
BTG – ROH
“The students have all hit the ground running after the Christmas break. It’s been good to see the enthusiasm and work ethic these three students have for the role they are doing. Connie is doing such a great job within the café the staff have happily added her to the rota so that she has her own responsibilities to complete certain job tasks they know she is able to work well on with minimal support.
Connie tells me: “I like working in the café with the team and helping all the staff with jobs in the day.”
Charlie and Lewis have been doing a variety of jobs together and independently within the Kitchen. Jean (staff member) has got the lads some new uniform, so they look really smart whilst on placement and feel more part of the team. I have had some great feedback regarding Lewis and Charlie and the work they are doing, the staff team are so pleased with them both and the working relationships are visible when supporting the students. I asked the lads what they would like to say about their placements.
Lewis: “It’s good, I like the fact that it is busy at times and quieter at other times. A few weeks ago, I made a fresh Pizza which was new to me.”
Charlie: “I enjoy it. I like the staff I work with and can have a good laugh with them. I am trusted with new jobs such as chopping which is good.’”
Girls Group
This week our girls group focus has been on relaxation and mental health art.
The girls have enjoyed some down time at the end of a busy week at the college.
We chose a mental health art piece of work to compile, the girls have completed some wonderful art to display in the pastoral room girls group board.
It is going to look fabulous.
Well done, girls!
Mrs Nelson
About Me – Brendan
“Hi, my name is Brendan Handrick, and I am the Curriculum Lead for the Digi 💻 pathway at the College. I have worked for New Bridge as long as New Bridge has been a school 📚 (so it must be a good place to work). ✅ So, what about me?
I’m over 40 👴🏻but we will leave it at that. I have been with Lisa for a looooonnnnngggg time, and we have two wonderful (most of the time) children 👦👧🏼 Malachy and Martha and we stopped there as we couldn’t think of another name we liked that started with the letter M 🤔
I love music 🎼and spend lots of time listening, going to gigs and festivals. Some of my favourite bands are The Saw Doctors, The Pogues and AC/DC. 🎸🤘🏻
Film 🎥 is another big passion of mine and some of my favourite films are: American History X, Pulp Fiction 🕺🏼💃🏼and Adventures in Baby sitting (or a Night on The Town for its American title). This love for music and film has lead me to the job I do. My passion is making films and all things media. The things I have learned over the years I like to pass what I can over to the students I teach.
I love sport and was brought up in a very sporty family. I played footy⚽️, Rugby League 🏉 cricket🏏 and did lots of swimming 🏊🏼♂️.
For what I will tell you next, I blame my mam for. When I was 11 my mam took me to Hollingworth lake to watch a swimming race in the cold water. “I want to have a go at that” I told my mam. The following year I entered the race and did a few miles in the lake. Following on from that when I found out that Windermere was the longest lake in England 🏴I said again “I want to do that” and 10 miles & 6 hours later I did that. At 16 I was part of a team that swam the English Channel🌊🐟🦀🐙.
All through my youth I did lots of walking breaks with my dad and scaled lots of the big mountains 🌄in the UK. This has stayed with me all my life and I like nothing more than being out in nature 🎄climbing mountains and walking on the wonderful hills and trails we have around Oldham and beyond.
I think lots of the staff here at the college think I am a little mad or more like Forrest Gump. In my mid 30’s I started doing that thing most of us hate…. Running🏃! I had never ran a marathon but always wanted. So, in 2012 I ran my first marathon in Manchester. As most things happen with me I like the endurance side of sports and this moved on to doing Ultra Marathons. I have ran many marathons 26.2 miles, many races of 40 miles and more.
I like to challenge myself as you can tell, and I am currently trying to run a marathon everyday in Jan. I have done 18 marathons up to now so still a way to go. I do these after work all around Oldham. So if you see me when your walking or driving about give us a shout 👋🏻as it gives me a boost when things get tough.
I have other goals that I still want to achieve but they can wait for another time. I really hope you liked reading about me. ”
“If your dreams don’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough”. 🙏🏻
About Me – Mike
“Some of what follows is true.
Some of what follows is not.
Believe what you will.
My name is Mike McCormack and I am a Job Coach in Future Finders, supporting our students as they take their first steps into the world of employment. The role is challenging, rewarding and can be, at times, hugely rewarding.
When still at primary school, my two younger brothers and myself formed a band, aiming to be the Manchester equivalent of the Jackson 5. We called ourselves Little Macks.
Sadly, our string of top ten hits came to a premature end when my voice broke whilst performing a rendition of Anarchy in the UK with Sooty, Sweep and Legs & Co on Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
After leaving college I went to Manchester Polytechnic, where I qualified as a librarian. As an avid and passionate reader, I always wanted to encourage others to discover the joy of reading.
I was bitten by the acting bug at an early age. My most memorable roles have included the following:
Holly Golightly’s love interest in Breakfast at The Atrium
Darth Vader’s Relationship Counsellor in Star Wars: The Empire Gets A Little Bit Grumpy
Dobby the College Elf in Harry Potter and the Lunch Box of Disappointment (The Reunion)
More recently I have been fortunate to enough to win the Nobel Prize for Applied Mathematics for proving, beyond a doubt, that chocolate bars were bigger when we were younger. This was done using the equation ER= MC2 (where ER means Everyone Remembers and MC means Milk Chocolate)
My most important role now is also the one that brings me most joy: being a doting grandad.”
