Story: Ayomide 9 years old
We at Owler Brook Primary School want to enjoy Wensley Park. But it is so bare. We are grateful for what we have but we want to add a bit more to the Wensley community.
We want to start with the old green patched park. It has lots of open space, but it’s mostly plain – if you’ve ever walked across its lovely fresh grass, you would see it’s not got much.Outdoors and the eco area is very precious to us.
We would love to form this park into an area of enjoyment, with swings and slides and roundabouts. As well as covering the land with equipment, we would also like to consider those of you who appreciate the open space.
School Council Organise Fashion Show
Story: Claire Shaw, Senior Learning Mentor
Our school has been working very closely with Gladys Newbolt from Wensley TARA, Michael Hill from Arches Housing, Community Police Officer Steve Shipley and Derek Hird from PTC sports to provide activities after school and during school holidays.
This has resulted in our children using Wensley open space more. It is just across the road from Owler Brook School and backs on to Wincobank.
Our School Council decided they wanted to raise money to develop the area and park. They spoke to children across the school and did a survey. From the survey, we decided the best way of raising the money would be to have a fashion show.
They made a long list of what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it.
They asked the Go Green team if they would like to help collect clothes that could be recycled into new designs for the fashion show.
They wrote to children and parents telling them our plans and asking for donations, and to other local schools, shops and colleges asking for their help.
They asked the teachers for a small group of children from each class (Y1 – Y4) to design the outfits.
Fashion student Melissa Wilson came in to help with designs and ideas. The children designed their outfits on paper before moving on to the clothes themselves, cutting, sewing and adding to the clothes that we received.
A group of children from Whiteways School came along to show us their traditional clothes. The School Council planned the whole event by themselves – the letters, the plan for the day, the music and the cost of the tickets.
It all came together on Wednesday 5th December. The stage arrived midmorning while they directed and rehearsed the show. The children all allocated themselves a job, such as film and music producers, director, and speakers to talk about the individual designs. That afternoon we performed in front of the community.
The school is very proud of what they put together. Since then, they've been busy writing articles for the school newspaper and the Burngreave Messenger and thank-you letters to Whiteways School and Melissa Wilson.
They achieved so much in four weeks, from the decision-making to the actual event. They are now looking at other ways of raising money to develop the area, to make it a fun, enjoyable space for our families to use.
The children have provided themselves with a great life experience and an insight into various careers.
