Strictly Come Dancing isn’t a patch on this!

Over 100 pupils from 9 primary schools in the Retford Oaks family attended a Dance Showcase at Retford Oaks. They had the opportunity to learn about several different types of dance (Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Irish, Street and Break Dancing). They were given an insight into the cultures where each dance originates and also into the traditional costumes/dress that is worn by the different types of dancers. It was then time for the pupils to have a go at each dance themselves and to get down and boogey! I would like to say a big thank you to Kelly Trotter who put in a lot of time and effort training and preparing the Year 11 Leaders who delivered the showcase.

Jamie Bird

SSCO

Come and get your strawberries and cream!

A fun and rewarding morning’s tennis was had by all the 100 primary school pupils who attended this festival at Retford Oaks. Lesley Rodgers (Tennis Coach) has spent a lot of time in the past few months coaching tennis to pupils from the primary schools in the Retford Oaks’ family. This festival gave the pupils the opportunity to show off their newly learnt tennis skills and to develop them further by taking part in numerous enjoyable activities and games. I would like to say a big thank you to Lesley for all her efforts and also to all the pupils who made it such a fantastic event!

Jamie Bird

SSCO

GIFTED AND TALENTED

Thanks to Mr Best and Mrs Graham for giving up their own time during the summer holidays to run a gifted and talented sports day for the budding sport stars.  The pupils were nominated by their primary school teachers to attend the event because of their outstanding sporting achievements.

Well done Marley Alder, Connor Arnold, Abbie Bartrop, Joseph Booth, Jordan Camm, Douglas Collison, Megan Dale, Kirtley Edmond, Rebecca Firth, James Hazelhurst, Connor Herrick, Danni Hodgson, Adam Hughes, Jasmine Humphrey, Bethan Lee, Shannon Lee, Emma Levitt, Hannah O’Grady, Marc Proctor, Amy Roberts, Lloyd Rose, Thomas Rix, Chloe Seaman, Jason Sleight, Lucy Smith, Thomas Stanley, Connor Stansbury, Louise Stuart, Grace Tomlinson, Adam Wake, Cameron Walhead, Lucy Wheatley and Ben Wilson.

Helped on the day by Portland’s Sports Leaders Rebecca Allen, Liam Gabbitas, Kirsty Smith and Kate Voice the pupils really enjoyed themselves and made new friends.  They took part in various physical activities that included video analysis and tests to challenge their fitness, coordination, creative skills.  All achieved the level 1 trampoline gymnastics proficiency award and took part in an orienteering task that helped them find their way around the school.  During the day they also looked at the importance of a balanced diet, the types of food elite sports performers eat and completed a training schedule.

Thanks again go to trampoline coach Ray Bevan for working with our students to put together a trampoline display for the Brazilian delegation.  This included video analysis and expert advise for the following students; Sophie Gunter, Ashleigh Hall, Isabelle Hammond, Yasmine Hammond, Lauren Hardwick, Shannon Lee, Mhari Macdonald, Terri Mughall and Jaye Rushby.

Mr Best would also like to congratulate Liam Gabbitas, Ryan Heath, Neil Hewlett, Liam Robinson, Kirsty Smith, Rebecca Smith, Josh Stansbury, Claire Stephen, Molly Taylor and Kate Voice for leading year 7/8 pupils through different fitness test while being observed by the Brazilian delegation.

SPORTS LEADERSHIP SUCCESS

Well done to the following year 11 sports leaders for completing their final practical assessment by leading multi-sport activities for year 4 pupils from our feeder schools; Rebekah Allen, Leanne Brown, Chantelle Chattoo, Harry Dumelow, Amie Giles, Charlie Halliwell, Casey Harper, Kirsty Hayes, Reiss Holmes, Natalie Kirkwood, Pippa Lloyd, Olivia Machin, Charlie Marks, James Marrison, Matthew Mountain, Eunice Opare Addo, Drew Phillips, Sarah Presgrave, Antony Ree, Liam Robinson, Shannon Rose, Bakeerathy Sathiyanathan, Ryan Sinnott, Kirsty Smith, Rebecca Smith, Sarah Southern, Matthew Snow, Claire Stephen, Adam Stones, Molly Taylor and Kate Voice.

Due to the sports leadership success Mr Best is currently training year 6 pupils in the feeder schools to lead activities for the younger children at lunchtimes.  The aim is to not only to improve their confidence but also help to develop positive relationships within school.

AMAZING ATHLETICS

Over 100 year 6 pupils from the feeder schools took part in an athletics competition at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield on Friday 10^th October.  The day involved pupils competing in different track and field events to gain points for their school.  Qualified coaches from Worksop Harriers Athletics Club were assisted by Portland School Sports Leaders when working with the pupils.  In particular Reece Holmes, Pippa Lloyd, Thomas Muggridge and Drew Phillips did extremely well when leading some of the events during the day.

Well done to all participants in the closest fought competition to date and in particular the following schools for claiming the gold, silver and bronze medals.

All pupils enjoyed the action packed morning and did extremely well considering that for some this was the first time they had played in a netball match.  Well done Ryton Park, New Manton, St Lukes, Langold Dyscarr and St Augustine’s who didn’t lose a single match.

All seven teams that entered this year’s event managed to get some points on the board.  Well done New Manton, Ramsden, Kingston Park and Haggonfields but it was Priory School who narrowly missed out in the final to the overall winners Ryton Park School.

The next match saw the boys travel to play our old rivals Serlby Park School and unfortunately this game started as well as the last, with the boys being 3-0 down at the break.  Once they got to grips with the strong midfield there was some excellent passing moves with Gareth Davies at the heart of it all.  Centre forward Matthew Parr was a constant threat throughout the second half and worked hard to create chances.  Despite valiant efforts that all important goal eluded us and Serlby put the game beyond any doubt by scoring another to make the final result 4-0.

Year 7 Girls Football

The year 7 County Cup match against Dukeries School was a close affair, not just in proximity but also as a result.  The girls captained by Mhari Macdonald had to show great character to come back from being 2-0 down at half time.  Mr Best was very pleased that the girls didn’t give up despite a nervous start and he thought defender Gemma Pain was outstanding throughout.  The girls dominated the second half and deservedly got their reward when Abbie Bartrop stole in unnoticed to claim the first.  This was soon followed up with goals from Bethan Lee and Chloe Hale (2) to make the final score 4-2.

The year 8 team convincingly secured their place in the next round of the County Cup by beating Joseph Whitaker School 9-0.

Well done Jenni Arnold for an outstanding debut playing as sweeper and Helen Askwith for volunteering as stand in goalkeeper for the day.  Between them they managed to keep a clean sheet and it was midfield maestro Leah Hardy that was pulling all the strings going forward.  Leah started by scoring two in the first half, one of which was a penalty.  In the second half she managed to get her hat trick with an unstoppable shot from just outside the box.  Leah was not finished there by turning provider for Amber Musselwhite and captain for the day Bethany McCormack who also completed her hat trick.  Other goals came from Shannon Elliott and debutant Sophie Kelly.

The next round saw the influential Deanna Arnold and Frances Lander back off holiday and back in the squad just in time to play last year’s finalists Rushcliffe School.  The girls started tentatively and struggled to get to grips with Rushcliffe’s attacking force.  It was a good job Jenny Arnold picked up from where she left off in the last match and Nicole ‘The Cat’ Wardle was alert to the danger, otherwise the game could have been over in the first 15minutes!

Unfortunately due to the relentless pressure from the opposition the inevitable happened and a goal was conceded.  This sparked a few players into action and arguably the turning point in the game came when Shannon Elliott managed to evade the offside trap and beat the goalkeeper only to see her shot come back off the post.  Unfortunately the girls could not maintain any attacking momentum and Rushcliffe managed to double their lead just before half time.

Mr Best made changes in the second half and the girls started brightly but with so many pushing forward gaps appeared in defence and Rushcliffe’s striker took full advantage by completing her hat trick and extending their lead to 4-0.  However, towards the end there was still time for a well deserved consolation goal from Frances Lander to make the final score a disappointing 4-1!

Year 8 rugby

Well done to the following Liam Arnold, Matthew Edwards, Jake Ellender, Robert Gray, Luke Halliwell, Jack Harrop, Oliver McKay, Chris Mellor, Jed Pedley, Mitchell Phillips, Jake Snowden, Alex Stringfellow, Jake Snowden and Jordan Wales.

Mr Best was extremely pleased with the boys display against tough opposition in a developmental festival at Ollerton Rugby Club.  The boys have been working hard in training to improve their support play and should be looking forward to their next festival at East Retford Rugby Club.

Craig Homer

Competition Manager

Bassetlaw School Sport Partnership

Competition News

Overview of the National Competition Framework

During the first half term of the year, schools have engaged in a number of inter-school competitions and festivals for pupils in every year group. The competitions so far, have included, cross country, football, netball, rugby league, rugby union and tennis, providing competitive opportunity for over 750 pupils.

What’s Coming Up?

Over the next two months, primary inter school competition and festivals are planned in different families for:

• Year 1/2 – multi-skills
• Year 3/4 – athletics
• Year 5/6 – basketball, dance and girl’s football.

For the secondary schools, competition and fixtures include:

• Year 7 – boys basketball, boccia and cross country
• Year 8 – badminton, boys basketball, boccia and cross country
• Year 9 – badminton, boys basketball, boccia, cross country and girl’s football
• Year 10 – badminton, boccia, cross country and girl’s football
• Year 11 – badminton, boccia, cross country and girl’s football

Further Information

If you would like more information about the above competitions or about the National Competition Framework, please contact Craig Homer, Competition Manager (Ashfield, Bassetlaw and Mansfield).

Tel: 07946 178754 or by email: chomer.cm@googlemail.com

Beckingham School YR1 & YR2 pupils

I started off by introducing the pupils to Street Dance and letting them listen to different types of music. They all liked ‘Now Your Gone’ by Basshunter which actually proved to be a favourite round all the schools especially the younger children. I showed them various steps and gestures which they remembered very well from week to week. As they got more used to the steps I began to put a few together to show them how a routine works. I split them into two groups and they ‘performed’ to each other. By the end of the 6 weeks they had managed to remember, with a little bit of intervention from me, a routine to the whole length of the song. Which for their age group, was a fantastic achievement. Well Done Beckingham!!

The children also made me a book of pictures that they had drawn of themselves doing their favourite steps and moves!

Clarborough School

I initially set up my visits to Clarborough School with Alison teacher of Year 6 children who wanted as many children as possible to have the opportunity to dance, and was very keen for me to visit the school and use their excellent new facilities in their new school. The school wasn’t quite ready for me to go in straight away, therefore we decided that I would do some sessions with FS2 & year 1 children, year 2&3 children, Yr 4 children and years 5&6 children. Consequently as each group only got a few session we didn’t achieve a full routine. However FS2, YR 1,2&3 children learnt a variety of steps and saw how they could fit together as a small routine, and Year 4,5 & 6 managed to put together a small routine to song chosen by themselves, ‘Forever’ by Chris Brown and ‘Crank That’ by SouljaBoy.

The teachers also requested that I send them details of the steps we used so they could teach this to other children at a later date.

St Swithuns School YR6 pupils

This group of children really impressed me. They worked extremely well as a team and fully engaged during their sessions. They only had 5 weeks as they were on another project for one of the weeks. I went in to the school on this one week and did a one off session with Year 4 children.

I started off by introducing the children from year 6 to ‘Streetdance/Freestyle’ by discussing with them the style and attitude needed when performing this style of dancing. They all overcame their shyness and even the timid ones developed an attitude.

We then worked on different steps and again finished with a polished routine to ‘Its like that’ by Run DMC.

They decided that they would like to costume the routine and perform this. So on my last week the school arranged for the performance to be done outside as their hall is too small to accommodate audience and performers. The pupils dressed up and a lot of parents came to watch them perform as well as the rest of the school.

Mrs Preece, their teacher, had commented to me that the children where really enjoying their dancing and every week they arrived asking when their next session was and were always very eager to dance.

The children handed me gift on the last day as a Thank you which gave me a lot of satisfaction to know they had enjoyed my visits.

Rampton School

The sessions at Rampton where slightly different to the others as they wanted to get a number of children to have the opportunity to dance not just one particular year group. Therefore we decided that I would do one group of Years 1, 2 & 3 and another group of Year 4, 5 &6 as they have smaller numbers of children. The younger children chose’ Now Your Gone’ as their music and the older ones chose ‘Pump It’ by Black Eyed Peas.

Time only allowed each group to have 3 sessions each but the classes were structured as with other schools and again we managed to get each group to have a routine to perform. They plan to show these routines at a concert later on in the year.

I also sent the teachers, Diane Barber & Steph Hogan details of all the steps and the steps used in the routines as the were very keen to teach it on to other pupils.

Well Done Rampton

Ordsall Primary School

At Ordsall I did three 1 hour sessions with children from year 2 and 3 sessions with some children from year 4. The year 2 children danced to ‘Heartbreaker’ by Will.I.Am and the older children danced to ‘Pump It’.

As we only had 3 sessions the younger children didn’t quite get their routine finished as it was quite a long song and a more complex routine than the other KS1 children at other schools had done. However they still enjoyed it and their teacher Mrs Becky Duggan had requested all the details of the steps so she could teach this to other children. The children from Year 4 did get their routine finished, and I know they wanted to teach this to the other children that had not had the opportunity to be involved with the dance sessions.

Finally

I have been overwhelmed by the welcome I have received in all schools and it makes me very proud as a Dance Teacher to know that these children have been given the opportunity to see how Dance can give them a lot of satisfaction and to be proud of themselves.

WELL DONE EVERYBODY !!!