Rochester
Waterfall Pathway
Waterfall Pathway
Preloved/Reloved
The Preloved/Reloved group is making excellent progress this week, continuing the exciting revamp of their furniture pieces. The workshop was a hive of activity, featuring a full spectrum of restoration techniques, including detailed sanding, skillful painting, and careful polishing. Each piece is well on its way to a beautiful new life!
Festive Enterprise
The momentum behind Rochester's enterprise activities has continued this week, showcasing increased student creativity and product development. Teams are now finalizing their products in preparation for the upcoming Festive Market. This inaugural event is scheduled for next Thursday, November 27th, at Wilmington Village Hall.
Hospitality - Laying a table and making Mac & Cheese
Our hospitality group had a highly productive week! They not only perfected the art of table setting but also successfully hosted the cafe. Demonstrating superb teamwork, they collaborated to create a delightful mac and cheese dish for guests. The entire event was a resounding success!
Nicky's Signing Session
Rochester students are now participating in Nicky's Signing Sessions, held every Wednesday before lunch. This initiative is designed to promote total communication and enhance inclusion across the school. As an added benefit, students successfully completing the course will also achieve a valuable ASDAN qualification.
Visit to Link19
This week, our students took a fantastic trip to Link19 College to get inspired and plan their next chapter. It was an opportunity to explore the campus, see some familiar faces among the ex-pupils, and ask all the important questions about life in a college setting.
Preloved/Reloved project Update
The Preloved/Reloved group continued their projects with enthusiasm this week. Students tried their hands at a number of activities like sanding, putting on fresh coats of paint, and getting creative with new plans. With each session students can see a successful transformation of their pieces.
Christmas Enterprise Production
The Rochester class was abuzz as students prepared for the upcoming Christmas markets. The classroom was a hive of activity, with each student engaged in creating and refining their individual or group projects.
Friday Afternoon Rec Choice - Art
The Friday Art Rec Club pupils have been utilising this time as a creative outlet, enjoying complete autonomy to produce their artworks. This has proven to be very popular, resulting in beautiful pieces and fostering a wonderful mindful afternoon.
M@W Alumni Event
We welcomed back M@W leavers for a special Alumni event. During this gathering, a panel was hosted, allowing current students to engage with alumni and inquire about their experiences at college. Questions varied from work experience opportunities to new friends and what happens at lunch breaks. Witnessing the success of our alumni in both college and employment serves as a remarkable inspiration to our current cohort.
Rochester Cafe Special
This week in the M@W Cafe, the Rochester Class voted to prepare Chicken and salad wraps, with students undertaking all aspects of preparation and cooking. Additionally, we received a generous donation of carrots, leeks, onions, and chillies, enabling us to create a delightful soup for Friday’s special. Both dishes were delicious, showcasing the class's excellent teamwork.
Hospitality Short course
As part of their short course, Hospitality have been learning about Fair Trade. They have discovered the benefits of Fair Trade to workers and their communities, as well as various products that can be certified Fair Trade. Additionally, they engaged in a taste test comparing Fair Trade bananas and chocolate to help support their understanding.
Preloved/Reloved Enterprise Group - New Projects and Shopping Trip
This week, the Preloved group ventured into local shops to purchase items essential for their upcycling projects.
They conducted research and planned their designs, then identified the shops to buy the necessary materials for their creative projects.
Welcome back to the new term. This is my favourite module, and it's all hands on deck as we gear up for Christmas! The enterprise hubs will be busy with activity, organising festive markets and showcasing creativity through delightful gifts and products. We can't wait to see you at our events later in the module!
Preloved/Reloved Enterprise Group
Last week, our Preloved/Reloved group had a brilliant morning at the boot sale with just a £5.00 budget! The challenge was to unearth hidden treasures perfect for upcycling, and they succeeded. Today, teams got together to brainstorm exciting ideas on how to transform their finds. They considered potential buyers, practical uses, and the most attractive colours and designs.
Grow 19 Visit
We were visited by Rob from Grow19, who introduced the college to our students. The videos he presented, showcasing the Grow19 students (including ex-M@W students) and the various opportunities available, were truly inspirational. His engagement encouraged students to consider their future paths and the possibilities that lie ahead of them.
Enterprise - Seasonal products
With Christmas round the corner we have begun production of our products for this year's Christmas markets. There are exciting new ideas, utilising the skills and interests of all students in Rochester Class Please watch this space for further updates and product developments as we progress.
Hospitality Course - Cafe Special
On Friday, the Hospitality short course successfully operated the Café, offering a selection of cheesy beans on toast or vegetable soup. Each pupil undertook one or two distinct roles, during which we discussed our key strategies for effective café service management.
Coffee Morning
Today, we hosted our first coffee morning of the year, warmly welcoming our students' families to the school. It was a great morning, fostering positive relationships within our community. Each class collaborated to prepare a selection of sweet and savoury treats, which were shared amongst students and their families. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun, highlighting the strength of our school community. Thanks to all those who attended, making this event a success.
Coffee Morning Preparation
This week, students have been preparing for our first coffee morning of the year. The Rochester class has been assigned the task of creating cheese scones and pinwheels. They have collaborated effectively, demonstrating their ability to follow instructions while preparing the necessary ingredients. This practical activity not only allowed them to enhance their skills in the kitchen but also fostered teamwork and communication. As a result of their hard work, they have produced some exceptionally cheesy treats for the guests. We are looking forward to sharing their creations at the upcoming event.
Shopping trip to Dartford
This week was Rochester's turn to shop in Dartford, students were stocking up supplies for our onsite café. This experience provided an excellent opportunity for students to apply their mathematical skills in real-life scenarios, as they followed a shopping list, located various items within the store, and learned essential skills for independent living.
The trip culminated in a visit to Ali's Café, where students practised ordering and paying for their food and drinks. Such practical experiences are valuable life skills and help greater their independence.
Graffiti Stars Workshop
We had an amazing time here at Milestone @ Wilmington! Graffiti artist Leon from Graffiti Stars joined us to run a workshop with our young people, and it was a blast. Together, they created two vibrant pieces of art. The first was an inclusive welcoming sign for the main building, and the second was a fun new sign for the M@W café. Each student had the opportunity to get involved in the creative process, choosing colours, shapes, and words that truly reflected their ideas. It was inspiring to see them collaborate and express themselves through art. A massive thank you to Leon and everyone who participated!
Welcome to Rochester's site! We are nearing the end of a successful first week, during which our pupils have settled in exceptionally well. They have begun to explore their choices for the year regarding their employability pathways, selecting from options such as Preloved/Reloved, Computing, Woodwork, and Horticulture. Additionally, there will be choices available for our Friday morning short courses, including Hospitality, Computer Science, Expressive Arts, Sports, Science, and Construction.
The highlight of this week is the trip to Dartford to shop for our onsite café. Pupils followed shopping lists to locate and gather all necessary items, ensuring they counted out the correct money before proceeding to bag the groceries. They also enjoyed a brief walk around the shops, culminating in a delightful treat at Ali's café for snack time. We look forward to another exciting week ahead!
Welcome back to the new term. This is my favourite module, and it's all hands on deck as we gear up for Christmas! The enterprise hubs will be busy with activity, organising festive markets and showcasing creativity through delightful gifts and products. We can't wait to see you at our events later in the module!