SEND weekly parent and carer update

Community Award– Sponsored by VANEL
For someone who goes to remarkable lengths to help others lead their best life.

Winner- Kendra Theaker-Gregersen

Kendra Theaker-Gregersen

Kendra is a wonderful member of our community. She spends considerable amounts of time supporting others in school. However, it is her extra curricular activities that really set Kendra apart. Kendra is an avid Lego builder and enthusiast – who uses this passion to support those who have helped her. Before COVID struck, Kendra would take her Lego models and displays around the country to different conventions and exhibitions, where she would fund-raise for a group of different charities. These charities support the work done to help children like Kendra who herself has needed support from. Her way of giving back to these incredible people has been to raise thousands and thousands of pounds to support the continued and fantastic work of The Children’s Hospital Charity.

Kendra even arranged and ran her own Lego Convention in Grimsby to further raise funds for those who have helped her with her own conditions. I’m sure Kendra is itching to get back following COVID to support those in need.

-Rob Burnett

Creative Arts Award– Sponsored by The Culture House
For someone who has made an outstanding artistic achievement.

Winner- Tomos Marland

Tomos Marland

Tomos has a passion for cinema.
He says ‘cinema held me up during lockdown. It shaped me as a person in a way.’
He shared this in his creative writing piece for the Young Reporters. He enjoys writing regularly and critiquing moves in his spare time.

Tomos says: ‘People with needs can still create great content through writing, and other creative work.’
‘Seeing someone like me challenges peoples expectations of what someone with autism can do.’
‘If you know the stereotypes of a person with special needs you may think they are not creative, don’t have an in depth personality, and cannot think abstractly and put flair and originality into stories.”
‘It surpasses peoples expectations when they read a piece of creative work and they do not realise that the person who wrote it has autism.’
‘Using cinema and movies certainly gives me the hand in communicating with adults. From the way I see it, I could have a chill conversation in which I’m not being seen as the child during the talk, its an ideal that many people with needs want to have; have their voice heard in the chat and be on the same level as an adult. You’re basically an adult yourself when the talking get’s going. Your no longer invisible if you ask me. ‘

He is expanding his interest from cinema and movies to photography.
He can see the power of story telling and wants to use this to break stereotypes of special needs and create a movement locally in NEL.
Tomos wants to be a SEND Ambassador and his articulate way of expressing his interest as a movie buff makes him a lot of fun to spend time with and translates well into his creative work.

– Lauren Thompson

Sports Award– Sponsored by Grimsby Town Sports and Education Trust
For someone who’s sporting achievements deserve to be celebrated.

Winner- Charlie Huntley

Charlie Huntley

“Charlie, has made exceptional progress regards to building his confidence . He works hard on developing his skills in football , boxing and swimming and achieved six medals for his football skills . Every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) Charlie, attends two different football clubs and works extremely hard. He also spent the majority of his summer taking classes with GSET football club which, consisted of long days (six hours) of training with Grimsby town.

Charlie, also commits’ to two evenings a week to train with Grimsby Amature boxing club. His determination has been infectious and I have seen him grow in confidence , thanks to his teachers and coaches (In and out of school)

Charlie, adores sports and never misses his sessions, I truly do believe it has helped him overcome some of his struggles with dyslexia. It has massively helped build his confidence.

I’m so proud of him.”

-Rachael Nelson Huntley

Friendship Award
For someone who goes that extra mile to support others and be a great friend.

Winners

Joint First Place- Ryan Roffee and Riley Carnan-Bird

Ryan Roffee

When one of Ryan’s friends suffered a bereavement, Ryan was extremely supportive. He begged his family to buy gifts for his friend in memory and always asked how he could best support his friend. · Supporting his friends on a daily basis emotionally, if they are struggling, Ryan will guide them to manage their emotions better and stay with them until they are settled if appropriate.

– Jodie Bromley

Riley Carnan-Bird

Riley is a wonderfully helpful and supportive young man. He is someone who doesn’t always find school the easiest, and uses his own experiences to support those around him to ensure that everyone in his group is at least happy! He always finds a way to put a positive spin on everything that happens at school and can always be relied upon to support those who require a bit of a pick-me-up or a lift. His friends report that Riley is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people in school who will always go the extra mile for anyone.
He has been especially supportive during this year with those younger children starting out in the academy, giving them helpful tips and support if he feels they need it.”

-Rob Burnett

Education and Learning Award
For any student who is dedicated to their education and strives to achieve the best they can in their chosen curriculum areas.

Winners

Joint First Place- Tegan White and Justin Dunford

Tegan White

Tegan lost many close family members, often in difficult ways, in a short period of time as a young girl from age 7-11. As a result she has an attachment disorder relating to school as each death happened while she was at school. Tegan’s attendance plummeted. She became withdrawn, had continuous anxiety attacks that last days even weeks. She received an end of year school report and saw her education was becoming effected. Since going back in September she chose to go back full time instead of the part time timetable that was in place for her. She has had no days off in relation to her anxiety and attachment disorder. She is engaging in more lessons and has joined after school clubs. The efforts she has gone to deserve to be recognised. For what she has been through she still strives to help others. Every year she holds a charity fundraiser for Macmillan, Amethyst Unit at Grimsby Hospital or Mental Health UK all in aid of those she has lost. She has applied to a new school that will allow her to study Psychology along side her curriculum to gain knowledge and understanding of her own experiences and feelings. She has underlying bowel conditions – colitis and slow transit chronic constipation. Her younger sister also has multiple complex disabilities to which Tegan is always hands on to help me care for her.

– Misha White

Justin Dunford

Justin would refuse to read anything and would turn ‘mute’, he is now confident enough to have a go at reading and can complete a reading comprehension with very little support. Justin also uses reading and spelling skills when he is playing on his game on the laptop.

Justin now completes all his work in every lesson, he no longer uses his blanket and does not hide under the table. He is starting to verbally communicate his feelings to staff members, and this then allows him to complete his work.

At the start of Year 8, Justin was completing Foundation Maths and needed to be fully supported, he now is completing Bronze Maths and will attempt the work by himself once he has had it explained. There have also been a few occasions when Justin has attempted Silver and even gold work in Maths. (He is now in Year 9)

Maths is a subject that Justin enjoys and is always trying his best in the lessons. Justin has put a lot of effort into improving in Maths and when he is unsure, he listens and tries to understand it. Justin will complete his work independently and will only ask for support if he really needs it. Justin is hoping he will be able to get a job in the fire service when he is older, therefore is trying hard with his Maths as he knows this is a subject he will need to know.

– Jodie Bromley

Environment Award– Sponsored by Outdoor Learning Schools
This award provides us with an opportunity to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of environmental volunteers and supporters who are determined to look after our planet.

Winner- Riley Gault

Riley Gault

Riley was a leading member of the school group who designed and created our garden at Laceby Road. Work was completed in conjunction with the local recycling centre and Bush tyres. Donated recycled tyres are used as growing vessels and a member of staff from Grimsby’s recycling centre has donated items for learners to upcycle, including a bench. A compost heap has been included and Riley adds to this weekly. The staff member from the recycling centre has has a Q&A to help all learners understand the impact of recycling on climate change.
Bird boxes and a bird table have been made from recycled material and fruit bushes have been planted to provide food for squirrels and birds. Riley is currently enjoying building a bug hotel.
The garden area is also now used as an outdoor classroom.

– Jodie Bromley

Student Personality of the Year Award– Sponsored by Youth Action- external site 
For anyone aged 5-25 years in education or training who really stands out as an inspiration to us all.

Winners

Joint First Place- Jeanie-May Cooke and Millie Allenby

Jeanie-May Cooke

She has and is still battling everyday with cancer along hips, uses a wheel chair, and cannot walk is an amputee and still inspired everyone around her smiles everyday has gone to Havelock school in September which she is very much enjoying due to the teachers and children accepting her for who she is and how she is. She hasn’t had much education over the past 4 years due to bone marrow transplant she inspires everyone around her everyday she is amazing and positive a girl who just has not had an easy life so far. This girl is amazing inside and out so kind caring thoughtful.

-Michelle Cooke

Jeanie-May Cooke

Because Jeanie has gone from primary school (which she didn’t really attend due to pain etc for the last 3 years) to secondary school in September and has tried her hardest to attend every day since. With only a few absences required. Having a through knee amputation in July 2018 and cancer which spread around her whole body this put a few stops in jeanies once normal, active life. She absolutely thrives through school and is an inspiration to everyone who knows her

– Anonymous

Millie Allenby

This child has cystic fibrosis, she has a strict regime she has to follow everyday and night and still achieves so well at school, she amazes me everyday of how much she’s so motivated, brave and just an my inspiration to many around her, and she continues to smile even on her bad days.

– Kelly Allenby