Monthly Archives: February 2016

Executive Showcases – who’ll be next?

Posted by Les Hutchinson, Head of Quality and Performance

We had two fabulous showcases in the autumn (here and here). Now we are looking for volunteers for the next series. An Executive Showcase is an opportunity for teams and schools to highlight some of your good work to the Directorate’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). We’ll send up to four members of SLT to hear about your work; and they’ll stay behind afterwards to talk to staff and answer questions about any work-related topics.

Showcases don’t have to be about shiny, glossy new projects – it’s good for SLT to see the positive work that you’re doing every day.

You can present your showcase in any format – round-table chat; video; presentation by pupils, volunteers; interpretive dance or mime… use your imagination and creativity.

You can volunteer through your Service Manager or Head of Service. We’ll then arrange a mutually convenient time, and come to see you.

Please don’t be shy, SLT want to celebrate your successes with you.

 

Women in Science Festival

posted by Shabnam Wasim, University of Dundee

March 2016
Women in Science Festival
Brought to you by the University of Dundee
Forensic Events on Saturday 5 March

Title:  Amazing Anatomy, suitable for over 14 year olds
Date and time:  Saturday 5 March, Hourly tours between 11am – 3pm
Venue:  Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification, Medical Sciences Institure building
Dow Street, DD1 5EH

Booking details
Free, booking essential
Event Details:  What does the inside of a humanSkull body look like? Do we all look the same inside? Does hair and nail really continue growing after you die? How does the brain work? You’ve probably been wowed with medical oddities, but why should abnormal bodies get all the attention? The truth about the normal human body can be more interesting than fiction.

Come and join us on a tour of the University of Dundee’s teaching anatomy lab, learn about how students study the human body and ask experts about the body.

Tours will run hourly on the hour. To book your free place on this workshop, please visit www.womeninscience.org.uk

Title:  Fascinating Forensics, Sutable for All/Families
Date and time:  Saturday 5 March, 11am – 3pm
Venue:  Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification, Medical Sciences Institure building
Dow Street, DD1 5EH
Booking details:  Free, non-bookable
Event Details: 
Forensic Science and Little boy - spy glassAnthropology is an awful lot more than what we see on TV series – large amounts of evidence often have to be collected and processed, a lot of witnesses may have to be interviewed, and it can take years (sometimes even decades) before the person responsible for a crime is brought to justice.

In the real world, forensic anthropologists and scientists work diligently out of the spotlight to provide the crucial pieces of evidence.
Come and explore the world of Forensic Anthropology and Science at the University of Dundee, meet experts as they open their doors to show you just what happens behind the scenes, and have a go at some of their activities.

Title:  The Grouse and The Mouse, Suitable for 3-8 year olds
Date and time:  Sunday 6 MArch 10am – 11am – Doors open 9.30am
Venue:  Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Booking details:  Free, Booking encouraged
Event Details:  Bagpipe the Black Grouse thinks he’s the most
magnificent animal in Scotland. He feels sorryGrouse Mouse
for Squeaker, the little brown wood mouse.
But when danger comes, Bagpipe finds he
needs help from his small, brown friend.

Join author Emily Dodd for a journey through
the Scottish countryside with Bagpipe and
Squeaker. Meet some of Scotland’s best-loved
animals, learn about camouflage, and learn
some funky new dance moves along the way.
With sounds, demonstrations, science experiments, dancing, music and a few
surprises. A book signing follows this event.

Booking is encouraged, otherwise please arrive early to avoid disappointment. To book your place on this workshop, please visit www.womeninscience.org.uk

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Title:  Love You to the Moon and Back, Sutable for over 7s
Date and time:  Sunday 6 March 3pm – 4pm – Doors open 2.30pm
Venue:  Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Booking details:  Free, Booking encouraged
Event Details:  5, 4, 3, 2, 1… BLAST OFF! Join scientist
and author Emily Dodd for a Mother’sSpaceship
Day family science show and workshop.
Predict, experiment and discover the
science behind forces as we launch
rockets up into the air. Make your own
straw rocket and aim for the moon in our
rockets competition.

Booking is encouraged, otherwise please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
To book your place on this workshop, please visit
www.womeninscience.org.uk

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Title:  Explore the Universes with Lucy Hawking, Suitable for over 8s
Date and time:  Saturday 19 March, 11am – 2.30pm
Venue:  Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Booking details:  Free, Booking essential

Special Guest Appearance – Lucy Hawking
Event Details:  Do you want to take part in a cosmic treasure hunt and discover the secret key to the universe?Planets

Now you can! Author Lucy Hawking guides us through an out-of-this-universe space adventure, plus exclusive, scientific theories behind each of her four George stories and shares some wonderful animations narrated by her father Stephen Hawking – Perfect for any curious mind.

A book signing follows this event.

Booking is essential. To book your place, please visit www.womeninscience.org.uk

To see the full progamme of events from the festival please visit:  www.womeninscience.org.uk

Child Bereavement UK

posted by Alita Spink|Schools and Learning Support Officer – Schools and Learning

Up to 70% of schools have a bereaved pupil on their roll at any given time. One study found that 92% of young people will experience a significant bereavement before the age of 16 years. With the right help and support, most of these children will not need professional help. What they do need is the understanding of familiar and trusted adults. Schools are well placed to provide this, and with some training, the ability to do so will be greatly enhanced. We are often at a loss to know what to say to a child or young person who has been bereaved and what we can do to help them.

Follow the links below to find information and resources to support to bereaved pupils.

 School support for Bereaved Children

Child Bereavement UK (CBUK) worksChild Bereavement with a wide range of schools to provide bereavement awareness training.

CBUK offers a range of support, training and CPD accredited e-Learning programmes that are suitable for all school staff to help them develop the skills to support young people experiencing a bereavement.

The CBUK website provides a host of information including free downloadable literature, best practice advice, and details of forthcoming CPD certified bereavement training in Scotland. For further information please contact the Child Bereavement UK team.

PlayTalkRead – Week 2

posted by Claire Meenan, Just Play Practitioner, Children & Learning

‘The PlayTalkRead bus is coming to Angus from Monday 22nd – Friday 26th February 2016. The bus will be hosting free storytelling and rhythm sessions and a range of play and activity sessions for children and their mums, dads and carers, to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of positive parental engagement with simple free activities and resources which parents can take home, with the aim that they build upon the ideas and activities sessions at home with their children.

We would appreciate your support in inviting and encouraging mums, dads and carers of children aged 0-5 to come along to the PlayTalkRead bus. The activities are open to mums, dads, carers and their children on a drop-in and informal basis during the below opening times. If you have any questions or to enquire about group visits please contact Sarah Sibbert on 0131 664 2308 or email sarah@workingonwheels.org in advance of the date in mind.

Unfortunately, as a service aimed at parent and carers, we are unable to accommodate nursery groups, however we greatly appreciate it if nurseries can promote PlayTalkRead to their families, and encourage the parents to bring their little ones along.

We really appreciate you spreading the word via email, displaying the poster attached, using your social media or just talking about us, to anyone you think may benefit from our service.

The JPEG is for use on social media and the PDF is suitable for printing out.’

Benji Angus Feb 2016 [Small]

Keeping Children Safe in a Digital World – Tuesday 15 March 2016

posted by Joyce Brewster, Adult & Child Protection Committee

We are delighted to invite you to local events on Online Safety.  With over 91% of children living in a household with access to the internet, children have never been more accessible to offenders online (CEOP; 2015).  It is everyone’s responsibility to educate young people to the risks, to identify when they may be being harmed and to intervene to protect our children and young people when necessary.

We welcome parents, carers, teachers, social workers, community workers, sports coaches, police officers and anyone with a role in supporting children and young people to come along.

There is no need to apply… simply email acpc@angus.gov.uk either individually or as a team/service to let us know what session you want to come along to.

Please share this widely.  Look forward to seeing you at the events!

Angus Child Protection Committee.

Den Day 2016

posted by Trish Torz, Service Manager, Schools & Learning

Save the Children’s Den Day

Save the Children is calling on UK schools and groups to ‘build a better world’ by taking part in Den Day 2016.  Schools and youth groups will be holding their Den Day on Friday 17th June and asking pupils to bring in £2 donations to take part.

Aimed at educating pupils about the issues faced by children around the world who lack secure housing, Den Day will take pupils on an adventure while raising money to give children a safe, warm place to sleep.  The campaign provides schools with a creative way to teach global issues whilst inspiring and empowering young people to raise money to help children across the globe. 

Schools can sign up at denday.org to access useful resources to help plan a learning adventure that’s as much fun for teachers as it is for pupils.  The flexible teaching plans can be shaped to suit pupils of all ages and can contribute to many areas of the curriculum, encouraging creativity and teamwork.  Whether schools plan a day with a difference or an overnight stay, it’s sure to be a lesson that students will never forget.

Find out more at denday.org

Please do contact me for further information or for images.

Kind regards,
Alicia
Den Day HQ
a.bainbridge@savethechildrne.org.uk
Save the Children