On Wednesday afternoons our Secondary pupils have been trying out some different sport and fitness activities…
Golf at American Golf Driving Range
Bootcamp with Mel from FoxFit
Bowls at West Lothian Indoor Bowling Club
Gentle seated exercise class with Heidi from Heidi Macdonald Fitness
Athletes in Ochiltree and Duntarvie have continued to come together on Monday afternoons to develop their physical activity and motor skills.
This term we have focused on:
Mobility activities (based on the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme) with Louise
Stretching and body awareness with Jill
Golf and Croquet with Rachael
Today 8 of our athletes represented Beatlie at the ASN Boccia & Curling Festival at West Lothian College.
Everyone had lots of fun and coped so well with the big, unfamiliar and very noisy hall!
Well done everyone, we are super proud of you 🌟
More swimmers have been making a splash at Bathgate Xcite this term. Our second Friday morning group recently completed their 5 week block with Ethan, Hira and Madison achieving their Aqua Bronze Award and Teddy receiving a progress award.
2 of our senior pupils have also been swimming on a Thursday afternoon. Fletcher achieved his Aqua Bronze Award and Alex achieved his Aqua Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards!
Well done everyone, we are all super proud of you! 🌟
This term we hosted our very first Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP) Challenge Event.
Athletes in Hopetoun, Lomond, Pentland and Glendevon had the opportunity to showcase the skills they had been working on during training for their family and friends.
Every athlete did absolutely amazing and handled the spotlight so well! 👏 🌟
A HUGE thank you to everyone who came along to support our athletes and make the event such a success. I loved all the cheering, signs, posters and t-shirts ❤️
We asked for some feedback and this is what our parents said…
And that’s a wrap on our first block of activities. All athletes in Ochiltree and Duntarvie have now completed striking & kicking activities with Louise, music & movement with Jill and Boccia & New Age Kurling with Rachael.
Here are our athletes taking part in their final activity…
Striking & Kicking
Music & Movement
Boccia & New Age Kurling
We will be continuing with our Secondary PE groups next term, so check back to see what new skills and activities we have been working on! 👀
We have had great fun in Hopetoun this term as we have settled in to our new class. We have enjoyed lots of different activities like gardening, going on the wheelchair bike and art. We have been exploring new foods during our messy play food group and some of us got messier than others! We are looking forward to seeing what the winter term will bring.
What a busy first term we have had in Ochiltree, we’ve really enjoyed making the most of the last of the sunny weather!
We particularly enjoyed our beach themed sensory sessions out in the garden which has now been swapped for a lovely cosy Autumn sensory session which we’re enjoying just as much. We’ve been busy focusing on our health and wellbeing through our weekly health group looking after our bodies and we have been keeping fit and healthy through our cross class PE groups where we have been exploring music and movement, team games and ball skills.
We’re looking forward to next term where will begin working on our ASDAN challenges so we’ve got lots more exciting things to come!
Team Ochiltree wish you all a healthy October break.
Our athletes in Hopetoun, Lomond, Pentland and Glendevon have been working hard, training towards our first ever MATP Challenge Event on Monday 1st December. They can’t wait to showcase their unique achievements to family and friends (more details will be shared closer to the time, but I am excited to see everyone supporting their athlete with posters, banners or maybe even personalised t-shirts!).
What is MATP?
The Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP) is a unique programme specifically designed for athletes of all ages with Profound and Multiple, Physical and Intellectual Disabilities and/or Complex Support Needs.
It focuses on developing individual skills and abilities rather than direct competition, ensuring each athlete can achieve personal bests and celebrate their achievements.
MATP enables our athletes to increase physical activity, improve motor skills, build confidence, increase participation in sport activities and foster a positive self-image.
Lomond Athletes
Pentland Athletes
Glendevon Athletes
Wow – our first term together is almost complete!
The last few weeks have gone by in a flash, with so many fun and varied activities both in school and out in the community.
We’ve been working hard in class on our targets, and coming together for groups exploring our senses, enjoying music, story and song, and learning about looking after our bodies as we grow up too.
Keeping active has been very important both in and out of school as well as increasing our independence and developing skills in communication, and growing in confidence. Cross class PE groups have been lots of fun, working together with friends and adults from across the secondary school, and learning new skills. Some pupils have also been back on the Innowalk, and quite literally making great strides in progress here!
We’ve also contributed to whole school celebrations and events including Global Goals Week and Fairtrade Fortnight. We’ve been cooking up a range of healthy snacks, meals, and tasty treats in the pupil kitchen, and enjoying trying hard with some messy, bold art creations too.
Many of our pupils have been very happy to welcome back our clown doctor friends as well as our fabulous music therapists, Ellie and Sophie – who have led some really lovely sessions with our pupils – and our dance therapist, Charan.
We’ve definitely made good use of our busses this term, and have also enjoyed some lovely walks in this lovely Autumnal sunshine. We’ve enjoyed collecting items to explore as well as visiting local shops, cafes, the library, and attending a range of community groups including Musically Active Dudes, the Young Adults’ social group at Broxburn United Sports Club, and Gentle Exercise classes in Polbeth. These are brilliant opportunities to develop our life skills and meet new peers and adults too. One pupil has been particularly delighted to get back to his much loved gym visits too, and is working exceptionally hard!
I look forward to what’s in store in the times ahead with our fabulous Duntarvie stars!
Thanks to everyone for a brilliant start to the school year!
