Family Learning Week - October 2009

CALAT's Family Learning Week 2009 ran from 2nd to 10th October 2009.

The Upper Norwood Cluster made three bids for funding: one to run Polish story-telling and singing at Upper Norwood Joint Library; one to run a Portuguese puppet-making workshop, also at the Library and a Maths ‘Fun and Games' workshop at St Joseph's College.

Families were invited through St Joseph's College web-site, by fliers home to year 7 boys, by e-mail and text to come to a session on Saturday 10th - AM or PM - to try out some Maths games and look at on-line resources. Six families came to the afternoon session and had a cup of tea, played the games and took home the on-line resource list.

All the families had fun, met each other and were able to talk to the teacher about the best resources to use at home. Since the workshop parents have e-mailed to say how useful they found it and that they are using the resource list at home with their child.

We will be holding more sessions like this - please contact me for further information: Hilary Spong This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Family Learning Week - October 2008

On Saturday 11th October the new cooking area was opened to families for two sessions of cooking. This was sponsored by CALAT as part of the Family Learning Week 08 activities.

Seven families came and cooked Shepherd's Pie and Apple and Sultana Crumble (although most of the boys didn't like Sultanas and left them out) which they took home with them for dinner.One family cooked minced quorn as a vegetarian option and all took the recipes with them so that they could cook it again at home.

Some of the comments were: ‘the teachers were really kind'; ‘one of the best bits was watching my son accomplish new skills'; ‘my son experiencing cooking with me (but him leading)'.

Two of the best comments were: ‘I found the dishes that we made were a brilliant choice and I really learned a lot'

‘The teachers were prompt, prepared, well presented, cheerful and made me feel so comfortable from the start - they are a credit to your school'

From the teachers' point of view it was lovely to see the boys interacting with their families and to work with them in a more informal way. It was a really enjoyable day and we would like to put on more sessions. Thanks to the families for coming, St Joseph's College for allowing it to happen, CALAT for paying for it and all the teachers who gave up their Saturday.

Hilary Spong This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

English Course - May 2008

Through May some families of boys at St Joseph's College have been participating in a 6 week family learning course to improve their English. The course has been held at Westwood Language College, 1 evening a week after school and has been taught by Sally Kelly, who is a teacher from Croydon Adult Learning & Training (CALAT). Ms Toni Malone, a language teacher at Westwood has kindly given up her time to help at the classes. The group has been shared by families from St Joseph's College, Virgo Fidelis and Westwood Language College.

The families have improved their knowledge of nouns; learned family relationships and worked hard to create a family tree; worked on collective and irregular nouns and plurals. Attending the group have been 12 adults and 11 children (and a very small baby).