The Duston School are using the Saints Study Centre over the next two weeks as part of their Year 7′s transition from Primary to Secondary school. Each tutor group in Year 7 will be attending the Saints Study Centre for a day of team building, ICT and practical activities which will give their new form tutors an insight as to how the pupils respond to challenging and engaging activities.
Each day begins with a photo session in which each pupil has an individual photograph taken with Bernie the mascot, which is followed by a “team photo”. These photos will be used in an ICT activity later in the day. The group is then split into four teams to work on a freeze frame activity in which the group has to “freeze frame” a famous sporting occasion. One of the team members then had to explain top the rest of the tutor group what was going on in their “freeze frame”
The group then went into the ICT rooms in the centre to design a name badge using various skills in Publisher-inserting photographs, changing the colour of fonts and backgrounds etc.
After a short break the group were then set different challenges using the Study Centre Team building games. The group had to practise their “games” and then a competition was held between the four groups. All the students worked hard together and encouraged each other even if things didn’t initially go well. They all persevered with the tasks and worked well in their groups.
After a lunch break the students went into the Saints stadium and into the home changing rooms. They were told what the players do on a matchday prior to kick off. They were then given the opportunity to run out of the tunnel just like ” a Saints player” whilst having their photographs taken. On their way back to the Study Centre the group were fortunate enough to meet Jonny Clarke, Santiago Bonorino and “Nacho” Lobbe who kindly had their pictures taken with the group.
The students then got changed for their final activity – the tag rugby session which was delivered by the Community Departments coaches . Great fun was had by all! The group returned to the Study Centre for a final “drink and biscuit” before the buses arrived to take them back to school.
Each student went home with copies of their individual photo, a group photo, the photo of themselves running out of the tunnel and a photograph of their tutor group with THREE Saints players! Surely a day to remember!!
Some comments from pupils at The Duston School;
“I enjoyed the stadium tour and the staff are great” Isabella.
” Today was great because we got to make our own name badges and play tag rugby “ added Kaan and Faith.
” We were chuffed to demonstrate the Kung Fu punctuation” says Billy Bean.
“We did our team building activities right alongside the first team squad – how cool was that!!”
