Letter from Camphill

Easter 2012

This letter is being written from the Costa del Sol Aberdeen as the North East of Scotland breaks all records for warmth and sunshine. It is great to see everyone outside in March in t-shirts and shorts; the only trouble is that our non-British co-workers think summer has arrived - little do they know what lies around the corner…

From the perspective of our pupils this has been an extraordinary year with the majority of our admissions being for extended school placements. It really seems that we are inextricably moving towards being a provision open for children and young people the whole year around. This has, however, brought its challenges as the need has grown and we ponder how best to meet this. A recurrent theme running through many of our conversations is therefore ‘sustainability’.

This term the Eco Committee of the School has taken a leap forward and organised a litter-picking day along the old railway line between Murtle and Camphill. Those on the walk, which included members of the St Machar Rotary Club, collected 53 kilos of litter and other rubbish and raised £110 for Hermanus Camphill School in South Africa. It was a wonderful community event and one which has brought us closer to the Green Flag award. The Committee has also written an ‘eco code’ which the whole school has adopted.

Eco code:
1. Look back into the room you left - light without use is an engage theft!
2. lf it isn't far - take a bike or walk and leave your car!
3. If you do your shopping - take a bag along to carry it in.
4. Don't throw away - recycle for another day.
5. When you refuse to reuse - it's the earth you abuse.
6. Pollution isn't cool - so don't be a fool.
7. Window open - heater off!
8. If out - switch out.
9. Stop the drip - to save the drop.
10. Don't let the water run in the sink - our lives are on the brink.

Meanwhile, in another pupil-led initiative, we would like to thank everyone who continues to contribute to the textile and shoe recycling scheme, RAGBAG. The last collection (250 kg.) generated a further £125 which will also go towards the new workshop building in Hermanus Camphill School in South Africa. If you have more textiles, clothes or shoes to donate, please send them to Camphill Estate Schoolhouse (there is a large indoor collection box).

If you have some bric-a-brac that you want to pass on, please hold on to it as I hear rumours that there might be a Jumble Sale in the near future.

This term the School has seen a large number of visitors including Patricia Cassidy, Head of Education for Aberdeen City, Jim Kiddie, Convenor of Aberdeen City Social Work Committee, and Geraldine Docherty, Director of the Scottish Social Services Council. We also received letters of congratulations for the excellent Education Scotland/Care Inspectorate integrated inspection report from Dame Anne Begg, MP; Ritchie Johnson, Director of Housing and Social Work, Aberdeenshire Council; Maureen Watt, MSP; Valerie Watts, Chief Executive, Aberdeen City Council; Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Annette Bruton, Director of Education, Culture and Sport, Aberdeen City Council; Maria Walker, Director of Education, Aberdeenshire Council; Anne Robertson, Leader of Aberdeenshire Council; and Bob Driscoll, Head of Children’s Services, Aberdeenshire Council.

Another group of visitors were a team from Bristow Helicopters who painted the outside of Rowan Workshop in Murtle as well as participating in a group collage painting managed by David Newbatt.

Continuing on with positive inspection reports, the St Andrew’s Project received an excellent Care Inspectorate report with only very good and excellent grades. The Project is seeking to expand its work, in particular the over-18 service that it offers.

This term Nature Nurture worked for the first time with very young children aged 18 months and older, with funding provided by the Camphill Wellbeing Trust. Next term they will have their first local authority funded group through the Aberdeenshire Drugs and Alcohol partnership. We are hoping this will be the catalyst for more state-supported groups as the Government’s own documents state that £1 spent in early intervention saves £9 later in life. Meanwhile, the Nature Nurture team are about to launch a large fundraising effort, so watch this space…

Our newest venture, the Sapphire Project, has admitted its first student and looks to build on this, offering a day service as an alternative to Aberdeen College for youngsters with additional support needs.

While all this activity was happening internally, there was still time for five of our senior co-workers to travel and share their expertise: Birgit in Moscow; Bernhard in Lebanon; Chris and Manuela in Glasgow and Aberdeen; and Ian who gave a 15 minute illustrated presentation of the Camphill garden at the Trellis (Therapeutic Horticulture) Conference in Perth on 15 March.

Among all these positive developments, we have just heard that the BA in Social Pedagogy will not be able to begin a new Stage I this summer as a result of an ongoing review by Aberdeen University of the current programme. Current students will not be affected by this.

The next parents’ coffee morning will be on Friday 4 May from 1000 to 1200. These regular events offer the opportunity for parents to meet and support each other as well as having time simply to chat. Do feel invited to attend. A specific invitation with the venue will be sent out closer to the time.

And finally, we look forward to the proud moment when 10 pupils from class 10 will receive their ‘Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award’ at the school festival on Friday.

With this, may I wish you all the best for Easter and good relaxing holidays; may the sun continue to shine!

Laurence Alfred