Are you a parent of a baby or toddler 0 months – 3 years?

Are you looking for an activity to do with them that can help development and learning?

If YES we have news of a new activity here in Ashmore Park.

Rhythm Time is an enjoyable experience involving music and singing for babies, toddlers and pre-school children.

What happens at the Babies session for 0-months to 15 months?

• Singing – to help language development. All children sing before they learn to talk
• Dancing – to help eye tracking, balance and spatial awareness
• Exercise – to help with muscle development and to gain more control over movement
• Massage – to help with bonding, relaxation and circulation
• Exploration – to help with hand eye coordination, develop small motor skills and to encourage speech development
• Social – to help parents and children create new friendships

What happens at the Toddlers session for 15 months to 3 years?

• Unaccompanied singing – to encourage children to have the confidence to find their singing voice and to help them sing in tune
• Listening – to aid concentration and to develop the activity so it becomes something special
• Percussion playing – to explore different timbre, to help with coordination and to develop a sense of pulse
• Dancing – to develop confidence, self-expression and large motor skills
• Rhythmic imitation – to develop listening skills and to echo different rhythmic patterns accurately
• Rhymes – to develop and extend speech through the recognition of shape, pattern and form

When and Where?

At the moment the only sessions on offer are the sessions for babies and toddlers. Rhythm Time do offer sessions for pre-school (3 years to 5 years) but these are not currently offered by the Ashmore Park co-ordinator.

Times:

Babies session (0-months to 15 months) – Every Monday 10:30am. Spring term classes run between 9th Jan 2012 – 26th March 2012.

Toddler session (15 months to 3 years) – Every Monday 11:15am. Spring term classes run between 9th Jan 2012 – 26th March 2012.

Where:

St Albans Church, Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park.

Cost:

First session is free and approx £4.15 per week thereafter. They have a range of payment options which include weekly, monthly and per term.

For further information please click here to be directed to the Rhythm Time website.

Our House is the story of Joe Casey who, on the night of his sixteenth birthday, takes Sarah, the girl of his dreams, out on their first date. In an effort to impress her with bravado, he breaks into a building site overlooking his home on Casey Street, which is owned by Mister Pressman, a high-end property developer. The police turn up, at which point Joe’s life splits into two: the Good Joe, who stays to help, and Bad Joe, who flees.

The story then continues, following both good Joe and Bad Joe’s lives through alternating scenes and the lyrics of some very well know Madness songs.

Last night we went to the Grand Theatre to see “Our House” performed by a cast from Coppice Performing Arts School, Ashmore Park and we did not come away disappointed.

They were amazing. From the second the young cast took to the stage to the final curtain call the audience we’re enthralled. The musical numbers had us tapping our feet and the characters we believable and incredibly well-played. Sitting high up in the Grand Circle it was easy for us to see the cast exiting the stage and we were impressed by the professionalism of all involved staying in character until the were well out of sight.

A special mention must go to Jay Wiley (Joe Casey) for some very speedy costume changes when switching between Good and Bad Joe, and to Stephen Clifton (Vegas Minister) for a very brave costume choice coming onto stage in front of cast and audience of his students in a white “Elvis” jumpsuit!

Each and every individual on the stage looked like they both belonged and wanted to be there, from the dancers in the chorus to the lead actors/actresses who gave it their all and the teachers who had given up their weekends to support both on stage and off. The dedication of all involved is a credit to the school and to Wednesfield as a whole.

They deserved the rapturous applause they left the stage to and we can only hope that they enjoyed performing for us as much as we enjoyed watching them!

Our House was first performed by the pupils of Coppice Performing Arts School in Spring 2011 and images from those shows can be found on the school website.

The residents of Ashmore Park are planning a family fun day to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.

Tuesday 5th June 2012

The event will be held on Tuesday 5th June 2012 at St. Alban’s School and a programme of events is in the process of being arranged.

So far planned events include: a Bouncy castle, Children’s Fancy Dress Competition, Bands, Sports events (for all ages) and a Community Art Piece which all can be involved that will be displayed in Ashmore Park Library. There’s much, much more planned, including Ice Cream, Burger and Candy Floss vans on site.

Family Tea Party

During the afternoon we will be holding a family tea party (bring or purchase your own food), tables and chairs will be provided along with Tea, Coffee and soft drinks free of charge.

Entry will be free

The fun day will be free and everyone on the estate is invited, so please come along and join in the fun!

Get involved!

Residents are hoping to make it day to remember, so if you’d like to help with the planning, or can offer help on the day please contact any of the following:

Ashmore Park Community Centre – 01902 552490
St Alban’s School – 01902 558825
St Alban’s Church – 01902 732317
WV11.co.uk – 07855 409 319 / info@wv11.co.uk

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Bikeability is described as the 21st Century Cycling Profciency course and is designed to give young people confdence in cycling on the roads.

Wolverhampton City Council’s Community Development organise courses for 8 – 16 year olds at Aldersley School in conjunction with the Road Safety Team during school holidays and are now taking bookings for April and June.

To get the Bikeability award, young people will be instructed on how to ride their bikes to the Government approved National Standard for Cycle Training, which sets out the training and skills essential for making cycling trips in today’s road conditions.

Those taking part will receive a certifcate for each award gained and a FREE gift.

Bikes and helmets can be provided for courses subject to availability and storage space.

For more information and to book, phone 01902 556220 or visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/bikeability.

Photo: Andreas Kambanis

Calling all Strictly fans! Are you the next Alisha Dixon or Harry Judd?

There’s a new ‘Learn to Dance Ballroom and Latin’ class in Wednesfield at Perry Hall Primary School on Coleman Avenue.

There’s no fuss, no hassle, no pressure just great fun and exercise! As a couple activity it’s ideal to bring a friend or partner along too!

Come and see us every Wednesday at Perry Hall Primary School, Coleman Avenue, Wednesfield.

Beginners 8:30pm – 9:30pm
Improvers 7:30pm – 8:30pm

£2.50 per person

For more information contact Bill Gilruth on 01902 607845, email billgilruth@aol.com or follow @BillGilruth on Twitter (Qualified IDTA Dance Instructor)

Photo: BBC / Strictly Come Dancing

Zumba, the dance fitness program designed to make exercise fun is currently sweeping the nation and classes are now running four nights a week in Wednesfield.

With 60,000 fitness center locations in 105 countries and seven-and-a-half million participants (including a certain WV11 author!), not to mention a soon to be released video game, Zumba is something of a dance/exercise revolution.

Local instructor Vicky Thomas is currently running classes four nights a week in and around WV11 and is also considering running Zumba toning classes as demand is growing.

Zumba Classes in Wednesfield:

Mondays: 7:30pm – 8:30pm at Pool Hayes Arts and Community School

Tuesdays: 6:30pm – 7:30pm at Coppice Performing Arts School

Wednesdays: 6pm – 7pm at Coppice Performing Arts School

Thursdays: 8pm -9pm at Coppice Performing Arts School

Classes cost £4 per session, Alternatively you can purchase 10 classes in advance for just £35 saving you 50p per class.

For more information please call Vicky Thomas on 07599 333 718 or email vixen64@btinternet.com. If you would be interested in taking part in daytime classes please let Vicky know.

Juniper are holding a FREE careers event for all 15-18 year olds looking to learn a new skill!

The event is taking place on Friday 13^th January 2012 from 11.00am – 6.00pm at Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton.

On the day there will be over 20 Employers and Apprenticeship providers available to speak with, plus a special local celebrity guest speaker!  There will be a chance to learn a new skill such as Bricklaying, Nail Art, DJing, Hairdressing, Make up application, Dance workshop and many many more!

This is a free invitation, so if you or anyone else you know wishes to attend, the please click here to see the attached flyer and get in touch!

They are also recruiting NOW for any 16-18 year olds who are not currently in employment or training, for our January Programme, so again if you know of any one who is looking to kick start 2012 with a new career then please do get in touch!

Our recently launched WV11 Events page is quickly filling up with events as the festive season approaches.

As well as the numerous Church services that are taking place, Wednesfield & Fallings Park LNP holds it’s AGM on 8th December at the Jennie Lee Centre.

There will also be a weeks worth of events taking place around the Christmas Tree by the Library – we’ll have more details on these shortly, but the first event is a performance by the Grey Coll Pipe Band on 12th December.

Santa will be visiting the shops at Moat House Lane East on the 15th and 16th of December and members of Churches across Ashmore Park will be singing carols at the bottom shops on 17th December.

And finally, Essington Fruit Farm is now selling Christmas Trees and encouraging people to dig/saw their own.

For full details of  what’s on, visit our events page and if you know about something we’ve missed, let us know.

Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton are hosting two handmade Christmas gift markets this festive season and they are inviting Wednesfield residents along.

What’s On?

There will be a variety of stalls selling Christmas wares, handmade jewellery, knitwear, cards, home baking and a variety of other handmade gifts.

Stallholders have also donated a variety of prizes for a Tombola with all proceeds going to Compton Hospice.

Visit Santa

On both dates Santa will be popping along free of charge for you to say hello, take you photo with him and maybe even receive a treat!

The events have been organised in order to give local designers/artists an opportunity to showcase and sell their work and are running from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th December at Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4An

They promise to be a lovely Christmassy afternoon out.

Our events page currently has details of four different Christmas events this weekend!

So if you’re looking for some entertainment or perhaps a gift for someone make sure you visit the page for details of what’s happening at Wodensfield Primary, St Alban’s Church, The Boat public house and St Gregory’s Church.

If you know of any other upcoming events please let us know and we’ll add them to our events page.

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