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.

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

Girlguiding UK is the United Kingdom’s largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women, with around half a million members including about 100,000 trained volunteer adult Leaders and supporters. ‘Girlguiding UK’ is an operating name of The Guide Association.

The organisation is split according to age;

Rainbows – Age 5-7
Brownies – Age 7-10
Guides – Age 10-14
Senior Section – Age 14-25

Groups in Wednesfield

Wednesfield currently has several groups that meet during term time. One Rainbow unit that meets on a Friday, four Brownie units meeting on a Monday or a Friday and two Guide Units that also meet on a Monday.

Activities that are currently booked which all units will be taking part in are Wednesfield & Woodend Royal British Legion Remembrance Day Parade, PGL Holiday in June 2012 and they have been lucky enough to have had one guide chosen to attend a Scout & Guide Jamboree in Belgium in July 2011 and three guides chosen to attend an International Trip to Paris in October 2011.

More information

If you would like further information regarding any of the units – please contact Joanne Jackson on 01902 568104 or email wednesfieldbrownies@blueyonder.co.uk.

Residents are invited to take part in a Fungi Foray around Northycote Farm and Country Park on Sunday.

Wolverhampton City Council’s countryside rangers will be leading a stroll around the picturesque beauty spot to hunt for and identify a variety of mushrooms and other fungi.

The Fungi Foray is being organised in association with the Friends of Northycote Farm and Country Park and takes place on Sunday October 16, 2011, between 11am and 1pm. Entry and car parking is free.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “This should be a great day out for all the family, and our countryside rangers are sure to provide a fascinating insight into the various different types of fungi that can be found in our countryside.”

The Fungi Foray is open to all, though children must be accompanied by an adult and those taking part should being suitable clothing and footwear. Places in advance by calling Northycote Farm and Country Park on 01902 397906 or visiting www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/parkevents.

For more information about Wolverhampton’s parks, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/parks or follow ranger Wilf at www.twitter.com/wolvesparkies.

Photo by vastateparkstaff used under Creative Commons license.

A family fun day is set to take place outside the shops on Moat House Lane East on Sunday 9th October from 11am to 4pm.

The event is aimed at raising the profile of local shops and proceeds will be donated to national charity Help for Heroes, who raise money to support members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded in the service of their country.

The fun day kicks off at 11am with a Scout Marching band and there will be stalls including face painting, cakes, brick a brack, flowers and raffle prizes from local Police, along with a bouncy castle and activities such as  Zumba / Bollywood dancing.

British transport police will also be on hand to help with marking of mobile phones and valuables.

For more information or to donate items towards raffle prizes, please contact Wednesfield South Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal on 07515 654 805 or the shop keepers themselves.

Wednesfield’s AMF bowling alley re-launches as Hollywood Bowl on Friday 27th May with lower prices and new facilities.

The former AMF site at Bentley Bridge Retail Park which only opened a couple of years ago has been refitted and includes a new arcade with a ‘play to win’ area where gamers can win tickets which they can exchange for prizes.

A brand new children’s party area with disco lighting has been created and new lighting including disco lights, lasers and neons have been installed throughout the lanes, “to make extreme bowling even more fun and exciting”.

The fully licensed bar will now be open until midnight every Friday and Saturday, with a brand new cocktail menu in place after 9pm which includes a huge bowling ball shaped pitcher to share for £7.

New Prices

Monday – Friday before 6pm (off peak)

Adults: 1 game £3.35
Under 16′s: 1 game £2.55

2 Adults + 2 Under 16′s: 1 game: £10.60
2 Adults + 2 Under 16′s: £16.00
(4 people minimum, 2 under 16′s)

Monday – Friday after 6pm + all day Saturday & Sunday (peak prices)

Adults: 1 game £4.95
Under 16′s: 1 game £3.95

2 Adults + 2 Under 16′s: 1 game £15.60
2 Adults + 2 Under 16′s: 2 games £26.00
(4 people minimum, 2 under 16′s)

Friday & Saturday from 10pm

Unlimited bowling for £10 per person from 10pm.

Morning Deals

2 games + a drink (tea/coffee/squash) for just £4.95 pp 10am-4pm – Monday-Friday

£1 games on Saturday / Sunday from 9am-11am (+ a special £1 menu during this time).

New children’s party packages are also now available.

Peak prices vary during school holidays. Special concession rates are also available.

For more information email ukbentleybridgecentre@amfbowling.co.uk or call 01902 866 760 or alternatively visit Hollywood Bowl’s website or Facebook page.

The Wednesfield Rotary Club Sleigh will be making several trips over the coming weeks.

The dates/times are:

16th Dec: Fallings Park (starting Wimbourne Road 6pm)

17th Dec: Lyndale Estate and Broad Lane South (starting Yale Drive 6pm)

18th Dec: Perry Hall (starting Coleman Avenue 6pm)

19th Dec: Moathouse (starting Olinthus Avenue 2pm)

19th Dec: Ashmore Park/Oaklands (Starting Clanfield Avenue 4:30pm)

20th Dec: Wood End (starting Whitehouse Avenue 6pm)

Collectors will also be dressed up in Wednesfield High Street and outside Sainsburys on the 17th & 18th.

Source: Rotary Club of Wednesfield

Christmas is coming…..whether you like it or not!

UPDATE: For more events check out our Christmas 2010 posts.

Here’s a round up of Christmas events that are happening in and around Wednesfield – if you know of any more, please let us know in the comments…

Friday 3rd December – 4pm onwards
Christmas lights switch on in Wednesfield High Street – this begins at 4pm with the lights being switched on at 5:30pm

Saturday 4th December – 10am
St Thomas’ Church on Wednesfield High Street holds it’s Christmas Fayre from 10am onwards.

Saturday 4th December – 11am
St Alban’s Church on Griffiths Drive in Ashmore Park holds it’s Christmas Fayre from 11am onwards.

Saturday 4th December – 2pm
St Gregory’s Church holds it’s Christmas Fayre with tombola, cake stall, bottle stall, tins n things, bric a brac, refreshments and lots more.

Monday 13th December – 2pm-3pm
Christmas Offa Festive Fun: Emma Purshouse and Wyn Saha from Offa’s Press will be at Wednesfield Library reading Christmas poetry and stories.

Monday 13th December – 7:30pm
Performance by the 21st Wolverhampton Boys & Girls Association Marching Band
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Tuesday 14th December – 6pm
Performance by the Wednesfield High Gospel Choir
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Wednesday 15th December – 12:30pm
Performance by the Greycoll Pipe band
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Thursday 16th December – 6pm
Performance by the Azaad Dhol Drummers
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Friday 17th December – 5pm
Performance by Ashmore Park Choir
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Just a quick reminder that the annual switching on of Wednesfield‘s Christmas lights takes place next Friday, 3rd December from 3:30pm onwards.

The event is set to be bigger and better than ever before and includes loads for kids to do.

Approximate running order:

3:30pm: High Street closed – buses/traffic will be diverted along Alfred Squire Rd and Neachells Lane.

Dickie Dodd’s Wolf FM Roadshow will be broadcasting from outside Age UK (Help The Aged) in the High Street to celebrate the shop’s 15th year in Wednesfield.

Fayre ground rides will be available for children to enjoy.

4pm – 5pm: Children from local school choirs will sing Christmas carols inside St Thomas’ Church – the audio (and possibly video) will be broadcast outside the Church.

5:30pm: Wednesfield native and runner up on BBC TV show The Apprentice, Ruth Badger and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett will switch on the lights (including Christmas Tree lights).

6:30pm: The High Street will re-open to traffic after the event has finished.

Find out more in our recent article, or read the Council’s press release.