The Summer Term at Risedale began with a vibrant celebration of our service community as we marked the Month of the Military Child. Throughout April, we hosted a series of special events designed to celebrate, support, and empower our service pupils across the school.
Creative Voices with Never Such Innocence
To launch the month, we were delighted to welcome published poet Charlie Dixon and her adorable canine companion, Pickles, from the Never Such Innocence project. Charlie led an inspiring workshop for our Year 7 and 8 pupils, providing a safe space to explore the unique realities of military life.
Pupils delved into powerful themes of ‘Mobility and Change’ alongside ‘Transition and Hope’, translating their personal journeys into moving pieces of poetry. Reflecting on the session, Service Pupil Manager Dr Ellis said:
"It was wonderful to see our service pupils engaging so deeply with Charlie and Pickles. The workshop offered a creative space for them to articulate the complexities of military life. I was incredibly moved by the strength and maturity they showed in their writing; they are a true credit to the school and their families."
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Beyond the Barracks: Planning for the Future
The celebrations continued with a focus on our older pupils through the launch of the 'Beyond the Barracks' mentoring programme. In partnership with York St John University, we welcomed Abbie and her team of University Student Mentors to work with our Year 10 pupils.
This initiative involves weekly sessions exploring how the unique aspects of service life can impact and shape post-16 journeys. Our pupils have taken a "deep dive" into their future options, helping them build the confidence to plan for a bright and successful path beyond Risedale.
Festival of the Military Child
Rounding off our celebrations on Friday, 1st of May, our Service Pupils were invited to Carnagill Primary School for their Festival of the Military Child. It was a brilliant day of community spirit, made even better by the gorgeous weather!
The day was packed with activities, and while the visit from the ice cream van was a definite crowd favourite, the real highlight was watching our pupils in action. They stepped up to help run the event, demonstrating our BEST school values.
Their kindness didn’t go unnoticed, with Angela Campbell, Service Children's Champion, sharing on Facebook:
"What a wonderful group of young people! They were so kind to the younger children, helping to man some of the activity stations whilst also joining in the fun."
Following the event, pupils were also presented with special certificates of participation to recognise their hard work and contribution to the festival's success. We are incredibly proud of how our pupils represented our community!
A Community of Resilience
From the creative expressions of our younger pupils to the leadership shown at the festival, the Month of the Military Child has been a fantastic showcase of the talent and RESILIENCE within our service community.
Reflecting on the month’s celebrations, Service Pupil Manager Dr Ellis added:
"April has been a truly heart-warming reminder of the incredible spirit our service pupils possess. Whether they were expressing themselves through poetry or supporting younger children at the festival, they have shown exactly what it means to be part of the Risedale Family. We are so proud of them all."
The Month of the Military Child may be over, but our pride in our service pupils remains year-round. We look forward to building on these fantastic partnerships and continuing to support our military families throughout their Risedale journey.
Find Out More ...
For more information on the bespoke support, resources, and initiatives we offer here at Risedale, please visit our dedicated Service Children website page.
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