BACK TO SCHOOL ADVICE FROM PARENT WHO RUNS ONE OF WILTSHIRE’S MOST SUCCESSFUL PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL
Latest news from Fiona Da Silva Adams of of Revolution Performing Arts
AS PARENTS prepare for their children to return to school parent, here’s some helpful back-to-school advice from Revolution Performing Arts owner, Fiona Da Silva Adams. She shares her top tips for getting back into a school routine.
Fiona (known as Fi) runs Revolution Performing Arts, which offers after school clubs and classes across Swindon offering drama, dance and singing for children of all abilities. The ethos of RPA is one of inclusion.
Fiona Da Silva-Adams owner of Revolution Performing Arts based in Swindon, Wiltshire.
Fiona (known as Fi) runs Revolution Performing Arts, which offers after school clubs and classes across Swindon offering drama, dance and singing for children of all abilities. The ethos of RPA is one of inclusion.
“I’m a parent to two children myself,” Fi said. “Although many children are looking forward to going back to school, some may not be and some may worry about what school is now going to look and feel like. It’s my belief that, as parents ,we can support them around this new ‘unknown’.”
Looking forwards
It’s important we start thinking about the future. Our children are living through the same challenges we have. Life isn’t going to return to what it was. Yet with the opening of schools, parents and children alike need to try and get back some structure.
These tips might help some parents to prepare their children for this change,” Fi said.
Fiona’s Top Tips
Sleep Routine – If your child has been sleeping in or establishing a nocturnal lifestyle it’s time to start restoring a regular sleep pattern. Start by encouraging them to go to sleep half an hour earlier until they’re into a new healthier sleep pattern. Returning to school will bring its own challenges – sleep deprivation will make the perspective that more enduring. It’s proven that a regular sleep pattern is good for your mental health. So it’ll be a great start to the new academic year.
Anxiety/Social Interaction – school will look and feel different and some children may be anxious about this. There may be one way systems in school, children may not be able to get physically close to teachers and adults may be wearing masks. Children may even worry about hugging their friends.
Speak to the school and find out what school will now look like. Depending on the age of your child a Worry Monster can be perfect for ‘eating up’ worries or check out the book “The Huge Bag of Worries” by Virginia Ironside. Both are fantastic as a starting point to ease anxieties in children.
If your child’s a little older, plan a ‘Yes Day’ with one parent/carer, if you can manage it. This involves you saying yes to everything for a day. Most young people understand there are financial restrictions to this – no, a new X Box is not part of a ‘yes’ day. You’ll find that most simply want you to share your time and their experiences and favourite hobbies. It’s a perfect opportunity for a child to open up about any worries while they have your undivided attention.
Practicalities – Check out that school uniform and shoes as some stocks can get quite low and your child won’t need that extra stress. In particular as they have to be ‘the right shape’ trousers or ‘the correct shade of grey’!
Getting there – Did you book the school bus? Are there rules about social distancing on the bus? Is your child aware of them? Do they need to wear a mask on the bus?
Masks
If they have to wear a mask, treat them to one they’ve chosen – from their favourite band or matching head wear – as long as school allows it. Or, if you drive, there are loads of road works currently planned for Swindon. Make sure you are ready and prepared to take an alternative route or allow extra time. Your stress levels will thank you for it!
And finally!
Celebrate and re-connect – Finally, no matter how the first days go, celebrate with your child and plan a treat with the family! They did it! They got through the first day and survived! You can all breathe a sigh of relief.
Revolution Performing Arts
Revolution Performing Arts was set up in September 2007. Although Fi has more than 20 years’ experience as a qualified performance artist with a BA Hons in Performing Arts. She is a mum to two children, Zavier, aged 17 and Angel aged 14.
Fi set the group up in the first instance as Drama Babes (drama for toddlers and preschoolers) in September 2007. A year later the demand was so great the business moved on to offer sessions for primary school age children and Drama Babes was then sold on. The emphasis for RPA is on fun, confidence building, boosting self esteem and developing individual potential.
Today Revolution Performing Arts supports 100s of children across Swindon to enjoy the arts and express and embrace who they are and what makes them different. To find out more visit: https://revolutionpa.co.uk/
A few years ago, a small coffee shop opened Faringdon on Road, right across from the building that was The Barracks in the GWR Railway Village.
It soon became popular, but then one of the proprietors had a problem with immigration rules. In spite of a widespread #dontdeportmybarista campaign, they ended up having to leave the UK.
Before COVID, one of my small pleasures involved sitting at the window table and looking across to the houses in the Railway Village through the steam on the windows, enjoying an excellent cup of coffee.
Coffee (and tea and cake and sandwiches) are at present being served for take away at the front of the shop. Despite the reduced service ,the coffee and the warm welcome remain the same. I’m looking forward, one day, to taking that seat in the window again and watching the world go by.
Reflections on a coffee shop by Chris Eley
Darkroom Espresso Faringdon Road
Darkroom Espresso is s specialty coffee shop in the centre of Swindon, in the old Railway village. It opened in September 2014 and is now owned & run by local barista Stephen Jordan.
Stephen was already a long serving member of staff at Darkroom before taking on ownership in March 2019
The name of Darkroom Espresso comes from the idea that making coffee requires the same craft, skill and care as developing a photo in a darkroom. We use speciality coffee from Round Hill Roastery & other guest roasters, a range of speciality teas, low-sugar hot chocolate, fresh bread from Hobbs House and local cakes from V-Cuisine and Cakesmiths.
You’re all aware that, at this time, Swindon is seeing an increase in Covid cases. NOT a desirous situation for anyone. So this post is about sharing the Swindon Council Covid communication. It’s so important that we all take this on board.
We can ALL stop this from getting worse than it is. It’s up to ALL of us!
Follow the rules
If we all follow the rules we can control the virus and keep Swindon safe.
Hands up who wants a local lockdown? No-one? Thought not!
Public health messages:
If you have symptoms:
self-isolate – stay at home for 10 days
get tested – call 119 or book online for a local test
keep others safe – don’t socialise, don’t go to work, don’t go shopping or mix with anyone outside your household
When you go out
wash hands – keep washing your hands regularly
cover face – wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces
make space – stay at least 2 metres away from people not in your household
If you have any of these symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested straight away:
high temperature
cough
loss of or change to taste or smell
Swindon Council Covid Communication:
It’s up to all of us to take action, right now to prevent any restrictions being placed on us. Wash Hands, Cover Face and Make Space whenever you leave home.
If everyone in our community follows these clear and simple steps, we can control the spread of COVID-19.
Swindon: it’s up to all of us to book a test: gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and self-isolate for 10 days if you have symptoms. Visit www.swindon.gov.uk/itsuptoallofus to find out more
We need everyone in the community who has #COVID19 symptoms to stay at home for at least 10 days. That means, not going to work or the shops. Swindon: it’s up to all of us to prevent the virus from spreading. Visit www.swindon.gov.uk/itsuptoallofus to find out the latest.
So that’s the official message. This is mine:
PLEASE – TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. I’M DUE TO BE A GRANDMA AGAIN SOON. I don’t want to miss that because were in a local lockdown. I don’t want to hear of people I know getting sick – and worse – dying.
PLEASE – wear the blasted masks! I KNOW they’re not fun. Nothing about this is fun for anybody. You’re not special. We’re all in the same boat here.
I’m a chronic asthmatic – it’s not great. But it’s bearable. And it’s a darn sight better than having Covid – or other people have Covid. This is NOT about YOU. It’s about all of us.
Well, it’s been a while since you’ve been able to access the shop and information desk in the central library on Regent Circus. That sad state of affairs is, of course, thanks to us being in the grip of a pandemic.
But lo! I bring you tidings of great joy. No – a son isn’t born unto us but we do now have a Covid compliant library shop.
You can then email askthelibrary@swindon.gov.uk with your telephone number and someone will call you back to take your order and payment. Then you can collect what you’ve bought from the library during their opening times.
Caveat Emptor: There’s no walk in access. You can collect your books/purchases from the foyer where staff will put them ready for you.
So it’s not ideal no. No one is pretending it is. But it’s something. And it does mean you now have the means to support the shop in buying gifts and books from them.
Dona Bradley and Simon Webb are among those with fabulous gift products on sale in the Covid-compliant library shop. Not to mention of course, dozens of fabulous books. Yes – those I’ve written. To pretend otherwise is daft. But lots more besides.
Early in lockdown I wrote a couple of posts highlighting a range of books to read over the summer. So here’s a recap of those:
When: Saturday 8th August Where: The Museum of Computing in Theatre Square Time: 12 midday to 2pm
NOTE: the Museum of Computing is closed to the public (due to Coronavirus restrictions) but I, Angela, will be there, with a live Zoom broadcast. And maybe a Facebook live.
The Zoom event will offer an opportunity for interviews and Q&As and will incorporate poetry, music and more.
NB: if you’re not on Facebook but would like to join the Zoom event, email me on: aaedits56@gmail.com so I can send you the link.
Swindon author publishes new guide to her adoptive town
A Swindon author who published her first book a mere two years ago, is launching a fourth – and it’s the one she’s always wanted to write.
Angela Atkinson, who pens the popular blog Born Again Swindonian, is passionate about the town. And her fourth book is a further tribute to her adoptive home. She’s holding an official launch on Saturday August 8, from the town’s Museum of Computing. The event is part online and part face-to-face, to allow for lockdown restrictions.
Swindon: A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide uses the tagline #LookdownLookaroundLookup
It acts as a guidebook, encouraging readers to get out and about to explore some of the town’s treasures.
To help them do that, Angela has filled the book with urban exploration trails. Some of them pre-existing and some that she’s created, including a couple of quiz trails for children to do with their parents. Though she hasn’t forgotten green spaces and nature reserves!
It features some Born Again Swindonian blogs, some new chapters, and even an imagined guide book entry Angela wrote about the Magic Roundabout while studying for her English degree.
Derbyshire-born Angela’s previous publications, best-sellers among Swindonians, are:
“The difference between this and the other Swindon books, is this one is for getting out and about with, while the others were to sit and read,” said Angela. “It’s the one I have always wanted to write, ever since I started the Born Again Swindonian blog. It’s curious, that something I conceived some years ago has now become very timely thanks to pandemic keeping people at home. Never was the word ‘Staycation’ on so many people’s lips.”
“So many people say Swindon is ugly, but that is a little word carrying so much meaning.
My friend and poet Carole Bent once wrote about the glitter in the concrete and the sparkle in the cement as a metaphor for life. Yet it is so true of Swindon. It’s got a rich history, and many wonderful buildings, walks, and works of art. And I’d love people to discover these.”
When not writing Born Again Swindonian and books, Angela runs a proofreading, copywriting and editing business, AA Editorial Services. Angela founded the business after graduating with a First in Joint English Hons from the University of the West of England. She also attained a First for the travel writing module which kickstarted her blog.
She said: “I told my tutor wanted to do the travel writing module but I didn’t travel anywhere – I don’t even drive. He said the last thing he wanted was another account of a gap year Thailand, and asked me to write about what I saw. So I did, hence the first blog on The Magic Roundabout.”
Free gifts!
Angela will signing copies and there’ll also be some exclusive giveaways, including Sinclair C5 3D printed keyrings and bookmarks. All on a first-come-first served basis.
The book costs £9.95, and the first 30 purchased on the launch day will contain a limited edition postcard by Swindon artist Dona Bradley. There’s a competition attached to this – details below.
Competition details for Book Launch Swindonian Guide Book
The above image is the underside of a postcard by Dona Bradley. The first 20 of the books to go out at the launch will have one inside. The front of the postcard shows 9 Swindon landmarks.
This is where you need to be quick on the draw with your camera.
The first ADULT and the first under-16 to send me photographs of ALL 9 landmarks depicted on the postcard, in one go, gets a prize!
I’m not judging photographic quality – it’s merely about being quick off the draw.
