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16/02/25

90% attendance means 3 terms or 90 days of learning lost from Year 7–11. This is the equivalent of 450 hours of lesson time missed. pic.twitter.com/AVuQghGx82— Valley Park School () February 16, 2025

15/02/25

Parinirvana, or Nirvana Day, is a Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the Buddha's death. It celebrates his Enlightenment and liberation from rebirth. At eighty, after forty years of teaching, the Buddha died in meditation and entered nirvana. pic.twitter.com/P2T7IOjarl— Valley Park School () February 15, 2025

14/02/25

Next week is Winter Break! Yes, Winter. Christmas Break was in December. Spring Break is in May, and Easter Break is in April. So have fun (and stay safe) crafting sand sculptures on the beach or whatever you do during Winter Break... in February! pic.twitter.com/8Bxgl8UB3X— Valley Park School () February 14, 2025

14/02/25

House points update#wearevalleypark#ambition pic.twitter.com/usryHLnHmF— Valley Park School () February 14, 2025

13/02/25

Year 10 ceramics students have impressed their teacher, Miss Collins, by ambitiously constructing their organic forms in just five hours. Read more: https://t.co/KCcOviHRsC #wearevalleyparkceramics#ARK pic.twitter.com/ORvSEU4xtf— Valley Park School () February 13, 2025

12/02/25

Tu Bishvat, the Jewish "New Year of the Trees," marks the start of spring in Israel and is a time to thank God for fruit. It is celebrated as an ecological awareness day with tree planting. It starts this evening and ends tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/QL8FlUyrdl— Valley Park School () February 12, 2025

12/02/25

Our upcoming musical production is Sister Act, in which a disco diva, Deloris, is placed in protective custody in a convent when she witnesses a murder. At first, she finds it hard to cope, but then she meets the convent's choir...#wearevalleyparkproductions#sisteract pic.twitter.com/sUS8thpxaB— Valley Park School () February 12, 2025

11/02/25

Spring is just around the corner! This amazing sculpture of a hare, crafted by Year 11 student, Bethany, is showcased in the school's Reception area. It's a wonderful illustration of being ambitious, one of our core school values. pic.twitter.com/zBUTzOwzRS— Valley Park School () February 11, 2025

10/02/25

The Valley Park Music Showcase is in full swing!#wearevalleypark#wearevalleyparkmusic pic.twitter.com/avaLWCs8ii— Valley Park School () February 10, 2025

10/02/25

This week: National Apprenticeship Week, a Year 11 Science Live trip, the Valley Park Music Showcase (Mon 6pm). Safer Internet Day. Wed and Fri it's Sixth Form open morning tours. Thurs there's a free well-being conference by youHQ. Friday is Valentine’s Day. pic.twitter.com/05dxEVQfmU— Valley Park School () February 10, 2025

10/02/25

Dancers performed at The Stag Theatre with Cascade Dance on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/wsVzTS51Um— Valley Park School () February 10, 2025

09/02/25

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/K1D9zW0dcE— Valley Park School () February 9, 2025

07/02/25

It's NSPCC Number Day today, and it's their 25th anniversary, too! So, what year did they start? 2000? or 2001?#wearevalleypark#numbersday pic.twitter.com/PgJeMz1LSv— Valley Park School () February 7, 2025

07/02/25

House Points update...#wearevalleypark#ambition pic.twitter.com/3POIt4GJRx— Valley Park School () February 7, 2025

05/02/25

It's Year 9 Options Evening tomorrow (Thursday 6 Feb). The schedule for arrival is included in the accompanying picture. #optionsevening pic.twitter.com/rVhqp6VoJs— Valley Park School () February 5, 2025

04/02/25

Tired of dull weekends? Want to try something exciting and meet a whole new group of people? Why not try a taster session at Leeds and Kingswood Explorers? pic.twitter.com/sS0TaJLly7— Valley Park School () February 4, 2025

03/02/25

The week ahead: It's Children’s Mental Health Week. On Tues, Year 9 & 11 have immunisations; Year 7 visits Herstmonceux Observatory. On Wed, there's a trip to the Marlowe Theatre for Dear Evan Hanson. Thurs is Year 9 Options Evening (5.30pm - 8pm) pic.twitter.com/4NYIIvNRSH— Valley Park School () February 3, 2025

03/02/25

Our second hand uniform shop (SHUSH) will be open for business on Year 9 Options Evening, which takes place on Thursday 6 February at 5.30pm to 8pm. pic.twitter.com/f9Y1f1A7MQ— Valley Park School () February 3, 2025

02/02/25

Candlemas is a Christian festival that commemorates a young Jesus being presented at the temple for the first time. It was also the day when the year’s supply of candles was brought to the church to be blessed.#religiousfestivalscalendar pic.twitter.com/bqdfhz5q7k— Valley Park School () February 2, 2025

01/02/25

Imbolc, (immolk), is a pagan celebration symbolizing the transition from winter to spring, marking increased daylight. It honors Brigid, the goddess of inspiration, creativity, healing, and poetry. Historically, it was a time to reaffirm life and prepare for the harvest. pic.twitter.com/BG1gEfnZtF— Valley Park School () February 1, 2025

31/01/25

House Points update...#wearevalleypark#ambition pic.twitter.com/0qseq5RLNA— Valley Park School () January 31, 2025

31/01/25

We need good condition donations for our Second Hand Uniform Shop! For more information, please visit the Uniform page on our website.#wearevalleypark#SHUSH pic.twitter.com/3lZgJryXoE— Valley Park School () January 31, 2025

31/01/25

We have some more Sixth Form Open Morning Tours coming up on Wednesday February 12 and Friday February 14 at 8.45am. Visit our website to book a place: https://t.co/58lYerhh35 pic.twitter.com/I2SAloIU6n— Valley Park School () January 31, 2025

30/01/25

A gentle reminder to those of you who have received an invitation to Year 9 Options Evening, but who have not yet responded. Please could you complete the online form to confirm or decline your attendance? https://t.co/l6uCwAkTKh pic.twitter.com/XMo4RuuuKr— Valley Park School () January 30, 2025

30/01/25

A free Well-Being conference, run by , is taking place at Valley Park School on Thursday 13 February 2025 between 2pm and 6pm. Book your tickets at https://t.co/aynD862pZq pic.twitter.com/UTFe8geS92— Valley Park School () January 30, 2025

Blog

Posted on: June 16th 2020

Stay Fabulous!

Hello,

I hope that you are all well and coping in these unpredictable and surreal times that we currently find ourselves in. I wanted to share with you how I have been managing during lockdown.

I have to admit, initially I found it really hard to do any painting at all. I usually find most of my inspiration comes from places I go and people I meet and how they make me feel.  As I wasn’t going anywhere at all, I was really struggling. Like a lot of people, my thoughts have been all over the place and my emotions too, they have been up and sometimes very down. I’ve had to dig deep to find my inspiration and to express myself artistically.

My art is my therapy, it has always helped me through the most difficult times in my life and there have been plenty!!!!  When I paint, I go into my own world completely. Firstly, I always put on very loud music, then once I start painting, I am lost.  Sometimes when I’m painting, I do all of my thinking and try to resolve the issues that have been bothering me.  I can work things out and make decisions, I can think things through and end up feeling really positive and uplifted when I’ve finished. Then there are other times when I’m sad or confused and I completely shut off. I shut out the world around me and completely stop thinking, using painting as my escape from the realities of life.  

When I’m not painting as part of my job - I am a full member of MFPA and paint cards for them to sell - I mostly have no idea at all what I am about to paint, I just let it happen.  Obviously there have been times when I spend hours painting and then hours looking at it, only to paint all over it and start again. I never know what will appear but the important thing is to keep going, to keep being creative and expressing ourselves, especially at times like we are living in at the moment. Painting for me is, my life, my thoughts, my expression, it’s my mood, it’s my passion. If I’m happy I may paint bright and big and bold or swirling colours of joy. If I’m sad I can sometimes paint in dark and gentle colours softly, often with more attention to detail. Of course, both styles of painting can also happen in reverse, that’s the beauty of art and painting, each time is unique.  Everyone sees something different when they look at your art work. When you look at your own work, only you can know every thought and emotion that has gone into it.  

Please keep using your imagination, whatever your art, whatever your style. Use your emotions to express yourself creatively, however you’re feeling, it’s you and it’s so important!!!!  

Stay safe and stay fabulous!!!

 

Alison Lapper MBE