Bicycles and seeds from space allsignal a busy time for St Mary's

Not only did they attended a special “Bike It” assembly organised by the charity Sustrans, but learned this week they are about to embark on a voyage of discovery by planting seeds which have been sent into space.

Lucy Dance from Sustrans introduced the “Bike It” project and spoke to the children about the benefits of cycling. She then held a questions and answer session at the end of the assembly. Lucy is heading back to St Mary’s with a specially adapted bike, which when you pedal it creates a fruit smoothie, the children are looking forward to having a go.

The school have a shed of adapted bikes which will be used by the students for activities, training and events. These adapted bikes allow children with disabilities to enjoy the freedom of riding bikes.

Lucy said, “Cycling is a great way for children and young people to get the exercise they need every day to keep healthy, and research shows it allows them to become better students in the classroom. Let’s not forget its fun, too.”

Alan Coutts an occupational therapist at St Mary’s said: “We are looking forward to working with Sustrans. The Bike It project will help our young people keep fit and active and allow them to use the bikes safely in the local community.”

Pupils are also preparing to become space biologists and embark on a voyage of discovery by growing seeds that have been into space.

In September, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station (ISS) on Soyuz 44S where they will spend several months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March 2016. Mrs Forester, Science Teacher at St. Mary’s, says: “We are very excited to be taking part.

“This experiment is a fantastic way of teaching our pupils and students to think more scientifically and share their findings with the whole school and community.”

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