This weekly bulletin contains the latest news updates across Year 12.
EEKLY W B ULLETIN 19 JANUARY 2024
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEADTEACHER
KEY SCHOOL DATES
HOLIDAYS & NATIONAL DAYS Veganuary - January World Religion Day - 21 January Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January Children’s Mental Health Week - 5-11 February Higher Education Evening - 5.30pm 22 January GCSE MFL Mock Speaking Exams - 22-26 January Oxbridge Briefing - 5.30pm 29 January Year 9 Options Evening - 5pm 6 February
This morning I attended the Year 9 assembly as a judge for our Year 10 public speaking competition. Students were shortlisted following the workshop run last term and having had a chance to polish up their speeches, put their newly learned skills into practice by delivering inspirational speeches, sharing personal passions and experiences that
really made the audience think. The topics included False Memories, Hope, Rugby and Ignorance. Well done to all who took part and special congratulations to Uma and Emilia who will represent the school at the borough competition later this term. This week we were delighted that a number of our students in Years 7 to 9 were invited to participate in the Oxford University Computing Challenge as a result of achieving a score within the top 10% of the national entries in November’s Bebras Challenge. This is an incredible achievement and the students really enjoyed having the opportunity to challenge their computational thinking even more in this round. Our Design and Technology teachers have been incredibly busy supporting examination students through their make days this week. Having an opportunity to spend a whole day realising their designs allows the students focused time to produce some truly exceptional artefacts. We will be inviting parents into an exhibition of their work later in the term. Thank you to all the parents who participated in the Year 11 PCM. Teachers really appreciated having time to talk in more depth about how students can use these final weeks to prepare for their exams. On Tuesday we were delighted to welcome Dr Christos Pliatsikas from the University of Reading to talk to our A level Psychology students about his research into bilingualism, explaining how this affects cognition and supports brain health.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Send us your achievement stories and photos to share by email to info@waldegravesch.org STAY CONNECTED WITH US:
~ Ms Tongue, Headteacher
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
SUPPORTING THE PTA A little help goes a long way... Are you able to help out at our forthcoming Quiz Night Event? Sign up now!
The news is full of stories about the seizure of thousands of illegal vapes that are very clearly targeted at children and young people, through their use of bright colours and sweet flavours. The blog The Open Principle includes very thoughtful information for parents, including the stark message that “All types of kids are vaping in school” - even the “good kids” who would never have smoked traditional cigarettes. This week the Twickenham Police Safer Schools Team, have shared information with schools about some very worrying local developments about vapes containing high levels of chemicals that have caused some children to lose consciousness resulting in hospitalisation. Please read the letter attached from Inspector Graham Norman about what to look out for and how to report concerns.
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A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF YEAR 12
Year 12 have continued to settle in well to the new term and are hopefully putting some of their new year resolutions into practice. After a talk last week on the UCAS process, it has been encouraging to listen to some of the discussions about potential courses students wish to study or the other pathways that are available to them. Thinking about the requirements of each course or what they plan to do after Sixth Form is a great motivating factor and gives students a goal to aim for. We will offer a lot of support through the tutor programme in the coming weeks, but students should be self motivating in terms of researching their options. Mr Bannister delivered a thought provoking assembly last week on the growing use of food banks in the UK and Year 12 tutor groups were tasked with filling a box with useful items that will be donated to local food banks. It is great to see students get behind this project and be active citizens in their local area. Mr Stavrou organised a Psychology talk this week by Dr Christos Pliatsikas, who is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading. He came to present his research on bilingualism and the brain. Students were lucky enough to hear how bilinguals need to juggle between their two languages at any given moment, and use the appropriate language while suppressing the other. The talk highlighted how this affects cognition and brain health. On Wednesday, our Sixth Form boys Football team had a match against Teddington. The team played well, having a lot of possession of the ball and defending solidly, but conceding two unfortunate goals. The boys bounced back and scored with 10 minutes to go through a penalty, scored by Billy C. We pressed on in the hope of scoring a late second goal and drawing the match but unfortunately conceded again a couple of minutes before the end, finishing on a 3-1 loss. Our Environment Committee has been busy getting involved in an exciting project. Year 12 student Elodie has commented on this project which you can read more about further down in the bulletin. A reminder that parents are invited to attend the Higher Education Evening on Monday 22 January from 17.30-18.30. There will also be a separate briefing for students seeking to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. The Oxbridge Evening for parents is scheduled to take place on Monday 29 January 17.30-18.30. You will have received a letter about these events.
MS SILLWOOD, HEAD OF YEAR 12
SPORTS FIXTURES
Date
Fixture
Result
12.01.24
U14 Rugby Tournament
SECOND PLACE
17.01.24
Sixth Form Football vs Teddington
LOST 3-1
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising is a captivating rollercoaster of drama and emotion. Taylor Jenkins Reid successfully presents the Riva siblings’ lives against the atmosphere of ‘80s Malibu. The characters feel like friends you’ve known forever, their struggles and triumphs resonating with the teenage experience. The glamorous setting contrasts with the raw, relatable human stories, creating an intriguing narrative. Reid’s writing is touching, making it a page-turner that explores family dynamics, love, and the pursuit of identity. Malibu Rising is a must-read that blends nostalgia with timeless themes for any teenager.
~ Recommended by Dila K, 11ERU
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE PROJECT
Year 12 student, Elodie M, on the Environment Committee is involved with an exciting project in the school. Here is her account of what they are doing: “We as the environment committee, which are students from years 7-12, are currently doing a project called ‘lets get outside and learn’. Which is a project throughout the borough with many schools to improve the biodiversity and help the environment in the borough. They are going to give us some money to help improve a part of our school.
Currently we have made a hedgehog house as hedgehogs are crucial for maintaining our biodiversity as they eat the insects that can cause damage. Hedgehogs are currently on the decline and are at danger of going extinct. We have also made some wormaries to help the soil become fertilised.”
SUPPORTING THE PTA
A little help goes a long way …
The next events to raise vital funds for the school are the Quiz Night on Friday 23 February and the Silent Auction at the end of March. We really need your help in making these events happen.
There are numerous well defined roles, with varying degrees of commitment, such as setting up tables for an hour before an event, doing a cash and carry run for refreshments and snacks, serving drinks or food for a set time period, contacting local businesses to ask them to donate lots or even coordinating an event. Please do take a moment to look at the requests on the below links and if you could sign up for one of the events, it would really make a difference to the success of raising vital funds for the school which directly benefits the students. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.
If you would like to volunteer at the Quiz Night please sign up here.
If you are interested in helping out at the Silent Auction please sign up here.
Waldegrave PTA
Please contact us with any queries or problems you may have. To get in touch with a member of staff from your child’s year group, you can: Send an email to sixthform@waldegravesch.org Or you can contact the school via phone by calling: 02088943244 WALDEGRAVE SCHOOL Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5LH HOW TO CONTACT YEAR 12 HEAD OF YEAR AND TUTORS
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