This weekly bulletin contains the latest news updates across Year 8.
EEKLY W B ULLETIN 12 JANUARY 2024
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEADTEACHER
KEY SCHOOL DATES
It has been lovely welcoming our students back to school this week and I have enjoyed hearing all about everyone’s holidays when out and about on duty in school. Last term was very long, packed full of activities until the very last minute we broke up, so I know that everyone welcomed the rest. Although short, this will be another busy half term.
HOLIDAYS & NATIONAL DAYS Veganuary - January Orthodox New Year - 14 January Blue Monday - 15 January World Religion Day - 21 January Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January Year 11 Parent Consultation Meeting - 4-6.30pm 17 January Higher Education Evening - 5.30pm 22 January GCSE MFL Mock Speaking Exams - 22-26 January Oxbridge Briefing - 5.30pm 29 January
The deadline for Year 13 university applications is fast approaching and we are excited to learn more about the choices that our students will make at the end of their time with us. Year 9 will also be completing their important GCSE options; in addition to the work we are doing in school to help students with this key decision, we look forward to welcoming parents into school on Tuesday 6 February for an Information Evening. Next week we are looking forward to our Year 11 PCM, when parents will have the opportunity to discuss how students can use the final run up the GCSE exams to ensure that they achieve their best. We also hope that many of you will join us for our Quiz Night on Friday 23 February, please put the date in your diaries now. On Thursday our Year 11 Art students visited the Tate Modern to support their GCSE studies. Year 11 are responding to the word POWER for their GCSE exam and the trip gave them ample inspiration for idea development. Students spent their time sketching in the gallery and gathering information for their exam preparation. We have also shared the details of The Big Ambition Survey with our students which closes next Friday 19 January. This is a survey organised by Dame Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England. She is keen to gather the views of children up to the age of 18 to ensure that their voices are heard by policy makers ahead of the General Election due this year.
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
JOINING THE PTA To get in contact with our PTA about joining the team please click below.
January is often a time when we make resolutions to improve our physical health and fitness by making changes to our diet or exercising more. However, it can be tricky to get the messaging right for our young people, who can easily be swept along by the latest viral social media trend which may not be healthy or sustainable. In school, we have been trying to combat unhelpful messages, such as plans to give up whole food groups or setting extreme weight loss goals, through assemblies on positive new year’s resolutions such as mindfulness, digital detoxing or actively choosing kindness. If you are concerned about your child’s body image or eating habits, the charity Stem4 has developed a helpful parent guide to go along with their award-winning app ‘Worth Warrior’ which aims to help young people to manage related early-stage eating difficulties or disorders.
CONTACT PTA
A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF YEAR 8
Welcome back Year 8,
It has been lovely to see all the Year 8s return this week. I have enjoyed speaking to the students and hearing about their restful breaks. It seems that the students at Waldegrave are ready for 2024.
Last term we were able to enjoy a range of celebrations. Few events last term rivalled the Year 8 Maths Quiz. It was amazing to see so many students enjoying solving the range of problems that were presented. There was great joy around maths, which was warming to see as we all know how important the subject is for day-to-day life. Well done to the two winning groups of the quiz: The Festive Elves (India, Gaia, Deniz, Dakshina, Minnie) and I Want Presents (Hannah, Mathilde, Zoja, Urnee and Clara). A big thank you is reserved for our Maths teachers that organised and ran the event. A great spectacle from the department. Competing as houses we had Seacole lead with Franklin, Eliot and Pankhurst following close behind.
The other major event that occurred in the final week of last term was the Staff Panto. What an incredible display from the teachers! The teachers that performed should be commended for placing themselves on the stage and delivering another brilliant performance. I’ve never seen Harry Potter quite like that.
Looking forward to this term, students are reminded of the expectations around their uniform. There should be no fake nails, fake eyelashes, no jewellery and no hair dye of an unnatural colour. Students will be required to remove makeup and false nails at the KS3 HUB.
MR SWEENEY, HEAD OF YEAR 8
BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier
Having lost their parents in WW2, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are left alone to fend for themselves in Warsaw. They then meet Jan, another orphan boy, who has a “silver sword” paper knife given to him by an escape war prisoner. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and adventure stories.
~ Recommended by Yasemin A, 11ERU
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 KS3@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 8 HEAD OF YEAR AND TUTORS
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