Welcome to this week's parental bulletin with the latest news for Year 13.
WEEKLY BULLETIN
12 SEPTEMBER 2025
ENJOY - ACHIEVE - EMPOWER
HEADTEACHER’S MESSAGE
KEY SCHOOL DATES
It has been lovely to welcome the whole school community back to Waldegrave over the last two weeks, the excitement of friends reunited after the summer break and the energy of our new Year 7s are some of the great joys of starting a new academic year! Pupils, reinvigorated after the
International Day of Democracy - 15 September HOLIDAYS & NATIONAL DAYS Year 11 Information evening - Tues 16 September Y13 Theatre Trip - Weds 17 September School Photographs - 17-18 September Silver DofE Training weekend - 19-21 September
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEADTEACHER
summer break have now settled back into calm, focused learning. I am proud to say that our students have been living up to our school values and since term began I have seen a lot of kindness around the school. New pupils have been helped with navigating the school grounds, busy corridors and the lively canteen at lunchtimes! Government proposed electoral reform will mean our Year 8 students will be old enough to vote in the next general election and as Monday 15 September is International Day of Democracy, I have been delivering assemblies exploring the development of democratic values in the UK. This day is a timely reminder of how important it is for our society to be able to disagree agreeably. I would like to thank the parents who attended our Year 12 Information Evening on Tuesday. I hope that you found Mr Bannister’s presentation helpful, which you can find here on the new school website. Lastly, I would like to remind parents that we encourage students to walk or use public transport on their journeys to and from school, healthier both for students and our environment. Thank you for respecting this as traffic congestion from school parents in the road endangers not only our Fifth Cross Road neighbours but our students as well.
Heritage Open Days - 12-25 September tour historical sites in the local area for FREE
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Send us your achievement stories and photos to share by email to
~ Ms Tongue, Headteacher
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
info@waldegravesch.org STAY CONNECTED WITH US:
As we start the new school year, I would like to share a very useful on-demand webinar on Navigating the First Term at Secondary School from The Charlie Waller Trust. They also have resources on topics such as perfectionism and building resilience in young people. The local Mental Health Support Team are continuing their popular ‘Helping teens with’ series of webinars. Book now for sessions on Worries & Anxiety, Changes in the Adolescent Brain, and Digital Wellbeing. World Suicide Prevention Day was on 10 September and in recognition The Charlie Waller Trust shared these ASK guidelines for talking to a young person you suspect is experiencing thoughts of suicide: ASK directly about suicidal thoughts, SEEK more information from them, KNOW what to do next by signposting them to one of the following: Their GP, call 111 or, in a crisis, call 999 SHOUT: text SHOUT to 85258, a 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis Samaritans: call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, online Samaritans.org PAPYRUS: call: 0800 068 4141, text: 88247, email: pat@papyrus-uk.org Free online awareness training on this topic is also available from Zero Suicide Alliance here.
A little help goes a long way... make a one-off donation here or click below to learn more CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT
19 SEPTEMBER 2025 Silver DofE Training weekend - 19-21 September Y7 Thames Young Mariners - 22 & 24 September Y12 - Geography Fieldwork - 25 & 26 September WEEKLY BULLETIN KEY SCHOOL DATES ENJOY - ACHIEVE - EMPOWER It has been a very busy week with trips and school photographs fitting in around all our usual lessons this week. Half our Year 7s headed to the River Thames for kayaking and have a go at raft building. The windy weather did not put them off and their teachers reported back on all the fun. Next week HEADTEACHER’S MESSAGE
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEADTEACHER
the remaining Year 7 forms will get their turn! On Wednesday we were delighted to welcome Alison Kervin OBE, the first woman to referee a rugby match at Twickenham, Sarah Brindley, Captain of Thamesian RFC, and Kate Howe from RuptureXIBIT in Hampton Wick to talk to Year 10. This inspirational afternoon explored “Building resilience through art and sport” and was hosted by professional rugby player, Victoria Rush, to coincide with the Rugby World Cup. We will all be cheering on the Red Roses tomorrow! Our Year 13 English Literature students enjoyed a trip to The Bush Theatre to watch the new play, ‘Not Your Superwoman’. The play explores the relationship between a mother and daughter and the themes intersect with the ‘Identity and Belonging’ focus for their coursework. Thank you to all the students and staff for helping the school photographs run smoothly on Wednesday and Thursday. Details on how to order your school photos will be sent home shortly. Over the summer our phone system underwent an overhaul and upgrade. Unfortunately some of the Waldegrave community have reported issues when phoning in to school. We have worked with our provider to ensure that this has been resolved and apologise profusely for any issues you experienced. If you are unsure if your message has been received by the school please contact us. We thank you for your understanding regarding this matter.
HOLIDAYS & NATIONAL DAYS
International Day of Peace - 21 September
Recycle Week - 22-28 September European Day of Languages - 26 September
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
On the BBC website this week, an article about brain fog had some excellent tips for helping our brains to function effectively that Ms Dhir shared with Year 11 parents during the Information Evening. It includes an acronym that is very much on brand for Waldegrave - SWANS. This stands for Sleep, Water, Activity, Nutrition, and Stress, and is an excellent reminder that we can help our students to learn effectively by encouraging them to get the basics right. Achieving for Children are running a number of new workshops and courses for parents of secondary school students. These include: Left to Their Own Devices, to help families deal with their children and teenagers using phones, tablets and gaming devices online; Talking Teens, a short course to help parents improve their understanding of adolescent development and communication; and Parents in Conflict, a short course for parents who are finding it hard to work together for the sake of their children.
A little help goes a long way... make a one-off donation here or click below to learn more CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT
A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF YEAR 13
I am pleased to say that Year 13 students have continued the hard work they started the year with. On Wednesday the English Literature students took a break from hard work, visiting the Bush Theatre in Shepherds Bush, where they had the opportunity to see a play called “Not your superwoman”. All attending students thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Next Tuesday, parents and carers of the Year 13 students are invited to attend our Information Evening. At this event Mr Bannister will outline the different post-18 options for students, including the path to University and UCAS applications, as well as information for alternative further education and qualification paths such as degree apprenticeships. Furthermore, he will talk about the pastoral support that will be in place for students during their last year in the Sixth Form.
Have a lovely weekend!
MR STAVROU, HEAD OF YEAR 13
BOOK OF THE MONTH
‘A Room of one’s own’ by Virginia Woolf ‘A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction’ This poetically powerful extended essay takes readers on a journey through the history of feminine writers, as we witness first hand the barriers structural inequality placed in the path of the female sex. Wolfe encourages us to ensure the lost literary gifts of the feminine past can live on in the rooms we can call our own. This cornerstone of feminist liter- ature beautifully explores the immense power of personal and feminist interpretation, which cannot be recreated by males with complete literary freedom and space. Woolf’s examination of the patriarchal bookshelves, which leave no room for female narrative voices, ignites a desire to shine a light upon the women who damaged the locks males placed on literary conventions, finally enabling women to write fiction in a room of their own without interruption. Reading this will transform how you perceive the role of the female voice in literature today. - Z Maloney, 13TRO
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 13 HEAD OF YEAR AND TUTORS
Live Lounge Concert MU2 1st October 2025
3.30 - 5pm
Concert on the 20 October th
MUSIC TASTER SESSIONS FOR ALL The music department will be running a taster session for the whole school on the week 15th-19th. Feel free to turn up to any of the open rehearsals to have a go! All are welcome. See you there! If you have any questions, come over the Performance Arts Block or ask your Music teacher.
BEHAVIOUR FOCUS For our first school term the school’s leadership team has chosen to focus settling back into our classroom routines. We have discussed our common-sense daily expectations with pupils during tutor times but as a reminder please see below for you to discuss at home.
The following items are not endorsed by Waldegrave School.
SUPPORTEDBY ■ c·-·e SQUIRES • GARDEN CENTRES
07366190789
swimathon@twickenhamrotary.org.uk
LOOKING FOR A COMPETITIVE GIRLS’ FOOTBALL TEAM? LOOKING FOR A COMPETITIVE GIRLS’ FOOTBALL TEAM? LOOKING FOR A COMPETITIVE GIRLS’ FOOTBALL TEAM?
Join Phoenix AFC! We’re building strong U13 and U15 squads and are looking for players who are ready to Join Phoenix AFC! We’re building strong U13 and U15 squads and are looking for players who are ready to step up their game. Training: Tuesdays & Thursdays in Isleworth Matches: Saturdays (JPL league) Who: Girls in school years 7 & 8 (u13) and 9 & 10 (u15) step up their game. Training: Tuesdays & Thursdays in Isleworth Matches: Saturdays (JPL league) Who: Girls in school years 7 & 8 (u13) and 9 & 10 (u15) Join Phoenix AFC! We’re building strong U13 and U15 squads and are looking for players who are ready to step up their game. Training: Tuesdays & Thursdays in Isleworth Matches: Saturdays (JPL league) Who: Girls in school years 7 & 8 (u13) and 9 & 10 (u15)
Interested? Scan the QR code to sign up and come along to a training session. For more info, email info@phoenixafc.com Interested? Scan the QR code to sign up and come along to a training session. For more info, email info@phoenixafc.com Instagram: @phoenix.afc Interested? Scan the QR code to sign up and come along to a training session. For more info, email info@phoenixafc.com Instagram: @phoenix.afc
The following items are not endorsed by Waldegrave School.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9www.waldegrave.richmond.sch.uk
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator