This weekly bulletin contains the latest news updates across Year 9.
WEEKLY BULLETIN
20 SEPTEMBER 2024 KEY SCHOOL DATES
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEADTEACHER HEADTEACHER’S MESSAGE
We have been extremely fortunate with the weather this week, especially as our annual trips to Thames Young Mariners have begun for our students in Year 7. This is such a popular activity with opportunities for students to collaborate and overcome challenges, forge new friendships and make memories that will last.
Scholastic Book Fair - 30 September - 4 October
Friends of Waldegrave, Year 7 Bingo Night - 4 October, 7-10pm
Year 11 students always reminisce fondly about the day when it comes to their leavers assembly and their yearbook. I hope that the weather holds out over the weekend for our Year 11 students who are taking part in their Silver Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition in the Ashdown Forest. It has been wonderful to hear that so many students are getting involved in enrichment activities, just last week over 80 Year 7 students attended choir practice. As I told them in assembly, involvement in these activities will open the door to other opportunities as illustrated by the fact that over 30 of our students in Years 8 to 11 flew to Gothenburg to take part in a music festival. I am really looking forward to hearing all about it when they return to school next Tuesday. On Tuesday evening we welcomed parents and carers of students in Years 12 and 13 into school for two information evenings. The step up to A level study is really significant and it is important that the school can work in partnership with families to support students taking this step. For Year 13 a key focus was helping students and families navigate all the options available at the end of A level study, whether that be university or apprenticeships. I would like to thank all those who attended and remind families that the link to slides have been shared by email. We look forward to welcoming Year 7 parents and carers into school next week.
HOLIDAYS & NATIONAL DAYS
Sleeptember - achieve better sleep in September
Car Free Day - 22 September
World Dream Day - 25 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
At a time when we see rising concerns around anxiety in young people, especially girls, it is increasingly important that opportunities are provided for them to step out of their comfort zones. This week we have supported pupils to embrace uncertainty by taking part in adventurous activities, Year 7 have been making a splash at Thames Young Mariners and Year 11 are heading off on their Silver Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. New research by AdventureMind details the learning and development bene- fits of adventure for children including: - connecting with nature - physical activity - challenge and risk - an unfamiliar experience - team work - building relationships. Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation added, “Ad- venture helps to generate a range of positive emotions, including excitement, joy and wonder. It also helps to develop a healthy relationship to uncertainty. That is so important in boosting confidence and in children learning how to manage fear and anxiety.” You can find out more here.
SUPPORTING THE PTA
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A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF YEAR 9
Another great week at Waldegrave for our Year 9 students. Firstly, I want to congratulate and thank the students of Year 9 for maintaining our high standards. Attitude has been excellent with teachers commenting on this positive start. As many students embark upon their final year of KS3, we have asked them to complete a form for this term’s Drop Down Day. This day will focus on taster sessions delivered by the different academic departments and will give students a flavour of what’s in store for GCSE. Despite being only a few week’s into this year, many of our students are already proving themselves to be ambassadors of our Year 9 ethos: ‘Trying our best is the key to success.’ With that in mind I would like to congratulate the following forms on their current epraise totals: 9PWS= 203 9EMU= 173 9FCO= 144 Keep up the excellent work! Please can we remind parents to ensure that your child/ren are not wearing any jewellery to school apart from one plain stud in each ear and a plain watch (not smartwatch). A letter was sent to all parents about this and we hope that you are taking some time at home to discuss the importance of following our uniform policy. As part of our commitment to ensuring that we do all we can to keep our children safe online, the school has introduced new monitoring software called Smoothwall. The software works on school managed devices, whether used at school or home. It works to support students to be able to enjoy their digital lives safely by monitoring their search/viewing information. The software alerts the school if it identifies there is a potential risk of harm to students, allowing us to follow up promptly and act on any concerns. Filtering at school is through our firewall, whilst at home parents will have set up their own safety settings.
MRS MORTIMER, HEAD OF YEAR 9
The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave A feminist, LGBT reimagining of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this novel gives a back story and humanity to the soulless vampire women in the original novel, exploring where they might have come from and their lives before. It follows the lives of seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy, when they are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a gothic, tense story. ~ Recommended by Mrs Nowicki, Joint Head of English BOOK OF THE MONTH WALDEGRAVE RECRUITMENT
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 9 HEAD OF YEAR AND TUTORS We are currently recruiting for Exam Invigilators to assist with the conduct and supervision of the School’s public examina- tions. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Shelli Fong, Exams Officer, for an application form exams@ waldegravesch.org See full job description here: Exam Invigilator - Job Description
30 September - 4 October in the Green Room at break and lunch
The following items are not endorsed by Waldegrave School.
The following items are not endorsed by Waldegrave School.
Being multilingual: A guide for parents
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