Our Autumn magazine takes a look back on the first half term here at Waldegrave, covering all aspects of Waldegrave life from around the school to trips and visits and our community fundraisers.
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.
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A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF YEAR 7
It has been great to see Year 7 growing in confidence as the term progresses. This week 7ESU and 7EEL spent the day at Thames Young Mariners and had a fantastic day experiencing water activities, Kayaking, raft-building and team building skills. Next week the following tutor groups will get their chance to take part and all parents should have received a letter containing the necessary information. Mon 23 September - 7FGC & 7FLY Wed 25 September - 7PCO & 7PFO Fri 27 September - 7SDE & 7SON In tutor time students have been learning more about one of our school values, Achieve, by looking at lessons we can learn from the Olympics and Paralympics. Year 7 have also started to read our novel Jane Eyre in tutor time and will be discussing key messages in the book. Well done to the top 3 tutor groups on Epraise 1st 7PCO, 2nd 7SDE and 3rd 7ESU. Pupils have also started to attend clubs and practices this week. We try to offer clubs for all students but there are, on occasions, limits to class sizes which can’t be avoided. 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. Further to this can we remind parents of the need to continue to monitor your child’s use of social media. All sites have minimum ages above Year 7 age and WhatsApp has a minimum age of 16. Please may we remind parents that the only permitted jewellery for pupils are stud earrings, any other jewellery will be confiscated as per our uniform policy. Finally, we have a Year 7 information evening for parents on Tuesday 24 September at 5-6pm in the hall. This is a useful event and I hope to see many of you there.
MRS BASHFORD-HYNES, HEAD OF YEAR 7
WALDEGRAVE RECRUITMENT We are currently recruiting for Exam Invigilators to assist with the conduct and supervision of the School’s public examinations. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Shelli Fong, Exams Officer, for an applica- tion form exams@waldegravesch.org See full job description here: Exam Invigilator - Job Description
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Leila and the Blue Fox, Kiran Millwood Hargrave She was very tired. She lay down, her soft head on her soft paws. The sunset licked her face. The snow covered her like a blanket.
MS O’BRIEN, HEAD OF PERFORMING ARTS & MUSIC
Based on the true story of an Arctic fox who walked from Norway to Canada in seventy-six days, a distance of two thousand miles, this is a compelling, emotion- al and beautifully illustrated story. Great for thinking and talking about issues around climate change and immigration.
~ Recommended by Mrs Nowicki, Joint Head of English
MR GREAVES, HEAD OF YEAR 7
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: HOW TO CONTACT YEAR 7 HEAD OF YEAR AND TUTORS 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 Send an email to KS3@waldegravesch.org
Or you can contact the school via phone by calling: 02088943244 Or you can contact the school via phone by calling: 02088943244
WALDEGRAVE SCHOOL Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5LH WALDEGRAVE SCHOOL Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5LH
30 September - 4 October in the Green Room at break and lunch
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