Hello and welcome to this week’s Wildern Weekly.

 

I am Miss Wiley, Director of Learning for Creative Arts. As we settle into the new term, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the incredible energy and talent that filled our halls before the Christmas break.

 

Last term was a whirlwind of creativity, and we are immensely proud of our students for their dedication and passion. Here are just a few of the fantastic events our students took part in:

• The School Production: Our spectacular performance of Aladdin transported audiences to a whole new world. The talent on display was truly magic!
• Musical Milestones: We rocked the house with our Rock to the Beat concert and shared the festive spirit during our Music Christmas Concert on 4 December.
• Dance & Workshops: Our Dance Showcase on 8 December was a triumph, following an inspiring workshop with Barton Peveril College that gave our Year 9 dancers a taster for college life.

• Community Spirit: We were so proud of our students who shared their voices with the residents and staff at Maypole and The Grange care homes—bringing joy through song to our local community.

• Celebrating Excellence: We launched the Creative Arts Superstars initiative to recognise students going above and beyond, alongside a wide range of co-curricular clubs.

Looking ahead, the momentum isn’t slowing down! This term is already shaping up to be just as vibrant. Please keep an eye out for more information on the following:

• Dance Live! (3 February): Our team is working hard on a performance inspired by the theme of Swiss Family Robinson. It’s going to be an adventurous night!
• Drama Practical Showcases: We look forward to inviting parents and carers into school to see the hard work and progress of our Year 11 Drama students during their practical sharing sessions.
• Move It Trip: Our dancers will be heading to the iconic Move It exhibition at London Excel for a day of world-class workshops and inspiration.
• Friday Lunchtime Busking: A student favorite! We are continuing our lunchtime busking sessions to give our musicians a platform to perform in a relaxed, supportive environment.

We look forward to celebrating these events with you and continuing to provide opportunities that inspire and empower our students.  Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.

Whole School

Monday 19 January - Week B

Monday 19 January - Non-School Uniform Day - Bright Monday

Tuesday 20 January - Turning the pages together 4-5pm

Monday 26 January - Week A

Monday 2 February - Week B

Tuesday 3 February - Dance Live!

Year 7 

Thursday 22 January - Whole Year Group Photos

Year 8

            Thursday 22 January - Parent Info Evening - Pathways

            Thursday 28 January - Virtual Parents Evening 

            Thursday 5 February - Speed Networking

Year 9

Monday 2 February - Teenage Booster & Meningitis vaccinations

Year 10

Wednesday 21 January - SEN Consultation Day

Tuesday 27 January - Soloman's Theatre Workshops

Wednesday 28 - Friday 30 January - MFL Practise Speaking Exams

Monday 2 Or Tuesday 3 February - Art & Photography Practise exams

Tuesday 3 February - Apprenticeship Fair 5.30 - 6.30pm

Year 11

Thursday 22 January - Whole Year Group Photos

Monday 26-Wednesday 28 January - English/Maths GCSE Practise Exams

Tuesday 3 February - Apprenticeship Fair 5.30 - 6.30pm

Wednesday 4 - Friday 6 February - Food Practical NEA Assessment

Disabled Parking Bays

We would like to remind all parents that our disabled parking bays are strictly reserved for Blue Badge holders only.

 

These spaces are provided to ensure safe and convenient access for individuals with disabilities, and misuse can cause significant inconvenience to those who genuinely rely on them.

 

Please ensure that a valid Blue Badge is clearly displayed when using these bays, and help us maintain a fair and respectful environment for everyone.

October Half Term 2026

We would like to confirm that the October half term for next academic year will be the weeks beginning Monday 19th and 26th October. Students will be expected to be back in school on Monday 2nd November 2026. 

 

Further details about next academic year will be shared soon.

No letters or Reminders

The Woman in Black – Mayflower Theatre (7–11 April)

Year 8 students are currently studying The Woman in Black in class. The Woman in Black will be performed at Mayflower Theatre from 7–11 April, during the Easter holidays. This will be a great opportunity for pupils and parents to see the dramatic adaptation of the text they are reading.

Monday 2 February - 3-in-1 Teenage Booster & Meningitis vaccinations

These vaccines help protect against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio and Meningitis.  Please follow the link here or via Edulink to provide your consent. School code SH136654

Education for Life - Solomans Theatre - Tuesday 27 January

We are very fortunate to have the company ‘Solomons Theatre’ coming into school on Tuesday 27 January for all Year 10 students as part of their Education for Life curriculum.

During this day, all students will watch the play ‘Skin Deep’ which is an educational show that explores violence, knife crime, grooming and exploitation (how gangs’ function and the consequences of membership) and county lines.

GCSE Art and Photography 10 hour Exam - W/c 27 April 2026. 

EPS: 21 Jan / 4 Feb / 25 Feb / 18 March / 25 March / 15 April

English -  A reminder to parents that all English self-study tasks this year are past paper practice questions. This means that every time a student completes self study, they are producing effective revision: applying their knowledge to a past paper question, be that in English Language or in English Literature. We encourage you to ask your child what their self study in English is this week. If you would also like to support with some extra English revision - why not have a go at the short, 30 minute revision task with your child here. 

Today Friday 16 January, all Year 7 students took part in a Careers Department Dragons’ Den Day, an engaging and interactive event designed to introduce pupils to the world of work and enterprise.

 

During the day, students worked in teams to develop a business idea and pitch it to a panel, helping them to build key employability skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and creativity. They will also gain an early understanding of how businesses operate, including the importance of budgeting, marketing and responding to feedback.

 

This activity supports our careers programme by encouraging students to think about future career pathways, and the skills needed in a wide range of professions. The event helps pupils make links between classroom learning and real-world careers in a fun and memorable way.

This Sunday, 18 January marks World Religions Day—a global celebration of harmony and understanding.

 

Originally established in 1950, this day encourages us to look past our differences and celebrate the shared values that connect us all, such as peace and compassion. 

 

Why it matters for our Wildern Community: Our core values in Religious Education at Wildern are to foster passion and curiosity into the World of Religion whilst providing answers to life's biggest and most important questions whilst promoting respect and empathy in a multicultural society.

How you can mark the day:

• Attend an event: Look for local interfaith panels or "open house" sessions at places of worship.
• Share a meal: Explore traditional foods from a different culture at home.
• Start a conversation: Ask your child what they know about different faiths and celebrate the kindness found in every community.

Fed up of trying to find a spare £1 for non-uniform days? This year we have set up an option to pay a one-off amount to cover all of this year’s non-uniform charity days.

 

The £6 minimum donation covers them all and you can donate more if you are particularly keen to support the selected charities for this year.

This year has been named the National Year of Reading, and we are using it as a chance to make reading more visible, more normal, and easier to dip into across the school.

 

Over the next few weeks you’ll notice Reading in the Corridors. Posters are going up around the building featuring short, punchy extracts from a wide range of books. The aim is simple: to catch students off guard with something interesting to read while they’re moving through the school day.

 

All the books are available to borrow from the LRC. Any student who takes a book out on the back of seeing the posters, will receive a prize. 

This approach is about removing barriers. Reading doesn’t always start with sitting down quietly and committing to a whole book. Sometimes it starts with one paragraph, one idea, or one moment of curiosity. By putting reading into shared spaces, we’re showing that books belong everywhere, not just in lessons or the library.

 

We’re looking forward to seeing which extracts spark interest and which books find new readers. Parents and carers are encouraged to talk to students about what they’ve spotted around school – those small conversations make a real difference.

 

Let’s make this National Year of Reading one where reading feels accessible, relevant, and part of everyday school life.

At Wildern we believe in promoting awareness about young people’s wellbeing. We strive to create an environment which has a whole school approach in providing excellent support, understanding and intervention for all individuals in order to maintain their positive wellbeing and mental health. 

 

YoungMinds is a UK charity dedicated to children and young people's mental health, offering vital support, information, and resources for young people and parents. The following information relates to Anxiety. 

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear or unease. It is often experienced as a combination of thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in our body.

All children and young people feel worried sometimes. This is a normal, human reaction to things that feel stressful. For example, before an exam a young person may feel more worried than usual. But they will soon feel calmer after the stressful event has passed.

 

Anxiety becomes a problem when a child or young person feels stuck in it.

Physical Signs:

• Aches and Pains: Frequent stomach aches, headaches, or feeling generally "unwell."
• Tension: Rapid heartbeat, shaky limbs, or a heavy feeling in the chest.
• Sleep and Appetite: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, having nightmares, or a sudden loss of appetite
• Nausea: Feeling sick or dizzy, often specifically before school or social events.

Emotional  Signs

• Constant Worry: Feeling "on edge" or overwhelmed by small things.
• Irritability: Snapping at friends or family, or appearing unusually angry or frustrated.
• Lack of Concentration: Finding it hard to focus on hobbies because their mind is occupied by worries.

Behavioural Signs

• Avoidance: Procrastinating or flatly refusing to go to school, see friends, or engage in activities they used to enjoy.
• Withdrawal: Becoming quiet or secretive, or spending excessive time alone in their room.
• Crying or Meltdowns: Sudden emotional outbursts over seemingly minor issues, which are actually releases for built-up tension.

What can you do to support your child?

 

Encourage them to do an activity: this could be running, walking, listening to music, painting, drawing or colouring-in, writing in a journal, watching a favourite film or reading a favourite book.

 

Find your calm: When you're feeling panickly or finding things overwhelming it can help to name:

All children and young people feel worried sometimes. This is a normal, human reaction to things that feel stressful. Anxiety becomes a problem when a child or young person feels stuck in it. 

Charities to support young people:

We are pleased to announce that new Parent accounts will be launched at the end of January. These will make it easier for parents and caregivers to access the resources they need to support their child and engage fully with our careers programme.

 

What’s new 

Parents and caregivers will have access to dedicated accounts where they can;

• Find guides and events specifically for parents and caregivers.
• Subscribe to daily summary emails 
• See your Child’s tasks

Please see letter detailing the above.

See the huge variety of clubs that are on offer this half term! Sign up for these using the Clubs tab on Edulink.

Monday 19 January - Year 8 Football V Deer Park

Wednesday 21 January - U13 Girls Footbal V Shirley High School

Senior Basketball V Woodlands School  Won 48-31

Yr7 & Yr8 Girls Football Vs Deer Park  Lost 4 - 2

Please see the menu for our hot food options for next week.

 

The main school meal deals are £3.40 which is in line with all Hampshire schools. In a meal deal, students can get one of the meal choices below with a bottle of plain water and a cookie or piece of fruit.

• Either of the hot meal options,
• A jacket potato,
• A pasta pot,
• A chicken or beef burger,
• A salad pot (from the salad bar)

We encourage all families to use the free school meals eligibility checker, which can be found here, to determine if they qualify for this entitlement. 

 

Please remember, we can adapt the majority of meals to any dietary needs if we know in advance (your child can speak to kitchen staff by visiting the kitchen before 8:30am that day). Main A/B vegetarian options are always available - just ask Dan and his team.

 

* correct at time of sending, but may be subject to change

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Memes.

 

Memes are everywhere - quick, witty, and wildly shareable. For many young people they are more than jokes, they’re a way to connect, express themselves and interpret the world. But behind the humour, there can be risks. This guide helps adults understand how memes work and why they matter to young people today.

 

From misinformation to insensitive jokes and permanent digital footprints, this guide highlights the potential pitfalls of meme culture. With practical tips on digital literacy, empathy and open conversations, it empowers parents and educators to help children navigate online humour in a thoughtful, safe, and respectful way.

Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts

 

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Wildern School

Wildern Lane

Hedge End

Southampton

Hampshire

SO30 4EJ

 

01489 783473

 

#WeAreWildern