Welcome to this week’s Wildern Weekly. 

 

My name is Ben Hinks. I am in my 15th year as an RE Teacher at Wildern and am also Lead Practitioner for Student Leadership, Charity and Community. Beyond teaching, I help create meaningful opportunities for making a positive difference in school, the local community and beyond;  something we believe every person should know the beauty and brilliance of.

 

Our Student Leadership aims to turn potential into reality, in many ways, through a fantastic 60 strong prefect team including 4 head students and 12 senior prefects. We aim to empower students to grow personally, take responsibility in key areas, lead and drive change within the school. In January, our current Year 10s will have a chance to apply for being the next team - exciting!

 

I also lead the #weareWildern Changemakers, through which we fuse fun with purpose. From "Thank You" Thursdays (free hot drinks for staff) to our Basics Bank Appeal supporting Southampton City Mission, our fantastic student group helps build community and give meaningful opportunities for charity.

Whole School

Monday 8 December - Week B

Monday 8 December - Christmas Celebration of Dance

Friday 12 December - Christmas Jumper Day 

Monday 15 December - Week A

Friday 19 December - Last day of term - School closes at 12.30pm for students

 

Monday 5 January 2026 - Week B - Students return to School

 

Year 7 

Wednesday 10 December - Christmas Shop

Thursday 11 December - Christmas Disco

Year 8

           No Key Dates

Year 9 

            Thursday 11 December - Dance Workshops

Year 10 

            No Key Dates

Year 11

Thursday 18 December - Practice Exam Results 8am

Today we conducted a drill for our school lockdown procedures.

 

We were incredibly proud of our students' response to the lockdown, as always, they conducted themselves exceptionally well. If your child is anxious or worried following today's lockdown, please reassure them or ask them to speak with their tutor.

 

As a reminder to our parents and carers, if you become aware that our school is exercising its emergency procedures, please do not call the main school number as this will block emergency lines and please do not attempt to contact your child. School will communicate all necessary information with its community.

On Friday 12 December, we will be supporting Save the Children by joining in with the national event, Christmas Jumper Day.

 

Students can replace their school jumper with a Christmas Jumper and donate £1 (unless the annual amount has been paid already) to show their support.

 

It is an excellent day to support a fantastic charity and get into the Christmas spirit. Hope to see your child joining us!

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.

 

Our next Charity day is Friday 12 December which is Christmas Jumper Day for Save The Children.

We have begun collecting items for the Basics Bank Appeal 2025!

 

Supporting Southampton City Mission and vulnerable local families in need this year, we are aiming to donate two items per student.

 

The SCM website has a full list of all possible items to donate, but please give generously and thoughtfully to make a big difference to our community's festive season!

English - The Woman in Black

As we move into the next term of Year 8 English, we would like to inform you about the text your child will be studying in lessons. Throughout the year, students engage with a wide range of literature designed to develop their reading, analytical, and comprehension skills in preparation for their
future studies.

No letter or reminders

Year 11 - English

A reminder that all English self-study tasks this year are past paper practice questions which means every time a student completes self study, they are producing effective revision. Your child can also do some extra English revision by having a go at the short, 30 minute revision tasks here.

A fantastic turnout, glorious weather, and standout performances defined a successful day for Wildern at the District Trials.

It was a picture-perfect day for running this past week as 12 Wildern students took to the fields for the annual Eastleigh and Winchester District Cross Country Trials. Blessed with unseasonably lovely weather—bright sunshine and firm ground—the conditions were ideal for fast times and high spirits.

 

The competition was fierce, with a massive turnout from schools across the district. The goal for the day was clear: a finish in the Top 20 would secure a coveted spot in the next round of championships in January.

 

Grit, Determination, and Team Spirit

The Wildern team showed exceptional effort throughout. We are proud to report that every single runner finished the course, displaying true grit. Just as impressive as the athleticism was the camaraderie; older students were seen cheering on and supporting their younger teammates throughout the event, embodying the true Wildern spirit.

 

Standout Performances

We are delighted to announce that four of our students finished in the Top 20, securing their qualification for the next stage.

 

Special mentions must go to:

Sam W, who dominated the Intermediate Boys category, finishing in 1st place with an incredible lead of over 200m!

Jonah C, who put in a remarkable performance in a very competitive Junior Boys race to finish 5th.

Full Results

A huge well done to everyone who ran. Here is how the team placed:

What's Next?

A massive congratulations to everyone who took part; we are incredibly proud of your achievements, no matter the finishing position. We now look forward to the Hampshire Trials next month.

 

Good luck to Sam, Finn, Sienna, and Jonah!

What do you do if a T Rex escapes from the Jurassic coastline? Use GIS and set up a cordon, block the roads and hope they don’t get far!

 

This question and more were tackled on the afternoon of  Monday 24 November at the Ordnance Survey Headquarters by a group of eight Wildern students. They were invited to attend the Geographical Information Systems annual school day event, to enquire into how companies, public services and town planners use GIS to cope with everyday problems.

 

The group got out and about plotting the location of drain covers using the Grid point GB app and then created maps of the site showing their location using Digimaps.

 

They also had team quizzes and won OS pens for their quick draw of symbols & quick thinking when questioned about how the many different maps shown were used.

 

Talks came from the CEO and other OS colleagues about their route into working at the OS and the usefulness of studying Geography, all in all a busy fun day in a great place of work. 

We are excited to share an update on a new, fun activity some of our Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) classes have been trying out: Competitions through the SentenceBuilders.com platform.

 

Using Chromebooks, students participated in a range of interactive tasks—including gap-fills, sentence scrambles, dictations, and translations. These activities are designed to target specific skills, which teachers can select, such as listening, writing, or vocabulary acquisition.

Every completed activity earned students points, allowing them to compete and climb the leader board. We have received very positive feedback from our first competitors, who thoroughly enjoyed the challenge! Based on this success, we are planning to run more of these exciting competitions in the new year.

 

A huge well done to the following students for reaching the top of the leader board in our initial try-out:

 

Year 7: Darcey W-M and Thia C

Year 8: Thomas B-C and Ally L

Year 9: Charlie L and Amelia C

 

We look forward to seeing more students take up the challenge in the future!

On Wednesday 17 December we are very much looking forward to welcoming the parents of our Bookbuzz students in Y7 into the LRC to receive their books and have a festive celebration.

 

Invites have been sent to all parents of students involved.

Our journey to and from school is now well and truly in the darkness and the cold. Please talk through these tips with your child so they are safe in these conditions: 

 

Safety Tips for Walking to School in the Dark:

 

Be Bright and Seen (Reflectives & Lights)

• Wear Bright/Reflective Gear: Make sure your school bag, coat, and shoes have reflective strips. You can buy clip-on reflectors or hi-vis vests to wear over your uniform.
• Use a Small Torch/Flasher: Carry a small, bright LED torch or clip a flashing red or white light to your bag or jacket. This helps you see the path and ensures drivers and cyclists see you.

Stick to Well-Lit and Known Routes

• Prioritize Light: Always use routes that have functioning streetlights. Avoid shortcuts through parks, alleyways, or wooded areas, as these are often poorly lit and less populated.
• Stay Familiar: Stick to the route you know well and are comfortable with, even if it adds a minute or two to your journey.

Minimize Distractions and Stay Aware

• Put Your Phone Away: Keep your phone in your pocket or bag, unless you are making an emergency call. Walking while constantly looking at a screen or texting distracts you from your surroundings.
• Keep Volume Low: If you listen to music or podcasts, keep the volume low enough so you can clearly hear traffic, bicycle bells, and people approaching behind you.

Walk with Others or Check-In

• The Buddy System: If possible, walk with a friend, sibling, or a small group. There is safety in numbers, and it's also more fun.
• Share Your ETA: Let a parent/guardian or trusted adult know when you leave and when you expect to arrive. A quick text or call upon arrival gives them peace of mind.

As we come to the end of National Grief Awareness Week, it is important to signpost  support for children who have experienced grief, loss and bereavement:

At present, only a small number of students have yet to upload or confirm their placement details, we are keen to support these final students in securing suitable opportunities.

In order to provide additional time and ensure everyone has the best possible chance to take part, we will be extending the placement deadline until the 31st December.

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

Monday 8 December - Yr 7 Rugby Development Game Vs Deer Park

Tuesday 9 December - Senior Boys Basketball Vs Bitterne Park School

Tuesday 9 December - U14 Girls Netball Tournament 

Thursday 11 December - Junior Basketball Vs Cantell School

Wednesday 17 December - Yr 8 Football (Friendly) Vs Deer Park

Senior Basketball V Westgate School Won 44-43

Year 7 Girls Football B Team V Deer Park  Lost 0 - 2

Year 7 Boys Football V Redbridge School  Won 3-0

Mr Wallis took a group of Yr 7 boys for an Inter-School training friendly with Deer Park last week. It was a huge success and the 8 Yr 7 boys thoroughly enjoyed it. They had the chance to practice their touch, driving forward with the ball and contested rucks!  Well done!!

Year 7 boys played Redbridge School in the league last Thursday. They played some excellent football, managing to win the game 3-0. The team has made great improvements over the last 2 games. They look forward to their last of the season when they try to make it 3 from 3. 

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

This will be served as part of our Christmas Festival, taking place for all year groups in the last week of term.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about FC26

 

With new kits, updated squads and refined gameplay, EA FC 26 brings the thrill of top-tier football to living rooms once again. While it continues to offer family-friendly fun in modes like Kick-Off and Career, the ongoing popularity of Ultimate Team – where players spend money to build fantasy squads – brings a mix of excitement and risks. 

 

Children can encounter issues such as gambling-like mechanics, voice chat with strangers, and potential exposure to scams. This guide breaks down the game’s most important features, highlights the key risks to be aware of, and shares practical advice for helping young players stay safe while gaming and interacting online.

Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts

 

Follow us on social media:

Wildern School

Wildern Lane

Hedge End

Southampton

Hampshire

SO30 4EJ

 

01489 783473

 

#WeAreWildern