Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Wildern Weekly.

My name is Mr Clissold and I am the Director of Progress and Achievement for Year 7.

 

It is a real privilege to be the DOPA for the newest year group to join Wildern and it has been an exciting first term helping Year 7 to find their feet. As we all know, starting a new school can be scary and is a huge step in a young person's life, I am particularly proud of the kindness that the year group have shown to one another and this care for each other has helped to solidify their year group identity. The Year 7 motto is ‘Be the best version of yourself” and this is something that I strive to support all Wildern students in every day. 

Being the best version of yourself is so different from student to student and this is what makes my job as DOPA for Year 7 so exciting. I am regularly amazed by the achievements of our students both in and out of the classroom, from dance competitions to maths challenges, there has already been a lot to celebrate and I am sure there is more on the horizon. 

 

I also teach Science here at Wildern and I am passionate about all young people having a strong understanding of the world around them. With the current challenges in energy resources, climate and disease it is essential that the next generation feel well equipped to understand and solve these problems. Alongside these challenges will come opportunities and I hope to support Wildern students to be in the best possible position to seize these. 

  In this issue...  

Dates for your diary,       Communications,       Reminders,        90 years of Wildern,

Spotlight ( Holocaust Memorial Day, Dragons Den Day & Student Leadership ),       

Keeping safe ( Student services update & vaccinations )

Hot food menu,       Sports results & fixtures,       Extra-Curricular,       E-Safety

Message from Mrs Wade: How to discuss WAD with your child

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In the late 1950s, Headteacher Mr Newman started to campaign for a new secondary school as Wildern’s population was greatly expanding and between 1958-60, 5 huts were added to the school accommodation. Its limit of 450 students had well and truly been reached!

Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January 2023

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27th, Wildern School students will be learning about the importance of remembering this monumental historical event. A tutor session will be delivered next week to all students focusing on this year’s theme of ‘Ordinary People’.

 

Students will learn about individual people who risked their safety, livelihoods and even their lives to help other ordinary people in their communities and beyond.  One of these individuals was Sir Nicholas Winton who was responsible for saving 669 Jewish children from Czechoslovakia.

 

Students will also learn about the remarkable story of how ordinary people in Denmark grouped together to help 92% of Danish Jews escape to safety in Sweden. They will have the chance to explore the lives of these individuals themselves through shared links and short video clips. As students will be informed in this session, they may also like to hold their own private moment of reflection on Holocaust Memorial Day at 4pm when households across the country will be lighting commemorative candles to remember the victims of the Holocaust. 

 

You can find out more about these extraordinary people here: 

Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton (That's Life - 1988) 

How Denmark saved its Jews during the Holocaust 

Dragons Den Day - Year 7 Careers event

Congratulations to our winning Year 7 Dragons’ Den team! The group from 7D2, working to a brief from NHS Careers and the NHS Solent Trust called themselves ‘We do Everything’ and created the ‘Box4u’ to support patients who are having a prolonged, unexpected stay in hospital. Thanks to our Dragons Mrs Cowan, Mr Clissold, Plane Talking Products, NHS Careers and Highfield Professional Solutions!

At the start of term in assemblies we were hearing about the fantastic student leadership opportunities available to students of all year groups to make their mark whilst here at Wildern. One key aspect is the 6 Focus Groups we run focusing on important issues that we can partner together on to improve school life. 

 

The 6 groups are: 

• Rights, Respect & Community (RRC) - helping students and staff understand what human rights are and why they matter
• Eco - helping make our school greener, cleaner and more caring of the environment and leading Wildern students in becoming more sustainable citizens of this planet
• Mind, Body & Soul - helping to find positive ways to encourage better wellbeing for all
• Diversity - helping make everyone feel welcome and valued at Wildern no matter their religion, race, disability, sexuality or gender identity
• EdTech - helping improve the use of technology in the classroom
• Careers - helping investigate, plan and evaluate different ways that Careers are delivered across the curriculum and beyond

All students are being encouraged to consider getting involved in one of these opportunities thereby positively benefiting their own mental health and reputation, school life for others, Prefect, Head Student, college and job applications in the future.

 

Why not encourage your child to be a part? Students can just turn up to get involved. The timetable below gives more information as to when and where each group meets:

Student services

Due to the year 10 exams student services are temporarily moving. 

Monday 23rd January - Friday 3rd February 

We will be located in the SLPP office (Mr Bateman and Miss Cooper’s office) at the top of the block 3 stairs

We are always open between 8:45am and 3:30pm. The best times for students to drop in are:

• 11:10-11:25am - Breaktime
• 1:30-1:55pm - Lunchtime
• 3:00-3:15pm - After school

#ineedsupport Remember this online form is also available on the school website if you need support.

Safety around ponds and lakes in cold weather

Now that we have freezing temperatures again, please can we ask you to remind your children about the risks of walking on frozen ponds. 

Vaccinations

To help reduce the risk of some illnesses, including flu, vaccinations are being provided in schools. UKHSA, in collaboration with NHS England and DfE, have produced further information giving details about all vaccines offered to adolescents in schools. Whilst we have already had our day of flu vaccinations for those in Years 7, 8 and 9, if your child missed this and you wish them to have it, please contact your GP surgery.

 

The Adolescent programme for 2022/2023 will resume again in January 2023.

The proposed schedule for this to take place is as follows:

• Year 8 – HPV and MMR (if required)
• Year 9 – Td/IPV, MenACWY and HPV as per normal schedule alongside missed MMR
• Year 10 & Year 11 – To be offered any missing vaccinations - Td/IPV, MenACWY, HPV and MMR

Vaccination sessions will be offered at schools using an online consent form system, which allows parents to consent for their child's vaccination(s) at school or within a clinic setting. If schools are unable to accommodate or vaccination(s) are missed then we will be offering community clinic venues for parents to access using this system.

 

Please click here to view a full schedule of routine childhood immunisations.

Please click here to view information on teenage immunisations for ages 14 to 18.

 

Further information leaflets for adolescent vaccinations can be found:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV)
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

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

KS3 Cooking Club - February workshop (American Pancakes for Valentines Day - 8/2/23 - 3pm-4pm) sign up is now open. Further details on the students' Food Google Classroom.

What Parents and Carers Need to Know About World of Warcraft

 

World of Warcraft originally launched way back in 2004, and since then the game has blossomed into a major entertainment property. It’s spawned spin-off novels, merchandise and even a Hollywood movie adaptation … but why are we still talking about it in 2023? World of Warcraft’s most recent iteration, Dragonflight, launched last November and marks the game’s ninth major expansion. This latest addition has attracted a whole host of lapsed players back to the game – as well as newcomers jumping into the realm of Azeroth for the first time.

In the guide, you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as the potential for online addiction, in-game purchases and simulated violence.