Hello, my name is Mrs Slater and I am the Whole School Literacy Coordinator here at Wildern. This week we celebrate World Book Day 2023, an exciting opportunity to be passionate about reading and the art of storytelling. 

Reading can support your child to develop confidence and proficiency in comprehension, fluency, spelling, wider engagement with societal topics, empathy for others, and improved brain connectivity to aid in the support of academic study, leading to better progress and attainment for your child. Many educational studies have concluded those students who read often about a range of topics, achieve higher than their non-reading peers.

To support your child further on their reading journey we have Mrs. Searle our school Librarian, as well as the fantastic learning space the LRC, a place to support your child reach their reading and academic success milestones. The space can be used for reading, completion of self-study, research purposes, and a quiet area for revision with friends.

We would like to thank you all for your support at home with the promotion of reading and we look forward to sharing our future literacy success stories with you soon.

  In this issue...  

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

Spotlight ( World Book Day ),     Keeping safe ( Listen up, Speak up  )

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

In Summer 1963 the move to the new secondary school was complete and the keys of the Shamblehurst site school were handed back. Wildern students had been using the new school for certain lessons since September 1962 and could be seen carrying piles of books and small furniture since then.

World Book Day 2023

Today we have been celebrating World Book Day, with each department championing a books that links with their subject and exploring this with students. The following texts have been focussed on across the school:

• English - Murder on the Orient Express
• Maths - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Science - 101 Dalmatians
• Art - The Day the Crayons Quit
• Dance - Sleeping Beauty
• Technology - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Drama - The Addams Family
• Humanities - Alice in Wonderland
• MFL - The Smartest Giant in Town
• Music - Billionaire Boy
• P.E - Unbroken a WW2 Story
• Communication Studies - Treasure Island
• Photography - Here We Are
• Psychology - Pooh and the Psychologists
• SEN - Harry Potter
• Genius Bar - Jurassic Park
• The Dart - Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World

This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to see a book being brought to life through the many costumes, department area decorations, and range of engaging activities throughout the day. Please take the opportunity to discuss reading with your child and have a conversation about the lifelong benefits of having a healthy reading routine. 

Millionaire Readers

This year we saw the launch of Millionaire Readers an initiative whereby students read a set number of books (25) in order to achieve millionaire status across the academic year. Most secondary books in the LRC and for 11-16 generally average about 40,000 words per book, so 25 books would make them a millionaire reader. We have many students working toward this milestone, and 8 students who have already reached it as of February 2023. If your child would like to get involved or discuss this further they can speak with Mrs Searle or one of our wonderful student librarians, who would be more than happy to assist them.

Listen up, Speak up

The NSPCC has launched a new campaign. With their free 10-minute digital training, they're empowering every adult to know what to do if a child needs help, and where to go if you need support yourself. 

Half a million children suffer abuse and neglect a year in the UK.
But there's something we can all do to change that.

That's why we're encouraging every adult in the UK to take our 10-minute digital training.*

Listen up and learn a little with our Connect the DOTS training. We'll show you where to go if you need support, and how to speak up for children who need it. Because that little bit of knowledge can help keep a lot of children safe.

How to take part?

• Sign up - Using the simple online form.
• Take the training - Take the free 10-minutes digital training.
• Learn more - NSPCC will email you more information and resources so you can continue learning in your own time

Please remember, they 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. 

It was a great day for the Year 8 rugby squad at the Hampshire Schools tournament this week. The boys recorded 5 victories and only 3 losses from their 8 matches across the day having been seeded in the elite category.

If for any reason a club is cancelled, the Library is open until 5pm Monday-Wednesday, and until 4:30pm on Fridays.

What Parents And Carers Need to Know about Group Chats

Occurring through messaging apps, on social media and in online games, group chats are among the most popular ways that young people engage with their peers online. Involving, by definition, three or more individuals, these groups allow users to send messages, images and videos to everyone in one place. While they are useful for helping friends, people with shared interests or members of a club to communicate and coordinate activities, they can also leave young people feeling excluded and bullied – as well as providing opportunities for inappropriate content to be shared and viewed.

In the guide, you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as bullying, inappropriate content and unknown members.