Wednesday 17th May is National Numeracy Day, so it seems like a good time to introduce myself. My name is Will Sleeman and I am the Director of Learning for Maths at Wildern.

 

I have worked at Wildern for nine years and been in my role as head of the Maths department for the last three. Alongside teaching, the main part of my job involves ensuring every student at Wildern receives access to a mathematics curriculum that is right for them. For some, this is about preparing them for future study in Maths and the Sciences whilst for others it is about getting them ready to deal with the type of Maths they will see in the real world. Team Maths consists of 23 members of staff, all of whom have a passion for the subject and are keen to share this and ensure every student leaves with the maths and numeracy skills they will need for life after Wildern.

I am sure lots of you will remember hearing from me earlier in the year when we launched Sparx Maths – our new Self-Study programme completed every week by all students in Year 7 to 10. Sparx uses new technology to set a personalised task every week for every student in the school, something that previously would not have been possible. It means that whether a student is struggling with the topics they have been doing in class, or racing through everything and looking for a challenge, the self-study they receive is appropriate and meaningful for them. Despite the new technology, we still appreciate that Maths is not everybody’s strongest suit and we therefore offer clinic support during three break-time sessions as well as after school almost every night of the week.

 

If you have any concerns with your child’s progress or attainment in Maths, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Maths teacher or myself and we will be more than happy to discuss this with you.

  In this issue...  

  All Years  

WINK: Using Challenge to Learn (face to face) - 8 June

 

Coltsfoot Pond: This week in assembly we have been talking about our relationship with the environment and the incredible story of the Eels that habitat Coltsfoot Pond on the Wildern Nature Reserve. Did you know they start their lives and journey miles and miles away near Bermuda and have found their way to live here in Hedge End? We have been talking to students about how we need to protect these rare creatures and look after the local environment. As the weather improves, please encourage your children to look after the local habitat, use bins and think about the local community.

  Year 7 & 8  
There are no letters for years 7 and 8

 

  Year  9  
2nd dose HPV Vaccination - please complete this online consent form using school code SH136654 by Monday 15 May

  Year 10 & 11  

There are no letters for year 10 & 11

 

  All Years  

K9 Dog visit
WINK - Relationships & Sex Education (RSE) 

  

Instrumental Lessons New Starters- If your child is interested in having instrumental/singing lessons with the Wildern Music Academy starting in September 2023, please use this link to a google form where you can find out more information and sign up. If you require any further information about lessons, please don’t hesitate to contact me on wma@wildern.org.

 

Instrumental Lesson: students who are currently learning- Please use the google form via this link to indicate whether your child wishes to continue their instrumental/vocal lessons with the Wildern Music Academy from September 2023-2024. The deadline for completing this form is 7 July.

 

  Year 7 

There are no reminders for Year 7

  Year 8 

There are no reminders for Year 8

 

  Year 9  

Design Technology trip to Warner Brothers studio tour - the making of Harry Potter

History trip - Imperial War Museum

 

  Year 10  

Geography: GCSE Fieldtrips to Hengistbury Head and Christchurch - these letters have been emailed to parents as the day students will attend this is specific to their Geography teaching group. The dates are either Tuesday 26 June or Monday 3 July. 

 

  Year 11  

Prepare to perform Newsletter

End of Year arrangements letter

Monday 15 May: Seminar timetable begins - these have been emailed to parents and students have been given printed copies 

Rotary Photography Competition winner!

20th April saw the private view of shortlisted entries to the Rotary Club of Ringwood Photography Competition at The Barn, Ringwood. There were over 800 entries from schools across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Two of Wildern's students Charles Miller 7J2 and Henry Miller 9S2 were shortlisted for the competition theme of Movement.

 

Henry's entry 'Splash' and Charles' entry 'Take Flight' were both shortlisted for the Year 7 - 10 category with Charles winning first place in this category. After all winners for the different categories were announced the overall winner was awarded to Charles Miller.

 

This is an amazing achievement which we were very proud to watch. The exhibition is going to be moved to the New Forest Heritage Centre Gallery in Lyndhurst until early June for the public to visit.

In 1979, the swimming pool was opened. It was jointly funded by Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Hedge End Parish Council, the Sports Council and the Hedge End joint PTA. It cost £200,00. As you will know, pool underwent some renovations in 2020 after receiving investment from Eastleigh Borough Council which included the completion of a new roof installed with eye catching coloured opaque cladding panels to provide natural lighting into the pool area. There is also a dedicated spectator seating area by the pool together with the replacement of the pool perimeter tiles.

 

Share your memories and photos with us: 90thbirthday@wildern.org 

Local History Month

Chances are that you have travelled past this building at some point. You might know it as the Dancing Man Brewery. The generation before you probably knew it as the old Maritime Museum before SeaCity Museum was opened at the Guildhall. But this building has an incredibly storied past including being used as a prison to house French sailors during the Napoleonic Wars of the 18th Century (some of whom carved their names into the roof beams and can still be seen today) but its first use was as a Woolhouse, built in 1338.

 

It was used to store wool, ready to be exported across Europe, at a time when Southampton was a leading trader in the late Medieval period. In 1320, King Edward II had given Southampton a wool staple which made it one of only eight ports in the country which wool could be exported from. The trade of this wool made Southampton a very wealthy place. One of the most important jobs, therefore, was packing the wool so that it was ready to be shipped to places like Venice and Flanders. The group responsible for this? An all female guild of woolpackers. 

And of course the wool had to be loaded onto ships waiting in the town's West Quay. This was done using a large wooden crane. When essential maintenance was needed on this in the early 1490s, a multi-cultural group of three carpenters were called in. One of these was a man known in the tax records of the time as Black John. It is likely that John originally came to Southampton aboard a trade ship from Venice and had chosen to remain in the town.

 

At this point in History, surnames were not common and people were identified by distinguishing characteristics such as their profession (for example 'Smith') or, as in John's case, the colour of his skin. This not only helps us to identify John in the records at a time when 25% of men in Southampton were called John but also shows the vital contribution of someone with a diverse background and heritage in Medieval Southampton; no wool being loaded onto ships would have meant no money from trading with Europe! Of course, society has come a long way since the 15th Century and we would no longer accept calling anyone a name based on their distinguishing features. The attitude of people in Southampton at the time was very clear - the town was a mixing pot where all people were welcome and their skills valued. It is interesting to see the ideas that have changed and those that have stayed much the same over the centuries.

You can read more about the history of the Woolhouse building here.

 

There are several reasons that I feel so passionately about local history linked to this story. First of all, it helps me to feel even more connected to the area I have grown up in and always lived in. Furthermore, I feel that learning about these stories add to the narrative that people from across the globe, from different backgrounds, cultures and origins, have been contributing importantly to this place and this country for centuries, millennia even, and that we can bring these stories into the light. Finally, by virtue of living in Southampton, growing up here or recently moved, these stories and shared local history are things that you have in common with anyone and everyone else connected to that same local area. That is something that can bring all of us closer as a community and help us to be more understanding of and connected to each other. That is invaluable. 

Mr Morrison

Knife Crime Awareness Week

The Ben Kinsella Trust has announced that Knife Crime Awareness Week 2023 will be held from Monday, May 15th to Sunday, May 21st. The week-long event aims to raise awareness about the devastation of knife crime and educate everyone about the risks and consequences of knife crime.

#KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek highlights the complexity of the problem, the devastation that it causes to families and communities and ultimately that knife crime is preventable. By educating others, making a pledge, sharing knife crime stories or fundraising; we can all be the change needed in our society. Together, we can #StopKnifeCrime.

As we approach the 15th anniversary of Ben Kinsella's murder, it is with a heavy heart that we recognise how little progress has been made in tackling knife crime. Knife crime offences in England and Wales have risen by 50% in the 10 years from 2012 to 2022, and this trend is only increasing.

As the CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, I am acutely aware of the impact that knife crime has on our communities. Every day, we hear stories of young lives ended too soon, and families left devastated by the senseless violence that surrounds us. It is not just the physical harm that is inflicted, but the emotional trauma that lingers long after the incident has passed.

That is why the Ben Kinsella Trust is proud to launch Knife Crime Awareness Week. This week of advocacy is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and raise awareness of the devastating impact of knife crime. It is a chance for us to educate young people on the dangers of carrying knives and to provide them with the knowledge and resources they need to make positive choices.

We know that there is no single solution to the complex issue of knife crime. It requires a multi-faceted approach that includes education, enforcement, and community engagement. That is why we work closely with partners across the public and private sectors to develop and implement effective strategies to reduce knife crime.

But we cannot do this alone. It is only through the collective efforts of our entire community that we can make a real difference. We need parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and community leaders to join us in this fight.

Knife Crime Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to come together and show our support for a future free from violence. 

 

Our students will all be receiving further education and guidance on knife crime and how we can prevent this in a workshop by the St GIles Trust in June.

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. 

Year 10 Boys Football - Southampton Schools Cup Champions for first time in 18 years!

 

Match report by Mr Morrison and Mr Smith

 

It was a game of two halves, by which I mean it lashed it down most of the first half and warm evening sunshine for the second!

The lads found themselves behind inside the first 10 minutes courtesy of a Thornden penalty. Truth be told, we could have no real complaints and there was nothing Rio could have done to keep out an emphatic strike from the spot.

 

There were physical battles all over the pitch in a tightly contested game with centre halves Callum and Pablo commanding the backline and Harry winning more than his share of aerial battles in the midfield. We scored a well deserved equaliser midway through the half with a strong driven finish into the bottom corner through Lewis. 

 

Just as the late afternoon sunlight grew stronger at the start of the second half, so did out performance. Oscar and Ethan were a constant threat on the right flank while Max kept working hard on the left to carve opportunities. The decisive moment came when Ethan curled a long range free kick over a helpless Thornden goalkeeper from just inside their half; the 5th time he has done so this season!

 

Ralfs was rewarded for a battling performance with a well deserved close range finish as the constant pressure from he and Alex proved enough to wrap up the win. Some tireless running and tackling from Will and substitutes Ewan, Ibby and Sam kept Thornden at bay as they pushed for a counter and a string of fantastic saves by Rio ensured that a fantastic season for the team ends with a league and cup silverware double!

 

There was a final moment for the highlight reel at full time as special guest host Mick Earls invited his surprise guest Peter Rodrigues (for those who don't know, Peter was the captain of the Saints FA Cup winning side of 1976) to select his man of the match - Ralfs - and present gold medals to the players and the Hampshire Cup trophy to Callum. Cue the celebrations!

 

An unforgettable night for the team and for us. Both ex players gave a team talk to both sides before the game and stayed to watch. We were even joined by a number of the Luton u23 squad who had arrived early for their game against Southampton u23s! Thanks to all who came to support and we look forward to more success next season.

After Easter, we launch our Summer term extra curricular activities including our new Summer PE menu. Please look at what is on offer to your child and discuss this over the holidays with them as their might be something more that they can get involved with.

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 Wizz

 

Recently rising in popularity among children and young people, Wizz is a social networking app that allows users to chat live with people from around the world. In similar fashion to a dating app, it facilitates conversations with people that users would not ordinary meet – but of course, making connections to individuals online bring its own self-evident potential safety issues.    

 

While Wizz makes use of face recognition technology to assesses users’ age and group them by age group – but the software is far from perfect and is no guarantee that some individuals won’t attempt to exploit the app for sinister purposes. Our guide examines Wizz in detail, identifying pitfalls that parents and carers should be aware of. 

 

In the guide you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as catfishing, explicit content and “sextortion”, and examines how trusted adults can take young people to avoid these possible threats.