Wildern School 90th Banner Strawberry Flowers in the 90th Design of light green and red

Parent Bulletin Friday 23 February 2024

Parent Opportunity - Supporting Your Teenager - An evening with Lorraine Lee

Adolescence is both an incredible and challenging time. Children gain a huge range of exciting skills and experience rapid development but this also brings emotional, relational and organisational challenges. This workshop helps you to understand the ups and downs of this stage of development and how to communicate more effectively with your young person. Lorraine's sessions are highly rated by all who have attended previously.

We are delighted that Lorraine Lee will be joining us for our Information Evening on Thursday 29th February, 6pm - 7pm to provide her advice on how you can best support your teenager during their adolescent years. Lorraine Lee has been a Professional Parenting Practitioner in Hampshire for over 15 years.

Places are limited (last time we were fully booked). If you would like to come along please register your interest here.

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We welcomed Barton Peveril in to speak to our Year 10's this week about their future pathways.

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GET YOUR CHILD INVOLVED IN OUR WORLD BOOK DAY BOOK BOUNDING DRESS UP EVENT - 7th March

For the first time we will be inviting students to take part in our World Book Day events by coming to school in a colour/colours that represent a famous character or book. Book Bounding has become a popular event launched by Disney as a way of encouraging families to have some creative fun around their characters without the cost of and need to wear costumes or fancy dress.

We are encouraging our students to leap into a book via their clothing colour and accessories on World Book Day. We are asking for a £1 contribution from every student taking part. This will go towards The Wessex Trust as well as resources for our Learning Resource Centre (LRC) in school.

Normal non-school uniform rules apply. We will give students further information next week in tutor time.

We want to find ways we can connect with each other further. We want to hear from you what else you want from us. Please can we ask you to spend a couple of minutes completing this short questionnaire to let us know what we can do to connect with you all further. Please complete by the 1st March 2024.

In this issue...

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Whole School

Monday 26 February Week B

Thursday 29 February Supporting your teenager info evening 6-7pm (in school hall)

Monday 4 March Week A

Monday 4 March Careers week

Thursday 7 March World book day

Thursday 14 March How to support your child reading info evening 6-7pm

Thursday 28 March Easter Dance showcase 7-9pm

Friday 29 March Good Friday, Start of Easter Holidays

Year 7

Year 8

Monday 26 February Pathways taster lessons begin

Sunday 17 March - 24 March German exchange

Year 9

Friday 8 March Work skills day

Thursday 14 March Shaftesbury theatre Mrs Doubtfire & Covent Garden 1.30pm to 12am

Year 10

Wednesday 6 March Box Clever performance of Macbeth

Sunday 17 March - 24 March German exchange starts

Friday 29 March - Thursday 4 April Rome & Bay of Naples Trip

Friday 5 April GCSE Statistics Easter Revision

Year 11

Friday 1 March GCSE Food Practical exams

Monday 4 March Peter Symonds interview

Thursday 21 March Parents' evening 4-8pm

Tuesday 2 - Friday 5 April GCSE Easter Revision (Timetables will be emailed to students and parents soon)

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Whole School

Home School Partnership - Parental Engagement

This term we want to find ways we can connect with each other further. We want to hear from you what else you want from us. Please can we ask you to spend a couple of minutes completing this short questionnaire to let us know what we can do to connect with you all further.

Letter here

Spring Dance Showcase

Thursday 28th March: Tickets go on sale on Friday 23rd Feb from the following link. More information regarding the technical rehearsal during the school day for your child on the 28th March is on Google Classroom. Letters to reiterate the information here and communicated on google classroom will be emailed out to all parents/carers with in the coming days.

Wildern Big Spring Clean - Saturday 16th March, 10am-12pm

As a Rights Respecting School, we understand the importance of caring for and protecting the environment. As I am sure you are aware, environmental issues have become big news featuring in eye opening documentaries by the BBC, such as ‘Drowning in Plastic’. This is something we as a school are extremely passionate about as we want to make sure there is a sustainable environment in the future for our young people.

Letter here

Ski Trip Dry Slope Session

Wednesday 6th March, all Information and arrangements can be found the the Ski Trip GoogleClassroom

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Year 7

WAD 2

This will have been sent home this week via email and will appear on INSIGHT in the reports and WAD area. There is an updated version of the second page, following feedback, in order to help draw your attention to some of the key features of the ‘How to talk to your child about WAD video that can also be watched here

Arundel Castle

The History Department is organising a day trip for Year 7 History students to visit Arundel Castle.

Letter here

Natural History Museum and London Eye

The closing date for signing up for this trip has been extended to Monday 4th March.

In order to enrich the Geography curriculum and support the teaching of natural hazards, ecosystems and the UK, the Wildern School Geography Department has organised a trip to the Natural History Museum.

Letter here

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Year 8

CERN and Geneva, Switzerland

To promote a curiosity and passion for physics and engineering in students early in their GCSE course we are offering a school trip to visit CERN and Geneva, Switzerland on Friday 14 February to Sunday 16 February 2025.

Letter here

Pathways Info/Update

In our recent Year 8 Pathways Information Evening, we explained the pathways process and the choices available to your child. If you have not yet viewed this presentation you can find it on the school website under information; pathways.

Letter here

Key Dates here

Pathways FAQ here

Science Assessment point

Students will be completing a science assessment in class during the week beginning 26th February. Resources to aid revision have been posted on Google Classroom and the science website (https://sites.google.com/wildern.org/science/home), as well as, completing in class revision lessons.

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Year 9

Battlefields Trip

The History Department will be offering the opportunity for Year 10 (current Year 9) History students to enrich their experience of the History curriculum through a field trip to France and Belgium. If you would like your child to attend please complete the online Parentpay medical and consent forms accompanied by a non-refundable deposit by Friday 1 March 2024.

Letter here

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Year 10

Solomons Theatre

We are very fortunate to have the company ‘Solomons Theatre’ coming into school on Tuesday 5 March 2024 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.

Letter here

Battlefields Trip to Belgium (Ypres) and France (Somme)

The History Department will be offering the opportunity for Year 10 (current Year 9) History
students to enrich their experience of the History curriculum through a field trip to France and
Belgium.

Letter here

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Year 11

Extra Support Programme (ESPs) Schedule Spring 2 2024

ESPs next week are:

Monday Design Technology & RE

Tuesday: History & Geography

Wednesday: No ESP

Timetable here

Prepare to Perform Newsletter

Please click here for the latest newsletter

English

The Wildern English revision study plan for this half term is available for all students here: Study plan - Feb/Mar 2024 This has been designed to support students in completing revision ‘little and often’ in a purposeful and effective way. If your son/daughter would prefer a paper copy, they can request these from their classroom teacher.

English ESP’s

From Monday March 11th, we will be running several specific ESP sessions aimed at groups of students on the Grade 4 boundary and those at the Grade 7+ boundary. Please look out for our invitation letters arriving shortly to see if your son/daughter is expected to attend these sessions.

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Education for Life

This half term we are revisiting the theme of ‘Health and Wellbeing’ in Education for Life lessons.

All Year groups

Students will be looking at a variety of whole school and national events this half term. These include: World Book Day, British Science Week, National Careers Week, Wellbeing Sessions, Metacognition and Easter Egg Appeal

Please see below for a brief outline of what each year group will be studying in their Education for Life lessons and Tutor sessions this half term:

Year 7: Health and Puberty

In this unit students will be exploring how to maintain a healthy lifestyle to ensure both physical and mental health during puberty. They will focus on the importance of eating healthily, completing regular exercise and having a good bedtime routine. Students will also explore the issue of FGM, what the law says about this and where to access help and support if required.

Year 8: Emotional Wellbeing

In this unit students will explore issues surrounding self-esteem and body confidence. They will investigate what can impact their self-esteem and be provided with positive ways of boosting their self-esteem that support them in dealing with pressures from social media and their peers.

Year 9: When I grow up - Living in the Wider World Theme

‘When I grow up’ allows students to begin thinking about careers and life choices. Students will consider what they think they need to be happy and reflect on their dreams for the future. They will also explore the costs of moving out, possible jobs and skills required, and begin thinking about how to budget their money effectively. Linking to life in Modern Britain, students will also explore taxation and the upcoming U.K Budget. Finally, they will explore the positives and negatives of renting and buying a house. Year 9 are completing a different theme to the rest of the school so that it links in with their Skills Day in March.

Year 10: Exploring Influence

This unit allows students an opportunity to explore what risk taking means and how the teenage brain affects this. Students will gain an understanding of the law surrounding drugs and alcohol, along with the different types of drugs. Students will explore the concept of addiction and where to access help and support for this as well as the effects of drugs on individuals and others. Students will explore the concept of addiction and where to access help and support for this as well as the effects of drugs on individuals and others. An important part of this unit focuses on managing risk and staying safe which explores influences in relation to gangs and knife crime.

Year 11: Independence

This unit builds upon students' prior learning about drugs and alcohol and explores the law surrounding the most dangerous drugs. In addition to this, students will explore and discuss issues relating to the family; parenthood; unwanted pregnancy; abortion, adoption and fostering and fertility treatments with a focus on IVF. Students will be encouraged to form their own opinions on the ethical issues discussed whilst also considering the views of others and religious believers. An important part of this unit focuses on Healthcare including an awareness of STIs, breast and testicular cancer and First Aid. These sessions include both theory and practical lessons such as Emergency CPR equipping them with a skill for life.

We will be welcoming parental feedback on the Education for Life Curriculum on the 11th March. Further information will be sent out regarding this short survey in due course.

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You’re never too far from the tracks, are you Living Switched On?

Young people often make responsible choices around the tracks but there can be times when their decision making can be compromised.

This film, based on the real-life story, encourages students to consider the potential dangers of trespassing on the railway or land near the railway. Harrison was only playing football with his friends. He didn’t expect the electricity to jump.

For further advice or for information on the support both in and outside of school please visit our Wellbeing Hub

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Here is our Spring term co-curricular activities including our Spring Term PE menu. Please look at what is on offer to your child and discuss this over with them as their might be something more that they can get involved with. Students can sign up via the link they have been emailed last week.

Co- Curricular Timetable Spring Term 2024

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Monday

Pepperoni pizza or roasted vegetable pizza (v) or

BBQ Hot dog / veggie dog topped with BBQ beans and nachos (v)

Tuesday

Chilli con carne veggie chilli with rice and nachos (v) or

Cheese and tomato pasta bake with garlic bread (v)

Wednesday

Hunters chicken and wedges or

Sweet and sour chicken/veggie balls with rice (v)

Thursday

Meat or veggie curry of the day with rice and nann (v) or

Beef madras with spicy fries

Friday

Fish of the day with chips and peas or

Chicken or vegetable nuggets with fries and beans

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

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U16 Boys basketball Plate semi final LOST Wildern 43 Redbridge 67

Year 11 Boys Football Hampshire Cup LOST Bohunt 2 - Wildern 1

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Apprenticeship Vacancies - Please click this link for some recent links to Apprenticeship Vacancies in the local area that we have been made aware of. This list is by no means extensive and should be used alongside the Government Apprenticeship Vacancies website.

Parent's Guide to Careers Guidance - Please access this guide to help support the conversations and next steps coming up after your student has had their Careers Guidance appointment with Mrs O'Leary. This is usually a meeting with Yr 11 students, but is occasionally for other students too.

Labour Market Information - November 2023

The Careers team have organised various events since the beginning of the term. These include College Assemblies for year 11

Careers Fair for Years 10 & 11

Dragons Den day for Year 7

Apprentice Assemblies for Year 8, 9, 10 & 11

Apprenticeship Fair for Years 10 & 11

Speed networking day for Year 8

In March, a planned day for Year 9 is on the horizon

Practice interviews scheduled for Year 10 in May

Experience of a Workplace experience is set to take place in June

During June and July, Year 10 students will be participating in taster days at College.

The careers team is always seeking ways to enhance the program, and your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Careers Feedback Form

Year 10 & 11 students the registrations are open for Sparsholt College’s next open event on Saturday 2 March 2024.

You will need to register for the event as soon as possible by visiting Experience Sparsholt - Sparsholt College Hampshire as our events do fill up quickly! At this event students will have a tour of the subject area they are interested in at a specific time which they will book in advance.

Finally, it is not too late to apply to Sparsholt College as applications are still open and students can apply by visiting the Sparsholt website or by using How to Apply - Sparsholt College and University Centre Sparsholt.

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What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Monkey

With Omegle finally shutting down in late 2023, the top spot among video chat services is up for grabs – and Monkey has its eyes set on the crown. Randomly matching its users for 15-second conversations, the platform’s developers claim to have created a dynamic online space for people to make new connections and, potentially, even some new friends.

Despite these innocuous-sounding intentions, however, Monkey has been criticised for moderation which may not be comprehensive enough to defend against the obvious dangers that unregulated, random video calls pose to the younger element of the site’s userbase. Our guide tells trusted adults what they need to know about Monkey.