Parent Bulletin Friday 20th December
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Parent Bulletin Friday 20th December 2024
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Happy Christmas from all
at Wildern School
Students have been enjoying lots of festivities in school this week, from our Christmas Celebration Food Market to some creative activities in the D@rt.
We hope the Christmas holidays is a welcome break for all with time to rest as well as see family and friends. For some, Christmas holidays can be a difficult time - we have some contact information below in our Keeping Safe section should you find you need this.
We look forward to welcoming students back in school at 8:30am on Monday 6th January - until then, to everyone in our community, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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Sparx Stars
Our top 5 XP scoring students from each year group have been selected to create our Sparx stars, each of these students will receive a sweet in class. Our raffle winner is then chosen at random from these names and wins a skip the queue pass! Well done to all those who are completing their Sparx week after week - we are so impressed with all of you!
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Year 11 Practice Exams results day
We celebrated with year 11 students yesterday as they opened their practice exam results. This was the first time they knew their grades from the exams they sat in November, and whilst only being practice, this allowed them the opportunity to see how they felt receiving these grades. There were lots of smiles and pride beaming through. We are looking forward to working with all Year 11 students as they approach their GCSE exams in May 2025.
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Whole School
Friday 20 December Last day of term, school closes at 12:30pm
Monday 6 January 2025 Week B - term starts
Monday 13 January Week A
Monday 20 January Week B
Wednesday 29 January Dance Live!
Year 7
Friday 17 January Dragon's Den Day for Careers
Tuesday 21 January Science trip to Winchester Science Centre
Wednesday 22 January Music Young Voices trip to the O2
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Year 8
Thursday 30 January Parent Information Evening: Pathways
Year 9
Thursday 16 January Parents evening (face to face)
Friday 24 January Hospitality trip to Hilton Hotel
Year 10
Friday 10 January Solomons Theatre workshops for EL
Saturday 18 January DoE practice walk
Year 11
No key dates for year 11
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Headteacher end of term letter
As we approach the end of this busy first term, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support. Your involvement in school events and your willingness to visit our school site have been invaluable. We've enjoyed having more face-to-face interactions this term and look forward to building on these opportunities in the coming months.
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End of term letter from Mrs Fearon
As we come to the close of the first full term at Wildern, I wanted to write to you to express just how proud I am of your sons and daughters. 14 weeks ago they joined us as fresh faced Primary students, full of questions, curiosity and a little worry. Today they have become confident, kind and proud Year 7 Wildern students. Your continued support and consistent understanding is ensuring that our students have total clarity on what is expected of them, as well as what they should expect from us.
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End of term letter from Mr Wood
As the year draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable efforts of our Year 8 students. Since September, they have consistently impressed us with their dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work.
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End of term letter from Mrs Heath
As we approach the end of 2024, we just wanted to write to send our best wishes to you all ahead of the Christmas Holidays. Your support throughout the start of this first term of Year 9 has been extremely helpful in assisting our young people throughout this productive term, so thank you!
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Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme - Bronze
We are pleased to inform you that we have launched the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Scheme for Year 9 students this year. This is a scheme for young people which aims to promote leadership skills. The award is made up of 4 sections: Physical, Skill, Volunteering and Expedition. The majority of work which we do during school based sessions will focus on eDofE and the expedition section of the award.
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Year 9 Timetable changes starting January 2025
We are writing to let you know that after Christmas, Year 9 students will have a timetable change affecting the number of hours of study for Science and Maths.
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End of term letter from Mr Kinnaird
As always this term has flown by. Throughout the term it has been really nice to meet with many parents and work with you to support your children. This year, this term has been the longest I have known it be in my career in teaching, we will be 15 weeks into the school year and I am proud of the resilience and determination shown by the students so far this year.
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Geography revision resources
As we approach the Year 10 Practice Exams, please find a link to a revision list of all topics students will be assessed on in their January Exams. Students for Geography will be sitting 2 papers. Links to Google Site Pages and useful revision links can also be found at the bottom of the document. This is also posted on Google Classroom. If students have not yet done so, please encourage them to purchase a revision guide through school. This is heavily discounted at £3.50. Students will need to collect a form from finance
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Science Year 10 intervention
This will be on Monday and Wednesday during tutor in room 317 after Christmas. You will have received a letter if your child is invited.
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End of term letter from Miss Cooper
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support throughout this busy and challenging term. We are incredibly proud of the way our Year 11 students conducted themselves during the recent practice exams. Their positive attitude and dedication are a testament to their hard work and commitment. We are confident that they will build on this strong foundation and continue to strive for their best.
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Science Year 11 Separate to combined intervention
This will be on Tuesday and Friday during tutor in room 317 after Christmas. You will have received a letter if your child is invited.
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Year 11 Maths class changes starting January 2025
We are writing to let you know that after Christmas, some year 11 students will have a class change in Maths. Following the November exams, we have restructured some classes to better support students with attaining a good GCSE grade in maths and focussing more finely on the topics they need to for their tier of entry.
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English trip - Macbeth at The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
We are delighted to offer your child an exciting opportunity to attend a live performance of Macbeth at The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, on Tuesday 25 March 2025 for £14.50. This experience promises to enrich their understanding of the play, a core text in the GCSE English Literature
curriculum, and bring Shakespeare’s words to life in a memorable way. Sign up deadline 18th January.
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English trip - Macbeth at The Globe, London
We are excited to announce we have secured 40 seated tickets to see a production of Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the South Bank in London. This is an amazing opportunity for students to complement their study of this key GCSE text in English Literature by seeing the play as originally intended by Shakespeare - on the stage in London. This is for Friday 28 March 2025 for £51.50. This covers the cost of the ticket as well as coach travel there and back. Sign up deadline Friday 24th January.
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Year 11 MFL students had a lovely time exploring the Cologne Christmas Markets and visiting the Lindt Chocolate museum on 7th-8th December. There were lots of opportunities to try some new foods, put German language learning into practice and explore somewhere new. The only negative point was the rough sea when we were on the ferry. Not everyone enjoyed the rocking boat!
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Can you solve the GCHQ Christmas Card Challenge?
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If you are looking for a Christmas puzzle to solve, why not have a go at solving the GCHQ Christmas Card Challenge? There are some handy hints available and if you want to check your answers click here.
The focus this year is the surprising geography of GCHQ, which many people won’t realise operates from several sites across the UK including Manchester, London, Scarborough, Bude and our iconic headquarters in Cheltenham. The Challenge is contained in a Christmas card sent by Director Anne Keast-Butler and features a series of seven puzzles, which range in difficulty and test different problem-solving skills. The puzzles are masterminded by a team of puzzling experts who work at GCHQ, who are encouraging school groups across the UK to work as a team to reveal the final hidden message.
This year for the first time there are three additional elements hidden within the card for those who want to take on an extra challenge. The puzzles include skills such as codebreaking, maths and analysis and test lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance. Just like the work that goes on at GCHQ every day to keep the country safe, the Christmas brainteasers will require different approaches and different ways of thinking. Following on from the success of last year’s card, which was downloaded 138,000 times by schools and members of the public, secondary school classes across the UK will be taking on the series of festive brainteasers. School children are also being encouraged to take the puzzles home to challenge family and friends.
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Director GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler, said: “Puzzles have always been at the heart of GCHQ, and the skills needed to solve them are just as relevant in 2024 as they were over 100 years ago. This year’s Challenge features seven puzzles, plus several hidden elements for those who want an extra test. The puzzles are aimed at teenagers and young people, but everyone is encouraged to give them a try – they might surprise you.
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“The Challenge has been designed for a mix of minds to solve, so is best tackled in groups of classmates, families or friends. Whether you have an analytical mind, a creative brain or prefer engineering, there’s something for everyone. As a mathematician, I'm passionate about STEM subjects and encouraging young people to give them a try. I hope the card will inspire young people to explore these STEM subjects and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer.”
GCHQ’s Chief Puzzler, Colin, said: "We are delighted to be launching the 2024 Christmas Challenge aimed at young people, and we hope you find this year’s set of puzzles as challengingly fun as ever. This year as usual we’re encouraging teams to work together to tackle the Challenge. You can see from the range of puzzles that some parts are trickier than others. However, you do not have to be a genius or top of the class to solve them – you just have to be able to work in a team and embrace the mix of minds and approaches teamwork brings. This is exactly how we work at GCHQ. We also hope to show young people through this Challenge that thinking differently is a gift. We’d love to see how you get on with the Challenge, so please let us know by tagging us – or asking a grown-up to tag us – in a post on Instagram, X or LinkedIn @GCHQ. Happy puzzle-solving!”
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Wellbeing over the Christmas holidays
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We know that for many the school holidays are an exciting time of the year however for some of you we know it can be a difficult time. If you need support over the holiday period or if you are concerned about a friend below are some points of contact for you.
- The Wellbeing Hub on our website is a great place to access support.
- ChatHealth 07505 332160
- Childline
- Samaritans 116123
- Police 101 or in an emergency 999
- CAMHS
- If you are upset and having thoughts and urges about hurting yourself, then stop, take a deep breath and read this page
- If you are witnessing or a victim of Stop Domestic Abuse can provide support
- If you are coping with grief Winstons Wish has some great tips to help you
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Lockheed Martin UK Apprenticeships
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Sparsholt College recommend applications are submitted by Christmas; however their applications continue to be open over the holidays and in the Spring and Summer term, so it is not too late to apply!
However, some courses may fill up, so it is best for you to apply as soon as possible, if you can! Students can apply by using How to Apply - Sparsholt College and University Centre Sparsholt for Sparsholt College.
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Here is our updated Spring term Co-Curricular timetable of activities.
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Monday 16th December
Year 9 Boys Football lost to Hamble School
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Please see the menu for our hot food options for next week.
The main school meal deals are £3.20 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
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Top Tips to setting up Apps, Games and Software
A free online safety guide on setting up apps, games and software.
Millions of new phones, tablets, laptops and games consoles will be nestling under Christmas trees this year. However, even if parents and carers have gone to the trouble of setting up these new devices and enabling the safety features, there are still potential hazards in the apps, games and software that children will want to install and use. Knowing what to look for and discussing those risks with your child may help avoid any nasty surprises this Christmas. Here are our top tips for ensuring that unwrapping this year’s presents doesn’t unleash any unexpected dangers.
In the guide, you'll find tips such as disabling in-app purchasing, taking note of age ratings and watching out for imitators.
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Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts
Follow us on social media:
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Wildern School
Wildern Lane
Hedge End
Southampton
Hampshire
SO30 4EJ
01489 783473
#WeAreWildern
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