Parent Bulletin Friday 14 November 2025
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Parent Bulletin Friday 14 November 2025
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Welcome to this week’s Wildern Weekly.
This term, we have welcomed three wonderful new teachers to our team, and they are already bringing so much fresh energy and enthusiasm to our lessons and clubs. We can't wait for them to meet and inspire all our students:
Mr. Wallis: has recently relocated from London bringing a range of experience across different roles such working in academy football, gym and leisure alongside teaching. He is driven by making lessons as engaging as possible, creating life long learners across PE and seeing day to day improvements. Mr Wallis has joined as the Assistant Director of Learning to support the development of PE at Wildern. When not teaching you will often find Mr Wallis keeping active in the Gym, playing football on the weekends and keeping up with live sports particularly football, basketball, NFL and F1.
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Miss. Serridge: possesses a strong commitment to promoting girls' sport and ensuring equal opportunities for all students. She endeavours to design lessons that are both highly engaging and challenging, aiming to cultivate a lifelong passion for physical activity. Outside of the classroom, Miss Serridge plays for Sholing FC and is a dedicated follower of the Lionesses.
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Mr. Nash: brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience, which he has picked up over his 9 years of teaching. His teaching philosophy stems from high activity levels and making progress each day. He has a passion for football and cricket. Mr Nash has also joined as the DOPA for year 11. Come the weekend Mr Nash loves to tee up the ball on the golf course and watch any live sport on TV, as well as spending time with his family.
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In PE, our aim is always to help students grow, not just physically, but emotionally and socially too. With our expanded team, I wanted to highlight two key attributes that provide students with a strong foundation for success in PE and every lesson: teamwork and communication.
Working Together: Sport is such a perfect place to learn how to help each other out. When students pass a ball, share the space, or cheer on a friend who is finding something tricky, they are learning what it means to be part of a team. It’s all about creating a positive and supportive group dynamic where everyone feels valued.
Talking and Listening: Clear communication is essential, especially when things get fast-paced! We encourage students to speak up gently, listen carefully to their teacher and teammates, and offer encouraging words. These are vital skills that will help them make and keep good friends and navigate their whole school career.
We are so excited for this term and the positive influence our new team will have. We hope you'll encourage your child to introduce themselves to Mr. Nash, Miss. Serridge and Mr. Wallis and get involved in the new opportunities they are bringing!
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Whole School
Monday 17 November - Week A
Wednesday 19 November - Preloved Sale 3pm -3.45pm
Monday 24 November - Week B
Thursday 27 November - Music Soundbites Concert
Friday 28 November - CPD Day - School closed for Students
Monday 1 December - Week A
Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 December - Flu Vacinations
Thursday 4 December - Christmas Concert
Monday 8 December - Week B
Monday 8 December - Christmas Celebration of Dance
Friday 12 December - Christmas Jumper Day
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Year 7
Wednesday 19 November - Visit from President of the Jewish Congregation
Wednesday 10 December - Christmas Shop 11.30am - 3pm
Thursday 11 December - Christmas Disco 5pm - 6.30pm
Year 8
Monday 24 November - Geography Ordnance Survey Trip
Year 9
Thursday 11 December - Dance Workshops
Year 10
Tuesday 25 November - Oxford University Trip
Year 11
No Key Dates or Reminders
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Fuel Your Morning! Fuel Your Mind!
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Breakfast sets us up for the day - fueling our bodies and minds for great learning and healthy wellbeing.
To help every student start strong, we are excited to announce that the canteen will now be open for breakfast every Thursday from 7:30am to 8:20am, offering two slices of toast (with a spread, of course!) and a bottle of water for just £1.
It’s quick, convenient, and right here at school! Students who receive Free School Meals can also enjoy this breakfast in addition to their hot lunch. Give it a try - and if it’s enjoyed, we’ll look to open on more days!
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Mental Elf 2025 5k Festive Fun Run
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Mental Elf 2025 5k Festive Fun Run at Southampton Common on Sunday 7 December.
This is organised by Solent Mind and people from across the area will be participating. We would like to organise a Wildern team of students, staff and their families!
Run, walk, skip, dance, or wheelbarrow if that is your style! Join us in this festive 5K around Southampton Common to kick-start the season with joy.
We encourage you to come in your best striped tights, but if you can’t find your pointed hat, don’t fret! You can still finish the run dressed as a fully-fledged Elf by stopping at our ‘Elf yourself’ stations at each kilometre.
You can find out more information here, including FAQs
- If you or your child would like to sign up, please do so here.
- Students will be supervised by their parents/guardians and not Wildern staff on this day. Just turn up in your best elf themed costume with your families and we will meet as one big group!
- So that we know who we can expect to see on the day, please also complete this very short form
Details about where to meet for team photos will be sent to participating members closer to the event
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Christmas Celebration:
Thursday 4 December 2025
You can purchase tickets for the concert online here. Please note there are limited tickets available.
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Christmas Celebration of Dance:
Monday 8 December 2025
The performance has now sold out - however should you wish to go on the waiting list please contact The Dart on 01489 779471
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Christmas Shop - Wednesday 10 December 2025
Thank you for the great response to our Year 7 Christmas Shop. We are delighted to announce that this special event for our year 7 students will go ahead in December. Please see letter attached for further information. Closing date is Monday 24 November.
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Legoland - Tuesday 17 March 2026
An opportunity to attend Legoland to explore the park and, complete a workshop on the physics of rollercoasters. The deadline to sign up is Friday 5 December
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Battlefields Trip to Belgium 2026
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 residential trip to France and Belgium. The deadline to sign up is 28 November
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Year 11 - Poetry Live! - Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
The English department is excited to announce that we have secured tickets to go to the Poetry Live! event at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Tuesday 20 January 2026. Deadline to sign up is Fri 21 November
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The final week of the half term saw the culmination of months of hard work as our students took to The Berry stage for the annual school production. This year the Creative Arts faculty staged a high octane, visually sensational performance of Disney's Aladdin Jr. Audiences were treated to outstanding performances, classic songs and a healthy sprinkle of Disney magic.
Our sincere congratulations go to the cast and crew who made the production the success that it was. Thank you to everyone in the school community who came and supported us. We can't wait for next year's show!
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Stand Up, Speak Out: Wildern Celebrates Anti-Bullying Week – Our Power for Good
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We are delighted to share the success of this year's Anti-Bullying Week, held under the national theme: "Power for Good."
This crucial week encouraged our students to recognise the influence they each hold to make a positive difference, whether by supporting a friend, speaking out against unkindness, or promoting a culture of inclusion.
Last week all students watched a powerful virtual assembly, expertly led by our Student Leadership Team. They did a fantastic job of framing the "Power for Good" theme and challenging their peers to move beyond being passive bystanders. The message was clear: being kind and respectful isn't just about avoiding bullying; it's about actively building a positive and safe school community for everyone.
Across the school, students engaged in activities designed to connect the theme of empowerment to our core Wildern Attributes:
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- The Wildern Kindness Challenge: Throughout the week, staff were actively seeking and celebrating acts of Kindness by awarding kindness e-refs. Students who received the most of these acknowledgements will be celebrated for their contributions and their names entered into a prize draw. This challenge showcases how small, daily acts of kindness are the true Power for Good in our school.
- Odd Socks Day: We saw a brilliant display of unique, mismatched footwear! This simple, colourful act championed Kindness and Respect by celebrating individuality and promoting acceptance of difference. It’s a fun reminder that we are all unique and that's exactly what makes our community strong.
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- The Odd Socks Pet Competition: Students shared fantastic pictures of their furry, scaly, and feathered friends sporting mismatched socks. This playful activity fostered ‘Curiosity’ and brought a sense of collective ‘Pride’, reminding us to be gentle and caring to all living things.
- Power for Good Pledges: Students were given the opportunity to write Power for Good Pledges, personal commitments detailing how they will use their influence to make Wildern a better place. These pledges were discussed in great depth in our Education for Life Tutor Sessions across the school. These thoughtful pledges will eventually be displayed in our serene Wellbeing Garden, creating a lasting, visual testament to our school's commitment to positive behaviour.
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Anti-Bullying Week truly highlighted how our core values equip students to tackle difficult situations and build a positive environment:
- Determination: Students showed determination in taking the brave step to write their pledges and use their voices.
- Kindness & Respect: These are the foundations of anti-bullying. When we practice kindness and respect daily, bullying cannot take root.
- Pride: We encourage students to take pride in standing up for what is right, fostering moral courage and strong character.
We thank you, our parents, for supporting these initiatives and discussing the importance of being an ally at home. By reinforcing these values, together we empower every student to be a Power for Good within the Wildern community and beyond.
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A deep sense of respect filled the school today as we gathered to observe the 2 minute silence for remembrance. The occasion was marked by Barney playing the last post and students from the scouts, guides and cadets wearing their uniform to school.
‘They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.’
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Year 9 - Visit to University of Southampton
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On 22 October, a group of Year 9 Geography students visited the University of Southampton and participated in a workshop on flood risks affecting Southampton.
Around 45 pupils from Wildern School, Regents Park Community College, and King Edward VI School took part in these interactive workshops on Highfield Campus, learning some of the key methods and modelling techniques for assessing and adapting to flood risks.
The event was held by the More Than Maps team , a public engagement initiative in the School of Geography and Environmental Science which aims to empower young people in climate change adaptation.
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We are really proud of the engagement and enthusiasm of these Geographers, and pleased to announce they won the final competition and each received a prize!
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Step into the NHS - Student Success
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Following on from our summer article about students who took part in the Step into the NHS Day and competition, we are delighted to share their continued success. The event, which focuses on careers within the NHS, aims to inspire young people by showcasing the wide range of pathways available across the organisation.
Students from our school were fortunate to present virtually during the national event, sharing their ideas with schools from across the country.
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We are especially proud that two of our students were named regional champions in the competition! Well Done Alfie & Arsh.
The achievements of our regional champions were also recognised in an official NHS press release that was posted on the NHS website, which you can read using the link below.
Press Release
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Reading Ambassadors Programme
Thank you to our lovely Year 7 and Year 9 Reading Ambassadors who have made a wonderful start to the programme and began choosing books and reading together this week. Mrs Rooney and Mrs Searle are excited to work with you all over the coming year!
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Bookbuzz students
Our Year 7 Bookbuzz students took part in a session this week to design a bookmark to enter into a Bookbuzz competition ahead of receiving their books before Christmas. We look forward to inviting parents in for a festive occasion where students will receive their chosen texts. Watch this space!
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The Dangers of Laser Pens
Laser pens might seem like harmless gadgets, but they can actually be very dangerous. Shining a laser directly into someone’s eyes, even for a split second, can cause serious and permanent eye damage.
Powerful laser pointers can also distract or dazzle drivers and pilots, which is both unsafe and illegal. Students are reminded that laser pens should never be brought into school or used to play pranks.
They are not toys, and using them irresponsibly can have serious consequences. Please speak to your child about the risks and help us keep everyone safe.
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Work Experience Deadline - 30 November 2025
A reminder to all students that the deadline to upload your work experience placement details to Unifrog is 30 November.
It is important that all placements are submitted by this date, as the school must complete Health and Safety, safeguarding checks for every placement before approval is given.
Please note that any placement not uploaded to Unifrog cannot go through the required checking process and therefore will not be authorised or approved as a placement.
For those still looking for a placement there is still time. The Careers Team can provide advice, suggest employers and help you complete your Unifrog form. We are here to support you every step of the way, do not leave it to the last minute.
For any questions or help please contact the careers team careers@wildern.org or students can visit us in the Careers Hub office opposite the library during any tutor time.
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See the huge variety of clubs that are on offer this half term! Sign up for these using the Clubs tab on Edulink.
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Monday 17 November - Yr 7 Girls Football Vs Horndean Technology College
Monday 17 November - Yr 7 Boys Football Vs Redbridge School
Tuesday 18 November - Senior Boys Basketball V Upper Shirley High School
Wednesday 19 November - Yr 11 Boys Football Vs Ringwood School
Friday 21 November - Yr8 - Yr 11 District XC Trials
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Yr 7 Boys Football Vs Deer Park School - Won 2-0
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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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What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Health & Fitness Apps
Over time, more and more fitness apps have been finding their way into circulation. Usually free to download – at least initially – these apps claim to offer helpful advice and assistance in routine management to those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle.
While these platforms can be useful, they do present several safety concerns. These issues become more significant when we consider that children and young people can use these apps to stay active – whether out of concern for their own health or for reasons of body image. Our guide breaks down the risks of health and fitness apps and offers expert advice on how to address these concerns to safeguard younger users.
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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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