Blog week ending 16th December

This term has been incredibly busy with so many activities and events, thank you so very much to all families, students and staff for your support and good wishes.  Our PFA Christmas Market raised over £3,000 for the school, we have also donated well over 100 Hampers to our local community to support those in need this Christmas.  The joint choir with WGSB performed on Sunday 11th at the Family Carol Service at the Church to rapturous applause.

The snow, albeit beautiful, required a significant amount of work to make our school site safe and accessible to students and staff – thank you to our hard-working facilities team!

Our Christmas Lunch and jumper day was a lovely festive opportunity for us to come together as a school to enjoy a shared meal. 

Happy Christmas everyone!  We hope you have a wonderful festive break with family and friends.

Thank you to students from our joint WGSG and WGSB choir and orchestra who performed so beautifully at the joint service on 8^th December and on Sunday 11th at the Family Carol Service at the Church.

Our WG6 students helped deliver hampers to representatives of St Michael and All Angels who will distribute them to the elderly and to families in need in the local area – they were delighted with both the generosity and beautiful presentation of the hampers donated.  We have already had a number of letters of thanks including the below from Mr Hill which I’d like to share with you.  Mr Hill will be 99 in early 2023.  He served in both North Africa and Italy during WW2 and went on to be a postman in Dartford.  Mr Hill was an avid cyclist and won the ‘Most Miles Cycles’ bike race in 1952, cycling over 250 miles in 12 hours for which he won a watch .. that he still wears today.

A series of special Celebration Assemblies took place across the Year groups to acknowledge and celebrate student endeavour and achievement.  Thank you to our amazing Drama group who performed a roof-raising rendition of ‘Revolting Children’ from the musical Mathilda.  Congratulations to all students who received certificates and House Point prizes!  Pictured below Mrs Schweitzer, leading the Year 9 assembly, a bitter-sweet moment as sadly, Mrs Schweitzer leaves us at the end of term – we wish her every success in her new role she will be missed by us all!

The Year 12 Celebration Assembly provided an opportunity to congratulate students on their engagement and commitment to their A Level studies and share the new term of elective opportunities.  Well done to all students awarded a certificate and prize!  Entertainment was provided by our amazing WG6 musicians.

Please join me in congratulating Manroop J of 7W who scooped a Gold Medal in a recent athletics competition at Lee Valley.  Manroop is a talented athlete, skilled across a range of events evidenced by the amazing results below!

High jump: 1st place finish with a jump at 1.36m (indoor personal best)
60m sprint: 3rd place finish at 9.18s (beaten by just 0.06s)
200m sprint: 1st place with a new indoor personal best at 31.20s

Manroop was presented with her Gold Medal by Olympic athlete Ojie Edoburun, (also a commonwealth games gold medallist) – an inspirational sportsman who shared advise and encouragement for Manjoop’s future career.  What a brilliant achievement Manjoop, we look forward to hearing of your future successes!

KCC have shared the below information to support positive mindfulness and wellbeing for young people.  If you would like any further advice or support, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Student Managers.

Winter Mental Health Support Guide for Young People (office.com)

 

Forthcoming;

The start of term is Tuesday 3rd January at normal time, and it will be Week 1. Year 13 students will return to their mock examinations which will begin on Monday 8th January 2023. I have also written to all Years 11 and 13 parents and carers with information about the summer examinations and the expected timetable, so do look out for the email.

Best wishes,

Michelle Lawson

Head Teacher