Posted on: 26/04/2024
Blog week ending 6th January
Posted on: 06/01/2023
Wishing all our students, staff and their families a very happy new year! I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas break. This term we are delighted to welcome two new Heads of Department, Mrs Barclay as Head of Geography and Ms Armstrong Head of Technology, Mrs Baillie remains with us but has taken on the role of SENCO, alongside her leadership of the scholar’s programme and Sixth Form Electives. We are also joined by Mrs Drew as a Geography teacher, Mrs Armellino as a technology teacher and Mrs Mead as an English teacher. Mrs O’Connell has joined us as a cover teacher and Ms Rawlings as our Art and Technology technician. As such I am delighted to inform you that we are fully staffed, with specialist teachers in all subject areas. I will share a ‘virtual introduction’ to all new staff members via this blog over the coming weeks.
Mrs Barclay, pictured right, is an experienced geography practitioner and leader with a
passion for creating links from classroom learning to exciting career and further education opportunities. “I firmly believe that the study of Geography helps us all to make sense of the world and understand the current environmental challenges as well as empower us to be truly global citizens”. "I constantly look for exciting geography to link to classroom learning and have a passion for linking current affairs to the knowledge students are learning in class and open their eyes to the world beyond the classroom". "As a department, we are looking forward to giving the WGSG students a chance to get out into the 'field' and are planning exciting fieldwork opportunities for this year and next. It has been a pleasure meeting and getting to know the WGSG students this week and I look forward to hearing more of the fantastic ideas and observations they have about the world".
In this lesson, Year 7 students have been ‘visiting’ the tropical rainforest and exploring the climate and biodiversity of the area as well as learning about its indigenous population and the impact of deforestation on both the people and the animals in the region.
Mrs Drew’s Y9 Geographers are studying drivers changing the UK economy. In this lesson students researched and discussed the UKs changing industries and what political, social and geographical issues have led to a decline in heavy manufacturing and prompted growth in the service sector - specifically; the finance, tech, media and creative industries.
Ms Drew brings a wealth of experience working in senior roles in Bromley delivering the curriculum using a mix of dynamic classroom resources supported with fieldwork and outside visits. “I am delighted to be working with the students of WGSG who have already shown themselves to be keen Geographers in the making!”
Our Librarian Mrs Smith is planning a range of new activities for the coming term and has been delighted by how many voracious readers we have across our school! To support these readers and to encourage more students to read for pleasure she provides recommended reading lists, advice and book reviews to help all students find the book for them! Mrs Smiths’ ‘top recommendations’ for this month are:
KS3: His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
Up there with other fantasy hard-hitters like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. In a parallel world ruled by the sinister Magisterium, a battle rages over a mysterious particle called Dust. Can orphan Lyra stop the fight from spilling over into our time?
KS4&5: The Inheritance Games Trilogy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future but her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. With deadly stakes, twists, secrets, romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, this has all the ingredients of a perfect series.
This term, besides looking forward to the return of World Book Day; Mrs McKenna would like to promote her KS4 Book Club and Mrs Cagliyan and Mrs O’Connell are pleased to be launching Homework Club.
Library Reminders:
Library Opening Times. Monday - Friday 8am - 4.30pm
QUIET! The Library is a quiet study space. While we appreciate we are now in the winter months, the Library is not a place for hanging out – it is a work space only and voices should be kept to a minimum.
Food, Phones and Headphones are not permitted in the Library
Book Age Ratings. A number of our library books are age rated Y9+, Y10+, Y11+ or WG6+. If your child would like to read a book that is rated older than they are, a parent or carer will need to write a note in the students’ planner giving permission with a signature of authorisation. Please note this is only required if you are giving permission. Thank you for your support.
PressReader. Please remember the previously mentioned PressReader app where you can view current and past newspapers and magazines from all genres. Viewing is free if you sign in with a Bexley or Dartford (KCC) library card.
It is also my pleasure to update you on our building works taking place in the old gym, this is on track for completion just after February half term and will create additional dining space and canteen servery area along with a new larger Library and study space on the first floor. We have been fortunate in being able to fund some of the build from a government grant, however, this does not cover the cost of fitting out the space or equipping our new Library with suitable materials. As such can I ask parents to consider contributing to this project. We have set up a payment item on ParentPay called ‘Donation to new School Library’ and would appreciate any contributions parents can make. In addition, we have set up a payment platform that does not require a ParentPay login which can be accessed via this link Payment for those who do not have a ParentPay account. I realise that money is incredibly tight for people at the moment but any additional contribution that you can make will allow us to create the best learning environment that we can for the students.
Alongside this we are launching our Library wish list on Amazon, the link is attached for you and any book purchased for the school will be specially marked as a donation. Thank you again for any support you can give in helping us grow the library provision for the students. I look forward to sharing the final photographs with you as we complete the work. If you wish to purchase a book please add the books you wish to gift to the school to your basket and proceed to checkout. Once at the delivery address stage, please select “WGSG LIBRARIANS Gift Registry Address”. If you wish to leave your message and/or name, you can do so under the gift options at checkout. We will share any messages we have with our school students and staff so they recognise the kindness and generosity of the WGSG community.
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LINKS TO SUBJECT ‘WISH LISTS’ |
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Movember 2022. Our recent Hepworth House Charity event raised £321.00 which was split between Movember, The British Red Cross and Dartford Foodbank. Thank you everyone for your support .. and for Mr Atkins and Mr Harrison for their rather splendid new facial foliage raising awareness and donations for a worthy cause!!
REMINDER from The Kent and Medway School Aged Immunisation Service. We are coming to school soon to carry out Flu Immunisation Programme for pupils in Years 7, 8 & 9 – don’t forget to consent or decline before the cut-off date via our website Immunisation Team | Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (kentcht.nhs.uk) .
You can also phone the team 0300 123 5205, text 07401320923 or use the web chat if you have any questions about your child’s immunisations.
Forthcoming dates;
Year 11 Next Step Student Interviews – Monday 9 Jan – Friday 13 Jan
Year 13 Mocks from Monday 9 Jan
Year 9 Virtual Parents’ Evening – Thurs 12 Jan
HPV Vaccinations Y8/9 – Friday 13 Jan
Best wishes,
Michelle Lawson
Head Teacher
