Posted on: 26/04/2024
Blog week ending 3rd February
Posted on: 03/02/2023
As we end another busy and exciting week, we do so having dealt with the expected decision by a number of staff to exercise their right to withhold their labour and join the nationwide industrial action. As expected this was carried out with the same level of understanding and kindness that the community shows to one another on a daily basis, and everyone’s right to their decision and opinion on the matter was respected. On Wednesday our Year 7 and 11 continued with their normal timetable, albeit not with some of their normal teachers, the senior staff enjoyed a rare opportunity to deliver lessons in subjects that they don’t often get to teach and what a pleasure to work with our outstanding students. The quality of work completed by our students who were working at home was excellent and I am sure that they all enjoyed a small lie in first!
Throughout the year each department sets a variety of challenges for students to take part in with the aim of gaining valuable House Points .. and ultimately, to win the House Cup!
Mr Harrison set a fiendishly tricky mathematical House Challenge this month – can you work it out? (answer at the bottom of this blog)
Year 8 PE students have been studying and performing cultural dance. In this lesson students, created choreography for, and then performed, Bollywood dance routines. Students focused on formations, unison and levels. Well done, beautiful and creative routines featuring signature Bollywood moves including wolf and petal hands, clicking hips and whipping!
Years 10 & 11 attended a Maximising Skills workshop delivered by specialist providers, The Life Skills Company. Students were provided with the necessary tools, inspiration and skills to complete effective reference notes and revision. The session marks part of our ongoing support for students preparing for their examinations. Subject revision, careers and wellbeing sessions are offered across the academic year.
Our Year 8 & 9 Rugby Club is proving very popular! Run by professional coach, Dave Phillips of Dartfordians RFC in conjunction with Mrs Fiander (a rugby club member and player!) Students are learning drills and technique as well as enjoying plenty of lively game play! All are welcome – Monday after school. Weather permitting the sessions will be held on the field or in the hall if not – rugby boots are available to borrow if needed.
Year 11 students attended a WG6 Fair to allow them the opportunity to speak with our WG6 subject ambassadors about their experiences of student life in WG6 and the opportunities available for career enhancing elective lessons and career support as they consider future education and career pathways.
Students in 8E are having a ‘penny wars’ competition to raise money for the different House charities. It is a battle of loose change and Bader is currently in the lead! The students are also organising various activities between now and July. One House is contacting Wilmington Manor Care Home to see if they can offer their time/company (Covid protocols would be followed) and another House would like to investigate how they could support the crisis in the Ukraine.
We are also thinking about how to support those in the community and, as a class, we are going to support the Ellenor Hospice in Northfleet. Ellenor offers support to adults and children in North Kent and Bexley. The Hospice offers not only exceptional care for their patients but work closely with families to look after them through what can be a difficult time. Ellenor relies on donations of toiletries for their patients and, as a class, we are hoping to build a collection to drop off later this year. The Hospice is grateful for boxes of tissues or any toiletries so if anyone has any gift sets languishing in cupboards at home, 8E and Mrs McKenna will gladly take them off your hands!
For more information on the work of Ellenor hospices click here ellenor | Providing Hospice Care and Support to Families
Mrs Cai ran a rather delicious session for our WG6 students as part of their Electives Programme to mark the Chinese New Year - potsticker dumpling making … and I can vouch for just how delicious they were!
Students in Year 10 took part in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge this week which is a 60-minute, multiple-choice Challenge run by the UK Mathematics Trust. The challenge is part of their work to promote a love of problem solving. The UKMT aim to highlight mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. The problems on the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience. We will receive the results next term.
Our WG6 A Level Biologists are deepening their knowledge on enzymes in an OCR practical endorsed activity where they were investigating the effect of changing enzyme concentration on the rate of reaction. The practical involved making serial dilutions to produce five different concentrations of the enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions and have been used in food production for thousands of years. Today they are used widely in the Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
During February we are shining the light on three important areas;
Children’s Mental Health Week: Let’s connect
Safer Internet Day: Making Space for Conversations about Life Online Top tips for parents and carers - UK Safer Internet Centre
LGBT+ History Month: Claiming our Past – Celebrating our present – Creating our Future. Our librarian has curated a collection of books which can be found on display in the library. Around school posters have been made to highlight a selection of pioneers and role models from the LGBT+ community.
In readiness for us moving our library into the purpose-built space (where the old gym was situated). We have compiled a Library wish list, the link is attached for you should be wish to make a donation. 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 are able 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 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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PTA Update. We have scheduled a Quiz Night on Saturday 4th February .. and you are all invited to join us! For more details and bookings please contact our PTA on wgsgpfa@gmail.com or to fill in the booking form click here
Maths Challenge answer - Students needed to pop the coordinates in Google etc and they arrive at a place somewhere in the World. Using key words from that place, it forms a question they need to answer! The solution is here:
Thanks go to Chris Smith from Grange Academy who he borrowed it from!
Forthcoming Dates
Y11 Reunion and GCSE certificates – Wednesday 8th February 4-4.45pm
Year 7 & 8 Grades home – Friday February 10th
Year 13 Grades and Written report home – Friday 10th February
Business Studies and Politics Trip to New York - 11th February
Start of Term 4 – Monday 20th February
Year 10 Mock Examinations – 27th February – 10th March
Best wishes,
Michelle Lawson
Head Teacher
