Blog week ending 3rd February

As expected, many staff exercised their right to withdraw labour on a day of unprecedented nationwide industrial action. All opinions on this matter were respected and the spirit of kindness, compassion and understanding continued to underscore our whole community. On Wednesday, Y7 and Y11 students were in school and working on a mixture of academic, sporting and GCSE-related endeavours. Other year groups were provided with online learning but also encouraged to enjoy the first moments of spring, by reading a book outside or going for a walk!

PE Update. It was a great day day in the ‘classroom’ for Mr Lynch, his team and the Year 8 students!  Two Groups took part in a football assessment lesson where they had the opportunity to showcase all the skills learnt in the term so far into organised games. Another two groups were continuing their health-related fitness programme. Mr Baker organised a session which had a variety of fitness aspects. The session included a Fartlek session (which focusses on different speeds and terrains), an Interval session (which has different speeds and types of recovery involved) as well a Speed and Agility focus. Students took part in the 30M sprint test and Illinois agility test. Both are national fitness tests and students can compare their scores against national data. Fitness for health is a key element of our PE curriculum and we strive to instil an understanding of the benefits (both physical and mental health) as well as foster an enjoyment of exercise that they will carry beyond their time at WGSB.

Our Year 8 rugby side hosted a match against Buller’s Wood school (team photo below!). The game was tied 30-30 going into the last play and with the final action of the match the Wilmington side scored a great try to win the match 35-30. The game was played in a great spirit with the rugby values clearly on show throughout from both sides.  

Year 8 Rugby team who were victorious in their match against Buller’s Wood this week.

Our Wintersports Trip students have been perfecting their skiing and snowboarding techniques on the dry ski slopes at Chatham.  Students will attend a series of lessons before heading off to Serre Chevalier in France, on Friday 31^st March.  The trip information evening is scheduled for Thursday 9^th February 5.30pm-6.30pm in the main hall.

Across the school students receive PSHE (personal, social, health and economics) lessons via our WGSB Life Programme.  The programme has been developed to help provide students with the knowledge, skills and qualities needed to deal with the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they’ll face as they grown up.

This term Year 7 students discussed the causes and preventative measures concerning youth and knife crime as well as Internet safety and avoiding gangs.

Our KS4 sessions focused on helping our students make safe and healthy choices as young adults: Y10 students learnt about honour-based violence, modern slavery and knife crime, whilst Y11 studied love and abuse, self-examination and organ, blood and stem cell donation.

Years 8 and 9 Life Programme’s focus was on Careers. Year 8 updated their Morrisby profiles and studied their career matches. Then they worked on an interview scenario that challenged stereotypes in careers. Year 9 students are currently considering their GCSE Option Choices pictured below Mr Baker, Deputy Head Teacher is leading a discussion on potential education and career pathways to help students make the best choices for their future aspirations.

Fantastic to see all the students so engaged!

Our Life Programme (PHSE provision) includes a wide range of extra-curricular clubs; one of these is the Young Reporters' Society run by English teachers Miss Selby and Miss Sweeney. Their members are currently creating logo ideas for the society. Here's Y8 Kyle's take on our logo with 'an English twist'!

Students in Years 10 & 11 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.

Forthcoming Dates;

• PTA Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Sale – Thursday 9th February, Break time
• PTA Pre-loved Uniform Sale - Friday 10th February, 4-6pm
• Business Studies and Politics Trip to New York 11th February
• Year 10 Mock examinations begin Monday 20th February
• PTA Meeting Monday, 6th March 6-7pm {virtual}
• Wintersports Trip to Serre Chevalier in France Friday 31st March

WGSB PTA Blog Update.  Does your organisation support match funding? - then please do contact pta@wgsb.co.uk  or the school office on 01322 223090. Match funding has great benefits for the organisation, the school and the individual! And it’s a great way to support your PTA.

What is Match funding? It is an informal, albeit corporate, arrangement between a company and their employee which maximises the fundraising efforts of individual PTA volunteers. Not all companies offer matched funding but those that do will pledge a sum of money relating to the amount their employee has raised for or donated to the charity of their choice.  If you work for a company that offers match funding, and you volunteer to work at one of the stalls at our PTA event and profit made by the stall is £100, your employer will then match this amount with a further £100.

Pre-Loved Uniform / Lost Properties Shop: Do you have unwanted / outgrown good quality clean school uniform (blazers, jumpers, PE kit) please? You can donate these to the PTA nearly new uniform shop. Just put them in a bag and drop off at the school office. We particularly need donations of pre-loved lab coats. Our next pre-loved uniform sale will take place in the school hall on Friday 10th February. Come along for everything uniform including coats/jackets, school trousers, shirts, PE kits, jumpers, blazers.

The WGSB PTA Lottery - Congratulations to our lottery winner for the month of January!  Jan: No. 1081 - Jake L (10S).  If you have won our lottery draws over the last few months, can you please check at the school office and pick up your winning before the end of the school term?

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Sale

It’s here again! Thursday, 9 February, the PTA will sell delicious Krispy Kreme doughnuts during 1^st and 2^nd Break time (10:00 - 10:25 & 10:50 - 11:15).

Doughnuts will be sold at £1 during the time mentioned above, cash sales only.  Please remind your child(ren) who wish to purchase a doughnut to bring £1 cash.  Please contact pta@wgsb.co.uk if you can spare some time and are able to help out on the day or if you would like to pre-order a box of doughnuts at a discounted rate of £10.

Thank you for supporting WGSB PTA.

Best wishes,

Stuart Harrington

Head Teacher