Blog week ending 15th September
Welcome to the new academic Year! Each week, via our school blog, I will share news and provide an insight into school life as well as key dates for forthcoming events. I am delighted to inform you that we have a number of exceptional new teaching staff who I will introduce via the school blog over the course of the next few weeks. We foster a culture that celebrates, and is inspired by, all of our shared and personal achievements, whether school based academic ones or through clubs and activities undertaken out of school; so please do make us aware of any key events so that we can share them in our school blogs.
It was good to meet so many of our new families last night at our Year 7 ‘Meet the Tutor’ evening. Miss Sweeney, Head of Year 7 (pictured below, and with students) and all our Year 7 Form Tutors are enjoying getting to know our new students and supporting their transition into life at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys.
Miss Barry’s Year 7 Scientists enjoyed a practical lesson as part of their ‘working safely in the Lab’ induction. Students have already familiarised themselves with potential risks and hazards as well as being able to identify the hazard symbols that appear on chemicals and scientific equipments. Students successfully learned how to safely light and use Bunsen burners during practical investigations.
Mrs Cross, has taken on a new role as the Head of Design and Technology and is responsible for the curriculum across Food and Nutrition, Design Technology, Constructing the Built Environment and Professional Construction Practice. In the below lesson, Mrs Cross’ Year 7 students had their first practical lesson – making delicious granola bars. The lesson required them to accurately weigh and measure their ingredients, safe use of the oven .. and of course, washing up and tidy away after themselves! The recipe video can be accessed by clicking here.
Introducing Mr Price, Teacher of Design and Technology who brings a wealth of industry and teaching experience gained in the graphic design sector where he was responsible for the creation of album artwork, and in teaching roles in secondary schools in London. Mr Price is particularly interested in new and emerging technologies and their impact on industry and how they might be incorporated in the classroom and enhance practical learning. “I am a huge advocate of incorporating technologies into the creative process to produce designs and bring new ideas to life. If students would like to discuss any projects or ideas they have been working on in or outside of school, please do let me know!”
In the lesson pictured below students have been familiarising themselves with the workshop classroom and specifically, the guidelines to enable them to safely use the machines and tools during practical lessons.
Introducing Mr Oso, our new Teacher of Music and PE. Mr Oso is an accomplished musician and multi-instrumentalist as well has having previously played football at a high level! Mr Oso brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the role and plans to develop our music department’s extracurricular offering, encouraging participation from students across the school whether novices or experienced musicians.
Mr Oso has been working with Year 7 students on their vocal performance skills, and in this lesson practised harmonies singing the Beatles song, let it be. Already sounding beautiful! Students will have the opportunity to explore different musical genres before progressing to improvisation and composition.
Across the year we take every opportunity to share and celebrate the endeavours and achievements of our school community. At our end of academic year assembly we announced the winners of our House competitions as well as celebrating the competition highlights of the school and present certificates for individual achievement in academic and sporting subjects. A small selection of slides from the presentation are below.
Our Saturday morning Year 7 sport enrichment begins this week. This five-week programme allows students get to participate in different sporting activities, try new sports and spend time getting to know, and having fun with their peers.
The sessions start at 9am and finish at 10.30. The PTA will be selling refreshments on the day. Below is a list of the current planned activities;
Saturday 16th September – WGSB Sporting Circuit 1
Saturday 23rd September – Introduction to Rugby / Touch Rugby
Saturday 30th September – Football
Saturday 7th October – WGSB Sporting Circuit 2
Saturday 14th October – Inter House Year 7 Rugby Tournament
Our Year 12 students have quickly settled into life within WG6. Across our two sites students have access to dedicated WG6 study and dining areas as well as specialist teaching and support staff to enable them to get the most out of the many opportunities for growth and academic achievement on offer. Next week we will launch our Electives Programme of enrichment options. To read our Electives Booklet please click here
Mrs Lawson, Head Teacher of Wilmington Grammar School attended the Science and Religion Forum’s conference at Westminster College Cambridge on 31st August where one of our Year 13 students Apianka Ananthavadivel was presented with a Highly commended trophy in recognition of her entry into the forum’s Peacocke Prize essay competition. This is particularly impressive in that this is an academic forum and the competition is open to all students from 16 to PHd. The overall winner was in fact a Phd student from Nottingham University. Apianka had submitted an essay on the concept of personal identity and whether we had an enduring identity or were actually just bundles of changing perceptions. As part of her award she was invited to present to a roomful of academics at the top of their fields in science and religion, explaining her thinking and the conclusion she had reached. She handled the pressure incredibly well, including the question and answer session at the end when she was given some very challenging questions to field. She was presented with her trophy by the vice president of the forum, Dr Celia Deane-Drummond who is the Director of the Laudato Si’Research Institute and Senior Research Fello at Campion Hall, University of Oxford.
Apianka added “This was such an amazing opportunity, and it was so nice to be in that environment where I was in a room full of people who had the same interests as me. After my presentation, a handful of people came up to me and during lunch to congratulate and compliment me and I even had a mini debate with two other presenters (it was so fun) and it just made my experience that much better!”
Forthcoming dates include;
PTA annual general meeting – 25th September (everyone is welcome!)
Year 12 Expectations Evening (at WGSG) – 28TH September
Whole School Photo – 6th October
Open Evening (for current Year 6s starting Year 7 in 2024) – 17th October
Last Day of Term 1 – 20th October
Update from our PTA. On behalf of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) I welcome everyone, especially our Year 7 and Year 12 students and their families, to the new school year. We hope everyone had an enjoyable summer break and that your child(ren) have settled in nicely to the new academic year and routine.
The goal of the PTA is to provide the extra funding to help enhance and further the students’ learning experiences and opportunities. Our funds benefit all the children and come from the fundraising initiatives and events we hold during the school year.
Our PTA meetings are held once every 4 – 6 weeks, on Mondays evenings, term times and these can be face-to-face or virtual meetings. We all have something to give. If you have younger children at home or only a small amount of time, could you come to a meeting, help set up an event, serve food or design a poster? Perhaps you have a professional skill you could help us out with? You don’t have to come into the school; many of our volunteering tasks can be done from home. The most important skills you can bring are enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in.
Look out for invites to our PTA meetings on the school blog. We hope you will be able to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM) event which will be held on Monday, 25 September at the School Hall – all are welcome. If you would like to know more about the kind of things we do and the events we hold, please contact us via email [email protected] or by calling the school office on 01322 223090
Our PTA needs you! The WGSB PTA are looking for a new Chair (or Joint Chairs!), Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary to start THIS September
Potential Chairs & Vice Chairs! Are you confident & assertive? Calm, friendly & approachable? Organised & able to delegate?
Potential Treasurers! Do you have a basic understanding of book keeping? Are you organised with an eye for detail? A team player?
Potential Secretaries ! Are you a good listener, organised & efficient? Calm, friendly & approachable?
Could it be you? Or maybe a grandparent? Feel free to email [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you for considering to join the WGSB PTA and I look forward to getting to meet you at some of our events or during our meetings.
The WGSB PTA Lottery. You can join our PTA lottery which is now live on ParentPay . Tickets are £12 a year for one number and you can buy as many tickets as you want! Please select the number of tickets you want to purchase and add your contact details on ParentPay. Each number goes into 12 monthly draws between September and August. Prize money is £30.00 per month and £50.00 at the PTA Christmas Draw. Please note, cut-off date to join the lottery is 1st November 2023 to be included for the year.
Saturday morning sports events: Once again, the PTA will be supporting the PE department during the Saturday morning sports events for Year 7s from Saturday 16 Sep – Saturday 14 Oct, 9 -10.30am. The PTA will serve tea, coffee, hotdogs, and other refreshments during these events, to raise funds for the school. Why not come around to watch and cheer on our boys or simply to have a chat with the PTA? You will also be able to purchase pre-loved uniform at discounted prices during these days. Don’t forget your cash!
Pre-Loved Uniform: The PTA pre-loved uniform shop offers a range of ‘pre-loved’ uniform at hugely reduced prices. If you would like to know what we have in stock, replace a lost piece of uniform or even pick up a spare (PE kits, blazers, shirts, trousers, jumpers, trainers, coats, boot bags, etc). Prices of pre-loved sportswear (PE/Rugby kits) for Years 9 – 11 have been reduced even further for a period of time – £2.50 per item or any 5 items for £10.00. Please contact the [email protected] for more information. This offer does not include boot bag*. You can’t afford to miss this great deal!
Next PTA AGM Meeting – Monday, 25 September 6.00-7.00pm; Venue – WGSB School Hall. We look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM.
Christmas Trees fundraising scheme – Did someone say Christmas? It’s only September, but please look out for school comms for this great initiative where our PTA partners with a tree company to sell beautiful Nordmann Fir Christmas Trees. Watch this space for more information!
And finally,Support Wilmington Grammar School for Boys – Dartford by signing up to support us for FREE on Easyfundraising . You can raise donations whenever you shop online with over 6,000 retailers including John Lewis & Partners, eBay, Argos, ASOS, M&S and more. Plus, we will get a bonus £5 donation when you do! Sign up today – this will make a BIG difference to us this year: Easyfundraising
Best wishes,
Stuart Harrington
Head Teacher
