Blog week ending 25th September
We have very much enjoyed meeting so many of our parents and carers during our year group ‘Expectation Evenings’, both in person and online. Year 12s’ meeting is this evening, and we finish with Year 7s ‘Meet the Tutor’ evening, next week on the 1st October – we are looking forward to meeting you all! These opportunities to come together at the start of the academic year are so important, and I am grateful to all the parents and carers who are able to attend. Your support, enthusiasm, and partnership make a huge difference to the students’ experience at school, and it was lovely to begin building those connections. Thank you, as always, for your continued support in making our school such a warm and positive place for every student.
Across the school KS3 students took part in a series of special House Assemblies focused around ‘giving back’. Students discussed why giving back matters – and how a culture of kindness benefits everyone, the recipient and the giver. At WGSG we support a range of local charities that are important to our students and their families, we understand how small actions can mean so much to others. Our Student Leaders will nominate our chosen charities for this term.
On the theme of ‘giving back’, our Student Leaders undertake a wide range of responsibilities across school providing an active conduit between the wider student body and school Senior Leadership Team. Student Leaders feed into forward planning for the school, contributing to discussions on behalf of all students. Year 11 Student Leaders join KS3 form time on Fridays to be positive role models and offer practical support to their younger peers. Support can range from homework tips to advice on forming new friendship groups. Pictured below, our Year 11 Student Leadership Team
Mrs Cregan’s Year 7 Art students have been experimenting with shading to add tonal contouring to their still life drawings. Excellent use of hatching, pressure control and cross hatching to bring their still life pieces to life – well done everyone! 
Miss Cullingham’s Year 9 Drama students have been working with the text of the musical, Blood Brothers. Students have been exploring characterisation and specifically, posture and voice (in the below lesson) In groups, students have chosen scenes that they will work on before performing them to the wider group.
Ms Armellino’s Year 7 Food Preparation and Nutrition students have been learning safe, professional chef cutting skills, creating perfect batons, julienne, brunoises .. and more! This valuable practical lesson will help inform recipe preparation in future practical lessons.
As part of our form time DEAR initiative, our Librarian’s Readathon is underway! (Drop Everything and Read or Drop Everything and Revise in KS4). Year 7 students are taking part in a national sponsorship competition. Sponsorship money goes towards funding storytellers and books for children’s wards in local hospitals. An added bonus is that Wilmington Grammar School for Girls will receive book vouchers worth 20% of the amount raised by our students for us to buy new books!
In the library we also have our Sparx Reader Stars displayed to celebrate their achievements. Sparx Reader supports our learners in improving literacy and reading skills and students are set fortnightly homework via Sparx. Displayed in the library are the names of students who have gone above and beyond their set reading goals. Well done!
Our WG6 Enrichment Programme takes place every Wednesday afternoon offering our students a breathtaking range of academic (and life!) enhancing opportunities to supplement and support their career and future ambitions – as well as provide creative and wellbeing projects to enhance their experience at WG6. Our Enrichment Programme is designed to build new skills and support overall wellbeing. Below, just a small snapshot of all the opportunities available.
Mrs Develenski, Deputy Head of WG6 (based at WGSG) has been supporting students make their Elective choices for this term, and added “I popped in on some of the groups ….High energy combined with technical skill, our boxing students will be aching tomorrow! And musical arts students were in their element under Mrs Dent’s expert guidance – this week it was Nirvana classics. Other opportunities take place off-site including 20 students successful placed in our local primary schools and care homes.”
“Our chefs prepared sweet and sour chicken this week – invaluable life skills supporting independence .. and great meal planning ideas for those moving away from home for further education or apprenticeship opportunities!”
Also pictured below, Art Club and Badmington – For the full list of opportunities, our Electives Booklet can be viewed here Courses – Wilmington Grammar Sixth Form
Huge congratulations to Jasmine G in Year 13 who entered a short creative writing competition .. and whose wonderful poem was selected to appear in a mural in the ICU waiting room at Darenth Valley Hospital. The judges, Allies and Morrison Architects selected Jasmine’s poem due to its calming and uplifting tone. Her poem is below.
Where wildflowers dream and nature breathes,
Kind hands mend quite wounds.
Healing comes like morning light –
A new day, a new life, blooming in the valley.
By Jasmine G, Wilmington Grammar School 6th Form
Year 12 WG6 students completed an Independent Learning workshop with Ella from the Life Skills Company. They were all super engaged and learned so much about how to manage (and maximise!) their personal study time.
Forthcoming Dates;
Year 12 Expectations Evening (in person @ WGSB) – 25 Sept 5.30-6.30pm (tonight!)
Y12 & 13 Girls Maths Challenge – 25 Sept
European Day of Languages – 26 Sept
Year 7 Meet the Tutor Evening (in person) – 1 Oct 5-6pm
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition – Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 Oct
Year 11 Parent/Carers’ Evening (in person) 9 Oct
Year 11 Mock Exam Student Assembly – 13 Oct
Year 6 Open Evening – 16 Oct 5-6pm
Year 6 Open Day (by appointment only) 17 Oct
Year 13 Reports & Grades home – 17 Oct
Last Day of Term 1 – 17 Oct
First Day of Term 2 – Thursday 30 Oct
Year 11 Mocks start – 3 Nov
Best wishes,
Dave Fuller
Headteacher
