This week

We have held Remembrance assemblies all week with all year groups.  These included speeches from two of our fabulous History Ambassadors who talked about the origins of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and the famous poem, “In Flanders Fields”, by John McCrae. At the end of assembly we all stood, observed the Last Post (played by one of our musicians) and held a minute’s silence. As usual, no doubt many of our students will also be participating in Remembrance ceremonies locally over the weekend, but we always ensure we hold some form of Remembrance assembly here at school and this year it was made even more special having two students lead it and a third play the Last Post.

Year 7 took part in a Mental Health Workshop this week, run by a company called Humanutopia. Students were encouraged to examine whether they are products of their circumstances (things over which they have no control) or products of their choices. They were encouraged to make decisions which reflect their best selves. They examined the effect of their actions and decisions on other’s wellbeing (filling other people’s bins). Finally, pupils were encouraged to stretch themselves (enter the panic zone) and have aspirational targets and consider the changes they would need to make to their current behaviours in order to realise these. Year 13 students (Heroes) volunteered their time to assist with the event and we were grateful for their input.

Coming up

To launch Anti-Bullying Week, we are encouraging all students and staff to wear odd socks on Monday, 13th November. See below:

We are really looking forward to our School Production of the Wizard of Oz next week. Our students are always amazing and we are sure this year will be no exception. If you have not got your tickets yet, then be quick – purchase on ParentPay. DWS Audio has even recorded a sneak peek of the production. This is available to listen to here:

DWS Audio (darrickwood.co.uk)

Whilst you’re on the blog, do take listen to the other posts from DWS Audio, they really are excellent and all are the product of our talented and hard working students.

The following week (beginning 20th November) Year 11 begin their mock examinations. They should be working hard towards these now. Whilst we will always advocate getting the right balance between work and rest, there is no getting away from the fact that hard work pays off, especially if they are applying the revision techniques learned in school.

Attendance update

In the Parent Bulletin of 22/9/23, we wrote about the importance of maintaining good attendance and punctuality. Our whole school target is over 96%. We provided information from the NHS and about when a child might be deemed too ill for school and when they should be in school. The link to the original guidance is provided again here:

Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

The following is also available:

Children and young people settings: tools and resources – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Below is also a useful easy guide about different illnesses and whether your child should attend or not.

Shoud I keep my child off school checklist poster (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Children in Need – Friday, 17th November

In support of BBC Children in Need, we are asking all students and members of staff to donate money in order to wear something spotty on Friday, 17^th November 2022. The spotty item can replace any item of the standard uniform or Dress Code. Alternatively, the item can be an addition to the uniform or Dress Code. Please note that with the exception of the spotty item, all other uniform or Dress Code requirements remain in place. A minimum donation of £1 is recommended. This can be made through ParentPay. Thank you in advance for your support.

Christmas in a Bag

Darrick Wood School will be supporting the Bromley Brighter Beginnings ‘Christmas in a Bag’ campaign by collecting donations of selection boxes, chocolate Santa’s and a small gift suitable for a teenager i.e. stationery or toiletry sets (not battery operated please). Your child will need to bring any donations into school prior to Friday, 17^th November. All donations can be given to Form Tutors. We would like to thank the students of Year 8 who are driving this Christmas collection.

What is “Christmas in a Bag”? 

Did you know that around 20% of children in Bromley are living in poverty?  This is over 16,000 children.  Bromley Brighter Beginnings are a volunteer-led charity that provides essential child-related items to families living in financial hardship in the London Borough of Bromley. One of the ways they support local families is via their “Christmas in a Bag” campaign.  This ensures that children whose families are unable to celebrate the festive period receive a range of festive treats. Each bag contains a festive jumper, books, toys, Christmas treats, toiletries, new pyjamas and a food voucher.   

Last year 700 children received a “Christmas in a Bag”, and the need is expected to be even greater this year. 

If you wish to make an additional contribution, the charity is also collecting the following:

• Sanitary products 
• Children’s/teenage pre-loved festive jumpers (great condition only please) 
• New/unopened games/toys
• New/unworn hats, scarves, and gloves

Thank you in advance for supporting the families in our community.

PSFA news

Dear parents and carers, 

I hope you are well? Just a quick update on events and another plea for help (I know, bear with me I am hoping we will have a bigger team soon!).  

School performances, 14^th to 16^th November

I am sure lots of people are excited about the Wizard of Oz performances next week. The PFSA are planning to serve refreshments to children and parents at the performances – but we need volunteers to make this happen, it will also make sure the queues aren’t huge!

Christmas Trees

We have sold quite a few Christmas trees already so a huge thank you to everyone who has already ordered. If you have been busy, don’t worry there is still time to order. The website will take orders until 24^th November at 4pm. Your tree will then be delivered to Darrick Wood School on Sunday December 3rd, for you to collect and enjoy all through the festive season. 

Please share this fantastic offer with relatives, friends and neighbours.  All profits will go to the PSFA to help fund equipment for the School. You can purchase online via: PSFA Christmas Tree project. Further details below:

Year 7 Christmas Disco – Friday, 8^th December 

I know there has been some discussion in parent groups about the Christmas disco. Just to confirm this event is planned, and details will be out really soon. The teachers are great at helping at this event – but again we could do with a couple more parent helpers please.  

Having been though infant school, junior school and now secondary school, I know how PSFA pleas for help can become a little repetitive to parents. However, but we really do rely on parent helpers to enable us to make things happen. And the more willing hands we have, the more fun things we can plan for the children. So if you can help at either of the above events, please sign up here:  https://volunteersignup.org/9MMDP

If not, if you are willing to join our Happy to Help list and receive a quick text when we need help, please sign up here:  https://volunteersignup.org/74W37

Sadly, we had no volunteers to serve refreshments at the 6^th Form Open Evening last week. But luckily the teachers stepped in so we managed a small offering to those parents attending the evening. So a huge thank you to the staff for stepping in! 

We appreciate everyone is busy, work, life, kids etc. But if you can spare the odd hour, we would really appreciate your time. 

Have a lovely weekend,

Joanne

PFSA Chair

Dates for the diary

Date	Event	Notes
Monday, 13th November	Odd Socks Day	No donations required, just wear odd socks!
Tuesday, 14th November Wednesday, 15th November Thursday, 16th November	School Production: Wizard of Oz	Main Hall, 7pm
Friday, 17th November	Children in Need – wear something spotty	Donations on ParentPay please
Week beginning Monday, 20th November	Year 11 mock examinations	For two weeks
Week beginning 4th December	Year 13 mock examinations	For two weeks
Wednesday, 6th December	Year 12 Parents’ Evening	On School Cloud system. Information will be sent out shortly

Reminders

We have noticed a number of students, mostly in the older year groups removing their blazers and replacing them with jackets of their own choosing. These are then being zipped right to the top disguising their uniform underneath usually their lanyards too. Blazers should not be removed and lanyards must always be on display, but also we note that these jackets, whilst black, are barely adequate for keeping warm in the winter and often have large logos (against our rules). Please ensure your child has a warm winter coat to wear (plain dark brown or black) and that they understand the importance of school uniform and smart appearance around school.

Football update

This year we re-vamped the structure of our school football in a hope and effort that students would get more training and game … and thus be more successful. In years gone by we had training scheduled for after school that was then often cancelled due to our staff and outdoor spaces being used for games. We therefore had a re-think and initiated a new Darrick Wood Football Academy. At the start of the new academic year, students in Years 7-10 trialled for their respective teams in the hope to be selected for the Academy. Those successful students were invited to start weekly morning before-school training with Ben Greenhalgh. This training is never cancelled and had increased students’ fitness, organisation and skill levels. All of which has gone on to evidently improve their winning mentality.

Despite a few background moans at the thought of training at 7.40am, the attendance and work rate by the footballers at this training has been superb. As you can see from the results below we are winning more games than ever, competing further into cup competitions and playing more Football. This is all in the hope that our students enjoy school football, live happier and healthier lives and have fond memories of their time at Darrick Wood School. By the end of this week we will have played 42 games of football with more games flooding in because we keep winning!

Across different year groups, boys and girls, we entered 17 cup competitions and five leagues (English Schools National Cups, Kent County Cups and Bromley District Leagues). Below you can see the specific entries and results so far:

English Schools Cup:

U12 Boys: RD1 Won vs HABE (2-1) / RD2 vs Grey Court TBC 13/11

U14 Boys: RD1 Won vs Charles Darwin 6-1 / RD2 Lost vs Kingston Academy 2-4 X

U12 Girls: RD1 Won vs Haberdashers Hatcham 14-0 / RD2 Won vs Kingston Academy 4-1 / RD3 TBC

U13 Girls: RD1 W/O vs Harris Battersea / RD2 Won vs St Gregs 9-1/ RD3 TBC

U14 Girls: RD1 Won vs Harris Wimbledon 6-0 / RD2 Won vs Coloma Convent 6-1 / RD3 vs Rainham TBC

U15 Girls: RD1 W/O vs St Dunstan’s / RD2 Lost vs St Bedes 1-2 X

U16 Girls: RD1 Won vs Riddlesdown 5-2 / RD2 W.O vs Bacons College / RD3 Won vs Royal Alexandra 3-1 / RD4 TBC

Kent County Cups:

U12 Boys: RD1 BYE / RD2 Won vs Wilmington Grammar 6-4 / RD3 vs St Pauls 16/11

U13 Boys: RD1 BYE / RD2 Won vs Mascalls 3-2 / RD3 vs Hayes 14/11

U14 Boys: RD1 vs Won vs Leigh Bexley 9-2 / RD2 Lost vs Harris Falconwood 4-5

U15 boys: RD1 BYE / RD2 Lost vs Stone Lodge 0-6

U16 Boys: RD1 Lost vs Beths Grammar 0-7

U12 Girls: RD1 BYE / RD2 Won vs Welling 3-0 / RD3 TBC

U13 Girls: RD1 BYE / RD2 Won vs St Catherines 2-0 / RD3 vs Townley 15/11

U14 Girls: RD1 Won vs Welling 2-0 / RD2 W/O vs Crown Woods / RD3 vs Langley 14/11

U15 Girls: RD1 Won vs Harris Falconwood 5-4 / RD2 Won vs Crown Woods 7-3 / RD3 vs Bullers 9/11

U16 Girls: RD1 Won vs Highstead GS 5-2 / RD2 Won 4-1 vs Rainham Mark GS / RD3 vs Rainham 16/11

North Kent Division 1 (U19 1Xi Boys):

Game 1 Lost vs St Gregs 0-5

Game 2 Lost vs St Olaves 3-5

Game 3 Won vs Christ the King 3-1

Game 4 Lost vs Skinner 3-4

North Kent Division 2 (U19 2Xi Boys):

Game 1 Lost vs Farringtons 1-10

Game 2 Lost vs NKC 4-5

Game 3 Lost vs Ravensbourne 1-6

Game 4 Lost vs Beths 0-12

Bromley District Leagues:

U12 Boys: Game 1 Won vs Kemnal 10-2 / Game 2 Won vs Ravensbourne 6-3 /

U13 Boys: Game 1 Won vs Ravensbourne 2-1

U14 Boys: Game 1 Won vs Kemnal 3-2 / Game 2 Won vs Ravensbourne 2-0

Bromley Cups for all age groups to start in January.

As you can see a huge amount of Football played and a huge amount to still come. Students are responding well, taking their school sport more seriously and I’m sure enjoying it!