This week

Another successful week where again we have been really impressed with our students and how they are approaching their studies in school. In particular we have focused on speaking to Year 7 about how they have found their first few weeks and were delighted to welcome so many of their parents/carers to the School on Thursday evening. There was a chance to catch up with each child’s tutor, to meet other parents and to get involved in PSFA events. This also allowed the Chair and Secretary of the PSFA to present Dr Airey with a cheque for £10,000 for the School as a result of recent fundraising activities. This will be used to benefit all children at the School, so if you are not involved with the PSFA and can give even just a small amount of time please come along to the AGM on Monday, 7th October here at the School. Thank you to everyone who either helped or contributed financially by attending one or more of the events last year.

PSFA events

Please see below for PSFA events being arranged this term. We hope many parents will support them.  The Magic Night is aimed at families and is always lots of fun and good value for money. Tickets for the Christmas Ball also sell quickly so please visit the PSFA website to find out more.

Sibling photographs

On Tuesday we have the chance for photographs to be taken of siblings in the School – a great opportunity to mark a moment in time at the School for all brothers and sisters. This is during lunchtime and after school. Year 11 photographs will be during periods 4 and 5.

Pathways Careers Event

We have a fantastic opportunity for students in Years 9 to 13 to consider their future careers at our Pathways event on – Thursday, 17^th October 2019 from 6.30pm until 8.00pm in the Main Hall and Dining Hall 2 (the new one).  The evening will provide a useful insight into pathway options at post-16 and post-18.  We have over 50 exhibitors confirmed including a range of employers and Further and Higher Education providers. Exhibitors will be showcasing options including further training and education as well as apprenticeships. The evening will operate on a ‘drop in’ basis. However, so that we have an idea of the numbers to expect, please confirm your attendance using this form.

We are also delighted to confirm that the following short presentations will be available at 6.00pm in surrounding classroom areas before the main Pathways event:

Careers in the fashion industry	Fashion Skills Academy
Careers in healthcare including medicine and the wider NHS	St. George’s, University of London
Careers in media and the digital industries	University of Salford
Why go to university	University of Greenwich
Apprenticeships	London South-East Colleges

If you would like to attend one of these talks, please confirm your attendance using this form.

What Career Live? What University Live? – Careers Event, Olympia London

The Careers Department would like to draw your attention to a careers event, ‘What Career Live? What University Live?’ being held at Olympia London, Hammersmith on Saturday, 12^th October from 10.00am until 4.00pm. The event is free to attend and is aimed at students in Years 10-13. The event is an ideal platform for students and parents/carers to explore post-school options from higher education at colleges and universities to apprenticeships. Further information about the event and how to register can be found here.

Technical update

We are continuing to do our best to ensure all students and all parents have access to the relevant Bromcom Portals. Any issues, please contact us. Please do not use your child’s login for the parent portal. It will not work. You need to go to the parent portal and use the log-in we provided.

Class Charts – Parents with children who were in the school last year will have a log-in already. If another child has just joined you will have received a code to add that child to your existing account. You do not need a new account, just the new code.

DWSAudio

Do have a listen to the latest podcasts available on DWSAudio and those now uploaded on the Youtube Channel Amplified. They all feature students from Darrick Wood and are of a very high quality. Send the links to your friends and family.

Dates for the diary

Traffic

Between 3 and 3.30pm this week the traffic situation outside the School has become even more congested than normal and at times it has been dangerous. Some of this is as a result of cars parked illegally. This has been reported more than once so hopefully those responsible for local parking enforcement will take action before someone is hurt. In the meantime, please avoid the area at this time. Dr Airey will be liaising with the Infants and Junior Schools to request a similar message goes to parents there.

Wasps

Having been made aware of a wasp nest on the entrance to Tugmutton Common, we have requested the Council to have it removed but despite some students and staff being stung they have not been willing to do so. It is suggested the students avoid this route if at all possible. Any parents concerned should contact the Council as this is not school land and we are therefore unable to take any action.

Dates for the diary 

Wednesday, 2nd October – Open Evening. Our Open Evening for parents of prospective Year 7 students.

To facilitate this, the School will close after lunch on that day. There will be normal lessons from periods 1 to 3 then the Sixth Form and Year 11 will be registered and dismissed at 12.15pm. Pupils in Years 7 to 10 will be registered after lunch and will be dismissed at 1.00pm. This will allow staff to prepare rooms for the evening.

On Thursday, 3^rd October pupils should arrive by 9.40am for registration at 9.45am followed by normal lessons.

Please note that this evening is only for parents of pupils who may be joining the School in September 2020.

Wednesday, 9th October – KS4 Information Evening – for parents of Years 10 and 11. An email will be sent early next week about this.

Monday, 21st October – Our first ever two week October half-term break.  We return on Monday, 4th November 2019.