{"id":2131,"date":"2023-12-08T19:07:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T19:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/?p=2131"},"modified":"2023-12-08T21:12:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T21:12:29","slug":"parent-bulletin-08-12-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/?p=2131","title":{"rendered":"Parent Bulletin 08\/12\/23"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assemblies have been themed around the build up to Christmas and the traditions that we follow at this time. Today, many of our students and staff supported Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. You can still donate to this worthy cause via ParentPay. Next week we will hold our achievement assemblies to recognise students’ hard work and achievements through the autumn term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas Concert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday, 14th December the Music Department will present our Christmas Concert, the culmination of another term of enjoyable music-making at Darrick Wood. The students have been working exceptionally hard over the last few weeks to prepare for this event, which promises to be a fantastic night of festive entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concert will start at 7.00pm.  The concert is not ticketed, but we would appreciate donations on the door \u2013 recommended donation of \u00a35.00 per person.  All are welcome to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eco Schools Green Flag Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a school we are passionate about our community and our environment and developing student ownership for both of these areas. This academic year we are working towards the Eco Schools Green Flag Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This term we have established an Eco Committee made up from over 20 students from each year group across the school. The aim of the Eco Committee is to support the School in its development. The meetings involved the Eco Committee completing a review of the School across 10 areas. From this review, we have identified three main areas on which we will focus. These are the School Grounds, Litter and Biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main focus of the Eco Committee next term is \u2018Litter\u2019. We have ordered 35 litter pickers and student volunteers have been actively trialling these. Next term we will also have a house system rota so we can encourage more students to take ownership of their environment. The Eco Committee’s suggestion is that litter can be reduced if food and drinks products bought in from home could be in reusable materials (e.g. water bottles and sandwich boxes instead of plastic wrappers\/tin foil).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 9 students have focussed on Biodiversity this term and have been developing the school garden. Bug hotels have been created to encourage more insects and wildlife into the garden. Next term we will be developing the garden pond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the extremely successful development of the Year 8 playground last academic year, we have further grand plans for the school grounds, with the focus very much being on improving the year group playgrounds! Works have started on the Year 7 playground which is being extended to include a new seated picnic area. This will also have shade sails installed in the new year to provide cover for damp and sunny weather.  We will also see the installation of metal sheds for play equipment for the Year 7, 9 and 10 playgrounds. The seating arrangements on the Year 9 and Year 10 playgrounds have also been redesigned and will be implemented prior to our return in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would like to express our gratitude to the PTFSA who have been fund raising to support these significant developments which will benefit our whole school community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PSFA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear parents and carers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the easiest ways to support the PFSA is signing up to Easy fundraising so you earn funds for the school while you shop! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easy fundraising partners with over 7,000 brands who will donate part of what you spend to a cause of your choice. It won’t cost you any extra. The cost is covered by the brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply sign up and select us as your supported charity. For more details sign up here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.easyfundraising.org.uk\/causes\/darrickwoodsecondaryschoolpsfa<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you’re online shopping for those all-important Christmas presents and decorations over the weekend please do consider signing up.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a lovely weekend, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joanne and the PFSA team<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darrick Wood Ski Trip 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are very happy to again offer our students the chance to go skiing in Austria in 2025! If your child is currently in Year 8 through to Year 12 then please read the letter below to decide if you would like your child to join this fantastic trip to the Austrian Alps in Easter 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

06-12-23-JSI-Ski-Trip-2025<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The trip has been promoted to students in Form time and assemblies. If you would like to sign your child up for this trip, then you must complete the online Microsoft form (link below) on Monday, 11<\/strong>th<\/sup><\/strong> December <\/strong>(live as of 8.30am)<\/strong>.<\/strong> Places will be allocated based on time of completion, first come first served. Please be aware that last year we had over 100 completed forms in under one minute so please expect to be quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who are successful in signing up will receive a confirmation letter shortly after with instructions on how to pay deposits and payment plan information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We look forward to the ski trip and to improving students’ cultural and sporting experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft form link: https:\/\/forms.office.com\/e\/ranVBVTYjw<\/a> (live 8.30am on Monday, 11th December)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Football <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a long term of football (over 75 games played) we have some big cup fixtures taking place between now and next Friday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday 11th<\/sup>: U14 girls English Schools last 32 game vs Varndean (Brighton) (h) 3:15pm kick off on 3G<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday 12th<\/sup>: U16 girls Kent cup \u00bc final vs St Gregory\u2019s (h) 3:30pm kick off on 3G<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 14th<\/sup>: U13 girls Kent cup last 16 vs Hayes (h) 3:30pm kick off on 3G<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we win any quarter finals we will be playing Semi Finals on a Saturday morning in January!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per the recent emailed communication, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate parent supporters on site. However we of course wish all our teams the very best of luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holiday Activities and Food Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would like to remind parents\/carers of the upcoming Winter HAF programme, offering free holiday club places, including activities and healthy meals for families with children that are in receipt of benefit-related Free School Meals (FSM) or living in Bromley as a refugee. The programme will run from 20th<\/sup> December 2023 \u2013 3rd<\/sup> January 2024. Examples of the activities on offer include film-making, bushcraft activities, creative fun, tennis, football, trips out to pantomime shows, and much more! See below for details and how to book a place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holiday activities and food programme \u2013 London Borough of Bromley<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HAF-Winter-2023-Programme-A4-Poster<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Catering reminder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note, that to facilitate the change of caterers for after Christmas, parents will not be able to put any money into their child\u2019s ParentPay account from the end of school on Thursday, 14th December. This means that if you wish your child to be able to use their account in school on the last day of term, you will need to ensure there are sufficient funds in their account before Thursday, 14th December. This will enable us to transfer all balances to the new caterer at the end of the term. From 18th December you will then be able to top-up your ParentPay account again in time for the new term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates for the diary <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date<\/strong><\/td>Event<\/strong><\/td>Notes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Week beginning Monday, 4th December<\/td>Year 13 mock examinations.<\/td>For two weeks<\/td><\/tr>
Thursday, 14th December<\/td>Christmas Concert<\/td>Main Hall<\/td><\/tr>
Friday, 15th December<\/td>End of term<\/td>Early finish for students. Details to follow<\/td><\/tr>
Tuesday, 2nd January<\/td>Start of spring term<\/td>School starts at 8.35am as usual<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week Assemblies have been themed around the build up to Christmas and the traditions that we follow at this time. Today, many of our students and staff supported Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. You can still donate to this worthy cause via ParentPay. Next week we will hold our achievement assemblies to recognise students’ hard work and achievements through the autumn term. Christmas Concert On Thursday, 14th December the Music Department will present our Christmas Concert, the culmination…<\/p>\n

Read More Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9,13,14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2131"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2136,"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131\/revisions\/2136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.darrickwood.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}