Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you to all parents and students for supporting our new mobile phone policy. Students have been extremely sensible and have adhered well during this first week. It has been lovely to see students playing games at break and chatting in groups at lunchtimes.
Last weekend, 84 Year 9 students participated in a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh practice to the Surrey Hills. Also, 43 students from Year 9 RIDG accompanied by 5 members of staff, headed to Flanders for the first of the Battlefields visits of 2019. When they arrived, time was spent in Northern France at Vimy Ridge, where the changing nature of warfare was discussed as well as the strategic importance of the area throughout the war. On the second day they visited a number of different cemeteries and battlefields in the Ypres Salient. Students were fortunate to see the outcome of a soldiers rededication. Captain William Miles Kington DSO, had been buried as an unknown soldier, but recent research has enabled his identification and students could view his new headstone and discuss the incredible work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Other sites visited focussed upon the personal stories of those buried or remembered, such as Nurse Nelly Spindler at Lijssenthoek, Sapper Wiliam Scholtz at the Ramparts Cemetery and Private Frederick George Dancox VC at Langemark. The final day was spent in the award winning In Flanders Fields museum in Ypres as well as stocking up on chocolates and Belgian waffles prior to the journey home.
Meanwhile, Rhys Conlon in Year 7 was in winning form at Harrow. He triumphed in the British U14 Bouldering championship – his first national title, so we send hearty congratulations to him.
On Tuesday, Brooklands College held their first Brooklands Experience morning. Eleven Year 10s accompanied by Mrs Jarman, joined with other local schools to experience pre-chosen taster subjects. Woking High students selected a mixture of IT, Media & Construction sessions. The Construction students took part in practical activities, learning both carpentry and brick laying skills and all the students gained a valuable understanding of different post 16 pathways.
Year 11 celebrated their National Records of Achievement on Wednesday afternoon. A packed hall of parents, governors, local councillors, community members and staff enjoyed a wonderful awards ceremony. The whole Year 11 cohort have been a superb year group. Especial congratulations go to the following students who were awarded prizes.
Hannah Green – Liz Kyriacou Technology Award
Alana Lynch – Public Speaking Award
April Ippolito – Police Shield
Amy Szarvas – Governors’ Award for Excellence
Beau-Hanni Souter-Houghton – Attendance Award
Ashlin James – Excellence in Performing Arts Award
Abiel Natnael and Asher Goosen – PE Award
Dominic Ariyo-Francis and Gideon Jansen – PE Trophy
Madeleine McClements – Services to Musical Performance Award
Head Boy/Head Girl members – Student Services Award
Whilst Year 11s were celebrating, a group of 14 Year 10 students, accompanied by Mrs Gallagher and Mrs Street, attended The Big Bang South East Show in Haywards Heath. This show is designed to inspire students to consider possible career opportunities in STEM related subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and provided an excellent opportunity for them to meet and question representatives from a wide variety of companies including environmental scientists, nuclear engineers, physicists, astronomers, software engineers, product designers and microbiologists, about possible careers and education pathways open to them. The highlight of the day was the microbiology workshop, where the students were taught various sampling techniques, testing regimes and identification of microbes by ThermoFisher Scientific, who supply identification instruments and sampling equipment to many hospitals and research labs.
Tonight we are looking forward to the Year 11 prom – the final Woking High School event for the 2014-2019 year group. Look out for photos of their suits and dresses and modes of arrival, in next week’s review.
Finally, a reminder that tomorrow is the last Inset day for the 2018/19 academic year. Students are not expected in school, but will return on Monday 1st July for an 8.55 a.m. start.
Best wishes,
Jane Abbott
Headteacher