This week

It was great to welcome back all of our students and staff after the half-term break. This week’s assemblies had a theme of Good and Evil, exploring how situations or people can rarely be defined as either one of these exclusively, with life being rather a mix of the better and worse things and the balance between them. Many examples were given including the 1980s film, “The Dark Crystal”- perhaps some parents will recall this. A more recent and real world example was the situation that developed between the Insulate Britain protesters and motorists. Finally, from the 16th century, the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots was also explored. The Insulate Britain protests also served as a reminder of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow and our focus as a school on the environment. Assemblies next week will have a Remembrance theme.

Whilst the School’s logo of course remains the woodpecker, we are fortunate to be visited by many other animals and birds due to our proximity to the woods. Foxes and squirrels like to pass through but we also have some rarer visitors. This week the local parakeets took a keen interest in our Main Hall!

Senior leaders of the School have been visiting Year 11 lessons and were pleased to see students focussed and engaged as we head into the final weeks before their mock examinations. Year 11 students and their parents/carers were welcomed to the School on Thursday evening as an introduction to what life in the Sixth Form offers. Last year this event had to be held virtually and whilst we still needed to be mindful of the situation with COVID-19, it was a well attended and successful evening and all who came along were able to listen to the presentations, have a tour and meet our staff and current Sixth Form students.

On Monday we were fortunate to be visited by representatives from the regeneration company that have been tasked with changing the face of the Walnuts Centre in Orpington. This was a great opportunity for our geographers in particular to learn about the plans to build 900 new homes, make smaller retail units, upgrade the leisure centre, improve the market square and landscape the area. Thank you to Miss Teale, Head of Geography for arranging this fantastic opportunity.

Other news

Tomorrow we have the PSFA second hand uniform sale. Thank you to the many parents who came to the School this afternoon to help set up in the Dining Hall. We are so grateful to parents who give up their time in this way.

We are currently having our boilers for the Barker Building replaced as a result of a successful bid for funding for the project. It looks to be on track to finish in the next couple of weeks. Our old boilers still work but have had to be repaired many times. Hopefully the new ones will be ready before it gets any colder. The new lift in the Turner Building is also now operational. We are very pleased with this as we applied many times for funding to replace the old one and finally it has been achieved.

On 10th November, Year 11 have an opportunity to learn about apprenticeships with visitors from ASK (Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge in schools and colleges programme) providing information that will no doubt be very helpful to many.

PSFA

The PSFA have organised a Christmas disco for Year 7 on Friday, 3^rd December 2021 from 7pm until 9pm and for Year 8 on Friday, 10^th December 2021 from 7pm to 9pm. Drinks and sweets will be available to purchase on the night and songs can be requested in advanced.

Tickets are £5 and must be purchased in advance via the PSFA website, see links below:

Darrick Wood School PSFA Year 7 Disco Tickets

Darrick Wood School PSFA Year 8 Disco Tickets

In previous years this has been a tremendously popular event and we are glad to be able to hold it again this year.

Dates for the diary

6th November – PSFA second hand uniform sale (10am-11.30am at the School)

18th November – Year 13 Parents’ Evening (SchoolCloud)

24th November – Year 8 Parents’ Evening (SchoolCloud)

10th December – deadline for applications to the Sixth Form

Reminders

The Parent Governor voting closes at noon on Monday, 8th November. Please see separate email sent earlier this week.

Please ensure your child has a winter coat to wear to school (plain black or plan dark brown).

Please avoid parking close to the School. Lovibonds Avenue was very congested and at times dangerous this afternoon as a result of cars parked nearby despite the parking restrictions. Please also avoid turning in the road near by or on the School driveway.

All students in Years 7 to 9 now wear uniform daily. Years 10 and 11 will wear uniform daily from 22nd November.