This week

Our thanks to Ella and Sasha who led assemblies all week to share their idea of a Plant a Tree Day on 25th November.

Their idea is that if more of us plant trees and grow plants, it can be part of a wider national and international effort to combat global warming. The summer of 2022 in the UK alone was a reminder to us all that the climate is changing and more extreme weather is becoming more frequent due to human activities. As a school, reducing our impact on the planet and doing all we can to improve the environment around us is one of our big three priorities for the year (along with developments in our curriculum and enhancements to teaching and learning). There is much we need to do as a school including reducing waste and improving recycling. We will also want to find ways to increase our access to renewable energy and reduce our energy consumption. All year teams are also thinking about ways to enhance the outside space of the School. We were delighted that the PSFA raised enough money last year to donate £9500. It is intended that this will be used to purchase equipment, furniture and improved water filling stations around the site. To continue this environmental theme, we also have exciting plans for a new garden area near the Year 9 playground. We will update you further on this as it develops.  

Eco Club: Environment Poetry Competition

At the beginning of term all Darrick Wood students were invited by the Eco Club to write a poem about the Environment as part of National Poetry Day on 6 October. The Poetry Society celebrates the Day every year with a different themed competition, and 2022’s theme is the Environment. The Eco Club has extended the deadline to Friday, 14th October to compensate for the lesson disruption due to Open Evening. If your child enjoys writing, please do encourage them to enter. Instructions are on posters around the School. Questions (and poems!) can be emailed to m.vos@darrickwood.bromley.sch.uk.

ParentPay / Independent Catering – top up your child’s account regularly

We have noted that an increasing number of students’ accounts are becoming overdrawn. Please ensure you top up your child’s account regularly. If you have any issues with accessing ParentPay please let us know.

Sports Awards

This week saw the return of our Sports Awards Evening.  Guest of honour was Aidan Syers, former international sprinter. Aidan gave an inspirational speech and presented the awards. Further awards are planned to be awarded in assemblies in the coming weeks. The event highlighted the quantity and quality of students who participate and achieve highly in a whole range of sports. All students present were encouraged to represent their school even more, to get the most out of sport and develop the resilience required not just in sport but for success in life.

PSFA

The second hand uniform sale last Saturday was very popular. There will be further sales later this academic year.

The PSFA has organised a Quiz Night for Friday, 7th October. See last week’s bulletin for details.

You are encouraged to join the PSFA lottery – a chance to win but also raise funds for your child’s school. See https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/darrick-wood-secondary-school for details.

The PSFA is established as a registered charity of Amazon Smile. Please support the PSFA and the School by visiting  https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ and nominate Darrick Wood PSFA as your chosen charity.  Whenever you make a purchase from Amazon do it via  https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ and the PSFA will receive some additional funding. If all involved with Darrick Wood School do this we could raise significant money for the School.

Clubs and societies

We have an ever growing number of clubs and societies available for your child to join, many of which are led by our brilliant Sixth Form students as well as members of staff. These currently include:

Please encourage your child to join at least one club or society and/or one of the many sports clubs available through the PE Department.

DWS Audio on BBC Radio Kent

Another brilliant opportunity is for students to get involved with Darrick Wood’s very own DWS Audio podcast service.

This week, BBC Radio Kent featured the work of some of our current and former students on Leo Ulph’s Upload show. Thomas Cridland’s play ‘Murder in the Tower Block’ was broadcast in two-parts on Monday and Thursday this week. Congratulations to all of those involved. You can listen to it via BBC Sounds – please follow this link to the DWS Audio website: DWS Audio (darrickwood.bromley.sch.uk)

Year 7 Everybody Sings – Thursday, 13th October, 7pm

Tickets are available to parents/carers of students in Year 7 on ParentPay. It will be an amazing evening in which all in Year 7 will participate. They have been practising hard so come and see your child and their Form do their very best.

Open Evening 2022

In order to facilitate preparations for our Year 6 Open Evening on Wednesday, 5th October, students will finish early at 12.30pm. The following day, Thursday, 6th October, there will be a later start, with students expected ready to enter the buildings at 9.50am.

Dates for the diary

5th October – Open Evening (for admission to DWS in September 2023). Early finish for students – see above.

13^th October 7.00pm – Y7 Everybody Sings

17th – 28th October – Half-term break

3rd November – Sixth Form Open Evening (for admission to the Sixth Form September 2023)