Aws news weekly 110915

A L L E S T R E E W O O D L A N D S S C H O O L

AWS NEWS WEEKLY — Friday 11th September 2015

Congratulations to all our GCSE and A level students on excellent exam results this summer!

At GCSE 66% of Year 11 achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Maths. This is an improvement on last year and is the main measure against which all the schools in the country are measured. GCSE results day was on Thursday 20th August. It is one of my highlights for the year as we celebrate with students and send them on to the next stage of their educational career. Many students have returned to our Sixth Form. We wish these and all students from Year 11 last year every good wish as they embark on their new courses, apprenticeships and jobs with training. I will highlight our success at A level in next week’s newsletter. Full details of our exam results for 2015 will soon be publicly available on our website and on the Government’s School Performance Tables when they are published.

Welcome to the Academic Year 2015 –2016

‘Exciting times at AWS’

I extend very warm welcome to all students, staff, parents and carers joining us for the first time this week and a very warm welcome back to everyone else too. We have 227 new Year students, new students in Years 8 to 11 and a brand new Year 12 with some students joining us from other schools. I do hope you had a good summer break. ‘Exciting times’ sums up what is happening here. We start the new year with good GCSE and A level Exam results from the summer; a growing school with more and more parents and carers choosing to send their children to us and brand new school buildings to look forward to.



GCSE

Results Day 2015

Welcome to new members of staff

— Mr Azzopardi - RE

— Mrs Bhattacharya - Science

— Mrs DelGaudio - Assistant Headteacher/Head of Sixth Form

— Mrs Gomm - RE

— Miss Lamb - Science

— Miss Marchant - Director of Science

— Dr Naughton - Deputy Director of Science

— Mrs Pitter - Maths

— Mr Porter - Geography

— Mr Stephens - Computing

— Miss Trubilina - Science

— Mr Wraith - Sports Operations Manager

— Mrs Walker - Teaching Assistant

And a special welcome back to Mr Lingard in music after his career break.

Best wishes to members of staff taking on new responsibilities this year

Mr Beattie - Head of Maple House

— Mrs Beattie - Head of RE

— Mrs Dinmore - English



New Buildings Update

Work on the new buildings has progressed well over the summer break. The old gym and

changing rooms have been refurbished and will be ready for use in the next few weeks. The new

building at the front is on schedule to be completed in November. We will then move out of the

old main building into the new block. The old main block will then be demolished over the winter.

Work on the three storey L block at the back of school is progressing well too. We regularly post

new photos of the building work and time lapse videos which can be accessed via our website

and YouTube page.

School Routines

We have had a good start to the new school year with all students looking very smart. Please

continue to support the school by ensuring that your children:

wear the correct school uniform at all times

have all the equipment they need – pens, pencils etc.

have the right kit for PE and ingredients for their Food lessons

have all the books they need.

always have (and use) their organiser

attend school every day and arrive on time.



Presentation of Work

We are placing a special emphasis on ensuring that ALL students take pride in the presentation of

their work. Please work with us to insist that for each new piece of work your child does the

following:

Date

Title

Underline the title.

Write in black or blue ink only

Draw diagrams in pencil (and label them correctly!)

Use a ruler for drawing straight lines

Neat writing

Neat crossing out of mistakes

Neat, tidy, graffiti free exercise books and folders

Safety at Woodlands

Especially for those who travel to school by car

Please note the following to ensure the safety of all those who use the school site

Please DO NOT pull into the school car park to drop off or pick up your child. There is no

space to do this safely,

Please arrange a place to pick up or drop off your child that is a short walk away from the

front of school and the busy entrances.

Dates for your diary

Please see the school calendar on our website for important dates for the whole year. The dates

below are about important events in the next few weeks.

Tuesday 15th September

Year 11 Information Evening 6pm in the theatre

Year 12 Information Evening 7pm in the theatre

Thursday 1st October Year 6 open Evening—5.30-8pm

Tuesday 13th October Sixth Form Open Evening

Wednesday 21st October Year 7 Meet the Tutor Evening



Head teacher’s Surgery:

I am available to meet Parents/Carers each Wednesday from 5.15-6pm. If you are able please

make an appointment for this time by contacting my PA, Mrs Storey at 551921.

Parent View:

Please sign into this via the school website to let us know what you think about the school.

Annual Consent Forms:

It is a legal requirement that a completed annual consent form for your child is kept in our

records. This form, once completed and returned, ensures that your child receives the very best

care during various off-site school trips. The form can be found on the school website under

FORM DOWNLOADS. If you have not already done so, please print a copy of the form,

complete, sign and return to the School Office.

Contact Details:

Please keep your contact details up to date by ensuring that the school office has up to date

contact details for you, including email addresses and mobile phone numbers.

Parental Consent:

A reminder to all parents/carers that it will be assumed that you have no

objections to your child's details or participation in any of the following:

Copyright/photographs and names of student in the Newsletters, Education Extras and on

the school website

Internet access at school

Sex education

Data sharing with Connexions and other educational agencies

Fingertip recognition for student meals

If you do object then please put it in writing and send it to me. A copy of the school’s privacy

notice can be found on our website www.woodlands.derby.sch.uk

Taking a student out of school during term time:

In accordance with The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013,

Allestree Woodlands will no longer authorise any leave of absence during term time unless there

are exceptional circumstances. Parents or carers who take their children on holiday without

permission risk a fixed penalty notice of up to £120 per parent per child.



Free School Meals:

It is really important for the school to know who all of the Free School Meal (FSM) students are. Whatever

information we receive from parents or carers is confidential and students who take free school meals are

not identified in any way as all meals are monitored using the ‘finger machine'. No cash is exchanged. If

you think your child could be entitled to Free School Meals, please contact the school in any way that you

feel is most comfortable for you. We are really keen that parents take up this entitlement so please do not

hesitate to contact us.

Wise Pay – The school’s online payment system:

We encourage all parents and carers to use our school on-line payment system called ‘Wise Pay’ for

payment of trips and other school activities or equipment. Details of how to do this can be found on the

school website on: www.woodlands.derby.sch.uk or by contacting the school on 01332 551921 or by

email: [email protected]

Website:

A reminder to regularly check the school website for news, reminders and copies of letters sent to

parents/carers.

Information Evenings for Parents/Carers of Year 11 and Year 12 students:

Please come to a short meeting outlining important information and key dates for all Year 11 and 12

students. There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions.

Year 11 Information Evening is at 6pm and Year 12 is at 7pm. Both take place in the school theatre.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Brady, Headteacher

Don’t miss out on all the latest news, Videos & Information about Allestree Woodlands School.

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Aws news weekly 110915

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