20 December 2024

Dear Parent / Carer

As we approach the end of a busy and eventful term, there is much to celebrate and reflect upon. The past weeks have been filled with an incredible variety of activities, including school trips, impressive dance shows, our Sixth Form Open Evening, fundraisers, Parents’ Evening, numerous sports fixtures, and the ever-exciting VEX robotics competitions. These events highlight the vibrant life of our school community and the dedication of both staff and students.

I would like to take a moment to commend the Year 11 and Year 13 students for their exceptional attitude and commitment during their mock examinations. Their hard work, focus, and positivity have been truly inspiring, and I have every confidence that their determination will serve them well in the months ahead.

As the term comes to a close, we also bid farewell to three valued members of staff. Mrs Young from the English department is moving on to a well-deserved promotion, Mr Boadi Gyimah from Professional Studies is relocating, and Mrs Gordon from Maths is retiring after many years of dedicated service. We thank them for their invaluable contributions to the school and wish them all the very best in their future endeavors.

At the same time, we are excited to welcome new colleagues to The John Warner School. Joining us in January 2025 are Mr Chadwick (Maths), Mr Reece (Music), and Mr Duncan (Business Studies).

During this festive season, it is important to remember that Christmas can be a challenging time for some members of our community. We are proud to have partnered once again with HABS to provide vital support and Christmas presents to families in need. This initiative is a testament to the spirit of compassion and generosity within our community.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to welcoming the students back to school on Tuesday 7 January 2025.

Warmest regards

Chris Price

Acting Headteacher, The John Warner School

Year 13 Historians visit the Tower of London

On a memorable day out, our Year 13 Historians visited the historic Tower of London, bringing their studies of "Disorder and Rebellion under the Tudors" to life. The Tower, a symbol of power and intrigue, offered an immersive experience that helped our students connect with the rich and turbulent history of the Tudor era.

Touring with the famous Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, the students learned about the Tower’s role as a royal residence, prison, and place of execution. The Beefeater shared stories of famous prisoners, including Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, giving the students a deeper understanding of Tudor power struggles.

One of the highlights of the day was seeing the Crown Jewels, which are kept in the Tower to this day. The students explored the significance of the jewels, which have played a central role in royal ceremonies for centuries. The visit also gave the students the opportunity to meet the guardians of the Tower: Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and Rex – the seven ravens of the Tower. There is a long-held prophecy around the ravens, dating from the reign of Charles II that should the ravens leave the Tower, England will fall.

Students also had the opportunity to view Henry VIII's impressive armour. The students examined the intricate details of the armour, reflecting on the king's larger-than-life presence and his role in shaping Tudor England. Finally, the students explored the treasures of the Tower, from ancient weapons to priceless artefacts, all of which contributed to their understanding of Tudor life and the constant threat of rebellion and disorder during the reign of the Tudors.

This visit was an invaluable experience, bringing the events and figures they are studying in the classroom into vivid reality. It was a day of discovery and a fantastic opportunity for the students to deepen their understanding of Tudor history.

Performing Arts Students hit the West End!

On 28 November 2024, our fantastic Performing Arts students headed into London’s West End for a day celebrating all things Mamma Mia, marking the long-awaited return of the Performing Arts Conference!

Students participated in a Mamma Mia workshop, where they tread the boards with West End professionals to learn the show’s closing number, Mamma Mia. They were commended for their enthusiasm and ability to take direction.

Next, we embarked on a walking tour of the West End, exploring key theatre sites and filming locations for famous movies, including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The tour concluded at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, more commonly known as the Actor’s Church.

After a well-deserved lunch break, we made our way to the Novello Theatre for a matinee performance of Mamma Mia, where students were once again praised for their impeccable theatre etiquette!

Miss Jennings anf Miss Curaba and were absolutely delighted to provide this incredible opportunity for our students. We couldn’t be prouder of their respect, enthusiasm, and appreciation for the Performing Arts!

Community Project Broxbourne Nursing Home

Thirteen students and I set off on Wednesday 11 December to take part in our community project at Broxbourne Nursing Home, bringing with them joy and the spirit of Christmas.

As the residents gathered around a large table, the students joined them, creating beautiful Christmas cards and baubles. Along the way, they engaged in heartfelt conversations and encouraged everyone to interact with one another. A very successful arts and crafts session was had by all.

Once their creative efforts were complete, everyone enjoyed mince pies, tea, and hot chocolate. This was followed by a Christmas story read by Tia Matthews and a lovely rendition of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree eloquently sung by Year 8 student Erika. Of course, the other students quickly got in on the act, and with vocal cords at the ready, they began singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas to the residents, their family members, and staff.

Our morning session was a huge success, and the students were an absolute credit to our school and their parents. At the heart of it all, they showcased exactly what we do best!

“There are really no words that can express how immensely proud I am of the students that I took to the Broxbourne Nursing Home, each and everyone of them brought a lot of joy, happiness and laughter to the residents accompanied by their thoughtful interaction, while guiding and encouraging them to take part in our arts and craft session. They were a real credit to the school and you their parents. I cannot put into words how highly valued and thought off they all are by everyone at the home.”

Jill Bertolone - Community Project Coordinator

English Library Lessons

click here to read the students' creative writing

Learner Voice Council

This term has seen the introduction of the first-ever Learner Voice Council at John Warner. The Learner Voice Council is well established across other schools in the Danes Educational Trust, and it has been wonderful to see our students join this initiative. The students were selected by their Heads of Year and are joined by two members of our Sixth Form Leadership Team, Libby and Nathalie.

The aim of the Learner Voice Council is to give students the opportunity to identify areas within their classrooms that they would like to improve, helping to better the school for everyone. Earlier this term, the Learner Voice Council visited Onslow St Audrey’s to discuss strategies for working as a group to implement their ideas and drive positive change at John Warner.

The students have now shortlisted some key areas where they would like to make a positive contribution and will work together over the course of this academic year to put their plans into action. We are really excited to see what the Learner Voice Council achieves this year and beyond.

Student Council

The School Council held their first meeting of the year this term in our school library. Each form has provided a representative, ensuring that student voice is shared across the school. The School Council will meet every half term with the support of Mr Cove, Mr Fox, and Miss Jaggs to discuss ideas for improving John Warner.

We are thrilled that so many of our students are eager to be involved and share fantastic ideas from their form groups. The group is supported by our Sixth Form Leadership Team, with Jake (Year 13) playing a key role in guiding and assisting the council. We look forward to seeing the positive changes that result from the School Council's discussions over the course of this academic year.

'Apart of Me'

"Apart of Me" has been set up to help young people everywhere feel less alone when their world is turned upside down. Whether pupils are experiencing grief or loss due to the ending of something in their life, the death of a loved one, or confusing feelings resulting from significant change, they can benefit from some time, space, and support.

At John Warner over the last 6 weeks, we have been working with on the Guide Me programme, run by an outside agency with our 7 students, who have been working incredibly hard to explore their feelings around grief and loneliness. This is something that affects us all in our lifetime and together, with communication and wisdom, we are creating a community of leaders and compassion. Guide Me will be featured at The John Warner School and will be co-design by pupils to dedicate a space for anyone else in the school community to reach to, connect with and share.

We welcome all pupils into the Guide Me programme to ambassador greater understanding, tolerance and care towards one another's - especially when experiencing difficult times. If you feel that your son or daughter could benefit from joining the group, please do contact your head of year in the first instance.

Gill Dane - Guide Me Coordinator in school

'A snowy Christmas morning in Old Amsterdam' by Olivia, Year 8

The frozen, heavenly white snow laid like a blanket on the windscreens of many cars packed along the street. Delicate flakes of ice fall from the pure white sky onto the already white roads.

The smell of Christmas fills the air, warm, jolly Christmas music can be heard from a far. This street in particular is very peaceful as the cars are unable to drive safely, so the roads were empty.

The houses are coated in a chilly layer of white snow, almost like a layer of icing on a perfect cake. No footprints have been imprinted in the snow as it was earlier this morning.

Icicles hanging off the lampposts act as glistening baubles hanging from a Christmas tree. Children can be heard, quietly giggling in the houses nearby. The trees were bare, the branches plated with snow and the trunk of the tree had been iced over.

Birds sing beautifully while leaving small, delicate footprints of their claws in the frozen snow. The atmosphere can be described with one word ‘Christmas’!

'Let's Dance'

Wednesday 27 November, was certainly a night to remember. The dance students performed in this year's showcase, 'Let's Dance,' delivering exceptional performances to a full audience and showcasing just how talented they truly are.

The show featured BTEC assessments, mock exams, performances from dance clubs, and much more. Impressively, the event raised £121.04, which will go towards supporting dance events in the new year.

Emily Fairfax returned as the event photographer, capturing some wonderful moments from the night. Further details on how to purchase these photos will be shared via email soon.

We were also delighted to welcome back ex-pupil Owen Hockin and his team, who managed the lighting and sound design. Their expertise ensured the lighting looked fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful for their time and commitment to the school.

Miss Brenton would like to thank everyone who attended and looks forward to more exciting performance opportunities in the new year.

Christmas Club

We recently held our annual Christmas Club, where students from Years 7, 8, and 9 created a variety of festive goodies. These included Christmas Eve boxes, decorated Christmas cakes, handmade Christmas booties filled with chocolates, shortbread, and handmade hot chocolate spoons.

The club has been a great success, with some excellent creations made by our talented students.

Christmas Lunch

This week, our students enjoyed a festive Christmas lunch in the school canteen, complete with all the trimmings! The dining hall was filled with laughter, excitement, and the delicious smell of roast turkey, stuffing, and vegetables, finished off with a Christmas muffin or a Christmas cookie for dessert.

It was wonderful to see so many students coming together to celebrate the season. The Christmas spirit was truly alive as everyone tucked into their meals and enjoyed the chance to celebrate the end of a busy term.

Children in Need 2024

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported our charity fundraiser and for all your kind donations. So far, we have raised £176.60 for this worthy cause. If you would still like to donate, you can do so via ParentPay.

By coming together for Children in Need, we know we have made a difference in someone’s life.

Celebrating Success

click here to read

PE UPDATES

Girls Football

Our Year 7 girls had their first ever district football game at the brand new Astro at Presdales school.

Congratulations to all, but especially to the player of the game Honor Warwick who was brilliant in goal and made some great saves!

Girls football club is on Thursdays after school, open to all year groups - just turn up!

Boys Rugby

The Year 7 boys won 11-3 in tries vs Avanti Grange in the district rugby, and they also played RBA in a friendly and won 5-2 in tries. The boys have qualified for the district finals which will be held in the New Year.

Sports Leadership – The Y5/6 Inter Primary Cup

8 Students did an amazing job at officiating at our biggest inter primary football and netball tournament. Over 11 schools attended with 22 football teams and 20 netball teams participating in competitive matches over the morning.

Our students refereed/umpired all of the matches and staff attending were very impressed with the work they did.

Families Feeling Safe

A FREE course supporting families

click here to view further details

Thank yous

There are no words how I felt when a young girl walked up to my desk nearly at the end of Period 5 today, it was Olivia, her sweet voice whispered, 'Can I read you something to you' . My response was 'does your teacher know that you are here' Olivia said 'Yes'.

After asking what it was Olivia set about reading her creative writing to me, Wow! I thought. At the end my words to Olivia were 'Why did you feel you had to come here to me ' - Olivia replied, 'Because I wanted to share this with you". I won't lie, there was a tearful moment, but I went from a day of sadness to a moment of thinking, it must mean a lot to Olivia for wanting to share what she had written with me, she brought me joy.

Jill Bertolone

When I thanked Olivia again yesterday she said with a beaming smile on her face 'I'm so happy that I made you happy".

Mrs Tweddell's Mental Health and Wellbeing Update

click here to read

Vacancies

To explore current opportunities at The John Warner School, click the link below to visit our recruitment page.

Click here

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