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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” - Nelson Mandela
With the summer holidays fast approaching, it brings to an end a very challenging year for all of us. The pupils at Wilmington Academy have shown true resilience in coping so well with all the changes to routine. Parents sent us some lovely comments about the support their children have received from our Teaching Assistants throughout these unprecedented times:
‘Staff are always happy to help xxx and advise him if he needs help. They have also reassured him on many occasions regarding his learning’
‘Mrs Xxx has been invaluable in supporting my son’s learning this year’
‘Mrs Xxx has been a massive support to my son Xxx and he would just like to say a huge thank you to her for all her help during his last year at Wilmington’
‘XXX has been very proactive in ensuring XXX has been fully supported during a very difficult time. She has offered XXX support, has consistently followed up with her and her mother to ensure XXX's needs are met. It is very apparent that XXXX goes over and above what is required and has a passion for her job. It is really appreciated.’
‘XXXX has been so lovely throughout this awful pandemic, always checking up on not only my son but also myself. She is absolutely amazing. All of the teachers deserve a medal for all your hard work and it's appreciated so much.’
‘ you were appreciated a lot before the pandemic but now you are complete angels in what you all do’
There have also been some recent changes in the SEN Department. Miss Shead, our SENCo, has left for her maternity leave. We would like to wish her well and cannot wait to meet the new arrival! Whilst she is away, Ms S.Loveridge our Assistant SENCo will be stepping up to cover as Acting SENCo.
We look forward to COVID restrictions being eased a little more so that we can utilise our SEN area further to provide a greater range of interventions for those students who need extra support. In September, it is planned that Morning Club and Homework Club will re-open too.
Careers Programme
Careers Programme
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
The Careers Programme continues to offer students an interesting and exciting glimpse into their future. This module, year ten students have been focusing on becoming ready to enter the world of work, by writing CVs, learning interview techniques and considering the local job market. Over the summer holidays, they will be invited to participate in a range of activities, including virtual work experience and online personalised learning, to ensure that they have the skills they will need in the future. We can't wait to see where they end up!
The End of an Era! - Farewell to Ms Deborah Kennedy
The End of an Era! - Farewell to Ms Deborah Kennedy
At the end of this academic year, we bid farewell to Ms Deborah Kennedy, our beloved librarian and custodian of the ‘heart of our school’.
Ms Kennedy commenced her professional journey in 1997 in a school library based in Essex but her love and devotion for all things literature - based started much, much earlier!
In 2005, Ms Kennedy became the Library Manager at Leigh Technology College (now known as Leigh Academy) and then she joined the Wilmington family in 2007 when the library was a room filled with computers with very little in the way of books. Ms Kennedy knew then that her work was cut out for her and she began a rigorous campaign to put reading at the forefront of everything at Wilmington. Library catalogues were created, book loan systems were modernised, loan statistics challenged and the LRC presented as the most important hub of Wilmington. Ms Kennedy, through her hard work and dedication, ensured that students were being supported with their literacy skills and that their love of reading was highlighted in all aspects of school life.
One of her career highlights as a librarian was when she was given the opportunity to have input into the design creation of the “new” library. Her vision was a large space with high ceilings, bright and airy and very modern in design. This was to be a space where the printed book and digital age could work hand and hand and when it became a reality, this was a day to rejoice for Ms Kennedy.
Through her sheer hard work, determination and enthusiasm, spanning 15 years, Ms Kennedy has ensured that our library was a buzzing, vibrant and exciting space. Her love of all things book-related has created a learning area for our students with heart and soul.
In 2010 Ms Kennedy actively encouraged the promotion of a new reading programme, Accelerated Reader to help with the development of reading skills. Again through her dedication and drive in the LRC, this program has become our most successful reading intervention at Wilmington. In more recent years, Ms Kennedy has also enjoyed success with MYON, another innovative literacy programme at Wilmington Academy.
Over the years, Ms Kennedy has hosted Chinese New Year Festivals, celebrated Diwali the Festival of Light, held its annual award winning World Book Day festivals, organised a “Murder by the book” event held a Read-a-thon, Create-a-thon and a Christmas Market complete with Santa readings. She has also ensured that the library has always been the focal point for the annual BIG event in the Academy calendar – our award winning World Book Day Festivals! For her successful World Book Day Programmes, she has won the award in the Kent area 6 times over- this is a magnificent accolade. Furthermore, Ms Kennedy also hosted the following in the LRC: A Tolkien Festival, Comic Con, our very own Hunger Games, a Triwizard Tournament, a Sci-Fi Convention, Spy Games, Japanese Matsuri, Twisted Tales and The Wilmington Games. These reading festivals have had a huge impact on strengthening the reading culture within the Academy.
In 2019, the Special Recognition Award by the LAT culminated an outstanding career for Ms Kennedy. She is truly a remarkable woman and a stalwart in her field!
On behalf of all at Wilmington, we would like to wish her every success in this new chapter of her life. She will be dearly missed.
Congratulations on your retirement Ms Kennedy!
“...Perhaps it is roughly
Saying what God alone could perfectly show –
How selfhood begins with a walking away,
And love is proved in the letting go.”
By C. D. Lewis.
Charlton Athletic Community Trust Visit
Charlton Athletic Community Trust Visit
At the beginning of Module 5, in what was Wilmington Academy’s first internal visit since the Covid-19 pandemic, students in years 9 and 10 attended a workshop hosted by Crime Reduction Mentors from the Charlton Athletic Community Trust.
The workshop addressed issues such as avoiding criminal exploitation, gang awareness, knife crime and county-line trafficking. Crime Reduction Manager, Paul Robinson introduced the workshop by highlighting the previously mentioned dangers; whilst Crime Reduction Mentor Jay Adam gave his own story, describing how his life had been adversely affected by criminal exploitation. The students were then invited to ask both Paul and Jay questions at the end of the workshops.
The Charlton Athletic Community Trust are experts in delivering important and lasting messages to our young people in regards to current dangers that they face in society. The students were fully engaged and encapsulated by the real life stories delivered by the guest speakers. The students will benefit greatly from the invaluable service that CACT has provided.
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