Willington News

I hope you've all had a wonderful week, and I'm sure you're looking forward to some well-deserved downtime during the half-term break. Regrettably, I missed much of this week due to my inspection duties with ISI, but I've been kept informed with nightly updates, and it seems it was yet another eventful week.

The week started with a highly informative assembly for Safer Internet Day, followed by an excellent evening webinar by Dr Weston on "Raising Children in a Digital World." With the overwhelming amount of information on this topic across all media channels, it can be daunting for parents to discern helpful advice from harmful. Fortunately, Dr Weston's research-driven approach cuts through the noise, enabling parents to navigate these complexities confidently. If you missed it, the webinar is available on the Tooled Up Education website.

A special thank you goes to Miss Beere for organising the superb Year 3 and 4 Art Showcase on Wednesday. The standard of artwork from such young children was truly impressive, and their pride in displaying their creations was evident. We consistently celebrate the talents of our young artists in our newsletter's art section, and it's always a joy for them to share their abilities with their parents.

This week, our children have been active outside of the classroom too. Our youngest learners in the nursery enjoyed a trip to the National History Museum, while the rest of the pre-prep had their Outdoor Learning Day. Showcasing their academic skills, our junior mathematicians represented us at the Maths Challenge at Epsom College.

To conclude the week, today we celebrated No Pens Day, and a huge thanks goes to Miss Beadle for organising this school-wide event. The children and teachers embraced their creativity, engaging in a host of activities without a pen in sight. This morning's assembly was filled with fun and games, highlighted by the final of the house Rock-Paper-Scissors competition. Congratulations to Nicholas from Year 2, who triumphed over me in the grand finale to win a hot chocolate after lunch, and to Max from Year 6, who won the senior competition. This may not be a usual house competition, but it certainly ignited a competitive spirit, culminating in loud cheers during the finals.

For families in Years 3-5, I trust that the parents' evening on Thursday provided a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's progress with their teachers. 

As we approach the half-term break, I hope you enjoy quality time with your families. Have a wonderful week away from Willington! KB