WORLD OF WOODLAND ISSUE 28

This month's value is: SIMPLICITY 

'Where did that school year go?’ – so many pupils, parents and staff have told me just how quickly this year has gone! This is the final edition of the Woodland Weekly for this year and it is with great pleasure that we can look back and reflect on another successful year at Woodland. But firstly, what has been happening since our last edition…

Last week, audiences packed out the Connolly Hall at Redborne to see the magnificent Matilda performances by our cast of over 100 KS3 pupils. There were so many great performances but it would be remiss of me not to make special mention of the main cast members whose talents lit up our stage. Hannah Niles (Matilda), Thomas Smith (Ms Trunchball), Keesha Coker (Mrs Wormwood), Joseph Campbell (Wormwood), Fran Vela-Mason (Bruce) and Charlotte Packman (Miss Honey) were absolutely exceptional! There were many other great performers, many of whom will be competing for starring roles in next year’s production. Well done, once again, to Mrs Hardacre and team for putting on such an amazing show - the staff effort and commitment just exemplifies the school’s values. 

The final couple of weeks in every school is seriously busy with staff and pupils trying to complete the curriculum coverage, final assessments and report compilation, planning next year’s classes, timetable and setting, transition arrangements for Y8 and Y4; then fitting in the show, sports days, values day, charity afternoons, leavers’ assembly, the prom and trips to Boulogne and Thorpe Park—it’s just as well that the summer holiday is nearly here!

Thank you to the PTA for funding a celebration for the House Cup winners – ROMANS! It’s the first time in many years that Team Purple have managed to attain the top spot…so well done to everyone in Romans for your hard work in academic, artistic and sporting excellence. Of course all the houses have many examples of excellence too, but there can be only one winner!

Our Charity Days raised just over £2750 for two charities, both connected to recovery from cancers. The first is The Little Princess Trust and the second is Headway UK. The pupils worked hard (in persuading parents to part with cash) to set up their stalls and their enterprises – not all of them made a profit sadly, but that is like the real world too! One lasting memory from the day; who will ever forget the opportunity to ‘custard pie’ Mr Hughes and Mrs Bavister!

Our Y5 all had the opportunity to spend the day in Boulogne earlier
this month. The day comprised of several parts including a walking tour of the old walled city (ramparts, cathedral and cobbled streets), a visit to Nausicaa the amazing aquarium and a play on the town beach with ice creams avail- able. I know the kids had a great time despite the early start! We’re already planning next year’s trip for our new cohort.

Last week was also our Values Day – where we celebrate our values and run activities that allow our pupils to enjoy themselves and demonstrate their values at the same time. The whole day is summarised with an ‘open air’ assembly on the field where all that is positive about our school values is shared. Events this year included a hike from Woburn to Flitwick, archery, making friendship bracelets, Minecraft creation, stop-go animation, several arts and crafts activities, orienteering, scavenger hunts and so much more. Our pupils had a great day and were complimented byall staff and visitors…a great day to be a Woodlander

At the end of a school year there are inevitable changes that take place, not just with the movement of pupils in and out of the school but also with our staff too. Leaving this term are Mrs Griffin (Head of Art/Year 8), Mr Singh (temporary Maths teacher), Mrs Milne (TA) and Mrs Houghton (Science Technician). Mrs Griffin has worked at Woodland for 20 years, ever since she qualified as a teacher, and has been an outstanding Leader of Art, an exceptional Year Leader and a key member of the school’s senior leadership team. Mrs Griffin will be hugely missed and we wish her all the best in her early retirement. Mrs Houghton has been our Science Technician for 6 years and will also be hugely missed, as she starts a new chapter in a previous career of hair dressing. Mr Singh has been covering for Mr Walker and has been an excellent addition to our Maths team. He will be starting as the Head of Maths at Sandye Place Middle School from September and so we’d like to wish him much success in his new role. Mrs Milne has been a TA for us for just 2 years but has been the driving force behind our dyslexia improvement during that time. We’d like to wish Mrs Milne all the best for the future too!

I’d like to thank all the pupils, parents, governors and staff for their hard work and superb professionalism through this year. It has been a difficult year in some respects, with many changes from central government to contend with and the very sad loss of our colleague, Mr Rowland-Thomas. Despite those difficulties, this year has been very successful and our exit results from the Y8 pupils show once again that our pupils make superb progress during their 4 years with us.

I’d like to wish all pupils and staff a restful summer holiday. Recharge the energy levels, have fun in the sun and re- turn ready for a new year and a new chapter at Woodland.

And finally, although the school is open for enquiries on September 1st and 2nd, the school will reopen for pupils on
Monday 5th September.

 Snowdon charity climb

Friday morning finally came and we eventually left the house at around 10:30. It was a six hour drive to our campsite. After a pleasant nights camping, We arrived at the bottom of mount Snowdon around 9:30 and, from then, started
our climb. It was a long, hard trek at the start but as we persevered, the floor started to flatten out and became easier in part. We must have passed at least 1000 hikers as this Saturday it was particularly busy as the weather was initially wonderful! As we got nearer and nearer the summit, the clouds descended on us, making our visibility restrict- ed. We eventually reached the summit tired and cold but knew that we had reached our goal! However, on the way down, the weather dramatically turned on us, raining very heavily but we knew we had to keep on going. We slipped and stumbled but managed to keep our footing and eventually, soaked to the skin ,found our car. We dived in drip- ping wet and settled down for the 6 hour drive home.

Chloe Ward 8JB

World Of Woodland Issue 28.pdf