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Allestree Woodlands School
School news for Friday 14th November 2014
Dear Parents and Carers, Students, Governors and members of Staff,
Congratulations and thank you to Cantata and our Mrs Mills, Mrs Smith and Mrs Burton for putting on such a
fantastic show last night – starring in Cantata’s “Murder Mystery Musical” in our own Theatre. It was West End
quality at a small town price! We still have tickets available for tonight’s show – see information below.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW for the PFTA November Fundraiser – Cantata’s “Christmas Murder Mystery
Musical” TONIGHT 14th November at 7pm in the school Theatre. This is a fully staged musical to benefit
Allestree Woodlands School as well as Friends of the Baby Unit at Derby Hospital and the Ryan Lee Trust for
children with terminal cancer (brain tumours). This event is suitable for adults and GCSE or A level age
students. Tickets are £7.50 available from school reception or at the door.
Remembrance 2014 – Mr Hollingsworth, Deputy Headteacher, has led all our assemblies this week with focus
on the meaning of the incredibly poignant installation of poppies at the Tower of London entitled ‘Blood Swept
Lands and Sea of Red’. He highlighted the local connection with the artist being Derbyshire man Paul
Cummins, who is studying locally at the University of Derby and the production of the poppies taking place on
Pride Park. More significantly is the fact that each of the over 800,000 poppies represents a life lost in war so
that we might live in freedom and peace.
Autumn Concert – Please support our young musicians and join us for
“Harmonic Falls” this coming Tuesday, 18th November at 6.30pm in
the Theatre. Tickets are £4.50 and £4 concessions and are available at
reception or at the door.
Teacher Training Opportunities at AWS: We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to train at
Allestree Woodlands School to be a teacher of mathematics from September 2015. It is in conjunction with
Loughborough University and will result in a PGCE with QTS status and 90 Masters Credits. Please see the
links on our website under “Teacher Training Opportunities” tab. If you are the right candidate and have a
degree in a mathematical discipline (or are just completing one) and have the drive and passion to teach here
at Woodlands through the School Direct route, we would welcome your application through UCAS.
Year 12 – Please be sure we know you are coming to the presentation evening next Thursday 20th November
2014. We will be celebrating your child’s achievements in their GCSE exams in the summer and formally
presenting them with their GCSE certificate. Please reply to Mrs Tate by return slip or by email:
[email protected]
Congratulations to:
 Sophie Hutchinson, Piers Hind, Jake Hutchinson and Robert Hyde – all Year 13’s who have completed
three advanced papers from Oxford Universities British Physics Olympiad competition. This is a real
achievement and is only accessible to some of the top Physics students in the country. See
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/index.html for details.
 Mrs Heron who gave birth to “Charlotte Emily”. Both mother and daughter are doing well.
 All students from across the school who did so well in the Cross-Country event at Moorways this week.
Chelsea’s Choice – This powerful play was performed to our students in Years 9 on Monday. The play
explored the issues surrounding child sexual exploitation. It highlighted the ways in which all teenagers can
keep themselves safe when they are out and about and when they are online. Further details can be found in
a flyer attached to this newsletter.
Morrisons Vouchers – We are collecting NOW! Let’s Grow provides teachers with access to a whole range
of free gardening and cooking equipment and free teaching resources. This enables the children to learn about
the advantages of eating a healthier diet, think about the environment and will also inspire them to be creative.
Please use the drop box in the Library or leave in reception.
Year 11
 Practice GCSE exams take place in the week beginning Monday 17th November
 Deadline for Applications to Woodlands Sixth Form is Friday 21st November
Dates for your diary
Friday14th November
Friday 14th November
Tuesday 18th November
Thursday 20th November
Thursday 27th November
Friday 28th November
Thursday 4th December
Cantata Murder Mystery show 7pm
Non-uniform day in aid of Children in Need
Autumn Concert 6.30pm
GCSE Presentation Evening 7pm
Year 13 Parents/Carers Evening
Year 11 World of Work Day
Year 10 Parents/Carers Evening
KEEP WOODLANDS – AND ALLESTREE - TIDY! Please join us in exhorting our students to look after their
environment by putting all their rubbish in the bins provided and to pick up litter wherever they see it. This is
important to keep the school site clean and tidy and also important in our community whether in the streets,
outside shops, in alleyways or in the local parks.
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.
THE PARENTS, FRIENDS AND TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (PFTA) NEEDS YOU! Thank you to all who
have already donated time and items, but we are still in need of parent volunteers for all upcoming events. If
you think you can help, please contact [email protected].
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 Tate at 551921.
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, ensures that your child receives the very best care during various
off-site school trips. The form can be filled out online and is found on the school website under
“Parents/Carers>Parental Consent”.
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
As from 1st September 2013, there is a change to our policy of taking holidays in 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]
Parent View – please sign into this via the school website to let us know what you think about the school.
Website: A reminder to regularly check the school website for news, reminders and copies of letters
sent to parents/carers.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Brady, Headteacher