April 1st 2022
NEWSFLASH Fortnightly Newsletter of Woodhouse Grove School Follow us on twitter @woodhouse_grove
Library Excitement
Keep Up to Date
Last week, Junior Librarian Helaina Lamb put together an amazing World Poetry Day stand, displaying a number of different anthologies. Also, big thank you to Lucy Hanson who’s been doing an excellent job volunteering in the library as part of her DofE award.
Aid for Ukraine Non-Uniform Day
30 Wellness Challenge Well done to the 8 Year 7s who completed the 30 day wellness challenge set by professional Rugby League player Jamie Peacock. Jamie came in to give out awards to those who had completed the full 30 day challenge.
To keep up to date with all the latest WGS information be sure to follow our twitter account @woodhouse_grove From pupil awards and recognition to site and bus updates; find all the latest school information there. Today staff and students were asked to come into school wearing blue and yellow, and give a donation that will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee who are helping with the situation in Ukraine. Everyone looked great in their Ukrainian colours and lots of money has been raised so far today. Pupil Sammi Cheng also crocheted and sold sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower, to help raise more money for the DEC. There have also been Vigils for Peace held in Chapel, one being last Friday where staff and students lit candles to show their continued support for those affected.
Cross Country Success Congratulations to Maisey Bellwood and Archie Peaker who competed for West Yorkshire in the English Schools' XC Championships in Kent. The English Schools is the highest quality school race in the country. Congratulations also to Simeon Tedd and James McLarnon who won team silver with West Yorkshire in the National Year 7 XC. Macie Donaldson and Harriet Williams were also selected for the finals. They are the first four athletes from the school to race in the Year 7 event.
Football Congratulations to Luke Harrop who was presented with his Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) England Cap last week. Luke initially went through the selection process for the North of England before being selected for the ISFA National U18 team. On Saturday there was Junior and Inter house football, with over 100 pupils representing their houses. Well done to Towlson and Atkinson on their wins. Senior house football took place on Wednesday, with Towlson coming out on top after some very competitive matches. On Thursday, we held our first ‘El Classico’ with the Y13 leavers playing against a Y11/12 mix. The Y13 team won 7-1 in a great game.
Rugby A big well done to everyone who represented the school with distinction at the Rosslyn Park National Seven's competition last week. The 1st VII qualified for Day 2 with 3 wins from 4 matches, beating Denstone, Oxford and Cobham. On Day 2 they lost narrowly to Brighton College in the Plate competition, just missing out on a semi final place. The U14s also qualified for the Plate competition on Day 2 and missed out on a place in the knockout stages on points scored! The U16s made it through to the qualifying game on Wednesday evening, unfortunately losing to Rugby School, 29-7. They had earlier topped their group after convincing wins against Lord Wandsworth, Campion and Holyrood. Thank you to all the staff that gave up their time to accompany the students to London for 3 wonderful days of Rugby.
Netball Well done to both the 1st and 2nd VII squads at Queen Margaret's tournaments. Both sides were unbeaten resulting in trophies for both teams. What a great end to the season and for Year 13 students to end their WGS netball career.
Cricket
Porton Down to WGS
Old Grovian Marina Newton came to talk to Year 11 and 12 chemists about her experiences studying chemistry at University, and her career since. She has worked as an analytical chemist for the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, and more recently worked as an analytical Senior Reading and Speaking chemist for Astra Zeneca. The Sixth Form The Senior Reading and Speaking had lots of questions about life as a chemist competition took place last Wednesday with and university applications, and only a few the students performing poetry recitals. Six questions that she couldn’t answer because students took part and the winner was, it would have meant breaking the Official Sophia Nwachukwu, Y13 with a stunning Secrets Act! recital of 'I, being a Woman and Distressed' by Edna St Vincent Millay and 'Epitaph' by Katherine Philips. Sophia and 3 other senior Reading and Speaking finalists, as well as 3 Junior finalists will now be taking part in the Stem Club National Poetry By Heart competition. There In Stem club, students disassembled a will also be a staff entry this year from Mrs microscope to investigate how it works, Alex Sharpe. We wish everyone taking part good Chan, Y8 counted over 91 parts all with a luck! specific function!
Congratulations to Max Chaplin who has been selected for the Yorkshire CCC “Elite Player Performance” (EPP Squad). This scheme identifies people with the potential of making it to the senior squad at some stage in the future. Well done Max what a great achievement.
A Sight for Sore Eyes! Year 10 have being doing some eye dissections in their Biology lessons. The students are studying the nervous system and the eye as an example of a sense organ.
School Sustainability Our new school PC sign out policy allows our IT team to ensure all PC's are switched off overnight, weekends and holidays.
Booklore Issue 2 This years spring edition of the WGS Literary magazine, Booklore has now been released. This issue is packed with reviews, writings tips, book recommendations and much more. To read the magazine please click the link below.
Year 7 Prefects
Riverbank Project Dates
Introducing our newly appointed Year 7 Form Prefects! As a way to give more Year 7 students a chance at a leadership role, halfway through the academic year a new group of students are selected as Form Prefects.
Fantastic progress has been made this term with over 150 saplings planted! Thanks again to Rawdon Parish Council for their ongoing funding of the project, to Tesco Community Grants and to Louise Ross of Groundwork for directing the work, but most of all to the enthusiastic band of volunteers! If you have time, take a stroll down there and see the buds forming on the willows and green shoots appearing.
Dance Success Congratulations to Betsy Raj, Year 8 for achieving 96 marks in her Grade 4 Modern Jazz exam. Betsy will be attending this year’s Theatre Dance Awards for scholarship nominations she received in both her Grade 4 Ballet and Grade 4 Tap exams. She will be joined by her sister Tilly, Year 10 who was nominated for Grade 5 Tap, Grade 5 Modern Jazz and Grade 5 Theatre Craft.
Grove Awards Well done to the 8 students who were presented with their Grove Award today. Year 7 - Milly Cross, Alex Dawson, Ruby Stansfield, Josiah Stockill Year 8 - Megan Atkins, Thomas Edgar, Isabelle Sowerby Year 9 - Lily Bickle
The Easter Charity Concert The Easter Charity Concert was a feast of music from choral music to Jazz and onwards to Rock, punctuated with poetry items. It was great to see a wide variety of pupils on stage with highlights including the (Junior) Pop Choir singing Wellerman and Believer. Thank you to all pupils who had practised so hard in preparation and to the team of staff who rehearsed the items.
Geography Club Games In Geography Club, students tested their geographical knowledge and board game skills playing geography Trivial Pursuits. The Year 7 team were victorious.