Message from the Headteacher, Mr C Richards:
With one week to go before a much-needed half term starts, our teachers are continuing to challenge themselves by taking part in ‘open classroom’ week. Each teacher visits two other teachers’ classrooms to pick up best practice and build it into their own, so your child may have seen more teachers in their classrooms than they are used to! Many lessons have taken on a Black History month theme and the Canteen has even produced a special menu to celebrate it.
Just today we hosted our second Diversity Role models visit to year 7, the year 13 Business students visited the London Job Show in Westfield and we hosted a School Streets Workshop. This week the year 12s have been to Longridge for their Induction visit and we were pleased to welcome families of our new year 7s for their settling in evening with the form tutors.
2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards
Pearson are now accepting entries for the 2024 National Teaching Awards. Entries must be submitted before Friday 22nd December. This award shines a spotlight on our unsung heroes, from stand-out teachers, friendly caretakers, playground helpers to brilliant office receptionists. This is the only award open to nominations from parents, carers and pupils. Send in your nomination here.
School Street Engagement and Consultation Newsletter for Families
The School Street survey for Villiers High School opens at the end of the week to enable the local and school community to give their views on the proposed scheme. The council will be posting letters to all properties in the area. Please find attached the newsletter regarding the School Street and pop-up events taking place in November.
Mathematical Architectural Workshop
On Wednesday 4th October a significant number of students ranging from year 7 to year 9 participated in the Mathematical Architectural Workshop. The students engaged in activities that involved constructing bridges, skyscrapers and Ferris wheels. This workshop provided an opportunity for students to apply their mathematical skills in a real-world setting where they had to work collaboratively to achieve their objectives. The workshop leader noted that Villiers students were highly enthusiastic and engaged throughout the event. The students demonstrated their adherence to the Villiers HEART values as they successfully exhibited all five values particularly their tenacity. The students themselves valued the workshop as evidenced by their comments, such as “this workshop was unique,” “it was thrilling,” “teamwork is essential” and “I can apply my mathematical knowledge in practical situations.”
New Scientist Live 2023
Fifty-three year 8 students had an opportunity to go to the New Scientist Live 2023 event, where they had a chance to meet Sebastien Buemi who was available to sign photographs at the Envision. This was a unique opportunity for students to meet a real-life racing champion and create lasting memories.
The Fusion Cluster created an activity pack aligned with the KS3 & KS4 Physics and Chemistry curricula. It aimed to help students comprehensively understand science and technology careers, renewable and non-renewable resources, energy transfers, scientific language, energy units, energy conservation, dissipation, efficiency, atoms, elements and nuclear reactions.
Drama School Production Rehearsals
Students have now started their rehearsals for the annual school production; this year we are performing ‘When This Is Over’ by Company Three. Rehearsals are being held on a Monday and Tuesday from 3:20 until 5pm. All cast members are required to attend until half term. A new rehearsal schedule will then be published so students are aware of when they need to attend. With the late nights drawing in, please ensure that your child is either collected from school or organise for them to walk home with their peers. We look forward to you seeing the final result in February.
Uniform
Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately before they leave for school every morning. The vast majority of our pupils wear their uniform with pride. We do not accept hooped earrings or nose rings due to the health and safety implications; long sleeved t-shirts under short-sleeved shirts are not acceptable (simply wear long sleeves or the school blazer) and shoes must be black and polishable. To check the uniform policy or suppliers, please visit our website.
Important Information – Free School Meals
Families who are not currently registered for free school meals but feel that they are eligible can apply using the following link here. Free school meals are available for pupils of parents or carers that receive certain benefits. Further information on the criteria for applying can be found here.
If your child is eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals, please click here for further information regarding supermarket vouchers for the October half term holiday to support
families.
National Sleep Helpline
Ealing Mental Health Support Team (Workshop for parents)
Your voice, Your Town
What is Your Voice, Your Town about?
Ealing Council is working to support thriving communities: bringing people together to build strong neighbourhoods, empowering volunteers, encouraging community activism and delivering well-loved community facilities and services.
As part of this, Ealing Council would like to develop new ways for the residents of each of Ealing’s seven towns to come together and make decisions about their neighbourhoods. We know that many residents would like to get involved in designing solutions to local problems together with the community and the council, or to be more involved in the things that matter most to them where they live. In particular, Ealing Council wants to develop ways that residents can influence how money is spent and have direct spending power to improve their local area. These new activities will replace the ward forums which were in place before the pandemic.
Rather than having a fixed plan about how these structures will work (e.g. meetings or more flexible groups, online/ offline, town-level or more local), they would like to develop activities which are inclusive for everyone and support lots of different types of people to get involved. Ealing is a diverse borough, with people from many different backgrounds, with different circumstances and experiences of getting involved in their local community. We want different local areas to be able to work in ways that suit them. We will therefore decide the structure for these new activities together with residents.
What are you trying to find out from residents?
At this stage, the council wants to hear from residents or people who work or study here, about how they currently get involved to improve their local area, how they would like to be involved in the future, what would need to happen to make that possible, and what would they want to change about their area. Ealing will use these perspectives to shape the next stages of the project.
To help with the data collection, Ealing are encouraging people to take part in the online engagement survey at www.dosomethinggood.org.uk/your-voice-your-town or use this QR:
The deadline is 10th November to collect the data. The council will then share back what they have learnt. The results of the survey and engagement activities will be used to support smaller co-design groups to begin to develop and pilot models that suit different towns in the borough. A core part of the co-design groups’ role will be to continue to engage with the wider community and there will be opportunities for residents to get involved in future activities. As these conversations develop, your communities and the council will learn together the best ways to create thriving and vibrant neighbourhoods.
Villiers Diner
We are excited to share next week’s canteen menu with you. Please click on each image to expand.
Medical and allergy information
We need to ensure that our school records accurately reflect your child’s medical needs including information on any allergies. Please keep us informed of any changes to your child’s medical allergy condition(s) to ensure information is accurate and up to date on our school system.
If a student has been prescribed an Epi-Pen by their doctor, they should carry two: one to be carried on their person and the other to be provided to the welfare room in case of an emergency.
In addition, please encourage your child to check with the canteen staff for any food allergens before purchasing and to read the food labels on display.
If you have any queries, please contact the welfare officer directly via email welfare@villiers.ealing.sch.uk or by calling the school.
Food related questions can be directed to Charlie (Catering Manager) via email cparameswaran@villiers.ealing.sch.uk
Students with prescription medication
A reminder that students should not be carrying any medication in school (with the exception of epi pens and asthma pumps). Any prescription medication (given by a GP) must be handed to the welfare room and a medication consent form should be completed by families for health and safety purposes. If students are feeling unwell, they must go to the welfare room and family members will be contacted if necessary.
Homeless Charity
Volunteer with the Felix Project
To continue supporting our community, the SEND team is planning a donation to help the homeless of Southall. We would like families to please contribute towards the cause. All items will be donated to the Hope for Southall Street Homeless.
Mens clothes needed (all medium sized):
• Winter Jackets
• Joggers and Hoodies
• Socks
• Trainers (sizes 8, 9, 10)
The drop off point will be in school and for more information, please contact Ms Z Rathod. The last date for collection is Wednesday 1st November 2023. Thank you for your continued support.
Volunteer with The Felix Project and join thousands of fellow Londoners in the fight against food waste and hunger. The Felix Project is London’s leading food redistribution charity and is looking for volunteers to help redistribute supplies. If you have time to volunteer, please click here to find out more.
Cycling into school
Any student cycling to school must ensure their bikes are placed in the caged bike shed.
Autumn Term extra curricular clubs timetable
We are very proud to present our vast array of enrichment offers this term. Please see the timetable for all activities taking place during lunch and after school. Encourage your child to participate in at least one club per term.
Key forthcoming dates
For our major events, please check here.
Get in Touch
If you have any suggestions on how to improve the school further or any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email: info@villiers.ealing.sch.uk