Wheatley Park School
Terms 3 and 4 Newsletter April 2022
Headteacher's Message Dear Parents/Carers, The clocks have changed and Easter is around the corner, which means our Year 11, 12 and 13 students have begun the final countdown to their GCSE, AS and A Level exams. All being well, these will go ahead in their usual format this summer for the first time since 2019. Strong examination outcomes are, of course, an essential product of Everyone Learning and Everyone Caring that we want all our students to take away from their Wheatley Park experience. But, like most schools, our vision of an outstanding education goes way beyond that. So it’s fantastic to see in this edition of the newsletter how students have had the opportunity to both learn and care about the world beyond the four walls of the classroom, for which we are ultimately preparing them. For example, several high profile careers events this term have allowed students to learn more about the world of work, including some lucky Year 10s who got to experience Raymond Blanc’s inspirational passion for cooking as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Meanwhile, students demonstrated their care for the humanitarian crisis in and around the Ukraine by raising money at a lunchtime concert and helping to sort and load a truckload (literally) of aid supplies kindly donated by the school and local community. And continuing the theme of our interconnected world, some Year 9 students recently took part in a live video link-up with their counterparts in Siyabonga School, a secondary school in Soweto, South Africa, with whom we are establishing an exciting partnership. We hope that wider experiences and opportunities like these, together with those all-important academic qualifications, will best set Wheatley Parkers up for a successful and fulfilling life, no matter which path they choose to take. Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful Easter. Tim Martin 
 Headteacher

COVID-19 Update
 As of 1 April, the government released the following new guidance for schools on dealing with respiratory infections, including COVID-19: 
 Children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend school. Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and where possible avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough. If a child has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and where possible avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test. Children who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.
 We will continue with baseline infection prevention and control measures like good ventilation and frequent cleaning. The wearing of face coverings remains optional for everyone.

SSLT UPDATE
Hi everyone, We are the current SSLT Team: Leathan Afeku, Saideepika Sivanand, Nazlim Kececi, Olivia Barton, Anais Thomas and Bryn Baber-Day. This year, we intend to improve the school’s facilities and make our brilliant school an even better and safer environment for all students. Linked to this Nazlim will be running a new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group one lunchtime each week where are students arewelcome to join. The group aims to raise awareness and celebrate diversity. We already have an LGBTQ+ group led by Ms Brown that Anais will be supporting. All students are more than welcome to come along and chat about anything. Olivia will be further developing our alrwady amazing student led Interact Club that focuses on raising money for a local and international charity. Bryn is leading on student communication across the school including working with our student led weekly newspaper the Purple Pages. leads the Purple Pages. Saideepika is working with Ms Bennett, our careers leader to further enhance our careers provision across the school from Years 7 to 11. We are all honoured to have this responsibility and we look forward to working with all students at WPS! The SSLT Team
Lo
Duke of Edinburgh
As part of the Telegraph's Christmas Charity Appeal, six of our students were invited to spend the day at Raymond Blanc's two-Michelin-starred restaurant: Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. The lucky students (Sarah Culleton, Jasmine Down, Jake Richards, Matthew Cummins, Tobey Felipe and Thomas Richmond) all chose cooking for the skills section of their bronze Duke of Edinburgh award . The day started with a tour of the fantastic gardens, where the students got to see the seasonal produce which makes up the majority of Blanc's dishes. Jasmine was particularly impressed with this and has since planted carrots in her own garden. Then the students attended a cookery class run by Mark Peregrine, who was Blanc’s first ever apprentice back in 1979. Mr Peregrine enthusiastically demonstrated some cooking techniques, both essential and advanced, before letting the students have a go themselves. They worked in pairs and they were fantastic. It was an amazing, busy atmosphere as the students skillfully rustled up fried salmon with (divisive) crispy skin on a bed of spinach and watercress steamed with wasabi and cream. Obviously, I simply had to 'quality control' the food and I can confirm it was the best thing I'd ever eaten. Jake has cooked this meal for his family and they agreed. Towards the end of the day, after the students had placed an airy dark chocolate mousse in the fridge to set, we were hit by the whirlwind of enthusiasm and inspiration that is Raymond Blanc. Mr Blanc completely took over the room and all attention was on him as he delivered a simply awe inspiring speech about his love for the Duke of Edinburgh award and his passion for cooking. Our six students, the media, myself and even Mr Peregrine were entranced as Mr Blanc picked up an orange and described three different ways in which he visualises using it in his next meal. He told the students that whatever they do they must find their own passion. "When you find your passion you will never work a day in your life." He encouraged them to cook without preconceptions, to cook with courage and to embark on a voyage of discovery in every meal. "Cooking is an act of love," he said. "It's beautiful." It's fair to say that the students were incredibly grateful for this opportunity. They talked non-stop on the drive home about Raymond Blanc and what he is achieving at his restaurant. The students represented Wheatley Park and the Duke of Edinburgh award magnificently and the Telegraph wrote a lovely piece (including photos) which can be found here. Mr Lawrence 

Sixth Form Winter Ball After a couple of years we were finally able to have our annual Sixth Form Winter Ball. Unfortunately, the previous venue was a victim of Covid and had shut down, so trying to find somewhere willing to take a load of teenagers was a challenge in itself! However, despite a few worries as to whether we were doing the right thing allowing it to go ahead, it took place at the Oxford Belfry on January 28th. Over 170 students and 10 staff put their glad rags on for a brilliant night, with a 2 course meal followed by dancing. It was so lovely to see everyone from both year groups having such a great time. Some of the comments we got the following week were : ‘Atmosphere was electric’ ‘The venue was amazing and the music and atmosphere was great.’ ‘I'm disappointed we were unable to have one last year. The venue and atmosphere was amazing. I am sure I will look back on it for years to come. The only downside I'd say was the food, the portion sizes felt quite small and I think I had higher expectations on quality too but I understand that there were lots of us to cook for so I am forgiving of that. Overall an amazing event, thank you Mrs Weir :)’ World Book Day On March 3rd the Sixth Form students and staff dressed up as their favourite characters from literature for World Book Day. We had everything from Cruella DeVille to The Very Hungry Caterpillar! Mrs Weir April Fool - Master Minded by Mr West! Some of you might have driven your children to school on April 1st, only to be greeted by the sight of a very serious Mr West stopping your car and handing you a leaflet explaining the environmental and pecuniary reasons why, from now on, you will have to pay £10 to come into WPS's car park. I can imagine your surprise and possibly your anger, at the thought of having to phone or pop over to the Finance Office by 12o'clock that same day to pay your fee - I certainly didn’t envy my Finance colleagues having to deal with it all and I hope the chocolates and biscuits they received that same morning might have sweetened the day just a little. It might further outrage you to know, that in the lead up to the April Fool's prank, I have never seen Mr West so excited in all the years I have worked at Wheatley Park: planning and plotting, sniggering even, at the thought of what we would need to do in order to make the plan come to fruition: leaflets, road signs etc. etc. It was like looking at a child let loose in a sweet shop. Sworn to secrecy on the subject, I found myself an accomplice. Some parents thought the joke was so outstanding they even gave Mr West £10 for having been so ingenious, others were understandably not so amused and Mr West has apologised to those who took offence at his prank. You will be pleased to hear that Mr Martin has vowed to lock up Mr West in the run up to 1st April 2023, possibly in a cellar and possibly throwing away the key. In conclusion, if you have been handed one of the above leaflets, please keep it as a memento or dispose of it ethically, the choice is yours, but be confident in the thought that you will NOT have to pay a fee to drop your children off to school. R Walton, PA to Mr West
Sixth Form News
Arts News
Drama News Trip to Blood Brothers We had an exciting visit to watch Willy Russell’s highly acclaimed Blood Brothers at the Wycombe Swan. All Year 10 and 11 GCSE Drama students who are studying the play for the exam had the opportunity to watch it. It was an invaluable experience to help their learning, knowledge and understanding.

A whole school dance club has started on a Monday 3.15pm -4.15pm with Miss Soutar. This is well attended with students from all age groups. Students are learning about different styles of dance and learning how to choreograph their own work too. Splendid Productions UBU On Wednesday 2nd March Splendid productions visited Wheatley Park and performed their latest production UBU. We had a full audience in the Drama studio of students from Years 9 to 13. The political issues addressed in the play were also relevant to the society that we live in today and students made some interesting and thought provoking questions, perhaps even more pertinent because of the Ukraine crisis. 40 students also took part in a physical theatre storytelling workshop before the performance. School Production We were so privileged to be able to put on our school production of Grease this year despite all the challenges that COVID brought. To try and minimise COVID winning, we chose to double cast the whole show in case of unavoidable absences. It meant that we were actually rehearsing two shows at the same time! It was exhausting and intense, but our wonderful cast and crew embraced this challenge beautifully. We were so glad that we did do this, as several of our main cast came down with COVID during show week but the show could go on! The buzz of the rehearsals, the positivity and determination of the cast and crew showed how passionate our students were about putting on Grease. We sold out every night. Thank you to everyone who supported us. We are looking forward to next year where we will be doing .... (watch this space!) Theatrefolk monologue competition At the beginning of term 3 we invited all students in Years 7 to 10 to enter Theatrefolk’s monologue competition, where students were invited to submit a monologue about celebration. The prize was to have your monologue published and a $100 prize!
We were thrilled when we received an email to say Sophia Kanoir had won! Here is Sophia’s winning entry. Congratulations Sophia! I'm sorry So far, my Christmas holidays have been pretty rubbish. You won’t like what I’m about to tell you but you have to listen, okay? I can’t talk to you anymore Maya. It’s nothing against you I just feel like I’ve … outgrown you. At least that’s what mum says. And my friends. They just say it in a more insulting way. Ashley’s starting to spread rumours around the school, talking about how I’m weird and not mentally stable. I’m not but they don’t need to know that. Anyway, I agree with them, I think. A thirteen year old girl should not be wandering around chatting to her invisible friend, it's unnatural and disturbing. Those are more words that my friends use to describe me. Dad says that I don’t need to get rid of you necessarily but maybe I could just not have conversations with you out loud anymore, that you could just be in my head. Mum disagrees, she says that if i’m going to stop talking to you, I might as well forget about you all together. She says that instead of sulking in my room all day complaining about my horrible family, I should ask for a new phone for christmas so I can lead a normal, sociable life. She says that if I don’t put an end to this foolish game I like to play then she’s going to call the doctor. I don’t want that to happen. Oh Maya, I don’t know what to do! Part of me is saying that I need to stop kidding myself and act like a teenager. But the other part is remembering how you were there for me when no one else was. You helped me get through the darkest time of my life. Sure, Mum and Dad tried to help but they could never fully understand, they would just go on about therapists and things they could pay for because they didn’t have enough time or patience to deal with it themselves. That’s their answer to everything. Money. But you knew how to comfort me, you knew that I didn’t need to take weird pills to make my head right. You are the closest thing I have ever had to a sister and I will never forget that. But I have to do this Maya. I have to let you go. Trust me, this is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. I hope it’s worth it. I hope whatever my friends and my mum want me to be is worth me losing the person closest to my heart. Merry Christmas and Goodbye, my invisible friend. Photography Year 12 examples of current work based on personal responses to the formal elements of art and design. 
 

GCSE Year 10 examples of monoprinting portraits using tissue paper
Year 11 Excellent achievement in coursework Year 11 have been working hard on producing final outcomes for their GCSE coursework on the theme of Identity and The Environment. Here are some highlights!
Young Art Oxford
Maddie Bungay-Hill (Highly Commended)
Message from Paula Wallace, Chair at Young Art Oxford to Mr Smith: We have now completed the judging for this year's Young Art Oxford competition. Like many other organisations, our team has been hit by Covid resulting in a delay in letting you know about the results. However, I am very pleased to let you now know that the paintings of the following pupils from your school have been chosen to be exhibited in our annual exhibition at The Ashmolean Museum on 12th-14th May: May Edmond, Hannah Betts, Edie Owens Gibb, Rona Zen-Aloush, Maddie Bungay-Hill (Highly Commended), Jorja McKinley, Sophie Marlow, Eva Thatcher, Holly Clark - 1st prize (Yrs7-9) Please let your successful pupils know and pass on our congratulations. We had almost 2,000 entries this year, so they have every reason to feel extremely proud of themselves (...) Information on the Exhibition: this year the Exhibition will be held on 12th-14th May. Tickets to the opening evening are limited and must be booked in advance. A prize giving ceremony will be held on 12th May at 6.00 pm. Prizes are given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and those winning first prize will have their entry framed.  Entry to the exhibition is free on all days. Every selected artist can also pick up a small gift from the exhibition. Details on the exhibition can be found at this link: http://www.youngartoxford.com/our-exhibition.html The income from selling merchandise and the donations made at the exhibition contribute enormously to the final amount raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital - so please help us in this by forwarding this information to parents in your communications to them. Finally, a huge thank you for all your fantastic entries. We simply couldn't run the competition without all the effort that you put into it. It has been a joy for all of our team and our four judges to see the incredible talent of our young artists.
Holly Clark 1st Prize (Yrs 7-9)
Cakes for Ukraine Thanks to every student & member of staff who got involved in Friday's Ukraine fundraiser, be it playing music for everyone to enjoy - coming along to watch & support one another - helping lug instruments & setting things up - baking cakes - selling them on stalls - counting money - taking photographs - putting chairs out or helping with packing things away. It was a truly collective effort - standing in solidarity & raising funds to help with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Apologies to those who didn't get a chance to play - we just ran out of time - but the hope is we can do a similar event very soon & continue to show our support for the people of Ukraine. We raised £105. Thanks again Mr Smith Music
We have been preparing ready for the 50th Anniversary with music through the ages ready for the Festival in July. A milestone for Wheatley Park School. 

Arts News continued
This lorry being loaded with of all the generous donations given in support to the Ukaraine Crisis. Thank you to every single person who donated and helped.
Aid for Ukraine
This term in careers…. This term has focussed on Year 11 progression plans, ensuring students have made applications to sixth form, college and apprenticeships, as well as introducing the careers programme that will be delivered over the remainder of this academic year to Years 7 - 10. Years 7 - 10 participated in an assembly during National Careers Week in March, which introduced them to their Employablity Portfolio, where they will be able to record all their careers and work related activities and learning and also to their careers programme for the remainder of the year. The students embarked on their portfolios by creating a personal statement of where they felt they were now preparing for their career journey. It will be revisited every term. During the same week, Year 9 students participated in a Take Your Child to Work day where they either took part in a day's work experience with a parent, carer or family friend or ‘worked from home’ on a new virtual work experience programme called Springpod. Year 10 work experience was also introduced to students which will take place in July. It is likely that not all students will be able to take part in an on site placement owing to the ongoing effects of Covid and how employers have changed their own working practices. Where this proves difficult, we will use the Springpod programme, so the students are still experiencing real life workplace scenarios and thinking about their futures. We have also held a Year 7 Career Stereotypes off time table event, where students met a range of employers and employees in non traditional careers. You are welcome to email the careers adviser at abennett@wheatleypark.org with any queries or concerns you have about your son or daughter’s next steps. 

Careers
Accelerated Reader - students are enjoying the range of titles the library has to offer. Congratulations to 7ac/En3 who are currently in the lead with the amount of books they have read and successfully taken quizzes. As a class they have read 8,298,313 words based on the quizzes they have taken. 7ac/En1 are close with 7,400,945 words read so far. Here is just a small selection of the books Year 7 have been reading … 'The Monsters of Rookhaven', 'A House Without Walls', 'The Night Bus Hero', I Am Malala, 'You Are a Champion' Marcus Rashford 
Carnegie Medal News - the annual selection and judging of books for children and young adults has begun. The judges have now decided on their shortlist of 8 books. These great books are worth looking at and some are already in the hands of our students. Information about the Carnegie Medal and the books can be found here. Book Club is currently shadowing the Carnegie Medal and we are reading 'October, October' by Katya Balen. The book has an intriguing start with vivid descriptions of the woodland home the main character lives in. Congratulations to some members of the club who have had their ‘Twisted Tales’ stories accepted for publication in an anthology. Some Book Club students have become consultants and young curators at the Story Museum. This is a wonderful initiative giving young people a say in how stories are displayed in the museum. Read For Good Readathon - lots of students have been participating in a readathon to raise money for the charity Read For Good. So far we have raised over £200 which will go towards buying books and storytellers for our local children’s hospital. It’s a wonderful example of our young people showing that they care. National Reading Champions Quiz - well done to the amazing Wheatley Park teams who took part in the regional competition this term. They did very well, especially as there were some truly tricky questions! They took away the award for cheerleading and participation. Mrs Lanczak
Library News
Interform Y7, 8 &9 Sports hall athletics During the beginning of March all students in year 7, 8 and 9 took part in interform sports hall athletics. This involved running, jumping and throwing to the best of their ability to get points for their form. Everyone participated well and the final results were.
Sports News
Winner
Runner up
Year 7:
7JGR
7VPA
Year 8:
8KAY
8EST
Year 9:
9FHA
9CLO
Y10 Netball
Friday lunch Netball - Leagues and tournament All year groups have taken part in the South Oxfordshire netball tournament this term and they play in the South Oxfordshire league. Great participation from everyone after missing a year last year. Well done to all team members. 
 Football - leagues and county cup final Year 9 Football: The Year 9 football team have started their Oxfordshire league games. They have had some mixed fortunes so far. Their first round of fixtures saw them travel to Wallingford where they were able to beat one of the Wallingford teams, but unfortunately lost to a second Wallingford team and to Langtree. Year 11 Football: The Year 11 football team continued their success from before Christmas and booked a place in the final of the County Cup being held at The Velocity Stadium (home of Oxford City FC). The boys came up against a very strong opposition in the form of The Bicester School. Unfortunately an early decision didn’t go our way, which meant we would have seen a very different match unfold and in the end the boys were second best to their opposition. Well done to all involved in going on an impressive run. At the time of writing there are still some league games to complete before they end their run as a team. South Oxfordshire Sportshall athletics - Years 7 & 8 Our Year 7 sportshall athletics team travelled to Icknield to the South Oxfordshire Sportshall Athletics competition. Both the boys and girls teams did incredibly well and smashed the opposition. Claiming a gold medal in both the boys and girls competitions meaning they were South Oxfordshire Champions. Well done to all involved on what was a great day out. Two weeks later the Year 8 team also travelled to Icknield Community College. Both teams behaved themselves admirably coming 3rd in both events.
Y9 Netball
Y7 Netball
Y11 Netball
Y8 Netball

For the full calendar please refer to our website or follow this link: https://www.wheatleypark.org/index.php/parents/calendar
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT TERM