Principal’s Message
Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of WIS,
This week, we firstly reflected on last Friday evening, when we held the Year 13 Formal to celebrate the end of their ID and IB experiences. They now await results which will give them access the very best universities worldwide. It was a fitting night of memories which encompassed their journey at WIS and their future hopes. My thanks to the Upper School team, especially to Ms Julie Hannaford, Head of Year 13, for her special attention to the evening; this made it a great success. Thank you to all staff who attended and gave up their Friday evening to support the cohorts final gathering as a year. A great evening!
We also welcomed Mr Christopher Sammons to the school for a two-day visit. During this time, he had the chance to engage in meetings with colleagues and myself, and had the opportunity to familiarise himself with the school and some of the areas we have been focussing on over the last few years. It was a chance for him to get to know staff and to begin to understand the challenges of leading this great school. I am delighted to be handing over to such an experienced colleague. My thanks to him for giving up his half-term holiday from the school he currently leads.
The week also saw our students engaged in Digital Literacy Days. This is an opportunity for faculties to work with a year group for a day on an activity which requires digital learning alongside subject approaches.
Students were engaged and motivated throughout the days and collaborated in a more relaxed manner than formal lessons. They worked on areas of learning in year groups from poetry analysis to artwork to coding. This approach also enables us use the extra time for one-to-one discussions with students on the Extended Essay, have conversations with Year 12 students who are currently working on Group 4 projects, which is important to many of the IB students, and additionally, to free up time for other initiatives such as ID students who are taking part in work experience or learning.
On Friday, we welcomed our new Year 7 as the graduating Class of 2023 for the day as a whole year group. The Year 7 of today, are our Year 13 of tomorrow, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make on our school in the future as a year group.
Yours,
Jane
