Last week at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys we welcomed staff from the charity Depaul to speak to our Year 10 and 12 students.

The Depaul charity work with local communities across the country to prevent and relieve the impact of homelessness on people’s lives. They prioritise young people, who are among the most vulnerable in society, and especially those who have previously had traumatic experiences.

The Depaul Group was founded in 1989 in response to the growing number of homeless London youth sleeping rough on the streets. Today, Depaul International charities work around the world, going where the need is greatest.

Click to download LONDON YOUTH HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES Providing tailored support to 11-25 year olds to help prevent homelessness in London

Dear Parents/Carers

Over the coming weeks your child may mention they have been made aware of a service called Kooth. At Kooth, we provide a safe, secure means of accessing online emotional health support from a professional team of qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners. 

Kooth offers wellbeing support 365 days a year via a range of self-help materials and peer to peer support which young people are able to contribute to. Everything is pre-moderated and age appropriate, in order to safeguard our users, so you know that what your child is accessing is safe. 

Kooth works alongside schools and colleges across the UK and are running student facing webinars through April and May on topics like ‘Staying safe online’ and ‘Tips for managing exam stress’. 

Kooth is also offering free virtual sessions for parents on the 22nd & 25th April that provide tips on how you can support your child manage anxiety about their upcoming exams - please use this link to sign up.  

There’s also resources designed especially for parents available on our website including advice on how to talk to your teen about their feelings: Parents/Carers resources.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss what Kooth.com can offer you can email us on parents@kooth.com.

Kind Regards

Kooth Engagement Team

 

SUPPORT FOR STAFF & PARENTS/CARERS

In April we’re running KoothTalks training webinars specifically to help education staff and parents support young people sitting exams. 

Please share these booking links with your team:

Tue 23 Apr. 3.30-4.15pm

Thu 25 Apr. 12.30-1.15pm

(Don’t worry if you can’t make these times - just fill in the short form and we’ll send you the recording to watch in your own time).

And here are the booking links to share with parents in school emails or on parent portals. Please let parents know about this free session, especially if they are worried about their child’s anxiety:

Mon 22 Apr. 1-2pm

Thu 25 Apr. 6-7pm

Parents & Carers: Knife Crime Awareness workshops

Knife Crime Awareness

Parenting children and young adults is hard, sometimes it can be scary and overwhelming with news stories and social media influencing how safe we feel our children are and the risks they may face in today’s climate.

Join our FREE workshops in person or virtually to learn more about topics such as the influence of social media, the signs and stages of exploitation, and how we can prevent young people being affected by knife crime as parents, carers and as a community.

During the workshop you will develop understanding around the following topics:

• Young people's brain development, behaviour and responses to stress
• The importance of healthy, safe attachment for young people
• The stages, signs and risk factors of exploitation
• Gangs - what they are, how they operate, and why?
• External influences - language, social media, gang-related music
• Building resilience within the family and community
• Further support available for families

The workshops are hosted by The Ben Kinsella Trust

Upcoming Sessions:

Date: Monday 25th March
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 10am - 11:30am

Date: Wednesday 27th March
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 7pm - 8:30pm

Sign up here: Parents & Carers Workshops - The Ben Kinsella Trust

Aruna Jalloh concluded his studies at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys in 2016, after studying GCSE and A Level Drama here. During his time at the school, he secured spots at the National Youth Theatre of GB and Rose Bruford Drama School through successful auditions. Known as a dedicated student, Aruna was asked by Miss Waine to return to the school during his University years to participate in a National Theatre Connections show, "Children of Killers". He readily agreed and not only mentored younger students but also shared his acting skills and expertise.

Currently, Aruna is starring in the new BBC Three series "Boarders", a coming-of-age comedy drama that tracks the journey of five underprivileged black students who earn scholarships to an esteemed boarding school. In this show, Aruna portrays Femi, a Nigerian student striving to make his family proud and navigate his new environment. All episodes are now accessible for download on BBC iPlayer.

Prior to this, he captivated audiences in "For Black Boys..." at the Royal Court and Apollo Theatre in the West End, performing to sold-out crowds every night.

We are immensely proud of his accomplishments and cannot wait to see what he does next!

Boarders review – this private school satire is absolutely packed with future megastars

Watch 'Boarders' now on BBC

Click to download the Royal Borough of Greenwich Attendance Letter February 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

I trust this letter finds you well and that your children have enjoyed the half term break and are settling into the new term, with enthusiasm and a desire to learn.

As we head into this new term, I would like to emphasise the importance of good attendance at school. While some children face occasional illnesses or barriers to attending school, maintaining regular attendance is key to ensuring they receive the education and support they need to thrive.

Why is good attendance so important?

1. Learning Consistency: Regular attendance ensures that your child can consistently engage with their teachers and peers, contributing to better learning outcomes.
2. Social Development: School provides a vital environment for children to develop socially, build relationships, and develop interpersonal skills. Missing school can disrupt this crucial aspect of their growth.
3. Academic Progress: Absenteeism can result in missing out on key learning experiences and valuable classroom activities, potentially leading to gaps in your child's knowledge. There is documented data on the correlation between absences, academic achievement and lifelong outcomes.
4. Preparation for the Future: Regular attendance helps your child build a strong work ethic, which is essential for their future endeavours.
5. Sanctions for irregular school attendance. As well as the impact on your children, parents and care givers can face sanctions for not ensuring their children’s regular school attendance. Action, we strive to avoid.

We understand that there can be challenges to ensuring regular school attendance and we are committed to supporting parents/care givers and children to enable regular school attendance. Each school is committed to:

• Providing a clear Attendance Policy, clarifying the school rules regarding attendance.
• Providing guidelines on when it is appropriate to keep a child home due to illness, and when it is safe for them to attend school.
• Supporting with health and well-being concerns; Parents are encouraged to communicate any health concerns promptly. Parents are encouraged to communicate any other issues that are impacting on their ability to ensure regular school attendance, so that supportive measures can be put into place, via school resources, signposting and/or involving or referring to support agencies.
• Schools will work on and review strategies to build the resilience of their students, equipping them to adapt to challenges that may arise during their school journey.

The Local Authority, School staff and teachers are committed to providing the best educational experience for your children. We believe that by working together with parents and care givers, we can create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment that will enable your child to succeed.

With your support and collaboration in encouraging your children’s good attendance, we can endeavour to ensure they make the most of their learning opportunities and lifelong outcomes.

Kind regards

Florence Kroll Director of Children’s Service

On the 5th of February 2024, a group of our Year 12 students participated in the Royal Borough of Greenwich Apprenticeship Summit. This event, hosted at Woolwich Works, was part of the National Apprenticeship Week celebration.

Students had the chance to listen to prominent apprenticeship organisations, connect with employers and peers, and acquire valuable industry insights.

#royalboroughofgreenwich #woolwichworks #apprenticeships #apprenticeshipsummit #Greenwich #woolwichpolytechnic #woolwichpoly #thamesmead #polymatschools #polymat Woolwich Works Royal Borough of Greenwich