As we approach half term, it has been a busy month at KWS as we mark Black History Month.

This year’s national theme was “Honouring Our Communities”.

Our school caterers also gave the opportunity to students to try foods hailing from across the African/Caribbean regions which went down well – food often brings people together and it is these kinds of opportunities that spark conversations between students and staff alike that bring people together.

In addition to this, Mrs Yates, the school library manager, also organised an annual visit from Adisa the Verbalizer running workshops in the library; students were gripped by his National Poetry Day visit

This term, The Interact club is helping Rotary Harpenden with collecting donations for the Friendship Boxes initiative to bring joy, comfort, and smiles to children in Ukraine who are facing difficult times. We need your help to fill these boxes with love and meaningful items! We are asking for donations of new, unused items to help build these special care packages.

As you know, the ongoing war is seriously affecting the mental health and educational progress of children and young people living in war torn Ukraine. They need interesting and stimulating things to do while in the shelters or at home. We seek your support to fill these boxes with items such as:

• Coloured pencils, 
• Crayons 
• Colouring books 
• Puzzles 
• Reading books (English is now being taught in Ukrainian schools), 
• Small toys
• Hats
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Anything else you think will take their minds off the war that continues to rage around them.

Please do not include: food, liquids, powders, batteries, religious artefacts or items with sharp edges.

Please drop off your donations in the collection boxes located in the main school reception by 6th November. 

Thank you so much for your generosity and continued support.

We are pleased to report that all of our early entry applicants sent off their applications by the deadline on the 15th October.  They have applied for a range of subjects from Natural Sciences to PPE (Philosophy; Politics & Economics) and Medicine.  We are now preparing them for interview – if anyone is interested in helping with practice interviews please do contact Miss Dayton in Sixth Form (f.dayton@kwschool.co.uk).

Of course we now want the rest of Year 13 who are planning to apply to get their applications sent off.  Our early applicants have already received offers from universities like Manchester, York and Leeds which is fantastic and we are hoping the same will happen for the rest of our Year 13 cohort. Once students are ready to send their applications they need to see Miss Dayton (works Mon-Weds).

Remember – if you can help with practice interviews for our early applicants please do get in touch.

KWSixth have entered three teams in this year’s Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge. Working alongside their selected dragon (business expert) they need to turn £100 into £1000, with all proceeds going to their selected charity. We are looking forward to seeing what entrepreneurial and creative fund raising ideas and events they come up with. Please look out for their upcoming events and look out for all three teams at the KWAF Fireworks night on 6th November.

KWSixth is pleased to announce that this year’s university application process is well underway, with the first Year 13 students sending off their applications this week.  Students who are applying to Oxford, Cambridge or to study medicine or dentistry have to send their applications off by 15th October so it is great to see students being really organised and sending off their applications before the deadline.  They have worked really hard researching their universities and courses, and then writing the challenging personal statement – but finally all that is done. They can now sit back and wait for offers to come in, and of course work hard to get the grades they need!  We wish all our students every success with their university applications.