In the library this week we are displaying both nonfiction and fiction books linked to the Holocaust, in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year fell on the 27th January.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has a theme of “Bridging Generations” this year, with the aim to remind us all that the responsibility of remembrance doesn’t end with the Holocaust survivors. It lives on through their children, their grandchildren, and therefore through all of us. It is important that we all remember what happened, and that we learn through this remembrance. The Trust has chosen this particular theme to “encourage us all to engage actively with the past – to listen, to learn and to carry those lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future.”
While marking this day we are primarily remembering the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, however the Holocaust Memorial Trust are also highlighting the persecution that has happened since, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur. These events show that sadly humanity has not learnt from the Holocaust. In remembering we are helping future generations to guard against genocide happening again.
Please, pop into the library to look at the display of books. We have everything from factual texts, through to graphic novel versions of Anne Frank’s diary. If you’d like to read more about the work of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust then please do look at the website: www.hmd.org.uk.
Be a part of remembering and marking this important day, and bridge the gap between history and today’s generation.
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/100_0802.jpg12001600Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-29 13:11:132026-01-29 13:11:13Library: Holocaust Memorial Day
The Chemistry Olympiad is an official exam run by the Royal Society of Chemistry and took place this week across numerous schools in the UK. Ready to challenge and extend our sixth form chemists beyond the A-level specification.
It was fun to see some of the real world scenarios they base the content on!
As part of the KWS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) vision, you are invited to our EDI Parent Forum, with myself and members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). This platform allows parents/carers to share their experiences at KWS and provide feedback on our EDI delivery.
We ask for your input in making KWS more inclusive and equitable across all protected characteristics. Past topics have included parental support for calendar events such as Diversity Week, prayer facilities, experiences at KWS of families hailing from the LGBT+ community and even discussion of how best to secure allergy accommodations in food menus.
Please attend if you are able to and think in advance about any items you would like to raise, or any suggestions you may have, in order for us to facilitate a more equitable culture at KWS. If you are unable to attend, please email me directly any items you wish for me to add to the agenda in your absence.
Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026
Time: 4.45pm
Location: room 004 (next to the library), KWS.
It is open to all parents/carers of KWS students and I welcome all to attend whether they wish to speak or not in an open environment.
Best wishes,
Miss Annie
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EDI.png425417Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-29 13:10:282026-05-01 16:39:29EDI Parent Forum invitiation reminder
I have been asked to send out an invitation on behalf of Hertfordshire Council related to a fantastic workshop taking place based on “Extremism Thrives On Misunderstanding; a briefing about the ‘Dark Side of the Internet’” as below.
At a time where the internet can be a source of radicalisation for young people, this is an empowering opportunity for guardians to gather knowledge on what can be a very overwhelming area.
If you are thinking of attending, please let me know so I can remind you closer to the time.
Please see below,
Miss Annie
“We are delighted to invite you to an important and informative session run by Small Steps, a leading counter-extremism charity, led by former members of far-right organisations. The focus is how we can support our young people to stay safe online and avoid radicalisation.
If you are worried about:
what your child is watching online
who they could be interacting with
if they are spending too much time online
what the dangers and warning signs are
Then the session is for you.
Join our session to learn about:
signs of radicalisation
how to have difficult conversations with your child
how to respond if approached by strangers online
Monday 9 February 2026
6-8pm
Croxley Danes School, Baldwins Lane, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3LR
Places are limited, so book your place now at this link.
This event is open to all parents from the local area so please do share with other parents so everyone can benefit
We look forward to welcoming you.
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Extremism.webp9401880Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-29 13:10:112026-05-01 16:43:17Invitation to “Dark Side of the Internet” workshop
Special mention to Year 11 students, Darci M and Jesse G, for competing in the south of England athletics championships at Lea Valley on Sunday. Darci did very well to progress to the semi finals of the 200m, competing against over 70 athletes in the event. Meanwhile, Jesse claimed a new personal best with a massive jump of 1.93m in the high jump. In doing so, he finished first in the competition. Jesse is now ranked in the top 3 high jumpers in the country for his age group. We are very proud of both your achievements!
Netball
From our netball fixtures this week, Year 9A lost 6-22 to Sandringham and Year 7A won 18-2. Well done to all. Outstanding players were recognised as Maisie O, Izzy B and Tilly S.
Well done to the 9A netball team in a great contest against Beaumont, unfortunately losing 18-28. Player of the match was Lucy H with some fantastic defensive interceptions.
Basketball
Well done to the Year 7 basketball team for their first ever game in the purple of KWS. A tough afternoon but the boys showed character throughout.
Football
Congratulations to the Year 7 girls’ football team on an excellent 4-2 win against Royal Masonic in the county cup plate. A great effort displayed and superb team work throughout.
In addition, our U15 girls’ football team achieved a dominant win vs St Columba’s. It was fantastic to have Poppy D back from injury and scoring 4 goals!
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/549d82d0-77d4-47a2-8226-246f3362019f.jpeg12001600Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-16 08:26:532026-01-16 08:26:53KWS Sport
We had a very exciting visit in the library this week, which really engaged our year 7 students and introduced them to the fascinating world of Braille. Braille is a tactile writing system used by blind or visually impaired people, allowing them to access books and other written materials. We were delighted to welcome Lara Marshall, Library Engagement Manager for the RNIB, and Paul Porter, a lifetime user of Braille. All of year 7 had an assembly outlining what Braille is and how it’s used, before having a session in the library, in smaller groups, to “crack the code” and decipher some messages in Braille. The session included the use of Braille Lego, which was hugely popular, and other tactile objects, and was a great opportunity for the students to ask questions and listen to Paul’s lived experience.
We were very proud of the students’ engagement and their excellent listening skills. The library had a real buzz throughout the day, and for anyone interested in further learning please do visit the RNIB website: www.rnib.org.uk
Our thanks go to Lara and Paul, for a fantastic day, full of learning as well as fun.
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/100_0788.jpg12001600Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-15 11:57:392026-01-15 11:57:39Braille Event in the Library
The University of Hertfordshire is hosting an in-person event on Tuesday, 10th February to help you navigate the world of degree apprenticeships. This is an excellent opportunity to demystify the process and explore everything the route has to offer, from application tips and funding details to current career opportunities.
Details and a link to the booking form are below:
Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: University of Hertfordshire, Forum Theatre, College Lane Campus, AL10 9AB
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/degree-apprenticeships.jpg251201Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-15 11:57:322026-05-01 16:46:05Degree Apprenticeships Event for 6th Form Students
As part of the KWS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) vision, you are invited to our EDI Parent Forum, with myself and members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). This platform allows parents/carers to share their experiences at KWS and provide feedback on our EDI delivery.
We ask for your input in making KWS more inclusive and equitable across all protected characteristics. Past topics have included parental support for calendar events (like Diversity Week), prayer facilities, experiences at KWS of families hailing from the LGBTQ+ community and even discussion of how best to secure allergy accommodations in food menus.
Please attend if you are able to, and think in advance about any items you would like to raise, or any suggestions you may have, in order for us to facilitate a more equitable culture at KWS. If you are unable to attend, please email me directly with any items you wish for me to add to the agenda in your absence.
Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026
Time: 4:45pm
Location: room 004 (next to the library), KWS.
This is open to all parents/carers of KWS students, whether you wish to share your thoughts or simply listen in; everyone is welcome to attend this open and supportive session.
Best wishes,
Miss Annie
https://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EDI.png425417Chrissy Dickshttps://kwschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/smlogo.pngChrissy Dicks2026-01-15 11:57:252026-05-01 16:50:25Invitiation to EDI Parent Forum
This week, Software Engineers from Cisco visited KWS to host a design workshop for year 10 Computing and IT students.
Students worked in groups to come up with their own technology which utilised 5G. They learnt about the development of data over the years and what it is like to work as a software engineer. They looked at real world scenarios and learnt the importance of working as a team.
Students had to present their ideas during the session, explaining how their ideas worked including security issues and other considerations. Some ideas that were designed by students during the session included locks, cars, trains, underground tubes and windows.
Our year 7 students have been showcasing their incredible Spanish skills in a nationwide competition organised by Languagenut. The competition involved schools from across the country completing vocabulary, grammar, and cultural challenges and we are thrilled to share our fantastic results!
A huge congratulations does to Pankhania D (year 7) who achieved an astonishing 1,334,200 points, placing them among the top student competitors in the country!
As a school, KWS is currently ranked in the top 5% out of a total of 2500 schools nationally, which is a brilliant achievement and reflects the hard work and enthusiasm of our Spanish Learners.