Try Vegan this January!

Did you know that for the 2023 Veganuary campaign more than 700,000 people worldwide officially signed up on Veganuary.com?

Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try vegan for January and beyond. Millions of people have signed up to the one-month vegan pledge since 2014, and in 2023 alone more than 1,610 new vegan products and menu options were launched.

Take a look at some of the quick and easy recipes we have pulled from the Veganuary website below.

#veganuary #veganuary2024 #veganrecipes #woolwichpolytechnic #woolwichpoly #polymatschools #polymat #greenwich #thamesmead

There is lots of support available in Greenwich this winter including:

Household Support Grant

Vital financial support will be available for eligible families across Royal Greenwich this winter, as the Royal Borough of Greenwich steps up to help those who are struggling. Using money from the Government’s Household Support Grant, we will be supporting a number of schemes throughout December, until March, to ensure our residents stay warm, well and safe. 

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200244/benefits_and_financial_help/2336/household_support_grant

Stay warm

It's important to keep yourself and your home warm in winter. Cold weather can cause health problems such as breathing problems, strokes or heart attacks. Being able to afford to heat your home in winter can be a real worry, but there's help available. The Royal Borough of Greenwich is providing extra services and support for residents who may be at risk during the cold weather. Residents who are over 60, caring for a young or vulnerable person or having problems paying their winter fuel bills could be eligible for support from Stay Warm Stay Safe.

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/staywarm

Look after your mental wellbeing

Winter can be a difficult time for lots of us. The cold weather and dark evenings can take their toll, and, whether or not it's part of your life, Christmas can bring up some tricky feelings and affect your mental health. But there are things we can all do to look after ourselves and loved ones. It's okay to ask for help, and lots of support is available.

https://livewellgreenwich.org.uk/lookafteryou/

For young people’s mental health: https://livewellgreenwich.org.uk/young-people/

Look after your body

Moving more is easier than you think. It can be easy to fall out of the routine of keeping active as the weather gets colder, but if you build it into your daily routine, you'll be moving more without even realising! Although some may still feel anxious about going outside, going for a short walk in the fresh air can make both your body and mind feel good.

https://greenwichgetactive.com/

Eating well for less

If the cost of food is putting you off eating well, here are 20 top tips on: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/20-tips-to-eat-well-for-less/

If you're struggling to afford to eat, call Live Well Greenwich on 0800 470 4831 to speak to a friendly advisor today. They will be able to organise support either through the https://greenwich.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/, a food club or to access the Emergency Support Scheme.

For updates around food, and support and advice to eat well, visit https://www.goodfoodingreenwich.org/

Holiday meals

During school holidays, Royal Borough of Greenwich provides food at a range of locations across the borough.

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200234/children_young_people_and_families/2108/holiday_meals_for_kids

Holiday Food and Fun 

This winter, we're funding free holiday club spaces for eligible children and young people. If your child is aged between 4 and 16, and receives or is eligible for free school meals, they can claim a spot at one of our participating clubs. Every club will provide a filling meal each day too, so parents and carers don’t have to worry about what to do with the little ones. 
 
All programmes will have places for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/holidayfoodandfun

 

Support for children and young people

 

Young Greenwich

Young Greenwich offers local children and young people between 8 and 19 (up to 25 for people with SEND), the opportunity to attend youth hubs and take part in free or affordable activities, trips and classes in a fun, safe and welcoming environment outside of school.

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200235/youth_support/2257/young_greenwich

Children's Centres

Children’s Centres offer Mums, Dads children and families help and advice, family support and parental outreach and children and family health services.

https://livewellgreenwich.org.uk/livingwell/childrens-centres/

Families Information Service and Local Offer 

The Families Information Service offers help and advice on a range of issues that affect you and your family.  You can also find information, advice and a range of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on our Local Offer. 

https://www.greenwichcommunitydirectory.org.uk/kb5/greenwich/directory/home.page

 

Bexley’s Winter Holiday Activities and Food Programme

As part of the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, Bexley is providing enjoyable activities and healthy food to school-age children and young people from Reception to Year 11.

Between Wednesday 20 December and Friday 5 January, Bexley’s Winter HAF Programme will offer children and young people lots of exciting ways to keep active, being creative and trying something new during the winter holidays. The programme will include a variety of fun activities, including sports, food-making activities, arts and crafts, computer coding, confidence-building sessions and CV writing, and other exciting opportunities to learn and develop new skills, alongside a nutritious meal each day.

Places are funded for those who receive benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) and attend a school in Bexley. Paid for places are also available for those not eligible for the funded places.

https://www.bexley.gov.uk/news/bexleys-winter-holiday-activities-and-food-programme

The Money Saving Expert website has lots of tips and advice around money, including cards and loans, household bills, mortgages, insurance, budgeting and savings.  You can also sign up for the free weekly email which contains lots of money tips. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

Tellmi is a safe, anonymous app where you can talk about absolutely anything. From anxiety to autism, dating to depression, or self-harm to self-esteem, sharing your experiences with our awesome community helps you to feel better. Our moderators check everything to keep you safe, and our in-house counsellors are always on hand if you need extra support.

https://www.tellmi.help/

Dear families,

As you may be aware, Friday 8^th December is Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children. 

We are encouraging as many students and staff members as possible to wear their Christmas jumpers and for us to raise as much money as we can for this brilliant cause.

Students can wear their Christmas jumper over their school shirt and tie; the rest of their uniform should be worn as usual.  If they are wearing a Christmas jumper, they do not have to wear their blazer for the day but can do so if they wish.  (Students not wearing a Christmas jumper should be in full school uniform).

We are asking that students donate a minimum of £1 which will be collected by form tutors on the morning of Friday 8^th December.

Thank you for your on-going support of the charitable causes we have supported as a school, and we look forward to seeing all of the students wearing their festive jumpers!  (There may be a prize for the most creative!)

Yours faithfully,

Ms Z Drysdale

PD Co-ordinator/ Science Teacher

Dear families,

As you may be aware, on 26^th November 2022, two teenagers in our local community tragically lost their lives due to knife crime. Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo were only 16 years old when they were stabbed and killed. This tragic loss affected both our local and school communities, and both boys have family members linked to our schools. We want to remember them both one year on and pay tribute to them by raising money for the Ben Kinsella Trust.

The Ben Kinsella Trust is a charity set up in honour of Ben who also lost his life to knife crime 15 years ago.  The Trust was set up by his family and their website describes their work as: “We educate young people on the dangers of knife crime and help them to make positive choices to stay safe. Our workshops follow the journey of both the victim and the offender through a series of unique and immersive experiences to show young people how choices and consequences are intrinsically linked.”

We will be using resources from the Trust to deliver Personal Development lessons for our students to remind them of the impact that knives can have on individuals, families, and communities. 

On Thursday 23^rd November, we will be having a ‘Wear Purple Day’ to raise money for the charity. 

We ask that students contribute £1 on the day (they of course can donate more if they are able).  Students/families that are not in a financial situation where they cannot contribute financially are still able to take part should they wish to, as this is about us standing together in Kearne and Charlie’s memory.

On the day, students can wear an item or combination of items that are purple from the following list: 

• Purple socks/tights 
• Purple shirt/polo 
• Purple hair band/bow/ribbon/accessory 
• Purple tie 

Students will still need to be in the rest of their school uniform with their purple item or items, (blazer, tie, skirt/trousers, shoes etc) and will not be permitted to have purple nails or make up/face paint. 

If your daughter is worried about anything of this nature, please encourage her to speak to her form tutor or another member of staff as well as someone at home.

Thank you in advance for your support for this cause.

Ms E Smith

DSL/Assistant Headteacher

We wanted to share some sources of support for anyone in our school community that may be dealing with grief. 

Supporting young people who are grieving | Sue Ryder

Bereavement and young people - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Child Bereavement UK

Helping someone who is experiencing grief - Mind

Dear parent/carer, 

We have been asked by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to send out this survey, to help them assess the child care needs. 

Royal Borough of Greenwich Demand for Early Years and Childcare Survey 2023 Consultation with parents and carers of children aged 0 - 14 years old, or up to 18 years old if they have a disability or additional needs. (surveymonkey.co.uk)