This week it has been the turn of our Year 8s to sit their formal assessments. This has entailed them completing written examinations in the Hall under supervision. This has been a new experience for many of our students but the intention is to help them prepare for their external exams in the future. It is vital that all students get into good study habits early on in their school career and it will continue to support them to hone their skills in this respect. As parents/ guardians please do try to give your sons and daughters as much help as you can when they are revising. Discussing their work with you and you going through and testing their knowledge are great ways to reinforce their learning and with the support that they receive in school it will help them to make excellent progress. A very big well done to the Year 7 football team. This season the Year 7s have been outstanding against a range of opposition and Mr Hudgell has been full of praise for their teamwork, camaraderie and talent. This week they defeated a strong Phillip Morrant team in Colchester in the semi-final of the Essex Schools' Competition and now go on to face Great Baddow High School in the final. They were thoroughly deserving of their 1 - 0 victory and I'm looking forward to seeing them in the final. Thank you to Mr Hudgell for his hard work with the team. It would be a fantastic effort for the Year 7s to be crowned the best team in the county at their age group. When we know where the final will be played I very much hope that we can take along a lot of support to cheer the boys on. Also congratulations must go to Ella Margetts whose name has been mentioned in this column on several occasions. Last week though, Ella was victorious in the RIBI Young Chefs Competition District Final which is a tremendous achievement. She faced a very high standard of competition but now goes through to the Regional Finals in April where we wish her every success. I would also like to mention Arin and Azra Ozerin both of whom are in Year 7. I am delighted to say that both students represented Essex in the 12 Counties Tennis Championships last month. It is wonderful that we have so many talented individuals in the school and they act as such superb ambassadors for us. Well done to them both. Finally I mentioned two weeks ago that much of our students' work was being displayed at the Loughton Arts Centre on the High Street in an exhibition showcasing students' Artwork and Photography. Very well done to Geidre Sulcaite and Lily Smith who received first and second prizes respectively from the Mayor. There was very stiff competition from other schools but Roding Valley students came out on top again. Have a good weekend. J Luck Headteacher
You can follow us at www.rodingvalley.net , on Facebook at the ‘Roding Valley High School Official’ page or on Twitter (@RodingValleyHS). You can also sign up to our free electronic media release service at rodingvalleymedia@gmail.com
Dear Parents/Guardians As we are entering the worst term for illness we would like to bring to your attention our medical arrangements. The school does not have a school nurse on site, all the students are assessed by the admin staff who are first aid trained. Only minor ailments can be treated. We do offer the facility of offering your child a Paracetamol but only when we have verbal authorisation from yourselves. Please ensure if you send your child to school and they have taken any Paracetamol product you make us aware of that during the conversation. If your child has a medical condition which needs monitoring in school please speak to their Head of Year in the first instance so the correct procedures can be put in place. Thanks for your support in this matter.
Well done to Ella Margetts 8U, who won the District Final of the RIBI Young Chef Competition last Saturday and is now through to the Regional Finals in April. The school are extremely proud of you!!! Year 11 GCSE Art & Photography All students have now been issued their exam paper. Students must be completing regular homework, planning and preparation for this exam project up until their practical exam at the end of April 2016. Please speak to your child about this and encourage your child to complete homework, planning and prep work for their exam project so that they know you are aware that they should be doing work at home. Feel free to contact your child's teacher should you have any further queries. Thanks. Mrs S Costello
Y7 Rugby The Year 7 Rugby team entered the West Essex & Harlow Schools’ Competition this week at Wanstead RFC. The boys gave their best despite the cold weather. We improved as the tournament went on. Good competition for the boys.
Rugby Team at the RFU rugby festival at Wanstead RFC. 9/2/16
Mr Bailey
Year 7 Football The year 7 (boys) football team made it through to the Essex Cup final beating Phillip Morrant (away) 0-1. The boys listed below have been an absolute pleasure to coach this year and thoroughly deserve further praise for this achievement. The boys were treated to McDonalds for their efforts and are now awaiting the notification of the venue for the final against Great Baddow High School. Now let's go and be the best Yr7 football team in Essex!!! Roll on the final!!!!
Rio Gordon Tommy Harrison Toby Hamid Tom Callagher Joe Marjason Mack Stapleton Alfie Sergent Edward Johnstone Jay Daniels-Hamerston Oliver Rolfe Micah Newton Nathan Walter Mr Hudgell
Key Stage 4 Arts Awards A selection of Key Stage 4 art and photography work has recently been displayed at the Loughton Arts Centre in an exhibition showcasing the talents of students from local schools. On Tuesday 9th February prizes were awarded to two of our Year 11 students for their outstanding work. Pictured below are Lily Smith receiving a certificate and a 2nd prize cheque for £25 from the Loughton Mayor for her 3D elephant and Geidre Sulcaite receiving a prize of £50 for her peacock painting.
I’d also like to say congratulations to all of the other students whose work was exhibited and seen by so many members of the local community. Our next display at the Arts Centre will be the main ‘Summer Exhibition’ of GCSE work beginning Saturday 25th June for 2 weeks. Mr D Tisdale Head of Art
Week ending 12th February 2016
Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
Highest Attendance
7S
Form with the Highest Honours
7T
Student with the Highest Honours
Tommy Grieve 7U
Highest Attendance
8R
Form with the Highest Honours
8Q
Student with the Highest Honours
Chiara Giambona 8S
Highest Attendance
9X
Form with the Highest Honours
9R
Student with the Highest Honours
Joseph Arnold 9U
Class of the week
Highest Attendance
10T
Form with the Highest Honours
10Q
Student with the Highest Honours
Santiago Aldridge 10S
Highest Attendance
11S & 11T
Form with the Highest Honours
11Q
Student of the week
Ben Broder 11S nominated by Mr Tisdale for his approach to his art classes recently and doing extra work during lunchtimes
Class of the week
9uv/Fd2 nominated by Mrs Goosen for outstanding work during a food tech lesson
11b/ScA2 nominated by Mr Patel for being an absolute joy to teach! 11b/Sc3 nominated by Ms Patel for working hard and making progress in their last assessment – Well done, keep up the good work! 11a/Sc4 nominated by Ms Patel for having a mature approach towards their last assessment and working hard to achieve their potential – Well Done!
Drop in times for Students with Special Educational Needs Drop in times for parents of SEN students are to enable you to discuss your son/ daughter's progress in detail. We will be available at the following times: Mondays 11.20am—12.20pm Wednesdays 12.20pm—1.20pm Thursdays 10.00am—11.00am Please email me to book one of these times, or an alternative time if these are inconvenient, at asmith@rodingvalley.net
School Website Please visit our school website to find details of any recent letters home, the Student Bulletin and previous copies of the Parent Bulletin www.rodingvalley.net
YEAR 12 PARENTS Please be aware that PPEs will be taking place for all Year 12 students the week after half term. Your son/daughter has been issued with a timetable showing exam dates/times/rooms/seat number personal to them. Timetables have been printed on BRIGHT PINK paper. Please also see below a generic overview of the exams that are taking place. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me,. Jenny Draper Examinations Officer Roding Valley High School
Year 10 Work Experience Key Update All paperwork for privately organised own placements are due in by the end of February. Could this be brought in when Mr Murray returns to work and given directly to him or given in to Mrs Martin in the school library - please do not give them to any other member of staff. Students needing a placement from the school via the BEP database will make their selections with Mr Murray in February and March. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter - Mr S Murray
ICT Coursework Sessions Every Tuesday Lunchtime with Miss Wilson in ICT4
Guitar Lessons Lessons slots are available on Mondays with lessons priced at ÂŁ12 per half hour. Please contact Steve van Niekerk on vn.steve.vn@gmail.com if you are interested.
Maths Support Monday & Friday After school in M5 Maths Club Tuesday & Thursday Lunchtime in M3
Dear Parent/Guardian Our Immunisation Nurses will be visiting the school to administer the Meningitis ACWY vaccination. The vaccinations will take place on the following dates:Yr9 girls 10th March 2016 Yr10 girls 14th March 2016
Yr9 boys 20th May 2016 Yr10 boys 17th March 2016
The consent form and information leaflet will come home via students approximately 6 weeks before the vaccination is due. Please ensure the consent form is returned to the school immediately. The health authority require all forms to be returned, even if your son/daughter is not having the vaccination (please either write on the form you do not wish your son/daughter to have the vaccination or attach a note on the consent form). This will avoid your son/daughter being recalled at a later date.
You can follow us at www.rodingvalley.net and on Facebook at the ATTENDANCE MATTERS….. ‘Roding Valley High School Official’ page. Student Absence
Our Twitter (@RodingValleyHS) account is a great place to keep up tochild date some of the latest and activities in report school. If your is with unable to attend School fornews any reason then please their absence by phoning the school number by 9.30am, you must also ring in You can upabsence. to our free electronic media release service at each day of also your sign child’s
rodingvalleymedia@gmail.com
020 8508 1173 On their return to School please ensure your child brings with them a letter or medical evidence if requested explaining the reason for the absence for our records. Medical Appointments When possible please make sure you make any medical or dental appointments outside of school time. If this is not possible then please try to ensure that your child attends before and/or after their appointment Holidays in Term Time It is not school policy to authorise any holidays during term time except in exceptional circumstances. If you put in a holiday request a ‘Leave of Absence’ form must be completed (these are available at Student Reception). Please be aware if the absence is not authorised and the holiday is taken, the case may be referred to the Education Welfare Service who may issue a Penalty Notice for £120 (or £60 if paid within 21 days) to each parent for each child taken out of school. For full details regarding attendance please see our Attendance Policy which can be found in the ‘Parents’ section on our website or contact Mrs Jeanette Low our Attendance Officer on the school number. Guidance for Common Ailments Please see, on the following page, guidance from the NHS of common childhood illnesses; this advises what type of illness requires time off from school and what does not. Should you require further guidance please contact the school.
New Year New Freezer?????? If this is your new year resolution and your old freezer is still working the Science Department would dearly love to have it. We will arrange for collection and of course save you the bother of getting rid of the old one.
A plea for magazines and mirrors Mrs Costello in the Art Dept. would love any old magazines particularly fashion magazines such as Elle, Vogue etc. for a Y11 project on fashion and clothing.
If you can help please contact Bill McNally or John Ryan in the science department.
Similarly any mirrors (small compact mirrors, large mirrors, broken mirrors) for a Yr11 project on reflections.
Many thanks for your co-operation. The Science Dept
Please pass on any donations to the Art Dept. Thank you!
Needed! Any unwanted good quality badged uniform, skirts especially, for the PTA to sell on at a huge reduction. Good quality used uniform is always available from the school from 3.15pm - 4.15pm daily.
Attention all RVHS students Send photos of yourself reading a book or Kindle to Mrs Martin at: jmartin@rodingvalley.net and see your picture(s) on our @RVgetcaughtreading Twitter feed. The more weird & wacky the better! Mrs Martin, School Librarian
Letters home to parents/guardians The school is endeavouring to become more environmentally friendly by sending home all letters to parents/guardians electronically rather than using so much paper. To this end we have sent letters home with students asking for all parents/guardians to confirm their email addresses. Could we ask you to complete the slip at the bottom of the letter and return it to Student Reception by the last day of this term. Thank you.
LIBRARY OPENING TIMES The library is open to all students for homework, G.C.S.E. work and private study/reading at the following times: Monday - Friday (excluding Tuesday): Before school 7.15am – 8.30am, break time, lunch times & after school for homework club 3.15pm – 4.15pm. Tuesday: Before school 7.15am - 8.10am, break time and lunch times. Access for early opening is via the door by resources.
School Shop Opening Times
Access to Water in School Parents, please be aware that the canteen has jugs of water available both during lunchtime and break time for all students to access.
Before School: 8.30am - 9.00am Break: 11.00am - 11.20am
Bottled water is sold at all outlets Large bottle 50p Small bottle 25p
Lunch: 1.20pm - 2.05pm After School: 3.05pm - 4.00pm STUDENTS WILL NOT BE SERVED OUTSIDE THESE HOURS
If a student is overdrawn or has no money on their lunch account, they will always be sold water.
PE Twitter Account The PE department have activated a Twitter account where regular PE updates, extra-curricular news and curriculum information will be regularly published. Follow @RodingValleyPE to keep up to date with our department. Mr Hudgell The Humanities Faculty has a Twitter account designed to promote sites of interest, pre-reading, revision, humanities information, news and general humanities support. It is aimed at all KS3, KS4 and A-level Humanities Students and can be followed @humsrvhs
Students are regularly coming into school with cheques with the payee being left blank Can you please ensure that all cheques are made payable to
Roding Valley High School The school cannot be held responsible for any cheques which go missing and are then cashed elsewhere
Drum Lessons One to One, Two to One and Small Group lessons available. Learn with your friends! Contact: marksevel@hotmail.com
Singing Lessons Private singing lessons are now available. Please contact Alex Larke for more details and to book your slot. email: alex@thevocaltutor.com
Piano Lessons To book piano lessons please contact rosswall@gmail.com
Supported Homework Club Learning Zone Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 3.05pm - 3.40pm Everyone welcome A drink and biscuit are provided