Last night we had a very well attended Year 9 Options Evening. Our curriculum, and therefore our options, have changed this year. This is in response to recent government changes. Students who are currently in Year 9 will be the first year group to have their English and Maths GCSE’s graded on the new 1-9 grade scale (9 being the highest grade). Students in Year 9 will also face much more challenging GCSE’s with more content and less coursework. Parental feedback about the options process has been hugely positive. Roding Valley students have once again shown themselves to be mature, polite and well informed when making their choices. One thing that the Government hasn’t changed is the importance of literacy. The new GCSE’s all focus heavily on the students’ literacy skills. We have done huge amounts of work to improve the quality and regularity of homework in order to improve student’s literacy and ultimately their progress. Parents can also contribute to student progress by ensuring that they are reading regularly. I would recommend that students read for at least thirty minutes every night as this is the best way to improve literacy skills. Students at Roding Valley are continuing to make fantastic progress. Last year the Government removed the option for schools to enter students for exams repeatedly in order to improve their results. This has had a negative impact on GCSE results nationally. We are, however, delighted that recent reports in the local press have identified that Roding Valley is bucking this trend. We were in fact the only comprehensive school in West Essex to show an improvement in GCSE results in 2014. This is testament to the hard work of our students, their parents and Roding Valley staff and we are confident that results will improve again this summer. May I remind students in Year 10 that Work Experience Own Placement Forms are due in by Friday 27th February. It is important that these forms are received by Mr Murray fully completed in order for students to embark on their work experience later in the year. Huge congratulations must go to Patsy Stow 7V for winning the RIBI Young Chef District Final after cooking up a menu to make anyone’s mouth water (Chicken Jalfrezi followed by Tiramisu). We all wish her luck as she heads to the Regional Final in March. And congratulations go to Matthew Tinker for being elected to the UK Youth Parliament after taking his seat on the Young Essex Assembly. I wish you all a very enjoyable half term break. Mr A Dixon Deputy Headteacher
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Food Technology are proud to announce that Patsy Stow 7V has won the RIBI Young Chef District Final. She will now go through to the Regional Final in Hertfordshire on 14th March. We all wish her the very best of luck.
MEDIA RELEASE Roding Valley High School student takes his seat on Essex Young Assembly and is elected to UK Youth Parliament A Roding Valley High School student has been elected to the UK Youth Parliament after taking his seat on the newlyelected Young Essex Assembly (YEA). Matthew Tinker is one of some 75 young people from across Essex elected to the YEA - the county’s youth council - in December. The new members, all aged between 11 and 19, had their inaugural sitting at County Hall, Chelmsford, last weekend. Matthew is among 12 members of the UK Youth Parliament from Essex elected from the Essex Young Assembly members. He will represent the Epping Forest district. Matthew, 14, will serve as a Deputy Member of Youth Parliament (DMYP) and for 2016-17 will become a full member of the UKYP and serve as an MYP for the district. He said: “Over the next two years I would like to tackle two important issues for young people: stress and volunteering. “Stress can be many issues such as exam stress. “Young people do need to revise for tests but they also need a social life to be a full and rounded person. “Volunteering is an important issue for me as I am a volunteer. I would like more young people involved in voluntary work. “At Epping Forest Youth Council we launched new volunteering tube map guides which has made it easier for young people to become volunteers. But volunteers under the age of 16 can be at a disadvantage because of issues with employer's insurance. “As an MYP (2016-17), I would like to talk to MPs to make it easier for young people to get involved with the community by asking companies and organisations to accept young volunteers.” He added: “As a member of UKYP for the Epping Forest district, I would like to represent the views and opinions of young people from Epping Forest, Essex and the whole of the United Kingdom. “To be given an opportunity to represent my peers at a national level of youth democracy is a real privilege. Roding Valley High School Headteacher James Luck said: "Matthew is a first rate student. He is hard working and has a real drive to succeed. He is friendly, outgoing and is well liked and respected by students and staff alike. I'm sure he'll do a superb job in his post. “As a school we are very proud of him." Essex County Council education and lifelong learning cabinet member Ray Gooding said: “It was fantastic to meet with the Young Essex Assembly and I look forward to working with them over the next two years. “The YEA has a crucial role to play in providing a link between young people and local government. Having witnessed the passion and enthusiasm of the new members first hand, the views of young people in Essex are in safe hands.” Essex County Council chairman Norman Hume said: “The Young Essex Assembly plays a pivotal role in democracy in Essex. “It was excellent meeting the new members and I was very impressed by the thought-provoking questions they posed to myself and my fellow councillors. “It was particularly pleasing to see young people show such a strong desire to make a positive contribution to their communities and I wish them all the best for their terms of office.” The YEA sits six times a year, while its sub groups also meet regularly. The next sitting is Saturday April 11.
Year 7 Day Trip to France If your child has been allocated a place on the day trip to St. Omer on Friday 3 July 2015, the sum of ÂŁ46 should be paid to student reception or via ParentPay by Friday 27 February. Should your child no longer wish to go on the trip, please inform the visit organiser at nchambers@rodingvalley.net
YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE OWN PLACEMENT FORMS DEADLINE IS FRIDAY 27TH FEBRUARY ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY! ALL SECTIONS OF THE FORM MUST BE COMPLETED OR THE FORM WILL BE RETURNED TO YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER Mr Murray
ENGLISH Speaking and Listening appointment letters are going out this week to all Year 11 IGCSE Cambridge students. Parents should take note of the date and encourage students to prepare seriously for this exam as it forms 20% of their final English grade. There is a workshop session for all Year 11 Cambridge candidates on 3rd March from 3-4.30. All should attend. Ms Routledge Head of English
Week ending 6th February 2015 Year 7 Highest Attendance
7X
Pupil with Highest Honours
Chloe Brown 7T
Form with Highest Honours
7T
Pupil of the Week
Lily Godleman 7Q nominated by Ms Smith for particularly fantastic homework
Class of the Week
7uv/Pe1 nominated by Miss Hudson for working exceptionally well on their gymnastics routine And 7qt/Ma5 nominated by Miss Smith for pure effort in Maths. And 7W/Hu nominated by Mrs Bentley for their improved effort, attitude and work ethic since January. And 7qt/MaCA nominated by Ms Hall for the quality of powerpoints, posters & videos for revision
Year 8 Highest Attendance
8T
Pupil with Highest Honours
Mahnoor Anjum 8R
Form with Highest Honours
8Q
Year 9 Highest Attendance
9Q
Pupil with Highest Honours
Grace Horsford 9U
Form with Highest Honours
9U
Year 10 Highest Attendance
10Q
Form with Highest Honours
10R
Pupil of the Week
Danielle Benattar 10Q for her hard work and determination in Science And Jake Honeywood 10S nominated for his improvement in Maths
Class of the Week
10ACa1 nominated by Mrs Goosen And: 10B/Gg1 nominated by Mrs Barron And: 10b/Core1 nominated by Mr Bedi
Year 11 Highest Attendance
11T
Form with Highest Honours
11X
Supported Homework Club Learning Zone Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 3.05pm - 3.40pm Everyone welcome A drink and biscuit are provided
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. Bottled water is sold at all outlets Large bottle 50p Small bottle 25p
ICT Coursework Sessions Every Friday Lunchtime With Miss Wilson in ICT4
If a student is overdrawn or has no money on their lunch account, they will always be sold water.
Maths Support
Monday, Wednesday & Friday After school M5
Maths Club
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
Tuesday & Thursday Lunchtime M3
Student Absence If your child is unable to attend School for any reason then please report their absence by phoning the school number by 9.30am, you must also ring in each day of your child’s absence.
020 8508 1173 On their return to School please ensure your child brings with them a letter 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 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 020 8508 1173.
Drop in times for Students with Special Educational Needs This year we are trialling some drop in times for parents of SEN students to enable you to discuss your son/ daughter's progress in detail. We will be available at the following times: Mondays 10-11am
Wednesdays 10-11am
Thursdays 2.15-3pm
Please email me to book one of these times, or an alternative time if these are inconvenient, at asmith@rodingvalley.net
Drum Lessons One to One, Two to One and Small Group lessons available. Learn with your friends! Learn to play the drums from as little as £5 per week Contact: jameswelsted@hotmail.co.uk
Guitar Lessons Lessons slots are available on Mondays with lessons priced at £12 per half hour. Please contact Steve van Niekerk on vn.steve.vn@gmail.com if you are interested.
www.jwdrums.co.uk
School Shop Opening Times
LIBRARY OPENING TIMES
Before School: 8.30am - 9.00am
The library is open to all students for homework , G.C.S.E. work and private study / reading at the following times :
Break: 11.00am - 11.20am Lunch: 1.20pm - 2.05pm After School: 3.05pm - 4.00pm PUPILS WILL NOT BE SERVED OUTSIDE THESE HOURS
Monday - Friday (excluding Tuesday): Before school 7.15 am – 8.30 am , break time , lunch times and after school for homework club 3.15 pm – 4.15 pm. Tuesday: Before school 7.15 am - 8.10 am , break time and lunch times. Access for early opening is via the door by resources. Julia Martin / Stephen Murray
Singing Lessons Private singing lessons are now available. Please contact Gemma Kirk for more details and to book your slot. email: g.kirk_88@hotmail.com