We are well into the swing of the new term and it really has been a very positive start. The students look great in their uniforms and are working hard in their lessons. I have visited many classes over the last two weeks and I am delighted to see the students' thirst for knowledge. We have the highest expectations of all students and we work hard to ensure that every individual is driven to reach their targets whichever year group they are in. Our focus is very much on student progress and it has been lovely to give out so many awards and certificates in assemblies this week celebrating the impressive levels of progress that the students made last academic year. It was great to see so many parents of Year 10 students at the Parent Information Evening yesterday. It was a chance for Mrs Jenner to review the changes to the nature of GCSEs that the students will be taking in 2018. Mr Vermaak and Mrs Routledge then outlined the demands of the new Maths and English courses before Ms Dyer provided a range of suggestions to help parents support their sons and daughters to achieve highly. We are well aware that public examinations are more challenging than ever and it can be a stressful time for all concerned. We want to provide as much support as possible for the students and parents as I believe that by working together we can ensure that every individual is given the best opportunities to succeed. With this in mind I would like to mention two important events being held next week. On Wednesday the 21st we have the UCAS evening for Year 13 students and their parents. This an opportunity for the students to receive valuable advice about the process of university applications and gain an insight into maximising their chances of getting into the university of their choice. This will take place in the Sixth Form Study Centre starting at 5pm. Then on Thursday 22nd we are holding Parent Information evenings for Year 8 and 12. These will be held in the Hall with the Year 8 presentation starting at 5pm and the Year 12 session beginning at 6.30pm. I would urge as many parents as possible to come along as there is a huge amount of vital information that will be provided. I would also like to mention the Music Concert on Thursday 8th September. This was chance for a number of students to perform in front of an audience and people have said that the quality of the performers was higher than ever. I would like to thank Mr Savage and his team for organising the evening and supporting the students. I very much look forward to the next concert later in the term. Have a lovely weekend James Luck Headteacher
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The governing body met on 8 September We send our congratulations to all our students who did so well in their public exams. We also send our congratulations to all our staff who worked so hard to help them achieve their success. We are very proud of the entire RVHS family. Paul Wershof (Chair) and Tony Barritt ( Vice-Chair) were elected for 2016/17. Paul Wershof. HUMANITIES NEWS For the Attention of parents of year 8 and year 9 Geography, History and RE students: Please note that from September 2016 students in Humanities subjects are no longer taught in their form groups and are now in mixed teaching groups, all completing the same courses and the same exams. These are not sets, rather, they have been numbered for identification purposes within our timetables. The Humanities Faculty aims to stretch, challenge and support all of our students and we continue to maintain our high expectations of students' behaviour, attitude to learning, achievement and homework. Miss Preston Head of Humanities
RODING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SUPPORTING MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 T1 AT BREAK TIME ALL REFRESHMENTS & CAKE 50p each. ALL STUDENTS WELCOME—COME ALONG AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Piano Lessons: To book piano lessons please contact rosswall@gmail.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 Drum Lessons: One to One, Two to One and Small Group lessons available. Learn with your friends! Contact: marksevel@hotmail.com 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.
Thursday 8th September saw the first music concert of the year. It was an eclectic mix of different genres and instruments. The evening began with an impressive performance of Beethoven's 'Moonlight' Sonata (3rd Movement) from Kaelin Dignam and ended with a beautiful and powerful rendition of The Writing's On The Wall from Tyne Brownlie. Students from years 8-11 filled the rest of the concert with style, a highlight being Eva Randall's take on Radiohead's Creep performed with voice and piano. Well done to all the students involved. The overall quality was excellent. Jon Savage, Head of Creative Arts Dear Parent/Guardian As you may be aware, ParentPay have now changed their website, but with this comes an extra step that needs to be completed in order to update your child’s online School Meals & Trips Account. Once you have uploaded an amount to “your account” you then need to complete the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Once you are on your home screen it should appear in the top right hand corner “your account” with the value that you have just topped up Under your child’s name, select “pay for items” It will then give you a list of all items you are able to pay for. Please click “view details and pay” next to your chosen item A box will then appear and in the “edit amount” box please enter the value you would like to add to your child’s lunch/trip account
Please be advised that if the above steps are not completed the money will not appear on your child’s account. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the finance office who will be pleased to help you with your query. Kind Regards Karen Salmons finance@rodingvalley.net 02085081173 Finance option 3
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
You can follow us at www.rodingvalley.net and on Facebook at the ‘Roding Valley High School Official’ page. Our Twitter (@RodingValleyHS) account is a great place to keep up to date with some of the latest news and activities in school. You can also sign up to our free electronic media release service at rodingvalleymedia@gmail.com
Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10
Highest Attendance
7S & 7Y
Form with the highest Honours
7Q
Student with the highest Honours
Jake Jones 7Q
Highest Attendance
8S & 8Y
Form with the highest Honours
8T
Student with the highest Honours
Oliver Rolfe 8T
Highest Attendance
9R
Form with the highest Honours
9S
Student with the highest Honours
Remarlo Rapier 9S
Highest Attendance
10R
Form with the highest Honours
10V
Student with the highest Honours
Jack Albertsen 10R
Student of the week
Class of the week
Gavin Ip 10W, Farah Baldwin 10S & Max Tankard 10W nominated by Mr Tisdale for completing pencil drawings of the very highest standard. Armon Shams 10V nominated by Mrs Lafferty for brilliant effort, attitude and determination. 10D/Hi1 & 10B/Hi1 nominated by Mr Cocker for working really hard on a difficult topic and completing all their homework on time and to a really good standard – Excellent start to Year 10! 10A/En5 nominated by Mrs Lafferty for staying on task and doing the work to the best of their ability – Very good first impression! 10C/Hi1 nominated by Mrs Preston for being motivated, hardworking, positive and helpful. 10B/Sc3 nominated by Mrs Patel for their hard-working attitude and excellent participation in class.
Year 11
Highest Attendance
11W
Form with the highest Honours
11S
Student with the highest Honours
Lily Foster 11T
Real Madrid Football Tour - Easter 2017 After last year’s successful trip to Valencia, we are running another trip, this time to Madrid. We will be departing on the 1st April for 5 days. The trip will include training sessions at Real Madrid's training facilities, a game against a local team, a visit to Warner Brothers theme park, a stadium tour of the Bernabeu and the students will go and watch Real Madrid play. The tour is open to all Year 8, 9 & 10 students, no matter what their previous playing experience. If you wish your son/daughter to be in with a chance of a place on this trip, then please ensure that a deposit payment of £165 is handed into student reception by next Friday (23rd September). Mr Jones
ATTENDANCE MATTERS….. 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 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.
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 If a student is overdrawn or has no money on their lunch account, they will always be sold water.