May I start by wishing you all a Happy New Year. The students were welcomed back to Roding Valley on Tuesday following the break and no time was wasted as they got straight back into the swing of things. On Wednesday the Year 11s were off timetable all day to embark on a range of activities to help them prepare themselves for the rigours of the examinations to come. They were given a range of support and guidance involving writing revision timetables, developing mind mapping techniques and the use of various technology applications to support their preparations. I would like to thank the teachers that were involved in the day and the Year 12 students who also offered their ideas and discussed their experiences with regard to which revision methods worked best for them. All in all a very positive day and one which will have helped the students prepare for the Pre-Public Examinations in the weeks to come and then the GCSEs in the summer. In the week before the holidays we invited a former X Factor finalist into school to perform and deliver a strong Anti-Bullying message to the students. Sam Callahan has been in the news recently highlighting his treatment at the hands of another contestant on X Factor and he gave a sterling performance outlining the need to speak out against Bullying. He worked throughout the morning and Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 all enjoyed his set in the Hall where he interspersed music with some stories of his experiences and how he encourages young people to seek support if they feel that they are being victimised. The feedback from the students was excellent and whilst they thoroughly enjoyed meeting Sam, I believe that they also took on board the message that he was promoting. I would like to wish Ellie Blundy and Ella Margetts, both from Year 8, the very best of luck as they are taking part in the next round of the Future Chefs competition on Monday 11th January. This will be taking place at Passmores School and I am sure that the competition will be fierce. Both girls performed superbly in the last round so I wish them every success next week and hope that they enjoy the competition. Finally I would like mention the football fixtures that have been taking place this week. The Year 9s did well to beat West Hatch 3 - 2 on the astroturf. A good performance and they are through to the next round of the District Cup. Unfortunately the Year 8s were pipped in a tough encounter with St Bonaventures. A penalty in the last 5 minutes consigned them to a 1 - 0 defeat but they certainly put up a fight against very powerful opposition. However, I would like to congratulate the Year 7 boys' Football team who are into the Semi-Finals of the County Cup Competition. This week they defeated a strong side representing Albany School 3 - 1. It was an outstanding team performance but special mention should be made of the impressive display from Micah Newton who scored an excellent hat-trick. I know that Mr Hudgell has very high hopes for this team and with continued hard work I very much hope that they can go all the way in the competition.
J Luck Headteacher
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From the School Governors Firstly, may I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2016. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday and are looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of the new term. In December the Full Governing Body met to review the Autumn Term and look forward to the Spring Term. We received an update on developments at our meeting and would like to highlight the tremendous amount of work being undertaken by both teaching and support staff to encourage all students to reach their potential, both academically and in extra-curricular activities. We also dealt with the required business of Governing Bodies such as approving school policies, reviewing our own training needs and updating the specific roles of individual Governors. In addition, we recently sought the help of the Standards and Excellence Co-ordinator at Essex County Council to review our own work and self-evaluation to ensure that we are providing the best possible service that we can to the school. We are hoping to appoint someone with PR and fundraising experience to the Governing Body and I am writing separately to all parents/guardians about this. I do hope you will consider if you can help us. Paul Wershof Chair of Governors
Livvy and family would like to say a BIG thank you to all those who helped raise approx. ÂŁ400.00 for Great Ormond Street Hospital with the sale of the very cute snowmen. Much appreciated.
Parents of Year 9 – Year 12 Date for your diary The Roding Valley High School Annual Careers Fest will be on Thursday January 28th 2016 from 3.30-6.30pm at Epping Forest College. The careers fest is for parents and students in year 9 through to Year 12. The Careers Fest gives students in year 9 the opportunity to find out about future career pathways and to consider their option choices and subjects they wish to take in year 10. The information and advice available on the evening is very important for Years 10, 11 and 12 students who are making decisions about careers and further education. It is an opportunity to talk to future sixth forms, colleges, universities and employers. This will be our sixth consortium careers fair held at Epping Forest College, every year it has been a very professional and successful event and this year there are already over 65 exhibitors attending including lots of new national and local employers as well as local sixth forms, colleges and universities. Further details will be available to you nearer the time.
Application Deadlines
Roding Valley – Friday 15th January
Trinity – Wednesday 20th January West Hatch – Friday 29th January Davenant – Friday 29th January
APPLICATION PROCESS TO OTHER SIXTH FORMS AND COLLEGE HAS CHANGED Epping Forest College have changed their application process – they would now like students to apply direct to them, there is no deadline date, however to ensure a place on the course you would like to apply for, applications should be sent to the college no later than the end of February 2016. ALL APPLICATIONS TO OTHER SIXTH FORMS AND COLLEGES NEED TO BE SENT DIRECT TO THEM BY THEIR DEADLINE DATES.
If you require any further information or advice please contact me. Kind regards Mrs Mason Careers Development Manager dmason@rodingvalley.net
Maths Support Monday & Friday After school in M5 Maths Club Tuesday & Thursday Lunchtime in M3
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
School Shop Opening Times Before School: 8.30am - 9.00am Break: 11.00am - 11.20am Lunch: 1.20pm - 2.05pm After School: 3.05pm - 4.00pm
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
STUDENTS WILL NOT BE SERVED OUTSIDE THESE HOURS
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
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.
Week ending 11th December 2015 Year 7 Highest Attendance
7R
Form with the Highest Honours
7Q
Student with the Highest Honours Evie Prasse 7T Class of the week
7qt/Sc2 nominated by Ms Wybrant for presenting fantastic revision posters and presentations in class.
Year 8 Highest Attendance
8Q
Form with the Highest Honours
8W
Student with the Highest Honours Cherise Barone 8V Class of the week
8u/Hi1 nominated by Ms Preston – everyone worked under their own steam on a range of tasks, for the entire time. Very impressed indeed!
Year 9 Highest Attendance
9R
Form with the Highest Honours
9U
Class of the Week: (last week of term)
9ux/Fr3 nominated by Ms Langlet for working really hard to complete their questions using their vocab and their spice up sheet!
Class of the Week
9V/Gg1 nominated by Ms Stockings for being incredibly focused and hard-working during their feedback and closing the gap for their exam
Year 10 Highest Attendance
10R
Form with the Highest Honours
10X
Student with the Highest Honours Ben Botterman 10T Class of the week
10a/MaEA nominated by Mr Vermaak for working extremely hard and showing real dedication 10b/Ar1 nominated by Mr Baidoo
Year 11 Highest Attendance
11T
Form with the Highest Honours
11W
Students of the Week
Tilly Kelly 11Q & Ellis Simmonds 11T nominated by Mr Murray for sustained hard work in Psychology Chloe Jeakins 11Q nominated by Mrs Lafferty for being focused, hardworking and motivated Amy Hunt 11T, Jake Forecast 11R, Olivia Leighton 11Q, Michaela O’Brien 11R & Nafisa Darr 11Q nominated by Mr Poovilingham for excellent effort in doing science intervention
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. If you can help please contact Bill McNally or John Ryan in the science department. Many thanks for your co-operation. The Science Dept
100 Club Christmas 2015 Winners were: 1st - Mrs M Riaz £100 2nd - Mrs T Dolan £60 3rd - Mrs J Truman £40
The library will be hosting a Harry Po er Book Night event after school on Thursday 4th February until about 6.00 pm. It will be open to students in Year 7 and Year 8. Students who are interested in attending this celebration of the Harry Potter series should come to the library and put their names down on the sign-up sheets. Students can speak to the librarian if they have any questions about the event.
Be there or be a muggle!
Christmas Hampers Before Christmas, Mr Murray arranged for the Year 12 students to collect items for 3 Christmas hampers which were to help 3 local families. Each tutor group collected for an individual family. The students successfully gathered food items and toys which were gratefully received on behalf of the Little Oaks Children’s Centre. The Centre was overwhelmed by the gifts from Roding Valley High School and managed to spread both the gifts and the cheer to 10 families. Since their visit to the centre some of the Year 12 students have said they would like to volunteer there if any opportunity should arise. Below is an email Mr Harris received from the centre.
“Thank you and the students so much for all the hampers and presents. We are amazed at their generosity. We have managed to give 10 families either a hamper or small gift which is wonderful! We would like to see if the local paper (Guardian Gazette and maybe Everything Epping Forest) would be willing to print a news article stating the above and how this has helped local families for whom Christmas is a struggle. Thank you again Kind Regards Corinne Wilson Family Support & Outreach Worker, Little Oaks Children's Centre, Torrington Drive, Loughton, Essex, IG10 3TD”
YEAR 11 PARENTS Please note there will be Mathematics GCSE examinations in January 2016 for a small group of selected students. Please see below the generic timetable for these examinations. The selected students will have received their individual timetables via their form tutor and have been printed on bright green paper. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me Jenny Draper Examinations Officer Roding Valley High School GCSE EXAMINATION TIMETABLE JANUARY 2016 - FINAL Morning Sessions Start 9AM
Duration
Date
Afternoon Sessions Start 1.30PM
Duration
Monday 11th January 2016 Edexcel Certificate in Maths - Calculator (1F/3H)
2hrs
Tuesday 19th January 2016 Edexcel Certificate in Maths Paper - Calculator (2F/4H)
2hrs
Due to circumstances beyond our control examination dates may be subject to change at the Examination Boards discretion. This is a generic timetable and students must refer to their individual timetables for precise timings of examinations relevant to them.
Good luck to Ellie Blundy and Ella Margetts in year 8 who are representing the school at the next round of the Future Chef cooking competition at Passmores school on
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.
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
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
ICT Coursework Sessions Every Tuesday Lunchtime with Miss Wilson in ICT4
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 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
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
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.
Supported Homework Club Learning Zone Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 3.05pm - 3.40pm Everyone welcome A drink and biscuit are provided
Piano Lessons To book piano lessons please contact rosswall@gmail.com
Drum Lessons One to One, Two to One and Small Group lessons available.
Singing Lessons Private singing lessons are now available. Please contact Alex Larke for more details and to book your slot. email: alex@thevocaltutor.com
Learn with your friends! Contact: marksevel@hotmail.com
Guitar Lessons 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.
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.