Parent Bulletin Week ending Friday 25th January 2019 by Roding Valley High School

RVHS Parent Bulletin Aspiration Respect Endeavour Week ending: Friday 25th January 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our vision is to be the school of choice for our local community, developing successful young people with high aspirations, who show respect for all and endeavour to become the very best that they can be.â&#x20AC;?

Message from the Head of School

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On Thursday we held our Year 9 Parents Evening, I would like to thank all of the parents that attended. It was a very positive evening and the next key date is the Year 9 Options Evening on the 7th February. The Option Booklets will be distributed next week, a letter has been sent home with full details and is also included within this bulletin. Please can I remind parents that it is the Careers Fest this Thursday 31st January from 3pm to 6pm, held at New City College, Epping Forest. This is a fantastic opportunity and one not to be missed. Every year this event gets better and better, you can expect over 60 exhibitors, including JPMorgan, Army Careers, Police, NHS, Capita and Galliard Homes. This evening should appeal to our Year 9s as they consider their options, Year 10s & 11s as they consider their post 16 options and our Sixth Formers who may be considering higher level apprenticeships and their university choices. It is one not to be missed.

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If you are a Year 7 parent and would like your child to attend the residential trip to Mersea Island in July, then you will need to return your Trip Form as soon as possible. Details of the trip are further on in the bulletin. I trust that you all received an invite to our Parent Forum on Monday 4th February at 6pm in the Brook Library. Please enter the school by the Brook Road entrance and make your way to the new building. The evening will be hosted by Miss Larkin, our new Assistant Headteacher responsible for Teaching and Learning. The evening will focus on revision and study skills and how you can support your child. I look forward to seeing many of you there. As this cold snap continues, please do note that we have an Alternative Weather Protocol in operation if the conditions were to be severe. Should this need to be invoked, communication will be via the website. Under this protocol, school starts at 10am and finishes at 14:20pm; this is to allow everyone in the school community to travel safely in daylight.

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Please can I ask for your continued parental support in ensuring that students are going straight home at the end of the school day. It is still getting dark very early and this in itself can cause problems with road safety. Please encourage your child to only use well-lit roads and pathways on their journey home and if possible travel with a friend. My Senior Leadership Team always patrol the station area at the end of the school day, above and beyond that expected. We want to ensure that all our students catch their buses and trains home safely. However, it is not the school’s responsibility to ensure their safety if they continue to hang around in the vicinity of the station and Sainsbury after normal travel times. The school’s expectation would be that our students would be away from these areas after 3:30pm, unless they are meeting parents or have stayed for extra–curricular activities. On a lighter note, Sophie Ellicock Williams and Jodie Humphreys, two of our Yr13 students won £160.00 each on the reboot of Blockbusters, to be shown in the Spring of 2019!! Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the bulletin. Mrs Jenner Head of School

Date

Event th

Monday 28 January

Year 12 Roadster Event

Wednesday 30 January st

Thursday 31 January

Amnesty International Talk Careers Fest @ Epping Forest College

Friday 1 February

Year 10 and 11 Spanish Conference

Monday 4 February

Year 8 Exams begin

Monday 4 February

Parent Forum@ 6pm in the Brook Building

French A Level Conference

Year 12 Cambridge University Visit

Wednesday 6 February Wednesday 6 February th

Thursday 7 February Thursday 7th February

Year 9 to 11 Intermediate Maths Challenge Harry Potter Evening@3:30pm on the Brook Library

Thursday 7 February

Year 9 Options Evening@5:30pm

Wednesday 13 February

Year 12 and 13 Parents Evening 4pm to 7pm

Parents are invited to the events that are highlighted blue.

Message from Mr. Dobson Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in’. Experience shows that students who develop resilience and never give in perform well. Students who take care of the basics enjoy academic success. We encourage all students to be on time, ready to learn, with the correct uniform and equipment. Attendance is key, 90% attendance may seem like an acceptable level of attendance but it is very much below what We demand at RVHS, the reality is that 90% attendance means that your child will miss half a school day each week or 19 days of school during the school year – that’s nearly 4 school weeks. Data suggests that young people who regularly miss school without good reason are more likely to become isolated from their friends, to underachieve in examinations and/or become involved in anti-social behaviour. We will never give in and will continue to support each other in developing resilience in our students.

Year 7 Residential Trip to Mersea Island Essex This year our Year 7 Residential Trip will be to Mersea Island, the first trip will run on 1st July to 3rd July and the second trip will be on 8th July to 10th July. Mersea Island is an outstanding residential centre, providing a very high standard of activities, staff, food and accommodation. The exciting and challenging activities are provided and led by the trained centre staff. Activities on offer include high ropes, archery, and aerial runway, off-road biking, swimming and orienteering. If you would like your son/daughter to go on the trip, the cost will be £150 for the three days, which includes activities, accommodation, food and travel. If you have not done so already, please return the completed Trip Form to Student Reception, as soon as possible. Due to popular demand for this trip, places will be allocated via a ballot. You will be notified if your son/daughter has a place and asked to pay £50 deposit payment by 15th February.

Residential Website: https://www.essexoutdoors.com/mersea.php

Theme of the Week! Next week in Assembly, our students will be asked to consider the following theme:

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars"

To keep you informed; there will be the following formal opportunities in the school year to discuss your child’s progress. These are set out below and include other important dates:  Reports Sent Out: Week of 11th February 2019  Year 7 Parents Evening: 7th March 2019

Message from Miss Errington – Challenge and Enrichment

Beyond Breakfast Club: For the last two Mondays during ‘Beyond Breakfast’, I have had the pleasure of talking to some of our fantastic high ability Year 8 students. We have been focusing on Grit, Resilience and developing a Growth Mind-set. These are skills that are integral to success inside and outside of school both now and in the future. In my role as Challenge and Enrichment Co-ordinator alongside Miss Bingham, we will be organising activities and events to enhance pupil experience here at Roding Valley. This is to encourage pupils to fulfil their potential and focus on their amazing strengths and talents! Student Review “In Beyond Breakfast Club, Miss Errington spoke to us about grit. Grit is the power of passion and perseverance and living life like it is a marathon, not a sprint. Grit is essential for achieving long-term goals. It has nothing to do with talent, intelligence, IQ or family background. Very little research has been done into how to build grit. One popular idea, however, is something called "growth mind-set". It is the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed and can be changed with effort. This is relevant in school because it shows the way to achieve high grades is through motivation and resilience. Written by Poppy Tribe Year 8

Congratulations 8a /Rs2

8/Dr2

“They did an amazing research lesson and each of them was engaged and busy - this is a new group that I took over after Christmas and I am really impressed with them. Well Done!”

“Worked brilliantly today in drama and created some really lovely monologues. I'm really looking forward to seeing them perform them for their assessments.” Nominated by Mrs Boulis

Nominated by Mrs Preston.

Message from Mr Ryan I would like to thank so many parents for attending last night’s parents evening as this is the first step in the options process. Now you have a clearer picture of where your child is on their particular Flight Path you can start to have the conversations where you can really pin-point what strengths your child has and what challenges they may face in the future. The next step is the Careers Fest on the 31st of January at Epping Forest College. This is an opportunity for you and your child to visit the careers fair and look into what careers/pathways are available. This is also where you will find out what courses certain employers look for when they read a CV. Please be aware that a letter has been emailed to all Year 9 Parents today regarding our Year 9 Options Evening on Thursday 7th February, this letter details what you can expect from the evening and includes the key dates for the Options Process that you will need to be aware of. I have included a copy of this letter on the next page and it is also available on the next page of this bulletin. Once again I would like to thank you for your support in this process as this is a very important stage in your child’s life.

Emma Bracher 9S

9A/EN2 and 9B/EN2 “For the hard work and effort in class”

A few dates for your diary are as follows;  Careers Fest: Thursday 31st January  Options Information Evening: Thursday 7th February  Deadline for Completed Option Forms: Friday 1st March Follow us on: @rodingvalleyHS @humsrvhs @rodingvalleyPE RODING VALLEY DRAMA@rodingdrama

World of Work Conference with the YES Partnership This week our some of our Year 10 students took part in the WOW Conference at the Marriott Hotel. Students participated in many activities and were give advice and guidance from employers about the world of work.

Our very own Loughton Mayor Stephen Murray handed the students their certificates at the end of the conference.

Congratulations Jay Daniels Hammerston â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite his current injury, he has a positive attitude and is completing his work to a good standard. Nominated by Mrs Barron

Roding Valley Revision: Steps to Success Step 1: Complete a Personalised Learning Checklist

-P4.1 Scalars and vectors State the difference between scalars and vectors Add vectors by calculation or scale drawing Be able to resolve vectors into two components at right angles to one another Appreciate the meaning of equilibrium in the context of an object at rest or moving with constant velocity -P4.2 Moments Calculate the moment of a force about a point Define a moment as the force x perpendicular distance from the point to the line of action of the force Define a couple as a pair of equal and opposite coplanar forces Define a moment of couple as the force x perpendicular distance between the lines of action of the force Define centre of mass Know that the position of centre of mass of an uniform regular solid is at its centre

Step 2: Make a Plan Work out how much time you have and how long you can spend on each subject, and then complete a Revision Timetable

Step 3: Start your Revision

P.S. Start as early as you can and spread out your work!

Step 4: Complete Exam Questions or Past Papers

109 days... Until the first GCSE Exam!

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Daniella Petch - Syrett: “For the most improved attitude”

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Sam Truman: “For his work in Science”

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Billy Horncastle: “For his excellent work in PE”.

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Madison Holden-Etteridge: “For her excellent work in PE”.

Beyond 18 Launch Day On Wednesday, our Year 12 Students had a Beyond 18 Launch Day. This was a great opportunity for sixth formers to think about their futures and to consider how their current studies are preparing them for education at university or higher level apprenticeships. A speaker from the University of East Anglia spoke about the positives of attending university, student finance and the range of subjects which can be studied at institutions across the country. (Insert pics of UEA Campus). Students also explored careers websites such as Start Careers and had a session on the financial decisions they will have to make in the future. Everything from a young person's bank account to getting a mortgage was considered! They finished the day with a range of speakers, focusing on how to prepare for different types of universities and apply to higher level apprenticeships. Our very own Mrs Jenner shared her experiences of working in the city. Students should now be busy using the knowledge they have gained to find summer schools, open days, work experience and insight days to explore what they might like to do in the future. I look forward to working with them on this and hearing about their exciting plans.

Year 12 and 13 Art Exams Our Year 12s and 13s have been working hard on their Art exams and their ongoing pieces of work are outstanding. Well done!

Before School: 8:15am to 8:40am Break: 11:00am to 11:20am Lunch: 1:20pm to 2:05pm After School: 3:05pm to 3:30pm Please be aware that from Monday 12th November, students will not be served outside of these times.

HB Pencil Non-stop Pencil Biro (Black, Blue or Green) Handwriting Pen (Black or Blue) Gel Pen (Black or Blue) Gel Clear Pen (Black or Blue) Felt Tip Pens (pack) Coloured pencils (pack) Highlighter Pen Multi - Pen Rollerball Pen (Black, Blue or Red) RVHS Pen 15cm Ruler 30cm Ruler Eraser Sharpener Protractor Set Square Compass Calculator Scientific Calculator Small Pencil Case Large Pencil Case

10p 30p 10p 10p 40p 50p £2.00 £1.00 20p 60p 30p 50p 10p 20p 5p 10p 15p 15p 30p £1.70 £6.50 80p £1.00

Maths Set Maths Set with small pencil case Revision set Glue - Small Glue - Medium Glue - Large Post Its Card Document wallet Popper Folder – coloured Popper Folder - clear Display file - 20 Pockets Clip File Ring Binder Zip wallets (A5) Zip wallets (A4) Zip wallets (A3) 10 stage dividers A4 clear pockets Lever arch file Box File Data File Small Note Pad- Lined

90p £1.60 £1.80 30p 80p £1.00 20p 10p 40p 70p £2.00 60p 50p 20p 25p 30p 40p 5p £1.40 £2.20 20p 30p

At RVHS, we use Show My Homework; an account has been created for you to keep up to date with your child’s homework progress from home.

What is ‘Show My Homework’? Show my Homework is a simple online solution for students and parents to view homework details and upcoming deadlines. Mobile apps and notifications ensure you always know what homework your child has and when it’s due. How to Log In?  Go to https://www.showmyhomework.co.uk/login What are PINs? PINs are unique codes that ‘Show My Homework’ has assigned to each parent that allow us to confirm their identity on initial login. After logging in for the first time users will be asked to provide more memorable login details for future use. PINs are then only be used as a backup in case you forget these logins.

 Or you can download the app.  Enter your PIN details that you have been given in the letter provided by your school.  Click ‘Log in’  Create a memorable password and enter your email address then click ‘Update you details’.

Students do not need a pin to be able to access their homework. They can gain access to their Show My Homework account though their Gmail account.

You are now able to access your account and view all the homework that has been set for your child. If yourself or your child experience any difficulties with using ‘Show my Homework’ or you no longer have your pin, please contact Mrs. Hodges: jhodges@rodingvalley.net Follow us on: @rodingvalleyHS @humsrvhs @rodingvalleyPE RODING VALLEY DRAMA@rodingdrama

What is DODDLE? Doddle provides students with access to thousands of engaging, formative resources and guides students through the curriculum. Doddle Progress automatically tracks student attainment in key curriculum skills. Parents can see student attainment and progress through our easy-to-use Doddle Parent feature. Skills within Doddle are rated as red, amber or green. These ratings give a clear indication of how much progress a child has made and highlight the weaker areas to be targeted with revision.

Each student has a personal Doddle account where they can access their homework to-do lists and families can view the work their child has been assigned. These accounts enable parents to view their child's results and encourage them to better their scores by using Doddle's revision resources.

Find out how to create a Doddle Parent account and then link that account to your child with this short video:

We have also included a link to a very useful guide on how to view your child's due and submitted homework:

Find out how our school uses Doddle Progress by watching our short video to find out how Progress works.

We have also included a link to a very useful guide on how Progress works and how you can use it to help your child's learning.

This is a valuable resource that will assist parents in supporting their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progression. Please use the following link to the log in: Follow us on: @rodingvalleyHS @humsrvhs @rodingvalleyPE RODING VALLEY DRAMA@rodingdrama

Find out how to view and track your child's homework with this short video. .

We have also included a link to a very useful guide on Troubleshooting.

School Communications: We have been communicating by email for over a year now in a bid to get information to you quicker and more cost effectively. We found, however, our previous parental communication system did not give the functionality that people expect from smart phone apps today. So the school has invested in a new communication system call RS Connect Ed and with this comes a shiny new App.

MyEd is the free parent app that gives you a multitude of communication and information features to stay in touch with what is going on at school. The app gives you direct access to your child's attendance, timetable, absence records, achievements, behaviour and much, much more. You will also see that we update and change the information in the app as the school year moves along. Click here to see a short video about the app We are able to send you messages directly to the MyEd app relating to important information about your child's education and to remind you of events that are taking place at school. We can also embed links to regularly used systems, for example ParentPay & Doddle so you can keep everything in one place. You will receive a notification if we send you a message and there is no charge for the messages you send to us. The App can be downloaded by anyone and they will have access to information also available on our website. Only parents will be able to access their own studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information as long as we have the email address and mobile number you are using to access the App.

But only parents of students in the school will be able to access this when clicking on the My Students tab. The MyEd app is available for both Apple iOS and Android devices and can be found using the links below: Step 1 - Go to your App Store Step 2 - Search for My Ed Step 3 - Download the Free app Apple iOS App Google Android App Once you have installed and opened MyEd, search for Roding Valley High School and follow the simple instructions to identify yourself.

Student Absence If your child is unable to attend School for any reason please report their absence by phoning the school number by 9.30am at the latest, you must also ring in each day of your child’s absence. 0208-508-1173 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 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. A ‘Leave of Absence’ form must be completed (these are available at Student Reception) should you require leave for your child, a letter detailing your exceptional circumstances should accompany it. 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 on our website or contact Mrs Jeanette Low, our Attendance and Welfare Manager 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 on 0208-508-1173