Parents will be aware that the government are proposing a number of changes to the GCSE qualification. There is still a lot of uncertainty about what the changes will look like, however, with the exception of changing the rules regarding ‘early entry’ and significantly increasing the grade boundaries there are no structural changes to the qualifications for students currently sitting GCSEs (Year 10 and 11 students). The first changes will impact this year’s Year 9 when they start their GCSEs in September 2014. We have been informed of some of the changes but we will not find out the full extent of these changes until the end of this month. With this in mind, we have taken the decision to change the Year 9 Options Evening from Thursday 16th January to Thursday 13th February 2014 and Year 9 Parents should have received a letter this week informing them of this change. We did not want to run an information evening when we would only be able to impart partial information and so many factors relating to GCSE are still ‘unknown’. The Year 9 Parents’ Evening will still take place on Thursday 23rd January 2014. Congratulations to Harry Francis (9Q) and Conor Tyrrell (9T) who have been selected to represent Essex in the Schools Under 14 Football Team. Representing your county is an incredibly prestigious moment for any footballer such is the exceptionally high standard across Essex and we are very proud of both Conor and Harry. One of our ex-students, Sheri Dean, is raising money for the British Heart Foundation by running the 2014 London Marathon in memory of another of our ex-students, Ben Peacock, who tragically passed away at the age of 23 last year. Sheri is a nurse at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and is raising money to raise funds for the BHF to support their work. If you would like to support Sheri in her bid to raise £2500 please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/Sheri-Dean/ Our non uniform day next term will also be raising money for the British Heart Foundation. On the topic of non uniform days, please be aware that we have a non-uniform day next Friday (17th January 2014) to support the ‘Jeans for Genes’ campaign. Our School Council have asked us to support this charity and we are asking that students come to school in non-uniform but wearing at least one item of clothing that is denim. Further information can be found later on in this bulletin. I would like to wish everyone a good weekend.
Paul Banks Headteacher
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Year 11 Sixth Form Openth Days coming up Heathcote School Wanstead High School Epping Forest College Chingford Foundation Highams Park School
16 January 6.00-8pm 16th January 6.30-8pm 20th January 6.00-8pm 21st January 6.30-7.45pm 23rd January 6.30-9pm
Sixth Form and College Application Deadlines Trinity School - hand in to Mrs Mason – application deadline Wednesday 13th January 2014 Davenant School – hand in to Mrs Mason – application deadline Monday 20th January 2014 Epping Forest College - hand in to Mrs Mason – application deadline Monday 27th January 2014 For all other sixth form/college applications please make sure they are handed in before the deadline so there is sufficient time to process them.
Parents of Year 9 and Year 11 Date for your diary The Roding Valley High School Annual Careers Fest is being held on Thursday January 30th 2014 from 3.30-6.30pm at Epping Forest College. The Careers Fair is for parents and students in Year 9 and Year 11. The Careers Fair 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 Year 11 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 fifth 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 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. If you require any further information or advice please contact me. Kind regards Mrs Mason Careers Development Manager dmason@rodingvalley.net
West Essex Trampolining Competition Friday 13th December 2013 Congratulations to the Key Stage 3 and 4 girls and boys trampolining teams who represented Roding Valley Full details can be found at rvhspeblog.com
FOR FURTHER MATCH REPORTS, RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TEAM SELECTION, LOG ONTO rvhspeblog.com
GCSE ICT Coursework Catch-Up for Year 11 Every Tuesday Lunchtime With Miss Wilson in ICT4 Please encourage your child to attend to help improve their grade
Supported Homework Club
Science Revision for Year 11 and Year 10 every Wednesday a er school
Learning Zone Monday Tuesday & Wednesday Until 3.45pm Everyone welcome
Week ending 10 December 2013 Year 7 Highest Attendance
7U
Form with Highest Honours
7U
Pupil with Highest Honours
Thomas Abbott 7T
Year 8 Highest Attendance
8U
Form with Highest Honours
8X
Pupil with Highest Honours
Sayeem Ahmed 8X
Year 9 Highest Attendance
9Q
Form with Highest Honours
9X
Pupil with Highest Honours
Holly Carter 9W
Year 10 Highest Attendance
10U
Year 11 Highest Attendance
11U
Pupil of the Week
Lauren Higgs for taking part in a skydive to raise money and donating to FRVHS
Class of the Week
11C/Ph1 nominated by Mrs Sargent for excellent behaviour in her cover lesson for Ms Rahman
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
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
Contact: jameswelsted@hotmail.co.uk 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
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.
Lunch: 1.20pm - 2.05pm After School: 3.05pm - 4.00pm
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
PUPILS WILL NOT BE SERVED OUTSIDE THESE HOURS 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.
Parent Volunteers needed for Reading Scheme We are currently looking for volunteers to come into school for our reading scheme. If there are any parents/guardians/grandparents that have any time (1 hour per week) to spare please get in touch with our SEN department and ask for Mr Wilson or Mrs Jarvis.