The hugely popular ‘Careers Fest’ took place at Epping Forest College last night and was extremely well attended. The event has exhibitors from a wide variety of employers, universities and sixth form schools and colleges and it was good to see so many Roding Valley students present. I am sure that everyone who attended will have found the evening useful and informative and I would like to thank our Careers Officer, Mrs Mason, who was one of the key organisers of the event. Parents of Year 9 students, please remember that our ‘Options’ Evening is taking place on Thursday 13th February 2014. It is essential that we have up to date contact information for parents on the school system should we need to get in touch with you. It would be appreciated that if parents change the home telephone number or their mobile number, or that the ‘emergency contact’ changes, the school are kept up to date with these changes. This also applies to email addresses as we send a lot of information electronically. I would ask for parents assistance in this matter. I am attending a meeting on Monday afternoon regarding our 6th Form bid. Progress has been slower than we were told it was going to be at the outset of the bid, however my understanding is that the bid is in the advanced consideration of deliberation by the Department of Education. I will keep parents informed as and when I hear any further information. There have been 2 email communications that have gone home to parents this week that I would like to draw attention to. The first relates to reports from another secondary school in the Epping Forest area regarding girls being approached after school by a man in a ‘small white van’. The matter has been reported to the police but I would ask that students from RVHS remain vigilant, travel home in groups of friends and alert us and the police should anything out of the ordinary happen on the way home from school. The second relates to the introduction by Essex County Council of a parking enforcement scheme that targets dangerous and illegal parking outside of schools. Epping Forest is one of the areas where the patrols will be taking place and I would urge all parents to consider their parking, particularly in Brook Road, at the end of the day. We have some upcoming events that I would like to bring o your attention: We are hosting a Key Stage 3 Creative Arts Evening on Tuesday 11th February and tickets are £3. Further details are contained in the main section of the bulletin. There will be another Friends of Roding Valley Disco for Year 7 students on Friday 7th March 2014 and tickets and information for this event will be distributed soon. Finally the return of the ever popular Friends of Roding Valley Quiz Night takes place on Friday 28th March 2014. Details of how to book tickets for this event will be distributed in due course after the half term holiday. I wish you all a good weekend. Paul Banks Headteacher
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KS3 Creative Arts Evening 11th February Main Hall 6.30pm
Doors open to view Art and Expressive Arts work
7.00pm Performances of
Music, Drama
and Dance Tickets ÂŁ3.00 adults
Year 11 GCSE Statistics Controlled Assessment 3rd February to 3rd March
Year 11 Open Days Harlow College 4th February Waltham Forest College 8th February Barking and Dagenham College 8th February Hertford Regional College 8th February
Thank you to everyone who came along to the Fest yesterday. It was so nice to see so many of you there, I do hope you all found the event very informative. If you need any further information or advice please contact me. Kind regards Mrs Mason Careers Development Manager dmason@rodingvalley.net
Week ending 24 January 2014 Year 7 Highest Attendance
7V
Pupil with Highest Honours
Tom Gower 7T
Form with Highest Honours
7W
Year 8 Highest Attendance
8X
Pupil with Highest Honours
Joao Vitorino-Ferreira 8V
Form with Highest Honours
8V
Year 9 Highest Attendance
9S & 9X
Pupil with Highest Honours
Jake Forecast 9R
Form with Highest Honours
9R
Year 10 Highest Attendance
10V
Form with Highest Honours
10Q
Year 11 Highest Attendance
11X
Form with Highest Honours
11W
Year 8 & Year 9 Trip to The Somme On the 9th May 2014, as part of the school's commemoration of 100 years since the start of World War 1, the English department has arranged a one day trip for Year 8 and 9 students to The Somme as part of the Year 8 Unit on First World War Poetry and GCSE preparation for Year 9. This is an exciting opportunity for students to enhance their subject knowledge on this unit of study. The trip will involve travel to and from the World War 1 battlefields at The Somme in France, as well as a guided tour organised by Anglia Tours. If students were unable to secure a place on the history trip to Normandy, this is a great opportunity for them to not miss out on seeing World War 1 history up close. If there are any questions about the trip, please get in touch with Miss Peter in the English office.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Year 7 Disco Friday 7 March £5.00 per ticket
Refreshments on sale Buy your own fresh Domino Pizza £2.00
Adult Quiz Night Friday 28 March 2014 £7.50 per Ticket
Raffle Hot Food option Performance by the School Choir
TICKETS ON SALE SOON
February/March GCSE (Mock) Examinations Please find below a generic copy the February/March GCSE (Mock) Examination Timetable. Students have received their individual timetables via their form tutors, these have been printed on bright green paper. Breakfast Revision Sessions will be taking place in the Canteen from 8am for students sitting exams scheduled to start at 9am. These sessions are hugely beneficial and we would urge you to encourage your son/daughter to attend. Also find attached a copy of a letter outlining the arrangements that have been made for students sitting the Maths Examinations on Wednesday 5 February and Thursday 6 February 2014. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Jenny Draper Examinations Officer Roding Valley High School
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. FOR FURTHER MATCH REPORTS, RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TEAM SELECTION, LOG ONTO rvhspeblog.com
Supported Homework Club Learning Zone Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 3.05pm - 3.40pm Everyone welcome
Science Revision for Year 11 and Year 10 every Wednesday a er school
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
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 Before School: 8.30am - 9.00am Break: 11.00am - 11.20am Lunch: 1.20pm - 2.05pm After School: 3.05pm - 4.00pm PUPILS WILL NOT BE SERVED OUTSIDE THESE HOURS
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 7.15 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
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.