Welcome to a ‘bumper’ edition of the Parent Bulletin this week. There is so much going on at the school that we are running to 11 pages so please read through carefully as there is lots of important information and dates for your diary. Next Thursday (13th February 2014) is the Year 9 Options Evening and parents should have received a letter informing them of the timings of the meeting. For students in 9Q, 9R, 9S and 9T there is a talk by Mr Davies and myself starting at 6pm. For students in 9U, 9V, 9W and 9X the talk is at 6.45pm. We would ask that you attend the talk at the specified time and please be on time as we will be starting promptly. There is an opportunity for you to talk with subject leaders after each talk if you need to find out subject specific information. I mentioned this in last week’s Parent Bulletin but feel that I need to bring this to parental attention again: We have received 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. I would also ask parents to speak to students about their safety at the weekends as well following reports in the local press of a young child being mugged in broad daylight near Loughton Station last Saturday. I do not wish to create undue alarm but would ask that parents raise these issues with children to ensure safety. Tickets are still available for the Key Stage 3 Creative Arts Evening next Tuesday (11th February) and cost £3 (available from reception). The meeting regarding the 6th Form went well and the bid is now in its final stages of consideration. We are about to publish our statutory notice of our intention to increase the age range at the school from 11-16 to 11-18 and, four weeks from publication of this notice, approval of the increase in age range will be formally considered by Essex County Council (these notices will be published in the local paper). Once this has been completed the bid will be ready to be finally considered by the School’s Minister at the Department of Education. It has been a long, drawn out process but the end would appear to be finally in sight! This is not an indication that the bid will be successful but we are confident of the business case surrounding the lack of quality A Level provision in the area. As ever, I will keep you updated when I hear any further developments
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 ÂŁ2.00 concessions Available from student reception
Miles Ahmed & Georgia Maginn RIBI Young Chef Competition
Miles cooked Pan Fried Cod with stuffed peppers
Georgia cooked Chicken Jalfrezi
A massive well done to both of them!!
Week ending 31 January 2014 Year 7 Highest Attendance
7W
Pupil with Highest Honours
Kelsey Smith 7V
Form with Highest Honours
7V
Pupil of the Week
Joe Schofield 7U nominated by Mr Savage for this enthusiasm in Music and Adan Mohamed 7W nominated by Mrs Rahman for completing homework a week early in Expressive Arts
Year 8 Highest Attendance
8T
Pupil with Highest Honours
Gabriella Kelner 8X
Form with Highest Honours
8V
Pupil of the Week
Solange Fernandes 8V & Jessica Stelzner 8X nominated by Ms Darabasz for helping people in trouble and stopping bullies
Year 9 Highest Attendance
9T
Pupil with Highest Honours
Jake Forecast 9R
Form with Highest Honours
9R
Class of the Week
9ux/Ma3 nominated by Mr Home for working solidly and being a delight to teach
Year 10 Highest Attendance
10U
Form with Highest Honours
10R
Year 11 Highest Attendance
11R
Form with Highest Honours
11W
Vaccinations Year 7 & Year 10 Vaccination forms must be returned to the school office by Tuesday11th February
YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE It is important that all work experience own placement forms/insurance certificates are returned to Mr Murray by Friday 28th February (this is the first Friday after half term)
Year 7 St Omer, France Day Trip For the lucky Year 7 students successful in gaining a place on the St. Omer Day Trip organised by the Languages Faculty, you are reminded that the payment of £44 was due on Monday 3rd February (beginning of this week). If you have not yet paid, please do so immediately or your place will be allocated to someone on the extensive wai ng list. Should you no longer wish to go or if there is an issue regarding payment, please let Mrs Chambers know immediately or it is likely that you will lose your place.
Mrs Chambers MFL
Year 11 GCSE Statistics Controlled Assessment 3rd February to 3rd March
Debden - Away Year 7 Lost 2-9 Year 8 won 5-2
FOR FURTHER MATCH REPORTS, RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TEAM SELECTION, LOG ONTO rvhspeblog.com
Year 8 Essex Cup Quarter Final Monday 3rd February Southend High School for Boys 5 - 3 Roding Valley Full match report by George Johnson (8Q) on the PE Blog
Year 11 College Open Day Redbridge College are launching their new Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing training salons on Wednesday 12th February at 4pm. Students will be able to take a tour and find out about courses starting in September 2014. Ilford Skills Academy International House, 2 Balfour Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 4HP, Tel: 020 8477 0244 Summer Reading Challenge – volunteers needed Essex libraries are looking for volunteers aged 14 and over to help with the summer reading challenge during the summer holidays. It’s a great way to gain new skills and it’s also excellent for CVs. Volunteers just need to commit to a minimum of 15 hours of volunteering between 19th July and 3rd September. Registration forms are available from the Essex Libraries website. The closing date is Friday 23rd May. For more information please contact Sue Pringle on 01277 624624 or email sue.pringle@essex.gov.uk. Libraries taking part in the scheme include: Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Ongar, Debden, Epping, Loughton, North Weald and Waltham Abbey. Apprenticeship Workshops These workshops are currently available to all students in Year 11 during lunchtime and after school in the careers room. Kind regards Mrs Mason Careers Development Manager dmason@rodingvalley.net
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. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Jenny Draper Examinations Officer Roding Valley High School
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
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.
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.