Rhyddings Circular - Autumn 2015

T H O U G H T O F T H E MO N T H

“

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Rhyddings Business & Enterprise School Newsletter

Mahatma Gandhi

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Autumn 2015 - www.rhyddings.co.uk - Facebook: rhyddings - Twitter: @rhyddings

Gearing up for DofE

All Year 9 students at Rhyddings are being given the opportunity to complete The Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award – completely free of charge.

Rhyddings has delivered the DofE Bronze Award for several years to small groups of Year 10 students to complete alongside their GCSEs. This year, we are the only school in Lancashire to extend the offer to every student in Year 9 at no cost.

Each student will be enrolled onto the award and will have to complete a minimum of six months’ worth of volunteering and three months learning a new skill and doing regular exercise or a sport. Once they have uploaded their evidence online, they will then have to undertake an overnight expedition in the wilderness to complete the course.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was founded in 1956 by HRH Prince Phillip and is an internationally recognised qualification. It aims to improve the personal development and employability of young people.

It is a great addition to any CV and helps them to stand out against other applicants for work,

college and university places.

Business manager Carmel Cunliffe, who coordinates the award, said: “We are committed to providing our students with the best possible opportunities.

“Introducing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme to all Year 9 students provides them with the chance to not only gain an excellent qualification, but to help make a real difference in to their local community.

“This award helps to build confidence, improve social skills and gives them something that helps them stand out from the crowd.”

Going global for Continent House launch

House Points

LEADERBOARD EUROPE AMERICAS AFRICA AUSTRALASIA ASIA

559 483 431 383 320

Earlier this term, Rhyddings students took on a day of internationally themed challenges and activities to mark the launch of a new house system.

Based on the five populated continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas), all students and staff have been allocated a house and will compete throughout the year in all areas of school. These will range from attendance and punctuality to sport, performing arts and academic progress.

The system aims to encourage students to work together, get involved in more activities throughout school, as well as learn more about the world around them.

For the launch day, each continent house took

part in a variety of activities, including sport and team building challenges, an international quiz, arts and crafts as well as the opportunity to ride a horse in the yard! Burnley boxer Chris O’Brien was in school, working with students to see how many punches they could land on the training pads within 30 seconds.

Also present was ‘Animal Man’ Simon Airey from Corner Exotics, who brought in a range of weird and wonderful creatures including a chinchilla, chameleon, African land snail, tarantula, scorpion and even a 12 foot boa constrictor. Simon spoke to the students about the animals, how they evolved, where in the world they come from and how humans are affecting them and their natural habitats.

Year 7 ‘Discover’ the Arts This term, 76 Rhyddings students received their Arts Award Discover certificates after completing the award over the summer.

The Year 7s attended our Summer School programme in July, which is offered for free to all of our new starters. They all completed 20 hours of arts-related activities over the seven days to achieve the award.

Arts Award Discover is the introductory stage of the Arts Award, a nationally accredited qualification.

Rhyddings is a registered centre for Arts Award and also gives all students the opportunity to progress through the externally assessed Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

Business manager Carmel Cunliffe, who organised the Summer School programme, said: “We had a record number of starters

Parent governor vacancies Being a parent governor allows you to understand how a school such as Rhyddings operates and be part of a team which monitors and influences all aspects of its role.

We are seeking two governors who will have skills and views as a parent or have experience through their occupation which would enhance the governing body.

Training is available so experience of education is not a necessity.

If you would like to find out more the Chair of Governors David Brunskill would be pleased to explain what is involved and can be contacted through the school.

School holiday dates 2015-16 AUTUMN TERM 2015 Mid-term closure Monday 26 to Friday 30 October (inclusive) Closure after school on Friday 18 December 2015 SPRING TERM 2016 School re-opens on Monday 4 January 2016 Mid-term closure Monday 15 to Friday 19 Feb 2016 (inclusive) Closure after school Thursday 24 March 2016 SUMMER TERM 2016 School re-opens on Monday 11 April 2016 May Day long weekend closure Friday 29 April & 2nd May 2016 Mid-term closure Monday 30 May to Friday 3 June 2016 (inclusive) Closure after school Friday 22 July 2016

attend the summer school this year and for them to all complete the Arts Award Discover is a fantastic achievement.

“We aim to give all our students the best start and as many opportunities as possible throughout their time at Rhyddings.

Keeping your

child safe

As part of our safeguarding practice at Rhyddings, we will no longer be signing students out for appointments with the dentist, doctor etc. without first speaking to parents.

If your child has an appointment, please send them to school with an appointment letter or note with a current contact number.

Thank you for your co-operation regarding this matter.

Mr M. Breckell Yr 11 Leader/DSL

Paying respects to the Pals

Year 10 students Joshua Haworth and Ameera Kerkhi recently participated in the Centenary Battlefields Tour Project; a government-sponsored programme which is giving high schools the opportunity to visit the battlefields of the Great War. During their visit to Belgium and France, they spent time in and around Ieper (Ypres) where, amongst other things, they observed the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, visited Tyne Cot and Langemarck military cemeteries, and explored the ‘In Flanders Field’ museum. They also took part in a commemoration project

which aims to create over 600,000 sculptures to be sited in what was ‘No Mans Land’ around Ieper- each one representing the life of a soldier, no matter what their nationality, who was killed in the fighting in Belgium during the Great War. During their visit to the Somme, the intrepid pupils (and teacher!) went to the Thiepval Memorial and discovered the stories behind some of the names on the panels, they explored Thiepval Woods and the trench system within it and of course visited Sheffield Memorial Park at Serre; the site of the Accrington Pals ill-fated attack on July 1st 1916. The students were deeply moved by the experience and gained a greater understanding of what the ‘Pals’ faced on that terrible day 99 years ago.

This was a truly wonderful visit, which will be remembered by those who participated in it for a long time. Mr Hargreaves said: “It was a privilege to be able to show Accrington kids such an important part of Accrington’s heritage and to allow them to walk in the footsteps of the past.”

Expeditions to Pendle Hill

Recently, our Year 7 students attempted to complete their expedition to the top of Pendle Hill.

We are very proud of the positive spirit shown by our students who were kind, encouraging and demonstrated resilience as they never gave up.

Two groups successfully made it to the top of Pendle Hill – a huge well done to those students! However, it was the poor weather conditions that was to blame for the group who didn’t make it to the top. They did however appreciate the hot chocolates at the end of the expedition!

Both Mr Barnes and Miss Masefield have had a great week with some fantastic Geographers and we are looking forward to seeing the completed project work about the expedition.