The Royal Masonic School For Girls Senior School Weekly News Update
Friday 11th November 2016
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE Friday 3rd November 2016 This Term’s Events at a Glance Here are just a few important forthcoming events coming up after Half Term...For our full calendar, click here Saturday 12th November Class of 2016 Certificate Presentation
School Photographs If you would like your daughter/ward’s school photographs before Christmas, could you please place your orders as soon as possible.
Sunday 13th November
If you have lost your child’s login details,
Remembrance Chapel Service
please contact Gillman and Soame directly via email
Monday 14th November
enquiries@gillmanandsoame.co.uk or
Life Skills Evening for Parents
via telephone on 01869 328200 quoting
Duke of Edinburgh Launch
the security password masonic752et
Tuesday 15th November
and they will be able to assist you.
Australia Social Evening
Mrs Young
Wednesday 16th November STEAM Lecture Thursday 17th November Year 7 Business Enterprise Day Community Arts Performance
Lime Walk—Out of Bounds
Friday 18th—Sun 20th November
Please could you remind your children
Exeat Weekend
that now that the clocks have changed ,
Tues 22nd & Weds 23rd November
it is no longer light enough to use Lime
Year 7 “Meet the Tutor” sessions
Walk to travel to and from School.
Thursday 24th November
Mr Cox
Astronomy Extravaganza Sunday 27th November Advent Service Thursday 1st December Year 12 At Home Saturday 3rd December FORMS Christmas Fair
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
SCHOOL INFORMATION Emails Sent this week Year 10 History
Berlin Trip Letter
Year 10
Science Resources Information Letter
Year 11
COA Aptitude Testing Reminder
Year 6-9
Reminder re Life Skills session on Monday 14th November
Year 11
Self Defence Classes
Parent Portal queries & updating contact details To advise us of any changes to your contact details, change of boarding status etc., please contact changeofdetails@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk . If you have any other questions relating to the Parent Portal, please contact our Data Systems team on data support@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
STEAM lectures at RMS 2016-17 for Years 10-13 We have one more exciting lecture this term: on 16th November, we will be joined by Professor Gerry Thomas, a senior academic specialising in the molecular pathology of cancer. Her team’s main research focus centres on the molecular biology of thyroid cancer, in particular radiation associated thyroid cancer. However, they also collaborate with others in projects looking to identify biomarkers for cancer prediction and prognosis. PLEASE NOTE: This lecture will start earlier than previously advertised, at 4.30pm so we hope that lots of the students will be able to join us in the NMH. We recommend these lectures to all students to give them an insight into different career paths and to encourage them to pursue a STEAM related future. Students from other schools are also welcome to attend, so please so share with friends and family
Life Skills Evening (Years 6 to 11 Parents/Guardians) Don’t forget our next Life Skills Evening which will take place on Monday 14th November at 7.00pm. School Counsellor, Nikki Bennett will talk about “Managing Friendships”. Please note this session is for parents/guardians only and it is not appropriate to bring your daughter/ward with you. If you would like to attend, please email Pippa Hopkins to confirm (phopkins@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk)
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
SCHOOL NEWS Community Arts Concert The Community Arts group are performing their 2016 programme "Old Time Music Hall" in The Space on Thursday 17th November from 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. The group, which consists of girls and some members of staff, would love your support - it is a free event and a cash bar will be operating. There is no need to RSVP, and we hope to see lots of you there! Mrs Heaffey
This week’s sports results… Netball
Hockey
RMS vs Bushey Meads
RMS vs Watford Girls Grammar
Senior B Team won 20-5
Year 9 won 7-0
RMS vs St Margaret’s
County Cup: RMS vs Knights Templar
Year 7 A Team won 7-4
Year 10 won 3-0
Year 7 B Team won 9-1
(MVPs Ella G and Charlotte H)
RMS vs Godstowe
Cross Country
Year 8 A Team won 11-9
District Cross Country Championships
Year 8 B Team lost 5-11
Year 8 team came 1st overall Year 10 team came 2nd overall
District Tournament
Congratulations to Caitlin J who won the race
Year 11 came second overall
and is therefore crowned District Champion!
Congratulations also go to Year 5 who took part in the Sports Partnership Family Cross Country—all the girls competed in a 1km run against other local schools. 5 girls were chosen to compete in the “Elite” 1.5km race, and the team were crowned overall school champions!
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
SCHOOL NEWS Persephone, Year 9 Meets Tim Peake Wednesday 19th October started as an ordinary day for RMS Year 9 pupil Persephone, but ended with the experience of a lifetime! Unbeknownst to her, her uncle, Joseph Mason, had organised a ticket for “Science in Space”, an evening in the company of British astronaut Tim Peake and his NASA crewmate Tim Kopra, at the Royal Albert Hall. Science in Space is part of a UK-wide tour which saw the British astronaut visiting all four UK national capitals as well as Leicester, Manchester and Glasgow, with his crewmate Tim Kopra joining Tim for the visits to London, Edinburgh and Belfast. Tim Peake is the first British European Space Agency astronaut, having spent over six months on board the International Space Station as part of the Principia mission, following a launch from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 15 December 2015 that was watched by thousands of people all over the UK. RMS was one of just 10 schools nationally to be awarded the honour of making live radio contact with Tim Peake whilst on board the ISS, and the School also made history by being the first school in the world to establish both a radio contact AND a video link with the ISS. Not only did Persephone have a chance to listen to the two astronauts share incredible stories of living and working on the International Space Station, but she also had the chance to meet him personally, discussing both his time in space, the some of the photos he took from the ISS, and of course the School’s successful contact in February. Tim Peake told her that the contact with RMS had been one of the best as it was the first to combine a live radio contact with a video link, and Persephone told him all about the buzz around School that accompanied the link, and how the whole School had been involved with a wide variety of space-themed activities and lessons. Like any enterprising RMS girl, Persephone immediately seized the initiative and invited him to visit the School – his answer was that he would “think about it” – we may just hold you to that, Tim!
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
SCHOOL NEWS Astronomy Extravaganza Thursday 24th November, 7.00pm TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE VIA bit.ly/AstronomyNov16Senior Building on the interest created by our recent ESTEAM Focus day and the February live radio link with Major Tim Peake, we are delighted to announce that we have been successful in borrowing some moon rock and soil that were brought back to Earth by NASA's Apollo astronauts, as well as some rare meteorites. These will be showcased in lessons and in an evening demonstration on Thursday 24th November (please note that a separate event will be held for Cadogan House pupils and parents on Wednesday 23rd November) The evening will start at 7.00pm with Dr Sarah Hutton, astrophysicist and Outreach Co-ordinator at University College London, giving a talk on ‘Galaxy Quest: Finding hidden objects in the universe.’ Following on from this talk, there will be an opportunity to take part in different sessions including:
a Planetarium presentation;
an Observatory demonstration;
a workshop of making spectroscopes;
a talk by Hania Mohiuddin, an engineer at Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd
getting close to the rare artefacts.
This is a FREE event and we hope to welcome as many of you as possible on the day; We are hoping to hold a similar event in the next few years for those of you that are busy on this day or unsuccessful in gaining entry tickets.
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
SCHOOL NEWS RMS to host TEDx Event in December We are delighted to announce that RMS will be hosting a TEDx event at School on Sunday 11th December from 1.00-4.00pm
Background TED is a non-profit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Philippe Starck, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK, and this November, the TEDIndia Conference will be held in Mysore, India. TEDx Youth@RMS The RMS TEDx’s theme is RESILIENCE and we have already confirmed a number of outstanding speakers who will attend the event, including Dr Manrutt Wonkaew (art director, stylist and choreographer), Liz Atkin (visual artist), Tom Fox (experimental instrument maker), Lee Cox (London cabbie and aspiring teacher), Peter Jukes (news curator and podcaster) and former TV Presenter Gail Porter (now a motivational speaker). For more information, visit bit.ly/tedxrmsinfo (this website will be constantly updated as other speakers confirm) Tickets for the event are entirely FREE and will be available to students, members of their families, staff members and the general public. We want to encourage whole families attending and so the ticketing facility will allow Group Booking. We are releasing tickets gradually in batches and full information about the schedule can be found here bit.ly/tedxrmstickets— the first batch will be available after 7.00pm on Saturday 22nd October.
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
SCHOOL NEWS “RMS Works on Paper” Art and Textiles Exhibition at Watersmeet, Rickmansworth ‘RMS Works on Paper’ is an exhibition by our students, featuring a piece of work from each girl who is currently working towards a GCSE or A Level in Fine Art or Textile Design. The exhibition aims to showcase the outstanding preparatory drawings, prints, embroidery, models and photographs that often hide within the pages of lovingly crafted sketchbooks and folders. Each girl has thoughtfully selected a piece of work that exhibits her talents, observations and interests. For further information call 01923 776611 or email leisure@threerivers.gov.uk Artistsmeet at Watersmeet is open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00am - 2.00pm. Entry is free; High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1EH www.facebook.com/artistsmeet
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
CHARITY NEWS This week has been another busy one in terms of fundraising for Sparks…
Fireworks Night: Thank you to Alex and Amber, who fundraised with our Sparks buckets on Fireworks Night, last week. Thank you to those of you who generously donated. They managed to raise an impressive total of £230.40! Well done also to Abigail C, in Year 7, who raised a fantastic a fantastic total of £151.50 at her village Bonfire Night! She sold Sparks badges, raffle tickets and did quizzes and a ‘guess how many grapes are in the wine’ game. She has shown great initiative and dedication to the charity, so well done!
Merchandise and Pizza raffle tickets: Special thanks must go to the girls in the Senior School and the Sixth Form Charities Committees. Every lunch time, they have helped to sell badges, pens, lanyards and pizza raffle tickets, which have proven to be extremely popular. Badges are only £1, so make sure that you get your hands on one of these trendy accessories, before they sell out again! Pizza raffle tickets are also still available and are only 50p, or you can get 5 for £2!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Thank you also to Alex, Amber, Izzy, Caitlin and Mae, who kindly fundraised at the performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The total amount raised has not yet been confirmed, but we will let you know next week!
Forthcoming events: Tuesday 22nd November – Cake sale, run by Sixth Charities Committee Thursday 8th December - Mufti Day (Christmas jumpers theme) Saturday 3rd December – Christmas Fair, where we will have a stall. Please email us if you want to fundraise or become involved in Sparks fundraising. Our emails are on the Sparks board, opposite room 13. Happy fundraising! Katie and Hannah
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
FORMS NEWS FIREWORKS NIGHT FORMS would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to support our fabulous fireworks display to music. The weather was kind to us this year and the fireworks were spectacular. We raised just short of ÂŁ3,000 which is fantastic! Thank you to all our volunteer helpers this year. We had a great turn out which meant set up and take down was far quicker than previous year, so long may this continue. CHRISTMAS FAIR 3rd DECEMBER 11.00am - 4.00pm This is always such a well attended event with an amazing atmosphere for the whole school community to come together and shop, visit Santa and come away with some amazing gifts from our great arrange of stall holders. FORMS would like your continued HELP to support the stalls which kids and parents absolutely love! These are: Chocolate Tombola - Please bring any Christmas chocolate, i.e. net of chocolate coins, malteser reindeers, etc This sold out very quickly last year so please do donate Bottle Tombola - anything in a bottle (and in date!) from wines, bubbles baths, fizzy drinks! Jazzy Jars - The girls love to make and put together their jars as much as they love winning them full of sweets, surprises or hairbands! Again the mammoth task of putting together this event can happen far more quickly with the help of volunteers on Friday afternoon from 2.00pm and Saturday AM and PM So please if you are free just for half an hour email formsvolunteers@gmail.com ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY AT CHRISTMAS FAIR Thank you to all those who emailed me with their interest and that were lucky enough to secure an advertising space. I have been overwhelmed with response from parent and guardians who want to advertise their companies whilst enhancing the fundraising for FORMS. The brochure is now full! However due to the demand and the fact that it is nice to support the schools community of entrepreneurs that I will do a similar brochure for the summer fair next year. I do hope that you will find the companies very useful and support them. MICRO SCOOTERS FOR SCHOOL SCHEME: Please remember to use the URN code: 117641 which is unique to The Royal Masonic School. Every order taken for a scooter or accessory over the internet earns 10% for FORMS which in turn enhances school life for your daughters. So shop for those Christmas presents whilst supporting RMS at: www.micro-scooters.co.uk
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls
COMMUNITY NEWS
www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk
www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls
www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls