Parent Newsletter 01/07/2016

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE Friday 1st July 2016 Arrangements for Prize Day

Next Week at a Glance

Girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 need to register in

Here are just a few important forthcoming

their form rooms by 9.40am, and

events—for our full calendar, click here

parents should be seated in the Great Hall by

Saturday 2nd July

9.50am.

Prize Day and Sports Day

Prize Day for Years 7, 8 and 9 will start at 10.00am followed by the Concert. There will then be a chance to look at displays around the school. Sports Day for all Senior School girls will follow at about 12.45pm ( girls are registering at 12.40pm and gathering in their House areas at 12.45pm with the first event starting at 1pm) and will be finished

Monday 4th July Sixth Form Induction Wednesday 6th July FORMS meeting Thursday 7th July Celebration Service 2.30pm Great Hall Friday 8th July END OF TERM

by 4.00pm.

FORMS will be selling barbecue tickets, or

Year 8 DT—Return of Books

you may prefer to bring your own picnic. Girls

All Year 8 girls should return their Design

will be given a ticket for the BBQ by their form

and Technology books next week—by

tutor during the day.

Wednesday 4.00pm AT THE LATEST Each book was numbered and allocated to the students. Any unreturned books will be

Lost iPads Two Year 8 students have mislaid their iPads.

Please could we ask ALL members of the

charged for as we need to replenish our set for the incoming Year 7 next year.

School community to keep an eye out for these so we can reunite them with their owners before the end of term. One has a blue case,

STOP PRESS—SPORTS DAY IF THE WEATHER TOMORROW FORCES US TO CANCEL SPORTS DAY WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO INFORM PARENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE—PLEASE ALSO CHECK THE WEBSITE, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER FOR UPDATEs

and the other a pink case.

Thank you

Examination Results Days Girls in Years 10-13 have all been sent a document from Ms Smith regarding Public Examination Results Days. These documents can also be found on the Parent Portal under GCSEs and under A Levels

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SCHOOL INFORMATION Emails Sent this week If you have not received any of the emails listed below, please contact Pippa Hopkins via email phopkins@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk Year 7-9

Arrangements for Prize Day and Sports Day

Year 7 and 8

Proposed Watersports Trip July 2017

Ski/Snowboarding Club

Ski Club Payment details

Year 11

Return of Locker Keys

Whole School

Invitation to End of Year Celebration Service

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 . This is a group email address and your communication will be sent to all the relevant parties within the School. If you have any other questions relating to the Parent Portal, please contact our Data Systems team on datasupport@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk

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SCHOOL INFORMATION Final call for Mindfulness course There are just six places left on the Mindfulness course for parents that we are arranging for next Term so if you are at all interested please contact Rev Quill who can include your name and provide more information.

Thanks again to those of you who have already expressed an interest in the Mindfulness course here at school next Term that will be run by Gayle Creasy on Thursday evenings plus a weekend day and the fee is £260. I attended Gayle’s course last year and I recommend the training and Gayle as the trainer from this personal experience.

Let me remind you that Mindfulness needs incorporating it into one's life and that takes time and practice; so on offer is (a tried and tested) eight weeks with a trained trainer plus the practice that is taught during that eight weeks. Mindfulness is about retraining the mind, and the research that is emerging is clear that such retraining is very worthwhile – however it takes time and practice for it to be effective, especially for adults who are very used to the way our minds have learnt to work!

Gayle Creasy writes: Our minds are designed to help us survive; they are not designed for happiness. This means that as parents we can tend to be preoccupied with the stresses associated with 'what needs to be done' for our children rather than the pleasant events we share with them. Neuroscientists call this the 'negativity bias' - our minds are like Teflon for positive experiences and Velcro for negative moments. When we allow this bias to run unchecked we are likely to feel more stressed, worried and tired by our parenting role than we need to. This can led to stressful interactions with our children and feelings of frustration, guilt, self-doubt and disappointment.

Please contact me at jquill@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk to express an interest or to ask any further questions.

Rev John Quill, RMS Chaplain

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SCHOOL TRIPS Year 7 Geography Field Trip to the Chiltern Hills As a part of the geography syllabus, on Friday 10th June 2016, Year 7 were taken on a trip to the Chiltern Hills to enhance our knowledge of human and physical geography. During the s trip we were able to visit many beautiful sites, including the Ashridge Estate and Beacon Hill.

Once we had arrived at Chiltern Hills, we walked to our first destination where were separated into our allocated groups to perform certain experiments and tasks. We were provided with a booklet, which we were allowed to use to record our data and any other findings or drawings.

My first activity was vegetation identification. To perform this task I had to randomly place my quadrant on the ground, then using an identification chart, I had to identify all the species of vegetation within my quadrant. After I had done that I then estimated the percentage of the quadrant that is filled with each vegetation type I had found. I repeated this experiment three times. The benefit of this activity was that I was able to see the range and diversity of vegetation in the Chiltern Hills.

The second activity I completed was an annotated field sketch of the Chiltern Hills.

To begin with we discussed the chalk that could be located under the grass and then the sites and amenities we could see below. We then began to draw what we could see, on to our activity booklet. We labelled as much as possible.

One we had completed this task we then travelled to our third activity, which was constructing a cross profile of Beacon Hill. We were separated into smaller groups, so it would be easier for us to work together and get fair and accurate results. To perform this task I had to fill in a table provided in the booklet, recording the angle of each 10 meter distance along my transect.

My next tasks were assessing the impact of a footpath on the soil and the characteristics of the soil on the Chiltern Hills. To investigate the soil characteristics of the Chiltern Hills, I got some soil on my fingers and rubbed them in a box on the booklet provided. I then described what the soil looked and felt like. One I had finished that, I then used a soil measure meter to measure the water in the soil at 3 different places, with a variety of characteristics.

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SCHOOL TRIPS I recorded this data into a table, where I described the area and wrote down its moisture value. The three places I chose were the middle of the footpath, the left of the foot path in long grass and near a big bush. Next, I used a soil meter to measure the acidity of the soil in three different places. I chose the same places as before and then recorded my results into a table.

Finally, my last task was to assess the impact of the footpath on the soil. To perform this task, I laid a tape measure across the footpath, so that it covered a distance of 10 meters. At each meter, someone in my group used a thumb to insert a knitting needle into the ground as far as they possibly could. Then the needle was pulled out of the ground and someone else would measure how deep it had gone into the ground. I recorded these results in my booklet and answered some questions.

We then travelled to the Ashridge Estate where we had lunch and then moved onto Incoombe Hole where I wrote an analysis of the valley.

I really enjoyed going on this Geography trip!

Nia 7G

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SCHOOL TRIPS GCSE geography trip to Slapton Sands, Devon.

On Friday the 13th May, 25 GCSE Geography students from Year 10 went on a field trip to Slapton Sands. After a six-hour bus journey we arrived in a very sunny Devon feeling quite tired. We had a quick introduction to the field studies centre where we were staying, and then set of to walk to Torcross. When we arrived, we sat on the beach and were able to discuss different methods of sustainable management that are in place on the beach at Torcross. This was very interesting as we could see how what we have learnt about in lessons, was actually put into practise. After a quick ice cream, our group walked to a different section of the beach where we were able to conduct a field experiment, testing how the steepness of the beach changed from the ocean to the road, from one end of the beach to the other. This was an exciting experience that involved lots of equipment and even more walking down the steep beach.

When all our results were collected we did a survey on the different types of rock found at the beach which proved to be a large variety from very far out to sea, showing how far the ocean carries its load, we even did a demonstration where we were required to be pebbles, and the ocean moved us down the beach, luckily the beach wasn’t too busy so the strange looks were minimal. After the walk home we set to work in our designated lab compiling the results and looking at them as a whole to see how long shore drift affects the shape of the beach. After this the whole group was extremely tired, so everyone went to bed for an early night.

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SCHOOL TRIPS Saturday was focused on the river section of our Geography course. We visited three sections of the River Lemon, the upper, middle and lower course. The first section of the River was found in Dartmoor, near to the Hay Tor rock. Here we were able to get knee deep in the river conducting tests to measure factors such as: depth, speed of the water, the distance between banks and the size of the rocks. We were able to climb the Hay Tor and have a quick photo shoot before heading out to our next location. Next on the list was Yeo Valley, sadly we discovered the yogurt is not made here but in Somerset. After the large disappointment that there would be no yogurt we conducted the same tests in the middle course of the river, as we would later compare the results for each section of the river.

Finally, we travelled to Newton Abbott for the final section of the river. After conducting our tests, we had enough time for a quick “Welly Wang.” This involved taking your welly partly off the trying to kick it as far as you could, sadly I did not win as I fell over before we had even started, trying to take my welly off, much to Miss Cooks amusement. We then returned to the field centre to discuss and compare our findings and complete a few activities to consolidate our learning.

Finally, Sunday was focused on the living world, the final topic of physical Geography. We were able to walk through Slapton Ley, an area of immense beauty. We were studying different types of trees and vegetation that grew when the trees had been coppiced and when they hadn’t. We had to climb a small bank to conduct our experiment, which caused some hilarity when everyone was trying to get down the steep incline without falling over.

We carried out our experiment in three locations where we had to get nice and dirty by sifting through leaf litter to look for creepy crawlies. We then walked to the Ley where we took samples of the water to see what wild life lived in the Ley, as indicators for pollution.

The many Mayfly larvae told us that the Ley was very clean and unpolluted.

After a Geography fact-filled weekend the very tired group set off for the very long journey home, and the awaiting exams.

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FORMS NEWS SUMMER FESTIVAL FORMS would like to say a HUGE thank you to all those parents and girls who supported our event. The afternoon saw an array of talent from our girls at RMS from gym displays, cheer leading, singers and Ukulele players! Well done to Year 6 girls with their interesting and fun games to play as part of a new young enterprise initiative for Cadogan House.

The weather sadly let us down in the afternoon but for those who braved out the wet bouncy castles or had fun in the photo booth, they were rewarded by the fantastic concert from 3 amazing bands and of course the highlight from the ABBA tribute band.

Special thanks also goes to those parent volunteers who helped set up and break down the event or spent time on stalls. Also to some girls, who spent time helping all day with decorating the venue, face painting or manning stalls – Lily S, Amy McG, Dulcie S Emma and Laura B.Any help is invaluable and truly welcome so Thank you!

Here are some of the first photos—we will share more with you when we get them!

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FORMS SUMMER FESTIVAL PLEASE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! Sports Day Volunteers FORMS also need help to run the ever popular BBQ and bar at the senior school sports day on 2nd July. If you are able to help, please email forms.secretary@gmail.com.

AN INVITATION TO CELEBRATE! Please join us for a drink and raise a glass to the massive success of this year’s events and money raised for our girls by FORMS supported by you, our parents.

Scotsbridge Mill on Wednesday 6 July at 7.30pm Everyone welcome!

SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALES Abbey would like to thank all parents for their support with donations or time on the rota this year in the new second hand uniform shop.

Abbey is looking for good quality second hand uniform, so please donate without delay.

Please label or donate items to the receptionist in the New Mark Hall.

The store is open: Friday 1st July 8.00 – 9.00am Friday 8th July 8.00 – 9.00am (last day of term) Monday 25th July 9.00 – 10.00am (summer holidays) Tuesday 26th July – by appointment only Thursday 28th July – by appointment only Wednesday 3rd August – by appointment only Thursday 4th August – by appointment only Please contact Abbey on forms.rms2hu@gmaill.com

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COMMUNITY NEWS Three Rivers is welcoming young people to the Youth Council on Tuesday 5 July, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm in the Penn Chamber at Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth.

The Youth Council is open to any young person aged 11-19 who lives or goes to school in the Three Rivers District, and is a great opportunity for young people in Three Rivers to have their say, discuss a wide range of topics, and really make a difference in their local community, while learning valuable decision making, debating, and organisational skills.

Meetings are very friendly and relaxed, and new faces are always welcome.

On the agenda for the meeting will be NHS Blood and Transplant, where you can find out more about the services it provides to the NHS, including supplying enough safe blood, tissues and solid organs to hospitals and discussing if everyone be considered organ donors unless they ‘opt-out’. Young people, who are interested in attending, can also listen to Youth Connexions personal advisers discussing careers education on work experience apprenticeships, university and the job market. Lastly, two organisations that were granted money from the Youth Council in February, which comprises of Three Rivers West Children’s Centre and St. John Ambulance – Rickmansworth Cadets and Badgers, will show how the grant money has been put to good use.

The Youth Council, which meets three times per year and each meeting, is chaired by one of the young attendees on a rotating basis and topics for discussion at each meeting are decided on by attendees.

To be added to the mailing list, receive details of future meetings, help with transport or any other information, young people can contact 01923 776611 or enquiries@threerivers.gov.uk The Three Rivers District Council address: Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RL.

***The Council building is fully wheelchair accessible and there is a hearing loop in Council Chamber

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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SUMMER HOLIDAY CAMPS

Super Camps at RMS in 2016 Super Camps, the UK’s no.1 for childcare during the school holidays, will be running holiday activity camps here again during summer 2016.

Super Camps has a fun-packed schedule lined up for summer 2016, and with guaranteed water-based activities, each child will go home smiling after a fantastic day. The emphasis is on participation and enjoyment with enthusiastic Super Camps staff on hand to help children acquire new skills and confidence, and make new friends.

Camps are open from 8am – 6pm, Monday – Friday.

To celebrate 20 fabulous years looking after children across the UK, Super Camps is offering parents a year-round 10% discount off standard rates.

Use discount code 'PARENT16' when booking online or over the phone.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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