Parent bulletin 17 3 17

We have had another busy week in school with lots of events going on. We had two Drop Down Days, one for Years 7-11 “Mi Life Roadshow” highlighting mental health and another one today for Year 8 students dealing with Sex Education. A group of Y12 students have gone on a Geography Field Trip into East Anglia and another group of student from Years 7-9 have gone to Harlow today for a Sports Ability trip.

Our sixth form organised a bake sale to help raise funds for Comic Relief this week with lots of delicious cakes for sale during break yesterday. Staff and sixth formers also wore red for a small donation. £167 was raised for a good cause.

Ella Margetts and Saskia Cushings were both awarded the Bronze Medal for their performance in the National Cipher Challenge in Bletchly Park. We were told over 7000 teams completed in all this year with our girls ranked 9th in the country! A fantastic performance which required hard work, patience and resilience to complete each of the challenge over the course of three months. The presenters were impressed with our students, commenting on their uniform, and they were impressed with the number of our girls who took part. Only one other girl was presented with a bronze award!

Assemblies this week have focussed on anti-bullying and the message that any form of bullying is unacceptable has been driven home. Sixth form assemblies had special guests this week—former students! It was lovely to see them again.

Y11 had a motivational speak attend their assembly—Mr Breezy.

Y8 Open Evening took place yesterday evening with a great attendance of the majority of parents. It was overall a very positive atmosphere with lots of great feedback from parents. A huge thanks to the sixth form team who were there to assist throughout the evening and organised the cake sale too.

As mentioned last week, I wish to thank all parents who responded to the parent survey. I really value and appreciate your feedback. The feedback was mainly positive and we have already acted upon some of the points raised. I would like to invite all parents to the Parents Forum on Monday 20th March at 6pm to be held in the main hall. The Senior Leadership team and the Governors will be available at this meeting to discuss any concerns and /or suggestions that you may have.

I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Enjoy the weekend S Jenner Acting Headteacher

You can follow us at www.rodingvalley.net , on Facebook at the ‘Roding Valley High School Official’ page or on Twitter (@RodingValleyHS). You can also sign up to our free electronic media release service at rodingvalleymedia@gmail.com

Social Media is now a big part of our lives. The majority of the student issues that we deal with on a daily basis have their origins from some form of comment posted on social media. Please do check your son’s/ daughter’s use of social media. Please also check our website for details and support for both parents and students. We have just had a Parent Forum about e-safety and we have had assemblies for all year groups about this subject as well. It is a minefield of changing technology which is increasingly difficult for schools and outside agencies to monitor.

To this end, please can I reiterate the school’s policy on the use of mobile telephones. I fully appreciate that students have the phones to ensure their safety on their travel to and from school. However, once in school, the handset is to be turned off and put into the student’s bag. A student is not permitted to make calls or texts during the school day and the handset will be confiscated if seen. If it is the first confiscation the student can collect the handset from student reception at the end of the day. If it is not the first time, then a parent, or adult designated by the parent, needs to collect the phone.

Please can I also ask for your support by not ringing or texting your son/daughter during the school day.

If you need to speak to your child please ring the school office who can relay a message. The students can always come to the school reception at break and lunchtimes to use the school telephone to call home in case of need.

We do use different mediums to engage student learning at RVHS, and teachers will, on occasion, give permission for students to use their phones in a controlled way in the classroom. As an example Kahoot is a popular learning tool which the students enjoy. It is used to enhance learning. This is acceptable controlled use and students are told to put their phones back in their bags at the end of the lesson, again unacceptable use will result in the phone being confiscated.

Confiscated phones are put in a named, sealed envelope in a locked drawer in the school office.

Mrs S Jenner Acting Headteacher

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

Highest Attendance

7V

Form with the highest Honours

7Q

Student with the highest Honours

Lili Warden 7W

Highest Attendance

8R

Form with the highest Honours

8R

Student with the highest Honours

George Jones 8S

Highest Attendance

9V

Form with the highest Honours

9X

Student with the highest Honours

Katy Roberts 9U

Class of the week

9B/Gg1 nominated by Mrs Barron for being a great class – always hard working and some excellent homework.

Highest Attendance

10X

Form with the highest Honours

10X

Class of the week

10C/Hi1 nominated by Miss Preston for working amazingly on the ‘Prague Spring’ History lesson.

Highest Attendance

11U

Y11 English Revision Timetable The revision sessions will take place on the following dates over the next few weeks after

13/03/2017 Unseen poetry 20/03/2017 Anthology Poetry 27/03/2017 Anthology Poetry EASTER

EASTER

18/04/2017 Paper 1 Ques on 4 24/04/2017 Paper 2 Ques on 2 08/05/2017 Paper 2 Ques on 4 15/05/2017 Literature Paper 1 22/05/2017 Literature Paper 2

GCSE ICT: Intervention sessions on Tuesday lunchtimes in IT3 with Mr Hussain

'Othello' Sam Wanamaker Theatre, The Globe We have a few tickets available for this performance of Shakespeare's play 'Othello' on Wednesday 22nd March 7.30pm. If any student in Y11 (particularly students who are intending to study English Literature A Level) are interested in seeing this production please see Ms Taylor in the English Dept. as soon as possible.

Thank You

Access to Water in School Parents, please be aware that the canteen has jugs of water available both during lunchtime and break time for all students to access.

Bottled water is sold at all outlets Large bottle 50p Small bottle 25p If a student is overdrawn or has no money on their lunch account, they will always be sold water.

A couple of updates and date confirmations: Year 12 and 13 PPEs : Monday 20th March until Friday 31st March - during this time both Year 12 and 13 will be off timetable and only expected in for their exams and other trips happening during that time.

The formal study leave for Year 12 will commence on Monday 15th May. Year 12 students will return to lessons on Monday 12th June.

The last school day for Year 13 will be Friday 26th May. Any afternoon exams that take place before this time will be supported with study leave for the morning session that precedes it.

Mr Mammen Deputy Headteacher. rmammen@rodingvalley.net

YEAR 12 & YEAR 13 PPEs Find below a copy of the timetable for the forthcoming Year 12 and Year 13 PPE Examinations.

Students have received their individual timetables via their Form Tutor, timetables have been printed on BRIGHT PINK paper.

Students/Parents/Guardians have also been emailed a copy of both via email.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jenny Draper Examinations Officer

ATTENDANCE MATTERS…..

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 or medical evidence if requested 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 holiday 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.

Guidance for Common Ailments Please see, on the following page, guidance from the NHS of common childhood illnesses; this advises what type of illness requires time off from school and what does not. Should you require further guidance please contact the school.

The following letter has been received regarding the bus changes detailed below. “Dear Head As you will know, through running on Route 167 north of Loughton station ends today, and TFL are instead providing a limited stop bus on new route 667 mornings and evenings.

I know, speaking to your staff and students, that there are considerable worries about capacity and timekeeping issues. I personally use the routes a lot, and have noted myself the capacity shortfall, especially in Debden, with the present, let alone the reduced, service. I have consistently opposed the withdrawal of the 167 , and myself called in the ECC cabinet decision that withdrew the subsidy for this and route 20.

I write to ask whether you could kindly keep me informed as to the effect this withdrawal will have on your students and school organisation, so I can if necessary raise it at the highest level.

Many thanks Yours ever Cllr Chris Pond�

If you have any concerns can we ask you to contact Cllr Pond and/or the TFL contact below. We will keep them informed of any effects this change has on the school.

Thank you.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CHANGES TO LOCAL BUS ROUTES From Saturday 11 March there will be changes to bus route 167, which runs between Ilford and Debden, and bus route 549, which runs between South Woodford and Loughton. We are also introducing a new schooldays bus route 677.

Bus route 167 Route 167 will continue to run between Ilford and Loughton, but will no longer serve Debden. We are introducing new, more environmentally friendly diesel buses. Stagecoach will now operate the route (previously Go-Ahead). We are also introducing a new timetable, but frequencies will remain the same.

We have sent an email to all users of route 167 who have a registered Oyster or contactless payment card informing them of this change.

New schooldays bus route 677 This new limited stop route will run between Ilford and Debden on schooldays, providing connections to schools in Debden. There will be one journey in the morning from Ilford to Debden, and one journey in the afternoon from Debden to Ilford. For more information about both of these changes, including maps, please visit tfl.gov.uk/bus changes. We consulted on these changes in 2016.

Bus route 549 We are introducing a new timetable to improve reliability. Buses will now run approximately every 70 minutes Monday to Saturday until early evening. The first bus will now run up to eight minutes later and the last bus will now run up to 26 minutes earlier. There is no late evening or Sunday service on this route. The new timetables will be displayed at bus stops and customers can plan their journeys at tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/. Stagecoach will now operate the route (previously Go-Ahead). Later this year we are also introducing a new, more environmentally friendly bus on the route to replace the existing bus.

Yours faithfully Stephen Hosking Consultation Team Transport for London

KS4 Computer Science revision/ intervention sessions are running in IT4 on Thursday lunchtimes Come up to Homework Club Monday after school to become a times tables expert.

Time: 3.05pm - 3.40pm Place: Learning Zone ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE GIVEN EVERY TIME!

PE Twitter Account The PE department have activated a Twitter account where regular PE updates, extra-curricular news and curriculum information will be regularly published. Follow @RodingValleyPE to keep up to date with our department.

Mr Hudgell The Humanities Faculty has a Twitter account designed to promote sites of interest, pre-reading, revision, humanities information, news and general humanities support.

It is aimed at all KS3, KS4 and A-level Humanities Students and can be followed @humsrvhs

After school sessions mainly targeted at Year 11s (but any student from all key stages KS3, KS4 and KS5 are welcome) in order to help support students to close the gap in either coursework or homework/classwork.

Friday after school 3:05 - 4:05pm

You can follow us at www.rodingvalley.net and on Facebook at the ‘Roding Valley High School Official’ page.

Our Twitter (@RodingValleyHS) account is a great place to keep up to date with some of the latest news and activities in school.

You can also sign up to our free electronic media release service at rodingvalleymedia@gmail.com

Piano Lessons: To book piano lessons please contact rosswall@gmail.com Singing Lessons: Private singing lessons are now available. Please contact Alex Larke for more details and to book your slot. email: alex@thevocaltutor.com Drum Lessons: One to One, Two to One and Small Group lessons available. Learn with your friends! Contact: marksevel@hotmail.com Guitar Lessons: Lessons slots are available on Mondays with lessons priced at ÂŁ12 per half hour. Please contact Rachel Espeute on racheleds@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested.