Parent bulletin 17 6 16

The Year 11s are heading towards the end of their GCSEs and I would like to take this opportunity to say very well done to them all. Their attitude and behaviour throughout the examination period has been mature and business-like and I very much hope that they are rewarded with the grades that they deserve in August.

They still have a few papers to sit but it is pleasing to note that the year group have handled the stress and pressure very well. We will then look forward to seeing the Year 11s letting their hair down at the Prom on the 29th June at Woolston Manor.

This is always a lovely way to celebrate the end of the exams and have a final get together as a year group. We will then welcome a large number of the students back to Roding Valley on the 5th July to enjoy the Year 12 induction. This will be a chance for the students to get a clear idea of what life in the Sixth Form will be like and the indications are that a very healthy number of students will be returning to us in Year 12 in September. Competition for places will be strong but it is great to see so many students putting us down as the first choice for their post 16 education.

It has been a busy week with Sports Days for the Year 8s and 9s earlier in the week. Throughout the week we have seen hundreds of students taking part in a wide range of sports and the competition has been fierce. The atmosphere has been incredibly positive and the support that the students have show one another has been wonderful to see. Thank you to all those students who have taken part but also to the staff who have worked hard to ensure that the events have been such a success. Today we have held the inaugural Sixth Form Sports Day as well and it was certainly an event to remember. We have welcomed the Year 12s back following their AS exams and have now started teaching the A Levels. It is a crucial time for these students as they embark on their new challenge.

Finally I would like to request that parents refrain from trying to contact their sons and daughters via mobile phones during the school day. This can cause disruption to learning and it could cause the teacher to confiscate the phone which would be unfortunate. The school policy remains that we are happy for students to have their phones in school as I can see the benefits of this in terms of student safety whilst travelling to and from school. However, if a member of staff sees or hears a phone then it will be confiscated. Thank you for your ongoing support with this.

James Luck 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

Dear Parent/Guardian As you may be aware, ParentPay have now changed their website, but with this comes an extra step that needs to be completed in order to update your child’s online School Meals & Trips Account.

Once you have uploaded an amount to “your account” you then need to complete the following steps: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Once you are on your home screen it should appear in the top right hand corner “your account” with the value that you have just topped up Under your child’s name, select “pay for items” It will then give you a list of all items you are able to pay for. Please click “view details and pay” next to your chosen item A box will then appear and in the “edit amount” box please enter the value you would like to add to your child’s lunch/trip account

Please be advised that if the above steps are not completed the money will not appear on your child’s account.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the finance office who will be pleased to help you with your query.

Kind Regards Karen Salmons finance@rodingvalley.net 02085081173 Finance option 3

Student Access to the School WiFi

Please can you return the completed ICT Acceptable Use Agreement to the school office so we can issue your child with their individual password to access the school WiFi.

All parents who have issued us with a valid email address have been emailed another copy of the agreement and there is a copy on the school website under the letters home section.

Regards Karen Salmons Business Manager

ST OMER TRIP FRIDAY 24Th JUNE 2016 FINAL CHECKLIST FOR PUPILS AND PARENTS             

arrive 5.45am ready to leave promptly at 6.00 am take travel sickness tablets if necessary and bring sufficient for return journey bring a packed lunch bring a pen or pencil bring a small French dictionary if you have one bring money to eat on the ferry on the way home or more picnic type food bring sufficient money for souvenirs (€ 20) change English money into Euros wear suitable clothing-particularly shoes for walking bring a shower proof coat ensure that phone has enough credit and that it is fully charged arrange to be collected at 10.15pm.There must be someone to collect your child. drop off and pick up point is Loughton Underground Station. Please do not park in this area

YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE AN EHIC CARD AND PASSPORT. THESE ITEMS WILL BE COLLECTED BEFORE PUPILS GET ON THE COACH. NO EHIC CARD OR PASSPORT = NO TRIP TO FRANCE AND NO REFUND. Above all, have a good day.

Mrs N Chambers Modern Foreign Languages

For the Attention of Year 8 students and parents JACK THE RIPPER TOUR 2016 The tour is now booked for the first week in July and your son/ daughter will receive a letter in their register in the next few days with dates and times/details.

There are still a few spaces, so if you would like to come along with your son/daughter, please let me know asap (student and parent name) tpreston@rodingvalley.net The cost is £10 per person - please could you send payment in for yourself and your son/daughter.

Miss Preston Head of Humanities

Challenge 1: Have Breakfast Challenge 2: Have 5 a day Challenge 3: Drink Plenty Challenge 4: Get active Challenge 5: Try something new

Breakfast Revision Please find below a copy of the Breakfast Revision Timetable for the remaining AS & GCSE Examinations.

Breakfast Revision Sessions will be taking place in the Canteen from 8am until 8.45am for students sitting exams scheduled to start at 9am. Our Catering staff will provide students with croissants and juice free of charge. 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 Mrs Draper, Exams Officer.

Students compete in cup cake bake-off challenge Last Thursday, 7th June, saw Roding Valley's very own Bake Off challenge.

12 keen bakers from Years 7, 8 & 9 took to the whisks, ovens and icing bags to make for a fierce competition. Standards were high, making the judges' job difficult... And finally resulted in first place being awarded to Ellie Blundy 8U, with a very close 2nd place to Mary-Ann Thurgood.

A huge well done to all participants and we're already looking forward to the next competition!

Thank you to all the parents/ guardians for their continued support

Attention all RVHS students Send photos of yourself reading a book or Kindle to Mrs Martin at: jmartin@rodingvalley.net and see your picture(s) on our @RVgetcaughtreading Twitter feed.

The more weird & wacky the better!

Mrs Martin, School Librarian

Year 10 Careers Programme Over the past few weeks all students in Year 10 have participated in careers group work sessions in the Careers Office. Post 16 Options have been discussed and students have been encouraged to start some thorough research into which pathway they wish to follow at the end of Year 11.

Parental Involvement Encourage them to start researching which A levels or courses they may choose study. In September I will provide Parent’s with detailed information about further education and the open day dates of local colleges and sixth forms.

Mock Interview Scheme All students in Year 10 have received a letter for parents this week with details of the mock interview scheme on Thursday 14th July.

All students at the end of Year 11 will have to have an interview either at sixth form, college or with an employer. This scheme aims to prepare students to perform more effectively at interviews.

Students will be learning how to write their CVs and Letters of application during their lessons. All CVs and letters of application MUST be passed to Mrs Mason.

Students will be notified by Monday 11th July where, and at what time, their interview will be. Some students will be going out to the employer’s premises, but most interviews will take place in the school. Students may, if they wish, update their CV once they have completed their Work Experience Placement, just hand in a new CV to Mrs Mason once updated.

Students do not have to wear school uniform for the Mock Interview day, however we do expect them to dress smartly as if they were attending a ‘real’ interview. As a guide boys should wear a shirt, tie, and trousers, girls should wear a skirt/dress/ trousers with blouse/shirt please do not buy anything for the interview as their uniform is very smart and ideal for an interview.

Students follow a normal school timetable and just attend the appointment time of their interview.

If you have any immediate concerns please contact me at the school.

Kind regards Mrs Mason Careers Development Manager dmason@rodingvalley.net

Week ending 17th June 2016

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9

Highest Attendance

Lexia 1

Form with the highest Honours

7U

Student with the highest Honours

Chloe Cooper Lexia2

Class of the week



Highest Attendance

8X

Form with the highest Honours

8X

Student with the highest Honours

Sophie Curtis 8W

Student of the week



Livvy Turnbull 8X nominated by Mrs Sargent for working really well in Computer Science

Class of the week



8r/Rs1 nominated by Mrs Barron for working really hard in RE on Friday.

Highest Attendance

9X

Form with the highest Honours

9R

Student with the highest Honours

Sam Griffiths 9R

Student of the week

 

7qt/Sc1 nominated by Mrs Sargent during a cover lesson in Science for being very polite and helpful, very impressed with their behaviour during the lesson and their attitude to learn

Hannah Patterson 9V & Chad Palmer 9V nominated by Mrs Lafferty for great effort in their recent assessments – Well done!

Abigail Ward 9S nominated by Mrs Humphreys for outstanding homework done over half term

Year 10

Class of the week



Highest Attendance

10X

Form with the highest Honours

10S

Student with the highest Honours

Chloe Deamer 10S

Student of the week

 

10a/En3 nominated by Miss Hanlon for being extremely focussed in the lead up to their English Mocks

Jodie Simm 10Q & Igor Dasuzhau 10S nominated by Mr Dowd for outstanding effort on their Macbeth essays Kitty Carolan 10V nominated by Miss Ahmad for her excellent effort, dedication and participation in English – really impressed with her!

Students display art and photography work Students from RVHS have displayed the art and photography work which they have been working on for the past 18 months.

The exhibition featured their coursework, their exam final pieces and all of their preparatory sketchbooks.

Head of Art Mr Tisdale said: "We have such a broad range of materials, techniques and scales this year including ceramics, pen, pencil drawing, painting, collage and assemblage.

"Each piece of work is individual, experimental and exciting, with some of the students producing work which wouldn’t be out of place in any A-Level exhibition."

He added: "This year, for the first time, we also exhibited the work of our A-Level artists and photographers. This turned out to be of great benefit for our GCSE students as they could see the difference in scale and skill required for this higher level of study."

Many pieces from the exhibition will be displayed at Loughton Arts Centre, High Road, Loughton, from Saturday, June 25, until Friday, July 8.

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

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

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.

Singing Lessons

Drop in times for Students with Special Educational Needs Drop in times for parents of SEN students are to enable you to discuss your son/ daughter's progress in detail.

Private singing lessons are now available. Please contact Alex Larke for more details and to book your slot. email: alex@thevocaltutor.com

We will be available at the following times: Mondays 11.20am—12.20pm Wednesdays 12.20pm—1.20pm Thursdays 10.00am—11.00am Please email me to book one of these times, or an alternative time if these are inconvenient, at asmith@rodingvalley.net

Piano Lessons To book piano lessons please contact rosswall@gmail.com

Access to Water in School 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 £12 per half hour.

Please contact Steve van Niekerk on vn.steve.vn@gmail.com if you are interested.

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.