Parent Newsletter 12/02/16

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE Friday 12th February 2016 Next Half Term’s Events at a Glance…

Here are just a few important forthcoming events—for our full calendar, click www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk/media/calendar Monday 22nd February Year 13 Mock Examinations start Tuesday 23rd February Year 12 Physics to Rutherford Laboratory Friday 26th February Harrow Exchange departs Vietnam Parents’ Information Evening Year 7/8 Sports Tour Fundraising Sleepover Saturday 27th February Ruspini House Open Morning Monday 29th February Yr 11 Art Tate Modern and Royal Academy Wednesday 2nd March Community Arts Tea Party

Tim Peake Contact Of course, the big school news of the week was the fantastic amateur radio contact with Tim Peake yesterday evening. Thank you to everyone who came and took part in what was history in the making as RMS became the first school in the world to have made video contact with the International Space Station.

A full account of the evening, with thoughts from the girls and from members of staff will follow, but in the meantime, please enjoy some of Mr Spain’s photographs of what was a truly memorable evening.

You can view his photographs by clicking the image below:

Thursday 3rd March Non Uniform for World Book Day Friday 4th March Battlefields Information Evening Tuesday 8th March Careers Convention The full evening is available to watch on the here

Friday 11th March Year 7 At Home Exeat weekend

You can also watch the BBC Three Counties footage of part of the evening here

Saturday 12th March FORMS Quiz Night Harrow Exchange returns Sunday 13th March

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up to date news, reminders and items of general interest! www.facebook.com/RMSforGirls www.twitter.com/RMSforGirls

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INFORMATION Emails Sent this week If you have not received any of the emails listed below, please contact Pippa Hopkins phopkins@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk Year 11

Meningitis C Vaccination information

Year 7-13

Host Families for French visitors

Whole School

Nomination Papers for FORMS AGM

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 Manager Mrs Bulow on datasupport@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk

RMS welcomes the Bishop of St Albans Our School is in the area covered by the Church of England Diocese of St Albans and our Chaplain Rev Quill is a Church of England priest who arranged a visit this week from the Bishop of St Albans.

He had a brief but enjoyable tour of Cadogan House led by girls who are attending Confirmation classes and a special Assembly from 2S about Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.

The Bishop then moved on to lunch at the Senior School, he met the girls from Years 7 to 9 preparing for Confirmation and addressed Chapel Assembly about Ash Wednesday. He also had a chance to meet some Sixth Formers studying Religious Studies and then some other Sixth Formers showed him around. The Bishop comes back to School for the Confirmation Service on Sunday 20th March at 10.30am in Chapel.

Life Skills —Sexting and the Digital Footprint Thank you to those parents who were able to attend the Life Skills Evening on Monday—we hope you found it useful. Information from the evening can now been downloaded from the Parent Portal under “Life Skills”

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SCHOOL INFORMATION School Uniform Reminder As we approach the half way stage to the academic year it seems an ideal time to give students and parents a reminder about the importance of the girls maintaining a smart appearance and our expectations with regards to uniform which promotes a sense of community identity for all pupils.

In some Year groups piercings seem to be on the increase. We allow one pair of small plain gold or silver stud earrings worn one in each earlobe. All jewellery, including earrings, must be removed for safety reasons during P.E. lessons.

Whilst some of the girls seem strangely insistent on rolling over their skirt waistband to shorten its length, the uniform rules state: the skirt should be no more than 4cms above the knee. Please remember this when purchasing a new skirt, despite any persuasion from your daughter to do otherwise. Tights are worn instead of and not with socks; it would also be useful if your daughter kept a spare pair of tights in school as an instant fix.

As we move between seasons (hopefully!), shoes should be a flat or low heeled smart, black, laced shoe or one with a Velcro/buckle strap. Slip-on shoes are not appropriate. Canvas shoes or shoes resembling trainers are not allowed.

This style of shoe and any variation on this theme is not allowed because it resembles a trainer and is too informal to be worn with school uniform. Very rounded toes and trainer style soles suggest a trainer, rather than a shoe and are not allowed.

In Years 7 and 8 girls must have the regulation style bag available from Pullens. In Years 9, 10 and 11 girls may use a plain blue or black rucksack or bag. No logos, or brand names are allowed.

A student wearing non-uniform/inappropriate clothing will be sent to Heads of Year/Head of Sixth Form to change. In the event of repeated uniform/dress code infringements, parents will be contacted and the student will risk being sent home or other sanctions being applied, according to the School’s behaviour management policy. In the case of jewellery and other accessories, the student will be asked to remove the item, which may be confiscated and she will be given a gamma. The complete uniform policy and dress code can be found on the website (http://bit.ly/RMSuniform ).

Also, please be aware that chewing gum is not allowed in school.

And finally, in the event of snow, common sense and practical clothing is the rule of thumb!

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SPORT NEWS Another successful week for RMS sports teams—as always, for more information, follow the PE Department on twitter https://twitter.com/RMSPEDepartment

Gymnastics Last weekend the RMS Gymnastics Squad took part in the U11 and U16 Milano Gymnastics Competition. The girls performed brilliantly with the U11 team coming first and the U16 team coming second, meaning that both teams have qualified to compete at the Nationals in March.

Under 11 Milano Competition—1st Place

Under 16 Milano Competition—2nd Place

The girls also competed in the Under 11, Under 14 and Over 14 Acro competition. Zahava came first in the Under 11 tumbling competition and Mia T came 2nd in the Under 14 tumbling competition. The Over 14 pair, sisters Serena and Miranda came first in their category and all four girls have therefore qualified to the Nationals.

Mia T, 2nd Place Serena and Miranda, 1st Place

In the Acro competition, the Under 11 group came first and go through to nationals, the Under 14 group came 2nd and the Over 14 group came 3rd. Congratulations to all the girls who took part.

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SPORT NEWS This week’s results Netball

Badminton

RMS vs Dr Challoner’s

RMS vs Northwood College

Year 8 A Team drew 11-11

Year 10 won 5-4

Year 8 B team won 16-6

Year 11 won 6-0

Football Hooray!!! RMS footballers have won their first match! Congratulations girls!

RMS vs Watford Girls Grammar Year 9/10 Team won 2-1 Year 7/8 Team lost 6-3 (MVP was Emily C)

Swimming Year 7 Swimming team won the league for the second year in a row

Cross Country It was a successful weekend last weekend for our Cross Country team, with Rachel, Gracie and Ella all qualifying for the national championships Well done to all who took part.

Congratulations also go to Cadogan House.. 

Year 4 athletes won the Watford and Three Rivers Sports Partnership finals

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Prep swimming team won against Chesham Prep 105-100

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Netball—Year 6 A Team beat Abbots Hill 5-0, and the Year 5 A Team won 9-3

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FORMS NEWS DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Tickets are now on sale for our popular Quiz Night, to be held on Saturday 12th March. For more information and to book your tickets, please email forms.quiznight@gmail.com Tickets are £10 per person (£8 for Sixth Formers), and tables are for 8 to 10 people—will your table be top?

**** SAVE THE DATE ****

Bollywood is coming to RMS – East meets West at our Black Tie Bollywood Ball! Saturday 14th May 7.30pm Tables of 8 or individual tickets sold.

We would love to hear from parents who have connections or contacts and anyone that can support the event with auction or raffle prizes. Please get in touch as soon as possible to aid with the planning! For ticket reservations or further info please contact Abbey on abr@tntg.com SECOND HAND UNIFORM: Our lovely new room is open every Friday morning from 8.00am to 9.00am except for exeat Fridays when we will open from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. The new location is the double doors to the left of Ruspini House. We are now preparing all the refunds for last year’s sales – please do get in contact if you want information about your sales in the meantime. forms.rms2hu@gmail.com We are in desperate need of larger size dance shoes for the ballet show that is coming up. If any parents are hanging on to any pre-loved ballet, character, or jazz shoes (particularly sizes 3,4,5,6 etc) we are in need of stock! Please make sure uniform items are washed and of a good quality before putting them into the sale - much appreciated! If you require second hand uniform in the half term please contact Abbey at forms.rms2hu@gmail.com to arrange.

NEXT FORMS MEETING: Tuesday 23rd February – 7.30pm Governors Dining Room FORMS Nominations meeting. Please join us if you are interested in learning more about the roles in FORMS

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FORMS NEWS

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HOLIDAY CLUBS AT RMS Super Camps 20th Anniversary Sale With 20 years’ experience delivering top-quality holiday activities for children, Super Camps is the UK’s No.1.

To celebrate 20 fabulous years looking after children across the UK, Super Camps is offering early bookers up to 20% discount off standard rates. This offer carries a ‘best price guarantee’ so you won’t get a better rate.

Discounted spaces are limited, so book early to avoid missing out on this unique offer.

Book now and join the fun!

Use discount code '20YEARS' when booking online or over the phone.

Visit www.supercamps.co.uk or call 01235 467300

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HOLIDAY CLUBS

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