Parent Newsletter 04/03/16

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE Friday 4th March 2016 This Half Term’s Events at a Glance…

Here are just a few important forthcoming events— for our full calendar, click here

Life Skills Evening MONDAY 14th March

Monday 7th March Year 10-13 Team Photos

Parents and Guardians of girls in Years 6

Tuesday 8th March Careers Convention

Skills Evening on Monday 14th March

Thursday 10th March Year 7-9 Team Photos

is “Building

-11 are invited to attend the next Life from 7.00pm. The topic being discussed Emotional Resilience in Girls”.

Friday 11th March Year 7 At Home Exeat weekend Cake Sale for School Charity

Please be advised that this session is for parents/guardians/ carers only and not for the girls

Saturday 12th March FORMS Quiz Night Harrow Exchange returns

themselves to attend.

If you are able to attend, please

Sunday 13th March FORMS AGM

confirm your place with Pippa

Monday 14th March Life Skills Evening—”Building Emotional Resilience in Girls—Years 6-11

phopkins@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk

Hopkins via email

We look forward to seeing lots of you there!

Tuesday 15th March A Level Music Recital Friday 18th March Model United Nations at Haileybury School Year 9/12/13 Alicante Parents’ Meeting Year 7/8 French Trip Parents’ Meeting Sunday 20th March Confirmation Service

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

Tuesday 22nd March Spring Concert

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Thursday 24th March End of Term Year 13 At Home Saturday 26th March Vietnam Trip departs Tuesday 5th April year 7/8 French Opal Coast Trip departs Monday 11th April Alicante Trip departs

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION Pupil sickness - Guidance from the Health Centre Infection control is a vital issue in childcare settings; children potentially spend a large amount of time at school where there are frequent opportunities for the spread of infection. In order to prevent the spread of infection it is necessary to manage sickness absence and consequently promote good school attendance.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued clear advice on the required school exclusion for infectious diseases such as chicken pox and advice for other common issues.

To reduce the potential for the spread of infections, in certain circumstances it may be necessary to exclude children from the school setting. It is therefore extremely important that parents are aware of the official evidence based exclusion guidance. (see link) http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/A2%20Schools%20poster_1.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/353953/ Guidance_on_infection_control_in_schools_11_Sept.pdf If your daughter becomes unwell whilst attending school, she can be referred by her teacher or boarding house staff for assessment by the Duty Nurse. If the Duty Nurse identifies it is necessary for your daughter/ward to be cared for at home you will be notified and the appropriate care offered whilst she is awaiting collection. If your daughter is unwell prior to school please be guided by the advice from Public Health or your family GP. If you are uncertain regarding your daughters health before school, it is helpful to keep the duty nurse informed of any concerns; please feel free to e mail—medical@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk

Medication from home In a school setting we have many legal requirements surrounding the safety and administration of medication. If your daughter requires medication whilst at school (excluding emergency medication) either prescribed or over the counter it should be handed to the Duty Nurse, you will be required to give precise instructions for administration and sign a consent document which is available from the Health Centre via e mail. The medication must be provided in its original packaging with the child’s name, date of birth and form written clearly. No medication will be administered by members of staff without the completion of the correct documentation.

In order to ensure the safety of our students, please remind your daughter she may not share or administer any medication to another pupil. She should advise the pupil to attend the Health Centre for assessment by the duty nurse. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/416186/20150319_nms_bs_standards.pdf https://www.google.co.uk/? gfe_rd=cr&ei=tcLWVuCIKdWFaJLmjsAO&gws_rd=ssl#safe=strict&q=+administration+of+medicati

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INFORMATION Emails Sent this week Years 7,8 and 9

December 2016/January 2017 Ski Trip letter

Whole School

Reminder about FORMS Quiz Night

Year 10/11 Classics

British Museum Letter

Year 9 and 12 Alicante Trip

Letter re meeting on 18th March

Year 13

Leavers’ Supper “Save the Date”

Year 13

Leavers’ Yearbooks

Year 7

Letter re Religious Studies Trip to Bhaktivedanta Manor

If you have not received any of the emails listed below, please contact Pippa Hopkins phopkins@royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk 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

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SCHOOL NEWS Art and Textiles Trip to Barcelona, February 2016 On 13th February 2016 Art and Textiles students ventured to the inspirational city of Barcelona. We arrived in sunny Barcelona and without haste we explored the city. The Textiles students first visited Museu du Disseny, which was truly remarkable, whilst the Art students visited The Museum of Contemporary Art. After a much needed night’s sleep, the next day we headed to Figueres to see the Dali Theatre Museum. We were able to explore the town and the culture, visiting patisserie shops, souvenir shops and local cafes. That evening we headed back to La Rambla to try the local tapas.

On Day Three we set off early, stopping at the local market. Here we experienced speaking Spanish and the amazing variety of meats and fruit.

Later that day we went to Park Guell, which had amazing mosaics, filled with such bright and colours. This inspired us all so much as we were lucky enough to have time to sketch. The interesting building shapes allowed us to relate them to our own projects.

Later on all 30 of us got on the metro to go to La Sagrada Familia. The breath taking views when stepping off the metro shocked us all. As we went inside we saw the amazing stained glass windows, which projected light across the floor in a variety of different vibrant colours. To finish the day we went to the Hard Rock CafĂŠ.

On our last day, we visited the market again to collect our lunch for the day ahead. We were then all very happy to know that we were allowed to go shopping around the Spanish shops! Once we all re-joined we set off to the aquarium, walking along the scenic harbour. At the aquarium we were able to see tropical fish and penguins. After an exhausting day all 30 of us headed to the airport unhappy to go back home.

We were all extremely grateful to the staff who took up their time to come with us, we had an amazing time and hope to visit again soon.

Isabel S, Year 13 You can see more of our trip photographs here

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SCHOOL NEWS Harrow International School Beijing Exchange Programme The girls have settled well into their new routines in Beijing—we are posting updates from the girls on Twitter and Facebook as soon as they arrive… here’s a taste of what the girls have been up to in their first week in China… More updates will follow next week!

Trip to The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

First day at School….

First taste of “real” Chinese food…. Delicious!

Making Dumplings!

Visit to the 2008 Olympics venues

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SPORT NEWS It has been yet another very busy and hugely successful week for the RMS Sports Teams…

In particular, congratulations to: - the Year 10 Hockey team who won the District Hockey title - Year 9 A and B Netball teams who respectively won and came second in their District Tournament…

- the Under 14 and under 19 Gymnastics teams who came 2nd and 5th respectively in the Essex Floor and Vault Competition

Hockey

Netball

RMS vs St Clement Danes

RMS vs Northwood College

Year 8 Team won 7-1

Senior A Team won 20-3

Year 9 Team won 7-0

Year 11 Team lost 15-12

RMS vs Rickmansworth School

RMS vs St Clement Danes

Year 7 A Team won 5-0

Senior B Team won 24-9

RMS vs Watford Girls Grammar School

Football

Year 7 A Team won 2-0

RMS vs The Reach Free School

Year 7 B team won 3-1

Year 8 team won 9-1 RMS vs St Joan of Arc Year 8 team lost 1-3

Keep up to date with fixtures and results by following the RMS PE Department Twitter account: https://twitter.com/RMSPEDepartment

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FORMS NEWS Messages and Reminders from FORMS this week...

Last Change to book your tickets for the FORMS Quiz Night…. Hosted by Mr Broome and Mr Young, this is an event NOT TO BE MISSED!!!!

Get your teams and tickets NOW. To book tickets, please email ASAP forms.quiznight@gmail.com .

Tickets are £10 per person (£8 for Sixth Formers), and tables are for 8 to 10 people

**** SAVE THE DATE ****

**** SAVE THE DATE ****

BOLLYWOOD BALL Saturday 14th May 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 are very pleased with the response of helpers so far for this event, but please do come forward ASAP if you would like to offer some time, as we will be putting together a “Bollywood Sub Committee” in the next week.

For ticket reservations or further info please contact Abbey on abr@tntg.com

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FORMS NEWS SECOND HAND UNIFORM: HELP!!!

We are in desperate need of larger size dance shoes for the Cadogan House ballet show that is coming up. Ballet, character, or jazz shoes (particularly sizes 3,4,5,6 etc) are all needed!

We are 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 in desperate need of items for the Cadogan House Dance Show, especially larger size (sizes 3-6) ballet, character and jazz shoes. Please make sure uniform items are washed and of a good quality before putting them into the sale - much appreciated!

DATE

DAY

TIME

4th March

Friday

8.00—9.00am

11th March

Friday

3.00-4.00pm

18th March

Friday

8.00—9.00am

18th April

Monday

3.00-4.00pm

School Note EXEAT Easter Holiday

If you require second hand uniform in the half term please contact Abbey at forms.rms2hu@gmail.com to arrange.

FORMS AGM Forms AGM Sunday 13th March at 5pm in the Governors’ Dining Room.

Please join us if you are interested in learning more about the roles in FORMS. We are a very approachable team of parents who are keen to speak with parents for new ideas. However large or small your contribution we would be extremely grateful! So please come forward!

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED We are still looking to fill the position of Vice Chair. Please don’t be shy Email Fiona for more information on: forms.chair@gmail.com

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SCHOOL NEWS

The Elizabeth Johnson Organisation (EJO) is a British Council Accredited Summer School provider that has run its International Summer Programme at RMS since 1996. This summer, for the first time, they are looking for RMS students who live locally, and also for their brothers or other relatives and friends, to become part of the course and interact with their own students, who come from all over the world.

RMS students will help the students to improve their English, joining them in some lessons, at mealtimes and on local activities and full-day excursions. You will be in a well-managed, wellsupervised environment, have fun and earn some pocket money (ÂŁ50 per week) as well. Furthermore, it is likely that the an experience could be useful later on to include in CVs and personal statements and portfolios!

The course starts on Sunday 10th July and runs for four weeks until 6th August. The age range of students on the course is from 12 to17. Although it is not be necessary to undertake the whole four weeks, RMS students would need to be available from Monday to Saturday inclusive when on the course.

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please email steve@ejo.co.uk or phone 01428 751549.

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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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