RTS Parents' Newsletter 29 January 2021

Head Teacher's Message

I know that you will all be as disappointed as we are that schools will not be re-opening properly after half-term, and that the government is now looking at a date in early March. No definitive date or details have been communicated to schools as yet, however we continue to plan, organise, and hope. This news is undoubtedly a huge blow for our school community and we are very aware of how challenging life at home is for so many of us at the moment. Staff are working hard at ensuring the learning environment is as normal as it can be and that we continue to inspire our students to be the best version of themselves. We cannot do this without your ongoing support, so thank you for your kind messages which are so important for staff to receive and read.

Please continue to stay safe.

Ms K Dooley

RTS Art Gallery

This week students continued their art lessons in symmetry and started with insect body parts then created their own fantasy bugs!

Art Review

Year 10 experienced a virtual gallery tour of Picasso and Paper at the Royal Academy of Art this week during their class. Below is a review by one of our students, Toni.

Toni Clarke-Thompson - Cubism_Picasso Task.pdf

Maths Challenge

Students across the school will take part in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge on Wednesday 03 February. It is a 60-minute, multiple-choice competition aimed at students across the UK.

It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems.

The problems on the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience.

Better Health

During this period of winter lockdown it can be challenging to keep motivated. School work, jobs, family responsibilities, missing friends and family, and illness - we are all under such pressure and uncertainty of a type that we have never experienced before. The NHS are keen to promote activities towards a 'Better Health'. It is not just about exercise - but also mental health. The website contains short articles on different areas of health (healthy eating, smoking, exercise, mental wellbeing) and also some suggestions of apps that might be of interest.

Dyslexia Support

The British Dyslexia Association have provided some resources to support families with children who may have dyslexia or learning needs. These are especially useful during this time of school remote learning in lockdown. In addition to the study skills webinar below, here is a link to a webinar on supporting your child at home during school closures that you may find useful.

Student Wellbeing

There are a great number of wonderful resources out there to support both parents/carers and students alike. An excellent website that provides real life stories, resources and tips for managing wellbeing at this time is https://youngminds.org.uk/.

One such resource is about managing communication and frustration at home:

when-emotions-explode-poster-parents.pdf

FoRTS News

A warm welcome back to our school community from FoRTS. We hope this newsletter finds you well and back into the structure of online schooling.

Our next General Meeting will be held virtually on Monday 08 February at 19.30. Please join us if you can to discuss fundraising ideas, second hand uniform sales and more! Agenda and full meeting details to follow.

A new date of Sunday 21 February has been set for the next Chinese Language and Culture workshop. More details to follow soon, but please email FoRTS now to reserve a place.

Like all charities, the pandemic has made fundraising extremely challenging. One of the easiest ways to raise money for FoRTS is to use Amazon Smile and Easyfundraising while you shop online. This is free for you, and currently our only source of income. Please support us if you can.

For any further information, or ways you can help FoRTS, please visit the FoRTS page on the school website or email: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk.

Thank you for your continued support, FoRTS Officers (Vanessa, Carey and Mark)

Safeguarding

If you have concerns in relation to a student at RTS or indeed with regards to your own child, you may want to contact Single Point of Access (SPA) which acts as a central information hub for all professional agencies in Kingston and Richmond.

The SPA phone lines are now open as follows:

  • Monday-Thursday 08.00-17.15 and Friday 08.00-17.00 - the phone number during these times is 020 8547 5008

  • Out of hours: 020 8770 5000

Hounslow Early Help Assessment

NSPCC: Speak to a counsellor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

  • Telephone number: 0808 800 5000, or text 88858

  • Email: help@nspcc.org.uk or

  • Signvideo using British Sign Language (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm)

Local News - Please note RTS does not endorse items included as Local News

Parent Carer Survey

Many families are finding lockdown much tougher this time and Richmond Parent Carer Forum are working with the National Network of Parent Carer Forums to share your experience of lockdown 3.0 with Central Government and influence policy making. The NNPCF have been instrumental in safeguarding the rights of children and young people with SEND throughout the pandemic and your feedback really does make a difference. Please complete Richmond Parent Carer Forum's 5 minute survey to let them know what is and what isn't going well for you and your family. The survey will run until 31 January 2021.

Youth work

Things have been delivered in very different ways these last few months in all of the youth centres that have managed to remain open. A number of the youth centres are providing a limited service, if you would like more information please contact the centre directly for more information.

For more information on youth service activities during term time and in school holidays please check out the AfCinfo website.

SALT Parent Telephone Line

Parents can access the Richmond Paediatric Speech & Language Service via the Telephone Advice Line on 020 8614 5333 to speak to a therapist about any concerns they may have relating to speech, language and communication if they do not currently have a therapist working with their child.

Term Dates 2020-2021

Full term dates and Inset day information is available on the website:

  • Spring Half-Term break: 15-19 February 2021

  • Easter break: 01-16 April 2021

  • Summer Half-Term break: 31 May-04 June 2021

  • Last day of Summer term for students: Friday 16 July 2021

Parents' Calendar