RTS Parents' Newsletter 03 September 2021

Head Teacher's Message

A very warm welcome to our new Year 7 cohort and families who started with us this week. Your year group is the final piece in the RTS jigsaw and we are now at full capacity for both students and staff. We are extremely excited for the coming year and look forward to welcoming back Years 8 through to 11 on Monday and Tuesday (please read the Head's Start of Term letter for details of first day back for each year group and timings or see below.

On behalf of all of the staff I want to thank you for your incredible generosity in your donations to the End of Year Staff Collection arranged by FoRTS. Staff were bowled over by your comments and kindness. The decision was made to purchase a coffee machine for the staff room and it has already been well used this week! Thank you.

Ms K Dooley

Start of Term

Please note the first day of term will remain as published in the newsletter dated Friday 16 July.

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


Monday 06 September

  • Year 7 & 11 students ONLY: 08:30-15:00


Tuesday 07 September 2021

  • Y7, Y10, Y11: 08:30

  • Year 9: 09:00

  • Year 8: 09:30

Contacting the School

If you wish to contact the school, the School Office is open:

  • Monday-Thursday 08:15-16:30

  • Friday 08:15-15:00

Telephone: 020 8891 2985

Email: info@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Please use the Parents Communications Summary for guidance on types of query and where advise may be found/who to direct your query to.

Staff Update

We are pleased to introduce you to the new staff who have joined RTS. There have also been some changes to responsibilities for existing staff. Our full staff list is accessible on the RTS website here.

New Staff

  • Mabel Dog - RTS Mascot

  • Ms Havell - Senior Administrator (Student Welfare)

  • Mr Harris - Geography (7AN)

  • Ms Dion-Jones - Art and DT (7BL)

  • Ms Saxby - Curriculum Leader Music (7MA)

  • Ms Sloman - PE (7SE)

  • Mr Ketley - Music and PRE (7SP)

  • Ms Youd - Business Studies and PSHE (8MA)

  • Ms Biswas-Whittaker - Science (8SE)

  • Ms Tania - Philosophy, Religion & Ethics (PRE) & PSHE

  • Ms Emms - KS3 Lead - Science (9AN)

  • Mr Novi - English (9MA)

  • Ms Turner - Maths (9SP)

  • Ms Richards - English (10AN)

  • Ms Skilbeck - Science (10MA)

  • Ms Chidlow - Curriculum Leader Girls’ PE (Co-Tutor 10MA)

  • Ms Casti - MFL (10SE)

  • Ms Clark - English (10SP)

  • Mr Baum - Maths (11SE)

New Responsibilities

  • Mr Jones - Deputy Head Teacher; Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

  • Ms Carrick-Steele - Assistant Head Teacher; Deputy DSL

  • Mr Reynolds - Lead Practitioner/Curriculum Leader Maths

  • Mr Burchett - Science & PE ; Head of Year 7

  • Mr Singh - PE; Head of Year 8

  • Ms Dunningham - Curriculum Leader Geography; (Co-Tutor 9SP)

Parent meeting and events

Following the success of our remote parent events, all parent/carer meetings and events in the school calendar, unless otherwise stated, will take place remotely using the same formats that we have developed during the school’s partial closures. You can add the school calendar to your digital device via this link. Alternatively, you can review the calendar via the school website.


If you wish to make an appointment to see a member of the school staff, please contact the School Office in advance via info@rts.richmond.sch.uk - A full staff list is available on the school website.

LFD Testing

LFD at Home Tests - Students

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation in continuing to encourage your child/ren to take LFD tests before they return to school. It is important to keep the school community protected and safe.

LFD tests are available free of charge via various local outlets - find somewhere close to you via this link:

PE and Games Kits

For PE and Games lessons, students must wear their PE/Games Kit to school. They must not wear their training boots to school, these should be placed in a separate bag inside their school bag. Students who do not have separate shoes will be loaned school plimsolls to wear inside the building.

School Meals

For the first week of term it is necessary to operate on a pre-order basis from the kitchen only - there will be no self-serve. Google Forms have been shared on all Google Classroom Year Groups for students to make their selections for meals for break and/or lunch time. Students should access these on their ipads and complete the Google Form themselves as it registers their email address. Tutors will assist any students experiencing issues using the forms next week. Please ensure that all ParentPay accounts are topped up in advance.

Richmond Council Q&A COVID vaccine roll-out

Parents and carers of school-aged children and young people were invited to a virtual Q&A to ask their questions about the impact of COVID-19 on schools this September, along with any questions about the vaccine rollout for 16- to 17-year-olds. If you were unable to attend a video of the event can be viewed below:

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.

Richmond and Kingston SPA

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)

Term Dates 2021-2022

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

  • Half-Term: 25 October 2021 - 05 November 2021

  • Christmas break: 20 December 2021 - 04 January 2022

Parents' Calendar