RTS Parents' Newsletter 10 June 2022
Head Teacher's Message
This last half-term of the Academic Year has certainly got off to a flying start!
I do hope that you managed to have a restful break and enjoy the extra days' bank holiday.
Our Year 11 students came back to a busy week of GCSEs, Year 10 began their AP6 as well as taking their GCSE English Speaking and Listening assessments. Next week Year 7 & 8 will start their AP6. So we are in full exam mode all around school.
We also welcomed our first group of Year 5 prospective parents on Monday to our Open Morning - we will be holding these on each Monday in June. Sign up is available on our website if you have a Year 5 child and wish to attend.
Transition for Year 6 is also building momentum and we are looking forward to welcoming parents/carers on Wednesday 15 June to our Year 6-7 Transition Evening where we will be sharing more about life at RTS.
Enjoy your weekend.
Ms K Dooley
Dates for the diary
Monday 16 May-Tuesday 28 June
GCSE examinations
Monday 06-Wednesday 22 June
AP6 - Year 10
Monday 13-Friday 24 June
AP6 - Years 7 & 8
Contacting the School
If you wish to contact the school, the School Office is open (term time only):
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 advice may be found/who to direct your query to.
Assembly Topics
Assemblies for next week:
Make Music Day - Years 7 & 8
An Ideal World - Years 9 & 10
RTS Art Gallery
Ms Williams was so taken by the quality of the Keemo images that students produced, that we are delighted to share some more for you again this week!
National Rail Strike
You may be aware that on 07 June, RMT announced that they were proposing to launch three days of national strike action across the railway network. The full press release is here. They plan to shut down the national rail network on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June. In a separate dispute, London Underground RMT members will also take strike action on Tuesday 21 June.
We are particularly concerned that this may affect students sitting their GCSE Science exams on Thursday 23 June; however please be aware that there may be associated disruptions every day that week for all students travelling to and from school.
Please ensure that if your child normally travels to school by train that you have investigated and planned an alternative method of transport - it is likely that the knock on effect may also be busier than normal buses, and also the roads themselves. Is there a possibility of car pooling/sharing? Please allow additional time for the school journey so that your child does not arrive late to school (and especially does not arrive late for exams).
Student Achievements
We are always delighted to share the achievements of students outside of RTS and happy to share the pride that parents rightfully have in their children.
Nate, Year 8, took part in the British Jiu Jitsu Open Competition in Warwick last weekend. Nate has been attending Cosmic Marshal Arts based at Waldegrave School for just under a year. At his first grading in May this year he achieved his Grey belt - jumping up two grades - which is just fantastic! He is hoping to attend the European Open in Wolverhampton in September.
Congratulations Nate and best wishes for your future endeavours!
We shared recently that three of our Year 10 students were successfully selected to play at county level for Middlesex Rugby's U15's squad. Out of a trial of 90 girls only 24 were selected - so to have 3 from RTS is a remarkable achievement. The squad have now played all of their matches, out of 7 games they won 4, drew 1 and lost 2 - a great start to what we hope is just the beginning of their time with the squad.
Congratulations Layla, Jess and Jaap - enjoy your break until next season!
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award
Over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, seven groups of Year 10 students completed their challenging walking routes around the beautiful Chilterns. There was some fantastic teamwork, resilience and determination on show as they worked through some difficult weather conditions! Next up will be their qualifying expedition, where they will take a big step towards completing their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Royal Holloway University Visit
On Tuesday 24 June the English department took 60 year 10 students to Royal Holloway University to experience an English taster day and learn about university life. The students participated in lectures looking at metaphors and tropes; completed creative writing activities based on newspaper extracts and were able to go on a campus tour, led by student ambassadors, to discover all the different facilities that Royal Holloway offers.
Royal Holloway commented on the pupils impeccable behaviour and were impressed with how engaged and enthusiastic the students were.
Tyler B. in 10 Shakespeare commented that, "It was such a pleasant experience for me and I am considering applying to Royal Holloway".
Nil G. in 10 Stoop added "I have enjoyed the small lectures that were given to us on the trip, I found them very realistic and it made me feel like I am a university student having my lectures. Another part that I enjoyed was the library. It was very modern and full of supplies that a student needs and I also found it quite enchanting that you can have your own little room in the library to cross out any possible distractions".
Thank you to all the students who represented the school and members of staff who supported the trip.
T20 Cricket Trip
On Tuesday, Ms Sloman took 14 girls from across Year 7 and 8 to a Women's T20 cricket final.
The group travelled to Radlett Cricket Club in Hertfordshire to watch The Sunriser players against The Southern Vipers. The Sunrisers, who have coached/played for England cricket, won by 1 wicket.
The girls had a fantastic time and even ended up winning awards in some of the activities the cricket club put on for them. They even sported the classic cricket sun-creamed nose!
Taking Pride in RTS
Starting Friday 27 May, RTS will be running an afterschool program on Fridays. The 'Taking Pride in RTS' group will include students from all years, and it will be led by the students.
The students taking part will have the opportunity to organise events such as bake sales and arts and crafts fairs that will be held during the school day. These events aim to give back to the school and wider communities, so any money raised will go to a charity that the students choose.
The afterschool program will be supported and supervised by Miss Biswas-Whittaker (science teacher/Year 8 form tutor), and day sessions with Mr Ketley (music teacher/Year 7 form tutor) as well.
We look forward to seeing the amazing events that the students organise!
FORTS NEWS
Big PTA Summer Raffle
Remember to buy your tickets for the Big PTA Raffle! A £3 ticket gives you 12 chances to win up to £5,000 and FoRTS receives 50% of the ticket price. Three draws will take place each day between 18 July and 21 July 2022. Please share with friends and family, anyone can buy tickets. Thank you for your support.
New Y7 Families
FoRTS will have representatives at the Year 6 Parents' Transition Evening on Wednesday 15 June. We look forward to meeting you and letting you know more about the work we do and how you can help raise funds for the school. Please come and say hello and remember you can contact us at any time by emailing forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk. We will also be holding a second-hand uniform sale on the night (payments by card only).
Your FoRTS Team,
Vanessa (Chair), Mark (Treasurer) and Carey (Secretary)
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
Telephone number: 020 8583 6600
Out of hours: 020 8583 2222
Email: earlyhelp@hounslow.gov.uk
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
Signvideo using British Sign Language (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm)
Local News - Please note RTS does not endorse items included as Local News
Train to Teach
Waldegrave Training Alliance are still recruiting for School Direct trainees (tuition fee) to train to teach in the following subjects for September 2022:
Biology
Chemistry
Computing
Design & Technology
Drama
English
Geography
Mathematics
Music
Physics
If you, or someone you know, have a degree related to these subjects, are considering training to teach and would like further information please email wta@waldegravesch.org. Applications will close at the end of June.
Out 'N' About - Pride
The Achieving for Children Youth Service is excited to announce that they will be running Richmond's first-ever cross-school LGBTQI+ Pride Celebration event for young people in KS3,4 & 5 aged 11-19.
Event Aims
This free event is geared up to be a celebration of all things LGBTQI+ and therefore this year it will take the form of a carnival/fair with rides, arts, music, and food. Our hope is that many schools and youth community groups from across the borough will join and they will be able to establish many new and long-lasting relationships for both young people and professionals alike. The day will be supported by Metro Charity, Spectra, Wild Minds, Free2Be, and The Metropolitan Police who will run stalls providing education, guidance, and links to community support structures available to young people. These include important pathways such as links to established youth support groups, LGBTQI+ specific sexual health services, mental health, trans support, and gender counseling. This is, in addition, to support from the No Straight Answer team. All of this should amount to a wealth of support and socialisation opportunities for young people to access that will allow a traditionally much-maligned community to utilise going forward to great reward.
Heatham House will play host to this event as it is an already well-established safe space for young people identifying as LGBTQI+.
Important Information
The event is starting at 2:30pm which is towards the end of the school day. This has been done deliberately. We are running Out N About at a time when students can attend but in an independent after-school capacity. This should enable those young people to take part as general members of the community.
Details
Heatham House Youth Centre, Whitton Road, Twickenham, TW1 1BH
Date: Friday 8th July, Time: 2:30 - 6:30pm
How to Take Part
Any further questions please contact justin.johnson@achievingforchildren.org.uk or alex.quenell@achievingforchildren.org.uk
THE PRINCESS ALICE HOSPICE SUMMER FETE AND DOG SHOW IS BACK!
After a three-year break the Princess Alice Hospice Summer Fete and Dog Show is back, a much loved, much missed event for the local community and, of course, your furry friends!
The fete takes place at Princess Alice Hospice, West End Lane, Esher, KT10 8NA on Sunday 03 July, from 11am-3pm and there’ll be something for everyone: food and drinks, the renowned dog show, entertainment, Bollywood dancing, live music, stalls, displays and lots more besides!
Enter the pawsome Dog Show!
There are a range of categories for dogs to enter this year – and don’t worry, if you or your dog can’t make the date, your furry friend can still be entered into the online virtual Dog Show on Facebook. Why not enter your dog into the online event and for the show on the day, for more chances of being crowned the winning woofer?
Enter the Dog Show through the website. Advance online registration is £3 per category or £4 if you register on the day (entry will be limited on the day so to avoid disappointment please register online if you can).
2022-04-21_MARC_A5-Flyer_Fund_CEM_FINAL-1.pdfTerm Dates 2021-2022
Full term dates and Inset day information is available on the website:
Last day of Summer Term: Friday 15 July