RTS Parents' Newsletter 12 May 2023
Head Teacher's Message
Next week is the week! GCSEs start on Monday 15 May with the first full cohort examination taking place on Tuesday 16 May with a Biology exam. We already know that our students will do themselves proud. The work and effort that they have put in over the past few weeks has been incredible to see. Alongside their revision it is essential that they eat well and also take breaks from their study - mental well-being is exceptionally during this period of public examinations.
Elsewhere in school this week we waved a group of Year 7 students off to a residential trip on the Isle of Wight - they are due back later today and I can't wait to hear their adventures and share them with you next week.
Ms K Dooley
Dates for the diary
Monday 15 May
GCSE Examinations begin
Monday 29 May-Friday 02 June
Half-Term
Monday 05 June-23 June
Year 10, AP6 examinations
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.
UK Biology Challenge
This week 70 students in Y9 and Y10 took part in the UK Biology challenge. This challenge stimulates curiosity for the natural world and encourages students to take an interest in biology outside of school. Questions will be set on the school curriculum, but the competition will also reward those students whose knowledge of the subject has been increased by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes, taking notice of the news media for items of biological interest, and are generally aware of our natural flora and fauna.
Orchestra Visit
We were excited to have our first visit from an orchestra this week! The Nonesuch Orchestra are an amateur orchestra based in North London who find that sharing orchestral music with audiences who may never have experienced it before is hugely enriching for players and listeners alike. They enjoy working with schools across London. The additional honour for this visit is that they invited six RTS students to play alongside them - Huw, Shreya, Paria, and Diba (all Year 8); and Matilda and Cheryl (both Year 9). Ms Saxby also joined the orchestra with her cello. Year 7 and 8 students were treated to the orchestra playing excerpts from Don Quixote - with a small explanation of what the pieces were and what they meant; it was lovely to hear the sound echo around the school building.
FORTS NEWS
Rugby parking - volunteers needed
Rugby is our biggest money maker for the school but to ensure we can marshall the incoming and outgoing vehicles we need volunteers. If you are interested in helping out this Saturday 13 May to see how it works please message Rob on: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk
All the money raised goes directly to the school to help with students' school activities and enrichment.
Your FoRTS team,
Carmelle (Chair & Secretary), Mark (Treasurer)
General: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk
Uniform: fortsuniform@rts.richmond.sch.uk
Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk
Voluntary donations: Peoples Fundraising
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
Dramacube - West End Showcase
Love musicals? Don’t miss out on a place in this special West End Showcase!
Dramacube’s GREATEST SHOWMEN (professional Artistic Director & Choreographer) will be working with SIX young casts to produce a show where they WILL ROCK YOU with performances inspired from popular West End shows.
This WICKED, musical theatre project is for GUYS & DOLLS aged 8-18 years who enjoy singing, dancing and performing.
Weekly rehearsals start from the 13th May in Hampton Hill, Twickenham and Esher.
MAMMA MIA! The final performances will be in the West End of London at Wonderville Theatre!
Every child who signs up will get to perform - but places are limited!
SIGN UP AT https://www.dramacube.co.uk/
May Half-Term Camp
Looking for a May Half-Term for younger children with an older sibling at RTS? Then Mr Bowie's camp is for you! A local primary school teacher himself, Mr Bowie has been running sports camps at RTS now for a while and the camps are a huge hit with the children who attend.
Contact Mr Bowie for full details.
Richmond Volunteer Fair
On Thursday 25 May 2023 it's the annual Volunteer Fair at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Community College (RHACC). This is a free community event which invites local people to meet a wide range of good causes and find out about a variety of roles they could get involved with, in whatever time they can spare.
School Uniform Suppliers - Summer Appointments
SchoolDays - Whitton High St
From 1st June, SchoolDays will again be operating an appointment system during the summer months.
Book your slot early to avoid disappointment at : https://schooldaysllp.co.uk/index.php/booking-form/
Stevensons
Stevensons have released this year's appointment booking information.
They are also looking for young people to work in their Twickenham branch over the summer months.
Vacancy - Parish Administrator
Ss Philip & James Whitton with St Stephen’s Hounslow seek a Parish Administrator, to be based at Whitton. The role will involve the management of day-to-day activities of the two churches, including some financial duties, to act as PA to the Vicar, and support the churchwardens and officers in their roles.
Hours: 24.5 hours per week - can we worked flexibly across Monday to Friday
Salary: £15.00 per hour plus Workplace Pension (c£28.860pa pro rata)
Those who are interested are invited to contact the Hon PCC Secretary, Mrs Lucy James, on secretarysspj@gmail.com for a full Job Profile.
Term Dates 2022-2023
Full term dates and Inset day information is available on the website:
Summer Term 1: Monday 17 April-Friday 26 May
Summer Term 2: Monday 05 June-Friday 14 July