RTS Parents' Newsletter

RTS Parents' Newsletter 16 December 2022

Head Teacher's Message

As we approach the end of the calendar year and the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of those who have contributed to the success of our school this term.

I would like to extend a special thank you to our PTA, FoRTS, and Creative Arts teachers for their tireless efforts in organising such a wonderful festive fair and showcase event this week. Additionally, I would like to thank all of the student performers and stall leaders, as well as their tutors, for their hard work and dedication. Not only did the students raise funds, they demonstrated excellent community spirit.

I would also like to extend a warm thank you to our neighbours at Clarendon School for their collaboration and support, and to all of the parents, family, and friends who joined us for the event. It was a true joy to see some of our alumni return for the occasion as well.

As we approach the end of the year and the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

At our school, we value the importance of community and the support that we receive from our families. Our philosophy of fostering a positive and supportive learning environment is strengthened when we work together and show kindness and compassion to one another.

I hope that this holiday season brings you joy and happiness, and that you are able to spend time with loved ones and celebrate the spirit of the season.

On behalf of all the staff, thank you for your continued support and partnership in the education of our students.

Ms K Dooley

Dates for the diary

Wednesday 04 January 2023
- First day of Spring Term, Late start for all students at 09:45
- There will be a staff training session until 09:30, and so gates will not open until around 09:15.

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.

Fixtures Roundup

We hope that you have enjoyed sharing in our sporting teams achievements over the last term - some weeks it has been hard to keep up with them! A huge thanks has to go to the PE Department and all staff who provide support, be it by driving the minibus, covering lessons in school, sending out emails and consents, preparing kit and first aid bags. Thank you to parents also for their support in weekend and after school fixtures and for encouraging their children to take part. And, of course, thanks to the students for putting their all into each and every fixture - win or lose their positive attitudes and team work has been exemplary and we are extremely proud of them.

This is just a quick round up of the achievements so far this Academic Year:

U16 Middlesex Girls Rugby Cup Winners
U16 Basketball Borough tournament Winners
U15 Middlesex Boys Plate finalist
U15 Borough boys finalist
U12 Middlesex Boys Rugby Shield Winners
Y8 Rugby Union Borough runners up
Y7 Rugby League Borough winners
Y7 Rugby League Regional 4th place
U12 - Girls runner up Middlesex
U14 runners up Middlesex
Y7 and Y8 girls Silver medalist in Borough football
Layla, Year 10, 13th out 180 runners Borough Cross-Country
Jess, Jaap, and Layla (all Year 10) - selected to play for Middlesex county for Rugby

Career's Corner

Can you help us?

On Thursday 23 February 2023 we will be hosting our very first Year 11 Careers Conference. We are looking for a range of different businesses and speakers to come and support us in delivering workshops, seminars and keynote presentations. In particular we would love to hear from you if you work within the health and social care industry. If you can help us please complete this form - https://forms.gle/Vryj78vJ8VjHS8AV7.

If you have any queries about our Careers programme, please hop over to our website here.

The RTS Way

We have two final achievements to share with you at this end of this term. We love to hear of any activities that students particpate in when they are not busy in school and are proud to celebrate their achievements:

Bodie (Year 9) was promoted from Cadet First Class (CFC) to Ordinary Cadet (OC) which is a big achievement. Bodie is part of the Twickenham Sea Cadet unit and their Commanding Officer is also a high level serving Royal Navy Officer. The unit is supported by an incredible team of volunteer staff who make the children's success possible at sea cadets - many are from other uniformed services. Huge congratulations to Bodie!

Theo (Year 10) was awarded the Gold Award for Scouting earlier this week. This is the highest award a Scout can earn. To complete it, you need to complete all nine of the Challenge Awards, plus six Activity badges. That sounds like a lot of dedication and hard work - well done Theo!

FORTS NEWS

Thank you from FoRTS

We were overwhelmed by the donations provided for the annual house hampers for the Christmas Fair - as you can see the hampers will be a great addition to each of the winners' Christmas celebrations.

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Christmas Fair. We can truly say it was a wonderful evening with much merriment.

Before we close for the festive season, we would like to say a huge thank you for your support for this event and all other activities throughout the academic year so far.

Without volunteers we really couldn’t pull off the fantastic events and rugby parking held at the school.

We wish you all a peaceful and relaxing holiday and a very Happy New Year!

Carey (Chair), Mark (Treasurer) and Carmelle (Secretary)

General: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

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

Telephone Support Service for Parents from Off The Record Twickenham

Off the Record Twickenham provides a telephone support service for parents & guardians of young people. Our experienced counsellor can offer an hour on the phone to discuss any challenges you’re experiencing, give support and listen. This can be particularly helpful when the young person is reluctant to try counselling. Our support can include looking at what you find challenging and/or ways you might support your child. What is discussed is confidential unless there is a concern about the safety of a child. Contact Off The Record Twickenham on 020 8744 1644, at counselling@otrtwickenham.com or find more information about supporting your child on our website https://otrtwickenham.com/parents/

Positive Parenting Project

Having conversations that matter

Parenting is all about relationship building and one of the main ways we build relationships is through conversations. Having good conversations with children and teens is not an added extra, it is the bedrock of parenting and essential fuel for child development.

And, sometimes, there are issues that we simply have to talk to our kids about - for their safety and wellbeing - even if we feel uncomfortable.

Starting good conversations isn't always easy, especially when we are tired or stressed or embarrassed or worried. Finding the right words can be tricky. This month's newsletter is full of tips and resources to make finding the best words and talking points much easier. We have resources for helping you start great conversations, tips on talking to children about the cost of living and a booklist for discussing financial hardship.

Plus advice on picking your way through tricky conversations about healthy eating and sex, bodies and relationships.

Get your spaces for F.U.E.L. now

F.U.E.L. stands for (Feed Ur Everyday Lives). F.U.E.L. is something which Achieving for Children helps to run so that young people can come to free clubs in the Easter, Summer and Winter holidays. The AFC info page has more information.

To be able to come along, young people need to be receiving benefits-tested free school meals. What this means is that the people who look after these young people will have been told by someone who works for the Council in either Richmond or Kingston that they can get free school meals.

Bookings are open on our website for the Winter holidays now! To book, you will need your code. This will be 17 digits long and each child will have a different one. These codes were sent out by email from the school in November.

Football camp.pdf

Richmond RFC Christmas Camp (1).pdf

A December to remember

PowerStation Youth Centre a Christmas Programme for 0 - 19 years old. All young people are welcome. Please check the age range of each session. Food and drink will be provided every session.

The programme is part funded by FUEL so on some trips etc they are limited for young people on free school meals and booking for trips is not confirmed unless/until I offer a trip form.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us

To avoid disappointment book your space for your child.

All Links can be found on our Linktr.ee page.

Click here for more information and for the programme.

Free Christmas Holiday Activities For 9-19 Year Olds

Heatham House Youth Centre are thrilled to be offering an absolutely jam-packed holiday programme this Christmas for young people aged 9-19 and runs from Monday 19 -Thursday 22 With a load of Christmas-themed activities and events across art, music, and sport we are hoping your children will join to get into the spirit of things.

The full program can be found on the following pages 1, 2, 3 and can be booked at heathamhouse.eventbrite.com. Tickets go live at 7:30 pm on Monday 28 November.

If you would like further information, please contact justin.johnson@achievingforchildren.org.uk or call on 0208 288 0950

Brentford Football Club

Girls Only Holiday Camp – Gunnersbury Park

Come and join us for our FREE girls’ football Christmas Camp at Gunnersbury Park . Our football camp is delivered by our experienced football coaches who have expert knowledge of girls’ football.

The camp will include learning new football skills, playing matches, and having fun in a safe environment.

No prior football experience is required. Please supply your daughter with a packed lunch on the day (No nuts are allowed as a safety precaution). We will not be providing food on the day.

Date: Wednesday 21^st December
Time: 10.30am to 2pm
Age group: 6 to 16 years old
Cost: FREE (we ask for a £10 deposit to be made, this will be refunded if your daughter attends)
Address: Gunnersbury Park, Pope Lane, W3 8LQ

To register: https://www.brentfordfccst.com/event/gunnersbury-girls-camp-22/

Twick_01_141_Christmas_Opening_times_09.pdf

Secondary Parent Webinars Poster 2022.23. Education Wellbeing Service (2).pdf

Hong-Kongers!

Hong Kongers - An exciting development from St Luke's primary school in partnership with Kingston BEATS to run four different Saturday clubs at St Luke’s.

practical self defence and fitness
sketching for beginners
lion dance
Cantonese drama club (just for Cantonese speakers)

These are primarily aimed at supporting Hong Kong born children to preserve their Cantonese and to maintain a link with their heritage but three of them are also open to non-Cantonese speakers to encourage integration. Please see the attached flyers for details.

New parents of all heritages are welcome to join the EAL friendship groups for both ESOL and social support. Contact their office manager for details. Multicultural Richmond also run lots of ESOL and community events including ESOL specifically for Ukrainians.

ESOL maths club.pdf

maths homework club.pdf

Living Support campaign

With more people being expected to come into hardship due to the rising cost of living in 2022, Richmond Council has developed a campaign to help de-mystify and de-stigmatise hardship support and to empower and enable residents to access the support they need.

You can help support the campaign by sharing the assets and social media copy below on your own channels.

Visit the Richmond Cost of Living Hub

Resources

The Richmond Cost of Living Hub has gathered information about lots of schemes, benefits and support services - both national and local - into one place. Residents can either browse the information on our website or use our helpful calculator, that will tell them exactly which scheme or support they may be able to access.

You can also sign up to email updates on cost of living support to receive useful information and tips straight to your inbox.

Where people cannot access the internet, we are encouraging them to ask a family member, friend or caregiver to help and look at the information for them. Alternatively, they can visit their local library and a staff member will be able to help them use a computer to find out what you could be entitled to.

Help for Households

The Government has launched the 'Help for Households’ scheme. The homepage brings together over 40 support schemes that the public can access, depending on eligibility, including help with:

Household costs
Energy Bills
Childcare costs
Income support
Transport costs

Additionally, a range of online tools will help citizens quickly and efficiently check the support they might be eligible for and how to access it.

Kooth

Please see below some resources from Kooth (free, safe and anonymous support available to students and young people).

Parent_and_Carers_Infographic.pdf

Term Dates 2022-2023

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

Last day of term -Friday 16 December 2022
Christmas Break: Monday 19 December-Tuesday 03 January 2023
Spring Term 1: Wednesday 04 January 2023-Friday 10 February 2023
Additional Bank Holiday: Monday 08 May 2023

Parents' Calendar

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