RTS Parents' Newsletter 20 May 2022
Head Teacher's Message
Well, what can I say? What an incredible week - for many reasons. I am so proud of our Year 11 students - your children. This week they have faced their first GCSEs and, whilst I know that anxiety levels were high, they have done themselves, you, and us proud. On time, looking smart in their uniforms and with such a determination about them. There has been such a positive energy both before and after the exams. The students have supported each other in many ways - whether that be with hugs, kind words, sharing food, or even just noticing and giving each other the space to get into their own zone; it has been wonderful to see. I know that the coming weeks will follow the same pattern, especially now the relief of actually starting them has happened. That first exam is always the worst.
Our Year 7 students have also been away for their first RTS residential and we look forward to the reports and stories from Mr Burchett and his team!
Many of you take the time to send in thank you emails for your appreciation of either an event, or a meeting with a teacher, or just an acknowledgement of a job well done - I have the privilege of seeing them all and it really does make a difference to staff to receive such emails - so thank you. On that note, if you wish to join in on Thank-a-Teacher Day on 26 May (an opportunity in fact to thank any member of school staff, whatever their role) or on Thank You Day on 05 June, I am happy to share the links. Both events provide an opportunity to celebrate the work of schools and staff.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Ms K Dooley
Dates for the diary
Monday 16 May-June
GCSE examinations
Tuesday 17 May-Friday 27 May
Year 9 AP6 assessments
Friday 27 May
Jubilee Celebrations - early finish at 13:00
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:
Gypsy Roma, Traveller History Month
Year 7-9: The GRT British experience
Year 10-11: GRT : Tackling cultural discrimination
RTS Art Gallery
This week Ms Williams decided to back through the archives and has chosen a random selection of images to share with you! Hopefully one of your favourite images from over the past few months has been included.
Having had the privilege of seeing some of the GCSE Art portfolios just this week before they were locked away whilst being moderated, I continue to be blown away by some of the artistic and creative talent that we have at RTS.
Global Warming
On INSET day, five RTS students came into the school late afternoon to meet with Ms Dunningham and to link up with Hampton High for a virtual cross-borough model UN conference. Each student represented a country and debated alongside Christs and Twickenham Schools about whether global warming needs urgent tackling. All four schools concluded the urgency of tackling global warming now.
Sophia G. (Year 8) reported back, 'I enjoyed the event because it was a good opportunity to learn about other countries and their environmental problems but it was also a good chance for me to challenge myself'. George N. (Year 8) also said, 'I enjoyed the event because it was nice and active, very fun and many people had made very good points to make people think about their answers.'
Future Dragons?
Year 10 Business participated in a project earlier this week where they analysed the school canteen’s marketing mix. Group work and class collaboration is vital in Business in order for students to have their ideas heard and to prepare them for further study and careers.
This group of students (Kaisen, Hamza, Ethan and Adam) explored what the school canteen currently offers and areas for further improvement. These are the business people of the future!
Enrichment Request
A request please for our 'Puzzled' enrichment - students have been thoroughly enjoying this particular enrichment session and therefore we would like to request that if you have any neglected, barely used or unwanted games at home that you please consider donating them to the school. We are looking for board games, decks of cards, sets of Uno cards etc. Students may bring them in and drop them off in Reception where they will be passed to Ms Nockolds. Thank you in advance.
FORTS NEWS
FoRTS General Meeting – Wednesday 6.30pm at RTS
Wednesday is our first meeting in person for over two years, and our first held in the school! We’d really love you to be part of it. Teas and coffees will be available as we gather in the ILZ (library). We will also hold a second-hand uniform sale on the evening (payment by card only). The meeting will begin at 6.30pm, with an estimated end time of 8pm. The agenda will be emailed out next week. It would be great to see you so we can tell you of future fundraising plans, how the money is being spent, and future in school events.
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.
Richmond RFC Half-Term Camp
Richmond RFC Multi-Sport Half Term Camp
Open to all! (Not just Richmond members)
Tuesday 31st May and Wednesday 1st June from 10am - 3pm.
Open to boys and girls 5 -15 years old
All coaches are at least RFU level 2 qualified and DBS checked
Rugby, Football, Cricket, Ping pong & much more!
£35 for one day. £60 for both days.
NEW OFFER!
Early drop off at 8am for an extra £10 per day.
Later pick up at 5pm for an extra £10 per day.
Find out more by clicking on the link:
Richmond Community Rugby Richmond Rugby - Multi Sport Half Term Camp
May Half-Term Camp RFC.pdf
Middlesex Cricket
My name is Sharon Eyers and I work for Middlesex Cricket and my role is to ensure that cricket becomes gender balanced. I, myself, played cricket for over 30 years but it is sad that many women and girls still believe that cricket is not a game for them. It is so important for us especially, to see cricket as gender balanced and that girls know it is a game for them! We can see women’s cricket on TV now and also players can make a career out of playing which is incredible.
We are super excited to share with you that our local cricket club Bushy Park CC are hosting a cricket party night for all girls to come and try the game in a fantastic setting. The evening will be filled of fun games and skills and there will be snacks and soft drinks for the young girls and their parents. Sport is a great way to make friends and enjoy activities. Coaches Callum Millar and Sharon Eyers will be in attendance and it is hoped there will be a visit from a female player on the evening. Please come down with your child / children and enjoy the evening.
We would love it if you came and joined us for the evening to see first hand what we are trying to achieve and how much fun cricket can be.
Volunteer Fair
The annual Volunteer Fair returns to Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Community College (RHACC) on Thursday 26 May, 2pm-6pm.
It’s 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.
Poster - Volunteer Fair 2022 - FINAL.pdf
Middlesex Cricket
Please see the flyer for details of Middlesex Cricket youth membership offers. The offer ranges from 0-18 years; and includes a variety of different opportunities.
MIDDLESEX YOUTH MEMBERSHIPS_2.pdfGirls Football Coaching
We Make Footballers is a Girls Football Coaching programme based in Teddington.
They are hosting a girls only football camp for players of all abilities ages 5-13 this half term. It is a 3 day camp delivered by a female coaching team ending with a tournament day.
Please go to this link to find out more information:
Term Dates 2021-2022
Full term dates and Inset day information is available on the website:
Half-Term: Monday 30 May-Friday 03 June