RoundUp€¦ · 7 March Parent Consultation Evening 13 March KS4 Options Deadline 14-16 March...
Transcript of RoundUp€¦ · 7 March Parent Consultation Evening 13 March KS4 Options Deadline 14-16 March...
HeadlinesDear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the final RoundUp of this term. I
would like to say farewell to several members
of staff will be leaving us at Christmas. Chloe
Corrie, our excellent Head of Chemistry, is
relocating and we are very sorry to see her go.
I am delighted, however, to say that Bal Lidder
has been appointed as her replacement. In
maths, Jarrod Keegan, our Head of Maths, is
returning to his native New Zealand. Jarrod
has been an excellent teacher throughout his
time at the school and he will be missed. The
leadership of maths will temporarily transfer to
Melanie Chrisp, the second in maths. Nick
Gray, our Head of Music, has been promoted
to an exciting position at the Chartered College
of Teaching where he will be producing
resources for teachers nationally. This is
something that Nick has wanted to do for some
time and, sorry though we are to lose him
given his outstanding contribution to this
school, we do not want to stand in his way as
he furthers his career. The music teaching is
being covered by Alex Gray and Jean
Reynolds and a temporary positon which we
are trying to fill. We should expect there to be
some reduction in extra-curricular music as we
prioritise exam classes over the next two terms
but we will try to keep disruption to a
minimum. We will recruit a new Head of
Maths and a new Head of Music ready for
September. As has been known for some time,
our Head of Business & Economics, Kirsty
Maidment, is leaving for a promoted position
at a school nearer to her home. She has been
replaced by Mike Desborough from Stratton
Upper School where he is currently Head of
Business & Economics.
RoundUp is published fortnightly on our website.http://www.roundwoodpark.co.uk
RoundUpIssue: 121
Date: 14 December 2018
Roundwood Park School, Roundwood Park,
Harpenden AL5 3AE Tel: 01582 765344
e-mail us at [email protected]
Jayne Brownless is leaving us after 17 years of
distinguished service to the school as a
Teaching Assistant. She is leaving to seek a
new challenge but she goes with our gratitude
for the work that she has done.
Last week, the Sportspersons’ dinner was
again well attended and the PE department
were delighted to welcome back Ralph
Adams-Hale, formerly of this parish! I would
like to thank the PE department for the
magnificent extra-curricular offer they give to
our students and the enthusiasm they show in
giving up their evenings and weekends
throughout the year to give our students so
many opportunities. The reward is the
excellent performance of our students and this
was showcased beautifully at the dinner.
Thank you also to our Food Preparation and
Nutrition students who catered for the
evening with delicious food.
On Thursday I attended our Christmas
concert at the church. Once again it was a
wonderful evening and gave us all an
opportunity as a community to say farewell to
Mr Gray. I enjoyed all of the performances
but if I may select one that I particularly
enjoyed it would be K Keddy’s violin piece
which received rapturous applause.
It therefore remains for me to wish all of our
parents and all of our students a very happy,
peaceful and restful Christmas. Enjoy the
holidays and we will look forward to seeing
the students back in school on Tuesday 8
January 2019.
Alan Henshall
Headteacher
We have our final non-uniform day for the
term on Friday 21 December. The theme
is Christmas Jumper Day with all
proceeds going to the Harpenden Rotary
Club. As you may recall, we support their
work with their shoe box appeal and this
money in particular goes towards delivery
of those boxes and their work both here
and abroad.
For those who have not signed up to
ParentPay donations, in school collection
of £2 will commence Monday 17
December through to Wednesday 19
December. Form tutors will be collecting
these donations in form time.
Many thanks for your continued support
in raising funds to support our charities.
R. Porter
PE Department
Friday 21 DecemberNon Uniform Day -Christmas Jumpers
End of Term
Term finishes at 12.10pm on Friday 21
December. Buses will be collecting students
from school at that time.
Next term commences for students on
Tuesday 8 January 2019.
Christmas Lunch Tuesday 18 December
The canteen will be shut at break time on
this day and no other food options will be
served at lunchtime.
Key Dates in 2019:
Year 7:
w/c 20 May Exam Week
w/c 3 June Exam Week
w/c 24 June Enrichment Week
4 July Parent Consultation Evening
Year 8:
21 March Parent Consultation Evening
28 March Year 9 Options Deadline
w/c 20 May Exam Week
w/c 3 June Exam Week
w/c 24 June Enrichment Week
Year 9:
16-18 January Career Sessions
28 February KS4 Options Evening
7 March Parent Consultation Evening
13 March KS4 Options Deadline
14-16 March Battlefields Trip
3-14 June Exams
w/c 24 June Enrichment Week
Year 10:
16 May English Parents Info Evening
Year 11:
7 January DofE Training Day
17 January Post 16 Information Evening
24 January Parent Consultation Evening
Year 12:
14 February Parent Consultation Evening
w/c 10 June Work Placement Week
Just a reminder that packed
lunches will be required for
those students whose
parents/carers have NOT
signed up for the Christmas
lunch.
Trip Payments
Residential Trips
Madrid Spanish Language Trip 2019:
Deposit: £150 overdue
Ski Trip 2019:
Interim Payment: £500 overdue
Interim Payment 2:£600 overdue
Warm Weather Athletics Trip 2019:
Interim Payment 2:£200 overdue
Final Payment: £200 due 14 December
Y9 Battlefields Trip 2019:
Final Payment: £130 overdue
Y10 &11 Berlin History Trip 2019:
Final Payment: £430 overdue
Y12 Nettlecombe Court Biology Trip 19:
Deposit: £50 due 13 December
Y13 CERN Physics Trip 2019:
Final Payment: £130 overdue
Y12 &13 Tour of Russia 2019:
Interim Payment: £600 overdue
Final Payment: £450 overdue
Y10 South Wales Geography Trip :
£50 deposit: due 11 Jan 2019
MFL Language trips:Following unprecedented demand for the Paris
trip, we are currently in the process of
investigating accommodation options which
would permit us to accept all students who
have signed up. Please note that we will
confirm trip places once we have had feedback
from our travel agent. All students who have
signed up for the Rhineland trip are confirmed.
All information regarding trips already
launched is available on CareMonkey and
Parent Pay. A full list of all trips we are
planning to run this academic year can be
viewed on the school’s website or via the
following link: Trips Planned for 2018-19
Mrs J Blight
Residential Trip Coordinator
Year 11 Consultation Evening
Thursday 24 January 2019
The online system will be open to make
your Parents’ Evening appointments on
THURSDAY 20 DECEMBER at 8pm. The
system will close at 10pm on Thursday 10
January 2019.
Forthcoming Events
Absence LineWhen you call in for absence, please use
our dedicated 24 hour absence line:
01582 714049 or e-mail us at
Further information can be found
on the Roundwood Park website.
Roundwood Park School Calendar
Daily Bulletin; Latest News;
Letters Home; Trips & Visits
PE News
Please also follow us on Facebook,
Twitter @RPSCREATIVE
@RPSPE
Or download the Roundwood Park
mobile app to keep up to date.
Vacancies
For details of any current vacancies, please
visit our website or following the link below:
https://roundwoodpark.co.uk/vacancies/
Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards
On Thursday 19 November, Mr Mercel
presented 13 of our Year 13 students with
their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
certificates and badges. J Bartlett,
F Boschetti, C Cross, F Gill, H
Humphreys, S Janes, C Jones, K Patel,
H Pring, K Prynn, F Scott, A Stacey and
A Velody all took part in the 2018
Expeditions.
Congratulations to everyone who
achieved their Award!
Mrs Thomson, Mrs James and Mrs Godbee
In November, all Computer Science
students took part in the Bebras
Computing Challenge which introduces
computational thinking to students. It is
organised in over 40 countries and
designed to get students all over the world
excited about computing.
The Bebras challenges are made of a set
of short problems that are fun, engaging
and based on problems that Computer
Scientists often meet and enjoy solving.
All students that took part have received a
certificate, and of the students that
participated, 88 achieved a top 10% score
in their age group and have now been
invited to participate in the TCS Oxford
Computing Challenge in March next year.
Huge congratulations to them.
We would particularly like to congratulate
the 4 students who were Best in School in
their age group:
Juniors (age 10-12): B Wake (7W)
Intermediate (age 12-14): T Owen (9O)
Seniors (14-16): E Turner (10GT)
Elite (16-18): M Northcott (12C)
We are also immensely proud of T Owen
and A Corran (9M) in the Intermediate
Category, who have been selected to
attend the next round of the Bebras
Challenge in Oxford in February.
Well done to all participants!
The Computer Science Department
UK Beaver Computing Challenge
It has been a fun and busy term at French
club with regular Y7 members enjoying a
range of activities including; Kahoot
quizzes, bingo, petanque, crafts and a
French DVD.
Many thanks to S Piepgrass in Y12 for her
fantastic commitment in running the club
each week. If you would like to join, we’ll
be starting back on Thursday 11 January
and meet every Thursday at 1.15 in ML4.
MFL Department
French Club
2nd Hand Football Boots
If you are having a football boot clear out
we would welcome the donation of any
pairs of boots (moulded/round studs or
astro boots, no blades) which we can keep
as spares for students as required.
Many thanks.
Mr Hunter
PE Department
Can you spare any cooking equipment?
Thank you for all the donations to food
technology. If anyone is having a clear out
of saucepans, cake tins, baking trays or
any utensils please bring them in as all
donations will be gratefully received!
Many thanks.
Food Technology department
Trampolining
We are delighted to be giving one of our
old trampettes to an ex RPS PE teacher Mr
Faulkner who now teaches at Stoney Dean
School in Amersham which is a specialist
speech and language school.
I Slade (12GT)
Exam Certificates for GCSE students that
left RPS in Summer 2018 are available for
collection from Reception. For those
students still at RPS, they will be awarded
at an assembly in the New Year.
A Level certificates will be awarded at a
Celebration evening on Wednesday 3
April 2019.
There are many certificates dating from
Summer 2013 onwards that have not been
collected - you worked hard for these -
please make arrangements to collect them.
Mrs Darvill
Exam Certificates
Sportspersons’ Dinner 2018
“Welcome all to the 2018 Sportspersons'
Dinner. By being in this room, you are part of
a fairly sizable school sport machine which
seems to grow and improve year on year. As
aspiration grows, so too does potential and as
more and more of you recognise the link
between hard work and success, we, as a
school, grow and improve.
Many of you will know that you attend a
school with some half decent sporting role
models in its alumni. Will Kearsey is currently
breaking college swimming records in the
USA, Tats Dowie is continuing her long and
illustrious football career in Australia, Sarah
McKenna gains cap after cap for England’s
women's rugby team and in this district alone
we have three ex students teaching PE….the
best of which in my opinion, we are lucky
enough to have with us. #harpendenmessi (Mr
Keenleyside).
Role models are key. They remind us of what
can be achieved. They give us inspiration in the
knowledge that people who started their life in
a similar way to us, have gone on to really
maximise their potential and be the very best
that they can be. We’re lucky enough to be
joined, this evening, by another Roundwood
Park role model.
Ralph Adams-Hale left our sixth form three
years ago, and since then he has worked his
way through the Saracens system and this
Saturday just gone, made his full debut in the
Gallagher Premiership. A hugely proud
moment for him, his family, all those who
know him well and for some secondary school
PE teachers who have tracked his career to date
with interest. We’ll hear from Ralph later, but
for now, I’d simply like us to offer him a very
warm welcome back to RPS.
Now we are not here tonight to simply
celebrate those with the chance to become the
next Ralph. We are here tonight to recognise
and celebrate the achievements of many at all
levels.
Whether you aspire to be a professional, play
better club sport, represent your school more
regularly, or simply play just for fun – the key
feature of our celebration tonight is recognising
the role that people play in the success of our
school sport at all levels.
This time last year, I stood here and referenced
the building of a new astro-turf. As a school,
we’re already benefitting from it. For some years
now we’ve benefitted from a new sports hall,
dance studio and fitness suite. Now, all this
facility development is a true sign that
Roundwood Park values PE and sport and is
prepared to invest some of its limited educational
resources in your sports enjoyment and
development. What’s pleased me the most in the
last year though, is the way that the school, as a
whole, has continued to embrace opportunities
presented. Team training numbers are up. Thirst
for house competition has grown. Sporting
success has increased. Engagement with
examination PE has continued to be high, and
overall, day by day, we’ve been able to come to
work knowing that our passion and efforts are
reciprocated by the fantastic students that we
have the privilege to work with.
So, as we go through this evening’s festivities. I
would invite you to enjoy spending time with
those around you, of all ages. Embrace the
success of others and understand why what they
bring to the table is so appreciated. Reflect on all
you achieved last year and be proud to be part of
a school that isn’t afraid of hard work – because
we know that the success at the end of it, is
worth all the blood, sweat and tears. Most
importantly though, once we’ve finished looking
back tonight, start looking forward again. How
can you push forward and how can you be the
very best you can, in the sporting year that is to
come?
Have a lovely evening.”
Please find below Mr Hunter’s opening
speech at that Sportspersons' Dinner last
Wednesday evening.
Sportspersons' Dinner 2018
KS3 Sportsperson of the YearM McIntosh
Rising Stars F SimpsonF Crowley
Unsung HeroE Turner
Service to RPS SportT Randall
Most Improved PerformersL GurneyJ BrightonH Booth
Staff Recognition Award Winners
J FranceyS Pawlaczek
E CraigH BayneE LowryF Griffin
E Piepgrass
Teams of the Year7/8: Girls athletics
8/9: Boys basketball9/10: Boys football
Sportspersons' Dinner 2018
RPS Success at Trampolining Regionals 2018
25 November saw the trampolining squad attending
the first round of the national competition for the
East region at the University of Hertfordshire.
Regionals was the first major competition of the
season and was a day filled with storming success for
everyone involved.
Next up was the U19s intermediate team.
This was the gymnasts’ second year in this
tougher category and the competition was
fierce. The team was E Faulkner, L Barter,
I Slade and S Ellins.
Not only did the team take first place but M Soanes took
2nd and B Mansell swept up the overall high score for her
category meaning both qualify for the next round as
individuals. A special mention is extended to A
McGreevy who came an excellent 4th having just
returned from a three year break from trampolining and
making her competition debut at regionals.
Our older boys were up next. The U19s Intermediate boys
team was made up of A Pearson, N Bates, J Woods and
A Birch. A secure performance for N Bates saw him become
overall Champion and an outstanding set of routines from
J Woods placed him 3rd. Both now qualify for Zonals as
individuals. The team were crowned Regional Champions.
First up was the U19 Novice team made up of
A McGreevy, B Mansell and M Soanes. Despite
nerves, the team did exceedingly well, becoming
Regional Champions and propelling them into the
next round.
Warm up nerves led to a few early tears but an exceptional performance from all four gymnasts
secured them the overall team high score, making them Regional Champions. I Slade also took
the silver place after two stunning routines.
RPS Success at Trampolining Regionals 2018
The U13 gymnasts were up next; for many of them
this was their competition debut, so as you can
imagine, both parents and staff watched nervously.
N McHale, A Fishwick, E Braylin and E Day
performed outstandingly in an incredibly tough
competition to come a superb second place securing
them a place in the next round. N McHale
(following 2 marvellous routines) grabbed a 2nd
place medal also ensuring she advances to the next
round as an individual.
Lastly, the U13 boys intermediate team took to the stage.
L Tynan, A Hall, E Roberts and E Lowry did a fantastic job
of coping with all the nerves and pressure of being the last
team on. They all executed fabulous routines meaning the
day finished with the presentation of first place trophies to
the boys. Following some great execution, A Hall took 2nd
while E Lowry took 4th.
Overall, 5 teams became Regional Champions, with 1 team in
2nd. There were 3 individual champions, 4 silvers and 2 bronze
individual medals awarded. A huge congratulations to all the
gymnasts who attended and thank you for your positive
attitude and support for the team throughout the day.
After a quick lunch break the afternoon saw further rounds
of intense competition. The U15s girls novice A-team
were up first. O Wise, K Keddy, B Colyer and E Bignell
were hugely successful. Four excellent performance
secured them a first place win with K Keddy coming 1st as
an individual with an impressive performance and O Wise
coming 3rd. The U15s novice B team were up next.
Outstanding efforts from E Graham, E Moody, I Hoskins
and T Bowles placed the team in third place narrowly
missing a spot in the next round. T Bowles also scored a
perfect 10 for her travel, the trampolining squad’s first!
Also a massive thank you to alumni E Kennedy and E Walls for your support on the event.
Lastly, thank you to Mr Hunter, Miss Mullally and all the parents for ensuring the smooth
running of the day, and thank you to Mrs. Moxham for preparing, coaching and encouraging
our gymnasts on the day and throughout the year; it really wouldn’t be possible without her.
S Ellins (12O)
“Helping People Succeed” provides sponsorship for RPS artificial pitch and senior sport team kits
RPS PE and Roundwood Park School would like to extend a huge thank you to Helping
People Succeed Limited who have given very generous support to help fund the artificial
pitch and kits for some of our senior sports teams.
Richard Bandell, CEO of the company, is an RPS parent who was delighted to link up
with the school in this way. He said: “Sport has always been a positive influence in my
life. My business career has been shaped by my experience of playing sport and the importance of
learning through trying, failing, and trying again. As I was growing up, I was lucky enough to have
great teachers, coaches and access to sporting facilities. HPS is proud to be able to make a
contribution which will support the students at RPS in reaching their full potential. “
Helping People Succeed Ltd (HPS) has a simple mission statement of helping everyone
they can to reach their full potential. They specialise in:
• Identifying individual, team, and organisational strengths and development
requirements.
• Directing, coaching, and supporting people with appropriate interventions to help
them achieve their goals.
• Providing companies with advice and hands-on delivery to achieve strategic,
commercial, financial, or operational targets. This includes leadership coaching,
training, and development; business re-structuring and turn-around; mergers and
acquisitions (buy and sell side); non-executive advisory services; interim leadership.
Through their sponsorship HPS will do two things:
• Provide Roundwood Park School and Harpenden Colts with an initial sum
to contribute to the costs of construction of its artificial football pitch
• Provide ongoing financial support to Roundwood Park School and Harpenden Colts
to promote activities that encourage inclusive participation of young people in sport
(particularly football) and build on the excellent work that the school and the club do
to enhance the quality of coaching and support which young people are given to help
build their self-esteem, resilience, and confidence.
If your organisation is interested in the work of HPS, contact can be made through their
website: www.helpingpeoplesucceed.co.uk. HPS will donate 10% of its revenues from
work gained through its sponsorship, to be split equally between Roundwood Park
School and Harpenden Colts.
‘LANGUARY’
We have renamed next month ‘LANGUARY’.
During LANGUARY we would like to see who is the best independentlanguage learner in the school!
What do YOU need to do?
Collect a SPICY LANGUAGE LEARNING MENU CARD from theMFL office from Tuesday 8 January. It contains a wide variety of activitiesfor you to complete to help you practise the languages you are alreadylearning or to try out something new.
Complete as many menu items as you can during LANGUARY and showyour evidence to Mrs Phillips in the MFL Office
The Peri-ometer suggests the level of challenge the menu item offers.Each activity is worth points and your aim is to gain as many points aspossible.
We will record all the points you score on your Languary activity cardand give awards to those who complete lots of challenges.
Score more than 10 points to be entered into a prize draw at the end ofLanguary which ends on Monday 4 February.
Here’s a preview of the Languary menu:
WE ARE ALSO RUNNING AN INTERFORM COMPETITION. THE FORM THAT COMPLETES THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WILL WIN A PRIZE FOR THE FORM TO SHARE!
Careers Advice through the eyes of our alumni
On 8 November we hosted a careers event for Year 11 and 12 students,
delivered by some of our ex-students.
Luke Firmin (2001) and Angel Ashcroft (1996) gave inspiring presentations
to Year 11 students entitled 'Navigating Your Next Steps‘. Their talks
covered their own career paths and included words of advice and 'things I
wish I'd known when I was your age'. They gave some really valuable
advice about how to approach working life as well as the importance of
resilience, persistence and being true to yourself.
Following these presentations, Year 12 students undertook some mock
interviews, designed to give students the opportunity to practise talking
about themselves with a 'real life' employer. David Nichols (1996) and
Richard Harris (2004) conducted these interviews and were able to give
students some very sounds advice and valuable feedback. David and
Richard both commented on how impressed they were with how much the
students had already achieved and the breath of their experience.
Vikki Psaila (Employment Liaison & Events Coordinator)
HOUSE NEWS
Forthcoming House Events:
21st Dec: Non Uniform day
House Totals:
GT 86 pts
Owens 85 pts
Wilberforce 85 pts
Cadbury 83 pts
Frank 73 pts
Scott 71 pts
Mandela 71 pts
Please follow our House twitter pages to keep updated with all our weekly events:
RPS_HouseSystem
Budding photographers (in three categories, Juniors aged 7-10,
Intermediates aged 11-13 and Seniors aged 14-17 - all ages as at
31st August 2018) are invited to enter their work in the Rotary
Young Photographer Competition, the Harpenden heat
of which is being run by Rotary in Harpenden.
This year's theme is "Beauty of Nature“. Entries must be
submitted by 26th January 2019. Winners of the Harpenden
heat will receive a £20 WHSmiths voucher.
In last year's competition Hannah Burns, winner of the 11-13
intermediate section in the Harpenden heat, went on through
district heats to take third place in the national finals, a truly
wonderful result for one of our local schools!
For guidelines and an entry form please go
to https://tinyurl.com/yphotdoc
Entries should be delivered or posted to Kelvin Goodson, 86
Tuffnells Way, Harpenden, AL5 3HG
(Email: [email protected])
For further information, please visit www.rotaryinharpenden.org.uk
(scroll down the home page to "New Challenge for Young
Photographers", where they will read about last year's winners, the
judges' opinions and see pictures of the winning entries).
Calling all Budding Photographers! Rotary Young Photographer Competition –
Harpenden Heat
Young-Photographer-
Information-Pack-2018-19-
Harpenden Heat.pdftinyurl.com