RUTLISH NEWSLETTER — NOVEMBER 2019 From the … · The Black Crowes, The House martins, The Clash...
Transcript of RUTLISH NEWSLETTER — NOVEMBER 2019 From the … · The Black Crowes, The House martins, The Clash...
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
RUTLISH NEWSLETTER — NOVEMBER 2019
Model UN Trip to Ricards Lodge
Christmas Jumper Day
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please take time to read the November newsletter which is
published as we had so much news to share with you.
I would like to thank the many parents and carers for their
donations to the school fund alongside funds raised by our
dedicated PTA; this money will be spent on playground
improvements. Following consultation with the PTA and with
members of the School Council, we are in the process of sourcing
outdoor table tennis tables and basketball posts which we hope to
be installed at some point during the spring term.
Two weeks ago I met with our CCF contingent and with Ryan
Sammons, Captain and Contingent Commander. The CCF gives
students so many exciting opportunities and new experiences and
I would like to encourage more boys from Year 8 upwards to take
up the opportunity to join our Combined Cadet Force; they will be
recruiting again in January 2020. Rutlish School CCF has a long
and proud history, established in 1921 as a Cadet Battalion. The
CCF is a tri-service military uniformed youth organisation in
schools around the United Kingdom. You can find out more
information on the website: https://www.rutlishccf.org.uk/
Our Year 11 students and parents and carers visited Ricards
Lodge for the joint RR6 Open Evening last Thursday; this
successful event was extremely well attended by over 450 visitors.
Students and parents and carers were able to talk to subject staff
and Sixth Form students about each of the 30 courses on offer.
The online prospectus and application form can be found on the
website: https://www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk/rr6-sixth-form/.
The deadline for applications is Friday 13 December.
Lastly, I would like to wish all Year 13 and Year 11 students the
best of luck in their forthcoming mock exams which run from 2-17
December with some practical exams on 28 and 29 November and
18 December.
Please sign up to our Twitter page so that you are able to see our
regular updates.
The calendar of school events can be found on our school website.
Key dates for your diary:
20th November Y10 Parents’ - Evening 28th November Y8 Parents’ - Evening 29th November Y9 Enterprise - Day 11th December - Pantomime 13th December - Christmas Jumper Day 17th December 2019 - Carol Concert Last day of term - Thursday 19th December
Ms Howarth
From the Headteacher’s Desk
Friday 13th December is Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save
the Children. Pay £1 to wear a Christmas jumper to school.
On Friday 8th and Saturday 9th of November, Theo Richards and
Jay Richards of 10K and Joe Kelly of 10A took part in a Model UN
Debate at Ricards Lodge High School. As delegates representing
Bangladesh, they were charged with staking their country’s place
in the conference and proposing solutions to the ongoing climate
crisis. With exemplary preparation and research, they were able
to hold their own amongst some of the more experienced and
larger teams, and gained recognition and respect from fellow
delegates and organisers alike. Theo Richards even bagged a
coveted “best speaker” award from his council group!
The trip was a success, solutions were shared and new
connections were forged. We look forward to many more future
debates and for the youth of today to
become the leaders of tomorrow.
Mr Gibson
End of Term Arrangements
DECEMBER 2019 END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS: The school will close for the Christmas holidays on Thursday 19th December 2019:
Periods 1, 2 and 3 Normal lessons
12.15 Tutor time
12.30 Students dismissed by SLT and HOY
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
Renovation @ Rutlish
Drama News
Over the summer and first half of this term the school has been
renovating the Pavilion. There has been a new kitchen, heating
and boiler system installed, as well as updating the shower area
and decorating the interior.
The school has also created a new ICT suite.
The cost of these projects has been part funded by the Local
Authority, Rutlish Foundation and the school.
South Thames College Theatre Performance
Performing Arts students from South Thames
College will pay a visit to the Rutlish Drama
studios on Monday December 9th. They will
showcase their Theatre in Education piece to an audience of year
10 Drama GCSE and Performing Arts students, and engage in a
Q&A session at the end.
This is a great opportunity for Rutlish
students to work in partnership with
local schools and learn new skills which
can be used in devising rich and
meaningful Drama.
Ms Dawkins
Azores Trip 19th-23rd October
Over the half term the Geography department led a 5-day trip to the Azores taking 40 students. The trip was action packed and enjoyed immensely by both staff and students. A few of our
student have written about their experiences:
Azores 2019 – Where do I start? What I would call the 5 most
exhilarating days of my life. The trip was jam packed with activities
and adventures during the days we were there, ranging from
Kayaking and Mountain Biking to Dolphin and Whale Watching
and not to forget, swimming in Hot Springs at least once a day! At
the end of each day we would all have a well-earned relax in the
well-equipped luxurious hotel in Ponta Delgada, by the beautiful
port. The views from the hotel were breath-taking, that’s not
mentioning the view points from the top of the volcano, absolutely
astonishing. The staff became your friends rather than your
teachers and we would be learning whilst having fun, which I
thought would be impossible! The visit of the Geothermal Plant
really helped visualise concepts that we had only theorised in
class and it definitely helped me get a better understanding of how
natural energy can power nearly a whole island. Albeit the strong
smell of the sulphuric gas was a bit off-putting but it was still a
great time. I know for a fact that myself and all my friends who
also went on the trip truly had a blast and would not hesitate one
second on the thought of returning the Azores.
Raphael Bonnet 11A
On the Azores trip we learnt a lot about hot springs, mountains
and volcanoes. Some of the fun things were when we went on a
bike trail, learnt about a power plant that gets its energy from
volcanoes. All the food we ate was amazing and it was mostly
found or made on the island. One of the things we did was go to a
tea factory and learnt how they make tea and we got to try it after.
Arthur Batty 9V
The Azores was a great trip, we all had so much fun doing the
activities that the school planned for us. In my opinion the best
activity was going into a heated pool. The water was orange from
iron and made it look really cool, the water was heated from the
heat rising up through the earth. Also the food was amazing from
the restaurants and hotel. The Azores trip was great fun!
Henry Christopherson 9P
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
Young Writers’ Competition 2019
Congratulations to James
Sellers for winning the
Wimbledon Book Fest
Young Writers’
Competition 2019, Key
Stage 3 Story Category.
James is currently in Year
10 but picked up his award
last summer term when he
was in Year 9.
The Young Writers’
Competition received over
345 entries this year from over 60 local schools but James was
chosen for his excellent writing and his ability to engage the
reader.
Ms Graham
Christmas Concert
Rutlish Christmas Carol Concert
Tuesday 17th December 2019
6.15pm - 7.15pm
St. Mary’s Church, Merton, SW19 3HJ
#TOGETHER
Tickets available on the door & refreshments Served
Music News
The Music department have been busy this Autumn term
performing at Wimbledon Bookfest’s Gig Night hosted by John
Kennedy and at the Old Ruts Halloween event ‘The Blood and
Guts Fest’.
At Bookfest in October Rutlish auditioned and
had two successful bands performing, ‘Red’
our Year 10 band and our Year 10/11 band
‘The Chase’. This was a big occasion for the
boys and they stepped up and didn’t
disappoint. The marquee was full and it was
lovely to see Rutlish performing for the third
year in a row. Our Music GCSE groups are
working hard.
The Eclectics, now in RR6, performed at the
Gutsfest along with our Dads’ Community
Band ‘The Banned’. Since finishing their
GCSE’s The Eclectics have played an
acoustic set at the Out of the Corner Venue in
Surbiton and are taking part in Kingston
College’s Next Youth Music Takeover Event.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cirkt-next-gen-
youth-music-takeover-tickets-67481826961.
Our Dads’ community band ‘The Banned’ now has eight members
and we are performing frequently. If you sing or play an instrument,
please get in touch! Our repertoire is expanding and rehearse
every week and our set list
includes The Cure, The Kinks,
The Black Crowes, The House
martins, The Clash to name few.
The band was set up to
demonstrate that commitment
and prac t ice gets you
everywhere in music.
On Sunday 1st February Rutlish Music students will be taking part
in the Merton Live Event at
Wimbledon Theatre with our boys
collaborating with the Wimbledon
High Pop Orchestra. Every
Tuesday evening a number of our
Year 10 GCSE Music travel to
Wimbledon High to rehearse with
their Jazz ensemble. The boys are improving their improvisation
skills with the well-respected Jazz musician Ed Barber who is
running the course until February. We are delighted to have Mr.
Richard Bristow, the Head of Music, working with the department.
We have now tripled the number of boys taking instrumental
lessons including drums, acoustic, lead and bass guitar, brass and
piano. If you are interested in your son learning an instrument
please email dawn.steele@rutl ish.merton.sch.uk or
Music News cont.
[email protected]. Our guitar teacher Mr. Joe
Cornwell also hosts live events outside school. He is running our
new Production and Beat Club in school and we have kindly
received funding from the Rutlish Foundation to invest in new
equipment to support this.
The boys are working hard towards the Christmas Concert which
is on Tuesday 17th December at St. Mary’s Church, Merton
starting at 6pm. Tickets will be available on the door and
refreshments will be served. The concert is called #together as we
are working hard to build relationships with the local music
community. We have a number of parents performing and local
community members included in the programme as well as boys
from Year 7 through to Year 13. Please come and support us and
be ready to sing a few carols!
Finally, if you have any spare instruments at home WE NEED
THEM! We have advertised a musical instrument amnesty in the
local SW19 groups and already have received some guitars.
Please feel free to donate by dropping off at reception.
Ms Steele, Lead Music & Ms Pearce
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Cricket Football Rugby
Sports Club links
As a school we encourage reading of all genres for pleasure, for
knowledge, and for the cognitive and wellbeing benefits associated
with higher literacy levels. While reading non-fiction is interesting
and useful, recent research suggests that reading fiction, in
particular, accelerates student progress in all subjects, including
maths and science.
https://ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2019/10/are-all-types-of-reading-
equal-or-are-some-more-equal-than-others/
‘Specifically, teenagers who read fiction almost every day score around
26 points higher on the PISA reading test than those who never read
such books. This difference in achievement is large – the equivalent of
around 10 months of additional schooling according to the
OECD.’ Advice flowing from this is to encourage ‘young people to
engage more with novels and other lengthy fictional texts [which
necessitate] deep reading for sustained periods of time.’
If you find it difficult to persuade your son to read fiction,
encourage them to visit our LRC where they will get guidance and
support from our Librarian, Mrs Higginson, as well as from their
peers, as we have a number of library monitors always on hand to
recommend books.
Ms Jones, Literacy Coordinator
Careers News
Careers and Enterprise Week
From the 25th – 29th November we will be holding our first Careers
and Enterprise Week, a celebration of the careers guidance and
education available to our students.
During the week, students from Year 7–13 will participate in a
range of activities, including assemblies, working lunches and talks
from external speakers. Some of the highlights of the week include
a talk to RR6 students from Joanna Santinon, Partner, Ernst &
Young and Year 9 students taking part in the National Enterprise
Challenge.
Ms Heaney
Please donate books for our Book Boxes and for Liberty Primary
School. If you have any appropriate reading books for our
students or material suitable for primary school aged children at
home that are in good condition that you no longer use, please
could you consider donating them to us. There will be a collection
box in the LRC during November which we will then gift to Liberty
primary school. Thank you.
Ms Howarth
Book Donations
Sports Highlights
Year groups have started well in the Harlequins South London
League with the U12s, U13s, U14s and U16s sitting at the top of
their respective pools in the competition.
The U12s, 13s and 14s have started the season well with regular
training and fixtures. Plenty of time for more players to come along
and training with us on Monday (U12) and Tuesday (U13/14) after
school.
Don’t forget, if you want to play more rugby outside of school get in
contact with Mr Ross who will put you in touch
with the respective age grade coach at Old
Rutlishians.
Mr Ross
O2 Tennis Trip
Twenty students plus two staff were lucky enough to get tickets for
the World Tennis Finals at the O2. The students watched two
games: one doubles and one singles. The doubles match allowed
students to watch the number one pair play the number two pair.
An excellent match went to three sets and Rojer and Tecau won in
three sets - 6-2, 5-7,10-8.
For the singles we watched a repeat of the US open final. Rafa
Nadal played Danial Medvedev. Medvedev won the first set and
Nadal the second. In the final set, Medvedev was leading 5-1
before Nadal fought back to win in the tie break.
It was an excellent trip.
Ball Boys
Boys have been practising their skills and
knowledge. Next week the final eight will
be selected to attend the Wimbledon trial
which is on the second Saturday in
January.
Indoor Rowing
We hope to restart our indoor rowing club. This takes place at the
back of the pavilion during certain lunch times. This club will be
advertised very soon. In two weeks, our Year 8, 9 and 10 students
will be attending the Active Sport Row at the Elephant and Castle.
After Christmas we will be attending the National Indoor Rowing
Championships.
Mr Joyce
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
School Absence: 020 8540 3134 www.rutlish.merton.sch.uk @RutlishSchool
A warm welcome from the Place2Be Team.
Place2Be is the leading national children’s
mental health charity working with pupils,
families and staff in over 600 UK schools. At
Rutlish we offer one to one counselling with
creative work, brief solution focused sessions in Place2Talk
during break and lunch, Place2Think for staff and Parent
Partnerships. Research shows that promoting positive mental
health improves school outcomes, attitudes to learning and
attendance.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Ella Beard
(Place2Be School Project Manager) on 02085421212 Ext 171 or
[email protected] on Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesday (am).
https://www.place2be.org.uk
Place 2 Be
Homework club
If your child needs some support with their homework or access
to computers or printers, please encourage them to attend
homework club. This is held in ICT rooms for an hour after school
each day.
Mr Connor and Miss Bowden
Please remember to download the School Gateway app so you
can see your child’s timetable, view your contact details, etc.
The majority of correspondence with parents is by email, please
ensure the school office have any changes in contact details.
Please write a note in your son’s planner if he has an appointment
and needs to leave school during the day.
Please call the attendance line on each day of absence.
Thank you.
Mrs Gibbons, school office
School Administration
Thank you to all Everyone for
your donations.
All the donations have now been counted and I am pleased to announce that we have
raised a grand total of:
£1210.27
Anti-Bullying Week
Children in Need
Last Week was Anti-Bullying Week. Rutlish has participated by
hosting a house competition to produce either a poster or a poem
around the theme of anti-bullying. We received a huge amount of
entries of excellent quality. We also held an assembly to raise
awareness of anti-bullying and
introduce the Anti-Bullying
Team to the year seven
s t u d e n t s . T e a c h e r s
participated in Odd Sock Days
to signify how we celebrate
each other’s differences.
During tutor time, all the tutors
delivered lessons on anti-bullying to further raise awareness and
highlight our zero-tolerance policy on bullying. Students were
taught to identify the different forms of
bullying, for example, verbal, physical
and cyber bullying. We highlighted who
the students should speak to if they
ever fall victim to bullying and also that
the school offers a service called Place
to Talk, which is run by professional
counsellors, to help students if they
feel sad or overwhelmed.
Mrs Targuisti
Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday – a time to
stop, think and remember. For us
cadets at Rutlish CCF, it is a time to
dedicate our day in respect of those
who fought for us over 100 Years ago
and over 75 Years ago, whom which
we now represent. The day started
early, we were up and ready for the day ahead of us and already
practicing our marching by 8am. Proudly wearing our red poppies,
we marched down to The Nelson Hospital where we did a one
minute silence and Kingston Road was temporarily halted. A
wreath was laid on behalf of Rutlish CCF by LCpl. Shyan Khan.
We were invited into The Nelson Hospital for biscuits and tea and
managed to have a chat with the Mayor of Merton and the Merton
Police Borough Commander. Next we went to St. Mary’s Church.
We paid our respects in the church and proceeded with another
minute of silence at exactly 11:11am. A wreath was laid outside of
St Mary’s Church on behalf of Rutlish CCF by LCpl. Aaron
O’Connor. We finished our day with another round of tea and
Biscuits at St. Mary’s Church Hall. A truly successful
Remembrance Sunday.
Cpl. Raphael Bonnet