RTS Parents' Newsletter

I cannot believe that we only have one more week of this first Autumn Term. It has certainly been a packed one and I am so impressed with the students and how they have all transitioned seamlessly into this academic year. There have been big changes for some students: primary to secondary, KS3 to KS4; and they have all tackled the challenges head on and with such positivity. The energy around the school is infectious and staff have reported fantastic achievements in lessons across all year groups.

We have been very lucky with the weather this term, but would like to remind parents to ensure that students are equipped for our return after half-term when the clocks have gone back and it is darker earlier in the evenings and mornings as we approach Winter. Please ensure that students have suitable outdoor coats and, if cycling to school, that they also have working lights, wear helmets and have reflective strips or hi-vis jackets so that they can be seen by both pedestrians and other road users.

Wishing you a restful weekend.

~Ms K Dooley | Head Teacher

This November, a group of RTS staff will Grow a Mo to raise awareness for Movember, a charity specialising in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. By growing moustaches, we’ll join millions of people around the world who are helping men live happier, healthier, and longer lives.

We will share images of our journey on social media throughout the month as well as providing important information regarding the Movember charity, the work they do and why these concerns are important topics of conversation.

We would love to have RTS Family support with our journey in Movember, through growing a Mo yourself and contributing to our fundraising effort using a link you will find on ParentPay.

• Monday 16-Friday 20 October: Year 11 Mock Exams
• Wednesday 18 October:
• Year 8 English Trip to the Old Operating Theatre
• Early Finish (all students) at 15:00 (no p6)
• Y7-11 Parent & Tutor Consultation Evening (remote), 15:30-19:00
• Monday 23 October-Friday 03 November: Half-Term
• Monday 06 November: First Day of Autumn Term 2, 08:35
• Monday 06-Friday 10 November: Year 9 & 10, AP3 Assessment
• Monday 13-Friday 17 November: Year 7 & 8, AP3 Assessment

Elected: Ervina Vasiljevic

The RTS Trust board would like to introduce Ervina Vasiljevic as your new parent trustees. As Ervina was uncontested in the election no voting process was required. We would like to welcome Ervina to the board, and thank all those who considered putting their name forward. We will run another election next calendar year for the remaining parent trustee vacancy. You can read Ervina's biography below:

I am a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and CITMA (Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys) Council member, sitting on its education and training committee.
In the academic year 2021-2022, I was one of the mentors for the Be SMART initiative at St Mary’s University.
As someone with a legal background who has been involved in initiatives to enhance education and skills across the board, I believe that I possess the right experience to perform the role of trustee.
I am committed to ensuring that I give the best I can; this includes the commitment to undertake training and development to further develop the skills to be an effective trustee.
Being a parent of a student at RTS, I have a vested interest in supporting the school in any way I can.

Year 9 have had a fantastic start to the year so far and are making waves in their core subjects. Read on to see what the departments have said:

English Department:

Ms Edwards: “9 Levy are impressing me so much; they write so much, get their heads down and work in silence, take part in discussions with enthusiasm, share their ideas and are really creative. Absolutely loving my lessons with them at the moment. Full of life! Probably my favourite year group at the moment!"

Individual Shoutouts: Tai-Rhys, Matthew, Maisie and Shuaib who are all doing so brilliantly in English - working hard but also producing such great quality work.

Ms Lofters: “I'm having fantastic lessons in English with year 9s. So far, their homework record is excellent and their attitude to learning is fantastic. Most are engaged in our lessons and take part enthusiastically. They have been my favourite group to teach so far this year!”

Maths Department:

Mr Baum: “Congratulations to 9 Turing who have all scored 100% on their Sparx homework. Although I've been close before, I've never had 100% on every pupil and their hard work and positive attitudes are already paying off in class.”

Science Department:

Ms Biswas-Whittaker: ‘9 Curie have been fantastic lately! Their practical work has been fantastic and they have been so focused in class. Keep up the great work!”

Ms Di Matteo: “I would very much like to give 9 Darwin a class shoutout for fantastic efforts with practical work and a smashing end of topic test result. Well done.”

Individual shoutouts: Max and Jia-Yun for superb contributions and efforts this year so far.

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Ms Saxby, Head of Year 9

"I have been so impressed with how well year 9 have thrown themselves into school life already this year and I’m seeing the efforts pay off - early Science assessment data shows that students have taken a real leap with their knowledge and understanding and Maths data on Sparx shows we have some fantastic mathematicians in the year group. I’m always inspired when I walk into year 9 English lessons when greeted with intellectual in-depth debates, and students contributing who I would not always expect. All in all, I’m really proud - long may it continue. Rewards info for year 9 achievement and contributions to school life will be out soon."

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)

Full-term dates and Inset day information is available on the school's website:

• Autumn Term 1: 04 September 2023 - 20 October 2023

• Autumn Term 2: 06 November 2023 - 20 December 2023

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

Please use the Parents Communications Summary for guidance on types of queries and where advice may be found/who to direct your query to.

Email: info@rts.richmond.sch.uk
Website: https://www.richmonduponthamesschool.org.uk/
Location: Egerton Road, Twickenham TW2 7SL, UK
Phone: 0208 891 2985

• PTA volunteering opportunities

  If you would like to be part of the fundraising team please email fortssecretary@rts.richmond.sch.uk

  We cannot function unless we have a pool of volunteers. All money raised goes to the full benefit of the RTS pupils through enhanced enrichment opportunities.

  
  

  Pre-loved uniform

  If you have any uniform donations please ask your child to drop them off at reception when they enter school.

  
  

  Rugby Parking

  Marshalling the school car park on rugby and event days is the biggest money maker for FoRTS. If you are interested in joining the marshalling team’s Whatsapp group please email Rob on fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

  
  

  Your FoRTS team,

  Carmelle (Chair and Acting Secretary) and Mark (Treasurer - stepping down)

  
  

  Secretary: fortssecretary@rts.richmond.sch.uk

  Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

  Voluntary donations: Peoples Fundraising

1:1 Family Support sessions are free to residents of Richmond and Kingston Boroughs. They are bookable online with ADHD Embrace Family Support for parents who want to discuss their children and ideas for specific support in more detail.

https://adhdembrace.org/register-for-a-family-support-session/

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The next Embrace Parents Webinar is particularly relevant to parents with children in GCSE and A level years at Secondary School:

How to support my child with ADHD as they transition to tertiary education and move away from home

17th October, 2023 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Europe/London

Sue Robson, Ruils SEND Transitions Advisor and Jonathan Rourke, Sendiass Coordinator, Richmond and Kingston Sendiass

Book now

Seminars - ADHD Embrace

https://mailchi.mp/positiveparentingproject/worklife-balance-what-works-for-working-parents?e=1f28ecb936

Join us for a coffee every third Tuesday of the month 10am to 12pm at Twickenham Civic Centre, 44 Richmond Road, Twickenham TW1 3BZ.

It’s an informal space for you to meet other special guardians and to discuss any worries you may have in areas such as trauma informed parenting strategies, contact issues, life story work and training and learning opportunities.

No need to book, but if you have any allergies or access needs that we need to be aware of, please let us know by email.

Poster.

Information

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