RTS Parents' Newsletter

Casting back to Christmas Jumper Day - thank you for all of your support and donations to this worthy cause. Parent Pay is now closed for donations and we will shortly transfer across that amount to our JustGiving Page. Together we have raised a total of £849.50 which is a wonderful amount and will go some way to helping those children, both here in the UK and further afield, who need the support of charities like Save the Children.

Thank you to all of the Y11 families who were able to join us on Wednesday for your last parent consultations with us. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces and emotional for some as this was their last official face to face meeting with us (however, we still have the Graduation evening to look forward to!). We were grateful to receive wonderful feedback from so many of you on the education, care and support that you and your children have experienced and felt over the last 5 years together. It really does mean more than you realise for myself and teachers to hear and receive these comments - so thank you.

Hoping you all stay safe and warm this weekend.

~Ms K Dooley | Head Teacher

This week has been busy with not one, but two internal events focusing on building confidence in self and speaking - whether that be in interviews or presenting topics to groups of people (fellow students or externally).

On Wednesday 'Talk the Talk' held a workshop with a group of Year 11 students. The workshop - Talk about the Future - supports students preparing to leave school or college by developing the competencies needed to take this next step with confidence, resilience and a positive mindset. Students developed interview skills, learning about how important first impressions are, how to boost self-esteem amongst other topics during the sessions. The students were incredibly engaged, working in collaboration and encouraging each other throughout the day.

On Thursday the entire Year 10 cohort were taken off timetable to engage with Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge. Students receive a full day of public speaking training with one of Jack Petchey's expert trainers. The impact on students is profound, from increasing their empathy with the views of others to improving their ability to work under pressure. The students were in their form groups and the speakers were incredibly energetic, engaging and are experienced in getting the absolute best from every student - even those that think they cannot possibly speak in front of the group. One snippet picked up during one session about engaging your audience was that: 'we are all storytellers...an audience wants to listen to a story, so be true to yourself and your story'.

The programme culminates in the Grand Final event, usually held at a West End theatre. Students share inspiring, thought-provoking and uplifting speeches to an audience of a thousand people and a prestigious panel of judges, and stand a chance to win a significant cash prize for themselves and their school.

Year 9 parents - gentle reminder to sign up for Y9 Options evening on Wednesday 05 February (the link is in the recently emailed out Y9 Options Bulletin.

FoRTS update

We look forward to receiving the subject leader bids from the school. These are termly requests for equipment required for our children’s education and enrichment. The funds raised through our events, uniform sales, and car park marshalling will be used to purchase these items. We will share photos of the upcoming expenditures so you can see where the money raised is being utilized.

Pre-loved uniform: upcoming sales for your dairy

A reminder of upcoming pre-loved uniform sales:

Please see the dates below (Fridays 2:30-4:30pm - no entry to the school until 2.30pm):

14 February

21 March

16 May

20 June

These will be held in the Atrium of the school. Please pay by card wherever possible but we will also accept cash.

Easyfundraising

Please take a minute out of your day to register for Easyfundraising.

We have registered Friends of Richmond upon Thames School with #easyfundraising, which means over 7,500 brands will now donate to us for FREE every time you use easyfundraising to shop with them.

These donations will help SO MUCH, so please sign up to support us – it’s completely FREE. Sign up here: Easyfundraising

FoRTS Volunteering

We do have a lovely small team of volunteers and do have fun especially with the rugby parking marshalling Join the FoRTS Car Parking Team

We are seeking a Treasurer to shadow our current Treasurer this year, with a full-time start next academic year. If you are interested in learning more about this role, please contact Carmelle.

All processes are already in place, so there is no additional work involved. The responsibilities include totaling any money raised, sending it to the bank, and providing termly updates on funds raised and spent.

All the above and more cannot be done without your help so please look to donate a couple of hours of your time when requested.

Join FoRTS by clicking here. It’s as simple as that!

Your FoRTS team,

Carmelle (Chair and Acting Secretary) and Jason & Somi (Treasurers)

General: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

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:

• Spring Term 1: Monday 06 January 2025-Friday 14 February 2025

• Spring Term 2: INSET DAY: Monday 24 February, Students: Tuesday 25 February-Friday 04 April

Please find the Parent Calendar Summary for 2024-2025. Please check this regularly as some dates and times may be adjusted throughout the year.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new project in Ham, Richmond running every Thursday from 5:30pm-7:30pm, aimed at empowering young people from refugee and ethnic minority backgrounds. This 11-week initiative, which begun on Thursday 16th January and will be running until Thursday 27th March 2025, will provide a safe and inclusive space for personal development, creativity, and social connection.

The project aims to:

· Improve the identification and support for children and young people at greatest risk of harm and exploitation.

· Expand access to positive opportunities through training, volunteering, and enrichment programs.

· Integrate prevention-based interventions and community-led initiatives to empower vulnerable youth, reduce violence, and build social cohesion in one of the borough’s identified hotspot areas.

About the Project

The sessions will take place every Thursday from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Ham Youth Club, Richmond. The project offers two types of free, fortnightly sessions running alternately over the following 10 weeks:

1. Social Cohesion Workshops and Social Club (begun on Thursday 16th January 2025)
• Topics: Violence prevention, mental health, and physical wellbeing.
• Activities: Interactive discussions, games, and opportunities for social interaction to build confidence and foster strong community ties.
2. Youth Academic Support and Arts & Music Workshop (beginning Thursday 23rd January 2025)
• Focus: Academic assistance and creative skill-building in arts and music.
• Goals: Encourage self-expression, develop practical skills, and provide a positive alternative to potentially harmful environments.

The project is open to young people aged 11-25 from refugee and ethnic minority backgrounds, with our Social Cohesion Workshops and Social Club open to those aged 18-25, and our Youth Academic Support and Arts & Music Workshop open to those aged 11-17.

Book now for our spring term starting in January. Courses include gymnastics, karate, judo and new junior boxing.

Available across our sports centres: Whitton Sports & Fitness Centre, Teddington Sports Centre and Shene Sports & Fitness Centre.

New for this term – courses available at Hampton Sports & Fitness Centre including
girls football!

Please call 020 3772 2999 to book or visit our website for more info.

For many students, and especially those who experience challenges when it comes to the key executive functions required for exam preparation (planning and organising), this course will give the tools and support to succeed at what can be a very stressful time.

When is it? Three week course, once a week starting on the 29th January 2025 - 5pm-6pm for GCSE students and 6:15pm to 7:15pm for A-level students.

It will be run over three sessions of an hour each on Wednesday 29th January, Wednesday 5th February, Wednesday 12th February.

What is the objective: To support students in building self-esteem, confidence, and effective learning strategies as they prepare for GCSEs and A-Levels. It will cover:

Session 1: Discovering Your Values and Strengths
In this session, students will explore what drives them and identify their natural strengths. Developing self-awareness lays the foundation for greater confidence and resilience when facing challenging tasks.

Session 2: Mastering Revision Techniques
This practical session introduces strategies for effective exam preparation. Students will learn to create a versatile revision framework that applies to all subjects, offering a structured path through the study process.

Session 3: Identifying Motivation and Planning Ahead
Focused on motivation and mindset, this session encourages students to set goals and plan ahead. By deciding on key steps in advance, students will feel ready to begin their revision journey with confidence and a clear sense of direction.

How do I find out more info & book? Click here

A diagnosis of ADHD can be challenging for everyone and especially so for teenagers. Some are embarrassed, don't understand the condition, reject the 'label' and some don't know how to tell their friends. Our workshop, working directly with children & young people, is presented by our Community and School Outreach Manager Laura Ercolani and is an opportunity for young people to discuss their challenges in a small safe setting to recognise and make more of their strengths.

• Age 7 to 11 - 1st February 10am to 11am
• Age 11 to 14 - 1st February 11:30am to 12:30pm
• Age 15 to 18 - 1st February 1pm to 2pm

How do I find out more info & book? Click here

The Parent Coffee, Cake and Chat drop-in groups are a welcoming environment for parents of children from age 10 to age 18, to meet with other parents, discuss local or parenting issues, share hobbies and interests and learn about wellbeing and further professional development opportunities.

If you feel like you need information, support or guidance and you’re unable to obtain this from conventional services - pop on down, or contact us for more information!

child is either in a Richmond or Kingston school they are welcome to attend.

Kingston parents can attend Richmond cafes and vice versa.

Mondays in Mortlake, Powerstation Youth Centre, 121a Mortlake High Street, SW14 8SN. Any Monday year round except Bank holidays.

11:15am to 12:15pm Mindfulness for parents

12:30 to 1:30 Parent cake, coffee and chat

1:30-3pm General public - PCCN Foodbank, Richmond Food Bank and Monday Champions Café .

1-2-1 available by appointment, please contact Sanya. sanya.walker-batson@achievingforchildren.org.uk

----------------------------

Thursdays, term time only Kingsnympton Youth and Community Centre, Kingsnympton Park, Kingston , KT2 7RW

10am Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi( sports hall)

11am Mindfulness ( computer room)

11am Tai Chi classic - Cantonese instructions

10am to 12 noon Parent coffee cake and chat

12 noon Pilates

12 noon food bank

12:30 informative guest talks

1 to 2pm community lunch

General ESOL classes available on site also, termly via Kingston Adult Education Service , termly from 10-1pm.

1-2-1 available by appointment, please contact Sanya

------------------------------------------

The Hampton White House Family Hub, 45 The Avenue, Hampton, TW12 3RN

11am to 1pm, Parent advice drop in every 2nd Tuesday of the month, term time only, next to Richmond Food Bank in the café area or Room 5 when available.

Available by appointment in person or online at other times On Tuesdays, term time only.

As part of Kingston Council, Kingston Adult Education provides a range of courses to people aged 19 or over. A number of their courses are free, and take place in school hours.

They have a number of courses starting in January, including:

• accredited qualifications in Bookkeeping; Childcare (from introductory courses through to teaching assistant and programmes for educators working with children with special educational needs); Community Interpreting; Counselling; Information, Advice and Guidance; and Understanding Mental Health

• English, maths and digital skills, from entry level through to GCSE

• A variety of courses to develop your creative skills, including stained glass making, painting and drawing, languages, creative writing, and upcycling clothes

• A range of wellbeing courses to teach you how to take better care of your mental health, including tai chi and meditation.

See their latest prospectus for further details about these courses as well as their wider offering: bit.ly/KAE-2425prospectus

Their classes take place both online and at centres across the Royal Borough of Kingston.

For further information, please contact Kingston Adult Education directly on 020 8547 6700 or at adult.education@kingston.gov.uk

Barracudas are delighted to have launched their 2025 school holiday activity camps.

They are launching at their lowest rates with the Early Booking offer – saving up to £100! Parents can also benefit from low deposit rates.

As they are launching at such heavily discounted rates, they're unable to give any additional discounts at this time, but it’s a great time to get ahead and book considering you can save £100 off a full week booking at this point.

These lowest rates are guaranteed until 31st January.

If you would like to stay up to date with events as they happen, click the links to follow us on:

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK LINKEDIN