RTS Parents' Newsletter

As I am writing this, our Year 11 students are sitting their final full cohort GCSE of the year. For some students the Physics exam is their last. Next week are the final exams in Music, Design Technology and Food and Nutrition. I am sure that the students will be relieved and delighted when the exams are over, but they should congratulate themselves on their dedication, impeccable behaviour, maturity and, at some points, enthusiasm for their exams. It has been an absolute pleasure to witness their growth over the exam period and we absolutely look forward to them receiving the grades that I know they deserve.

Elsewhere in school, Year 10 have also stepped up to be our senior year group in school and have been sitting their assessments in GCSE conditions in the hall. Years 7 and 8 have continued their assessments during lesson time.

We were delighted to welcome nearly 200 parents to our Year 6-7 Induction evening on Wednesday and it was fantastic to see many familiar faces with second, or third siblings due to join us in September. We really enjoy these events and getting to meet new families and beginning to sow the seeds of school/parental relationships - they are just as much about us getting to know families as they are families getting to know us. I was sorry not to be there in person, but I know that you were well looked after by the team.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend (and, like everyone, hoping that the temperature warms up!).

~Ms K Dooley | Head Teacher

This week, we turn to the PE Department:

• Describe your teaching style in three words
• Supportive, Enthusiastic, Reliable
• If you could invite any sports personality or musician to speak to your class, who would it be and why?
• Can I have 3 please and thankyou?
• 1. I'd invite Serena Weigman (Manger of England Women's Football Team - The Lionesses) to give us an insight into being such a successful leader.
• 2. I'd invite Leah Williamson (Captain for the England Lionesses and Captain of Arsenal Women’s) to tell us about her journey as a strong female in a very competitive sport.
• 3. I would invite Billie Jean King (World renowned Tennis Player who advocated for Women in Sport and had a very successful career in tennis) to talk to us about fighting for what we feel passionate about.
• What's your favourite thing to do to relax after a long day of teaching?
• I really enjoy meeting friends and family, playing tennis at my local club and watching as much Greys Anatomy as possible in my spare time.
• What would be your one piece of advice to parents of your students?
• I am not a parent myself yet however I would say children are very resilient and school is a place where they can build confidence in themselves. Trust the process and watch them thrive.

A date for the diary: Tuesday 09 July, 18:00-20:00.

Join us at our Creative Arts' Showcase and Summer Fair. Come and celebrate our students' successes, skill and talent from Music, Art, DT and Drama. Peruse stalls enjoy delicious food and play games.

Watch this space for more information.

We are very excited to be hosting the Year 10 Careers Conference on Thursday 27 June 2024 and we are looking for parental volunteer support (from any year group) to help with our students to prepare them for the world of work.

During this event, students will be offered the opportunity to meet with experts from a range of education and employment areas via keynote speeches, a careers carousel and marketplace.

The format we would appreciate some support in is listed below and we would be very grateful for any support our parents (or friends of parents) are able to offer as part of this day.

Date: 27.06.24

Time: 10.55 - 12.25 - any time during this window

Session format 1: A workshop in a classroom where students are able to listen to a brief presentation followed by an activity that links to a specific job role or industry

Session format 2: A ‘market stall’ where students can network with you and/or your products; this can also include a 5/10 minute conversation about an industry or job role.

Please let us know if you are able to assist and which format would work best for you.

Ms Carrick-Steele - Assistant Head Teacher

Ms Broadbent - CEIAG Coordinator

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)

The MET Police Central Youth Team, are currently running a project, offering FREE and online, parent/ carer engagement webinars in partnership with IVISON Trust. The sessions will give advice to parents/ carers, on how to spot signs of County Lines, gang affiliation, grooming and exploitation. The input will include a lived experience speaker who will explain how they themselves or their children, became involved with gangs and exploitation. The charity will also offer free long term support, to anyone who needs it or believes their young people have been or are being exploited.

Please click on the flyer for more invitation (or follow this Eventbrite link) and to reserve your free place. We would like to have as many people as possible joining the inputs.

The session for the West London boroughs (Hillingdon, Ealing, Hounslow, Wandsworth, Merton, Kingston, Richmond, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham) will take place on Tuesday 25th June, 6.30pm – 7.30pm.

Your FoRTS team,

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

General: forts@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Parking: fortsparking@rts.richmond.sch.uk

Schooldays will again be operating an appointment system during the summer months.
Book your slot early to avoid disappointment at:

https://schooldaysllp.co.uk/index.php/booking-form/

Also - you can now spread the cost of your purchases over 3 months - using Paypal, (Online only)

Best Wishes
The Schooldays & Just Dancing Team

Stevensons' appointment service that they offer for new starters enables peace of mind to parents to have an hour booking with one of their trained members of staff to go through the school’s full uniform, allowing for a tailored experience and ensuring that the correct uniform is purchased ready for the start of the new academic year at a new school.

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

• Summer Term 2: Monday 03 June-Wednesday 17 July 2024

Join us at Charterhouse School for our Girls Summer Residential Camp, 4 - 9 August.

Having sold out in Easter, don’t leave it too late to secure your child’s space. During the week your child will have the opportunity to experience the life of a full performance athlete, immersing themselves into the life of a professional rugby player.

Click here to find out more and to book your child's space.

Join Netball Coach UK for a summer & pre-season netball camp in Richmond Upon Thames.

Our camps are open to children in School Years 2-9 and are suitable for experienced and aspiring ballers, as well as those new to the game.

What to expect: Expert coaching by qualified coaches, skills development and the chance to make new friends and tons of match play!

Summer Camp

25 & 26 July at Tiffin Girls School, KT2

Pre-season Camp

29 & 30 August at Grey Court School, TW10

Cost: £40 per session, 9am-12noon

Book at: https://netballcoachuk.com/richmondcamp

Netball Coach UK believes in the power of sport to elevate and inspire young people. Our company is run by netballers for netballers to provide high quality, fun and accessible netball provision across London.

It's time to set sail for sunny shores, tropical lands....and London's West End!

Tickets for Moana JR are on sale now, our West End Musicals Weekend cast lists close soon, there is something 'tasty' happening in Twickenham and our 10% off school holiday workshops ends this Sunday! Read on to find out how to join us on these epic musical theatre adventures.

We’re now looking forward to all the fun at our summer camp and wanted to remind you of the exclusive discount for your school community.

We wouldn’t want your school parents to miss out on this exclusive offer and would really appreciate it if you could promote this in your newsletters.

Parents just need to add SCHOOL20 in the promotion box to receive an extra £20 off when they book 2 or more days. Please find the coded flyer below and attached.

What’s more, if parents book now, they’ll benefit from our early booking discounts and can take advantage of our interest free monthly instalment options. There couldn’t be a better time to tick summer childcare off the list of things to do.

As we're Ofsted registered, we also accept ALL Childcare Vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare. Parents often like to use the vouchers/credits they’ve saved up over the course of the year for their summer holiday childcare.

Amazing residential camps

We’re really excited about our summer holiday residential camps, in partnership with PGL, now available to book for 8-16 year olds. This is a great opportunity for children to grow in confidence and independence during the school holidays.

What’s more, we’re happy to offer exclusive discounts for your school community!

Parents just need to add OFFER20 in the promotion box to receive an extra £20 off their booking for any 4-night stays. Or for any 7-night stays, add OFFER30 in the promotion box to receive an extra £30 off their booking.

We wouldn’t want your school parents to miss out on this exclusive offer and would really appreciate it if you could promote this in your newsletters

With 4 night and 7 night options at 2 great locations in Suffolk or Surrey to choose from, they’ll enjoy beautiful surroundings, modern accommodation, dining facilities and high adrenaline activities!

See our residential camps here: https://www.barracudas.co.uk/locations-prices/residential-camps/

We really appreciate the relationships we build with local school communities. Please do share our assets with your parents and staff in your updates and newsletters. We look forward to welcoming your school’s children to camp this year.

If you have a PTA or school association group that would be interested in partnership opportunities, please feel free to forward this on to them and get them to contact us.

Please do bring all your friends and family.... Free Entry!!

The Mental Health Support Team for Richmond are running a series of online workshops for families, entitled ‘Helping Children with…’.

The last series was very popular and feedback was very positive. These workshops would be a great way to support your child at home if they are experiencing any difficulties in the areas covered.

Click on the first link to sign up; the second link is a follow up feedback form if you attend the session:

• Wednesday 26 June: MHST workshop: Helping children with sleep / Parent feedback form
• Friday 28 June: MHST workshop: Helping children with sleep / Parent feedback form

Achieving for Children’s Mental Health Support Teams are delivering a series of webinars for

parents of secondary aged children and young people (CYP). The ‘Helping teens with ...’ series

of webinars will cover a range of common difficulties experienced by CYP and will aim to share

evidence-based strategies to help parents and carers support their CYP with these difficulties.

Below is a list of webinars on offer over the coming months. In the third and fourth columns of

the table below, you will find the sign up links. Please note that sign up links will be added a

month before the webinar dates.

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