newsletter for students and parents - riddlesdown collegiate 9th december 2016.pdf · sower as well...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter for Students and Parents
Friday 9th December 2016
AQUILA ORION PEGASUS PHOENIX CPA COLLEGE VI
The Principal writes …… Earlier this week, parents were sent details of a consultation that The Collegiate Trust has now opened on the Admissions Criteria for Riddlesdown Collegiate for entry in September 2018. These details are also available on our website. Some minor changes to our Admissions Criteria are being suggested and we would be grateful for comments on this consultation to [email protected] by 31st January 2017.
Thank you to parents for attending the College VI Parents Evening this week. I hope that the discussions between teachers, students and parents have been helpful in supporting progress and, for Year 13, preparing for internal exams next term.
Recently, parents of Year 8 and Year 9 students have been invited to make appointments for the CPA Parents Evening on 11th January 2017. It has been great to see a huge increase in the number of appointments requested for this evening, when compared to previous years. This is a strong indication of the support we receive from parents for CPA subjects and the value that parents attach to this important part of our curriculum. Consequently, however, I recognise that some parents have been unable to secure appointments with all of the teachers they would have wanted to have met with. In such cases, parents are asked to complete a Contact Request Form (or contact teachers directly); teachers will then respond to such enquiries as soon as they can. I apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will look reconsider how these evenings are arranged in future, in light of their increased popularity. Thank you for your support and understanding.
I am pleased to announce that from September 2017, the Collegiate is planning to introduce a new PE kit as part our uniform. The new PE kit will provide a more modern look, whilst being practical, flexible and easier to keep clean! Once details are finalised, we will share further information with student and parents, but thought that it would be useful to let you know now of these plans. For now, PE kit items are still available for purchase at Hewitts but these are likely to be phased out. The introduction of a new PE kit will be phased and, other than for new Year 7 students, it will not be compulsory immediately.
Following the recent election for a new Parent Governor, I am pleased to announce that Mr David Stiling has been appointed to join the Local Governing Body. We look forward to his contribution and thank those parents who took the time to exercise their right to vote.
Finally, I am delighted to announce that Miss Pochin, Director of Music, has given birth to a baby boy, Aurelio, this week. Despite arriving very early (he was not due until February!), mother and baby are both doing well. We will miss Miss Pochin at next week’s College Carol Services and the Christmas Concert, but Miss Ward, Mr Rees and the students are working very hard in rehearsals to ensure that all performances are of the usual high quality. We are looking forward to these events and hope that many of you will be able to join us.
Timetable:
Week commencing Monday
12th December will be
Timetable Week A Learners of today, Leaders of tomorrow.
Forthcoming Events
12th December
Carol Service - Aquila and Pegasus
Gardening Club - 1.00pm -1.45pm
PSTI – Sound – Greenvale Primary
School
13th December
Carol Service - Orion, Phoenix &
College VI
Year 12 & 13 Techmix Careers Show
STEM Club - Year 8 & 9 - 3.30pm
14th December
Student Christmas Lunch
Christmas Concert Rehearsals
Physics Catch Up - 3.30pm
Astronomy Club – 6.30 – 7.30 pm
15th December
Conservation – Pegasus– Year 8
STEM Club - Year 7
Senior Stem Club – UK SDC
Competition
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Please Like our Riddlesdown
Science College Facebook Page
Year 7 Mathematics Advent Calendar Competition Year 7 students were set a task to design their own Mathematical advent calendar. This
competition has been running for four years and the quality of entries this year was by far the
best so far. We had some fantastic entries and imaginative designs and Curriculum Leaders
picked the top three from each College and all twelve students received a Principal’s
commendation. Mr Dey selected an overall winner, Thomas Cotton, 7TSA Aquila College. The
calendars will now be displayed in SLT Offices.
Miss Ogunseye
Lost Property
We have large quantities of personal effects handed into Student Services on a
daily basis and we spend a lot of time and effort trying to return these items to
their owners, with only limited success. Please make sure clothing and
property is labelled so it can be returned.
If your child is missing some clothing, please get them to check with the
Student Services team.
Please note that all non-named lost property will be taken to the clothes bank
at the end of term.
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time A theatre trip to see the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, by Mark Haddon, took
place on Tuesday 6th December. Finally, the day we had been looking forward to for so long
came!
One hundred and thirteen students and
seventeen staff travelled by coach to the
Gielgud Theatre in Shaftsbury Avenue to
see the stage adaptation of the Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night time. The
play was amazing and inspirational.
The story is about an unusual boy called
Christopher who starts upon a detective
journey to find out who killed Wellington,
one of his neighbour’s dogs. Along this
journey, he makes many incredibly
discoveries, about his father and his
mother. He also travels to London from
Swindon by himself, saves his pet rat, Toby, from an oncoming tube, aces his A Level maths
exam with an A* and then gets an adorable new pet dog whom he calls Sandy.
Seeing the adaptation of the book that all Year 8 students have been studying this term was a
phenomenal experience and what was really impressive was how the cast used the lighting
and sound as props throughout the production.
For many on the trip, visiting the theatre was a first, so the whole night was an experience to
treasure forever.
Some quotes from students: “The play was amazing”; “Wow! It was exactly like being in
Christopher’s head!”; “The part where Christopher went to London was the best bit!”; “The
whole night was awesome!” and “When can we go again Miss!?”
We arrived back late but it was definitely well worth it. Thank you to all the staff who made
this trip possible.
Miss Mallie
Riddlesdown Tuck Shop Nero Taylor 8ODF won the Jack Petchey Award for September for always being
exceedingly helpful in the Library.
With his reward money Nero will be having a fund raising Tuck Shop every lunch time from
Monday 12th December until Friday 16th December to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
The Tuck Shop will be in the entrance to the Library and will be selling Christmas and other
popular sweets.
Please come along and support Nero with his fundraising for his chosen charity.
Master Class Lectures in English Students in Year 10 attended their first Master Class lectures in English this week. The
Master Class Lectures held in the @RC Theatre provided all students in 10px1, 10px2,
10ao1 and 10ao2 with amazing opportunities to challenge themselves with academic,
scholarly and alternatives angles into the literature they have studied so far.
For our Pegasus and Phoenix students: Mrs Turner and Miss Bigden delivered a fascinating
and thought-provoking interpretation of religion within Priestley's An Inspector Calls. There
were references and connections made to the parables of the Good Samaritan and the
Sower as well as examining how each character in the play epitomises one of the seven
deadly sins.
For our Aquila and Orion students: Mrs Leach and Miss Deane presented challenging ideas
on whether poetry should represent real life. There were connections made to Plato and
Aristotle, as well as providing students with the insight into Milton's Paradise Lost
and Marlowe's Dr Faustus.
The English Department look forward to seeing our students make these connections and
links with the texts they are studying and beyond, not only in their contributions in lessons but
also in their own academic essay writing in the subject.
Thank you to all who contributed to the wonderful success of these Master Classes.
Miss Mallie
Hidden Disabilities Year 8 recently had a workshop in their Drama lessons about Hidden Disabilities which was
delivered by Savvy Theatre Company, Riddlesdown’s resident theatre company.
The culmination of this interesting project was on Friday 2nd December when they watched
a performance by Savvy Theatre in the presence of the Mayor of Croydon. The performers
were a mixture of Riddlesdown Year 12 drama students, members of the Equally Diverse
Theatre group (which include adults with learning difficulties) and associates of Savvy
Theatre.
Not only was this a worthwhile educational project about disability, it was also a fantastic
opportunity for students to meet and work alongside professionals from the theatre industry
and members of our local community.
Doing the Savvy performance really
helped me understand the reality of
disabilities and the insensitivity shown
towards people with both visible and
hidden disabilities.
I realised that we don't always notice
when we might be saying something
offensive and potentially upsetting.
We use the word 'retard' so frequently
that we don't consider the potential the
word actually has to hurt or belittle
those who are actually disabled.
I met some really wonderful people
doing this project and walked off the
stage feeling enlightened and happy to
be a part of something worthwhile.
The Savvy Theatre Company and their
EQD group really made me feel a part
of something important and I'm glad that
I could help raise awareness whilst also
fulfilling my passion of acting!
Jayddah Ashton VI/AGW
Working with Savvy was a truly exhilarating
experience, the energy and atmosphere brought
by the Savvy group has enriched our view on
those with learning disabilities.
By having the opportunity to work on this project
I have understood that my everyday vocabulary
could sometimes affect those around me,
especially those with disabilities.
This project was extremely effective in its
purpose to educate others, but also educating
us as actors, all while being entertaining at the
same time.
Adam Christian VI/AGW
Best Attendance: 5th December 2016
Year Best Tutor
Group
College
7 7HMB 100% Phoenix
8 8ADC 96.7% Pegasus
9 9VMA 98.3% Orion
10 10IDH 100% Pegasus
11 11 ELH 93%
11JEG 93%
Aquila
Phoenix
12/13 SJB 95% College VI
Percentage of Students with 100% Attendance:
Aquila 78.5%
Orion 74.9%
Pegasus 79.9%
Phoenix 74.4%