1 Ridgeway Academy Newsletter 22nd April 2021 Page 1 Issue 65 Weekly April 2021 Week 2 SHARING THE DETAIL AND THE BIGGER PICTURE WITH OUR COMMUNITY Welcome to the first newsletter of the summer term. You will see a full list of award winners from our ‘Prize Giving’ end of term assembly. Congratulations to these students for demonstrating outstanding effort and progress in their subjects. As the school has grown in size, we have been able to expand the Senior Leadership team. Following a rigorous selection process, I am delighted to announce the appointment of our second Deputy Headteacher, Mr Dan Smith. Dan lives within Welwyn and Hatfield and is an ex-Sandringham School student! He is a father to two children aged 11 and 8 and has an extensive interest in all sport particularly, rugby and football. Dan plays football and coaches a children’s football team and also enjoys travelling and experiencing new communities and cultures. Dan is an experienced senior leader who has a strong pastoral and behaviour management background and has worked at schools in North London, Luton and Islington. We are looking forward to Dan joining the Ridgeway team in September 2021. I hope you enjoy this edition of Ridgeway News. Mrs Sarah Mitcherson Headteacher Headteacher’s Message Attendance to school each day is mandatory. The government are insisting that schools follow robust attendance procedures including sanctioning non- attendance through Fixed Penalty Notices issued by Hertfordshire County Council. It is vital that students are here every day to ensure they are able to achieve their full potential. Any student with attendance below 90% will have to provide medical evidence for any further absence otherwise the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Uniform Thank you to parents and carers for ensuring that your children arrive at school dressed in full school uniform each day, they look incredibly smart. School uniform is mandatory each day, students arriving at school without the correct uniform will be sent home to change. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please do contact Mr Booth at the address below to see if the school can support. Mr S Booth Assistant Headteacher [email protected]Attendance REMINDER:- Monday 3rd May Bank holiday Tuesday 4th May Inset Day Students return on Wednesday 5th May. Inset Day Reminder 30th May 2021 - 10am to 4pm Year 10 and 11 Training Day. On school site and surrounding area. Mr R Sutton Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator Duke of Edinburgh Training Mr Dan Smith
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1 Ridgeway Academy Newsletter 22nd April 2021
Page 1
Issue 65 Weekly April 2021 Week 2
SHARING THE DETAIL AND THE BIGGER PICTURE WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Welcome to the first newsletter of the summer term. You will see a full list of award winners from our ‘Prize Giving’ end of term assembly. Congratulations to these students for demonstrating outstanding effort and progress in their subjects.
As the school has grown in size, we have been able to expand the Senior Leadership team. Following a rigorous selection process, I am delighted to announce the appointment of our second Deputy Headteacher, Mr Dan Smith.
Dan lives within Welwyn and Hatfield and is an ex-Sandringham School student! He is a father to two children aged 11 and 8 and has an extensive interest in all sport particularly, rugby and football. Dan plays football and coaches a children’s football team and also enjoys travelling and experiencing new communities and cultures. Dan is an experienced senior leader who has a strong pastoral and behaviour management background and has worked at schools in North London, Luton and Islington. We are looking forward to Dan joining the Ridgeway team in September 2021.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Ridgeway News.
Mrs Sarah Mitcherson Headteacher
Headteacher’s Message
Attendance to school each day is mandatory. The government are insisting that schools follow robust attendance procedures including sanctioning non-attendance through Fixed Penalty Notices issued by Hertfordshire County Council. It is vital that students are here every day to ensure they are able to achieve their full potential. Any student with attendance below 90% will have to provide medical evidence for any further absence otherwise the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Uniform Thank you to parents and carers for ensuring that your children arrive at school dressed in full school uniform each day, they look incredibly smart. School uniform is mandatory each day, students arriving at school without the correct uniform will be sent home to change. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please do contact Mr Booth at the address below to see if the school can support. Mr S Booth Assistant Headteacher [email protected]
Attendance
REMINDER:-
Monday 3rd May Bank holiday Tuesday 4th May Inset Day Students return on Wednesday 5th May.
Inset Day Reminder
30th May 2021 - 10am to 4pm Year 10 and 11 Training Day. On school site and surrounding area. Mr R Sutton Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator
End of Spring Term Awards - Outstanding Effort and Progress
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In the lead currently are Hawking with 21716 points.
Anderson Hawking Lytton Mandela
16285 21716 20250 18440
Stephen Hawking was the noted physicist who contributed deeply to our understanding of the physical world and space, and worked despite suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was an English physician and suffragist. She was the first woman to qualify as a doctor in Britain and was the founder of the country’s first hospital for women.
Constance Lytton was the suffragette, writer and speaker who campaigned for prison reform and women’s rights under an alias to avoid special treatment due to her family connections.
Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa, who after being imprisoned for thirty years, was freed and led a multi-ethnic government to bring an end to apartheid.
House Points
Maths Y10 - Charlie Chamberlain
Y11 - Aaron French
MFL - French
Y7 - Claudia Costrasel
Y8 - Jack McMillan
Y9 - Maria Piotrowicz
Y10 - Alex Amaricai
Y11 - Kamil Maczan
MFL - Spanish
Y7 - Matylda Lech
Y8 - Codi Rowley-Connolly
Y9 - Scarlet Beskeen
Music Y7 - Marley Glenville
Y8 - Lucy Claridge
Y9 - Sam Lewinton
Y10 - Shannon De-Lacy
Y11 - Abigail Wadsworth
PE Girls Y7 - Matylda Lech
Y8 - Lucy Claridge
Y9 - Hannah Mockridge
Y10 - Lucy Amos
Y11 - Deborah James
PE Boys Y7 - Carson Wiese
Y8 - Jonnell Mbangu
Y9 - Jayson Lester
Y10 - Alex Sarkozi
Y11 - Nathen Carmichael
Biology Y7 - Emily Horsley
Y8 - Ethan Hutcheson
Y9 - Jamie Rodway
Y10 - Baptiste Sancier
Y11 - Lucy Simmonds
Chemistry Y7 - Kaytelyn Lockyear
Y8 - Rhys Stratton
Chemistry Y9 - Alice Mcloughlin
Y10 - Rhianna Russell
Y11 - Casey Monaghan
Physics Y7 - Charlie Cushing
Y8 - Rebecca Wood
Y9 - Molly Lewis
Y10 - Shannon De-Lacy
Y11 - Megan Wiseman
Y13 - Lauren Somerville
Sociology Y12 - Daisy Fryer-Kelsey
Y13 - Oliver Hursey
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The school is currently recruiting for the following roles: Assistant Subject Leader Mathematics Closing date: Tuesday 27 April 2021 Interview date: Wednesday 5 May 2021 Start date: September 2021 English Teacher (Temporary maternity cover contract) Closing date: 9am Friday 23 April Interview date: Thursday 6 May Start date: June 2021 For further information, please visit our website: https://ridgeway.herts.sch.uk/vacancies/ Mrs H Smith PA to Headteacher
School Vacancies
End of Spring Term Awards - Outstanding Effort and Progress continued...
In the classroom students can achieve FORCE reward points and outside the classroom they can achieve value points. Students that have shown all FORCE traits in all their learning and will be receiving the deliveries from the Headteacher this fortnight are; Year 7 Stanley Stevens and Aaron Dalton Year 8 Alfie Jarvis Year 10 Shakira Griffiths Year 11 Kaira Jones Mrs S Merrigan Personal Development Coordinator
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and sportsman. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his adventurous lifestyle and his public image brought him admiration from later generations.
Quote of the Week
The practice of being or tendency to be positive or optimistic in attitude.
Half Termly Theme - Positivity
You can follow Ridgeway Academy on Social Media to get all the latest news, photos and information about the school!
@Ridgeway_AC
@RASportsCentre
@RwaHouse
@RidgewayLeaders
@RidgewayMaths
@LibraryRidgeway
@RidgewayEng
@RWAGeography
@LibraryRidgeway
@RidgewayPEDept
@RidgewayPEDept
@RidgewayPerformingArts
@RidgewayTechnologyDept
@RASportsCentre
@RidgewayArtDept
@RidgewayLibraryTeam
www.facebook.com/RidgewayPEDept
www.facebook.com/RASportsCentre
Ridgeway Academy on Social Media
Dance Club 3pm-4pm Year 7 and 8 Thursday Sports Hall Dance Studio Year 9 and 10 Monday E2
Drama 3pm-4pm KS3 Wed Musical Theatre Club E1 Year 10 Thurs GCSE Drama Rehearsals E1/E2 Year 12 Mon Drama rehearsals E1 Homework Club New homework club days and times are as follows:
Year 7 Monday 3pm-4pm K2 Year 7 Friday 3pm-3.40pm K2
Summer Term 1 Extra-Curricular Clubs List Please see the PE Department Clubs list below for this half term. A reminder of rules is stated at the bottom of the list, as well as information relating to each club. Our aim with extra-curricular on the return to school is to give students an opportunity to be active. We are delighted to announce that Ridgeway Academy will be participating in county athletics fixtures over the next term; the athletics clubs will focus on preparing students for these competitions. In Summer Term 2, the clubs list will switch to preparing for extra-curricular fixtures in the new academic year. Students taking part in any extra-curricular activity (including Dance and Performing Arts) must not wear their PE kits to school (unless they have PE). If they don’t have PE on a day they would like to do a club, they must wear their school uniform and bring their PE kit in a bag to change in the Sports Hall changing rooms at the end of the day. We suggest that every student tries at least 2 different clubs, to get involved with extra-curricular opportunities given to them. Why not try a new club? If you have any further questions, please speak to the PE Department.
PE Department/Leadership Academy Update
Introducing the Sports Leadership Academy The Leadership Academy, formed in 2015, provides leadership opportunities to Year 8 students all the way up to Sixth Form. This may be representing Ridgeway Academy as a Sports Ambassador or a Sports Leader. Over the years, we have partnered with a number of different companies and clubs to provide our students with even more leadership opportunities. Sports Ambassadors run a two-year course in which they follow the ‘scheme of work’ which is essentially ‘leadership training’. The Ambassadors start this process in Year 9 through to Year 10 and are then able to pick up the opportunity if and when they join Sixth Form. Year 9 Silver Sports Ambassadors work in primary schools leading sports sessions and sports days. Year 10 Gold Sports Ambassadors focus on in-school leadership, leading clubs and assisting with the Year 9 Silver Ambassadors as well as Young Ambassador Day. A special mention to 22 Year 9 students who recently took part in the Silver Sports Ambassador selection process, consisting of a task and an interview. All of the students conducted themselves extremely well and it was clear that they are very proud of the school they attend. It was an incredibly difficult decision, as only 12 students could be selected. All students interviewed were awarded the role of a Silver Ambassador or Sports Leader. Huge congratulations to our Silver Ambassadors: Scarlett, Davey, Leo, Cleo, Lexie, Jamie, Bethany, Reese, Will, Charley, Hannah and Miller.
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The Hertfordshire School Games have developed a new strand of leadership to support and develop opportunities for more students of varying abilities. This is a brand-new opportunity which is a county approach to promote and engage mainstream leadership using additional needs and disabilities as the delivery mechanism – to develop physical activities for pupils who do not normally take part or have additional needs themselves. Our Inclusion Champions will be working on this project: Lucy, Maya, Grace and Kayden. The academy aims to give all students a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities which serves as a fantastic rest-bite to their day to day lessons. This includes an extensive extracurricular clubs offering, leadership opportunities and the opportunity to represent Ridgeway Academy in a team. Our key motto is ‘Striving 2 Give All Opportunity.’ We aim to provide as many students as possible with a
leadership opportunity throughout their time with us – we ask any students who want to be involved to speak to myself or the PE Department. County School Games Success During the Spring Term of 2021, the county school games continued to be delivered through a virtual offering. Due to the partial closures of schools between January and March, students had to independently take part in these competitions and submit their results. It was brilliant to see several students from Ridgeway participating in these competitions. I am delighted to announce that Lucy Claridge (8C) won the secondary fitness personal challenge in the year 8 girls’ category. This means that she has placed 1st across Hertfordshire and becomes a county champion. Lucy did an incredible job entering this competition off her own back and we are incredibly proud of her efforts. Well done Lucy! Opportunity for Year 7 students to join Welwyn Garden City Cricket Club Welwyn Garden City Cricket Club are inviting Year 7 students to go to the club on a Sunday morning to go and try cricket. Jess Tucker, membership secretary for WGC Cricket club said, "We’ve got a brilliant head coach and a dedicated coaching team. We’re open to all levels of ability and experience. We’ve also got a number of girls already playing at all ages, and it’s been lovely to see that a lot of the primary school intake this weekend has been girls." There will be a full cricket season this year. It starts now, with fixtures running until the end of the term, and across the summer holidays with further matches to be arranged. They have junior players from across Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and the surrounding villages. No prior experience is necessary and they're happy for students to try them out for a few sessions with no obligation before committing to anything. The website is for WGC CC is https://wgccc.hitssports.com/pages/page_19469/Junior-Cricket.aspx Or email [email protected] or via our Facebook page www.facebook.com/wgcccjuniors. Year 12 Sports Leaders Update The Year 12 Sports Leaders have continued to progress on their Level 2 Sports Leaders UK qualification, of which they do every Friday morning during enrichment time. Whilst the schools have been partially closed, the leaders have continued to complete tasks as part of their course. This has included completing risk assessments linked to COVID-19, as well as looking
It has been fantastic to be back open over the last month and we look forward to even more of our community partners coming back in the coming weeks. If you would like to find out any information about our partners or sessions please head to our website https://ridgeway.herts.sch.uk/sports-centre-bookings/ or email Sports Centre Manager Ross Goodship [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Easter Holidays We had a bumper Easter Holidays here at Ridgeway Academy Sports Centre with well over 200 children taking part in activities over the 2 weeks. As childcare and outdoor activities was permitted, our groups wasted no time in restarting, providing valuable outdoor activities for young people. We had something for everyone from cycling to basketball and also took part in the HAPpy programme, with our catering company Edwards & Blake providing meals for students. Multi-Active Multi-Active have now released their summer programme and we are delighted to be hosting them for all 6 weeks of the summer holidays (and May Half Term). To book, please head over to their website: https://www.multi-active.co.uk/ A-Z Basketball A-Z were with us in the Easter break and also hope to be returning in May Half term as part of the HAPpy programme. Keep an eye on our social media channels for more information! They have also partnered with WHCouncil to deliver the popular Basketball sessions every Thursday evening here in our Sports Hall! Booking details can be found on the poster. Herts Balance & Ride Herts Balance & Ride offer cycling lessons for young children, they are back with us on the 3/4th June in Half Term. Keep an eye on our social media for details on how to book.
Sports Centre Update
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at the different components of a session and how to lead these appropriately.
On the return to school, we have focused on the different types of sessions the students could lead including: skill development, playground games, adapted sport and team building activities. All of the students participated in a range of different sessions which would help them with the planning and delivery of their own sessions. It was brilliant to see the group fully engage both online and on the return to school and continue to progress on their course and achieving the qualifications. We now look forward to moving onto the next stage of their scheme of work which will include planning and leading sessions to each other, evaluating these sessions and continuing to complete their tasks in their logbooks. Social Media Please follow the PE Department/Leadership Academy on social media for news about what we are doing around the school and within the community including fixtures information, lesson information and other interesting links and resources! Facebook www.facebook.com/RidgewayPEDept Instagram www.instagram.com/RidgewayPEDept/ Twitter www.twitter.com/ridgewayleaders and www.twitter.com/ridgewaypedept Mr R Carolan Head of the Sports Leadership Academy School Sports Co-ordinator: PE Department and Family Primary Schools
PE Department/Leadership Academy Update continued...
Pay & Play We are hoping that Pay and Play will be permitted to return in May/June Half Term. Again, check out our social media channels closer to the time for further details. KICKS The popular KICKS programme is BACK! Run by Stevenage FC Foundation, students can come and play football completely FREE of charge on our Astro pitch with qualified coaches leading the activities. Sessions run every Friday night from 7-8:30, simply turn up to PLAY! Just4Keepers Goalkeeper sessions here every Monday on the grass pitches, a great offer for new goalkeepers, FREE sessions in April. Book now with Coach Conor. Social Media Search for Ridgeway Academy Sports Centre on Facebook or @RASportsCentre on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates. Ross Goodship Sports Centre Manager Tel: 01707 351 352 Email: [email protected]