RoundUp€¦ · 7 March Parent Consultation Evening 13 March KS4 Options Deadline 14-16 March Battlefields Trip 3-14 June Exams w/c 24 June Enrichment Week Year 10: 16 May English

HeadlinesDear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the final RoundUp of this term. I

would like to say farewell to several members

of staff will be leaving us at Christmas. Chloe

Corrie, our excellent Head of Chemistry, is

relocating and we are very sorry to see her go.

I am delighted, however, to say that Bal Lidder

has been appointed as her replacement. In

maths, Jarrod Keegan, our Head of Maths, is

returning to his native New Zealand. Jarrod

has been an excellent teacher throughout his

time at the school and he will be missed. The

leadership of maths will temporarily transfer to

Melanie Chrisp, the second in maths. Nick

Gray, our Head of Music, has been promoted

to an exciting position at the Chartered College

of Teaching where he will be producing

resources for teachers nationally. This is

something that Nick has wanted to do for some

time and, sorry though we are to lose him

given his outstanding contribution to this

school, we do not want to stand in his way as

he furthers his career. The music teaching is

being covered by Alex Gray and Jean

Reynolds and a temporary positon which we

are trying to fill. We should expect there to be

some reduction in extra-curricular music as we

prioritise exam classes over the next two terms

but we will try to keep disruption to a

minimum. We will recruit a new Head of

Maths and a new Head of Music ready for

September. As has been known for some time,

our Head of Business & Economics, Kirsty

Maidment, is leaving for a promoted position

at a school nearer to her home. She has been

replaced by Mike Desborough from Stratton

Upper School where he is currently Head of

Business & Economics.

RoundUp is published fortnightly on our website.http://www.roundwoodpark.co.uk

RoundUpIssue: 121

Date: 14 December 2018

Roundwood Park School, Roundwood Park,

Harpenden AL5 3AE Tel: 01582 765344

e-mail us at [email protected]

Jayne Brownless is leaving us after 17 years of

distinguished service to the school as a

Teaching Assistant. She is leaving to seek a

new challenge but she goes with our gratitude

for the work that she has done.

Last week, the Sportspersons’ dinner was

again well attended and the PE department

were delighted to welcome back Ralph

Adams-Hale, formerly of this parish! I would

like to thank the PE department for the

magnificent extra-curricular offer they give to

our students and the enthusiasm they show in

giving up their evenings and weekends

throughout the year to give our students so

many opportunities. The reward is the

excellent performance of our students and this

was showcased beautifully at the dinner.

Thank you also to our Food Preparation and

Nutrition students who catered for the

evening with delicious food.

On Thursday I attended our Christmas

concert at the church. Once again it was a

wonderful evening and gave us all an

opportunity as a community to say farewell to

Mr Gray. I enjoyed all of the performances

but if I may select one that I particularly

enjoyed it would be K Keddy’s violin piece

which received rapturous applause.

It therefore remains for me to wish all of our

parents and all of our students a very happy,

peaceful and restful Christmas. Enjoy the

holidays and we will look forward to seeing

the students back in school on Tuesday 8

January 2019.

Alan Henshall

Headteacher

We have our final non-uniform day for the

term on Friday 21 December. The theme

is Christmas Jumper Day with all

proceeds going to the Harpenden Rotary

Club. As you may recall, we support their

work with their shoe box appeal and this

money in particular goes towards delivery

of those boxes and their work both here

and abroad.

For those who have not signed up to

ParentPay donations, in school collection

of £2 will commence Monday 17

December through to Wednesday 19

December. Form tutors will be collecting

these donations in form time.

Many thanks for your continued support

in raising funds to support our charities.

R. Porter

PE Department

Friday 21 DecemberNon Uniform Day -Christmas Jumpers

End of Term

Term finishes at 12.10pm on Friday 21

December. Buses will be collecting students

from school at that time.

Next term commences for students on

Tuesday 8 January 2019.

Christmas Lunch Tuesday 18 December

The canteen will be shut at break time on

this day and no other food options will be

served at lunchtime.

Key Dates in 2019:

Year 7:

w/c 20 May Exam Week

w/c 3 June Exam Week

w/c 24 June Enrichment Week

4 July Parent Consultation Evening

Year 8:

21 March Parent Consultation Evening

28 March Year 9 Options Deadline

w/c 20 May Exam Week

w/c 3 June Exam Week

w/c 24 June Enrichment Week

Year 9:

16-18 January Career Sessions

28 February KS4 Options Evening

7 March Parent Consultation Evening

13 March KS4 Options Deadline

14-16 March Battlefields Trip

3-14 June Exams

w/c 24 June Enrichment Week

Year 10:

16 May English Parents Info Evening

Year 11:

7 January DofE Training Day

17 January Post 16 Information Evening

24 January Parent Consultation Evening

Year 12:

14 February Parent Consultation Evening

w/c 10 June Work Placement Week

Just a reminder that packed

lunches will be required for

those students whose

parents/carers have NOT

signed up for the Christmas

lunch.

Trip Payments

Residential Trips

Madrid Spanish Language Trip 2019:

Deposit: £150 overdue

Ski Trip 2019:

Interim Payment: £500 overdue

Interim Payment 2:£600 overdue

Warm Weather Athletics Trip 2019:

Interim Payment 2:£200 overdue

Final Payment: £200 due 14 December

Y9 Battlefields Trip 2019:

Final Payment: £130 overdue

Y10 &11 Berlin History Trip 2019:

Final Payment: £430 overdue

Y12 Nettlecombe Court Biology Trip 19:

Deposit: £50 due 13 December

Y13 CERN Physics Trip 2019:

Final Payment: £130 overdue

Y12 &13 Tour of Russia 2019:

Interim Payment: £600 overdue

Final Payment: £450 overdue

Y10 South Wales Geography Trip :

£50 deposit: due 11 Jan 2019

MFL Language trips:Following unprecedented demand for the Paris

trip, we are currently in the process of

investigating accommodation options which

would permit us to accept all students who

have signed up. Please note that we will

confirm trip places once we have had feedback

from our travel agent. All students who have

signed up for the Rhineland trip are confirmed.

All information regarding trips already

launched is available on CareMonkey and

Parent Pay. A full list of all trips we are

planning to run this academic year can be

viewed on the school’s website or via the

following link: Trips Planned for 2018-19

Mrs J Blight

Residential Trip Coordinator

Year 11 Consultation Evening

Thursday 24 January 2019

The online system will be open to make

your Parents’ Evening appointments on

THURSDAY 20 DECEMBER at 8pm. The

system will close at 10pm on Thursday 10

January 2019.

Forthcoming Events

Absence LineWhen you call in for absence, please use

our dedicated 24 hour absence line:

01582 714049 or e-mail us at

[email protected]

Further information can be found

on the Roundwood Park website.

Roundwood Park School Calendar

Daily Bulletin; Latest News;

Letters Home; Trips & Visits

PE News

Please also follow us on Facebook,

Twitter @RPSCREATIVE

@RPSPE

Or download the Roundwood Park

mobile app to keep up to date.

Vacancies

For details of any current vacancies, please

visit our website or following the link below:

https://roundwoodpark.co.uk/vacancies/

Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards

On Thursday 19 November, Mr Mercel

presented 13 of our Year 13 students with

their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

certificates and badges. J Bartlett,

F Boschetti, C Cross, F Gill, H

Humphreys, S Janes, C Jones, K Patel,

H Pring, K Prynn, F Scott, A Stacey and

A Velody all took part in the 2018

Expeditions.

Congratulations to everyone who

achieved their Award!

Mrs Thomson, Mrs James and Mrs Godbee

In November, all Computer Science

students took part in the Bebras

Computing Challenge which introduces

computational thinking to students. It is

organised in over 40 countries and

designed to get students all over the world

excited about computing.

The Bebras challenges are made of a set

of short problems that are fun, engaging

and based on problems that Computer

Scientists often meet and enjoy solving.

All students that took part have received a

certificate, and of the students that

participated, 88 achieved a top 10% score

in their age group and have now been

invited to participate in the TCS Oxford

Computing Challenge in March next year.

Huge congratulations to them.

We would particularly like to congratulate

the 4 students who were Best in School in

their age group:

Juniors (age 10-12): B Wake (7W)

Intermediate (age 12-14): T Owen (9O)

Seniors (14-16): E Turner (10GT)

Elite (16-18): M Northcott (12C)

We are also immensely proud of T Owen

and A Corran (9M) in the Intermediate

Category, who have been selected to

attend the next round of the Bebras

Challenge in Oxford in February.

Well done to all participants!

The Computer Science Department

UK Beaver Computing Challenge

It has been a fun and busy term at French

club with regular Y7 members enjoying a

range of activities including; Kahoot

quizzes, bingo, petanque, crafts and a

French DVD.

Many thanks to S Piepgrass in Y12 for her

fantastic commitment in running the club

each week. If you would like to join, we’ll

be starting back on Thursday 11 January

and meet every Thursday at 1.15 in ML4.

MFL Department

French Club

2nd Hand Football Boots

If you are having a football boot clear out

we would welcome the donation of any

pairs of boots (moulded/round studs or

astro boots, no blades) which we can keep

as spares for students as required.

Many thanks.

Mr Hunter

PE Department

Can you spare any cooking equipment?

Thank you for all the donations to food

technology. If anyone is having a clear out

of saucepans, cake tins, baking trays or

any utensils please bring them in as all

donations will be gratefully received!

Many thanks.

Food Technology department

Trampolining

We are delighted to be giving one of our

old trampettes to an ex RPS PE teacher Mr

Faulkner who now teaches at Stoney Dean

School in Amersham which is a specialist

speech and language school.

I Slade (12GT)

Exam Certificates for GCSE students that

left RPS in Summer 2018 are available for

collection from Reception. For those

students still at RPS, they will be awarded

at an assembly in the New Year.

A Level certificates will be awarded at a

Celebration evening on Wednesday 3

April 2019.

There are many certificates dating from

Summer 2013 onwards that have not been

collected - you worked hard for these -

please make arrangements to collect them.

Mrs Darvill

Exam Certificates

Sportspersons’ Dinner 2018

“Welcome all to the 2018 Sportspersons'

Dinner. By being in this room, you are part of

a fairly sizable school sport machine which

seems to grow and improve year on year. As

aspiration grows, so too does potential and as

more and more of you recognise the link

between hard work and success, we, as a

school, grow and improve.

Many of you will know that you attend a

school with some half decent sporting role

models in its alumni. Will Kearsey is currently

breaking college swimming records in the

USA, Tats Dowie is continuing her long and

illustrious football career in Australia, Sarah

McKenna gains cap after cap for England’s

women's rugby team and in this district alone

we have three ex students teaching PE….the

best of which in my opinion, we are lucky

enough to have with us. #harpendenmessi (Mr

Keenleyside).

Role models are key. They remind us of what

can be achieved. They give us inspiration in the

knowledge that people who started their life in

a similar way to us, have gone on to really

maximise their potential and be the very best

that they can be. We’re lucky enough to be

joined, this evening, by another Roundwood

Park role model.

Ralph Adams-Hale left our sixth form three

years ago, and since then he has worked his

way through the Saracens system and this

Saturday just gone, made his full debut in the

Gallagher Premiership. A hugely proud

moment for him, his family, all those who

know him well and for some secondary school

PE teachers who have tracked his career to date

with interest. We’ll hear from Ralph later, but

for now, I’d simply like us to offer him a very

warm welcome back to RPS.

Now we are not here tonight to simply

celebrate those with the chance to become the

next Ralph. We are here tonight to recognise

and celebrate the achievements of many at all

levels.

Whether you aspire to be a professional, play

better club sport, represent your school more

regularly, or simply play just for fun – the key

feature of our celebration tonight is recognising

the role that people play in the success of our

school sport at all levels.

This time last year, I stood here and referenced

the building of a new astro-turf. As a school,

we’re already benefitting from it. For some years

now we’ve benefitted from a new sports hall,

dance studio and fitness suite. Now, all this

facility development is a true sign that

Roundwood Park values PE and sport and is

prepared to invest some of its limited educational

resources in your sports enjoyment and

development. What’s pleased me the most in the

last year though, is the way that the school, as a

whole, has continued to embrace opportunities

presented. Team training numbers are up. Thirst

for house competition has grown. Sporting

success has increased. Engagement with

examination PE has continued to be high, and

overall, day by day, we’ve been able to come to

work knowing that our passion and efforts are

reciprocated by the fantastic students that we

have the privilege to work with.

So, as we go through this evening’s festivities. I

would invite you to enjoy spending time with

those around you, of all ages. Embrace the

success of others and understand why what they

bring to the table is so appreciated. Reflect on all

you achieved last year and be proud to be part of

a school that isn’t afraid of hard work – because

we know that the success at the end of it, is

worth all the blood, sweat and tears. Most

importantly though, once we’ve finished looking

back tonight, start looking forward again. How

can you push forward and how can you be the

very best you can, in the sporting year that is to

come?

Have a lovely evening.”

Please find below Mr Hunter’s opening

speech at that Sportspersons' Dinner last

Wednesday evening.

Sportspersons' Dinner 2018

KS3 Sportsperson of the YearM McIntosh

Rising Stars F SimpsonF Crowley

Unsung HeroE Turner

Service to RPS SportT Randall

Most Improved PerformersL GurneyJ BrightonH Booth

Staff Recognition Award Winners

J FranceyS Pawlaczek

E CraigH BayneE LowryF Griffin

E Piepgrass

Teams of the Year7/8: Girls athletics

8/9: Boys basketball9/10: Boys football

Sportspersons' Dinner 2018

RPS Success at Trampolining Regionals 2018

25 November saw the trampolining squad attending

the first round of the national competition for the

East region at the University of Hertfordshire.

Regionals was the first major competition of the

season and was a day filled with storming success for

everyone involved.

Next up was the U19s intermediate team.

This was the gymnasts’ second year in this

tougher category and the competition was

fierce. The team was E Faulkner, L Barter,

I Slade and S Ellins.

Not only did the team take first place but M Soanes took

2nd and B Mansell swept up the overall high score for her

category meaning both qualify for the next round as

individuals. A special mention is extended to A

McGreevy who came an excellent 4th having just

returned from a three year break from trampolining and

making her competition debut at regionals.

Our older boys were up next. The U19s Intermediate boys

team was made up of A Pearson, N Bates, J Woods and

A Birch. A secure performance for N Bates saw him become

overall Champion and an outstanding set of routines from

J Woods placed him 3rd. Both now qualify for Zonals as

individuals. The team were crowned Regional Champions.

First up was the U19 Novice team made up of

A McGreevy, B Mansell and M Soanes. Despite

nerves, the team did exceedingly well, becoming

Regional Champions and propelling them into the

next round.

Warm up nerves led to a few early tears but an exceptional performance from all four gymnasts

secured them the overall team high score, making them Regional Champions. I Slade also took

the silver place after two stunning routines.

RPS Success at Trampolining Regionals 2018

The U13 gymnasts were up next; for many of them

this was their competition debut, so as you can

imagine, both parents and staff watched nervously.

N McHale, A Fishwick, E Braylin and E Day

performed outstandingly in an incredibly tough

competition to come a superb second place securing

them a place in the next round. N McHale

(following 2 marvellous routines) grabbed a 2nd

place medal also ensuring she advances to the next

round as an individual.

Lastly, the U13 boys intermediate team took to the stage.

L Tynan, A Hall, E Roberts and E Lowry did a fantastic job

of coping with all the nerves and pressure of being the last

team on. They all executed fabulous routines meaning the

day finished with the presentation of first place trophies to

the boys. Following some great execution, A Hall took 2nd

while E Lowry took 4th.

Overall, 5 teams became Regional Champions, with 1 team in

2nd. There were 3 individual champions, 4 silvers and 2 bronze

individual medals awarded. A huge congratulations to all the

gymnasts who attended and thank you for your positive

attitude and support for the team throughout the day.

After a quick lunch break the afternoon saw further rounds

of intense competition. The U15s girls novice A-team

were up first. O Wise, K Keddy, B Colyer and E Bignell

were hugely successful. Four excellent performance

secured them a first place win with K Keddy coming 1st as

an individual with an impressive performance and O Wise

coming 3rd. The U15s novice B team were up next.

Outstanding efforts from E Graham, E Moody, I Hoskins

and T Bowles placed the team in third place narrowly

missing a spot in the next round. T Bowles also scored a

perfect 10 for her travel, the trampolining squad’s first!

Also a massive thank you to alumni E Kennedy and E Walls for your support on the event.

Lastly, thank you to Mr Hunter, Miss Mullally and all the parents for ensuring the smooth

running of the day, and thank you to Mrs. Moxham for preparing, coaching and encouraging

our gymnasts on the day and throughout the year; it really wouldn’t be possible without her.

S Ellins (12O)

“Helping People Succeed” provides sponsorship for RPS artificial pitch and senior sport team kits

RPS PE and Roundwood Park School would like to extend a huge thank you to Helping

People Succeed Limited who have given very generous support to help fund the artificial

pitch and kits for some of our senior sports teams.

Richard Bandell, CEO of the company, is an RPS parent who was delighted to link up

with the school in this way. He said: “Sport has always been a positive influence in my

life. My business career has been shaped by my experience of playing sport and the importance of

learning through trying, failing, and trying again. As I was growing up, I was lucky enough to have

great teachers, coaches and access to sporting facilities. HPS is proud to be able to make a

contribution which will support the students at RPS in reaching their full potential. “

Helping People Succeed Ltd (HPS) has a simple mission statement of helping everyone

they can to reach their full potential. They specialise in:

• Identifying individual, team, and organisational strengths and development

requirements.

• Directing, coaching, and supporting people with appropriate interventions to help

them achieve their goals.

• Providing companies with advice and hands-on delivery to achieve strategic,

commercial, financial, or operational targets. This includes leadership coaching,

training, and development; business re-structuring and turn-around; mergers and

acquisitions (buy and sell side); non-executive advisory services; interim leadership.

Through their sponsorship HPS will do two things:

• Provide Roundwood Park School and Harpenden Colts with an initial sum

to contribute to the costs of construction of its artificial football pitch

• Provide ongoing financial support to Roundwood Park School and Harpenden Colts

to promote activities that encourage inclusive participation of young people in sport

(particularly football) and build on the excellent work that the school and the club do

to enhance the quality of coaching and support which young people are given to help

build their self-esteem, resilience, and confidence.

If your organisation is interested in the work of HPS, contact can be made through their

website: www.helpingpeoplesucceed.co.uk. HPS will donate 10% of its revenues from

work gained through its sponsorship, to be split equally between Roundwood Park

School and Harpenden Colts.

‘LANGUARY’

We have renamed next month ‘LANGUARY’.

During LANGUARY we would like to see who is the best independentlanguage learner in the school!

What do YOU need to do?

Collect a SPICY LANGUAGE LEARNING MENU CARD from theMFL office from Tuesday 8 January. It contains a wide variety of activitiesfor you to complete to help you practise the languages you are alreadylearning or to try out something new.

Complete as many menu items as you can during LANGUARY and showyour evidence to Mrs Phillips in the MFL Office

The Peri-ometer suggests the level of challenge the menu item offers.Each activity is worth points and your aim is to gain as many points aspossible.

We will record all the points you score on your Languary activity cardand give awards to those who complete lots of challenges.

Score more than 10 points to be entered into a prize draw at the end ofLanguary which ends on Monday 4 February.

Here’s a preview of the Languary menu:

WE ARE ALSO RUNNING AN INTERFORM COMPETITION. THE FORM THAT COMPLETES THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WILL WIN A PRIZE FOR THE FORM TO SHARE!

Careers Advice through the eyes of our alumni

On 8 November we hosted a careers event for Year 11 and 12 students,

delivered by some of our ex-students.

Luke Firmin (2001) and Angel Ashcroft (1996) gave inspiring presentations

to Year 11 students entitled 'Navigating Your Next Steps‘. Their talks

covered their own career paths and included words of advice and 'things I

wish I'd known when I was your age'. They gave some really valuable

advice about how to approach working life as well as the importance of

resilience, persistence and being true to yourself.

Following these presentations, Year 12 students undertook some mock

interviews, designed to give students the opportunity to practise talking

about themselves with a 'real life' employer. David Nichols (1996) and

Richard Harris (2004) conducted these interviews and were able to give

students some very sounds advice and valuable feedback. David and

Richard both commented on how impressed they were with how much the

students had already achieved and the breath of their experience.

Vikki Psaila (Employment Liaison & Events Coordinator)

HOUSE NEWS

Forthcoming House Events:

21st Dec: Non Uniform day

House Totals:

GT 86 pts

Owens 85 pts

Wilberforce 85 pts

Cadbury 83 pts

Frank 73 pts

Scott 71 pts

Mandela 71 pts

Please follow our House twitter pages to keep updated with all our weekly events:

RPS_HouseSystem

Budding photographers (in three categories, Juniors aged 7-10,

Intermediates aged 11-13 and Seniors aged 14-17 - all ages as at

31st August 2018) are invited to enter their work in the Rotary

Young Photographer Competition, the Harpenden heat

of which is being run by Rotary in Harpenden.

This year's theme is "Beauty of Nature“. Entries must be

submitted by 26th January 2019. Winners of the Harpenden

heat will receive a £20 WHSmiths voucher.

In last year's competition Hannah Burns, winner of the 11-13

intermediate section in the Harpenden heat, went on through

district heats to take third place in the national finals, a truly

wonderful result for one of our local schools!

For guidelines and an entry form please go

to https://tinyurl.com/yphotdoc

Entries should be delivered or posted to Kelvin Goodson, 86

Tuffnells Way, Harpenden, AL5 3HG

(Email: [email protected])

For further information, please visit www.rotaryinharpenden.org.uk

(scroll down the home page to "New Challenge for Young

Photographers", where they will read about last year's winners, the

judges' opinions and see pictures of the winning entries).

Calling all Budding Photographers! Rotary Young Photographer Competition –

Harpenden Heat

Young-Photographer-

Information-Pack-2018-19-

Harpenden Heat.pdftinyurl.com