I hope that you had a fantastic half-term and were able to make the most of the excellent weather As we enter the final half-term of the academic year, I want to share some remarkable achievements and preview the jam-packed calendar ahead What a busy but incredibly exciting half-term for our students!
To begin, I want to express how immensely proud we are of our students who demonstrate such dedication to sport, both within our school walls and in the wider community. We celebrate Tyleah (Year 10) and Blake (Year 8), whose exceptional performances at the Essex Schools Combined Events Trials have earned them county representation. Tyleah will be competing in the Heptathlon at the Regional Schools Championships in Bedford later this month, while Blake is set to represent us on the world stage at the World Junior Championship in Sweden. Our warmest congratulations go to them both on these incredible milestones!
Beyond the sporting arena, this week featured our rigorous selection process for the student leadership team With a record 35 applications received, the high calibre of our students and the prestige of these roles was clearly on display. Our Year 12 candidates for Head and Deputy Head Prefect navigated a series of intense challenges, including detailed applications, teacher endorsements, a fishbowl exercise, and a professional presentation Shortlisted students then faced a final panel consisting of the Chair of Governors, the Headteacher, and the Director of Sixth Form. After much deliberation, I am delighted to announce Sonny and Eylul as our new Head Prefects, supported by Senior Prefects Isabella, Sapphire, Andrew, and Abigail.
Their inaugural task is preparing a warm welcome for the Year 6-7 Transition Evening, with House Captain and Subject Leader interviews following shortly
Looking toward the future of our learning environment, we are launching a comprehensive consultation regarding mobile phone usage with staff, parents, and students over the coming months As we review new statutory guidance and its specific implications for Roding Valley, we recognise that local schools have adopted various approaches We remain committed to a collaborative process with all stakeholders to ensure our final policy best serves our unique community and supports the ongoing academic success of every student
Our Year 12 Biology cohort is also setting off on an exciting adventure this weekend. Mrs Harris, alongside Ms Collins and Mr Ryan from our science department, is leading a group of 35 students on a residential field trip to Flatford Mill. We wish them a truly inspiring and productive time as they engage with their ecological fieldwork
The excitement continues into next week, as our resilient students depart for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Practice Expedition Simultaneously, we have a wonderful Year 7 excursion to the theatre to enjoy Oliver! The Musical.
As the academic term draws to a close, we look forward to celebrating the end of the examination season for Years 11 and 13. Both groups will soon enjoy their well-earned leavers’ assemblies and proms The final weeks of term promise even more highlights, including Year 10 Careers Week, Year 7 Languages Day, Sports Day, various trips for Years 8 and 9, and work experience placements for Year 12
Finally, I hope to see many of you at our Summer Fair tomorrow, Saturday 6th June, starting at 2:00pm. We are anticipating a wonderful community day filled with activities and warmly encourage you to join us with your family and friends.
Stars of the Week
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 12
Florence Hall - consistently doing the right thing in lessons and around school.
Maria Salca - for always being so polite and respectful in and out of lessons every day
Ruby Prince - for always being so polite and a positive role model to others Your resilience is incredible
Enoch Adigun - always doing the right thing and working well in school
Kaliyah Brown - an exceptional Biology essay
As always, thank you for your continued support
Mr D Charlton
Ava Lawlor - for being the model student in Year 7 Always smiling and happy to be in school
Blake Morrison - for being such a positive role model in lessons, and around the school community
Martin Dimov - for always making the right choices and being such a positive person to be around for both staff and students
Besjana Naboli - always getting on with doing the right thing and showing commitment to studies.
Mia Prentice - an exceptional Biology essay
Our team is proud to be your child’s Head of Year and very much looking forward to supporting your child and with such a great cohort of students, we are sure it will be a great half term To ensure that you are aware of who your child’s Head of Year is and who to contact, please refer to their details below:
Year 7: Mr John
To contact Mr John, please email bjohn@rodingvalley net
Year 8: Miss Aston
To contact Miss Aston, please email caston@rodingvalley.net
Year 9: Miss Burke
To contact Miss Burke, please email tburke@rodingvalley.net
Year 10: Ms Wills
To contact Ms Wills, please email rwills@rodingvalley.net
Year 11: Mr Ryan
To contact Mr Ryan, please email fryan@rodingvalley.net
YYear7News ear7News
Message from Mr John
The final half term of the academic year, it is great to see the warmer weather arriving and lighter evenings ahead. This is always an exciting period forYear 7, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy school life and celebrate a successful first year of secondary school
lWith the warmer temperatures, a reminder that school uniform expectations remain unchanged School jumpers are optional, but blazers must still be worn as part of the school uniform unless staff give specific permission otherwise.
There is lots to look forward to over the coming weeks, including Sports Day and theYear 7 Residential These events provide fantastic opportunities for students to challenge themselves, develop friendships and create lasting memories.
As we approach the end of the year, it is important that students maintain their focus and continue to attend school every day Attendance remains just as important in the final half term as it is at any other point in the year Every lesson counts, and strong attendance helps students make the most of their learning and fully participate in the exciting events ahead
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to a positive and successful finish to the year.
It is important that parents register their children for free school meals if they are entitled as the school receives additional funding known as the Pupil Premium to support the children’s learning The use of the pupil premium is personalised to meet the needs of the children who are entitled to support, such as 1-1 tuition, additional LSA support and intervention groups, access to school visits, Learning Mentor, speech and language assistants, Family Support and counselling If you believe that your child is eligible for Free School Meals, please click here to use our Free School Meals Checker Your Certificate of Eligibility will then need to be emailed to finance@rodingvalley net
Punctuality to School
Dear Parent/Carers
If your child is late, you must ensure you call the school before 8.30am. We understand there may be heavy traffic on the road from time to time, please allow enough time to navigate the traffic. When a child is absent or late for school, this causes disruption to the rest of the class and causes your child to fall behind. Many thanks - Attendance team
YYear8News ear8News
Message from MissAston
I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable half-term break It is hard to believe that we are now in the final half term before the summer holidays We have a busy and exciting few weeks ahead, and are looking forward to making the most of every opportunity.
Students will be completing their end-of-year Maths and English assessments over the coming weeks in their lessons These assessments provide an important opportunity for students to demonstrate the progress they have made throughout the year and will help inform planning for the next stage of their learning
The results of these assessments will be included in students' summer reports We encourage all students to continue working hard in lessons, completing homework, and reading regularly at home to ensure they are well prepared
As we return to school for our final half term, I would like to remind all families of our uniform expectations. Blazers are compulsory and must be worn every day as part of the school uniform. We also ask parents to ensure that skirts are worn at the correct length and are not rolled up. Thank you for your support in helping our students take pride in their appearance and represent the school positively
Reading remains a key priority for all students Please encourage your child to read every day both in school and at home Regular reading develops vocabulary, comprehension and confidence, and has a positive impact across all areas of learning
Good attendance is essential for success Every lesson counts, and we expect all students to attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell Thank you for continuing to support us in ensuring that attendance remains a priority
1 - Christopher Jones
2 - Ellie Sau
- Ayaz Alici
- Thomas Kershaw
- Chloe Smith
I look forward to a successful and enjoyable half term together
- Alexander Vogiatzis
- Salwa Inayat
Ralph Poett
- Matt Cai
- Sophia Sapal
Message from Miss Burke YYear9News ear9News
Welcome back! I want to start by sending a massive "Well Done" to all of ourYear 9 students. Returning from the half-term break to a completely fresh start with brand-new timetables is no small feat Our students have shown incredible resilience, maturity, and a wonderful spirit of encouragement toward their peers as they tackle their new subjects head-on
I would also like to extend a huge thank you to our parents and carers Your unwavering support during this significant shift in your child’s educational journey which now officially marks the start of their GCSE journey has been invaluable.
Over the last few days, I have been visiting classrooms to see this transition in action. It has been an incredibly proud moment for me to witness just how beautifully the students are engaging with their new content Furthermore, the feedback from our staff has been absolutely fantastic; teachers have already sent numerous emails home celebrating the excellent progress students have made in such a short amount of time Keep it up,Year 9!
Assembly Highlights: Reflection & Fresh Starts
This week, our Deputy Headteacher, Mr Vermaak, delivered a powerful assembly toYear 9 He spoke about the power of observation, exploring how we perceive situations in different ways and how we must evolve the way we "observe" our environment as we step into this mature phase of school life Alongside this, he reminded students of the importance of "time to rest" to balance their hard work, ensuring they maintain the brilliant energy they've brought to this fresh start
Key FocusAreas Moving Forward
To maintain this fantastic momentum, I want to reinforce three core pillars that ensure every student can achieve their absolute best:
1 Attendance & Punctuality: Be in school every day, on time Every single day in the classroom counts Consistent attendance and arriving on time directly impact student success, building strong routines, reducing academic stress, and ensuring no vital GCSE content or teacher guidance is missed
2. Preparation: Be equipped for learning Please ensure students arrive with all the necessary equipment for every lesson Being prepared means being ready to actively engage and take part in learning from the very first minute the bell rings
3. Pride: Perfect school uniform We ask for your full support in ensuring that school uniform is immaculate and strictly adheres to our school policy Wearing the uniform correctly reflects a proud, focused, and unified community mindset
Thank you all for a brilliant start to this exciting new chapter. Let's keep this standard high as we move forward together.
Message from Ms Wills
I trust you all had a wonderful half term and enjoyed the glorious weather!
This week we have moved the whole school around in line up andYear 10 are now standing in the position of Year 11. Whilst this physically demonstrates that we are now at the top of the school, it is a reminder that we are also only 1 year away from the GCSE exams and therefore preparations are underway to ensure all students are successful in their progress and progression.
The PPEs will begin on 15th June The timetable can be found here Students will be given guidance about the logistics of the exams next week in assembly, including being prepared with the correct equipment as well as arriving on time We expect that all students take these exams as if they are the real thing, behaving in line with exam expectations
Areminder that the following week will be the careers week Thank you to those of you who have completed theTakeYour Child to Work Day form - we hope this is a really interesting day for your child I will be writing to those who have requested support in school that day with a plan for what will happen
You will also all be receiving a letter this week via email in regards to the 6th form taster day/college taster day. Please can you ensure that students complete their option choices asap to ensure that they are placed on the correct course.
YYear11News ear11News
Message from Mr Ryan
It is lovely to see everyone back and ready to push through the last three weeks of exams Everyone seems well rested and ready to do their best There is a real sense of purpose in the mornings during our revision breakfasts
You can find the link to the our exam timetable here
SummerTimetable
As always our uniform expectations are incredibly high We will expect these standards to be maintained throughout the rest of the year Students are expected to be in the correct shoes and wear their blazers Should you require any assistance with this, please make your child’s form tutor aware and we will help any way we can
If your child has outgrown their uniform and it could be part of our preloved uniform, then all donations are welcome
Finally, we have Leaver’s Day and Prom to look forward to on Friday 19th June and 6th form transition day on Monday 22nd June.
RVHS Pre Loved Uniform
Any parents/carers wishing to purchase some RVHS preloved uniform, please use this link to select & pay for any uniform you wish to purchase.
The process is quick and easy to use. You will be notified once your order is ready for your collection.
All orders will be processed during term time only
Do you have any old uniform your child has outgrown or no longer uses?
Please wash and donate back to our pre-loved uniform. This can be dropped into our main reception.
66 FFormNews ormNews
Message from Ms Wheaton & Mrs
Curling
19 May -Applied Science Drop Down Day th
In preparation for their externally assessed BTEC Applied Science exams, Y12 students had a series of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics drop down days where they practiced applying their wealth of knowledge to exam questions Students found that this helped improve their confidence going into the exams
Tuesday 19th May
Look who ourYr12 boys bumped into at Sainsbury's Loughton at lunchtime. Who says lunchtimes are boring? British Professional boxer: Daniel Dubois
20th May -Year 12 Drama, Kery Fampton’s Berkoff Workshop
IYear 12 Drama students had the exciting opportunity to attend an extended Berkoff workshop Students gained a huge amount from the experience, thank you very much to Kerry for coming in
Dates for your diary:
Tuesday P1 - KS4 mentoring supported by 6 form students th Wednesday - KS3 mentoring supported by 6 form students th Friday - Weekly 6 form assembly in the main hall th
8 June 5:30pm-7:00pm - Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening - Beyond 18 5:30pm-7:00pm
Trips & Visits
Year 8 Mathematics Trip to Bletchley Park
50 of our Year 8 students recently enjoyed a day trip to Bletchley Park, the historic home of World War II codebreaking. These students were specially nominated by their teachers in recognition of their hard work in their Maths lessons this year.
During the visit, our students got to step back in time to see how secret intelligence changed the course of history Highlights of the day included:
D-Day Workshop: Students put their problem-solving skills to the test, learning the fascinating secrets behind deciphering wartime codes
The Enigma Machine: A real highlight was getting to see an authentic, iconic Enigma machine up close
Guided Tour: A walk through the historic huts and beautiful grounds, learning about the incredible men and women who worked there.
Time to Explore: Students also had the chance to explore the interactive museum and exhibitions at their own pace
This week our year 10 Hospitality and Catering students participated in a very informative and enjoyable visit to The Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey.
The staff there gave us a really warm welcome and tailored the visit to 'bring to life' many aspects of the hospitality and catering industry. The students were also treated to a hands on mocktail making experience followed by a delicious buffet lunch.
Many thanks to the Marriott for hosting and for the valuable information shared with our students.
In Messy Science club this week, Year 7 boiled red cabbage to extract a vibrant purple, all-natural pH indicator They then put their DIYcreation to the test by mixing it with various household chemicals, watching the liquid change from pink for acids to green for bases.
In another Messy Science session, students extracted DNAfrom kiwi fruit. Armed with household dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and plenty of energetic mashing, the students watched in awe as the cloudy, fibrous strands of genetic material separated right before their eyes.
The Future of Transport: Breaking the Code at Roding Valley!
Engineering and Coding Clubs Unite for Driverless Car Project
Smart Technology inAction Waymo cars are like super-smart robot vehicles. They use special tools like LiDAR, cameras, and radar to see everything around them.Acomputer inside the car recognizes all the objects nearby and predicts how they will move, so the car can drive safely without a human driver. No drive mini-cab service: Waymo car using radr on the road
Eco-Friendly Innovation
For a new STEM project, the Engineering and Coding Clubs have been busy! They are building car bodies and writing the software to create driverless cars.The cars must be built from ecofriendly materials, and the code needs to be simple enough forYear 8 students to understand.
Join the Revolution
The Engineering Club for Year 9 meets every Tuesday in S2, and the Coding Club for Year 8 meets every Thursday in S5. We would love for you to join us and help build these green driverless cars! Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.
Innovation in progress: Our latest journey on coding a module
Cracking the Code
At first, the Coding Club found it hard to get the cars moving with the first set of coding. They worked really hard, but the code just wasn't working correctly. Then, George P. and Samuel H. from Year 9 took a closer look. They discovered a special command made just for the car's parts. As soon as they added this to the program, the car started to move! Everyone in the club was so excited to see their hard work pay off.
If your child is unable to attend School for any reason, please report their absence by phoning the school number by 8.30am at the latest, you must also ring in each day of your child’s absence
0208-508-1173
On their return to School, please ensure your child brings with them a letter or medical evidence if requested explaining the reason for the absence for our records
MedicalAppointments
Please make sure you make any medical or dental appointments outside of school time If this is not possible then please try to ensure that your child attends before and/or after their appointment.
Holidays in Term Time
The school does not authorise any holidays during term time except if the Headteacher deems it an exceptional circumstance.A‘Leave ofAbsence’form must be completed (these are available at Student Reception) detailing your exceptional circumstances
Please be aware if the absence is not authorised and the holiday is taken, the case will be referred to the LocalAuthority who may issue a Penalty Notice for £160 (or £80 if paid within 21 days) to each parent for each child taken out of school.
For full details regarding attendance, please see ourAttendance Policy.
Who to contact
Should you have any concerns about your child’s attendance or punctuality please contact your child’s Head of Year or ourAttendanceTeam - gmanning@rodingvalleynet
Explore together: Ask your child to show you their favourite websites and apps and what they do on them. Listen, show interest and encourage them to teach you the basics of the site or app
Chat about online safety little and often: Young people are likely to want to explore new apps and websites this month, whether that is for learning or for fun Take this opportunity to talk to them about how to stay safe on these new services, and in general Ask if anything ever worries them while they are online Make sure they know that if they ever feel worried, they can get help by talking to you or another adult they trust.
Help your child identify trusted adults who can help them if they are worried: This includes you and other adults at home, as well as adults from wider family, school or other support services who they are able to contact at this time. Encourage them to draw a picture or write a list of their trusted adults
Be non-judgemental: Explain that you would never blame them for anything that might happen online, and you will always give them calm, loving support.
Talk about how their online actions can affect others: If your child is engaging with others online, remind them to consider how someone else might feel before they post or share something If they are considering sharing a photo/video of somebody else, they should always ask permission first
Parental controls: Make use of the parental controls available on your home broadband and any internet enabled device in your home You can find out more about how to use parental controls by visiting your broadband provider’s website
Direct your child to age appropriate information about relationships and sex: It’s natural for young people to start exploring their sexual feelings online and adolescents are more inclined to take risks. It’s important to understand this and to talk to your child in a positive way. Thinkuknow, Brook, The Mix and Childline all provide age appropriate information about relationships and sex that you can signpost your child to
Make sure they know about CEOP: Young people can report a concern about grooming or sexual abuse to CEOP at www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/ and get support from a specialist Child Protection Advisor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Support your child with CEOPEducation website
The age appropriate CEOPEducation website is a great way to start and continue chats about online safety and other issues. Click on the CEOPimage to access the site
The website provide open and honest guidance for young people on friends, relationships and the internet, covering topics like dealing with pressure; consent; and getting support when you are worried
If you are worried that a child or young person is at risk of harm online, you should call the police.Young people can make a report to CEOP
Other Recommended Resources
Brook: Information and advice for young people on sexual health and wellbeing, including staying safe online. https://www.brook.org.uk/
The Mix: Support service for young people with information and advice on sex and relationships.https://www.themix.org.uk/
Internet Matters:Auseful tool showing how to set parental controls across a range of devices and websites. http://www.internetmatters.org/parentalcontrols/interactive-guide/
NSPCC: Provides reviews and guidance on the most popular social networks, apps and games that children use. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
Childnet: Information and advice for parents and carers on supporting people online. https://www.childnet.com/resources/supporting-youngpeople-online
How Can I Access Edulink?
EduLink can be accessed on any device – PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device – via the web browser or via the EduLink app. The link to access the EduLink login page on a web browser is www edulinkone com
Alternatively, you can download the EduLink App which is available to download for free on Apple or on Android.
Both the App and the web browser will display this log-in screen
The School ID is ‘Roding’ .
Parents/Carers will need to enter the Username and Password they have been provided with and click ‘Log in’
The displayed is dependant of the platform you are logged in to:
• Via Web Browser
• Via the EduLink App
How to Log on to Google Classroom?
Classroom
Students can log into their Gmail using their school email address and their password Their school email will be the year they started at RVHS started plus their first initial and surname @rodingvalley.net (example- 19plarkin@rodingvalley.net).
Once yourchild has have logged in, they will need to click on the google apps button and then select ‘Google Classroom’
Your child will then be able to see all of the classes they belong to. They will then need to click on the class they want to use resources for and take a look at everything that their class teacher has posted for them to work on. They will be able to download items and make comments on them Teachers will be regularly posting new work on their Google Classrooms
What to Do if your child is a Missing a Subject their Google Classroom?
If your childis missing a Google Classroom for one of their subjects, they will need to click on the addition symbol, followed by ‘Join Class’ and then enter the Class Code for their missing subject Class Codes are available from their subject teacher
Top Tips for Our Students
Students must keep up to date with their lessons by using Google Classroom every day
Use their workbooks to complete the work shown on their Google Classroom
Don’t slack on presentation! Keep their notes in order of the lessons on the Google Classroom
Year 11and 13 Students: There will be revision materials available on Google Classroom. Please use them.
U S E F U L C O N T A C T S
Year 7: Mr John - bjohn@rodingvalleynet
Year 8: MissAston - caston@rodingvalley.net
Year 9: Miss Burke - tburke@rodingvalley.net
Year 10: Ms Wills - rwills@rodingvalleynet
Year 11: Mr Ryan - fryan@rodingvalley.net
Sixth Form: Ms Wheaton & Ms Curling - awheaton@rodingvalleynet / lcurling@rodingvalley.net
