Rossett News - 6 March 2020
UK Intermediate Maths Challenge
We are delighted to share our 'record-breaking' success at the recent Intermediate Maths Challenge with parents this week. 54 certificates were awarded to our students this year, beating our previous record of 46. 23 bronze certificates (the top 60-80% of students nationally who entered); 21 silver certificates (the top 80-96% of students nationally who entered) and an outstanding 10 gold certificates (the cohort who achieved 95% and above entering nationally) were received.
We would particularly like to congratulate Arlo Collins (Year 8) who achieved a Silver and Eva Bailey, Patrick Fleming, Nadia Othman (Year 9) and Elizabeth Cannings, and Kenneth Burt (Year 10) who achieved Gold Certificates - it is especially impressive as they were competing against Year 11 students with no allowance being made for the difference in age and experience. Year 11 students who achieved a Gold certificate were: Lewis Ferry, Yeukhei Wong, Luke Waddington, Joshua Simpson and Lucy Morgan. All of the students who achieved Silver and Gold certificates qualify for an additional 'kangaroo' round. Well done to all of the students involved, we are very proud of your success!
Former Barclays CEO: Inspiring talk
Former Barclays CEO, Peter Harvey, gave up his time on Wednesday to speak to our Rossett Economics and Business Studies' students about his 32-year career in the banking sector.
Mr Harvey discussed what it takes to be successful and the obstacles that might be faced along the way and provided advice on how best to deal with those challenges. Interview advice was also given to those students in the Sixth Form who will be facing university, apprenticeship and employment interviews in the coming months.
Following an interesting Question & Answer session, Mr Harvey provided further time to mentor a small group of students who enjoyed the informal nature of his advice.
Health Advice
In addition to the advice from Public Health England and central Government provided in our previous communications we would like to share an additional resource in case parents have any further questions about the Coronavirus.
The Department of Education has launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19, related to an educational setting. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8.00am - 6.00pm (Monday to Friday)
'Get into Medicine' Focus Group
Rossett Sixth Form students have been working with the University of Bradford this week. The university has been working in conjunction with Airedale NHS Trust and Health Education England to develop a new online resource, aimed at Year 12 and 13 students who are interested in careers in medicine. The students took part in a 'focus group' session to identify what information our students might find most useful to their decision making in choosing a career.
Our students will also be asked to provide online feedback giving their opinion on film-footage featuring trainee doctors and consultants talking about their inspiration to become involved in medicine. The representative from the university congratulated our students on their valuable feedback and exceptional engagement. Thank you to everyone who took part.
Rossett Basics: Focus Fortnight Punctuality
Our ‘Rossett Basics’ outline our expectations for all students attending Rossett School. In order to further embed these principles, over the coming weeks we will be having a ‘Focus Fortnight’ with emphasis on each of our Rossett Basics during each two-week period.
From Monday 9th March we will have a focus on our expectations regarding punctuality. The topic of being on time has been discussed with your child during Form Time today and our expectations for punctuality have been reinforced. In brief we expect:
- Students to arrive at school no later than 8.45am;
- Students to arrive at Form Period and Assembly no later than 8.50am;
- Students to move to lessons promptly;
- Students to arrive at all lessons on time and ready to learn.
Punctuality is paramount for all within our school community; employers and universities often ask about this in reference requests. A focus on this will ensure students maximise their time and get the most from their learning experience here at Rossett. I am sure you will join us is in encouraging your child to reflect on their own punctuality over the coming weeks.
Thank you for your support with this.
Mr D Royes and Mr P Saunders (Associate Deputy Headteachers)
Lego Mindstorms
A group of Year 8 students attended the 'Lego Mindstorms Competition' at the National College for High Speed Rail in Doncaster on Monday. This curriculum-linked challenge saw students working together in teams to solve real-world engineering, technology and computing challenges
Students learned how to build, programme and control autonomous Lego robots to complete a series of short, exciting aviation missions using Lego Mindstorms Education EV3 sets.
The students completed a team challenge and demonstrated their presenting and communication skills to the judges. All of the students showed great resilience, listened to the support teams and were brilliant ambassadors of the school. Well done to them all for their enthusiasm on the day!
100th Birthday Celebrations for local resident
Our talented musicians visited Heath Lodge Care Home this afternoon to help celebrate resident Rosie's 100th birthday. The students performed a piano duet of 'Yesterday' by The Beatles, some songs from hit musicals and also vocal performances of Hallelujah and Empire State of Mind. 'Saxophonix' played some favourites prior to their performance at the Harrogate Music Festival this weekend. All of the residents enjoyed the performances and were tapping their toes and singing along - happy birthday Rosie!
Acoustic Night
We are delighted to invite you to our 'Acoustic Night' which takes place on Thursday 12th March 2020. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear 'unplugged' performances from our talented students. Tickets cost £3 and are available from the Finance Office. Doors open at 6.15pm and refreshments will be provided by the PTA.
Sport Relief
Sport Relief is back from 9th - 13th March, bringing the nation together to get active and raise money through the power of sport. Rossett will, once again, be supporting this event with a non-uniform day on Friday 13th March for a donation of £2 per student. We would remind students that non-uniform should be appropriate for school.
Our annual staff vs students netball match will take place on Wednesday 11th March during early lunch in the Sports Hall. Students are encouraged to support their team and can spectate this event for a donation of 50p - can the students beat the staff this year?
PTA Lottery
Congratulations to Mr G. who receives £20 as the first winner of the Rossett School PTA Lottery! The next draw is Saturday 7th March. Have you bought your tickets yet? Go to the lottery website now to make sure that you have a chance of winning, don’t forget that in addition to the prize, guaranteed to be won every week by a member of the Rossett School PTA Lottery, there is also a Jackpot prize of £25,000!
To sign up and for full details, please visit the website - https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/rossett-school
Congratulations to...
- The Year 7 Girls' Football Team whose fantastic performance in the National Cup sees them progress to the next round after beating St. Josephs, Newcastle 2-1. Two goals were scored by Megan Hudson and the rest of the team showed great resilience in their play. We are now in the last 32 - well done!
- The U13 Girls' Football Team who were the outright winners in the area football tournament at St John Fisher school.
- The Year 9 student George Papadopoullos who recently achieved a *Distinction in Grade 4 ballet and a Distinction in Grade 4 tap. George also achieved Distinction in his Grade 7 Clarinet and is working hard towards his Grade 8.
- The Year 10 Boys' Rugby Team who won against Ripon Outwood Academy 25-10;
- The U13 Girls' Hockey Team who won against Harrogate Grammar School 7-5.
What's happening next week ...
Monday 9th March
- A Level Geography residential fieldwork trip. Students will stay on the Holderness coastline (returns Thursday 12th March).
Tuesday 10th March
- GCSE Music Performance examinations.
Wednesday 11th March
- GCSE Food practical examinations;
- Year 13 practical First Aid life skills session during Period 2 in the Main Hall;
- Staff vs students netball match for Sport Relief: early lunch in the Sports Hall, 50p donation.
Thursday 12th March
- A Level Geography residential fieldwork trip returns;
- GCSE Food practical examinations;
- Acoustic Night in the Main Hall at 6.30pm, tickets available from the Finance Office;
- Full Governing Body meeting in the Learning Resource Centre: 7.00pm.
Friday 13th March
- Non-uniform day for Sport Relief: £2 donation to be paid at Form Time;
- Food Diploma practical examination.
H Woodcock
Headteacher
