Rossett News Update - 15 July 2022
Transition Days
On Wednesday and Thursday this week we welcomed pupils in Year 6 who will be joining Rossett School in September for our fun and informative Transition Days. Our new cohort took part in transition events including taster lessons in Maths, English, History, Art, Geography and Drama. They also experienced routines, met staff and other students. Activities in lessons included making scones and keyrings in Design Technology, constructing earthquake proof buildings in Geography and creating 'feeling' sculptures in Art.
All pupils attended an assembly with Ms Woodcock (Headteacher), and had lunch in our dedicated Year 7 dining hall. Those students travelling to Rossett by bus also had the opportunity to try the experience out over the two transition days. All of these opportunities to experience life at Rossett were designed to ensure a smooth transition to secondary school in September.
Parents also had the opportunity to attend our Information Evening on Thursday evening, meeting our Senior Leadership Team, looking at uniform requirements with Rawcliffes, finding out further details about the iPad scheme and reviewing final bus requirements with our staff.
Hot weather adaptations and guidelines
Whilst we all enjoy the good weather, the following adaptations and guidelines have been agreed in school until further notice:
Uniform
Students do not need to wear Blazers.
Students can remove ties and wear shirts open at the collar.
Students wearing skirts without tights should make sure that the length of the skirt is sufficient (just above the knee) to maintain modesty.
Students may wear Rossett school-branded PE kit (please click the link for further details).
Students should not wear a mixture of uniform and PE kit.
Water
Students are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle in to school and to drink frequently during the day.
Students will have opportunities to re-fill water bottles at breaktime, lunchtime, and the changeover of lessons, in order to minimise the disruption to learning.
Hats and Sun Screen
Students should be encouraged to wear a hat and use sun screen if they are likely to be out in the sun for prolonged periods of time – for example, if they walk to and from school, or across the field.
Matilda JR Workshops in Primary Schools
On Tuesday this week, Miss Askew (Teacher of Drama) and Mr Bentley (Teacher of Music) took twelve cast members from our production of 'Matilda JR' to Richard Taylor Primary School and New Park Primary School to teach them one of the songs from the production. The Year 5 students who came to Rossett to watch the performances, as well as some of the Year students who are joining us at Rossett next year, did a brilliant job of learning the music and choreography for ‘School Song’. The twelve students who helped run the workshop did a brilliant job and represented the school in excellent fashion. Thank you to both our primary partners for their warm welcome.
Music Exams Success
Our fantastic reputation for musical talent at Rossett School, supported by our brilliant team of peripatetic teachers, continues with further exam success this week. We are delighted to congratulate the following students for their individual examination success:
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Dan Batty (Year 10) - Grade 5 Drums (pass)
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Holly Sanderson (Year 7) - Grade 1 Piano (merit)
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Millie Price (Year 8) - Grade 2 Piano (pass)
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Isla Nisbet (Year 7) - Grade 3 Piano (pass)
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Charlotte Wormald ( Year 12) - Grade 3 Piano (pass)
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Beth Lyons (Year 10) - Grade 4 Piano (pass)
Please email Mr Bentley at tbentley@rossettschool.co.uk if you would like details of the peripatetic music lessons on offer from September.
Sports Day - Wednesday 20 July
Following two years of disruption due to the pandemic we are delighted that our students can once again take part in our annual Sports Day which is being held on Wednesday 20th July.
Students have selected an activity they would like to compete in for their form during their PE lessons this week. Each form group then has competitors compete in a variety of athletics events to attempt to beat some of our school records - some of which have stood for 50 years!
All students should come to school in their Rossett PE kit on Wednesday 20 July and we strongly advise students to bring water, sun cream and hats with them as there is limited shelter and shade on the school field. Ice lollies and water will be on sale during Period 5 for 50p each.
In case of inclement weather there will be alternative arrangements announced on the day.
LRC News from Mr Asker
I hope this finds you well and having had a good (if very hot) week.
This week I would like to recommend some books for the secondary age range that 'have that summer feeling' even if they are not wholly set in the summer or summer holidays. The following are books that seem perfect to be read in warmer weather, on the beach, by the pool or in the garden.
There is no better time to read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee than in the long holiday. Its powerful commentary on race and racism set in a small town in Alabama remains as vital as ever. Winner of the Pulitzer prize and rated by many as one of the finest and most important novels of the 20th century it was also adapted into an excellent film and one of those rare examples when a film was (almost!) as good as the book. The Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan can be read by anyone and whilst it is a picture book it offers real depth, beauty and originality. Stunning drawings and thoughtful text make this a summer must. Holes by Louis Sachar is considered a modern classic and won many awards. Set partly in Camp Green Lake in Texas this book demands to be read on a hot summers day. It was also made into a great film. A deservedly popular series, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Dog Days by Jeff Kinney is set in the long summer holiday as Greg Heffley seeks to avoid the hot weather by staying indoors as much as he can. As laugh-out-loud funny as ever, this series is one of my favourite recommendations for younger readers.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell starts in the damp of an English winter but quickly moves to sun drenched Corfu as the family settle there to live for several years. Another laugh out loud book with incredibly vivid descriptions of animal and island life this is a very popular book with teenagers and adults alike. Finally, The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (author of the Moomin books) is a deeply moving story about a grandma and her six- year-old granddaughter spending the summer together on a small island in the Gulf of Finland. Wise, profound and humane it may suit students in Year 12 and 13 or a confident younger reader.
Of course, there are many other great summer reads; I would be delighted to hear your recommendations, please email me and I will add them to my contribution in the final newsletter of the year next week.
I hope you have a great and warm weekend and find that spot of shade to enjoy getting lost in a good book.
Mr Asker
Hegarty Maths
Hegarty Maths is an online platform used by students at Rossett School, designed to improve results and help students understand the subject. It is an ever-evolving resource offering students Mathematics help through videos; quizzes; bespoke Memri quizzes to keep their knowledge fluent and FixUp5 tasks to target subject areas that need improvement. Over 365,000 questions have been answered this academic year by our brilliant students. That's about one 10 question Hegarty homework per Key Stage 3 and 4 student every week of the school year. Well done to them all!
First Aid - polite request
Please could we ask you to remind your child that our protocols are for students to report to First Aid in the first instance when they feel unwell. They should report to our First Aid Manager who will be able to assess whether they are well enough to stay in school, medicate if necessary, and then call home on the child's behalf if the circumstances require.
Students should not call home directly, if unwell.
Thank you for your support.
An Important Message from Yorkshire Water
In this current hot weather people are often tempted to cool down by taking a swim in our reservoirs. However, cold water can be a killer and Yorkshire Water would like to raise awareness of these risks amongst young people. Cold water shock can lead to hyperventilation, increased blood pressure, breathing difficulties and heart attacks plus water temperatures remain just as cold in summer as in winter.
Yorkshire Water are promoting the ‘Float to Live’ safety message from the Royal National Life Saving Institute (RNLI). In their hard-hitting video, they deliver advice on how to react should you become stricken in cold water.
Everyone who falls unexpectedly into cold water wants to follow the same instinct, to swim hard and to fight the cold water. But when people fight it, chances are, they lose. Cold water shock makes you gasp uncontrollably and breathe in water, which can quickly lead to drowning.
If students find themselves unexpectedly in the water, the message is to float until the cold water shock has passed and they will be able to control their breathing and have a far better chance of staying alive.
It is important that we share water safety advice with our young people to prevent further incidents occurring. Please follow the links below from the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and links to two youtube videos which you might find useful.
- #coldwaterkills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ile-FwNEafk
- #FloatToLive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OBCFEEZe1U
Covid Guidance - July 2022
With cases of Covid reportedly on the rise nationally and locally we would like to remind you of the following guidance for maintaining good health as we near the end of our school year:
It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.
Lunch Menu
Well done to...
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Will Pattison who has been selected to play three representative cricket matches for North Yorkshire U14s at the end of July.
Change of school day - Friday 22 July
School breaks up for the summer holidays on Friday 22 July. Students will finish school at 2:10pm and buses will run an hour earlier. There will be no late bus.
What's happening next week...
Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July
- Modified school uniform OR Rossett banded PE kit to be worn
Wednesday 20 July
- Sports Day - PE kit required for all students. Please bring sun cream, hat and plenty of water.
Thursday 21 July
- Red Kite Design Exhibition, Harewood House (invitation only)
Friday 22 July
- End of Summer Term 2022 - school closes for students at 2.10pm
H Woodcock
Headteacher
