Review Issue 07 Friday 19th October 2018 Dear all, As we approach the end of the first half term, I would like to thank all the staff and students for all their hard work and effort this half term. This is evident by all the good work that is being highlighted in the RBA Review every week. However, much hard work also goes on behind the scenes at RBA and the support staff play a crucial role in supporting this school and this can often go unnoticed. Finally, I would also like to thank parents as well. I ve met many parents now at various school events and your support is greatly appreciated. Please keep it up as working together will continue to be the key to further success. On this note, please take the time when half term arrives to go through your child s exercise book. Are they acting upon teacher s feedback? Do they have gaps in their work which need completing? Do they need to go through their books again and improve the presentation of their work e.g. a ruler to underline their titles and dates? These are areas that we have been working on at school so your support at home would be greatly valued. This week in whole school assemblies, Mrs Hart has been raising the profile and importance of literacy. Mrs Hart shared with the students how the reading ages required to access the new GCSE exams has risen. It is without question that the new 9-1 GCSEs place greater demands on students literacy skills. Students without these skills will be held back in every subject. In addition to this, with increasing competition for the highest GCSE grades, students with the very best literacy skills will be at an immediate advantage. To support the students, the school has been focusing on developing the KS3 students reading ages through our Accelerated Reading Scheme. In class, teachers have been working on getting the students to talk, read and write like subject experts. In books, parents should see their child correcting their spellings of subject specific key words. This week we have held some more Open Mornings for prospective families looking at secondary education at RBA. As always, our student tour guides have been fantastic and a real credit to the school. The feedback from everyone has been very positive and it is always nice to hear how visitors are impressed by the calm, caring and purposeful atmosphere. Finally, next Friday sees the first of our LEAD Days. These are always a real highlight and the students often feedback on how much they enjoy these days. Below is a list of the enrichment activities that students will be taking part in. There is still time for any parents to sign their child up for the trips if not done so yet. Year 7 Anti-Bullying Day Year 8 Year 9 Sustainability & Environment (Whipsnade Zoo) Leadership (Tolmers Activity Centre) Year 10 Business and Enterprise (Dragon s Den) Year 11 English (English boot camp) Sixth Form Futures (University) I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. (Michael Jordan) The choice of this week s quote was inspired by my various conversations with students this week about the extent to which they are putting in their maximum effort to achieve. Small things make a big difference and an increase in effort will, make a very big difference! Enjoy the weekend, Ced de la Croix Headteacher Week Commencing Monday 22nd October Week 2 1
Dates for your Diary 24th Oct Rewards Cinema Evening 3.30pm 26th Oct LEAD Day Activities : Year 7 - Anti-Bullying Day Year 8 - Trip to Whipsnade Zoo 29th Oct to 2nd Nov 22nd Oct 23rd Oct 24th Oct 25th Oct Year 9 - Trip to Tolmers Activity Centre Year 10 - Dragons Den Year 11 - English Boot Camp Sixth Form - Futures Half Term Sporting Fixtures Swimming Gala Year 10 County Cup Football vs Freeman College (H) 2.30pm Year 7 County Cup Football v Richard Hale (A) Years 7 & 8 Girls Rugby Festival Year 8 Netball vs Sele (H) Student Reception Info To contact Student Reception please use the following details: Tel: 01992 410800 then option 5 Email: parents@robertbarclayacademy.co.uk Opening hours are 8:15am to 3:15pm Parent helpers needed in the School Library If you are able to give up a couple of hours each week to volunteer in the RBA school library your help would be much appreciated. Tasks include shelving books, tidying, labelling books, repairs etc. No experience required. Training given. Please email or phone the school if you are interested. Ms Harrington School Librarian Show My Homework Download the App for you phone or tablet. Make sure to Login with Office 365. Remember you can find your school email address by logging on the RBA Dashboard at http://rbadashboard.co.uk. If you have any issues logging onto the Show My Homework App please see Mr Belmont in ICT Support. 2
Year 7 Alfie Travers Achievement Year 8 Summer Mendrys-Barnes English Joel Morgan English Arturs Sebarsovs English Year 9 Mollie Green Frankie Gudgeon Matilda Gumble Sophie Morgan Daisie Ruddle English English RBA Service RBA Service English Year 11 Danilo Cannizzaro Science 3
Football News Year 9s lost 8-5 to St Mary s School on Tuesday. The Year 9 s showed great improvement from last year, and should compete well in cup competitions this year. Year 7s beat Beaumont School 2-1, with a great performance from all the team and are unbeaten so far. Goals from Marco and Lewis. Man of the match was Marco. Charlie Freeman Teacher of Physical Education Library News LIBRARY BOOK FAIR - THURSDAY 8TH AND FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER. The School Library will be running a book fair after the half term, on the two forthcoming ARD days. We hope to offer a rich variety of books for all ages and all reading abilities, including some old favourites and some classics. Leaflets will be going out before the event with money-off coupons and special offers, so please check with your child for more details. As well as contributing towards your child's reading, the Book Fair enables us to claim free books for the Library. Hope to see you there. Helen Harrington School Librarian 4
Lee Smith Chair of FORBA Academic Review Evening/Day Thursday, 8th November (3.30-8.00pm) and Friday, 9th November 2018 Please be aware that you will be receiving a letter very soon with regards to Academic Review Day. All information on how to book appointments will be explained in the letter. Appointments will be available from 3.30pm on Thursday, 8th November and throughout the morning on Friday, 9th November. Students will only need to attend school for their meeting and will be set independent activities to complete at home on the Friday. Students will be expected to attend in full school uniform. This is an excellent opportunity to meet with your child's tutor, get feedback on progress, and to work together with the school to ensure your child reaches their full potential. Mark Rome Assistant Headteacher 5
**Art/Photography** Open house any lunchtime or after school. Speak to your teacher about how you can get involved. **Library** Open every day at break, lunchtime and afterschool. (See Mrs Harrington for more details). **Football** Every lunchtime on back field (up to October half term) and then on Tennis Courts. 6
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