We wanted to start this newsletter with a shout out to our amazing students, families and staff.
We’ve been delighted with the brilliant standard of behaviour all over school, and how well students have followed and adapted to the changes this term. Whether it’s getting to grips with new ways of learning like online lessons, remembering your face mask every day, or behaving sensibly at lunchtimes, you’ve been doing a fantastic job. It’s not been the easiest of terms, but it’s heartening to see how we all pull together when we need to. #weareryburn
Thank you also to all the families who have had to cope with changes like unexpected bubble closures and social distancing requirements. And to our amazing staff who have been adaptable, supportive and creative in response to so many challenges this term. What a team!
You’ll be aware of the increase in cases nationally and locally, and we have also seen a rise in cases in school since half term. We’d like to emphasise the importance of continuing to strictly follow the guidelines at home and en route to school as well, as it helps to reduce the risk for all of us. Thank you.
Read on for our November news.
Ryburn Sixth open evening
Be the best you! You have a future to think about. Ryburn Sixth Open Evening is going virtual. Going live on the Ryburn Sixth website on 26 November 2020, you’ll be able to find out what Ryburn Sixth has to offer. Here you’ll find nurturing support, excellent teaching and an exciting social scene. With a convenient location and a choice of over 35 course available, you’re bound to find something that fits you.
Rights Respecting School
This summer, we were delighted to achieve our Bronze Award from Unicef’s Rights Respecting Schools. It’s about helping young people and the school community to learn about children’s rights and putting them into practice every day.
Along with our student leadership team, we are now working towards the next stage Silver Award. Look out for news of our journey in the future.
Beat the gridlock
Please can we remind everyone to be extra careful and considerate on their journeys to school, particularly around St Peter's Avenue. It can get very congested making it difficult for residents and dangerous for the many pedestrians and primary school children walking to school.
Please park with consideration, avoiding blocking driveways. If you can, drop your child a little further from school to ease the traffic a bit. If a few people did this, it would make a difference.
Thank you for your consideration.
Online Safety Newsletter
Provided by Knowsley City Learning Centres, this month’s issue of our online safety newsletter features information on Fortnite and its virtual world. This document also provides you with great tips on how to protect your child’s personal information, age ratings and how to help your child to identify cyberbullying and what you can do about it. Please take a look.
Our new Ambassador team
Say hello to our new team of Ambassadors for 2020-21. Last month you got to meet our new team of Head Students. This time it’s the turn of our new Ambassador team. Working alongside our Head Students our ambassadors represent the school and our values. With only 12 spots to fill this year and over 30 applications you can imagine it was no easy job.
After 2 days of back to back interviews, we’re proud to welcome the Year 8 and Year 9 Ambassadors joining our team.
Year 8
Emily Smith
Grace Willis
Jude Wolfenden
Loelle Cartlidge
Lola Durant
Maisie Hibbert
Matilda Brear
Isa Nazam
Oliver Binns
Olivia Massey
Sophia O’Connor
Year 9
Ben Andrews
Connie Horbury
Finton Sharp
Grace Normanton-Aldridge
Hattie Edkins
Jessie Wad-Rathbone
Nancy Higham
Nixie Bradley-Fletcher
Ruby Mills
Yasmin Myton
Year 10
Casper Connell
Edward Turner
George Dillon
Isabel Hardy
Isobel Tooby
Jeannie Higham
Michael Ashworth
Molly Barmby
Rebekah Eastwood
Year 11
Abbie Gilligan (HG)
Alice Moffat
Benjamin Russell
Cavan King
Kiera Burnett
Olive Greenwood (DHG)
Rosie Horbury (HG)
Scarlett O’Connor (DHG)
Sophie Butterfield
Will Solomon (DHB)
Will Turner (HB)
Children in need
Friday 13th brought some joy into school for Children in Need. The theme was ‘Come as Yourself' and forms took part in a quiz and a non-uniform day. Many really got into it, including Mr Lord, our pyjama-clad Ryburn Sixth crew, and some daring Year 7s. Ryburn Sixth also made this brilliant Strictly dance routine. Enjoy!
We raised over £1190 in total, which is fantastic, especially given everything else that’s going on at the moment. Thank you very much to everyone who contributed.
Impact of covid-19 on young people
This pandemic has not only impacted young people’s mental health but also their futures. Recently some of our Year 11 Ambassadors and Year 12 Senior Students were able to take part in virtual focus groups with Councillor Robinson and Councillor Holdsworth from Calderdale.
These were a great opportunity for us all to learn about the impact of Covid-19 on our young people who openly discussed how their plans might have changed for their future in our new virtual world.
Afterwards, Councillor Robinson praised our students by saying:
“The students were incredibly tuned in to social and political issues, and it was a pleasure speaking with them.”
In the ever-changing state that our world is in, we’re glad our students are able to have their voices and opinions heard and we hope that we’re able create an environment where they understand that their dreams matter.
Remembering those who serve
Many members of our Ryburn family are working extra hard to keep our country running. After watching our Remembrance assembly, we learnt about Year 7 student Hope Brennan’s Dad, who is in the Army and has recently started working on a project tackling Covid-19. She then showed us the medals he gave her after his 2nd tour in Afghanistan.
Hope’s Dad is one of so many people in our Ryburn community who work so hard to keep us all safe, from doctors to delivery drivers. We think all of you deserve a medal!
Year 11 work experience
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. In collaboration with Covea Insurance all our Year 11 students were able to take part in Virtual Work Experience.
Working in teams, each group came up with their own charitable event, with the winning group having the prospect to be able to turn this into more than an idea.
They came up with some brilliant ideas, such as a fun run dressed up in animal costumes to raise money for Dogs Trust and tasty delights like a mango festival to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Opportunities like these are a great way for students to develop their creativity as well as public speaking and critical thinking skills. Thanks so much to the team at Covea for leading the sessions.
Board not bored
Maths isn’t just about numbers on a page, as the Maths Department have proved with their latest project. Using the skills that they have been learning about such as long division, BIDMAS (Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction) and how to use a scientific calculator, Year 7s were tasked with creating their own board games.
There were some really great entries of beautifully made and fun board games. Check out the rest of the winners on our Maths Facebook page.
Love the lab
The current restrictions have been particularly tricky for practical subjects, such as Science, where we normally love getting up to all sorts of hair-raising experiments! It’s a big hit with Year 7, who wouldn’t have had chance to experience Science in a lab in their primary schools.
Thanks to the efforts of our Science staff, we’ve been able to arrange for all our Year 7s to have a lab session. Here’s some pictures of 7.10 experimenting with the bunsen burners in Mr Marshall’s lesson. They loved it!
If you’ve not had your session yet, don’t worry it’s on it’s way. Your Science teacher will be able to tell you when. Follow our Science Facebook page to find out how they get on.
Medal behaviour
During our first lockdown and the summer holidays, siblings Zak and Emily Chesters pedalled to the medal. Emily cycled and ran the length of the Grand Canyon and Zak cycled the equivalent of the distance between Lands End and John O’Groats. That’s a total of 1364 miles! Incredible!
Maybe this can inspire us all to do a bit more with our lockdown exercise?
Student council
We’re really excited to have got our Student Councils up and running now and meeting weekly. Each year has its own student team, including reps from every form.
Student Council has two main roles. One is to represent students’ views and work with the school to solve any issues and make the student experience the best it can be. The second is to lead their own campaigns on projects on whatever is important to the year group. Topics such as body image, wellbeing and climate change.
Shout out to the students involved. We can’t wait to see what you achieve this year!
Key Dates
Thu 26 Nov - Ryburn Sixth Virtual Open Evening
Fri 27 Nov - STAFF TRAINING DAY
Mon 21 Dec - Mon 04 Jan - CHRISTMAS BREAK
Tue 05 Jan - STAFF TRAINING DAY
(All events subject to change or cancellation)
If you have any feedback or suggestions for this newsletter, please feel free to email publish@rvhschool.co.uk.
You can also keep an eye on our social media channels for more frequent updates and stories.