The RP Weekly: 1 July 2022
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School - 1 July 2022 edition.
The RP Weekly
1 July 2022
Looking Ahead
with Mrs Lucy Davies and Mr Phil Sutton
Holiday Club:
We are delighted to announce that bookings for the Summer Holiday Club are now open! The Summer Holiday Club will run from 11 July to 26 August (Monday to Friday).
Children who do not attend Rydal Penrhos and are between the ages of 5 and 12 are welcome to sign up for our Holiday Club alongside our current Rydal Penrhos pupils, for whom the Holiday Club is open for Pre-School to Year 8.
The cost is £45 per day and includes all trips, activities, sports and crafts as well as two snacks, a packed lunch and a fresh-cooked meal. A sibling discount of 5 per cent is available. Childcare vouchers are also available to use.
Rydal Penrhos families can book through SchoolsBuddy. For families who do not currently attend Rydal Penrhos, please click the link to book: https://rydalpenrhos.clubsbuddy.net/
For any further enquiries contact holidayclub@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
Events for the upcoming week:
Trips/events for pupils this week:
- Friday 1 to Saturday 2 July – Wimbledon trip for the Year 12 Senior girl games players.
- Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 July – Bronze DofE Assessment for Year 9.
- Monday 4 July – Alton Towers trip for Senior pupils. Pupils need to be in school for 07:00.
- Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 July – Silver DofE practice for Year 10.
- Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 July – Annual Seniors Cricket Festival.
- Monday 4 July – Year 8 trip to Caernarfon Castle and slate museum.
- Monday 4 July – Senior beach Activities Day.
- Tuesday 5 July – STEM Challenge Morning for Years 7 and 8.
- Tuesday 5 July – Beach Activities Morning for Years 9 and 10.
- Tuesday 5 July – Year 12 trip to Surf Snowdonia.
- Wednesday 6 July – all day whole school sponsored walkathon in aid of Blind Veterans UK, covering various distances along the coast before finishing at 15:00 on Colwyn Bay Pier.
- Thursday 7 July – End of Year Service in St John’s Church at 11:00. All pupils from Pre-School Superstars up to Year 13 are invited.
- Thursday 7 July – term finishes at 12:00 noon. Prep parents can pick up from St John’s Church after the service at 11:45, or from the main Prep building at 12:00.
- Friday 8 July – final sailing club sessions of the summer (pupils involved have been informed).
Parent and Pupil events this week:
- Monday 4 July – Pre-School celebration in the Prep Hall from 09:00 to 10:00 (no tickets required).
- Tuesday 5 July – KS1 prize-giving in the Prep Hall from 09:30 to 10:30 (no tickets required).
- Tuesday 5 July – KS2 Speech Day (Years 3 to 6) in the Prep Hall from 11:00 to 12:30 (no tickets required).
- Tuesday 5 July – Years 7 to 10 Speech Day in the Memorial Hall from 14:30 to 15:45 followed by refreshments.
- Thursday 7 July – End of Year Service in St John’s Church at 11:00. Parents are invited to attend.
Holiday Club
Book now for summer adventures!
It promises to be another exciting summer for those attending the Rydal Penrhos Holiday Club, which is open during the school holidays and provides an extensive programme of activities for the children to experience.
This is not only a lot of fun, but it also helps assist them with their emotional, physical, social, intellectual, language and creative development.
Staff have done a wonderful job of devising a comprehensive provision full of adventures and exciting challenges, which includes plenty to enjoy across prominent landmarks across the North Wales region.
There are also a large number of activities for Holiday Club members to participate in within the school grounds, which boosts their overall development and progresses key skills in a relaxed setting under the supervision of staff.
The Rydal Penrhos Holiday Club has something for everyone and this half-term promises to be no exception thanks to the sterling commitment of our dedicated staff team.
The Summer Holiday Club will run from 11 July to 26 August (Monday to Friday).
For those aged 5 to 12, the Holiday Club is open for external children. For current Rydal Penrhos pupils, the Holiday Club is open for Pre-School to Year 8.
The cost is £45 per day and includes all trips, activities, sports and crafts as well as two snacks, a packed lunch and a fresh-cooked meal. Sibling discount of 5 per cent available.
To book now as a current Rydal Penrhos parent please log in to your Schools Buddy App.
To book now as a family who does not attend the school, click here.
For any further enquiries contact holidayclub@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
The Osborn Hall
Months of hard work pay off with phenomenal transformation
After months of hard work, the Grade II listed Osborn Hall, which is the jewel in the crown of the Rydal Penrhos estate, has officially been restored to its former glory. Something that is sure to benefit pupils and the wider community, including our Alumni.
Putting our pupils first remains the absolute priority of the exceptional education provided at Rydal Penrhos. With this in mind, the school’s desire to maintain its standing within the region makes the Osborn Hall a venue fit for every occasion both inside and outside of normal school hours.
With its vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows and parquet flooring, this room is steeped in history and is an outstanding facility in term time for pupil debating, parent dinners and author visits among many other things.
The many different uses for the space are not just confined to school time, however…
When our pupils are away from school and the hall is free to be used for other purposes it becomes a remarkable venue for a wedding or reception. The school’s commercial staff go above and beyond the call of duty during the planning of any events held in school.
The Osborn Hall can hold events for up to 250 guests. We are looking forward to hosting the North Wales Wedding Awards this Autumn, which will be the first event of its kind at Rydal Penrhos since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. The evening will see leading event planners, photographers and other professionals within the industry descend on the school for a ceremony, drinks and dinner.
Rydal Penrhos is more than ready and able to add the glitz and glamour to this event.
The first few weddings are already in place for the Osborn Hall and we are delighted to be able to offer this new venue to couples on Saturdays through the holidays next year. This means we have the perfect combination of available dates, the ability to host ceremonies in the hall or our own church, the most beautiful wedding breakfast and evening reception venue as well as our own lavish catering team, planners and lots of photographic possibilities!
Able to cater to all occasions the Grade II listed hall can also be a venue for corporate events and conferences. It is spacious and welcoming rolled into one, something that will provide a relaxed atmosphere for businesses looking to boost morale or make a notable statement in front of employees. We can also offer accommodation on-site if required.
Rydal Penrhos is proud of its charity work. The school raises thousands of pounds annually through various events and the Donald Hughes Trust enables us to offer free day places to disadvantaged children that would not get the opportunity otherwise.
The Osborn Hall will only add to this and is a great venue for charity balls and dinners. It truly is a majestic setting and one that we are incredibly fortunate to have here at Rydal Penrhos.
So whatever the event, occasion, or business function, the Osborn Hall has something for everyone and our staff will endeavour to ensure that your time at the school will live long in the memory.
The great Thomas Osborn – one of Rydal Penrhos’ founding fathers – will always be held in great affection by all associated with the school and it is amazing to see the building he constructed alongside family members looking so magnificent.
Anyone wishing to enquire more information about the Osborn Hall and what it can potentially offer should email events@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
Alternatively, send in a booking request online here.
Ballet Show
Prep pupils thrive on stage
One of the best things about a Rydal Penrhos education is what transpires beyond the classroom.
The school makes the most out of its stunning location on the North Wales coast to enhance learning for all pupils which is proven to develop key skills, confidence, communication and working as vital members of the team.
The teaching staff at Rydal Penrhos are proud of the school’s academic ethos which forms a core component behind the outstanding provision provided. This is enhanced considerably by the extra-curricular activities, which provide pupils with the chance to delve deeper into their fields of interest once lessons come to a conclusion.
A popular activity that continues to grow at Rydal Penrhos Prep is Ballet, which is run by Pre-School department manager Letitia Spencer. This is available as an after-school club for Pre-School to Year 3 pupils. Ms Spencer also teaches street dance, which is devised for those in Years 3-6.
This takes pupils through the initial basics of ballet, giving them confidence, poise and an improved ability to understand instructions in a safe, happy environment.
Prep pupils got the chance to showcase their development at a specially-arranged Ballet Show on Monday 20 June, which was well attended by family members and involved a series of performances from the talented young performers.
Every pupil contributed significantly to the overall success of the show, with staff guiding them every step of the way in superb fashion throughout the latest in a series of exciting performances, productions and activities during the Trinity Term.
We would like to thank everyone who came along to support the Prep Ballet Show and offer a huge congratulations to our wonderful pupils on an amazing effort.
Triathlon
Prep pupils participate in first-ever competition
Enhancing development through physical exercise is something that forms a key component of the education provided at Rydal Penrhos.
Pupils are encouraged to participate in activities such as sports and outdoor education from an early age, which bolsters key skills that can transition into a classroom environment in some instances.
We are always looking for new and exciting ways for pupils across all areas of school life.
They are also given the opportunity to compete in fixtures and other competitions across the region over the academic year, which is another outstanding method of improving and learning how to remain composed in a pressurised setting.
Another exciting element to this came from Prep pupils recently, who got the chance to compete in their first-ever Triathlon competition.
This was organised by the Brownlee Foundation and greeted by tremendous weather to mark the occasion.
The Brownlee Foundation, set up by triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee after their successes at the 2012 Olympics, was founded to inspire children from all backgrounds to enjoy sport, encourage them to lead active lifestyles and benefit from the opportunities sport provides.
This caught the imagination of our pupils despite the testing nature of triathlons. Despite their lack of experience within this discipline, each competitor gave maximum effort during the event to emerge from their respective debuts with an enormous sense of pride.
The effort, commitment and drive demonstrated by each pupil were nothing short of outstanding. They also encouraged each other through some testing stages of the triathlon to reach their goals.
Rydal Penrhos is planning to enter more triathlon events next year after this success and we would like to congratulate every pupil involved on an exceptional effort.
Art Exhibition 2022
Exceptional GCSE and A Level work showcased
Rydal Penrhos was thrilled to welcome pupils, parents, family members and the school’s Governing Body for its annual Art Exhibition, which was the first time it had been held in person since 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
This featured some outstanding work created within the department throughout the academic year during what proved to be a very relaxed and sociable evening to celebrate the dedication and commitment of our wonderful pupils.
The classroom studios had been transformed once again into a gallery with the GCSE work downstairs and the A Level Art, Photography and Textiles taking up the entire upstairs studio.
The GCSE included and an installation piece, Batik and a lino printed mobile. Together with some excellent paintings and themes as diverse as the landscape, the environment, food and song titles to further highlight the varied and individual show.
Mr Mark Sherrington, who is Head of Art at Rydal Penrhos, said “It has been a joy to teach this group over the last few years.
“I have nothing but praise for the way they continued during the online/lockdown period and some of the work really demonstrates their ability to work independently and to a very high standard.”
The A Level work proved that painting is alive and well at Rydal Penrhos with some outstanding and sensitive creations by Isabella and Pheobe and some powerful mixed media pieces by Erin.
The photographers have used different locations during the online period and this resulted in some strong landscape and architectural work by Hannah and Emily. Other photographers within the group used the studio and other areas of the school to produce colourful and atmospheric portraits.
The overall appearance was an exhibition that clearly showed a willingness to push boundaries, raise standards and the importance of self-expression in education in what has been a challenging time.
Mr Sherrington, added: “It has been evident that when things were particularly challenging the pupils have found real comfort and meaning in what they have been doing.
“In some cases, the extra time spent out of the classroom has enabled some pupils to spend longer on work and perhaps think more deeply and be more critical of what they have been producing.
“The results seem more polished in some cases and the workbooks more thorough. This will no doubt help with their final grades but have perhaps more importantly taught them the value of spending longer on work and the pay off for engaging completely in a subject for when they reach university.”
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate the staff and pupils for another outstanding exhibition. We are already looking forward to next year!
Fayeth Jones
Pupil delivers Assembly on Right to Food
Fayeth Jones, who is a Year 11 pupil at Rydal Penrhos, was chosen as one of two Welsh ambassadors for the Right to Food Federation last summer. A role she has excelled in over recent months to invoke real change.
Part of her duty is to advocate for the rights of young people and children across the country to have access to affordable healthy food. This has become a more concerning aspect of life over the last two years, which is further reflected in the growing use of food banks and the cost of living crisis.
The school’s staff provided Fayeth will a platform to speak about her work and the ever-increasing crisis during a recent Senior School Assembly, which was passionate and informative in equal measure.
Fayeth was recently part of a movement that resulted in the Welsh Government rolling out free school meals to children at an important time. This represents a significant achievement and one that’s motivating the GCSE pupil to do more in the coming months.
She said: “I would encourage more young people to get involved with campaigns such as ours. Being involved as an ambassador meant that we’ve been able to have such a huge impact. To begin with, I never thought we could achieve that impact because we’re just young people.
“I didn’t think Government would want to listen to what we have to say. But we’ve done so much. I would love to get more young people involved; so that all young people – no matter how much money their parents earn and no matter where they live – can have decent food in school and not be disadvantaged; they can do well in their exams.
“That could have a huge impact on their future.”
Fayeth has received prestigious acknowledgement for her awareness efforts with the Guild of Food Writers distinction, which was down to her investigative food work that is produced as part of her ongoing podcasts.
She managed to beat out big guns such as The Guardian to the award, which is a testament to Fayeth’s tireless commitment to a field she is extremely passionate about.
Alumni
Elysia's painting featured in New York
Elysia Gilman, a talented young artist and former Rydal Penrhos pupil making a name for herself across the globe, recently received a prestigious honour with her work on full display in Times Square, New York City.
The digital exhibition where Elysia’s painting was featured took place on a massive screen covering 1,674 square feet overlooking the bright lights of Bradway Plaza on Thursday 23 June. Another significant honour for Elysia on her flourishing career path.
The exhibition has been curated by Artist Talk Magazine, a publication written by artists.
Elysia, who left Rydal Penrhos in 2018 after some outstanding A Level results, earned her place at the University of Loughborough to study Art after developing her skills considerably under the guidance and support of teaching staff members Mark Sherrington and Suzy Morris during her time at the school.
After completing the foundation phase of the degree course with flying colours, Elysia took the bold step of going it alone after the coronavirus threatened to disrupt the rest of her degree, starting up her own business during a time of unprecedented change.
Speaking to the Rhyl Journal, Elysia said: “I have always had a passion for painting, and after studying art through high school, the natural progression was for me to continue to study Fine Art at university in the UK.
“I studied there for two years, but then decided it was not for me. I worked hard to set up my own website and online shop, as well as continue to sell my oil paintings and take commissions.
“Almost two years later I am still continuing to do what I love.”
Elysia is also using the power of social media to her advantage, gaining more than 90,000 TikTok followers and a substantial presence on Instagram.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos is enormously proud of Elysia’s ongoing accomplishments in her chosen field. We look forward to hearing about what comes next!
Anyone wishing to view Elysia’s work can do so on the following platforms:
Sailing
Success for Fflur at major event
Sailing has been at the heart of Rydal Penrhos life for more than 60 years. It allows our pupils to build confidence on the water and gain new skills as part of the school’s specialist centre, which is officially accredited by the Royal Yachting Association.
The school’s stunning location, proximity to the seafront and the opportunity to partake in water sports across the Colwyn Bay coastline offers a significant benefit to the delivery of an outstanding Outdoor Education programme.
This is something that remains hugely popular, with many pupils competing at events across the country and earning selections to national and Team GB level squads as a result of their exceptional efforts.
Fflur Pierce is one of Rydal Penrhos’ rising stars in the sport. The pupil began her sailing journey as a Prep pupil and has flourished in the face of some stern competition to further enhance her status.
One notable recent triumph from the pupil came at the prestigious Eric Twiname Junior Championships, which took place at Rutland Sailing Club and featured some of the brightest young sailors from across the nation.
Fflur competed in the Feva category and produced a series of outstanding displays throughout the weekend to quickly rise up the standings en route to a well-deserved and impressive second-place finish overall.
This represents another significant accomplishment from Fflur, who is set for a busy summer of action on the water in pursuit of additional accolades.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Fflur on her recent success and wish her the very best of luck in the coming weeks.
Prep School
Inter-House Competition winners announced
The importance of belonging to a house and the bond this creates is something that is prevalent across all areas of Rydal Penrhos. It’s also something that our pupils take a great deal of pride in over the course of their time at the school.
The memories made by our pupils, the fact it enables them to make friends across year groups rather than just within them is an important part of their social and overall development.
Prep pupils have been busy during the Trinity Term, participating in a number of inter-house tournaments in pursuit of the overall prize to be announced in the coming days.
It proved to be an exciting series of events centring on Cricket, Rounders and Skiing. Each competition was played in the right spirit with pupils performing well under pressure and also motivating each other superbly along the way.
Once the final points were tallied, Snowdon House emerged victoriously in the Cricket and Skiing categories, with Pembroke House triumphing in the Rounders tournament following an outstanding display of teamwork.
A huge congratulations to the winning houses and to every Rydal Penrhos Prep pupil for giving their all during a very busy period.
Stars of the Week
Congratulations!
Stars of the Week
Artist of the Week
Gallery
Leavers' Dinner 2022
Gallery
Art Exhibition 2022
