The RP Weekly: 10 June 2022
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School - 10 June 2022 edition.
The RP Weekly
10 June 2022
Looking Ahead
with Mrs Lucy Davies and Mr Phil Sutton
Events for the upcoming week
- Fixtures this week:
- Saturday 11 June – the first round of inter-house cricket for Years 9 and 10 from 09:00 to 11:00.
- Friday 17 June – U9 and U11 kwik cricket and rounders vs Myddelton at home (New Field, Walshaw Avenue) from 12:30 to 14:30.
- Friday 17 June – U11 vs U12 cricket from 15:30 to 17:30 at Blackburn’s Piece.
- Saturday 18 June – U14, U15 (4 Pairs) tennis vs The Kings School, Chester (away) from 08:30 to 13:00
- Saturday 18 June – inter-house cricket finals for Years 9 and 10 from 09:00 to 11:00.
- Trips/events for pupils this week:
- Saturday 11 June and Sunday 12 June – CCF Camp.
- Thursday 16 June – form photographs in the Prep.
- Friday 17 June – overnight forest camp for Year 6 in the Prep Forest.
Parents’ events this week:
- Tuesday 14 June – parents' dinner for parents of Year 5, 6, 7 and 8 pupils in the Osborn Hall. The evening will start at 19:00 and conclude at 22:00.
- Thursday 16 June – parent/pupil nature trail in the Pre-School from 08:00 to 09:30.
- Friday 17 June – Prep Celebration Assembly. Parents are invited to the library between 08:00 and 08:30 for refreshments and will then be able to attend assembly in the Prep Hall, which finishes at 09:00. There is no need to book.
Parents’ events further ahead:
- Monday 20 June – Prep ballet club show from 16:00 to 16:30. There is no need to book.
- Wednesday 22 June – cricket fixture at New Field, with matches starting from around 11:00. Refreshments will unfortunately not be available, but you are welcome to bring a picnic or packed lunch to watch.
- Thursday 23 June – trip to St Helens for St Helens vs Leeds Rhinos, available to pupils in Years 9 and 10. The trip departs at 16:30 and pupils should be back by 23:30.
- Friday 24 June – Prep Celebration Assembly. Parents are invited from drop-off until 09:00.
- Friday 24 June – Year 13 Leavers Dinner in the Osborn Hall.
- Monday 27 June – Years 7 to 10 Rydal Penrhos Extra Curricular Awards ceremony at 15:00 in the Memorial Hall, followed by refreshments in the Osborn Hall. Please use the Eventbrite link in the parents’ email to book.
- Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 June – musical play ‘Paws and Claws’ at 18:30 for Years 3 to 6 in the Prep Hall. Please find the booking link in the parent email.
- Tuesday 28 June – Year 11 Bridging Day; moving into Sixth Form, followed in the evening by a ‘Careers Pathways’ event for parents and pupils.
- Thursday 30 June – LAMDA Celebration Drama Evening at 19:00 in the Memorial Hall. Please book using the link in the parent email. This is an event for Year 7 upwards.
- 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 14:00 to 15:00. Please use the Eventbrite link in the parents’ email to book.
Pupil events further ahead this term:
- Monday 20 June – Prep ballet club show from 16:00 to 16:30. There is no need to book.
- Tuesday 21 June – Billy Baxter from Blind Veterans UK is visiting school.
- Wednesday 22 June – Year 13 are to return their books and iPads to the Ferguson Centre.
- Thursday 23 June – Year 12 Higher Education Day. This will include talks with employers regarding apprenticeship options and a guide on how to complete a UCAS application.
- Thursday 23 June – HPV catch up clinic.
- Friday 24 to Monday 27 June – Gold DofE assessment for Year 12.
- Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 June – LAMDA exams will be taking place.
- Tuesday 28 June – Year 11 Bridging Day; moving into Sixth Form, followed in the evening by a ‘Careers Pathways’ event for parents and pupils.
- Tuesday 28 June – Year 12 UCAS convention in Liverpool.
- Thursday 30 June – Year 12 and 13 geography field trip to Liverpool. Mrs Coates will inform pupils of the details.
- Friday 1 July – moving up day in the Prep and Year 7 taster day.
- Friday 1 July to Saturday 2 July – Wimbledon trip for the Year 12 Senior girl games players.
- Saturday 2 July to Sunday 3 July – Bronze DofE Assessment for Year 9.
- Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 July – Senior Activity Days. More details will be shared soon.
- Monday 4 July – Alton Towers Trip. As part of activity week we will be taking a group of Senior pupils to Alton Tower. Tickets are £30 and bookable on SchoolsBuddy.
- Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 July – Silver DofE practice for Year 10.
- Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 July – Annual Cricket Festival. Mr Kitchen and Mr Rippon will accompany pupils to Bolton for the Annual Cricket Festival. The pupils who will be involved have been informed.
- Monday 4 July – Year 8 trip to Caernarfon Castle and slate museum.
- 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.
Looking further ahead:
- Friday 23 September – one of the UK’s most celebrated choral groups ‘The Sixteen’ will be presenting a powerful concert programme of English choral music during 2022. We are organising a trip to their closest performance which will take place at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on Friday 23 September from 19:30 to 21:30. We believe that this will be a unique opportunity to hear one of the world’s most famous choirs, conducted by the equally famous Harry Christopher. If you or your child would like to book, more details are available in the parent email.
Open Day 2022
October date confirmed
October 2022 Open Day
There has never been a better time to join the Rydal Penrhos community. The school has gone from strength to strength over the last year, which is reflected in outstanding examination results, high value-added scores and many other incredible achievements from Pre-School to Sixth Form as normal service resumed following COVID-19 restrictions.
The school’s strong academic ethos coupled with a diverse extra-curricular provision is integrated with a pupil-centred approach that has seen numbers across all year groups surge in recent months.
Rydal Penrhos’ teaching staff left no stone unturned with a comprehensive online provision during the second educational lockdown at the start of the year, enabling pupils young and old to meet their targets and achieve notable goals in ever-changing circumstances.
Looking ahead, Rydal Penrhos is pleased to announce details of a special Open Day, which will take place on Saturday 8 October and gives prospective pupils and their families a first-hand opportunity to see for themselves what goes on during a typical day at the school.
Those in attendance will get individual tours from the school and speak with teaching and admissions staff to get a broader perspective of the day-to-day life of a pupil, the diverse curriculum and exceptional pastoral care.
There will be a host of things to enjoy throughout the showcase, which will feature core academic departments such as English, Mathematics, Art, Drama, Music and Science.
The school’s thriving extra-curricular provision will also be providing demonstrations throughout the Open Day event.
Full timings will be released in the near future and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to our wonderful school.
To book, contact admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155
Holiday Club
Booking open for Summer Holidays
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.
Sports Day 2022
Incredible occasion on New Field
One of the most enjoyable occasions on the Rydal Penrhos calendar signalled the end of the half-term break as pupils from Pre-School to Sixth Form descended on the school’s exceptional New Field for Sports Day 2022.
The event was greeted by glorious sunshine and a huge number of family members also took time out of their busy schedules to lend support to the festivities.
This involved meticulous planning from staff in the lead-up to the event, with pupils also demonstrating the house spirit that makes Rydal Penrhos such a close-knit community and an amazing place to learn.
Pre-School, Pre-Prep and Prep pupils were first to compete in various competitions. These ranged from the more traditional races such as sprints and long-distance to special challenges such as the sack and egg and spoon races.
After a hugely competitive morning of action, Brecon House emerged as the overall winners, with Snowdon House and Pembroke House also contributing significantly during a thoroughly entertaining Sports Day for those in Pre-School to Year 6.
It was then the turn of Senior pupils to strut their stuff on New Field, which brought some truly exceptional individual performances and a deserved house triumph for Osborn.
Jonathan Osbourne enhanced his growing reputation with victory in the 100 metres for Morgan House after crossing the line in 11.17 seconds, with Charlotte Payne of Wesley House coming away with the girls’ 100m championship in 14.08 seasons.
The Rydal Penrhos Mile is always one of the most anticipated events of Sports Day and this year proved to be no different. Gabriel Speakman turned in a fabulous performance for Wesley House to secure the Overall and Boys’ Mile title with a time of six minutes, two seconds, following in the footsteps of brother Zach who also won this race in previous years.
Lily Copeland proved that age is no barrier, with the Year 8 pupil blazing a trail across the course to win the Girls’ Mile category in an impressive time of six minutes, 19 seconds.
It proved to be a Sports Day littered with accomplishments for Lily, who also scooped the 800 metres, the discus, and produced a sensational relay effort to come away with a well-deserved Junior Girls’ Championship as a result of her outstanding commitment throughout.
The Junior Boys’ title went to Freddie MacLaverty, who won the 800 metres and 200-metre events to secure the accolade in fine fashion.
Gabriel was one of the standout performers on the day. In addition to his Rydal Penrhos Mile success, he was also the fastest Year 10 pupil in the 100 metres and won the 200m and 800m events en route to a convincing Senior Boys’ championship.
In the Senior Girls’ category, Isabella Peevor came away in the top spot thanks in no small part to her victories in the discus and javelin.
Following the Sports Day, pupils, staff and parents came together for a special Jubilee Picnic before heading off on their well-deserved half-term break.
Community
Exciting venture launched with Wildings Vegan Kitchen
Rydal Penrhos is proud of its strong involvement within the community. The school has been at the heart of the region since 1885 and another exciting venture later this summer is one not to miss.
The school is proud to begin an exciting enterprise with Catherine Humphrys, the founder of Wildings Vegan Kitchen, who is launching a “Pop Up” lunch event at the Rydal Penrhos Pavilion on Walshaw Avenue on Sunday 3 July. This is situated at the stunning New Field site, which plays host to school sporting fixtures, major school and community events.
Catherine has been creating tasty and creative plant-based food for more than 30 years after becoming vegetarian in 1982 and has proudly been vegan since 2016. She takes her culinary inspiration from cuisines around the world, always focusing on vibrant, fresh and colourful ingredients.
Catherine, said: “Vegan food has become so much more mainstream in the past few years so the challenge is on to keep offering more exciting food options. I absolutely love surprising people with new creations and inspiring them to try new things.”
Based in Colwyn Bay, Catherine has been running supper clubs and pop-up dining evenings for the past three years so she’s really excited to launch this first lunch event at the Rydal Penrhos.
Anyone wishing to book their place at the Pop-Up Lunch can do so by visiting the Wildings Vegan Kitchen Facebook page @NorthWalesVegan.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Pupils accumulate hundreds of volunteering hours
Rydal Penrhos has been a Directly Licensed Centre for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme for some time now and offers all three levels of the prestigious distinction. This is something many pupils take advantage of during their time at the school and the initiative is proven to enhance their overall development considerably.
It certainly is a real adventure from beginning to end, helping young people to develop their independence and leadership qualities. Staff at the school, led by Dr Jim Lewis, are extremely dedicated to helping the personal development of our pupils as part of what is now widely recognised as the world’s leading youth achievement award.
Among the many areas where pupils challenge themselves is through volunteering. This forms a key component from Bronze all the way to Gold, which results in a trip to a royal venue to collect the honour alongside other successful candidates from across the country.
This gives pupils a sense of belonging within the community and satisfaction in knowing they have done their part in a multitude of different areas and projects throughout the region.
The DofE recently tallied up the volunteering hours accumulated by Rydal Penrhos pupils from April 2021 to March 2022. And the results were nothing short of extraordinary.
Candidates from the school dedicated 910 hours to volunteering during this time frame, which comes with a social value of £4,204 according to the statistics presented.
A DofE representative sent a message of congratulations to the school, which said: “This is an incredible achievement and we hope you’re as proud of your participants as we are.”
This magnificent accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible pupils. Something that is prevalent every day across all areas at Rydal Penrhos.
We would like to congratulate every DofE candidate on their remarkable efforts to date and to our outstanding staff team for guiding them every step of the way.
Music
Prep and Community choirs lend support to nationwide song drive
Rydal Penrhos is proud of its Methodist roots and has strong connections to leading organisations and groups across the country. This forms a core part of the school’s ethos to this day and continues to inspire pupils on to great things.
As a school founded by Christian men and women in the Methodist tradition, it has always been important to say that our search for truth and our acquisition of knowledge goes on in the context of our faith. This is reflected in the Rydal Penrhos motto ‘Veritas, Scientia Fides‘.
These are the values that Rydal Penrhos and the Methodist Church have always treasured. And the school was recently given an opportunity to make a contribution to a nationwide song drive which was the brainchild of the National Methodist Choir of Great Britain.
This saw the Prep School Choir and the Rydal Penrhos Community Choir participate in a mass performance of Praise my Soul, The King of Heaven featuring more than 1,750 performers including other schools, churches, choirs, Girls’ Brigades and individuals.
Pupils, staff and those involved with the Community Choir worked exceptionally hard to polish their performance of the song during the rehearsal stage. A version was then sent to the NMCGB, who added it to a specially produced video that is available online to view.
The result is not only a beautiful piece of music but a powerful display of unity and togetherness. As stated on their website: “NMCGB is a living demonstration that the Methodist Church wasn’t just born in song, but is living and thriving in song now, too.”
A huge well done to the Rydal Penrhos pupils, staff, and community who contributed to such a fantastic initiative. We think it’s absolutely incredible and a real showcase of talent and spirit.
Jubilee Picnic
Celebration held to mark special occasion
There was an enormous sense of excitement in the air shortly before the half-term break as Rydal Penrhos came together for a special event to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign as Monarch.
After some meticulous planning from the school’s exceptional staff team, pupils and family members were treated to a lavish spread courtesy of catering providers Holroyd Howe during the Jubilee Picnic, which was held after the annual Sports Day festivities on New Field.
The event was greeted by amazing weather and there was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the occasion, which sent the school community off on their well-deserved break in good spirits after working tremendously hard over the first Trinity half-term.
Prep pupils lent their support to the picnic by creating their own artwork and bunting. This was done during art lessons with Mrs Suzy Morris and added an extra bit of colour and patriotism to the occasion.
The Queen has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, becoming a much loved and respected figure across the globe.
Her extraordinary reign has seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits. Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, she has been an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social change.
The Queen sees public and voluntary service as one of the most important elements of her work. She has links – as Royal Patron or President – with over 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations. These vary from well-established international charities to smaller bodies working in a specialist area or on a local basis only.
Rugby
Former pupils scoop RGC end of season awards
Rydal Penrhos has a proud history of producing exceptional rugby players that go on to have productive careers in the domestic game and across the country.
From the days of Bleddyn Williams to some modern-day professionals looking to make a similar impact, the school has been a hotbed for nurturing young talent and helping them on the right path academically and within a sporting environment.
Many former pupils are currently plying their trade at nearby RGC 1404, who enjoyed a memorable rise up the Welsh pyramid system to become leading players in the Principality Premiership. Something that has increased the profile of rugby in the region and attracted thousands of spectators to Parc Eirias to see the Gogs in action.
Two such individuals were among the top performers for RGC during their recently concluded 2021/22 campaign and were rewarded for their efforts with well-deserved awards in recognition of their exceptional commitment to the cause.
Dan Owen, who earned Wales U18 international honours during his time at Rydal Penrhos before moving on to Aberystwyth University following outstanding A Level results, was a model of consistency throughout the season and this did not go unnoticed by his teammates, who named him Players’ Player of the Year as a result.
There was further cause for celebration in the form of Dion Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic players in the top flight and another superb season saw him come away with a notable double from the ceremony.
The versatile back managed to secure the Try of the Year distinction and was also crowned Supporters’ Player of the Year after helping the Gogs’ achieve a top-five finish in the face of some stern competition.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Dan and Dion on their awards. We looking forward to watching their careers progress next season and beyond.
Sixth Form
Year 12 boost leadership and teamwork skills
Rydal Penrhos strives to make our Sixth Form a successful bridge between school and university study. This comes from a balanced curriculum and exceptional preparation for the next step under the guidance of teaching and support staff, who leave no stone unturned in pursuit of helping pupils reach and often exceed their goals.
Therefore, supported by subject teachers, tutors, and the head of Key Stage 5, Sixth Formers will be able to explore their chosen academic subjects as well as immerse themselves in our extra-curricular programmes. Something that can assist with university applications and provide the necessary building blocks for a thriving life beyond Rydal Penrhos.
The school understands that pupils are older and more independent during their final two years with us – but there are still people on hand to guide and help as they navigate their way through classes, exams and what lies ahead in later life.
Leadership is another area that Rydal Penrhos looks to promote in the Sixth Form community. They become prominent role models for younger pupils and in some cases, assume positions in the Senior Prefect Team as outstanding ambassadors for the school.
Another fine example of developing leadership came recently when Year 12 took part in a leadership and teamwork afternoon taught by the Squire Stage Combat school.
This is a group that organises training and instruction in stage combat skills by putting people through a variety of exciting and challenging lessons used in the film industry.
Squire Combat has developed a full range of workshops designed and delivered by stunt professionals offering taster sessions in traditional stage combat both armed and unarmed.
The workshop for Year 12 included stunt skills and live fight performances taking the pupils out of their comfort zones and getting them to work in small groups exploring differing skills. Most importantly, it was a great way to have some fun after the busy mock examination period.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to thank Squire Combat for visiting us for a worthwhile afternoon that gave Year 12 pupils a tremendous boost.
Stars of the Week
Congratulations!
Stars of the Week
- Reception – Dylan
- Year 1 – Henry
- Year 2 – Amelia and Eleanor
- Year 3 – Jacob MP
- Year 4 – Hannah
- Year 5 – Buddy
- Year 6 - Oscar
Performers of the Week
- Paige, trombone
- Ollie, piano
- Margot, piano
Artist of the Week
- Albert – Year 1 – for his fabulous cactus painting
Portraits of the Queen
- Competition winners from Years 1-6 received their certificates in Celebration Assembly this morning.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS THIS WEEK!
Gallery
Year 8 School Trees inspired by David Hockney
