The RP Weekly: 30 September 2022
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School - 30 September 2022 edition.
The RP Weekly
30 September 2022
Holiday Club
Booking open for half-term adventures
October half-term Holiday Club
The October Half-Term Holiday Club will run from October 24 to November 4 (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.
To book now as a current parent please log in to your Schools Buddy App.
To book now as a family who does not attend Rydal Penrhos click here.
Childcare vouchers are also available to use.
For any further enquiries contact holidayclub@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
Video
Open Day invite from Elodie & Tristan
Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition)
Tickets are now on sale!
Rydal Penrhos' gifted performing artists have wowed audiences over the years with plays and musicals.
These productions are always one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the calendar, with the likes of To Kill a Mockingbird and Annie the Musical becoming can’t-miss spectacles enjoyed by hundreds of people over multiple nights.
Our upcoming Year 10-13 showcase will be the amateur production of “Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition)“, which is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatres Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Rehearsals are progressing at a rapid rate throughout breaks and lunch as well as during after school alongside the academic development of the pupils involved. There will also be a special vocal masterclass from gifted performer Mr Ben Richards next week, who is a former Rydal Penrhos teacher.
This collective production will also see 12 pupils taking responsibility for creative elements of the Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition) under the supervision of staff led by Miss Fiona Earle.
It promises to be a few weeks ahead for the cast ahead of their performances, which take place on Sunday 16 October, Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 in the Memorial Hall.
Sunday's performance will begin at 7.30pm, with Monday and Tuesday's set for a 7pm start.
This promises to be one not to miss, with around 70 pupils in Years 10-13 participating as cast members or assisting behind the scenes with lighting, sound and costumes.
Tickets are priced at £5 per person. Rydal Penrhos pupils and staff can attend the production free of charge.
Pupils in Year 9 and above can attend and refreshments will be available.
Anyone wishing to purchase their tickets can do so at the following links:
Parents
Pupils and Staff
Open Day Focus
Pre-Prep (Reception-Year 2)
Learning how to learn is a skill we teach from the outset and the Pre-Prep department could not reflect this thinking more closely in all that it does around academic and extra-curricular learning.
In Pre-Prep, children aged 4-7 are taught in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. This comes after receiving the right foundations for an important transition within the Pre-School department.
It is a wonderful age group where effective learning is about opening minds and encouraging the sharing of ideas, which in itself develops communication skills and the ability to work as a team.
The Pre-Prep department is about exciting, stimulating fun and opportunities coupled with sound basic learning in the crucial reading, writing and maths areas.
Our outstanding teaching staff take great care to balance informality and structure with creativity and sensitivity. We cover all bases ensuring the basic skills are there to enable our pupils to go on to develop and achieve to the best of their ability.
We keep our class sizes small to ensure every child is nurtured and supported and no child slips through the net. A pupil-centred approach that caters to the individual and allows them to develop in a safe, happy environment where they can thrive.
Young children love to explore, investigate and question and the dedicated and enthusiastic staff who look after this department give this curiosity and imagination full reign.
Rydal Penrhos Pre-Prep offers a captivating and colourful education with a complete approach from the very beginning.
While our youngest pupils learn to read, write and work with numbers, there is also plenty of time for singing and dancing, making music, sport, painting and building, listening to stories, playing and exploring the outside world.
Prep School
Unapologetically ambitious on behalf of each pupil
The beginning of a child’s journey throughout education at Rydal Penrhos is an exciting one. Everything is new, curiosity is enhanced to levels they haven’t experienced before and key skills are being developed that will stand them in good stead throughout the remainder of their school life.
The main objective of a Prep/Primary education is to make children think analytically, achieve high standards, to face challenges posed by technology and the advancement of citizenship and basic values.
It provides an opportunity for children to make friends and develop communication skills. The future of a child is shaped by the early stages of their development and it can positively boost self-confidence and offer the skills they need to achieve success in their lives.
Children who do not receive basic education throughout their early years, including counting, alphabet, colours and shapes are going to fall behind other children who possess this basic knowledge.
Our teaching staff and senior leaders at Rydal Penrhos are unapologetically ambitious on behalf of each pupil from Pre-School right up until they depart in Year 13. We treat our learners as unique individuals and aim to support their development into well-rounded members of the school community who are fully equipped with the resourcefulness to embrace whatever lies ahead.
This allows our pupils to thrive in a safe, happy and nurturing environment, providing them with the tools needed to flourish long after they leave school in the rapidly changing global marketplace.
The school accomplishes this with a diverse curriculum, comprehensive support and assessment from start to finish as well as an enriching extra-curricular provision that caters to almost every interest.
All this starts from a very early age. At Rydal Penrhos’ incredible Prep, a curriculum has been devised to capture the fun, inquisitiveness and creativity that the school firmly believes should lie at the very core of teaching and learning.
Developing academic skills from Years 3 to 6 is a crucial stage of a child’s development, Rydal Penrhos offers a broad and rich learning experience that is delivered through a dynamic, thematic curriculum.
English, Science and Maths form the foundation of our learning experience, with specialist teaching in areas such as Art and Design, Music, Drama and Computing also implemented to further boost every pupil’s overall development.
Combining the very best primary practice with an extremely varied extra-curricular provision ensures that every pupil is challenged and develops the skills necessary for learning. This also helps them get ready for the next stage of the educational journey with us at the senior school.
This method of igniting imaginations while simultaneously equipping them with essential skills they need for education and later life is at the core of Rydal Penrhos’ rich and proud ethos that continues to stand the test of time.
Golf
Another sensational season for Charley!
It’s been another golfing season to remember for Rydal Penrhos pupil Charley Simpson. The Sixth Former has been incredibly busy at various competitions across the country, turning in a series of outstanding performances to further enhance his status as one of Wales’ brightest young players.
Charley took his place at the Men’s Welsh Amateur Championship at Pennard Golf Club on the Gower Peninsular. Despite competing against individuals with far more experience, the Wales U18 international finished a creditable 13th in the stroke play event with a 5-under-par score and 17th overall following the matchplay section.
This was swiftly followed by a long trek to Downfield Golf Club in Dundee to represent Wales at the R&A Boys and Girls Home Internationals.
Charley was placed into all six possible matches, winning four and scoring four points for his country en route to a third place finish, which represented a significant achievement against some stiff competition from around the British Isles and Ireland.
Scotland was once again the setting for another challenge after Charley qualified for the British Boys Amateur Championships, which is one of the most prestigious U18 competitions in the world.
He was lucky enough to play two qualifying rounds at Monifieth and Panmure golf clubs against a field of the best U18 players from around the globe. Another huge milestone for Charley that will stand the pupil in tremendous stead moving forward.
There was further cause for celebration a little closer to home later in the campaign. Charley turned in a performance of the highest quality to come away with the North Wales Counties U21 Championship – The Keegan Bowl – which took place at Maesdu Golf Club in Llandudno.
It’s a hotly contested trophy between the best golfers from across North Wales and this year proved to be no different before Charley triumphed. His notable victory also counted towards the overall county team win for Caernarfonshire in the Four Counties Scratch event.
Charley will be looking to impress college golf coaches from the United States to earn a scholarship next year upon concluding his A Level studies.
In readiness for this transition, Charley signed a deal with Pro Dream USA, which helps young golfers from across the world connect with the best universities in the United States, supporting them throughout the strenuous process to fulfil academic and sporting potential.
Sixth Form
Peer Mentor Team announced for 2022/23 academic year
The Peer Mentoring Programme at Rydal Penrhos helps pupils to learn how to support each other by offering a listening ear. Volunteers attend an eight-week training course in which they learn basic counselling and mentoring skills, which prepares them for almost every eventuality during a busy few months across all departments.
All Year 7 and 8 pupils are assigned a peer mentor who will help them to settle in, make progress and achieve their full potential within school life. Mentors are supported by a trained mentoring teacher, Mrs Richardson, and there are regular meetings throughout the year.
After hopefuls went through an assessment process to judge their suitability for the role, a 21-strong group consisting of Sixth Formers were chosen by staff members following a highly successful trial period.
There is a large contingent of Year 13 pupils within the Peer Mentor team, with Charlotte Hourihane, Emily Thomas, Sophie Madden, Emma Hackman, Luisa Berto, Elsi Pyves, Erin Bullick, Moli Birkinshaw, Jacob Cousins, James Copeland, Niall Richardson, Saul Sugarman, Noah Langford, Adam McGuigan and Ethan Bytheway all looking to put their experience at Rydal Penrhos to good use by inspiring younger members of the school community.
Eve Durrans, Eloise Chapman, Fayeth Jones, Ruby Merrick and Lily Davies are the Year 12 pupils selected to become Peer Mentors and will also be a tremendous asset in their respective roles.
The team will be on hand to lend support and also contribute to a large number of specially organised to improve confidence, group cohesion and team spirit within the group. These were sorely missed during a difficult recent period thanks to COVID-19 restrictions.
We would like to congratulate our new Rydal Penrhos Peer Mentors on their appointments and wish them the very best of luck in the coming months.
Year 6
Pupils thrive on annual Llanrug Residential
Getting out and about is something we value highly at Rydal Penrhos as part of a well-rounded academic and extra-curricular provision.
The school is situated in a stunning part of North Wales, which staff take full advantage of to boost progress with trips, outdoor education initiatives and everything in between.
One of the most popular and long-running schemes implemented by the Prep School is the annual Year 6 residential, which saw the enthusiastic group once again travel to the Arete Outdoor Centre, situated in Llanrug.
During the five-day excursion, each pupil got the chance to trek around the picturesque mountains of Snowdonia, rafted through lakes and even explored underground slate mines.
The fearless group also took part in surfing, coasteering, a night assault course, orienteering, kayaking and spent time building friendships during an experience that will live long in the memory.
This annual trip has been organised for many years. It allows Year 6 to test themselves in a safe and supported environment, build key communication skills and cohesion as a group to give them the best possible platform for their final year of Prep School life.
Our residential trip to the Arete Outdoor Centre in Llanrug is something that our Year 6 look forward to immensely, and all of them deserve an enormous amount of credit was positively representing Rydal Penrhos.
They threw themselves into every challenging activity during the week and pushed themselves to their limits, something that will do a considerable amount for their confidence and overall development.
Their teamwork was another notable highlight of the trip, and Rydal Penrhos would like to thank the Arete Outdoor Centre staff for making us feel very welcome once again and to our staff for their guidance and motivation throughout the week.
Martial Arts
Alexandra secures prestigious Karate Black Belt
Many Rydal Penrhos pupils achieve success outside of school hours. This is something that is highly encouraged by our amazing teaching staff and is proven to boost confidence and key skills that enhance their overall development.
One such activity that has proven most popular is Martial Arts and, in particular, Karate. This is taken up at a very early age by some, improving areas such as discipline, co-ordination and obeying commands.
There was further cause for celebration within the Prep School as Alexandra Lopez-Moreno ended a memorable five-year journey by attaining her Black Belt 1st Dan during a recent grading at the John Lynn’s Martial Arts Academy.
Alexandra had a two-and-a-half-hour examination process as well as producing an essay on ’the benefits I have gained since starting my training and how it has changed my life for the better”.
Among the skills assessed were Basic, Shukokai and Kicking combinations, Japanese terminology relating to punching, other hand striking techniques, elbow strikes, kicks, blocks and striking heights, Pinan Katas, Black Belt Katas, Padwork, One steps, Self-Defence, Sparring and Fitness.
Not only did Alexandra pass her exam with flying colours, but she also received considerable praise for doing it in the shortest time frame possible. This impressive journey began in June 2017 and she has never missed training or a grading, boosting her skills in challenging circumstances via online sessions during COVID-19 restrictions.
Alexandra’s dedication is further demonstrated by attending training sessions 2-3 times a week plus 20 gradings in addition to her Black Belt triumph. She was the only junior student qualified to present for the exam, which is a testament to her exceptional commitment.
Going forward, Alexandra has decided that as long as it doesn’t interfere with her academic performance, she would like to continue her karate training and pursue the 2nd Dan. This involves a two-year training process before the all-important assessment.
Green Week 2022
Tips of the Day
Weddings at Rydal Penrhos
The perfect venue!
A wedding will probably be the biggest and most involved party either of you have ever put together, but don’t be scared, Rydal Penrhos is here to help!
Rydal Penrhos is becoming an increasingly popular venue for weddings after the school announced ambitious plans to offer occasions to the wider community. With stunning listed buildings in picturesque surroundings, it’s not hard to see why.
As the wedding season comes to a close, future brides and grooms are gearing up for their upcoming nuptials and all nervousness and glitz that comes with them. Not only this, but those in the planning stages will be busy putting the finer and more important details in place ahead of the big day this year or in the not-too-distant future.
Staff at the school are very experienced when it comes to wedding planning and Rydal Penrhos can host anywhere from 40-250 guests inside or outside depending on the wedding requirements. Guests will be surrounded by illustrious history and grandeur or should they choose, take advantage of more relaxed surroundings within the school’s grounds under the marquees.
The school recently renovated the Osborn Hall, which was formally the school chapel and dining hall. It is a beautiful room that boasts a vaulted ceiling, wood panelling, stained glass windows and parquet flooring. It is a magical setting for a wedding and is the jewel of Rydal Penrhos’ crown.
Whether it’s a wedding ceremony, the reception or the entire occasion, the Osborn Hall is the perfect spot and seeing is believing.
The Memorial Hall is one of the grandest, oldest most beautiful buildings on the Rydal Penrhos estate. As you dance the night away or walk up the aisle you can look up and enjoy the beautiful painted ceiling and be enveloped by the history that echoes around this dramatic room.
The hall can host up to 150 guests and is perfect for dances, weddings, and once again opens onto the quad and gardens and treasured “cloisters” that form just one of the many photographic opportunities on the estate.
With the summer months rapidly nearing, Rydal Penrhos also has the benefit of the New Field area with a Pavilion and marquee for those beautiful occasions in the sunshine to celebrate and Rydal Penrhos is fortunate to have its very own place of worship, St John’s Church, and we also have our school chaplain who will only be too happy to discuss your service with you.
Arranging everything wedding-related can be a stressful business. Rydal Penrhos can also assist in this critical area with a team of dedicated event planners available to help you plan and enjoy your perfect day or evening. They are also working with local suppliers to ensure that everything is on hand to create the wedding of your dreams.
Anyone wishing to require more information about Rydal Penrhos as a potential wedding venue can email events@rydalpenrhos.com, call 01492 530155 or register your interest online here.
St Helens
From Rydal Penrhos to the Super League Grand Final title
Another eventful campaign saw St Helen’s clinch their fourth-straight Super League Grand Final success with a dominant 24-12 win over Leeds Rhinos.
This represents a monumental accomplishment for the squad and head coach Kristian Woolf, with their journey en route to another memorable season beginning at Rydal Penrhos’ exceptional facilities.
Rydal Penrhos received a huge honour when the Saints visited the school for a pre-season training camp in December. This included using the newly refurbished fitness suite, the 25-metre swimming pool and participating in a training session on the stunning New Field surface, which parents, pupils and staff members were able to attend.
The Saints squad stayed on campus and were treated to a lavish Christmas dinner at the Sixth Form Ferguson Centre courtesy of the school’s catering team, before using their final day to take part in a special conditioning session along the Colwyn Bay coastline situated just a stone’s throw from Rydal Penrhos.
Executive Principal John Waszek received a signed shirt from the team as a thank you for the school’s hospitality and members of Rydal Penrhos’ first XV rugby squad each got their new kit from established figures within the Saints’ squad.
Speaking to the St Helens Star, Woolf was highly complimentary of Rydal Penrhos, its facilities and the welcome St Helens received throughout their stay. Something that stood them in good stead as they reached their overall objective and defended their Super League crown.
“Rydal Penrhos did a really good job for us. They went above and beyond in making sure we felt looked after and welcome. The facilities we got to use, in particular, the indoor sporting halls and the gym were exceptional, and that really helped us have a successful camp.”
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate St Helens on yet another incredible Super League Grand Final success. We are honoured you chose the school as your pre-season base and could not be prouder of your accomplishments.
Anyone wishing to enquire about the facilities hire should contact events@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
Stars of the Week
30 September 2022
Stars of the Week
Congratulations to all!
Gallery
First XV rugby vs. Llandrillo College
