The RP Weekly: 7 October 2022
The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School - 7 October 2022 edition.
The RP Weekly
7 October 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.
Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition)
Rehearsals and workshops gather pace
It’s been a busy period for young performing artists at Rydal Penrhos ahead of the upcoming 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
The first full cast rehearsal took place earlier this week, which was followed by a dynamic voice workshop from Ben Richards a former Rydal Penrhos teacher, and actor Will Cousins. Among the many exercises throughout the session included developing projection, which was extremely fun and informative.
Creatives have been working flat out to complement the acting. Will Evans, a lighting technician based in North Wales, took time out of his busy schedule to deliver a session to technical staff plus Ellise Wallace and Jake McDonald, who are creating a lighting plot for the play.
Mr Bonser worked tirelessly with Year 13 pupil Adam McGuigan to build the set. The Memorial Hall has transformed into the village of Llareggub and the audience will be able to purchase drinks from the Sailor’s Arms on their way in. Alice Beamish has sourced a multitude of props to enhance the households for what promises to be another exceptional showcase of performing arts prowess.
With Mr Sherrington’s help, Hannah Gao and Faith Harborne designed the village background and are now painting it, with Mr Williams working with a range of pupils to incorporate songs and music including Gwyn Davies.
Costumes have been sourced and developed by Elsi Pyves and Ester Ball-Iversen. More than 50 pupils also have speaking parts, rehearsing every break and lunchtime.
The amateur production of Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition) will 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
Skiing
Chay selected to Wales squad
Skiing is a unique provision provided by Rydal Penrhos and something that has brought the school a considerable amount of success over the years.
Many pupils have gone on to achieve great things in regional and national events, with some even making a name for themselves at the Great British level thanks to the outstanding coaching they receive.
This is something that our pupils love. Testing themselves in an unfamiliar setting and developing core skills that can transition from different interests in and out of the classroom.
The latest pupil to achieve notoriety on the national stage is Chay Bonnington, who was rewarded for his outstanding consistency with a well-deserved selection to the Wales Ski Squad.
Chay has been knocking on the door of the squad for some time now. Following a period of hard work, commitment and dedication to his craft – in addition to some creditable results during summer competitions – the Year 13 pupil achieved the necessary criteria for a call-up to represent his country.
The final race of this summer is the Welsh Schools Championships at Llangrannog, where Chay will be looking to further establish himself in the face of some stern competition from across the country.
Following the season finale, Chay will spend the winter training at North Wales Snowsports Club and Regional Academy training alongside his A Level studies.
Chay began skiing from an early age at Rydal Penrhos, with staff nurturing his natural talent and providing the necessary encouragement to build the foundations for a promising young career.
Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to congratulate Chay on his magnificent achievement and wish him the very best of luck with the Welsh squad.
Poland 2022
Pupils enjoy unforgettable experience
There was an enormous sense of excitement among pupils embarking on a four-day trip to Poland, which was especially relevant for pupils who hold or aspire to hold positions of leadership at Rydal Penrhos and in the future.
This excursion was also arranged to benefit pupils who study History and those with a keen interest in politics and world affairs. Pupils and staff stayed in the picturesque city of Krakow and a large number of excursions were planned throughout their stay.
One of the more poignant activities was a coach trip to Auschwitz, where they were given a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, which was thought-provoking and emotional in equal measure.
Another exciting element of the trip was a tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, which dates back to the Middle Ages when it was proudly named the Magnum Sal – the Great Salt.
Rydal Penrhos also arranged a visit to the Schindler Museum situated at his former factory, which was the famous site of Oskar Schindler’s remarkable movement to save Jews from the atrocities inflicted by the Nazis during World War II.
Those on the trip participated in a four-hour guided tour of Krakow, which included visiting the castle situated in the city and the cathedral that proved most popular with pupils and staff alike. This unforgettable experience is something that is sure to be a tremendous asset to assist in preparations for upcoming examinations.
Leadership
Senior Deputy Head Girl Team announced
Rydal Penrhos Sixth Form is so much more than just studying for successful grades.
Our pupils benefit from an outstanding extra-curricular provision, participate in weekly UCAS lessons throughout the application process and get exceptional support and guidance during the final two years of their school life before heading onto the next stage of their journeys, wherever and whatever that might be.
Another area where Sixth Formers thrive is through leadership. The school prides itself on a strong Year 13 that becomes great ambassadors for Rydal Penrhos and also emerges as role models for the next generation of younger pupils looking to follow in their footsteps.
With the departing 2022 cohort now at university, beginning GAP years or prestigious apprenticeships, Rydal Penrhos is delighted to confirm the appointment of Sophie Madden and Elodie Commisaris as joint-Deputy Head Girls for the 20-21/22 academic year.
Sophie joined the Rydal Penrhos community in Year 7 and has thrived academically during her time at the school. This was reflected in some outstanding GCSE results in 2021, with the pupil securing four A*’s, four 9 marks, one 7 and a Distinction in Additional Mathematics.
She was also rewarded with an Art Scholarship Premium thanks to her sterling development under the guidance of teacher Mark Sherrington.
Elodie joined Rydal Penrhos at the start of her Sixth Form journey and wasted no time integrating herself into school life and within her peer group. Her enthusiasm, kindness and natural leadership abilities are sure to be a tremendous asset in her new role.
On behalf of everyone at Rydal Penrhos, we would like to congratulate Sophie and Elodie on their newfound responsibilities. We know you will represent the school impeccably throughout the academic year.
Lydia Gilman
2022 leaver defies the odds to secure prestigious apprenticeship
It’s not just university where Rydal Penrhos pupils decide to start the next stage of their journeys upon leaving school. Many take GAP years to reflect and refresh, with others taking on the challenge of the working world with prestigious apprenticeships across the country.
The school’s exceptional teaching staff treats each Sixth Form pupil as an individual, assisting them with any advice, guidance or support they might need to ensure their goals are met.
Lydia Gilman, who was part of the 2022 cohort that achieved outstanding A Level results this summer, recently secured a three-year finance apprenticeship working within the National Health Service. This is following in her mother and father’s footsteps, encapsulating a career in accountancy within the NHS.
Over the course of her apprenticeship, Lydia will take the Level 2-4 Association of Accounting Technicians assessments. Completion of Level 4 is set to provide her with a professional Diploma in Accountancy.
Lydia was offered a place at the University of Liverpool before opting to go down this career path, which represents an outstanding accomplishment from someone that dealt with tremendous adversity over her final year at Rydal Penrhos.
Father Matthew Gilman, explains more: “The school have been incredibly supportive.
"Having spent 10 months of her last year of school in hospital, the teaching and administration staff went above and beyond to help Lydia through this incredibly difficult time, ensuring she was linked to online lessons and making sure she was provided with the latest worksheets and information.
“Staff even visited her in hospital to provide one-to-one support.
"Her friends have also been a credit to their parents and to Rydal Penrhos in the way in which they have shown great compassion in how to care for and support their peers.”
Despite the obvious challenges, Lydia attained the school’s highest A Level grade in Business and after becoming interested in the world of economics from an early age, she natural progresses into the finance field.
Lydia became further inspired to go down this particular route during the school’s Careers Pathway event, where she received excellent individual advice to steer her on the correct path.
“As parents, we could not be prouder,” added Mr Gilman.
“Not only has Lydia been rewarded for her hard work in her recent exam results but with the help and support received from the school. This made a huge difference to her education and well-being for which we are so grateful.”
Open Day Focus
Senior School (Years 7-11)
Ahead of this weekend's Open Day, a special feature series focuses on the key areas of Rydal Penrhos and the outstanding opportunities on offer. Our next instalment features the Senior School for Years 7-11.
Much has been written about what constitutes a good education. If we are not careful such attempts can be too focused and narrow that they ignore the diversity that exists in our community. Or they can be so bland and generic as to be meaningless.
Education must be rooted in a school’s values and principles but mindful of the fact that children have different needs, talents and interests. We pride ourselves on an exceptional academic education and thriving extra-curricular programme here at Rydal Penrhos, which allows each child to learn and develop in a happy and safe environment, receiving expert care and guidance from our teaching and support staff.
Our model of a distinctive, successful education aims to allow all our pupils to be individuals, to discover their talent, be the best they can be and ready themselves for the future while also being happy in the now
As one of the leading independent schools in the North West, richness, through a breadth of experiences and depth of study, is our goal. At Rydal Penrhos, you will find a broad and balanced learning programme which caters for a wide range of abilities and interests. We care for the individual and are able to tailor the curriculum to suit diverse needs.
Our curriculum also allows for increased choice and specialisation as pupils move through the school. We strongly believe in developing the whole person. Whilst academic progress is our undoubted and committed priority, we also encourage our pupils to find out about themselves through challenge and endeavour.
This is structured through a comprehensive activity programme where vital life skills are developed such as team building, initiative, resourcefulness and self-help.
In addition to the outstanding academic and extra-curricular education provided here at Rydal Penrhos, we have also implemented a Pastoral system that is second-to-none and enables each child and young adult under our care to feel happy, safe and supported.
This enables them to get the very most of their time within the classroom, and we are always striving to maintain excellent standards in areas such as well-being and mental health.
Exceptional examination results are achieved consistently, but the ongoing progression of pupils on a daily basis under the guidance of the school’s outstanding staff team is the biggest testament of all regarding what a Rydal Penrhos education can accomplish.
Operation Encompass
Rydal Penrhos lends support to North Wales Police initiative
All at Rydal Penrhos remain enormously proud of our association with the community in which we reside.
For more than 100 years the school has valued being part of the locality and recognises the beauty and safety, adventures and hospitality the location affords, quite often the decision-maker for our boarding community in the past and more recently the reason behind many of our current families relocating to North Wales.
We are also thrilled to have a strong partnership with North Wales Police, who regularly come into school for sessions with pupils to discuss various topics relating to safety, community awareness and everything in between.
In conjunction with North Wales Police, Rydal Penrhos is participating in a national initiative, known as ‘Encompass’, to support children and young people who have been involved in or witnessed a domestic abuse incident.
Encompass aims for a school to be alerted of a child’s exposure to domestic abuse as early as possible to enable immediate support. This is a valuable initiative that means we can help and support our pupils and their families when they need us most.
This is an initiative we are proud to support. Offering our pupils every support imaginable across all areas remains a top priority from Pre-School to Sixth Form, which allows them to feel safe and provides an avenue to discuss problems or anything else that might be impacting individuals outside of a typical classroom environment.
You can find out more information on the Encompass website, https://www.operationencompass.org/
Open Day Focus
Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13)
We want our Sixth Form to bridge the gap between school and university study, and we want it to be balanced.
Therefore, supported by subject teachers and tutors, pupils are able to explore their chosen academic subjects as well as immerse themselves in Rydal Penrhos’ comprehensive extra-curricular programmes.
We understand that Sixth Formers are older and more independent – but there are still people on hand to guide and help as they navigate through classes, exams and what lies beyond school.
At the heart of Sixth Form life here at Rydal Penrhos is academia. This includes subject lessons, dedicated teachers, small tutorial groups (more along the lines of university), trips, visiting speakers, independent learning and support.
This is proven to bring out the best in our eager learners and is reflected in some exceptional examination results in recent years and first-choice university destinations or prestigious apprenticeships secured.
Years 12 and 13 also participate in a diverse range of extra-curricular activities including drama, music, sport, debating, and our hugely successful Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. There is also a chance to attain leadership positions within the school’s Senior Prefect Team, as Peer Mentors or leading charitable groups and initiatives.
Meeting new friends and forming close bonds is also something Rydal Penrhos values highly within its Sixth Form community. This is enhanced by team building, the Leavers’ Ball, the fancy dress days and general relaxation in the dedicated café area at the school’s Sixth Form Ferguson Centre.
It’s also important for pupils to begin preparations for the next stage of their respective journeys. Whether that is to university, a GAP year, apprenticeships or anything else we have dedicated staff to assist.
Rugby Union
Strong outing for First XV
Rydal Penrhos has a proud history of producing exceptional rugby players who go on to achieve 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 remarkable 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.
The latest batch of aspiring rugby stars at Rydal Penrhos has enjoyed a busy start to the school campaign. Fixtures are taking place at a rapid rate and the First XV built further momentum during a specially-arranged round-robin tournament against Coleg Llandrillo and Wirral Grammar School on Wednesday 28 September at New Field.
Rydal Penrhos began their afternoon in testing conditions versus Coleg Llandrillo. Despite producing some nice moments and defending exceptionally well, the hosts fell to a 19-0 defeat but left the pitch with spirits high after a fine display of character and resolve.
This was followed by another contest against Wirral Grammar School. Rydal Penrhos enjoyed far more possession during the clash, with the likes of James Copeland, Gabriel Speakman and Zac Roberts controlling the tempo behind some impressive territory gains from the forwards.
The same trend continued throughout the game as Rydal Penrhos got themselves a deserved 12-7 triumph to round off another positive series of games, which is sure to stand the group in tremendous stead in the coming weeks against schools from across the region.
We would like to congratulate our First XV rugby side on their ongoing efforts. You are doing everyone at Rydal Penrhos proud!
Stars of the Week
7 October 2022
Stars of the Week
Reception – Celyn
Year 1 – Sebby
Year 2 – Henry
Year 3 – Ellis
Year 4 - Leslie
Year 5 – Holly
Year 6 – Clara
Artist of the Week – Connie in Year 6
Gallery
Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition) rehearsals
We look forward to welcoming you all to our Open Day event tomorrow!
It promises to be a wonderful showcase of what Rydal Penrhos has to offer!
