The RP Weekly: 8 July 2022

The weekly digital newsletter from Rydal Penrhos School - 8 July 2022 edition.

The RP Weekly

8 July 2022

Holiday Club

Summer adventures aplenty!

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.

Private Tours

Booking is available throughout the summer!

Teaching staff and pupils are now embarking on their well-deserved summer break after a hugely successful academic year. But Rydal Penrhos will be open throughout the holidays for prospective pupils and their families to visit the stunning campus.

The best way to get a real feel for our friendly and welcoming school is to come and see for yourself. Our admissions team will be on hand to guide you across either the Pre-School, Prep, Senior or Sixth Form sites and other staff will also be available to answer any questions you may have about the curriculum, extra-curricular activities and planning for the next step.

Here's what you can expect from a private tour at Rydal Penrhos, and anyone wishing to discover more should contact admissions@rydalpenrhos.com, call 01492 530155 or use our online form.

Interested in Rydal Penrhos Pre-School?

You will be greeted by Mrs Lucy Davies, Deputy Principal and Ms Letitia Spencer, Pre-School manager upon your arrival. They will then take you on a tour of the thriving Pre-School department, which is the perfect place for a child to begin their journey through education.

There will be an opportunity to view the specialised area for two-year-olds, art room, reading area, imaginative play and a more typical classroom along with the outdoor play area and Rydal Penrhos’ Coastal School initiative.

Interested in Rydal Penrhos Prep School?

Arriving at the Prep School reception right at the top of Pwllycrochan Avenue you will be greeted by Mrs Lucy Davies, Deputy Principal.

While having a tour of the school classrooms, the IT suite, science labs, the music department, art room, library and the ever-popular Forest School site, she will also be more than happy to answer any queries about the curriculum and activities, in addition to the free wraparound care provided.

Interested in Rydal Penrhos Senior School (Years 7-13)?

Arriving at the Pwllycrochan Avenue reception at Rydal Penrhos, you will be greeted by a member of our Admissions team.

Following a short chat, we will then take you on a personal socially distanced tour of the school’s various departments, which will showcase everything from academic classrooms, science laboratories and the exceptional sporting facilities available to our pupils, which also includes a 25-metre Swimming Pool.

Those with a more creative flair can explore the Art, Music, Design Technology and Drama departments, and there will be a chance to ask questions about anything and everything associated with Rydal Penrhos.

Our Executive Principal would be delighted to meet you following your tour. If this is something you would enjoy please let us know so that we can arrange visit times accordingly.

BOOK YOUR PRIVATE TOUR OF RYDAL PENRHOS HERE

Charity

School comes together for Walkathon in aid of Blind Veterans UK

We are enormously proud of our charitable work at Rydal Penrhos. This is something that forms a core component behind our ethos and is a collective effort from pupils, parents, staff, alumni and almost everyone associated with the school.

The latest initiative involving the entire school community that took place on Wednesday 6 July and involved staff and pupils participating in a special Walkathon to raise much-needed funds for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are tens of thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.

More than 120 pupils and staff from all areas of Rydal Penrhos trekked the 5.9-mile stretch along the shoreline from Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier to the heart of Llandudno and back to raise money for a very worthy cause.

Senior School pupils were joined at various stages of the walk by those from the Prep School, who met blind veteran and Llandudno town crier Billy Baxter recently and were keen not to miss out on this adventure.

Rydal Penrhos has raised almost £2,500 from the Walkathon, with all proceeds going towards the Blind Veterans UK Centre for Wellbeing situated in Llandudno.

Victoria Beech from the Blind Veterans UK Community Partnerships Team, said: “The team at Rydal Penrhos are looking to make the walkathon an annual event to support our Llandudno Centre.

“In return, we hope to give pupils the opportunity to learn more about the charity, the impact of sight loss, and to meet some of the veterans and hear their stories too.

“Their choice of a walkathon is brilliant as it enables the younger children to take part in smaller sections of the route, meaning that every member of the school community can be involved in supporting our blind veterans.

“Partnerships with organisations such as Rydal Penrhos give us an opportunity to remove the barriers often placed by sight loss. Giving children the opportunity to learn about the impact of sight loss at an early age removes the apprehension many feel in later life when interacting with people with disabilities.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the Rydal Penrhos Walkathon for Blind Veterans UK can do so here.

Paws & Claws

Prep pupils wow audiences on stage!

It was an occasion full of joy and exceptional performances as Rydal Penrhos pupils in Years 3-6 took to the Prep Hall stage for the triumphant return of their annual production.

This is something that’s been sorely missed over the last two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, so there was an enormous amount of excitement in the air from staff, pupils and families alike.

Each pupil worked hard and conducted themselves well throughout the rehearsal process and when the time came to perform under the bright lights. This year’s spectacle was Paws and Claws, which centres on a group of wily cats and fearless dogs doing battle for the turf at the back of a bakery filled with delicious treats.

However, when Jack meets Melody – a cat and a dog become friends. This changes everything and could even mean that the two species end up living together in mutual harmony when it’s all said and done.

The production was an absolute triumph and received incredibly well. Senior School pupils also lent their support by becoming makeup artists for the evening to further add to the occasion.

This remarkable musical performance was a testament to the dedication of each pupil involved and the sterling commitment from staff including production directors Clare Chamberlain and Jude Pyves.

Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would also like to thank staff members Mrs Oliver, Mr McGuinness, Mrs Roberts, Mrs Morris, Mr Granger, Mr McGuigan, Miss Spencer, Miss Richards, Mrs Culver, Mr Williams and Mr McLeod for all their hard work.

Music

Gwyn celebrates Grade 8 cello triumph

We are fortunate to have a wealth of gifted musicians across every year group at Rydal Penrhos.

Our pupils often choose music as part of their curriculum later in their school life and develop their skills on a specific instrument from an early age under the guidance of specialist tutors or incredible teaching staff, who are on hand to assist and advise every step of the way.

This not only comes with superb examination success in recent years, but pupils are also given the opportunity to perform at various concerts throughout their time at the school and many also look to gain additional qualifications from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music or other examination bodies.

Another pupil making outstanding progress is Gwyn Davies, who is a Year 11 pupil at Rydal Penrhos and is now celebrating a prestigious distinction from his recent Grade 8 assessment administered by the ABRSM.

Gwyn worked exceptionally hard in the lead-up to his assessment and alongside his GCSE studies. Something that reaped a significant reward with 142 out of a possible 150.

This accomplishment is made even more impressive due to the intense daily practice at a time when GCSEs loomed on the horizon and Gwyn is also preparing for his Grade 8 piano assessment, too.

Gwyn’s outstanding composure and level of poise during his performance drew notable praise from the examiner, who wrote: “The overall delivery was consistently assured…resulting in a performance that confidently met the technical challenge of the [musical] programme in a most compelling and persuasive performance.

“Stylistic differentiation was evident throughout, capturing the various musical identities with a committed and commanding use of dynamic colour, attack, textural balance and instrumental dexterity. Well done!”

Rydal Penrhos would like to thank Gwyn’s cello tutor Sian Meirion, who has expertly and enthusiastically supported his musical development since 2018 and to the school’s Director of Music Mr Pete Williams for his continual encouragement and excellent piano accompaniment during the assessment.

Year 6

Paws & Claws donation given to RSPCA

It was an absolute pleasure to see Rydal Penrhos pupils in Years 3 to 6 strutting their stuff on stage once again during the production of Paws and Claws.

This was a testament to their hard work during rehearsals, ability to encourage others and supreme confidence to perform so well in front of a live audience.

The whole occasion was an absolute triumph. Something that’s been prevalent across all areas of Prep School life since the start of the academic year and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions that swiftly followed.

Pupils were also keen to do their part for the community as part of the production. This resulted in a collection taking place for food and equipment, which have now been distributed to the RSPCA Centre situated in nearby Bryn-y-Maen.

After another incredible display of generosity from those that attended the production, Year 6 made the short trip to the centre with the donated items that were handed to the hard-working staff situated at the facility.

As part of their visit, Year 6 for the opportunity to ask Libby, who is a supervisor at the centre, about the important work that takes place throughout the community to assist animals in distress or need across the Colwyn Bay and Conwy county region on a daily basis.

Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to thank everyone who generously donated items to a very worthy cause. A huge well done also goes to the pupils for their ongoing commitment to making the world around them a better place.

Tennis

Toby's success at Rafa Nadal Academy

An aspiring young tennis star at Rydal Penrhos got the opportunity to hone his skills at a prestigious Academy owned by one of the world’s greatest players.

Toby Evans, who is a Year 4 pupil at the Prep School, recently spent the week at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, where he worked with exceptional coaches on improving all areas of his tennis play in incredible surroundings with other hopefuls from across the continent.

Rafa Nadal has converted his training place into a high performance tennis centre in Mallorca. Together with his team, the King of Clay created a unique system based on the experience acquired during all his years through the ATP circuit.

This method includes the formation on values that, without a doubt, have been a fundamental element for the achievement of his triumphs. The international tennis academy combines tennis and education, so that students can continue their tennis career without sacrificing academic progress.

Toby was given special permission by Rydal Penrhos to attend the Academy, with the pupil working exceptionally hard on his studies away from school.

It proved to be a very worthwhile experience for the North Wales youth squad member, who ended the week on a high by winning his age group tournament in fine style to conclude a frantic few days.

This is the latest in a series of notable accomplishments for Toby, who joined Rydal Penrhos last year and transitioned smoothly to the nurturing environment provided by the Prep School.

He recently made his North Wales squad debut in the County Cup against opposition from Cheshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Toby has also represented Kent during his glittering young career to date.

Anne Lawry

Tributes paid to former teacher

Anne Elizabeth Lawry was a much-loved former Biology teacher at Rydal Penrhos and the school was extremely saddened to hear of her recent passing on Saturday 25 June, aged 96.

She was the beloved wife of the late Kenneth and dearly loved mother of Elizabeth, Clarinda, Richard, Douglas and Susanna as well as being a loving grandmother and great grandmother to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Three of their children also attended Rydal Penrhos – Richard (1965-1974), Doug (1967-1976) and Susie (1979-1981).

The organist at the funeral will be Peter Crook, whose father Donald Crook taught Geography at the school, and whose mother Connie – evacuated from Penrhos College to Chatsworth House during World War II and is in the famous painting – lived in later years at Addlington House in Rhos-on-Sea with Anne.

Ken, who died in 2003, taught mostly classics from the early 1950s to 1977, becoming Director of Studies. Anne taught Biology in the 1970s.

They lived in and ran Old House and then Oaklands boarding houses from 1954 to 1968 after meeting at Cambridge University, where they knew several other future staff, particularly John Pepper (Languages) and his wife Barbara.

Anne will be sadly missed by all her family, many friends and the Rydal Penrhos community.

Her funeral service will take place at St John’s Church, Colwyn Bay on Friday 15 July at 1pm followed by a private committal service at Colwyn Bay Crematorium.

Donations, if so desired, towards Christian Aid can be left in the offertory plate or sent c/o Dewi Glyn Jones, Funeral director 97 Llandudno Rd, Penrhyn Bay, LL30 3HN. Tel 01492 544797.

Everyone at Rydal Penrhos would like to offer our sincere condolences to Anne’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Summer Sport

Facilities available for hire at Rydal Penrhos

Rydal Penrhos has a long-standing tradition of sporting success throughout its history. The school has produced a wealth of international-calibre athletes over the years, who all built their early foundations as pupils before going on to achieve great things.

All this comes from exceptional coaching delivered by the school’s staff team, who are constantly monitoring the progress of our aspiring athletes and developing programmes to enhance conditioning and overall performance in pursuit of reaching their respective goals.

Not only this, but our pupils benefit from first-class facilities to give them another major boost as they look to follow in the footsteps of those who’ve been so incredibly successful in years gone by.

These are not only used by pupils during school time, but Rydal Penrhos is delighted to host local clubs and teams who train with us on a weekly basis and something that is going to be prevalent across the summer holidays across the stunning campus.

We are enormously proud of our community involvement at Rydal Penrhos. The school has been at the heart of the Colwyn Bay area for more than a century and this has been further strengthened in recent years as part of our strategic development plan.

This also includes Welsh youth rugby, cricket, netball and hockey squads who hold residential training camps with us. The school’s incredible New Field sporting venue -which has its own pavilion – regularly hosts Cricket Wales youth matches and has seen iconic figures such as Andrew Flintoff attend.

Rydal Penrhos has a vast array of facilities, including a Sports Hall and Fitness Suite that can be used for netball, basketball and indoor cricket nets, with the astroturf surface providing a floodlit training area for pupils and clubs across the region to utilise.

The school also has its own outdoor cricket nets area, no fewer than five immaculate rugby pitches, seven outdoor tennis courts, two squash courts, four Eton Fives courts and a dedicated short game golf area for anyone wishing to hone their bunker, chipping or putting skills.

If that wasn’t enough, Rydal Penrhos has an RYA accredited Sailing and Water-Sports Centre as part of our campus and this is available to visiting groups.

Our instructors can put together taster sessions or a day on the water for our more qualified visitors, which has been part of the school’s history for more than 60 years and something pupils absolutely love all through the academic year.

So whatever you are looking for during the summer, Rydal Penrhos has the facilities to enhance your overall experience. Our staff will also be on hand to provide expert support and guidance throughout the booking and planning process.

The school’s sporting facilities are available for evening and weekend hire and during all school holidays. For more information email events@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.