Newsletters

Rugby High School - Autumn 2021 Issue 7

News from Mr Grady

Hello everyone,

Tomorrow we see the end of the first half term of the year, and I think we can all agree it has felt very busy indeed!  Certainly not quite the “return to normality” we had hoped for, but I do think we have managed a return to some things, and that has helped with the rejuvenation and reconnection of our whole community.

I know everyone is probably very tired and looking forward to a well-earned rest, but before we can sign off for the half-term break, we have Pink Day and the Race for Life to complete tomorrow.

Ever since I joined RHS in 2008, I have always enjoyed the dressing-up efforts of students as they adorn themselves in as much brightly coloured pink clothing, make up and accoutrements as possible.  Not having a huge amount of pink clothing in my wardrobe tends to mean that I have to try ever more inventive ways of adding pink to my sartorial choices on the day.  Obviously, the aim is to raise awareness and cash for a very worthy charity, and an illness that I know affects many, many families, and continues to impact on our community.

What is great, then, is that at 12:30 tomorrow, we shall all mass on the field, and take part in the race for life, as a whole community, aiming to raise cash, and also make our way round the 5km route – some running, some jogging, some walking, and if my current state of fitness is anything to go by, walking with built in breaks to catch my breath.  It’s one of those events that’s not about times or pace, but about the taking part, and the resilience to have a go and finish it.  Positive physical health really does lead to positive mental health, and so tomorrow I look forward to joining the school community in an event that I always enjoy tremendously, and I hope, does everyone else.

I hope your half term has been, despite the challenges we’ve faced a positive one, and that you have the chance for rest and recharging over the next week – I look forward to seeing everyone again next half term,

With all best wishes, stay well and safe!
Mr Grady

Provisional - Year 11 Work Experience
All Day
From 20 Oct until 22 Oct
20
October
October Half Term
All Day
From 25 Oct until 29 Oct
25
October
RH6 - Operating Theatre Live
0:00am – 0:00am
02
November
Year 7 settling in Evening with Form Tutors
4:00pm – 6:00pm
02
November
Year 10 settling in Evening with Form Tutors
4:00pm – 6:00pm
10
November
RH6 Open Evening - External Students
5:45pm – 8:20pm
11
November
20 Oct 2021
Live Q&A with the Lord Speaker
A Level Politics students had the opportunity on Tuesday afternoon to join a live Q&A session with the Lord Speaker. They  were given a virtual tour of the House of Lords, and then Lord McFall answered some questions. It was quite a thrill when the RHS question was read out, asking abo...
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COP26

To coincide with COP26, where world leaders are coming together in Scotland between 31st October and 12th November to discuss climate change pledges, we have organised a series of lunchtime activities for students, designed to help both inform and inspire.

Many commentators agree that it is a youth movement which is driving the climate change agenda, and young people have been at the forefront of getting and inspiring action to be taken. COP26 is being touted as a very significant event, which could be the turning point for climate change action. John Kerry, the US special envoy on climate change, has referred to it as ‘the last best hope for the world.’ If students want to find out more about it they can read about it and how it will affect them here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56901261.

Therefore, please do encourage students to engage with the events on offer; staff have kindly offered to give up their free time to run them. 

For covid safety measures we are restricting each session to one year group, and limiting numbers. Therefore, students will need to sign up for sessions, and places will be given on a first come, first served basis. They should email their name, form and session they would like to join to Mrs Price at s.price@rugbyhighschool.co.uk by Friday 22nd October.

We hope students enjoy engaging with these activities.

The schedule of events is outlined on this PDF
 

Year 9 Oral History Project

Year 9 history students began the year by completing an oral history project. They had to select a project, research it, design interview questions, interview a family member, and analyse the responses. There were some amazing projects ranging from exploring what it was like to go to a grammar school in the 1960s, to what it was like growing up during civil wars, to what it was like experiencing terrorist attacks, to how fashion changed over time. We had projects that covered the histories of countries in nearly every continent! 

Huge congratulations to the winners; Charlotte Smith, Ria Dhinsa, Sophie Chang and Alessia Fraccia.

Two students have written about their experiences of completing the project:

It was incredibly interesting to interview my parents on topics such as 9/11, LGBTQ+ rights and experiences in the 90's compared to now. Talking about such sensitive issues (that may not have even been resolved now) and hearing different answers on a personal account for our history project was quite eye- opening for sure and made me understand that everyone has a different opinion, and they are neither right nor wrong. Asking my parents was a process of asking the right things and asking the sort of questions that would/could possibly stir up views on certain topics. And then, of course, sorting their answers in a way that could be presentable, a way in which it could be respected and easily understood, was quite a task. 

I then went on to back up their different thoughts with facts which were well- researched. I then finished my project off by expressing my opinion of each topic and why I thought it made the world what it is today. Honestly, I loved the history project and I'm quite glad about the result I worked hard to receive. Obviously, there is always room to improve, and in my opinion, I think I came up with interesting but typical topics, topics which everyone was doing. If I had included a topic of my own, maybe I could have made my project even better. 

Overall, I'm quite pleased with how my project turned out and I'm even more excited to use my learning from my mistake(s) in future projects. 

By Svara Tejawsi

I was really excited to be able to branch out and get involved with a creative history project. I loved being able to explore with new resources how oral history changes perceptions on different revolutions over various eras. I got the chance to change my writing style and be more thorough with primary research.

I was able to get exclusive information from family members via social media which was intriguing, and I got to find out various truths.

After carrying out my own research and corresponding with my family, it made me have to re-evaluate my opinion and caused interesting debates at the dinner table. 

Carrying out this project in such an assiduous manner allowed for information to stay fresh in my mind. I definitely think that the three weeks we had to carry out the project was so valuable; it helped me plan information and get more of an idea about my family’s background. The elongation of the homework made me realise that it isn’t just ‘task and finish’, and it helped me enjoy history a lot more.

By Charlotte Smith

What are your hobbies/interests?  
Watching sport. Making lego. playing video games. Theme Parks 

What is your favourite music to 
a) relax to? Taylor Swift/Johnny Cash ....  
b) to energise you? Killers/Manics/Meatloaf/Queen  

What has been your favourite holiday destination?
Walt Disneyworld Florida 

Who would you most like to have to dinner - dead or alive?
I think dinner with Jesus would answer a lot of questions that have been bothering humanity for a very long time... one way or another. 

A Fun Fact about you!
I only learned to drive when I was 33. 

Maimonides Discourses on the One (2016)
John Agard

Glory be to the one of a hundred names
for the gift of the marvellous and the mundane.
The one who causes the sun to wheel, the sky to rain.
The one who causes the stars to shine, the moon to wane.
The one who conducts the winds, the birds’ refrain.
The one who shatters the seas’ sinews into waves.
The one who commands the sap of vine and grain.
The one cried to by the soldier in the arms of pain.
The one who grants the atheist a clever brain.

All things Poetry found at Poetry by Heart

For RHS Students ONLY
If you have a concern about another student, please fill in this FORM to report your concern.

For more information about Wellbeing including resources and links to our DSL's, please visit our Wellbeing page HERE.

Please find below information that has been passed to us that may be of interest to you and your family.

Latest information on coronavirus from Warwickshire County Council
 

Warwickshire Family Information Service Newsletter

October 19th Edition

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