Newsletters

News from Mr Grady

It seems that not a week goes by without something extra happening at Rugby High School, which is exactly how we like it – huge ranges of different activities and experiences, and this week is no exception:  We have been working up to Thursday (European Day of Languages) with a whole range of European activities, with food in the canteen cooked up by Mr Roach and his team, and staff sharing short recordings of them speaking in the languages they have learnt over the years. 

Even our own staff briefing had us all greeting each other in a range of European (and indeed more global) languages.  We have Ms Vann and the MFL department to thank for leading the way on this across the week.

Language learning is such a vital part of our continued curiosity and pleasure in learning, and although my French A-Level never did go as well as I’d hoped, my ability to communicate in French has helped me out in a whole variety of places including Vietnam, Morocco, Thailand and Italy.  The flexibility of being able to understand not just someone from a different country, but also get underneath the skin of a different culture or country through a different language is a real joy.

Whilst visiting family in the Netherlands this summer I was determined to try out my Dutch at every opportunity, despite the fact that in most cases people were happy to speak English.  I stuck with it and ordered my Bitteballen in Dutch whenever I could, improving on my accent and delivery each time.  Despite the visible embarrassment of my family, and the patience of our waiters, who I’m sure would have preferred me to do it in English as it would have been quicker; I’m nothing, if not persistent:  Language learning is a real experience of what it is to be resilient, to have a go and not mind getting it wrong, to stick with something and not to give up, just because we may find it difficult.

As teachers and as a school we’re eager for students to have a go, to make mistakes and to build their resilience in the supportive environment of Rugby High School, and what better way to demonstrate that but to have a go a little chat in whatever language your child is learning?  Get them to teach you a phrase in Latin, French or Spanish, maybe share your own memories of languages you may have learnt at school!

Have a go, enjoy it and (here we go…) bonne chance d'avoir une conversation différente!

Staff in the Spotlight with Miss Stirling

What is the most exciting thing you have ever done?
Before university Miss Stirling went to Ecuador in South America to stay in the jungle with one of the local Waorani tribes for three weeks. She stayed with the tribe leader and says one of the best things about the trip was seeing one of monkeys whose mother had been killed for food, adopting one of the little girls as it’s mother. Just weeks after she returned home, David Attenborough went to stay with the same tribe and created a whole documentary about them.

What is your favourite food?
Miss Stirling said her favourite foods are her Mum’s spaghetti bolognese and her Gran’s chicken soup.

What do you enjoy about working at Rugby High?
“Seeing the beautiful work that the girls do.” She says that every day is unique and it’s exciting to see all the different artwork.

What hobbies do you have?
She says that although painting is her job, her hobbies are also connected to it; she enjoys gardening and often paints the garden and uses the food from the garden to cook.

What is your favourite book?
She says that it was a very difficult question and that it changes all the time, but at the moment it’s Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje.

If you could teach any other subject what would it be?
Miss Stirling says that she would like to teach food tech because she loves cooking or English because she loves reading.

Interview by Heather Dargie, Year 10

PTA 200 Club
Raising Funds to Benefit the School Community

Rugby High School PTA runs a members' lottery, called the 200 Club, to raise funds for the benefit of all students in school. It is a good way to make a contribution to the PTA to fund those 'little extras' for the students over their time at the school.
Last year the PTA helped with the purchase of water fountains to be placed around the school, sports day badges, 'Poetry Slam' and extra equipment for the Science Department, to name but a few.

Buy a share for £12 and you'll be entered into every draw for a year. That's a chance to win a total of 40 cash prizes. The more shares you buy the greater the chance of winning!

Half of all the money raised goes to the school fund and the other half is distributed as prizes. It is open to parents, guardians, staff and friends of the school.

To take part, please download an entry form & good luck!

Best wishes
Erica Milwain, 200 Club Organiser