Newsletters

Rugby High School - Autumn Term 2025 Issue 4

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News from Mr Grady

2nd December 2025

Hello everyone! 

This week, I am looking forward immensely to the Winter Fair (Fayre if you want a more Christmassy-Victorian theme.)  It is the time of year that feels like it really heralds the start of the Christmas season.  We’ve already seen Christmas trees going up in our hall and foyer, Mr Alonzi is already wearing Christmas jumpers, and I’ve lost count of the amount of students who told me that the weekend just gone was the weekend when their decorations were going up at home.  I shall not judge anyone for putting decorations up in November, but will simply say: it’s a slippery slope!

The Christmas Fair/Fayre is also the chance to see our students in full enterprise mode, as they have been researching and planning their products and stalls to look at profit margins, marketing techniques and quality assurance procedures.  If last year was anything to go by, do pay attention to the most popular stalls, as dynamic pricing meant that the tokens required for certain products ebbed and flowed depending on sales numbers.  I couldn’t have been prouder!

Obviously, we are still eager to see any more donations for the PTA raffle and tombola, and please do purchase your raffle tickets ahead of time (although I’ll be lurking at the front door with a card machine, ensuring there’s plenty of opportunity to contribute.)

Last year, I have very fond memories of my slight mis-understanding of one of the students’ stalls, where one was gently meant to throw a “snowball” and get them into a variety of receptacles.  I unfortunately thought the aim was to fling the snowball considerably less gently to knock over the receptacles.  The horrified look on the year 7 faces of how to explain to the headteacher he was destroying their stall (with apparent glee) was one that will live with me.  Hopefully, no such misunderstandings this year!

I look forward to seeing our community come together on Friday for what will be a really wonderful, heart-warming, and pocket-emptying event – all in the name of worthy charities and bucketfuls of Christmas cheer!

Stay safe and well everyone!

Best wishes,
Mr Grady

Foodbank Collection this week in school
All Day
01
December
Winter Fayre
4:30pm – 6:30pm
05
December
Online Safety Information Session for Yrs 7-11 parents/carers
6:00pm – 7:00pm
08
December
Staff Training Day: No students in school
All Day
10
December
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Staff training day

Please note that school will be closed on Wednesday 10th December for a Staff Training Day. No students are expected in school.

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Food Bank donations

Our Food Bank collection starts next week in school. Please bring in items to donate for this important cause. Rugby Food Bank is currently needing donations of:

Urgently needed items: 
UHT milk
Tinned meat
Meat and fish paste
Good strong carrier bags

They are also running low on: 
Shampoo
Toothpaste
Washing Powder/Capsules

Currently they have excess stock of baked beans, pasta and soup, so please do not donate any more of these items just now. Thanks for your support! 

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Staff karaoke

The annual staff karaoke is being held on Friday 12th December, at lunchtime in school. This is an entertaining event which brings the school community together to cheer on staff who are brave enough to perform! The event will be raising money for the Red Cross and you can buy your tickets via Parentmail when they are released.

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Winter Fayre stalls

The Winter Fayre is this Friday, 5th December, 4.30-6.30pm and there will be a wide range of stalls with games hosted by Year 7s including play your cards right and secret snowballs. Year 8s and 9s will have crafted goodies for sale including Christmas cards and tags, hanging snowglobes and fluffy pipe cleaner Christmas trees. Finally Year 10s will be selling a range of delicious festive treats!  

Come along and support this event, raising money for the 4 House charities which are:

Rauf -  Cancer Research

Holmes - RSPCA

Seacole  - Save the Children

Glennie -  Make a Wish

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Donations for PTA tombola

The PTA will be hosting a tombola at the Wiinter Fayre and would love to have a stall-full of prizes to be won. 

Can you donate a prize for the tombola? Please bring any donations to Reception. Thanks for your support!

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Year 12s visit Oxford University

Earlier this month [on a rather dreary day - see photo!] fifteen of our Year 12 students had opportunity to visit Keble College, University of Oxford, to find out about studying at the university.

The students were selected for the trip on the basis of their very high GCSE results, which are a prerequisite for any students who eventually make the decision to apply to the most academically-demanding university courses, such as those at Oxford and Cambridge.

The day consisted of a talk about the university and the college, 'taster' talks related to subjects in the Arts and Humanities and STEM, and tours of Keble College and then Oriel College, where we met a Rugby High alumnus, Carys Owen [2020], who is currently working as their Outreach Officer.

Hopefully, the day will have inspired as well as instructed these students about the rigours of applying to Oxford and similar universities, but also the fantastic experiences that are available to those who decide to take this path!

We hope to offer further RH6 students the opportunity to visit Clare College, University of Cambridge, later in the year.

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Free 11+ preparation and KS2 learning support

We are offering free access to 11+ materials to local Pupil Premium eligible students in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11). There is support for all PP-eligible children, not just those applying to grammar schools. It's via a company called Atom Learning and the free materials are usually worth around £575 a year. 

Do you know someone who is eligible?

If you know someone whose child is preparing for the 11+, or is in need of Key Stage 2 learning support, please share this link with them:

Access free 11+ materials

After completing the form on that web page, their primary school will be asked to verify their pupil premium eligibility. Their Atom Home account will then be created. 

We are proud to welcome students from all backgrounds to Rugby High School and this partnership aims to encourage even greater representation at our school while also supporting under-resourced families in our community. There is also a free trial available for non-pupil premium families.

What is Atom Home?

Atom Home is an online platform that supports KS2 learning and 11+preparation through practice questions, video tutorials, and mock tests. It helps children build confidence with KS2 objectives and, where relevant, prepare for 11+exams.

If you would like to find out more, please email pupilpremium@atomlearning.com. 

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Taekwon-do Competition success

Maddy Smith, Year 7, recently competed in the 2025 ITF (International Taekwon-do federation) union Tul fest competition in Derbyshire and came home with 2 bronze medals, 1 for individual patterns and 1 for team patterns.

In June this year Maddy became the new ITF Union (International Taekwon-do federation) British Taekwon-do champion in patterns for her age group and belt. Congratulations Maddy!

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Diving champion

Eilidh Cowe in Year 13, had recent success at the Great British Diving Federation (GBDF) Winter Masters Championships. Eilidh won Gold in the 16-29 age group - an amazing result - well done Eilidh!

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Sleep Hygiene tips

We have produced some information on different aspects of mental health with tips on supporting your child's mental wellbeing. This edition focusses on sleep hygiene.

Click here for more information including how parents/carers can help and further reading and support. 

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Elevate are offering a series of free webinars this Autumn term, to help parents best support their child through school. The next two webinars are: 

  • How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child: 2nd December, 6-7pm

  • How to Help Your Child Alleviate Stress: 16th December, 6-7pm

Click here to register for any of these webinars for free

Valerie Bloom
Granny Is

Granny is
fried dumplin’ an’ run-dung,
coconut drops an’ grater cake,
fresh ground coffee smell in the mornin’
when we wake.

Granny is
loadin’ up the donkey,
basket full on market day
with fresh snapper the fisherman bring back
from the bay.

Granny is
clothes washin’ in the river
scrubbin’ dirt out on the stone
haulin’ crayfish an’ eel from the water
on her own.

Granny is
stories in the moonlight
underneath the guangu tree
and a spider web of magic
all round we.

Granny say,
‘Only de best fe de gran’children,
it don’ matter what de price,
don’t want no one pointin’ finger.’

Granny nice.

All things Poetry found at Poetry by Heart

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

Warwickshire Family Information Service Newsletter

25th November Edition

The school newsletter is sent out every other week during term-time.