Let us hear your compliments, suggestions or complaints: www.orleanspark.richmond.sch.uk/contact-us
Weekly Entries to Website: Apply online for a place at our OPSA introduction letter Sixth Form: OPSA Quiz Night flyer www.richmond.gov.uk/post16partnership
From the Headteacher
Prizegiving Prizegiving took place on Tuesday 15 October and was a wonderful evening celebrating the success of our Year 11 leavers in 2013. A wide variety of awards were presented including subject prizes and awards for significant contribution to school life, outstanding academic progress and outstanding academic achievement. It was lovely to see around seventy of our ex-pupils back in school sharing their experiences of further education.
Our Guest of Honour was British Paralympic Sailor, Alexandra Rickham. Alexandra and her sailing partner won a Bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games last summer and have also won three World Championship Golds, two World Cup Golds and numerous other international accolades.
Alexandra’s speech was truly inspirational and showed how, with hard work and determination, you can overcome adversity. Her life story moved former pupils, staff and parents/carers alike. We all wish her success in her sporting career, including her desire to achieve a Gold Medal at the Rio Paralympics in 2016.
I would like to thank Liam Bottriell and Charlie Carter for their rendition of Bruno Mars’s ‘Count on Me’ which was quite beautiful.
My thanks go to all the staff who helped in any way in the organisation and running of the evening, particularly Mrs Brooks, Ms Negrotti and Ms Davies.
Ms E Ball Headteacher
Sixth Form Update Sixth Form Applications Today is the deadline for applications for Orleans Park Sixth Form for pupils currently in our Year 11, whilst pupils applying from other schools have until Friday 15 November 2013. We have continued to receive a steady flow of applications for the Sixth Form over the last week and we are really pleased that so many Year 11 pupils have applied to study the courses that we are offering. Applications for September 2014 are made online using the Richmond- upon-Thames application form which is available from the school website at: www.orleanspark.richmond.sch.uk/how-to-apply
Orleans Park has an open access Sixth Form taking students of all abilities, and we hope to make students from other schools feel welcome.
Sixth Form Interviews Pupils in Year 11 who have applied for a place in the Sixth Form will have interviews accompanied by their parent/carer during the week of Monday 4 November. These interviews will take place between 3:00pm and 5:30pm. Interview letters will be sent out in the post to applicants next week.
Sixth Form Information Evening The Sixth Form Information Evening is taking place next Tuesday 22 October at 7:00pm in the Large Drama Studio and this will be an opportunity for us to share with pupils and parents/ carers our plans for how the Sixth Form will run on a day-to-day basis. This will be rather different from the information about subject courses that we gave at the Open Evening back in June. We shall also be giving out copies of our new more detailed prospectus. Friday
Mr D M Cowling 18 October Assistant Headteacher - Head of Sixth Form 2013
SCHOOL DIARY Saturday 19 October - Monday 21 October Duke of Edinburgh Silver Trial Weekend
Tuesday 22 October Year 7 & Year 11 Group Photographs Sixth Form Information Evening - 7pm - Large Drama Studio
Friday 26 October Year 10 Kew Gardens Art Trip
October is Black History Month
Monday 11 November OPSA Meeting - School Library - 7:30pm
Attendance Matters
Top Weekly Attendance Medical Appointments During School Time
Figures for period from Last academic year 443 Orleans Park pupils missed a total of 1254 Monday 7 October to sessions for medical or dental appointments (one session = half a day). Friday 11 October 2013 This is the equivalent of nearly half of the pupil population missing over three school years for medical/dental appointments…last year alone! Year 7: 7P 97.5% This figure needs to come down because of what we know about the link between attendance and attainment. Pupils will need to provide an Year 8: 8S 100% appointment card when they have been absent for a medical, dental or orthodontic appointment and must show this to their form tutor and/or me Year 9: 9S 98.0% in the IT Admin Room when signing out/in.
Mrs J Miller Year 10: 10S 98.3% Attendance Officer
Year 11: 11R 98.1%
OPSA COLUMN OPSA's Best Ever Quiz Booking has now opened online for our best-ever Quiz, to be held on Friday 15 November from 7:30pm. You won't want to miss this super popular event which includes nibbles, fish ‘n' chips and chocolate, all for just £12 per ticket. Teams are of between eight and ten people, so get a team together or just come along and we'll find a group for you to join. Tables will go quickly so book now at opsa.org.uk and then send payment, clearly marked OPSA QUIZ, to the School Office.
Rugby Parkers Needed Now! The Autumn Internationals start soon so now is the time to sign up to help. We are opening up every Saturday in November (except Saturday 15 November). Slots that need covering are 11.30am-1pm; 1pm-2.30pm; 4pm-5pm and 5pm-6pm. This year we'll need extra people as we are using the Staff car park on the other side of the school as well as the usual St Mary's side. New parents/carers get full training! Please email [email protected] with your availability.
www.opsa.org.uk
Autumn International Rugby Tickets Draw
We have a pair of tickets for the following rugby matches during the QBE Internationals in November: England v Australia Saturday 2 November - Kick Off 14:30 England v New Zealand Saturday 16 November - Kick Off 14:30 We are offering the chance to be in a draw to purchase a pair of tickets at face value, £140 per pair. Each entry into the draw is £5. If you would like to enter, please send an email [email protected] with your name, your child’s name and form and the match that you would like to see. Please send the money in with your child to reach me by lunchtime on Monday 21 October. Please note, this isn’t a draw to win the tickets but a draw to win the chance to purchase a pair of tickets at £140. The draw will be made on Monday 21 October at 3pm. I shall contact the winners on Monday 21 October and publish the winners’ names in the Newsletter on Friday 25 October. Money obtained for entries into the draw will be used to purchase rugby equipment for Orleans Park pupils.
Mr N Richards PE Department
Year 7 and Year 11 Photographs - Tuesday 22 October 2013
A gentle reminder that pupils in Year 7 and 11 will have their year group photographs taken on 22 October. It is very important that pupils are in school on this day and that uniform is correct. Information about purchasing the prints will be sent out in the weeks that follow.
Sibling Photographs Any siblings who missed the opportunity to have their photo taken previously should come to the Sports Hall at break time on Tuesday 22 October. Please email me should you wish for your children to attend this session: [email protected]
Mr L Cornwall Member of staff in charge of School Photographs
Last Week’s Maths Competition Questions, Answers and Winners
Remember that the Maths Competition runs every other week - so in the next Newsletter look out for the fourth competition.
No winners this week.
Mr J Morris Maths Department
Years 7, 8 & 9 KS3 LAST WEEK’S QUESTION Years 10 & 11 KS4 LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
Euclid Gardens has 123 houses in it, numbered How many different positive integers n are there for which consecutively from 1 to 123. n and n3 + 3 are both prime numbers? Houses 29 to 37 inclusive are knocked down to make space for a multi-storey car park. How many houses remain in Euclid Gardens?
Years 7, 8 & 9 KS3 LAST WEEK’S ANSWER Years 10 & 11 KS4 LAST WEEK’S ANSWER If n is an odd prime, then n3 + 3 is an even number Since 9 houses have been knocked down, greater than 3 and therefore not prime. The only even 123 - 9 (= 114) remain. prime is 2 (which some would say makes it very odd!) and when n = 2, n3 + 3 = 11 which is also prime. So there is exactly one value of n for which n and n3 + 3 are both prime. Please support whole school literacy at home
APOSTROPHES FOR POSSESSION
POSSESSION: noun to own something
An apostrophe can be used to show that one thing BELONGS TO SOMETHING or SOMEONE ELSE.
If the noun is SINGULAR we add an apostrophe and an s The girl has a coat The girl’s coat The car has an engine The car’s engine
If the noun is PLURAL we add an apostrophe after the s The girls have coats The girls’ coats The cars have engines The cars’ engines
Watch out! If the plural does not end in an s you need to add an apostrophe and an s The men have coats The men’s coats The children have books The children’s books
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SPELLINGS - 18/10/13
WORD
1 reply or demonstration
2 comma or hesitation
3 verb or commencement
4 noun or underestimate
5 probably
6 vehicle
7 lie
8 lay
9 vitamin
10 nutrition
Rugby News
Upcoming Boys’ Rugby Fixtures Year 8 play in the Middlesex Festival on Monday 21 October at Latymer Upper School, Wood Lane. Year 10 play St James’ School on Wednesday 23 October at home - Kick Off 3:15pm. Year 7 play St James’ on Thursday 24 October away in Ashford - Kick Off 4:20pm.
Irish Exiles Rugby Any players in Years 10/11 with Irish connections who would like to attend a training day over half term should see me for further details. Boys who were born in 1997/98/99 in Ireland or who have an Irish parent or grandparent are eligible. For further details please email me: [email protected]
Parents and Carers are welcome to come and support.
Mr N Richards PE Department
Girls’ Fixtures - Week Commencing Monday 21 October
Tuesday 22 October Year 7 & Year 8 Football – vs Twickenham Academy, away - 3-5pm
Wednesday 23 October Year 9 Netball League Cup match – vs Twickenham Academy, away - 3-5pm Year 10 & Year 11 Netball League match – vs Twickenham Academy, away - 3-5pm
Parents and Carers are welcome to come and support.
Ms C Kemp Deputy Head of PE & Sport, in charge of Girls PE
Year 7 and Year 8 Girls Football - Borough League
The most recent opposition to face the might of the Orleans Park girls’ football team was Teddington School. Our girls started the fixture cautiously but were soon into their stride when Ella Dodd (Year 7) opened the score with a cracking header put past the keeper. This was followed by four more goals in quick succession. In the second half Orleans Park were relentless in attack but could not find the back of the net again. The final score was 5-1. The next fixture is at Twickenham Academy on Tuesday 22 October.
Well done to all players.
Ms C Kemp Deputy Head of PE & Sport, in charge of Girls PE
Year 9 Netball Match Report by Mattea Goalen Orleans Park v Waldegrave - 15 October 2013
On Tuesday 15 October, Orleans Park sent a Year 9 netball team to face Waldegrave in a cup match. The team captain was Hannah Bashford and vice-captain was Mattea Goalen. We all knew that this wouldn’t be an easy game, and we were all set to play some brilliant netball. In the first quarter it was a close match with both sides setting off on a good steady start, with some excellent shooting from Ellie Wilson and Hannah Bashford. However Waldegrave pulled away by two, making the score 5-3 to Waldegrave. In the next quarter Waldegrave picked up the pace, scoring multiple goals, nevertheless we still managed to stay on their heels making their lives as tough as possible. After an inspirational team talk by Miss Cully we were raring to go in the third quarter, determined to make some ground on Waldegrave: some quick substitutions and we were ready to go. We all played our best netball to date working successfully as a team, allowing us to close the gap against Waldegrave. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts Waldegrave pulled away in the final quarter and the game was theirs.
Well done to the whole team for a great match and thanks to Miss Cully and Miss Verniquet for organising the team and taking us there. Thank you to Alice Riglin for some wonderful cheerleading on the sideline. We are all ready for the match on Friday and hope to provide you with some good news soon.