All the latest news from Ringwood School Ringwood ~A National Teaching Academy~ in the News Christmas 2015 In this edition... The BIG Walk, Shoe Box Appeal, Careers Fair, School Clubs, P.E. Results, Forest School, Heart Radio & much more! WALKING TO SUCCESS! STUDENTS RAISE OVER £14,250 ingwood staff and students coach in staggered groups from 9 a.m, bacon rolls waiting for them back on site! have made a huge step towards having raised sponsorship money in the First to undertake the walk were the year Rraising the funds for our new preceeding weeks. Marshal points had 11s, followed in descending order by the tiered seating with this year's BIG been created by the walk organisers rest of the school. The students really Walk. throughout the route, with both teachers enjoyed the opportunity to be outside on and Sixth Form students marshalling the last day of the last half term and really Once every two years, Ringwood staff the event. We saw some very organised made the most of the walk and our luck and students undertake a 5 mile walk marshals, fully loaded with tea, coffee and with the weather. It was a huge logistical in the local area. This year the walk was even soup on camp stoves! task for the walk organisers;creating the in aid of the Ringwood School Tiered route, ensuring student safety, making the Seating Fund Appeal. The school is in the The walk wound up into the forest, past most of the beautiful landscapes around process of raising £75,000 to install a new the Sand Bowl and over the bridge up the school and checking that everyone automated tiered seating system, which will into the moorland, before descending who went came back! It was a fantastic benefit not only the school, but also local back towards the Moyles Court through event and has raised over £14,250 community groups who regularly use the trees decorated with riotous autumn toward the tiered seating. school's Hall. colours of red, orange and fiery yellow. Students and teachers then wound Congratulations and thank you It was a beautiful autumn day and the their way back down past Moyles Court to everyone who organised walk started opposite Moyles Court and headed towards Ringwood School, and took part! School. Students were dropped by cheered on by staff and the thought of Ringwood in the News Christmas 2015 2 HEADTEACHER’S NEWS 'Inspired to learn, supported to succeed' “No act of kindness for voluntary projects; spending time with those to bring the wider community together at however small is ever in need; helping with young children; reading to this special time of the year. wasted – make a others; raising money for good causes; baking The true spirt of Christmas was followed difference to someone for charity; litter picking and many more. Simple up by an amazing collection of food items this Christmas time.” things like opening doors for people, greeting donated by the school community to support people with a smile, and giving time all make a the homeless and vulnerable families in our So here we are again, real difference. area. We asked people to provide something, that very special time On the last day before half term we held whatever they could afford – an item, some of year, Christmas... our third BIG Walk event. This time we were food or a small donation in the spirit of the that magical time to raising money for our Tiered Seating Appeal. season - this small act of kindness means so spend with family and 1600 students took part with the support of much to those in need. friends, to relax and over 150 staff. We raised over £14,250 a truly Christmas is the time of year when most enjoy the true meaning remarkable effort from everyone involved. children are looking for gifts from Santa. I of Christmas. It is the time of year when we should Thank you to our sponsors and everyone who believe it is the time of year when we should think about those closest to us as well as those supported us. This was a real team effort. teach them that giving is more important further afield. It is so easy to just let time fly by, Just after half term students travelled to that receiving –this is the real theme of without stopping to realise that life is happening right Belgium to visit the First World War Battle Christmas. The other way we can help this before our very eyes. Increasingly we lead busy lives Fields and took part in the Armistice Day Christmas time is to give our time free to and it is so easy to commit time to activities beyond ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. In others. If we all gave a few minutes of our family and friends. Ringwood, students and staff took part in the time to be with those who have few visitors At Christmas time we have the opportunity to Remembrance Service at the Parish Church and this Christmas season we really could make spend some time with loved ones. Simply being with on the 11th November at an open-air service at a big difference to the lives of people within those who love and appreciate you can be a great the War Memorial in Ringwood, a wreath was our local communities. source of comfort and encouragement. I wonder laid to remember local people who gave their Thank you to everyone for contributing how many of us have been too busy to make time for lives in war. Students raised money by selling to the various appeals we have run over the the people we care most about this year? It is easy poppies with proceeds going to the Royal past few months – it is heartening to see forget how much we need family around us and how British Legion. how much people really do care. much we really enjoy time with those we love. The annual Rotary Shoe Box Appeal was Christmas is also a time to make a difference another big success story, with a record number I wish you all a very Happy Christmas. to others. A small gesture of kindness can make of boxes donated to provide a Christmas gift someone’s entire day, as well as making us feel for disadvantaged children. Students have also good as well. One of our school aims is to help raised money for: the Hampshire and IoW air others whenever you can, and this term we have ambulance; the Rainbow Trust which cares for Chris Edwards seen students really rise to the challenge of doing families who have a child with a life threatening exactly that. Through our assemblies and tutor time or terminal illness; and Toilet Twinning to activities we have shared examples of individuals and contribute to the building of a toilet block in groups making a real difference to the lives of others a poor country through SPUD days this term. through acts of kindness. Students have been involved Last week our Sixth Form students in: supporting local charity projects; beach clearance continued the theme of giving to others by work; shopping for the elderly; mentoring and hosting a Christmas party for over 120 local supporting others; car washing; visiting those who senior citizens. It was a wonderful event, live on their own; helping others with jobs around the enjoyed by all with food and drink, music, dance house and garden; looking after animals; giving time and lots of seasonal entertainment, a fitting way Welcome from Sam Whittingham and Jade Wardle In the lead up to Christmas, the school has been alive with festivities and events! The Senior Citizens Christmas Party was a great success bringing together the youth of Ringwood and our elderly residents in a night of fun. The auditions for the Student Christmas Concert are already underway, building up to a marvellous show filled with talent in the last week of term. Alongside this, the Christmas Carol Concert will be showing after school, pulling in huge crowds from our community. This is a time to remember those less fortunate and we should all be proud of the number of tins for the homeless we have collected. Ringwood in the News Christmas 2015 3 GETTING AHEAD WITH THE 2015 CAREERS FAIR his year's careers fair was Ta roaring success despite the inclement weather on the night. Organisers Mrs Barnes and Miss Lowther went all out with more than 55 exhibitors covering everything from the RAF to careers in music and univeristy options in the Conference Centre. This annual fair enables students to make informed decisions about "It really was a great event, I was amazed their futures and many discover with the variety of different exhibitors you had career paths they wouldn't available for your students to engage with." otherwise have considered! - Wiltshire College "The event was run very efficiently and the food supplied to the stands was first class. I was (as last year) again impressed with the attitude and interest shown by the pupils. A lot of work goes into such an event and it was certainly well attended. My thanks to you, the staff and students." - Qinetiq STUDENTS GET BACK TO NATURE WITH THE FOREST SCHOOL Written by Caitlin Howard & Imogen Lines-Clarke (Stinking Iris). When we started carving wood, we had to saw branches off of a fallen tree. We then we carved it into the n Friday 16th October, some year shape and painted a design on the smooth flat side.