Newsletter for Students and Parents Thursday 17th December 2009 Volume 2 Issue 7

Learners of today, Leaders of tomorrow.

The Principal Writes

Year 11 mocks this week have been a timely reminder to students of what they need to do to ensure GCSE success. There will be a Mock Results Day in January which will help to focus efforts further. Many students in College VI will be taking AS and A2 modules in January and must use some of their time over the coming holiday to ensure revision is completed and nothing is left to chance. As this Newsletter is published early this week, it is not possible to comment on the Christmas Concert which is taking place on Thursday evening. However, the College Carol Services have given us a great taste of what is in store and shown how hard and successfully the Music staff and CPA students have been preparing for the festivities. This has been a really successful and very busy term and I know that staff and students deserve and are looking forward to a well earned rest. I would like to wish everyone a safe and restful break, a very Merry Christmas and an excellent New Year.

Christmas Parcels
Members of Aquila were delighted to deliver parcels of luxury food items to the South Croydon Day Centre on Monday, continuing a long-standing Riddlesdown tradition of reaching out to local elderly people at this time of year. Along with Mrs Broom and Miss Johnson, the group enjoyed meeting and talking to the visitors at the Centre and ended the visit by singing Christmas songs and carols for them with great panache. In the summer, we plan to invite the Centres clients to join us in the School Hall for a tea dance, with music from the 40s and the chance to talk in detail about their memories of life in Britain through the last century. Mr Edwards

Debating
Last week TITANS Whitgift attended Riddlesdown for a competitive debate, judged by two teachers from other schools, entitled This house believes too much choice is a bad thing, organised by Mr Cox, and chaired by the honorable Quincy Boansi. Riddlesdown, represented by Mark Davies and John Dowd, were proposing the motion, as Whitgift had chosen to oppose. The debate went smoothly with both sides bringing in some impressive points, but ultimately, after battling long and hard, Goliath and David style, and despite a prestigious history of debating within Whitgift, Riddlesdown were announced the winners, the points standing at 69 to 65. Judges compliments included Marks steadfast argument and Johns confident and flowing debating style. Thanks to all involved, including Mr Cox, our Chair, Quincy, Mr Chamberlain and Miss Chant for their help and cue cards, autographs will be available upon request. Mark Davies 13SCM & John Dowd 13SJB

AQUILA

ORION

PEGASUS

PHOENIX

CPA

COLLEGE VI

Netball
On Thursday 3rd December , Riddlesdown Year 7 A team played against Croydon High. All the girls played in freezing cold weather but they still put in 100% effort. Unfortunately we lost with the final score being 13-6 . I would like to say a big thank you and well done to all the girls who played Rashida Campell-Allen (7SJR), Catherine Brown (7AMO), Lauren El-Bishlawi (7PKC), Ellie England (7TGH), Becky Glazebrook (7PKC), Jessica Newcombe (7SEH), Daisy Bennett (7SEH), Laughra Norton (7AMO), Sila Quinn (7AMO) and Loyiso Ntshoko (7JEP). On Tuesday 8th December the Year 7 A team played a friendly match against Woodcote. They played three 7 minutes and by the end of the first seven the score was 3-1 to Riddlesdown. Woodcote didnt give up and after 14 minutes we were 5-4 down. But we fought back in the last third and reached a final score of 7-5 to us. Well done to all the girls that played Catherine Brown (7AMO), Lauren El-Bishlawi (7PKC), Laurgha Norton (7AMO), Sila Quinn (7AMO), Jessica Newcombe (7SEH), Becky Glazebrook 7PKC), Ellie England (7TGH), Loyiso Ntshoko(7JEP), Daisy Bennett (7SEH) and Rashida Campell-Allen (7SJR). Jessica Newcombe, Team Captain

Vacancy
A Learning Support Assistant is required to work during term time only from 8.45 am to 3.30 pm supporting students in the Collegiate. You will need to be flexible, have the ability to motivate and encourage and be sensitive to the needs of students. Full details of this post can be obtained from our website www.riddlesdown.org or by telephoning the Collegiate on 020 8668 5136.

Safety
Riddlesdown Collegiate is thinking of offering safety wear for students to use on the way home from school. The idea was brought up through the College Council meetings and was then forwarded to the Executive Council with the Principal. The safety wear consists of fluorescent bands which will enable cars and pedestrians to see the students, especially as evenings are getting darker. The bands are available at Hewitts of Croydon and may soon be available via the Collegiate. Georgie Meller & Stuart Lee Head Girl & Head Boy - Phoenix College Collegiate Development Days (students not in Colleges) Thursday 1st April 2010 Wednesday 21 July 2010 Academic Tutoring Day Wednesday 24th February 2010 Bank Holidays Friday 2nd April 2010 Monday 5th April 2010 Monday 3rd May 2010

Autumn Term 2009 Friday 18 December Last Day of Term Students will be dismissed at 12.30 pm Term Dates 2010 Tuesday 5 January Monday 15 February Thursday 1 April Monday 19 April Monday 31 May Tuesday 20 July First Day Spring Term Spring Half Term week Last Day Spring Term First Day Summer Term Summer Half Term week Last Day Term students