PARENT AWARENESS PROGRAMME
Even though we are moving slower that anticipated, we have internally programmed our objectives regarding IT control when it comes to children’s use of technology. New tools, new strategies and protocols are enabling us to guarantee the best possible use of technology inside our learning spaces. Hopefully, very soon we will be able to grant our families parent control of our devices at home which was one of our main commitments last academic year.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EYFS/PRIMARY AND SECONDARY?
Year 1 trip to Micropolix
As part of their learning about ‘Our Community’, Year 1 children visited Micropolix. The children experienced some of the roles that important people have to help us in our community, such as farmers, shop assistants and doctors. Through this first-hand experience, they gained a better understanding of how different people help us. The children all especially enjoyed practising being firefighters by using a hose to put out fires and driving a fire engine. After their trip, the children shared their learning with other children in an assembly and now have lots of interesting ideas about what roles they might have when they grow up.
Yr 3 visits Arqueopinto
To conclude their learning on the ‘Stone Age’, Year 3 went on an informative trip to Arqueopinto. The children spent the day learning about what life was like during the Stone Age and experiencing it for themselves. They visited a Stone Age hut and watched how people in the Stone Age lit fires to cook and keep warm. Year 3 children also enjoyed learning how to paint using natural colours and sticks as they would have done inside caves during the Stone Age time.
Yr 6 visits Matadero
On Tuesday 12 November, Year 6 went to the immersive Titanic exhibit as the Matadero. Children enjoyed the museum where we could see examples of clothing worn at the time as well as reading about some real-life people (some from Spain) who were on the Titanic. We were introduced to a father and daughter whose journey we followed throughout the exhibition.
Then children had their first VR (virtual reality) experience as we listened to the musicians who played as the boat sank. We then watched an interactive video to find out more about the ship. The most exciting part was probably the second VR experience where children could walk around the ship – it felt like you were really there!
Back at school, we have talked about great voyages and what compells people to set off on such journeys. This links to our book Kensuke’s Kingdom as our characters sets off on a voyage around the world. We will continue with our learning about counties of the world as the term goes on
VIPEIKA news: COMETA NURSERY construction in Kocuc – Turkana for 100 children
This is how advanced the project is, with the roofs of the buildings, and the children going in and out as you can see in the photo without any problem; helmets do not exist there!
DogPoint
On Friday 8 November, students from Years 7 to 11 enjoyed a memorable assembly with DogPoint, a charity dedicated to training dogs that support individuals with autism and other disabilities. We learned about the work of the charity and the way that these dogs help people with different disabilities. We even had the opportunity to interact with the dogs, petting them and taking part in activities. One of the activities showed how the dogs can help a person with anxiety by laying on their lap, applying gentle pressure to their legs to relax the body.
The presentation was delivered in English and covered key aspects of the curriculum and life at Richmond Park School. The session was interactive, with many parents asking insightful questions. In the spirit of inclusivity, these questions were answered in both English and Spanish to ensure all attendees felt comfortable and informed.
The assembly linked to the RPS Empathy Programme and provided us with an example of how people with different needs experience the world. The student feedback was very positive as they all enjoyed the interactive approach to learning, with one saying, “I really enjoyed the assembly, I think it taught us something new and important in a very fun way!» Another student said, “I like how this assembly was so interactive – I think this is a great way to learn!”
Some Year 9 students were so inspired that they have expressed an interest in volunteering for the charity. They were especially fascinated by the way the dogs’ personalities changed when their ‘do not touch’ vests were removed.
Overall, the assembly was a great and it was an interactive way for us to learn about this important work.
Music assembly
On Friday 15 November the students from Years 7, 8 and 9 took part in a special sharing assembly. This was an opportunity for them to talk about and present some of the learning that has been taking place in their music lessons, as well as share some recent sporting achievements and sing a song linking with the RPS Empathy project.
The Year 7 classes were very impressive with their rhythmic rendition of Up Town Funk performed using basketballs, chair drumming and cajons. This was in keeping with the STOMP style of performance that they have been working on in their own composition work.
Year 8 shared the musical devices they have been using as part of their film music composition projects. The students presented, described and demonstrated the techniques before sharing some videos of their outstanding compositions created using GarageBand.
Year 9 students have been learning about the origins of the Blues. They presented a folk song sung in two parts, accompanied by a complex body percussion pattern. They have demonstrated perseverance in their learning and were proud to show what they had all achieved together.
The assembly was a lovely opportunity to get together and sing our KS3 song, ‘Come Away In’ by songwriter Karine Polwart. The song was originally written to celebrate ‘civic hospitality and welcome’ for the City of Glasgow. It has been a great song to begin the academic year with, welcoming all the new students to secondary and giving us food for thought about how we can support others through kindness and empathy.
We finished the assembly with a celebration of some of the achievements of our sport leadership team and the players who have participated in events inside and outside school. We are looking forward to lots more events coming up in the rest of the term.
The students have been very busy in their artistic and sporting endeavours and have achieved a lot already this academic year!
SPORTS
Football league friendly matches
On Saturday 26 October the Richmond Park School football academy had a full round of friendly football matches. The day started with the Benjamin team vs Escuela Hortaleza. The Richmond Park School benjamin team really put on a show for the watching crowd. They started well and managed to play some excellent passing football. The Escuela Hortaleza team did take an early lead although once the Richmond Park School benjamin team took control of the game they really dominated the game. In the end, the result was a 5-1 victory.
The second game was the alevin boys team and this was also against a Escuela Horteleza team. The alevin boys played fantastically well with arguable their best performance of the season so far. The children dominated the first half with the score finishing 5-0 at the break. In the second half, the Richmond Park School dominance continued and the final result was a 14-1 victory. The was an excellent way for the team to finish their pre-season build up and hopefully this form will continue into the season.
The last game of day involved the alevin girls team. The girls were playing their third match together as a team against Chamartin Vergara. The girls really showed their progression with great performance. The girls really demonstrated some excellent individual and team skills. In the match, Richmond Park School alevin girls managed to score some excellent goals with them getting their historical first ever win with a 6-1 victory. This really marked an fantastic step in the Richmond Park School alevin girls teams journey with an excellent season awaiting them.
This was a very successful weekend for the Richmond Park School football academy team all finishing with impressive victories. Thank you to Escuela Hortaleza and Chamartin Vergara as well as the parents for their support and help.
Great debut of Richmond Park School’s volleyball teams in the Madrid Catholic Schools League
Our “alevin” & “infatil” volleyball teams have debuted with great enthusiasm in the Catholic Schools League of Madrid. In the first match, the “alevin” team faced Valdefuentes A, while the “infantil” played against Sta. Joaquina de Vedruna . Although we did not achieve victory, we are very proud of the effort and commitment of our players. These matches add valuable learning to continue improving in the season. One, two, three; RPS!
Alevin boys math vs Pintor Rosales
On Saturday 9 November Richmond Park Alevin Boys Team opened their league campaign vs Pintor Rosales. The match overall went very and Richmond Park managed to take an early two goal lead with some fabulous goals. There were no further goals before the half time break although it was a good performance. The second half started like the first with a some quick fire goals and there was excellent passing movements and individual goals on display throughout. In the end, the score finished 6-1 to the Richmond Park School Alevin Boys Team in a which was a perfect start to the new season.
BISSL competition
On Friday 8 November Richmond Park School hosted the first ever British and International School Sports League (BISSL) Competition. This new association has been created to ensure that there are more sporting opportunities in a competitive environment for children and young people within the Madrid British and International school community. This year there will be six events involving girls from Year 5 to Year 8 in three different sports football, netball and basketball. On Friday 8th November Richmond Park hosted the first of the two footballing events. The evening was the qualification phrase for the quarter and semi-finals. The girls competed in Year 5-6 and Year 7-8 categories and played 6-a-side games. The evening was filled with some fantastic football skills and ability with the teams booking their specific knock out round pathways. The second part of the BISSL will be hosted again by Richmond Park School with the winners of the competitions being decided.
Thank you to the other schools TEMS, Montessori La Florida, Dallington and St George and everyone that helped or supported the event.
Basketball
We arrived at the game, and we found an opposing team with several super tall kids, which makes us take the game with the aspiration to improve and have fun as much as possible. Even so we managed to stand up to them and even at some points we are ahead on the scoreboard. Logic, however, manages to impose itself, and with a scandalous difference in the rebounding, a consequence of the physical superiority, the rival team gets a slight advantage of 6 points at halftime.
In the second half, our children understand what the coach asks them, and manage to reduce the difference in rebounds, resulting in a partial result of 1 point difference. Total: 7 down, 22-15. Our scoring record in the six games we have played between last season and this one (5 friendlies and one official).
One of our players, Santiago, made his debut, and he did it with a brilliant performance. Bravo team!!!
Alevin football matches
On Saturday 16 November Richmond Park School Girls Alevin team played their first ever league match against St George. The match started well with both teams showing great effort and ability. As the half progressed St George took control of the game and managed to take the lead with spectacular top corner volley. Richmond Park School fought back although St George doubled their lead before the half time break. In the second, Richmond Park played well and took the game to St George with Gabriela managing to score a goal with a fantastic low shot into the bottom corner. In the final part of the game, St George managed to score a goal with a clinical counter attack. In scored finished a 3-1 loss although the girls fantastic in the first league outing.
The Boys Alevin team played their second match of the league season. The boys were looking to add to last week´s victory and were playing against a strong Escuela de Hortaleza A team. The game started badly for Richmond with Escuela de Hortaleza taking a quick two goal lead. After 10 minutes Richmond Park started to find their stride and began to perform well. Before the half time break Richmond Park won a freekick on the halfway line and Iñigo fired a wondergoal to cut the lead to 2-1.
In the second half Richmond Park continued to play well creating some fantastic opportunities and were unlucky not to convert. The score finished a 3-1 loss as Escuela de Hortaleza scored from deflected shot in the last minutes of game. Richmond Park were unlucky not to get anything out of the game and will be looking to bounce back next week.
Golf tournament
A great day for our RPS Golf teams competing in our first interschools golf tournament hosted by @realfedgolfmadrid at El Encin Golf club.
Over 200 players from 30 schools have been able to participate and enjoy the first competition of the 2024-25 circuit! Well done to all involved.
Basketball vs Fuentelarreyna
With the new equipment finally arrived from the factory came our first victory (Fuentelarreyna 13- Richmond 17) in a match marked by equality (we were losing 7-6 at halftime). Once again the technical corrections of our players during the game to the instructions received in the timeouts were that little plus of success that allowed us to turn the game on our side. However, do not let the trees prevent us from seeing the forest, at this age the constant work in the medium and long term is the important thing, congratulations guys!!!
Benjamines Battle Back for Dramatic 4-4 Draw with Picasso B
In an exciting and action-packed match, Richmond Park Benjamines battled Picasso B to a thrilling 4-4 draw. Despite falling behind 3-1 and 4-3 at different points in the game, the team showed great resilience and determination to level things up and secure a hard-earned point.
Captain Angela delivered an outstanding performance, coming close to scoring early on when her shot rattled the crossbar. Felix excelled in a new position, making crucial tackles throughout the match. Santi and Javier were key in creating opportunities for their teammates, while Lucas impressed in midfield and Jaime held firm in defense.
Goalkeepers Alejandro and Beltran stepped in admirably, with both making several crucial saves to keep the team in the game. William and Pablo also put in solid shifts, playing well both in defense and on the wing.
Despite being unlucky not to claim the win, the draw was a well-earned result for Richmond Park. With eyes now on next weekend’s match against Chamartín, the team is determined to continue their rise up the table.
Impressive Second-Half Fightback Falls Just Short as the Girls Lose 3-2 to Chamartín Vergara
The Richmond Park girls faced Chamartín Vergara in their second match of the season, and after a tough first half, they showed great character in a spirited second-half rally.
A slow start saw the team struggle early on, with Chamartín Vergara taking full advantage to establish a 3-0 lead by halftime. However, the girls emerged from the break with renewed energy and determination. Vega and Inés both found the back of the net as Richmond Park pushed hard for a comeback.
Despite their best efforts and a much-improved second-half display, they fell just short, with the final score ending 3-2 in Chamartín’s favor. The girls now turn their attention to Friday’s rearranged game, looking to build on the positives from this hard-fought match and continue their growth throughout the season.
HOUSES
Richmond Park School’s Houses score chart
MERCHANDISING
Richmond Park School’s merchandising
We invite you to visit our website’s section “SHOP” where you will be able to see all the merchandise with our Houses’ logos. Please remember this is a personalised service, so orders cannot be received with less than two weeks notice.