EDUCATIONAL CURRENT NEWS

Online Safety – Tips and recommendations 

We would like to welcome everyone to this new school year. Continuing with last year’s initiative we will once again dedicate this section of the bulletin to keep you updated with the relevant information on current news and developments as part of our ongoing awareness campaign. 

Our first update comes from our blended learning team and includes some useful tips and recommendations promoting digital wellbeing at home. Some or you might have already received it. 

As part of our Digital Wellbeing Campaign, we are committed to help students develop healthy digital habits both at school and at home. While technology plays a vital role of our children’s lives, but balancing its use is essential for their overall wellbeing. To support this effort, we’d like to share some tips on how to create effective rules for technology use at home. 

These guidelines come from both educational research and advice provided in our Family Rules for Using Devices poster from NOS, which emphasises setting boundaries that promote healthy device use. 

1. Establish Technology-Free Times 

One of the most effective ways to manage screen time is by creating dedicated “technology-free” times for your family, such as during meals, homework sessions, or before bedtime. This allows children to engage in other activities and conversations without distractions from devices. As suggested in our campaign, keeping family mealtimes tech-free fosters stronger relationships. 

2. Set Usage Limits for All Devices 

Setting limits on device use is a great way to teach your child time management and self-discipline. For instance, you can create rules like “No more than 2 hours of screen time on school nights” or “Devices must be turned off by 8 PM.” Establish clear boundaries and consider using timers or parental control apps on their personal devices to help monitor their usage.   

3. Create a Family Charging Station 

One practical tip from the Device Rules Guide is to create a central charging station where all devices are kept overnight. This keeps devices out of bedrooms, reducing the temptation for late-night use and promoting better sleep. It also helps parents monitor when and how devices are being used. 

4. Encourage Offline Activities 

Children thrive with a balance of digital and non-digital activities. Encourage your child to pursue offline interests, like reading, outdoor play, or hobbies that don’t involve screens. By making time for these activities, you can help them avoid becoming overly dependent on technology for entertainment. 

5. Discuss Privacy and Online Behaviour 

It’s crucial to have open conversations with your child about their online interactions. Remind them about the importance of privacy and responsible behaviour. As outlined in our Digital Wellbeing Campaign, setting clear rules for online conduct, such as not sharing personal information or engaging with strangers, helps your child stay safe online. 

6. Lead by Example 

Children often mirror the behaviour they see in adults. Show them how to responsibly use technology by following your own set of rules, like putting your phone away during family time or taking regular breaks from screens. Your actions will reinforce the importance of balance. 

7. Creating the Rules Together 

It’s important to involve your child in setting up these rules, as it helps them understand the reasoning behind the guidelines and makes them more likely to follow them. You can even create a written family agreement that everyone signs to solidify your commitment to healthy technology habits. 

At school, we are encouraging students to be mindful of their digital usage through our ongoing Digital Wellbeing Campaign. Together, we can help students maintain a balanced approach to technology that supports both their learning and wellbeing. 

Thank you for partnering with us on this important initiative. Together, we can foster healthier digital habits that benefit our children both now and in the future. 

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EYFS/PRIMARY AND SECONDARY?

We are delighted to see that during the first few weeks of the school year have been very successful. Across both Early Years and Primary, the children have settled in very well, embracing the routines of school with enthusiasm. 

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), our youngest learners are already showing signs of confidence as they explore their new environments. With gentle encouragement and guided activities, they are adjusting well to the rhythms of the day, building early friendships, and engaging in their learning through play.  

In Primary, students have also begun the year with strong motivation and focus. Our approach of easing them into their studies has proven to be very effective, ensuring that they feel comfortable while gradually picking up the pace of their academic work.  We are particularly pleased with how well our new students have integrated into the RPS community. They have been warmly welcomed by their peers and teachers alike, making a seamless transition into school life. 

A special mention must also go to how smart everyone looks after the summer holidays! The children have returned in full uniform, looking neat and ready for the year ahead. As a gentle reminder, please ensure that all children continue to wear the correct school uniform, including appropriate shoes, as this contributes to maintaining our high standards and helps foster a sense of pride and belonging in our school community. 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we embark on this exciting year ahead. 

VIPEIKA news 

Five students have already received scholarships from the Vipeika Foundation in the different universities, 3 girls and 2 boys, together with the 13 students with scholarships in secondary school and the 1,501 we have in the 10 nurseries and the 563 we have in primary school. 

We would like to share with you the message sent to us by the student Laban (he is an orphan), just like Vincent, which touched our hearts: 

‘ Hello, I want to express my gratitude to you and your organization for improving my self-esteem to higher limits as I am travelling by bus to begin my academic career.

The fencing and latrines in the nursery have been completed and the nursery is now 100% operational with 110 children. 

Between August and September we have sent 11,060€ to Turkana for food sacks, school supplies for the 9 nurseries with 1,501 children that we have in operation. 

We have also sent 15.000€ for the drilling of a water well in Turkana (we are waiting for the permit) which we hope to have before December and we have started the earthworks for the construction of ‘Cometa Nursery’ in Turkana for 100 children. 

New extra-curricular activities: Golf & Percussion 

Golf is a very complete sport in which the entire muscles of the body are worked. It is ideal to spend a day playing in nature. In addition, it is a perfect sport to develop body coordination and balance. Also, it is a family sport. This has the benefit that it can be practiced at any age, which makes it perfect for family sharing. In addition, golf learned during childhood, will lead to much greater progress in adulthood than if it began to be practiced in adulthood.

It is a low-risk sport, this is because it is not a contact sport, so serious injuries, especially at an early age, are very small.  

Golf is an activity that allows children to socialise and learn values. At an early age it is of fundamental importance that children learn ethical values. This makes it possible to follow the rules of the game, which are: 

– Respect, since the golfer has to be respectful with other players and with the environment itself. These basic gestures are essential when developing civic behaviour. 

– Honesty, because it is one of the few sports in which you are your own judge. You have to know the rules yourself and apply them to your play, including the corresponding penalties.  

In addition to the benefits of this physical activity, it is also very useful when it comes to developing strategies for relating to relationships and makes it possible for children to become friends with other players in a good environment. In addition, children who play golf improve their ability to handle emotions, learning with their good and bad shots. On the green you learn integrity, discipline and camaraderie. 

It also helps improve concentration and logical thinking. All these mental manoeuvres develop a logic that can be used in other areas of your life. In addition, it is clear that it is a sport that requires patience and concentration.  

Percussion The RPS music department is delighted to announce the launch of a new extracurricular percussion club. We invite all students to join and explore the exciting world of drums, rhythm and beats! 

We invite all students to join and explore the exciting world of drums, rhythm and beats!

Why joining the percussion club? 

  • Music can be a great way to relieve stress and express emotions. The physical act of drumming can be particularly cathartic. It also allows for a lot of creative expression, whether through improvisation or composing new rhythms and beats. 
  • Percussion ensembles require students to work together, listen to each other, and synchronise their playing, fostering a sense of teamwork and collaboration. 
  • Playing percussion instruments requires precise hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which can improve overall physical dexterity.  
  • Learning rhythms and patterns helps in developing mathematical and problem-solving skills. It also enhances memory and concentration. 
  • Percussion instruments are integral to many cultural music traditions. Participating in a percussion club can expose students to diverse musical styles and cultural histories. 

You will get the chance to perform in school bands, concerts, and a variety of exciting events, just like members of our other music clubs. It is a fantastic way to showcase your talent and be part of our vibrant musical community. 

Yr 8 & 11 trips to Gredos 

We have already started organising our yearly trip to Gredos. Our Year 8 students will be developing an interest in nature from a very young age as this will allow our future citizens to take care of resources and work towards a sustainable development of the planet. This trip will offer students the opportunity to connect with the natural environment and develop skills such as respect, independence, kindness and collaboration. 

For Year 11 students the programme will focus on developing transferable skills for IGCSE studies and also an introduction to IB attributes. It will also enrich their curriculum by going beyond the constraints of the classroom. As every year, this is an opportunity to have fun together in an educational setting in beautiful landscape. 

SPORTS

Start of RPS football league 2024/25 

On Saturday 21 September the Richmond Park School alevin boy´s team played a friendly match at Highlands School. 

The match started with both playing at a high intensity. Highlands struck first and scored due a mistake. Richmond responded well and continued to push forward creating some chances to score. Just before half-time, Highlands broke away and managed to score a second. After the half-time break, Richmond started excellently and managed to score a goal to take the score to 1-2. This made for an interesting ending to the game with Richmond pushing to score an equaliser. With Richmond´s all-out attacking style, Highlands managed to break again and score a goal in the dying minutes of the game and the game finished 1-3. 

The game provided a good test ahead of the upcoming league season. Well done everyone! 

Start of morning sports clubs 

Richmond Park School believes that daily exercise can have huge physical and psychological benefits to increasing the quality of life.  With this in mind, from 30 September onwards Richmond Park School will be delivering a host of different morning sport´s clubs. Children can participate in number of sports that will help create a healthy relationship with exercise. The current sports provided are swimming, football, basketball and volleyball.  

Children will have opportunity to practise friends and to be trained with the specialist Richmond Park School P.E. and swimming staff. This initiative is one which we are very proud of, provides an excellent platform to increase sporting excellent, celebrate enjoyment of sport as well as teaching Richmond Park School values through sport. 

DEER DAY 2024/25 

In secondary school, students enjoyed participating in the deer day as part of our house competitions and collaborative work. There were lots of students dressed in blue.

A number of sporting and whole school activities were set up by our CEO Mr Gonzalez with opportunities for students to enjoy working with an array of ages from across all areas of the school, building team work, resilience, supporting good causes and having fun together. It was a wonderful day. We look forward to the next house day! 

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.

https://richmondpark.school/shop/categoria-producto/houses/