Student Induction
Dear Year 6 Pupil,
Welcome to Rye Hills School! We are delighted that you are going to continue your education with us. To help you make a very successful start in September we have tried to answer any questions that you may have. This booklet should help you get ready for the new term, but there may be many other things that you need to know. If this is the case, just ask. We hope you enjoy your induction day and wish you a very happy and successful time with us.
Best wishes
Headteacher
How will Rye Hills School be different?
The school works on a two week cycle with fifty teaching periods per fortnight. Each lesson is one hour long. You should be in your form roomby 8:40 am.
Rye Hills School works differently. You will have a Form Tutor who you will see every morning at registration time. Then you will need to follow your own timetable and move from room to room to meet different teachers for each subject you take. It will take time to learn your way around the building and the names of some of the people. To help you there is a map of the school on the back cover of this booklet. On our Induction Days you will have Year pupils to guide you around the school. If you get lost don’t worry – just ask.
What is the Timing of the School Day?
The school works on a two week cycle with fifty teaching periods per fortnight. Each lesson is one hour long. You should be in your form roomby 8:20 am.
The timings are:
8:40 – 9:00 am Registration / Assembly
9:00 – 10:00 am Period 1
10:00 – 11:00 am Period 2
11:00 – 11:20 am Break
11:20 – 12:20 pm Period 3
12:20 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 pm Period 4
2:15 – 3:15 pm Period 5
What do I do if I am late?
You must be in school and in your Tutor Room by 8:40 am. At this time the automatic doors close and you can only gain entry to the building through the main entrance. The attendance officer Mrs. Moore will note your name or, if you come to school after lessons begin, you will need to sign in at the main office.
What will my timetable be like?
It will tell you which rooms and which teachers you will have for each subject. You will be taught in your tutor group for all subjects except English, Mathematics and Science.
What is the School Uniform?
Please see the School Uniform guidance.
What equipment do I need for school?
You will need to bring a pen, pencil, ruler and rubber for all lessons. It would be useful if you also had spare pens, a sharpener, coloured pencils and a calculator. Keep your equipment in a pencil case or tin. You will be issued with a planner and you must take it to every lesson. You can buy a calculator from school.
Where can I keep my belongings?
All tutor rooms have lockers and you may use a locker as long as you supply a suitable lock for your door. Your possessions are your responsibility and you must ensure that you do not leave items lying around. Lock away your possessions and ensure everything you bring to school is marked clearly with your name. Avoid bringing expensive items or large sums of money into school. Ipods and mobile phones must not be used. If you do lose an item in school, enquire at the office.
What must I bring for P.E.?
On your first day you are not expected to bring your P.E. kit but once you have your timetable you must have all equipment in school. The kit for boys and girls is the same and essential items are as follows:
(Items in brackets are not essential but may be helpful)
Outdoor Activities:
Royal blue reversible rugby shirt (royal blue sweatshirt)
Plain black shorts or black pleated games shirt
(plain black tracksuit bottoms)
Royal blue long socks and football boots
(Astroturf trainers for girls)
Indoor Activities:
Sky blue PE T shirt or sky blue polo shirt
Plain black shorts or black pleated games skirt and PE briefs
Royal blue long socks and trainers
All items of PE kit except footwear can be ordered through the P.E. department and will normally be delivered on your first day in September. Please ensure all kit is marked clearly with your name.
Will I get homework?
You will be used to receiving homework whilst at primary school. Everyone does homework as it is an important part of the learning process. You must use your planner to write down details of the homework tasks and organise your time to ensure you hand it in on the correct day. We have Homework Club Monday to Thursday after school in the library to help you as it is important that all tasks are completed to the best of your ability.
How will I be looked after at Rye Hills?
When you come to Rye Hills you will be placed in a tutor group in your House. The Houses are Headingley, Silverstone, Twickenham and Wimbledon. Each tutor group will have about 24 pupils, and these will be made up of pupils from all the years in the school. This is your opportunity to make new friends with students of all ages and take part fully in all your House activities. Keep your tutor well informed about how you are coping with school life as they are the best people for your parents to contact if they need information. In September parents/carers will be able to come in to school to meet your Head of House to discuss how well you have settled in.
What happens if I am bullied?
We all work together to prevent bullying in our school and we take a very strong line against any pupil who is a bully. You need to report the problem directly to your Form Tutor and/or Head of House so they can ensure appropriate action can be taken. We also have a special group of pupils in Year 10 who operate what we call a HELP group. Pupils who have been bullied or are experiencing other problems often find it helpful to discuss their problems with another pupil. Pupils from the HELP group are trained to listen to problems and will give you extra support. We also have a school counsellor, Mrs. Griffiths, who will help you with any personal problems.
What is the Rye Hills Code of Conduct?
Our code helps us to create a safe, caring and attractive school. We all need to make school as enjoyable as possible for everyone and we should all try hard to treat one another with respect. Everyone shares the responsibility for keeping a tidy and attractive school both inside and out. Make sure that you keep our building clean and tidy; walk around school quietly and sensibly; walk on the left hand side and do not drop litter. Make sure you are dressed in correct uniform; keep yourself, your work and belongings neat and tidy; behave in a calm, sensible manner in and around school.What do I do when I go into a classroom? When you enter a classroom you will always be seated boy/girl and directed where to sit by your teacher. Enter quietly and sensibly. Remove your coat and place it with your bag in the locker provided if you are working in a practical room. Coats should be placed on the back of your chair and bags stowed safely under the desk in a normal classroom. Make sure you have all equipment out on your desk including your planner and pencil case ready for the lesson to begin.
Expectations for Learning
We expect you to prepare for learning by keeping calm and focused during lesson time. You will be expected to answer questions and complete tasks which are designed to challenge you, to help you become an effective learner and make excellent progress. If you have difficulties with reading, writing or number work you can expect to receive extra help. We also provide access to ICT to support your learning and we expect you to make maximum effort to learn and achieve at Rye Hills.
Healthy Lifestyles
As a sports college we encourage you to adopt healthy lifestyles. Not only do we offer you a wide range of opportunities to keep physically fit and healthy. Our caterers provide a wide range of healthy food options and we have chilled water available to you at all times. You are able to drink water during lessons as long as you act responsibly and keep water away from computers and electrical equipment!
Health problems…
We need to know of any health problems you may suffer from e.g. diabetes, asthma, epilepsy etc. and of any condition that affects your participation in school activities. Please tell your tutor about these and ask your parent/carer to mention them at the meeting with your tutor. Our school nurse is also available in school once per week to deal with any questions/concerns you may have.What do I do if I am ill? If you feel unwell during a lesson you should inform your teacher who keep you in class or send you to your Head of House with a note in your planner. If you feel ill at lunchtime tell your form tutor or Head of House. You may have to be sent home in which case your parent/carer will be contacted. However, you cannot go home unless there is a parent/carer to collect you from school.
What happens at lunchtime?
If you wish to stay for school lunch you will be issued with a card which you need to credit for the cashless dinner system. You can charge your card before school, at break and lunchtimes but you cannot present cash in the dinner hall as payment for anything. If you are entitled to a free school meal you are issued with a card which is credited for the cost of a meal daily. You may wish to add credit to this to pay for drinks. If you wish you may bring a packed lunch otherwise your parent/carer must sign for you to have a pass to go out of school for lunch.
Where can I go at social times?
At social times i.e. break time and lunchtime you can go into the webs between the teaching blocks, you may use the Astro turf and when the weather if fine you can play on the school field. Pupils who wish to play ballgames may do so in the 2nd web (see map). If you wish to play on your skateboard the 4th web is designated for this BUT you must store your board in a locker and not carry it around the school.
Coming to school Bus, bike, walk or car, whichever way you come to school always remember to be on your best behaviour. If you come to school by bicycle, you must have a lock to secure it to the racks situated at the front of the building and use the cycle route. Pupils who come by car may be dropped off and collected from the Visitors’ Car Park.
School Activities
There are many lunchtime and after school activities you may wish to become involved in. As a sports college we offer a wide range of activities and encourage you to take up opportunities as they arise to try something new and to make the most of your time with us to enjoy and achieve. We support your learning through our Homework Club which is based in the library has already been mentioned and the library is open to all pupils every lunchtime. We also have excellent ICT facilities and the rooms are open for work and recreation at breaks and lunchtimes. In addition we would encourage you to become involved in our wide range of drama, music and subject-specific clubs and activities. Make sure you check our plasma information screen in the entrance hall every day to see what is happening in school.
Finally…
We hope this booklet has helped answer some of your questions.
Remember if you need to know anything just ask staff and pupils, they are all ready and willing to help you make a success of your time at Rye Hills.
Good Luck!