31st March 2017

Dear Parents

An undoubted highlight of this full term has been the school’s biennial musical production. This

year the drama and music departments staged Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. If you were

fortunate enough to attend one of the three performances, I am sure that you will agree that it was

impressive. Following Sondheim’s challenging score, the band, seated on stage, were required to

keep time with the actors; the actors, performing in the round, were required to keep time with

the musicians as they sang some hugely entertaining, but very demanding lyrics. The

performances were the culmination of several months of rigorous teamwork; it was an ambitious

undertaking and I know that those involved, whether on stage or off, will have made some lasting

memories together. We congratulate them all.

As part of our less public work in school this term, staff and governors have been reviewing a range

of school policies. Amongst these has been our policy for mobile telephones and devices. Given

that we are often lobbied by students to allow mobile phones in school, the review of this policy

tends to spark some interesting debate. However, the commitment we make as a school to

providing time during the day in which students remain digitally disconnected is steadfast.

Excessive screen time is limiting the opportunities young people have to interact; it cuts the

threads between them and as a result there is a danger that they become victims of what has

recently been described as the ‘empathy deficit’.

To counter this, one school has made the decision to put empathy lessons on its curriculum. The

Headteacher of King’s College, Wimbledon also offers the following advice to parents:

• reduce screen time so that children engage in life beyond it;

• get your teen to read more books because books talk about feelings and improve the

ability to comprehend that other people have their own distinct thoughts, beliefs and

aims;

• do more together, including watching television as a family;

• try persuading your child to join a team.

All good ideas, but sometimes easier said than done. Perhaps a simpler step in the right direction is

that suggested by journalist, Lorraine Candy, when writing on the subject. She has taken to putting

a note on the inside of her front door for her teenage children to see every morning before they

leave for school. It reads “Do one kind thing today.” She is prepared to weather the barrage of

sarcasm in the hope that it will sink in.

Naturally, in circumstances in which parents deem it important that their son or daughter has

access to their phone on the journey to and from school, we accommodate this by allowing the

young person to hand their device in at reception on arrival each morning and collect it before

leaving the school site at the end of the day. In the meantime, we will continue to hold the line

about students not having their mobile phones in school, not out of a reluctance to embrace new

technology, but in the positive belief that without a screen in the way, we are encouraging young

people to actively engage with one another and with their environment.

DDDDEPARTMENT NEWSEPARTMENT NEWSEPARTMENT NEWSEPARTMENT NEWS

BiologyBiologyBiologyBiology

A Level Biology A Level Biology A Level Biology A Level Biology ---- From cancer to blindness; can science save the day?

Oxford University, March 17th 2017

A rare disease is defined by the European Union as one that affects fewer than 5 in 10,000 of the

general population. There are between 6,000 and 8,000 known rare diseases, and around five new

rare diseases are described in medical literature each week. This event provided an excellent

opportunity for the A-Level Biology students to gain an insight into cutting edge research in the

fields of gene therapy and stem cell research - from the scientists and clinicians investigating and

treating these rare genetic diseases.

It was fascinating to discover the potential societal impact of this research, as human stem cells can

be used to treat heart disease and other degenerative diseases that cause blindness, develop

immune-therapeutics for childhood tumours and develop gene therapy for severe childhood

genetic disorders, such as Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.

However, this potentially monumental research into gene

therapy has not been without risk. For example, in the

treatment of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID),

twenty boys received treatment, with fifteen surviving a

disease that would have caused their death before the

age of two years old, but five developed leukaemia as a

result of treatment, and one boy died.

In between talks, students had the unique chance to

discuss and debate topics directly with the researchers.

This even included assembling origami viruses which

modelled those that are hijacked to deliver therapeutic

genes to treat rare conditions.

Overall, it was an incredibly interesting day, with many

students excited by the speed at which the field is

progressing, and how it has the capacity to change so

many lives.

Design & TechnologyDesign & TechnologyDesign & TechnologyDesign & Technology

In January, a team from BSRIA in Bracknell visited school to present a research project. Students

learned about the principles behind the design of ceiling vents and how to measure whether they

are distributing air flow effectively. The students then designed their own vents and, after weeks

of glue, board and cocktail stick construction their designs were complete.

On 22nd March students from year 9 visited the facilities at BSRIA with their finished designs. The

first stop was the sound room. There they discovered that one of the students is actually louder

than Mrs Rentell and a jumbo jet! They were then shown how to measure heat from a radiator,

and had their thermal image measured. Another fascinating test was observed on louvre windows

as students watched how air and water can be prevented from entering a building. BSRIA can test

almost anything, from wood burning stoves to the air flow over the grass as Wimbledon (which

they think is now the reason that Murray is playing so well!).

The students’ own vent designs were then subjected to air flow, humidity, temperature and smoke

tests to assess how effectively they distributed air. Amy Harris and Sophie Jeziorski are to be

congratulated for designed the winning vent.

EnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish

Last month, the theatre company The Globe Players came into Ranelagh to perform one of

Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Macbeth. Having studied the text during the spring term,

students in year 8 watched intently as the tragedy unfolded in the school hall.

After the performance, students put pen to paper, detailing their thoughts and feelings about this

version of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

“My overall impression of this performance is positive. I really enjoyed watching it and would

definitely recommend it to any other school as it really helped me understand the play.”

Lola Hazel 8U.

“The actors in the play performed well and really engaged with the audience constantly.” Abbie-

Louise Chapman 8X.

“I can happily announce that this version of Macbeth is one of the best productions I have ever seen.

Well done, Globe Players!” Wilbur Pope 8U.

“I would highly recommend The Globe Players for any secondary school studying Macbeth. It is very

entertaining, yet informative. A must see.” Indira Ndika 8Z.

Final Update on Year 7 ReadathonFinal Update on Year 7 ReadathonFinal Update on Year 7 ReadathonFinal Update on Year 7 Readathon

Readathon have contacted the school to confirm that students in year 7 have raised an amazing

£2,316.71£2,316.71£2,316.71£2,316.71 this academic year. This wonderful achievement will provide children in hospitals

around the UK with regular storyteller visits, plus a mobile bookcase of brand new books, which is

replenished every six weeks.

The English Department would like to extend a huge thank you to all year 7 students, parents and

carers who gave generously to the sponsored Readathon in November 2016.

HistoryHistoryHistoryHistory

On the 9th February students from year 12 and 13 travelled to Krakow in Poland, as part of their

History and RE studies. The main focus of this visit was the day spent at Auschwitz. Students were

prepared for this by visiting the Galicia museum, which is in the old Jewish quarter, where images

from the past and present are displayed, illustrating the destruction of the Jewish culture in Poland

as a result of the Holocaust.

During their visit students also met with a Holocaust survivor. Her story was translated as she only

spoke Polish, but that did not prevent her from having a marked impact on the students. Her

family had been killed in the early 1940s, but she had been smuggled to safety and adopted. She

did not find out about her past until much later in life. The only memory she has of her mother is

just one photograph that was saved for her. Staff and students could not fail to be moved by her

account and it prepared us for the challenges of Auschwitz that we would encounter the next day.

At 6am, we were all up preparing to leave for the town of Oswiecim, where the Auschwitz complex

sits. It was -10 degrees which added to the somber nature of the day. We were guided around

Auschwitz I, the former Polish army barracks, which housed the suitcases, clothing, hair and other

artefacts that were stolen from the Jews on their arrival at the camp. The images were haunting.

Our 3-hour guided tour still didn’t seem long enough for us to understand the horrors that we were

witnessing. We then travelled to Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is in stark contrast to Auschwitz I. This

was purpose built for killing Jewish men, women and children. The biting cold and the wind really

made us all think about how the prisoners would have tried to survive here. It was a sobering, but

powerful day for all of us.

Students also had the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Poland. There was time to explore

the market hall, the salt mines and to enjoy a traditional Polish meal with dancing! It was so

important that the students saw the recovery and positive side to Poland, as it has a rich and

exciting history in its own right.

The students were superb throughout this whole visit and their reflections demonstrated this upon

their return. I hope that they continue to share their experiences with you as the lessons from the

visit are important for us all.

MusicMusicMusicMusic

Individual success

Congratulations to Joshua Ruddock (10V) who won the PB Piano Cup for Best Overall Performance

in Piano Grade Classes at the recent LVS Ascot Music Festival.

ScienceScienceScienceScience

Year 10 Panasonic STEM Visit - report by Libby Shields 10Y

On Friday 24th February and 3rd March, two groups of Year 10 students spent the morning at the

Panasonic building in Bracknell. The purpose of the visit was to provide a valuable insight into the

world of technology and engineering, since many of the students were taking part in the 3M STEM

challenge.

Having left the school by minibus, we arrived at Panasonic both curious about what the morning

would entail, and eager to begin. We were led through a clean and spacious reception into a

conference room. We listened to a presentation about the both the history and future of

Panasonic. We were also given information about careers and apprenticeships in the company,

which coincided perfectly with our work experience decision-making.

After the presentation, we were shown into a room where examples of Panasonic’s products were

displayed around the walls from oldest to newest. The dates ranged from the late 1920s to modern

day, and it was incredibly interesting to see how the style of technology has changed through the

decades.

We then moved to the much larger innovation and B2B [business to business] room, where we

spent the majority of the morning. First, we were shown and allowed to try out some professional

film studio cameras, each costing several thousand pounds. There was also a demonstration of

facial recognition technology, using our own faces. As explained, we had been filmed upon entering

the room, and it was this feed that was used to show the abilities of the system. Next, we were

shown different types of projector, some of which are not on the UK market, yet! There was one

that could project images onto a curved surface, such as Tube station walls, and other various

interactive projectors (like those found in most McDonalds), and one that could be used to view

different clothes on mannequins through an electronic catalogue, which links to mobile phones.

At this point, we split into two groups to carry out different activities. One group tested out a 4K

camera by dropping a lime into a glass of water. Several photos were taken, and the best of these

were selected for a competition with the other group. Due to the fact that it was 4K, the picture

quality was brilliant, and every drop of water was distinct.

Meanwhile, the other group was testing out the Toughbook, a tablet designed by Panasonic for use

in places where there is the significant risk of damage, such as building sites, and even the army.

The Toughbook is exceptionally durable, and we were allowed to toss it onto the floor, and drop a

heavy metal ball onto it from a height. There was a video that showed the tablet surviving a blast

from a fireman’s hose, extreme cold and even, unbelievably, being blown up!

The groups switched activities

before meeting up and trying out

an interactive whiteboard that

allowed up to 5 people to write on

it at a time. Much to the

Panasonic engineer’s amazement,

we decided to do trigonometry on

the board, followed by writing in

Japanese, Chinese, French,

Spanish and Latin in addition to

doodling and writing in English.

Finally, we said goodbye and

returned to school just in time for

lunch.

The Panasonic visit was great fun, and everybody learned a lot.

SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITYSERVICE IN THE COMMUNITYSERVICE IN THE COMMUNITYSERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY

Pride of Bracknell Forest

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty and deserves some

recognition? Then the Pride of Bracknell Forest Awards are the perfect way to say thank you.

We're hoping to celebrate the best of the borough and give these unsung heroes the praise they so

deserve at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday, April 21.

This year’s ten categories are:

• The John Nike award, encompassing the former Pride of Bracknell (children’s champion)

and Pride of Bracknell (adults’ champion) awards

• School of the Year

• Teacher of the Year

• Business of the Year

• Health and Sport (Young Person’s Achievement) and the Health and Sport (Adult

Achievement)

• Charity of the Year

• Volunteer of the Year

• Team of the Year - this new category for teams can be any type of team or group of people

who come together for the same cause, whether they be linked to sports, a company, a

charity, a school or church.

To nominate email your entry to news@bracknellnews.co.uk or write to Pride of Bracknell Forest,

Bowman House, 2-10 Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU.

Email entries should include:

• Your name

• Your contact number

• The name of your nominee

• Your nominee's contact details and address

• And a brief description of why your nominee should be awarded

The closing date is Friday, April 7.

Red Nose Day – Comic Relief

Thank you to all students and staff who took part in the Red Nose Day for Comic Relief last Friday.

The total raised from Mufti day and cake sale was £1,059.

London Marathon update

Karen Wright: It is just over three weeks to go until I run 26.2 miles as part of the London

Marathon. I am very nervous about this event, but also feel confident that I have put in the right

level of training. It has been grueling. Since January, I have stepped up the miles that I have had to

run, with 10 miles on a Saturday becoming ‘a normal training run’; never did I think this would be a

phrase I would utter! I have been riddled with injuries that I had never even heard of – inflamed IT

band and the dreaded ‘Achilles heel’ to name the two that have plagued me most. However, I also

recognise that I am probably at the fittest I have ever been; I feel ‘run strong’ and more

importantly, I am ABLE to take part in this event, which not everyone can do. I have learnt the

importance of discipline and the value of planning my training to fit in with work and other life

commitments.

It has been a genuine challenge, but one I am excited to have been a part of. I am still trying to

reach my £1900 pledge to participate in the London Marathon. I am half way there, but would be

very grateful for any further donations, no matter how large or small to help me reach this target. I

am extremely proud to be running for Cardiac Risk in the Young; a charity that I was made aware of

by Gill Weston, who lost her son Lewis when he was a Ranelagh student in 1998. This is such an

important charity and every penny raised goes towards fighting the silent killer disease that causes

the death of around 12 young people each week. If you would like to sponsor me, my charity page

is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Karen1. Thank you so much for your continued support- I look

forward to sharing my race day experience with you!

Andy Dax: Preparing for the London Marathon has been an interesting challenge for me to take

on. I have participated in numerous sporting events, but this one feels particularly special as it is

for a charity that focuses on getting disadvantaged young people into work. I am fortunate enough

to work with young people every day and watch as they develop their potential. Not all young

people have these opportunities, which is why I am so proud to be running for the Shaw Trust. The

training is all consuming; no matter what the weather, or how tired you feel, you need to put on

the lycra and get out there. The impact of running on your joints cannot be underestimated, so a

crucial part of my learning curve has been understanding how to look after myself properly to

ensure effective recovery. I am so excited about the upcoming marathon and can’t wait to hear

the roar of the London crowds. If you would like me to reach the £1000 pledge I have made to the

Shaw Trust, you can sponsor me here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Andrew-Dax. Thank

you for all your help in supporting this charity.

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIESCLUBS AND ACTIVITIESCLUBS AND ACTIVITIESCLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

A reminder of some of the enrichment activities available from the start of the Summer term:

Department Activity Year Group Day/Time Location

Chemistry A-Level

Masterclasses

Year 13 Wednesdays

3.45 – 4.30pm

O8

English Creative Writing

Club

KS3 and

KS4

Wednesday 12.45-

1.20

S44

English

Debating Club Year 7 Tuesday 12.45-1.20 S44

English/LRC Book Club Year 7 Fridays (week 2)

11.10 – 11.30am

LRC

PE Cross country/

Atheltics

Years 7 to

11

Mondays

3.45 – 4.30pm

Sports Hall / field

PE Flag Football Year 10 Mondays

3.45 – 4.30pm

On the field/astro

Physics A-Level

Materclasses

Years 12 &

13

(Purple) Thursdays

3.45 – 4.30pm

O8 + O9

Science STEM Group Years 7 to

11

Tuesdays

1.00 – 1.25pm

O9

ROUTINE INFORMATIONROUTINE INFORMATIONROUTINE INFORMATIONROUTINE INFORMATION

School opening times

The School Office will be open on Monday 3rd to Thursday 6th April 2017.

Parking

We have been informed by local residents that a number of parents are dropping off students for

school in Buttermere Gardens cul-de-sac and using private driveways to turn around and exit.

Despite residents requesting they refrain from this, some drivers have persisted. We are very

fortunate in the positive relationships we enjoy with our neighbours and would like to ask that all

drivers are respectful of the fact that Buttermere Gardens is a private road and NOT a drop off/pick

up point.

Anti-social behaviour in Bracknell Town Centre

We would like to make parents and families aware that we have recently been advised by Thames

Valley Police that there has been an increase in anti-social behaviour in Bracknell town centre,

especially outside McDonald’s and The Point. The local Police neighbourhood team is working with

the Youth Offending Service, Bracknell Forest Council, local businesses and youth outreach

programmes to reduce this and make the area more pleasant for those who wish to use the leisure

facilities, as well as to identify persistent offenders.

The neighbourhood team will continue to patrol the town centre at weekends and plans to conduct

an operation to further target and minimise anti-social behaviour in the lead up to and over the

Easter holiday. Anyone witnessing this sort of behaviour is encouraged to report it on 101 or 999.

SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLSUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLSUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLSUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL

Friends of Ranelagh – News and updates (Appendix 1).

PTA –––– Please find the PTA Newsletter and information sheet (Appendix 2).

DATES FOR YOUR DIARYDATES FOR YOUR DIARYDATES FOR YOUR DIARYDATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wednesday 19Wednesday 19Wednesday 19Wednesday 19thththth AprilAprilAprilApril Start of Summer TermStart of Summer TermStart of Summer TermStart of Summer Term

Summer UniformSummer UniformSummer UniformSummer Uniform

Year 13 Business/Economics Revision Conference in Portsmouth

Friday 21st April Year 10 Romeo & Juliet Globe Players

Thursday 27th April Junior Maths Challenge (Year 7 & 8)

Shakespeare Festival – all years

Monday 1st May Bank Holiday

Tuesday 2nd May Year 10 Art to Tate Britain

Wednesday 3rd May Year 7 Drama Matilda 2.30 pm

Wednesday 17th May Year 10 Geography to Reading

Friday 12th May Year 13 Study Leave begins

Wednesday 17th May Year 8-10 Athletics

Friday 19th May Year 10 Geography to Reading

Saturday 20th May The Big Tidy 9.00 am – 11.00 am

Thursday 25th May Holy Communion

Monday 29 May Monday 29 May Monday 29 May Monday 29 May –––– Friday 2 JuneFriday 2 JuneFriday 2 JuneFriday 2 June Half Term Half Term Half Term Half Term

And finally…And finally…And finally…And finally…

In our end of term assembly this morning we will be saying farewell to Mr Reskalla, of the Design

Technology department, Mr Dax, Curriculum Leader for Computing and ICT, Mr Burrows,

Curriculum Leader for Science and Mrs Dickinson, who teaches Biology. We wish each of them

every success as they move on to their new schools and challenges, and thank them for their

service here at Ranelagh.

Although two weeks of Lent remain, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you peace and joy

as you celebrate with your family and friends this Easter.

Yours sincerely

Mrs B StevensMrs B StevensMrs B StevensMrs B Stevens

HeadteacherHeadteacherHeadteacherHeadteacher

Appendix 1

Friends of Ranelagh Ranelagh School Ranelagh Drive Bracknell RG12 9DA Established 1947 Registered Charity Number 1060543

Thank you to all our new, past and existing donors for your generous support.

How can I get in touch with the Friends of Ranelagh?

If you would like to get in touch with the trustees, then please contact us via the school office or by

emailing fordonations@ranelagh.bracknell-forest.sch.uk. You can also contact us through the Friends of

Ranelagh section on the school website where you will find an online enquiry form. You can find out

more about the Friends by looking on the Charity Commission website www.charity-

commission.gov.uk; our registered charity number is 1060543.

Action needed if you bank with

Nat West

A number of donors that bank with Nat West have

found that their direct debits to the Friends have

not been processed. Unfortunately, this is out of

our control. If you bank with the Nat West and

have set up or amended a payment to the Friends

in the past year, please could you check if your

request has been actioned by the bank. If you find

that your donation is not being taken from your

account, please could you complete a new

donations form in order for your donation to be

processed. Thank you.

Are you a bookkeeper or an

accountant?

The Friends need a volunteer independent

examiner for our accounts. This is required by

the Charity Commission and can be

undertaken by someone with experience in

accountancy or book keeping. More

information about what it entails can be

found on the Charity Commission website. If

you have a few hours to spare in May or June

and feel that you might be able to help with

this role, please get in touch as soon as

possible.

Appeal update

The Friends of Ranelagh recently appealed to all parents to ask for their financial support for the school

in view of the funding cuts and rising costs experienced by the school. We are very grateful to everyone

who has responded to our appeal and would like to thank you for your support of the Friends. It’s not

too late to consider making a regular or one off donation or increasing your current donation as this

would be welcome at any time.

Appendix 2

Ranelagh PTA Dear Parents and Carers, Quiz Night We would like to say a huge thank you to all those who came along to our Annual Quiz Night. We would especially like to thank Lucy & Simon Hutson for doing the quiz, and look forward to next year’s! It sold out within a week, and everyone had a great time, raising over £2,200. We are hopeful that Microsoft will be able to match fund this with much needed funds for our school. Thank you to all those who made this event possible, it couldn’t happen without you. The funds we raise will be put to excellent use, buying items that are needed and not covered by the school’s budget. Ranelagh Night with the Stars - Elvis Shmelvis “I thought I heard Elvis singing, then I walked around the corner and it was Elvis Shmelvis” – Chris Tarrant, “An outstanding voice” – Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber

Elvis Shmelvis has performed on ‘The One Show’, ‘The London Palladium’, ‘Holby City’ to name but a few, and now he is coming to

Ranelagh School! This event will be on 23rd June starting at 7.30pm – 10.30pm. To secure our booking we do need you to confirm your booking by 31th March 2017 using the booking confirmation form that we recently sent to you, or email smithdonald3@aol.com Tickets are £15 per person which will include, supper and your evening’s entertainment. A comparable evening out would cost in the region of £35 – 45 per person, so not only will it be a superb evening out, it’s also fantastic value. Kick off your shoes and gather your friends and family for this wonderful evening with Elvis. This is a licensed event. Please support our events, they are great value and bring in much needed funding for the school. Easyfundraising.org.uk Following on from Mrs Steven’s letter concerning school budgets we do appeal for you to sign up. For EVERY new supporter that joins by April 15th, easyfundraising will donate a bonus 50p to the cause total. It’s a great way to raise money for the school so sign up to easyfundraising.org.uk and make 'Ranelagh School PTA Berkshire' your chosen cause to support. By doing this, whenever you buy anything online, the retailer will make a donation to the school to say thank you for shopping with them. It costs you absolutely nothing and means the school receives a welcome donation as a reward. Once you've signed up you just carry on shopping online as normal and either visit the easyfundraising.org.uk website and search for your retailer, or

Appendix 2

set a little reminder on your browser which can prompt you to click it, so that anything you buy will be registered to your chosen cause.

So far the school has received just over £500 in this way but with your help this

could grow to so much more. We only have a handful of regular participants

and it could be such an effective way of raising funds and with very little effort.

Potentially it could bring in over £10K per year for doing no more than shopping!

If you have any good ideas, or would like to run an event to support the PTA, then please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you. You can get in touch via the website, or email PTA@ranelagh.bracknell-forest.sch.uk We do hope that you have a relaxing and joyful Easter break. As always, thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at the next events!

Your Ranelagh PTA