Clubs & Societies
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a campaigning organisation whose purpose is to ‘protect people wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied.’
Rydal Penrhos School has its own dedicated Amnesty group which meets at Thursday lunchtimes in the Carnegie room. All are year groups are welcome. It is co-ordinated by Mary Richardson, Head of PSHE, teacher of Religious Studies, and house parent of Beecholme.
The group works on lots of issues, most recently, the campaign ‘Stop Violence Against Women’, and organises a number of events throughout the year to raise money and awareness.
Below are some quotes from the school’s Amnesty group members during an event held at the school in October 2009.
“It’s all about the awareness for Amnesty International,” said one pupil, “we’ve got several stands for the different projects which they’re doing: highlighting violence against women; Kenya, where people are being evicted from their homes, and Guantanamo Bay, where people are being held unjustly.”
“The campaign is international, but we have our own little group at Rydal Penrhos and we do our own campaigns, such as this. A couple of weeks ago we had a protest against Shell, whose oil was contaminating the rivers in the Niger Delta”.
“It’s mainly an awareness event, but we’re hoping to raise a little bit of money to help”
Amnesty International (UK) website
Art Club
Art is a popular examination subject at IB, A-Level and GCSE. The club, run on a Monday lunchtime, is aimed at those wanting to develop their interest in the subject. Specific topics or foci are used to broaden and enhance the experience the pupils get within the curriculum.
The art facilities, which include print room and kiln, are open throughout the week and are heavily used by examination classes both at lunchtime and after school.
Chess
Chess is a board game involving two players. It is played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. At the beginning of the game each player controls sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king, whereby the king is under immediate attack (in “check”) and there is no way to remove or defend it from attack on the next move.
The game’s present form emerged in Europe during the second half of the 15th century, an evolution of an older Indian game, Shatranj. Theoreticians have developed extensive chess strategies and tactics since the game’s inception. Computers have been used for many years to create chess-playing machines, and their abilities and insights have contributed significantly to modern chess theory. One, Deep Blue, was the first machine to beat a reigning World Chess Champion when it defeated Garry Kasparov in 1997
The School enjoys a strong reputation particularly in the Prep School where most pupils are playing regularly. In the Senior School everyone in Year 7 is introduced to the game by Mr Tickner (M i/c) in a four week taster programme. Mr Ratcliffe oversees a Friday lunchtime ‘open’ session which sees the best across the whole school practising their game. Last year, top player, Robert Warrington secured a top three finish in his age group in Wales but Ho Wing Ma, amongst others, will be aiming to push him hard this year.
Comenius Project
The Comenius group encourages partnerships with other schools in Europe. Along with two partner schools in Germany and Slovakia, the group is currently working on a project based around the idea of the “virtual student”.
The aim of the project is to develop knowledge and understanding among young people of the diversity of European cultures and languages and to acquire basic life skills and competences for future employment.
Pupils from Year 11 are being invited to join the group. Please see Mr Farnell for details.
Gardening Club
In 2007 when the club was introduced, the garden was very over grown, having not been used by the pupils or teaching staff for about 15 years. The garden originally had paths and defined beds, as well as a pond and fruit tree. Now we have claimed back the garden from the jungle that had taken over. We are always looking at new wildlife habitats to build to help the Biology department and growing herbs for the food technology department. The one fruit tree originally in the garden (conference pear) is now accompanied by a cherry, plum and apple trees (all planted in 2007). We recently built a shed for storing items for the club and hope soon to purchase a new greenhouse for the all year round growing it can provide us. The garden is divided into two parts: the vegetable section and the ornamental section (flowers and fruit trees).
The gardening club is open to all pupils in the senior school who wish to grow their own fruit and vegetables. All vegetables grown in the student part of the garden are for the consumption of the pupils who grow them. The teachers have a section of the garden for testing new ideas out on, before they are used in the pupils’ part of the garden, such as the strawberry tower. With more people finding out about the benefits of eating organically grown produce and the cost to the environment when shipping goods these days, gardening is again on the increase. More people are taking on allotments or converting parts of their own gardens into growing fruit and veg. The garden is also home to some wildlife and we hope to encourage more into the garden with various projects.
The garden is open during the week to work on at lunchtimes (weather permitting)and at the weekends again when the weather is suitable.
IB film night
The IB film night aims to underpin lesson content with films. Open to all IB pupils, the film night is an opportunity to view films that cover various topics including Theory of Knowledge, literature, history, art etc. Taking place every other Monday at 6.30pm in Hathaway, the film night can be used as prep time as well as developing subject knowledge in a relaxed environment with fellow pupils.
Model United Nations
The school runs a Model United Nations group every Monday lunchtime for Sixth formers and members of the Middle School. Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. The popularity of Model U.N. continues to grow, and today more than 400 000 junior school, high school and college/university students worldwide participate every year. UK Model UN website
The Model United Nations (MUN) group runs on a Wednesday. The aim of the group is to learn and debate world issues and educate participants about civics, current events, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. Students take on roles as diplomats and participate in a simulated session of an intergovernmental organisation (IGO).
Group members will research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems.
Last year the club went to Stockport Grammar School for a two day ‘summit’ where Rydal Penrhos had the distinction of representing Mexico at the meeting.
Modern Languages Society
The society holds foreign language film evenings every term. All staff and pupils are welcome to attend these events.
Each foreign language department, French, German, and Spanish hold screenings. In French, pupils have seen Il y a longtemps que je t’aime, with Kristin Scott Thomas and La Classe, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2009.
'designed to encourage partnerships across country boundaries'
The departments have in the past organised exchanges and day trips to conferences conducted entirely in French/German/Spanish for our A-level/IB pupils.
Photography
The year 9s have a four week ‘taster’ programme in which ‘people, buildings’ and ‘vegetation’ form the subjects of their interest. The club is popular amongst the older pupils who help Mrs Walsh oversee the members as they criss-cross the campus looking for that ‘wonder shot’. The results are impressive and are shown around the school, particularly in the Carnegie Room and LRC.
Reading Group
On a Tuesday after school, senior pupils meet with Rev’d Sissons to discuss, compare notes and critically analyse a book or part thereof. New to the programme in 2010, it is sure to be a success judging by the selection of texts and novels that are planned for consideration.
School Magazine club
The School Magazine, ‘The Review’, is edited by Ms Bloomfield but the work to produce it is always collaborative in nature. Senior and junior pupils have their roles, interviewing, researching, chasing errant members of staff, photographing and all manner of other tasks to support the editor’s deadlines. The club is ‘open’ to anyone and members meet on a Friday lunchtime.
Stitching and knitting
The oft maligned ‘S and K’ four week taster programme ensures that no pupil is without that all important skill of sewing on their top button! Dr Warrington takes the year 7 pupils painstakingly through the art of needlework; often the boys are the ones that appear less interested but gain the most out of this ‘off the wall’ experience. Basic knitting skills are also taught.
Time and Space
The school’s Chaplain, Rev’d Sissons takes this Thursday lunchtime club for year 7 pupils who have a four week programme usually directed to a topical event of the period of the year they are in. The group have also participated in some interesting forays into relaxation with silent group meditation amongst the most memorable. Like the Pied Piper, Rev’d Sissons leading a group of yr 7s in silence around the campus was a sight to behold.
Ultimate Frisbee
A limited-contact team sport. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby. Practice takes place during Tuesday lunchtimes.
University help
Year 13 pupils are invited to research Universities, prepare applications and receive help and guidance for their personal statements, sponsorships, scholarships and job applications. Year 12 are invited to join the group during the Spring term as they begin to think about their future options.