I can hardly believe that the half term break is almost upon us, the term has been very busy and time seems to have flown by.

As winter is upon us, can I take this opportunity to remind you of our procedure for communicating information about snow closure. If we are forced to close the school, we will ensure details are posted on our school website, the Newport City Council website and the school answer-phone before 8.00 am in the morning.

I am very proud of our students and they look exceptionally smart in their uniform. Our uniform was designed after a long period of consultation with students, parents and staff. Over the last half term we have worked with the School Council to clarify the description of the uniform all students are expected to wear. A copy of this can be found here. I would appreciate your support in ensuring your son/daughter comes to school wearing their correct uniform/footwear and equipped ready for learning. If, for any reason, a child is unable to wear the correct school uniform or completely black footwear, it is essential that parents contact the school to inform us of the reason for this. Where we have received no correspondence from parents and a child arrives at school not wearing the correct uniform, he/she may be asked to go home to change into the correct uniform/footwear. Students will be expected to return to school immediately their uniform has been changed.

You will be aware from the School Calendar that we end this half term on Friday 10 February. There is an INSET day on Monday 20 February; students return to school from their half term break on Tuesday 21 February 2012.

Some additional diary dates you may find useful are:
Y11 Pathways Evening – 29 February 2012 (4.30-7.30pm, Christchurch Centre)
Y10 Revision Conference – 13 March 2012
Academic Review Day 2 – 15 March 2012
Y13 Parents Evening – 22 March 2012 (Coleg Gwent)
End of Spring Term – 5 April 2012
Start of Summer Term – 23 April 2012

I look forward to meeting with you over the coming term.

Yours faithfully,
Karyn Keane

Guidance session for parents at 4.30pm and 6.00pm

Year 9 & 10 Booklet [Download]
Year 11 Booklet [Download]

Diolch

N. Davies

As you are aware we are approaching the time of year when your child will be making choices about the subjects he/she will study during the next academic year.

The choices booklet that will be distributed next week will help students make informed decisions about which subjects to study in the next stage of their learning. Please take time to sit down together and discuss what will be the most suitable choices.

Each student is carefully supported and guided through the options process by their Tutor for Learning. Decisions should be based on achievements to date and expected results at the end of the current year of study. To support you in selecting appropriate and engaging courses, a Pathways Evening will be held at school on Thursday 26 January 2012 from 4.00 – 5.30pm for students in Years 8 and 9 and from 5.30-6.30pm for students in Year 10.

There will be an information session for parents of Year 8 students at 4.30pm in the Year 7 wing to support you in guiding your children appropriately. Similarly a question and answer session for parents of Year 10 learners will be held at 6.00pm in the Year 7 wing.

Alternatively subject specialist teachers are available throughout the evening in order to give you detailed information about the courses on offer. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss pathways with Heads of House.

We look forward to seeing you on 26th January.

Yours sincerely
Mrs Davies