Whole School Newsletter - 26-01-2024

Friday 26^th January 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

Commitment and connections

Our focus for this week has continued to be on commitment and on the four core purposes of the new Curriculum For Wales.  

With just eleven school weeks before the GCSE examinations start, it is crucial that all our Year 11 students are already revising regularly after school and at weekends. This preparation will have a direct impact on the results they will achieve in the summer.

If any students need additional support with any of their subjects, please encourage them to speak to their class teacher who is best placed to support and guide them.

Teaching and Learning

This term we are revisiting our approach to formative assessment. Formative assessment is a way of assessing student progress whilst the learning is happening. This allows us to give feedback immediately, to correct any misconceptions and ensure that all pupils are making rapid progress. This differs to summative assessment (such as tests, exams or formal assessments) when we measure how much progress a student has made. We would typically use summative assessments at the end of a topic or unit of work. We practice summative assessments under formal conditions to help prepare all our students for their GCSE examinations.

Literacy

Accurate spelling is vital for all students and many GCSE examinations award marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar. At Newport High School we use spelling habits to help our students spell words correctly. Wherever possible, please find ways to discuss spelling with your children. There is a clear link between children that read and their ability to spell so please encourage your child to read whenever possible. Picking out words with unusual spelling, or checking the meaning of words, is a great way to help them to broaden their vocabulary and improve their spelling.

Attendance

The more your child attends school the more progress they will make as there is clear evidence showing the link between attendance and attainment.  Attendance is a national priority, as there has been a decrease in school attendance across Wales. We have a number of students who are maximising their potential to succeed by being in school every day. We also have a small number of students who have good attendance but poor punctuality to lessons. We have a finite amount of time to work with our students in school and if they are 5 minutes late to every lesson every day for a week, they will miss over 2 hours of learning. If this continued over an average term, they would be missing approximately 3 days of learning. This would put them at a significant disadvantage compared to students who are punctual. Please can you reinforce the importance of punctuality with your children.

Free School Meals

At Newport High School we want to ensure that every child receives the financial help they need to attend school. The Welsh Government offers support with Free School Meals and School Essentials such as uniform, kit and stationery. Please check your child’s eligibility for Free School Meals. Even if you receive Universal Primary Free Schools Meals, more help could be available! If eligible, you can get up to £200 per child for School Essentials, plus extra funding for our school. Check eligibility:www.gov.wales/get-help-school-costs

School dates

This Spring Term is very short with February half-term starting on Monday 12^th February. Students then return to school on Monday 19^th February and we break up for the Easter holidays on Friday 22^nd March 2024.

The remaining INSETS for the rest of this academic year are as follows;

1. Friday 8^th March 2024
2. Friday 28^th June 2024
3. Monday 1^st July 2024

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families for your continued support.

With kind regards

Mrs Lee