Whole School Letter - 02-02-2024

Friday 2^nd February 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

Commitment and connections

We have continued our focus this week on commitment and respect.

Being respectul is one of the four pillars we are using to underpin the culture in our school. We expect all students and staff to be respectful at all times, by being kind, polite and empathetic.

Inclusivity at Newport High School

This week all staff at Newport High School worked with Show Racism the Red Card to look at ways we can ensure that  all our students feel included and part of our school community.  This is a key element of our core value of equality. Show Racism the Red Card will be back in school in the summer term to help us to develop this work further. As a school we are committed to reduce racism and to promote inclusion.

Literacy

We continue to strive to improve literacy and are currently encouraging all our Year 7 students to take one quiz on Accelerated Reader on their current library book by the end of this half term (9^th of February). If any students cannot find their quiz, they need to let Mrs Bousie or Mr Croft know. Our Accelerated Reader stars so far this half-term are;

Tosin Falana, Zach Jones and Milda Konceviciute from Year 8 and Alexandra-Maria Mares, Mercy Adeleke and Matthew Richardson from Year 7. Well done to all our students who are working hard to read more widely which will improve their spelling, comprehension and overall writing skills.

Extra-curricular clubs

We run a range of lunch time and after school clubs to support our students. Any student wishing to attend a lunch time club (including playing on the Astro) needs to eat their food in the canteen before going to the club as we do not allow food to be eaten in the club areas. The only exception to this rule is for those students who access ‘Safe-Haven’.

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

February half-term starts 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