Whole School Newsletter - 23-02-2024

Friday 23rd February 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

Integrity and independence

Our focus this week has been on commitment and being safe. As part of our RISE approach we are trying to help all our students to become responsible, sensible and considerate.  

With just nine school weeks before the GCSE examinations start, it is crucial that all our Year 11 students are revising independently and preparing for their exams.

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.

Parent Governors

I am delighted to confirm, that after our recent election for Parent Governors, Jon Jenkins and Sarah Hodge have been elected onto the Governing Body. We are extremely grateful for the work that our governors do and I am sure all our parents and carers will join me in wishing them the very best for the tenure of their role.

Assistant Headteacher

We have appointed Mrs Milton as permanent Assistant Headteacher. Mrs Milton came on secondment from Pencoed Comprehensive at the start of the Autumn Term. We had a very strong field of applicants and went through a rigorous interview process and I am delighted that Mrs Milton was successful in securing this post. She will continue to lead on teaching and learning and transition.

Lost property

Every year we amass a significant volume of lost property. All students are encouraged to check with the hub, at break or lunch, if they have lost any uniform.

We will be running three pick up sessions for parents and carers to come into school to check if anything their child has lost is in our lost property. The dates of these sessions will be sent out to all parents shortly.

Any lost property that has not been collected by the end of this term, Friday 22^nd March, will be donated to charity or disposed of. Unfortunately, we do not have the space to store the volume of lost property we collect over the course of the year.

If any students have lost specific items, they need to come to the wellbeing hub at Break, Lunch or at the end of the school day.

Literacy

Reading  

To support students to improve reading in school we use our Reading Habits. Reading directly supports writing, including spelling, so the more your child reads the better their literacy skills will become.  People say that reading is like breathing in and writing is like breathing out.

To support KS3 students we subscribe to MyOn which is an online resource enabling students to access online books remotely.

LINK

Students can access this by following the link and log on using their Accelerated Reader password.

Please continue to find ways to encourage your child to read whenever possible.

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

We break up for the Easter holidays on Friday 22^nd March 2024. Our next INSET day is Friday 8^th March when the school will be closed to students.

The remaining INSET days 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