Whole School Newsletter - 27-09-2024

Friday 27^th September 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

New after school bike club at Newport High School

We started our new bike club this week which meets every Wednesday from 3pm to 4pm in the main yard behind the canteen. This new initiative is being led by Mr Jones, in collaboration with Momentwm. If there are any families who have not signed up but are interested in joining, please email info@newporthigh.co.uk with the heading “Bike Club” in the title.  You do not need to have your own bike or helmet to come along as we can provide these. The group is open to students and their parents or carers from Newport High School.

Student success

We are extremely proud of Esmae in Year 8, who, on September 7^th, became Welsh Girls Under 16 Speedway Cycling champion!

Cycle Speedway developed during the war when soldiers would race old bikes around bomb holes across different parts of the UK. Modern Cycle Speedway involves riders racing over 4 laps and points are awarded for the position in each race. The winner is the cyclist (or team) who has the most points at the end of the event.

The bikes are single speed, freewheel bikes without brakes so riders need to use their feet to balance and stop the bike. The riders need to be able to combine power and agility in order to navigate the course.

Esmae is currently leading the under 14 Girls regional competition for the South and South West with one round left to complete later this month.

This year she joined the women’s league and has ridden as part of the South and South West women’s team who are currently leading with one round left in October.

Esmae only started riding in October 2020 and has done extremely well in a relatively short period of time. She will be taking part in the World Championships next year representing both the under 16 girls and the Women’s teams.

I am sure everyone will join me in wishing Esmae the very best of luck with her forthcoming races and I look forward to being able to share more of her success as the year progresses.

Uniform and equipment

A huge thanks to parents and carers for their support with school uniform. Our students are looking really smart which creates a great impression across the school and in the community.

I am concerned that a small number of students do not have school bags. Bags are important as students need to carry their equipment and timetables around during the day. Also, as we are now a mobile phone free school, they need somewhere secure to store their phones during school hours.

If anyone has any issues with uniform or equipment, please let us know so we can work with you to support.

Mobile Phones

We do not allow the use of mobile phones anywhere in school, including outside during break and lunchtime.  This means that, from the time that students enter the building until they leave, they are not allowed to be seen with a mobile phone. This includes wearing air pods or headphones which are also not allowed.

If they wish to bring a phone to school, it must be switched off and kept in their bag

If students are seen with their mobile phone out, whether they are using them or not, it will need to be handed in for them to collect at the end of the day. If this happens frequently then an alternative plan will need to be put in place.

Start of the school day

Punctuality has significantly improved this term. Thank you to our families who help to ensure their children arrive at school on time. School starts each day promptly at 8:45am for Form time. This is a vital start to the school day during which important information is shared, such as details of events, changes to school systems and information about exams. Form Tutors should always be a first point of contact for students if they have any queries.

Inset days and Term dates – 2023/2024

The remaining INSET days (when school is closed to students for staff training) for this year are as follows;

• Monday 25th November 2024
• Friday 7^th March 2024
• Friday 27^th June 2024
• Monday 30^th June 2024
• Monday 21^st July 2024

We break up for October half-term on Friday 25^th October and return to school on Monday 4^th November. We then finish for the Christmas holidays on Friday 20^th December and return for the start of the Spring term on Monday 6^th January 2025.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support.

With kind regards

Mrs Lee