Whole School Newsletter - 14-03-2025
BackFriday 14th March 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
Trip to Japan
In June last year, we discovered that our application to take 20 students (fully funded by the Welsh Government) to Japan was successful. Since then, following a rigorous selection process, 20 students were chosen to participate in this lifechanging experience. The ten-day trip took place in February. Our students visited a Japanese school, where they introduced school life in Wales to their Japanese peers and were then taught traditional games by the Japanese students. It was a great opportunity for our students to see how different school life is in Japan. They also visited Kyoto on the bullet train and visited some beautiful temples and shrines. They experienced a traditional tea ceremony and met with staff from the British embassy in Tokyo and learned about some interesting job opportunities. The whole trip was a great experience for everyone involved and I am extremely grateful to the staff who supported this amazing experience and gave up their half-term holiday to ensure this trip could take place.
Exams
There are approximately six teaching weeks left before the public examination series start so it is vital that all students in Years 10-13 are using their revision timetable effectively and revising.
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.
School Values and RISE
The themes of this week have been integrity and respect. By being respectful we mean being kind, polite and empathetic.
Empathy is the ability to sense and understand other people’s emotions. It requires the willingness to imagine another person’s situation and experiences, feel distress about their pain, and act with compassion. We often use the phrase ‘to stand in someone else’s shoes’ to describe empathy. Students that are empathetic are more accepting of others. This is turn can reduce conflict, bullying and enable stronger and more positive relationships to be built across diverse communities.
Vandalism
Thank you to all our parents who have supported communicating the important messages about vandalism and wilful damage to school building or property to their children. We are reinforcing these messages in school and are taking these deliberate acts of vandalism very seriously. We will continue to look at a range of strategies to reduce vandalism across the school but any student caught deliberately damaging school property will be charged for the cost of the damage. We have billed a number of families this week and will continue to do so as the cost of repairs is unsustainable. Quite simply, the more money we spend to repair and replace means the less money we have to support our students in other ways.
School Uniform
All students must be in correct school uniform and have a coat and a school bag. We have a range of ‘pre-loved’ school uniform at school which is available for anyone who would like to access it. Please let us know if we can help with school uniform in anyway.
Our uniform is extremely affordable and easy to get hold of. It consists of plain black shoes/trainers, black socks, white shirt and the school tie. Skirts must be of appropriate length and trousers or shorts should be tailored fit. Students are not allowed to wear sports shorts, tracksuit bottoms or leggings to school.
Cardigans, jumpers and blazers are optional but students may choose to wear a plain black knitted V neck jumper or cardigan without the logo, or purchase the Newport High branded jumper, sweatshirt or cardigan.
Jewellery is limited to one pair of small stud earrings and one ring. Students are allowed to wear a nose stud but please note that this has to be a stud and not a sleeper or any other style. Any headwear, worn for religious reasons, should be of a plain black material. Extreme hairstyles are not acceptable and hair should be of a natural colour.
If you have any problems getting hold of school unform please let your child’s Form Tutor know in the first instance or email info@newporthigh.co.uk with “Uniform” in the title as we are happy to support with this.
Free School Meals
We are aware that many of our families may be entitled to Free School Meals but are not claiming this additional financial support. You can check if you are entitled to Free School Meals at www.newport.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-meals/free-school-meals
If you are not in receipt of Free School Meals but think you are eligible and would like any help in accessing, please let us know so we can support.
Families who are eligible for Free School Meals can also apply for additional help with other school costs including school uniform. You can find out more at https://www.newport.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-meals/free-school-meals
Social Media
Please can I urge all parents who have an issue or concern about school to contact us directly to discuss. This will give us the opportunity to try to resolve the issue.
If you have any concerns, please email us on: info@newporthigh.co.uk
Inset days and Term dates – 2024/2025
There are three INSET days left this year;
- Friday 27th June 2025
- Monday 30th June 2025
- Monday 21st July 2025
We break up for the Easter holidays on Friday 11th April 2025 and return to school for the start of the summer term on Monday 28th April. The last day of school this year is Friday 18th July 2025.
With many thanks for your continued support.
Kind Regards
Mrs Lee