Principal's Update

We are nearly at the end of the of term and the end of the lockdown restrictions. We will continue to recommend that students wear masks in the corridors and social spaces for the remainder of the term. Thank you for supporting us with the various restrictions and encouraging your child to adhere to the COVID guidelines.

We have had a very enjoyable Sports Day with all the students demonstrating their sporting talents and sportsmanship. We were entertained by house chants, house fanfares and a samba band. It was wonderful to see the students working together as a team whether it was creating banners, house chants or putting a team together for the relay.

Next week we have the Lip Sync Battle which has moved from Friday to Monday, due to the altered date of Sports Day, and at the end of the day we will have the results of the House Championship in the House Reveal. On Tuesday the winning house has their reward afternoon starting at 12.30pm and on Wednesday, the last day of term we have our awards assembly.

At Awards assembly we will be showing some footage captured on sports day as a wonderful memory of the day. We will also have some year 11 students invited to attend as VIP guests for showing amazing resilience and ambition in their attendance throughout their journey with us at CRA. We look forward to welcoming them back into the academy.

This is the last newsletter before we return for the next academic year. The 31st August and 1st September are training days for staff with years 7 and 11 returning on the 2nd September and all students attending on the 3rd. During the first few days of term we will be testing all students with consent for testing. If any of the government guidance changes over the holiday, we will inform you via MCAS and via the website so please keep an eye out for those messages.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and we look forward to greeting the students in September.

I hope you have a great weekend,

Mrs Jones - Principal

Lateral Flow Testing - September 2021

Return to school testing

The Department of Education has advised that all secondary students will be required to perform 2 in school lateral flow tests on return to school in September. Accordingly we are planning our test centre and resources in advance.

We will be sending out commuincations in the coming days and over the summer holidays in regard to this.

We will use previously provided consent and contact details forms for the uploading of test results, so please contact us should anything have changed.

Testing over the summer

Students and staff are not required to test over the summer holiday, unless they attending the school building. If you do conduct tests please continue recording them in the following locations NHS and also CRA.

If you require further kits, students can collect these from reception.

Did you know that parents and support bubbles of school children, as well as anyone who has to leave home to go to work, can now get rapid Covid-19 tests twice a week. Order yours now here.

Further guidance from the Government and Department of Education in respect of home testing can be found below:

A copy of the risk assessment and privacy policy relating to Lateral Flow Testing can be found on the CRA website.

Mr Linforth - Academy Operations Manager

Uniform expectations

It is vital that we ensure everyone is adhering to the Academy Uniform Policy - details of which can be found here.

Students without a medical note will go into IE for incorrect uniform.

Outdoor coats

Outdoor coats can be worn during breaks and before and after school, but should not be worn when walking inside the academy. May we also remind you that hoodies are not appropriate, and shouldn’t be worn as a replacement for an outdoor coat.

Face Masks

Masks are required to be worn on all school transport, during transitions between lessons and in communal indoor spaces. Please ensure you have a spare mask just in case it requires changing throughout the day. We appreciate that communication whilst wearing a mask can be tricky, so please see the poster below for tips on effective communication whilst wearing a mask.

Wearing a mask at school is compulsory, unless your child has a medical lanyard. Masks should be blue or black and plain and worn at all times whilst inside the school buildings. If a child refuses to wear their mask they will be sent to the COVID isolation room and parents will be called to collect them. This is a non-negotiable and for everyone's safety.

Careers' Corner

Careers Advice

We have had a brilliant day this week where the whole school were involved in a careers day on Wednesday. We were very fortunate to have a detailed presentation about the whole variety of careers which are available in the NHS- and which do not involve medicine directly. The students then watched a video about some people who work in the NHS, what their job role was, the skills they needed to do the job and which subjects this related to. They then discussed a typical day in their role. This was very interesting. They then explained that the NHS offers work experience- both virtually and voluntarily – and I would urge all students to have a look at some of the links below to see if this is something that they are able to do through out the summer holidays.

Please check out some of the links

• NHS careers
• NHS jobs
• United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS trust volunteer site

Volunteering is a super way to build up your applications when applying for College, 6th Form or for an apprenticeship- please go and have a look.

Finally, we were able to log onto the live Lincolnshire careers fair which meant that the students were able to research jobs and careers and in Greater Lincolnshire – a super event, please ask your child about it.

Please visit the Careers' page on the CRA website for this weeks update and details of previous publications.

Mrs Rees - Careers' Lead

Lunchtime Music Concerts

This month our students have been serenaded by young CRA Musicians in the school grounds during Thursday Lunchtimes. There's been so much courage, resilience, rehearsals, and teamwork in the making of our Glastonbury-style outdoor concerts.

Performances have ranged from drum and guitar band music to piano and singing performances. We are so proud of the many students have forged the courage to perform on Stage, and they did so to joyous applause.

Three Lions, Sweet Caroline, Shot Gun, Jolene, Minecraft on the piano, A French Minuet on Piano, Little Do You Know, Funky Trio and Drum Medley were some, but not all of the highlights from the many performances. It has been a pleasure to discover we have so much musical talent amongst our students over these last few weeks. Some students have really shone during these concerts. A special mention here to Kya, who has now taken on both an organisational role and sound technician role alongside performing in the concerts and Connor who had the courage to open the very first Concert with his outstanding drum performances. However, all of our performers are heros, because you got on stage and performed. Well done to all of you.

Performers involved: Kya, Ayrton, Lily, Connor, Cory, George, Bailie, Cayla, Zac, Evie, Ella-Mae, Kelsey, Daisy, Mr Sellers, Mrs Marshall-Andrews and Mrs Sharp.

There will be another Lunch Time Concert in September - so don't put your microphones or instruments down yet - I know there are lots of other performers preparing a Musical Performance for us to enjoy - so keep the practice up over Summer. You will get your turn.

Well done to all our talented Musicians - you have brought us joy. Thank you to you all.

Mrs Sharp - Mathematics and Music Teacher

Attendance

Celebrating weekly Tutor Group attendance 12th July-15th July 2021

Aqua House had the highest attendance this week.

We are so proud of this achievement and this will be celebrated in our house assemblies next week. These Tutor Groups are showing all our CRA values, but especially RESILIENCE and AMBITION.

Return to school in September

Please remember the school term dates for 2021-2022 – print them out and put them on your fridge to remember when term starts and end and when school holidays are so that you are not booking any holidays during term time.

• School starts on Thursday 2nd September for Y7 and Y11 only
• Friday 3rd September whole school returns Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10 and Y11

Please make sure your child attends school every day from day one in order to maximise their learning and attainment.

Holidays during term time

Holidays during term time are not authorised. If you wish to seek approval for any request of absence for your child from school, then you must apply in writing to the Principal, at least four weeks in advance of the request for absence.

The Holiday Warning letter has been sent to all parents/carers via email, MCAS and is on our school website.

If you then choose to take your child out of school during term time and it is not deemed to be exceptional circumstances and/or has not been approved by the school, then this will be coded as an unauthorised absence and a Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued for the period of absence. Failure to pay the Fixed Penalty may result in further legal action being taken against you.

Reporting an absence to school

Please make sure you are contacting school to report any absence from school, this is so that we can use the correct attendance codes on the registers which are submitted to the DFE daily. If we do not hear from with a reason to why your child is absent this will be coded on the register as unauthorised.

Any absence from school will affect your child’s attendance even it is for medical appointment. This is why we will ask for medical evidence of the appointment so that we can use the correct code on the register. You must contact school every day of an absence, not just on the first day.

Why do I need to contact school each day of absence?

During school hours, we as a school have a responsibility for the safeguarding of your child. This duty continues even if your child is at home unwell. Contacting us daily is not just about letting us know your child will not be attending school, it is also an opportunity for us to stay in touch, make sure you are all safe and offer any support you may need.

If you do not contact school on the day of absence, this will prompt school to try to contact you. If phone, MCAS, email or text contact is not successful, a home visit may be attempted. Please do keep us informed of your child’s whereabouts and wellbeing.

Miss Butcher - Attendance Manager

Open Evenings

Please click on the links below to view the latest virtual tour

Science Spot

The Science Faculty would like to share with you some practical and interesting slides to make you think - this week its all about The Chemistry of a Beetroot

Mr Drumm - Assistant Principal

Times Tables

At the end of all lessons students stand behind their chairs in silence to prepare for themselves for the next lesson. From September, on a weekly rota, Years 7 and 8 will be reciting their timetables to help embed them in their long term memory.

Week commencing 19th July - 13 times table

Accelerated Reader

Week commencing 19th July during period 3