Principal's Update
You will have received a copy of our final Ofsted inspection report yesterday via MCAS. It is also available on our website. We are extremely proud of our community and feel the report reflects the hardworking and caring staff and students we have at CRA. Thank you for supporting your children and the school and helping us to create the wonderful environment we have. In feedback to us the Ofsted Inspector talked about what a special place CRA was and how it was creative, exciting and unique.
This week we have had students representing the academy at the Winter Cup, students performing at a Lincolnshire Music performance of the Pop Choir, two students Tiarna and Liam gaining prizes in a short story competition, (Tiarna first prize and Liam third), and two students Isobel and Stephanie going out of their way to support a year 7 student. All these students have demonstrated the CRA values and will be celebrated in assembly.
We have been overwhelmed by the number of students who have returned reply slips for the Opera trip on April 1st to London. It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm for engaging with a new experience and such a great opportunity. We have asked DRET to see if there are more tickets available as we only had 60 including staff and unfortunately a few students will be disappointed.
I know we currently have a Photography House competition underway; it would be wonderful to receive lots of entries from parents and siblings from other schools as well.
I hope you have a relaxing weekend,
Mrs Jones - Principal
Canteen Update
FSM Entitlement
There has been some confusion recently about FSM allowances, so we would like to clear this up.
Students with FSM allowance are allowed the following:
- a main and two sides (e.g. sausage, mash and peas; or fish chips and peas; or a full roast dinner) plus a bottle of water or a dessert (cookie for example)
- a pre packed sandwich plus a bottle of water or a dessert.
When it comes to pizza or pasta pots, these are not part of the meal deals, so the value of it is over the meal deal any additional charges may apply.
If a student has a slice of pizza and then try and get a second, and a drink/dessert, they will be charged for the additional.
If they try and get a canned or bottled drink (other than water) then again this is a chargeable item.
In simple terms students are better off having the main meals rather than the snack items, and these will be more nutritious too.
If they also choose to have a dessert (rather than a water) and bring a water bottle they can fill it up in the canteen from the water cooler.
Canteen Charges
MCAS messages are sent out on a weekly basis updating parents on the status of their child's canteen balance. To avoid large debt being amassed, canteen staff have been advised to not let students go into a negative balance without permission from the academy reception team, who will make calls to parents if required.
If you need to set up a Parent pay account please contact the school, or click this link to find out how to retrieve your details if they have been forgotten (your username will be the email address your MCAS account is set up with).
Those students in receipt of Free School Meals should use their allowance for their main meal at lunch. If they use the allowance for snacks at break then they will have to pay for any food taken at lunch.
Menus
Please click on the link below to see the new menu that is now in place in the school canteen; themed menus are in rotated every third Friday.
Please see the latest bulletin update from Caterlink in the link below.
The Caterlink Team
CRA Values
This week in whole school assembly we looked at the impact of vaping and where as an academy we stand with dealing with this issue.
We talked to the students about how most e-cigarettes do have nicotine. Even e-cigarettes that don't have nicotine have chemicals in them. These chemicals can irritate and damage the lungs.
The long-term effects of e-cigarettes that don't have nicotine are not known and that we want our students to show RESPECT for their bodies and not put harmful chemicals into them. We spoke to them about the law surrounding vapes and how it is illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase vaping equipment, therefore, to use the equipment. We also spoke about how cigarettes used to be promoted and advertised and now we know the adverse impact on health.
As a school we have always been consistent in our approach to vaping. A student will receive an FTE for bringing vapes into school, selling/buying vapes for others, smoking a vape in school or on the school bus or bus stop whilst in our CRA uniform - again this comes down to RESPECT for our CRA community and respect for themselves and their peers.
We hoped to instill in our student doing the right thing; not because it is the law, but because their moral compass tells them that it is the right thing to do, for them and for others.
Behaviour for Learning
Leadership Positions and behaviour expectations:
If a child is involved in a serious behaviour incident in school or on school transport, that may jeopardise their leadership position in school. Leaders in school such as Head boy/girl, House captains, year group leaders, media leaders, ambassadors, sport/team captains etc are role models for the rest of the student body.
We have high expectations of all student behaviour but especially leaders as they set the tone for the rest of the academy. If they are being removed from lessons, receiving fixed term exclusions and/or regularly failing to follow policy, then they may have their leadership position removed from them or not be permitted to attend upcoming events/trips. This is at the discretion of SLT.
The behaviour and ethos policy is on the website can be found on the website by clicking on the link below.
Thinking Ahead – My Future, My Choice
Attention Year 8 & Year 9!
- What are your future plans & career possibilities?
- What plans to do you have after you have completed your GCSEs?
- Do you plan to go on to further/higher education? If so what courses might you study?
- What career ideas do you have for the future at the moment?
In year 7, 8 and 9 you will be learning new skills and knowledge that will give you the confidence to help you plan your next steps. This process starts with your careers education in school which will encourage you to think about your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. You will also start to make some important decisions that could influence your future career path as you will be choosing your subjects to study for GCSE. This process will begin for all Year 9 students early next year.
Each week we will show you examples of the various careers linked to the subject you are studying. This week’s career idea is ‘Jobs related to Performing Arts'
Mr Rees - Careers' Support
Attendance
This week we have been celebrating some excellent attendance at the Academy, whole school overall achieving 92.2%, fantastic, hoping for an even bigger % next week!!
Terra are leading the attendance percentage overall this week with a fantastic 96.6%, well done Terra. Year 10 have had an exceptional week topping the year group attendance with 96.6%.
Look out for some attendance competitions, Mrs Coleman and Mrs Miller Brown will be sending out invitations for a special end of term treat.
Please do not hesitate to contact me on 01476 550333 ext 502 or kcoleman@charlesreadacademy.co.uk to discuss ways to support your child's attendance.
CRA - Lets work together to make every day count!
Mrs Coleman - Attendance Manager
Report on Year 10 Careers' Webinar from RES
On Wednesday the 16th March year 10 were treated to a careers' focused webinar with Corrine Barry from RES (the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, employing over 2,000 people).
Corrine outlined RES’s main involvement with renewable energy, (onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage and transmission and distribution) and their locations worldwide (11 countries).
She also explained some of the pioneering technology they are working on for instance green hydrogen production, and the impressive size and productivity of wind turbines (some of the largest producing enough energy to power 5,000 homes!). Corrine noted the rapidly growing and wide range of career opportunities that the increasingly important renewable energy sector provides.
Good cross-curricular links particularly with Science, Geography and Maths showed pupils the value of how their current school work could link directly to their future careers.
Music Department News
DRET Music Festival
It’s been a busy term in the Music Department. Last week our School Choir were taken on a trip to Nottingham to perform in the DRET Music Festival at the Nottingham Albert Hall.
Our students did themselves proud performing Consider Yourself, Flying Free and Stomp in front of a large audience of all the other DRET Schools, parents and important visitors.
The day was also a source of great inspiration for our students as we watch rock bands, other choirs and orchestras perform. It’s very exciting to hear our students plans about what they would like to prepare and perform next year! Watch this space!
Thank you to all our amazing students who took part and enjoyed the day with us.
Cali, Jaimee, Rihanna, Max, Loghan, Elliott, Skyelette, Jessica, Grace, Connor, Stephanie, Angel, Tansy, James, Connor, Bailie, Ella-Mae, Phoebe, Shania, Rebecca, Francesca, Noah, Lewis, Ashton, Grace, Corey, Scarlett, Star, Nichola, Kara and Isabella.
Composition Competition
We also had a number of students (from Years 9-11) who composed Quartets and Quintets for the Berkeley Ensemble as part of a DRET competition.
All students took part in the DRET zoom chat where the violin, cello, double bass, bassoon, French horn and clarinet were demonstrated by professional musicians from the Berkeley ensemble so that our students could compose their pieces.
Our students worked at speed and created lovely compositions. We are so proud of them. Many of these compositions will go on to become part of GCSE composition coursework in the future and those Year 9 students who took part will also be credited for the musicianship they have shown as part of their end of year assessments.
Huge congratulations to those of submitted their final composition: Daisy, Lily, Ayrton, Kya, Cory F, Connor T, Zac, Baillie, Jonas, Alex, Stephanie, Elliot, Dominic and Tansy. You did great!
Performing Arts Festival Competition
I would also like to congratulate Angel in year 10 who performed a solo singing piece at the Colsterworth Festival of Performing Arts and gained a medal for second place. It takes so much courage to stand up and perform on your own! Absolutely fantastic! Congratulations Angel!
Pop Choir and the Lincolnshire Music Service Concert at the Priory Ruskin Academy
We started this term with a Pop Choir workshop in school and from that group many students then went on to join us on a minibus trip to the Lincolnshire Music Service rehearsals on a Thursday at the Priory.
After a few rehearsals of fun a great stomping (Stomp was one of the songs we love), some of our students were able to take part in the Lincolnshire Music Service Concert at the Priory on Wednesday 16th 7-8.30pm performance. The evening was spectacular, staging, lighting, and accompanying bands to the pop choir. Our students performed brilliantly and I hope they enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Thank you so much to those who were able to join in on the fun: Connor T, Skyelette, Isabella and Ashton.
We also had the joy of watching wind bands and string orchestras. The whole event was very enriching. Thanks to all our students who took part in pop choir leading up to this performance, its ben a genuine joy to take you there.
I’d also like to thank all the parents that have supported these events as well. Most of these events require early and late starts and therefore, our students need a lift from you to be able to attend. Without you, we can’t provide these wonderful opportunities to our wonderful students. Thank you.
Events coming up…
Friday the 1st of April we will be off to London to see the opera La Traviatta being performed. There’s been a lot of interest in this trip and we are very much looking forward to yet another fun filled day. Thanks again to all the parents who are arranging pick ups and drop offs to support this trip.
This Summer Term there will be a talent show house competition and we are looking forward to seeing some great performances that I know some of our students are already preparing and there will also be some Summer Lunchtime Music Concerts in the grounds when it is sunny. So please everyone, do keep practising.
Many thanks all,
Mrs Sharp - Music & Maths Teacher
Art Department
Year 11 : I expect a double page next week of either Artists research of development of your ideas as per the booklets and examples.
Year 10 : I want you to choose one of the artists from this list and do a double page research homework which should include a self-portrait in the style of that artist. I have included here a WAGOLL of myself in the style of Rodchenko. It is to be completed before the end of term and should include every element of skill we have learned so far i.e. good drawing, thorough research, correct annotation and high skill levels in the painting and presentation.
- Hockney
- Frieda Kahlo
- Rodchenko
- Picasso
- Bonnard
- Matisse
- Louise Beugeoise
- Asger Jorn
- Karel Appel
Mr Parker - Art Teacher
Year 11 Focus
Top ten tips for parents: revision
Exams are undoubtedly nerve-racking for children and their parents. Fraught mums and dads watch over their children during the holidays or 'study leave' and wonder to what degree they should be helping. So, with that in mind, here are our top ten tips on how to help children to revise effectively:
1. Encourage your child to make a revision timetable – and stick to it, they have all been producing these in school and adapting them on a weekly basis.
2. Make sure your child has a quiet space to work, with no distractions.
3. Help to find the method of learning and retaining information that works best for them. It could be reading and making notes, using flash cards or Post-it notes, looking at video clips, playing back recordings of their own voice, mind mapping or perhaps a mixture of these. The videos linked below may help with this
- Beating Exam Stress
- Stop Cramming
4. Check the exam specifications. All exam boards publish these, along with practice papers and mark schemes too. This year it is also important to make sure you have read and understood the Advanced information from the exam boards, these have details about the topics that will be covered in the exams.
5. Search out revision apps and online resources – such as BBC Bitesize and Quizlet – to clarify areas your child feels less confident about. Teenagers sometimes concentrate on their best subjects and leave their weaker ones until the end, but it is a good idea to tackle weak areas early on.
6. Be around as much as possible. You don’t have to be at their side 24/7 but children like parents taking an interest in their revision (but not taking over).
7. Keep the kitchen cupboard stocked with delicious food. When the going gets tough children really appreciate a cup of tea, a plate of biscuits or their favourite meal.
8. Encourage them to break revision into manageable chunks and to take regular breaks in between revision sessions. It’s far more effective to do 30 minutes of successful revision – rather than plough on for hours on end and not get anywhere. This is backed up by research by academics at the University of Sheffield who found that learning is more effective when spread out over stretches of time. We will be providing students with a topic breakdown for each subject to make revision more manageable
9. Exercise, fresh air, healthy food and lots of sleep are crucial.
10. Most important of all, help your child to keep everything in perspective. Remind them that the better they prepare and the more confident they feel in their subject knowledge the less stressed they will feel when the exams start. But by the end of June the exams will be over, and it will be the start of the long summer holidays.
Mr Lovatt - Assistant Principal
Year 10 Work Experience Day - March 25th
This is a great opportunity to taste the world of work, as well as give you an insight into a job/career you may be interested in following. When thinking about who to approach for work experience not only should you focus on your interests but aim to be practical, for instance what personal/family connections you can utilize to help find a suitable placement.
Work experience is also a time to impress potential employers with your enthusiasm, abilities and your responsible approach to work. Who knows where it may lead? Some students have previously found their work experience has translated into part-time work while at school, and even a future career.
Please do come and talk to the careers team for further information, or for instance you are finding difficulty in finding a placement.
Mr Rees - Careers' Support
Word of the Week
Cred: believe (Latin word root)
- Credit the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future, or to publicly acknowledge a contributor's role in the production of (something published or broadcast).
- Credible able to be believed; convincing.
Teen Support
Mental health and self-care for young people
It's fair to say the past 2 years have not exactly been easy, and many of us are feeling uncertain or anxious about the future.
But there's loads of things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing, and taking any time you can for self-care is massively important, especially now.
Knowing what steps we can take to support our mental wellbeing can help us feel better, sleep better and have better relationships with the people around us – and that goes not just for today but for the future too.
Check out our videos for all sorts of tips on exercise, sleep and how to take care of yourself on social media.
You will also find links to help for groups of people who may be finding things particularly tough, or have additional needs, and support with some of the issues you may be facing.
Take a look at some of the videos and articles featured on the link below from NHS/EveryMindMatters
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 21st March - 6 times table
Accelerated Reader
Week commencing 21st March during period 4
Tutor In A Box - Advertisement
Please see below the details of Tutor in a Box who can offer additional support to students with the Maths & English progress.
Furter details can be found on their website.
Charles Read Academy are not responsible for the relationship parents and students may take up with the provider. This is a paid for advertisement.
The Sporting Post
Afterschool Clubs
Our club timetable has changed. On Monday and Tuesday our students will be taking part in rugby, hockey and dance. On Wednesday and Thursday we have made some changes to the sports clubs we are offering.
On Wednesdays it is table tennis and rowing club. On Thursday it is football and netball. If students attend afterschool football or netball it will increase their chances of being selected to attend the DRET Winter Cup. If they wish to stay on a Wednesday or Thursday students must report to the PE department at 3.15pm and get changed into their kit. They must then be collected by parents/carers at 4.15pm.
Students also have the opportunity to take part in sport at lunchtimes.
Mr Addlesee - Sports Enrichment Officer
Credits:
Created with images by mozlase__ - "school work write still life" • Victoria_Borodinova - "café visualization interior design" • Tumisu - "ethics right wrong" • InspiredImages - "figures games piece" • geralt - "bulletin board stickies post-it" • geralt - "stopwatch gears keyboard" • geralt - "business the next step next" • stevepb - "piano sheet music music" • 1681551 - "art paint water colors" • geralt - "apple fruit selection" • Pexels - "book college education" • geralt - "businesswoman business puzzle" • geralt - "board school self confidence" • jarmoluk - "hands friendship friends" • Wokandapix - "learn word scrabble" • anncapictures - "tartan track athletics track and field" • webandi - "calendar wall calendar days"