SLT Update
In whole school assembly Mr Thornton spoke to the students about the behaviour survey which all students are required to complete instead of a prep homework session this week. The purpose of the survey is to gather important feedback from the students about their opinion on behaviour at CRA. This in turn helps us to be able to review practice and make sure we have a school that has a consistent approach to behaviour and supports all students. If your child has not already completed the survey, please do encourage them to do so this weekend. They can access it through their CRA email.
Its been lovely to see the number of entries for the New Year Cup come flooding in over the last couple of weeks. We have had entries from family members as far away as Australia! Please do get involved and support our House system. Every km helps! Have a restful weekend
Miss King, Head of School
Table Talk
Marked by the beginnings of puberty and self-discovery, adolescence can be a turbulent time for teens.
During one’s teenage years, rebellion and experimentation are common occurrences, which can lead to conflict. Thus, conflict resolution for teens is an important skill to learn so that they can navigate this period in their life with relative ease. Understanding Conflict in Teens Interpersonal conflict occurs when there is a clash of opposing viewpoints and behaviours or when there is a disagreement between two or more parties. Sometimes, conflict can even escalate to fights or violence. In fact, a 1999 survey reported that one in three school students have engaged in a physical fight in the past year.
From a psychological perspective, there are several theoretical models explaining interpersonal conflict in adolescence, among which are the following:
- ✓ Psychoanalytic models: According to this family of theories, conflict is a part of life, serving as an avenue for relationships to recalibrate. Because teens undergo numerous changes, relationships become disrupted. Conflict also occurs because adolescents have yet to learn how to manage their libidinal urges.
- ✓ Cognitive-developmental model: These models posit that because teenagers experience a shift in perspective and ideology, this impacts their behaviour. Moreover, because everyone behaves differently, conflict is unavoidable.
- ✓ Social relational models: In this set of approaches to understanding conflict, it has been observed that conflict is hinged on what the relationship is like and what the circumstances are surrounding the issue causing the conflict. Because the need for people to be aligned with one another in terms of goals and behaviours is often unmet, conflict arises.
Common Causes of Conflict Among Teens
According to researchers, there are many causes of conflict among teens, all of which can be categorised into five factors, as follows:
- ✓ Informational factors: Conflict can arise because of a lack of communication of clear, accurate facts or because of miscommunication between the parties involved. Moreover, there is also a tendency for teens to either spread or be subjected to rumours, which in turn, causes conflict. To learn more about how to avoid causing this type of conflict, check out our worksheet on improving your communication skills.
- ✓ Systemic factors: Differences in social status is one example of a societal factor that can cause interpersonal conflict among teens. Another is rejecting social norms or being in opposition with authority figures.
- ✓ Value-related factors: When the values of two or more people are incompatible, conflict can occur as well. In addition, one person may be inclined to impose their values on another, which produces undesired conflict.
Attitude factors: Conflict can likely be caused when encounters and communication with others are unsatisfactory. Attitude-related factors that contribute to conflict can involve a person’s behaviour not meeting another person’s expectations or standards.
- ✓ Behavioural factors: Sometimes, certain circumstances can negatively impact one’s self-esteem or even just pose a threat to self-esteem. Reactive behaviour to such situations can thus lead to conflict. Impact of Unresolved Conflicts on Individuals and Relationships Sometimes, conflict may be left unresolved for several reasons, ranging from a lack of conflict resolution skills to the inability to regulate one’s emotions revolving around the issue at hand. The impact of unresolved conflict can vary in terms of duration; the absence of a resolution can have short-term effects, changing a teen’s behaviour, emotional state, and their interactions with others. Meanwhile, long-term effects of unresolved conflict include higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. In general, unresolved conflict is one of the leading causes of mental health problems among adolescents. Family conflict has been associated with behavioural disorders and juvenile delinquency, whereas peer conflict has been shown to predict a decrease in academic performance and a lack of interest in school.
Although recurring conflicts can lead to the deterioration of relationships, there is a bright side to experiencing conflict with others—that is, among teens, it can offer them the chance to reflect on their beliefs, attitude, and behaviour. Moreover, once resolved, interpersonal conflict can revitalize relationships and enhance one’s understanding of themselves and other people. Conflict Resolution Strategies for Teens Conflict resolution entails using one or a combination of the following conflict resolution strategies:
- ✓ Submission: When a person submits, they concede in the argument or try to meet the needs of the person with whom they are in conflict.
- ✓ Compromise: Compromise typically involves negotiating with the other party to arrive at a solution that will at least partially meet the needs of those involved in the conflict.
- ✓ Standoff: A standoff entails a derailment from the issue at hand by, for example, changing topics or engaging in another activity.
- ✓ Withdrawal: If you have ever walked out of a room to clear your head after fighting with someone, then you used the strategy of withdrawal.
- ✓ Third-party intervention: Involving an impartial mediator can also help resolve a disagreement when the parties involved in the conflict agree to abide by the proposed action to take.
Although arriving at a compromise seems to be the most desirable strategy for all situations, youth conflict resolution should not employ a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, if a teenager is in conflict with a bully, it wouldn’t quite make sense to try to meet some of the bully’s needs when the victim of the bullying is the one whose needs should be predominantly met. Likewise, submission would not be an appropriate strategy either because submitting to the bully would imply that their actions are acceptable. In this specific example, perhaps a third-party intervention would be most useful; a good alternative would also be to withdraw from the conflict.
Regardless, conflict resolution strategies you have at your disposal and think about the possible positive and negative outcomes that utilizing each strategy would produce. Steps to Conflict Resolution Although this process doesn’t have to be followed to the letter, the following steps can serve as a guide to youth conflict resolution:
Set the stage. Establish that you both want to resolve the conflict in a peaceful manner. If necessary, set some ground rules as well. An example of a ground rule would be to use “I” statement, such as “I feel . . .”
- ✓ Gather perspectives from everyone involved. In this stage, each affected party discusses their involvement, thoughts, and feelings about the conflict without being interrupted. As this is happening, everyone else should practice active listening; if the message being communicated is unclear, they should ask for clarifications in an unprovoking manner. Finally, it is important that listeners understand not just what the other person needs but also why they need it satisfied.
- ✓ Find a common interest. Conflict arises from both subjective perceptions and an objective turn of events. With that said, it is possible to find a consensus on the circumstances that led to the conflict and the feelings brought about by the conflict. Aside from finding a common ground, it is also important to determine why each individual involved weighs an issue with more importance than other related issues in the conflict.
- ✓ Create options. This step involves each individual working in collaboration by brainstorming possible ways to resolve the conflict. This is where the different conflict resolution strategies come into play. However, keep in mind that it is possible that some proposed solutions may work against another person or offend them, so when enumerating possible solutions, try your best to assume a nonjudgmental and noncommittal stance.
- ✓ Evaluate options. For each proposed solution, each party involved in the conflict should feel free to discuss their feelings about it. After this discussion, everyone affected by the conflict should be prepared to negotiate. Sometimes, what you need may just be what you want, and other times, what you need may not be as critical as what the other person needs. With that said, consider that in some conflicts, agreeing to disagree is also an option for conflict resolution.
- ✓ Create an agreement. Each party should explicitly state the conclusion or understanding they have arrived at. If needed, they can also write this agreement down.
Please take an opportunity to ask your son/daughter how their week has been and whether they have experienced any difficulties this week. It is Children’s metal health week this week and talking about issues can really help.
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 beginning - 10 February 2025 - Times table is 7
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning - 10 February 2025 - Period 5
Attendance.
Attendance – Term 3, Week 5.
Year 8 have ended the week in first place for overall attendance, well done year 8. Year 9 finish in 5th place.
The boys have had another great week beating the girls to 1st place beating the girls by a huge 7 %. Come on girls, lets see if we can pull it back next week!
Terra have finished first with the highest overall attendance this week, beating Aqua by 3.5%, well-done Terra! Special mention for Aqua 8 with 92% and Terra 8 with 95% excellent effort.
Friday has seen our highest percentage of absence this week, please let me know if you begin to see a pattern in your child’s attendance. Missing just one day can have an impact on students learning experiences and outcomes.
Please may we remind you that absences for increment weather will not be authorised, unless the school is closed.
If your child is absent from school, please ensure you contact school daily either by email/MCAS or by telephoning the attendance line 01476 550333 ext 502. It is vital we are notified everyday of any absence for safeguarding reasons, unless previously authorised. A reason for illness will always be requested, this is to observe attendance patterns and outbreaks of illness amongst students.
Please do not hesitate to contact myself kcoleman@charlesreadacademy.co.uk on 01476 550333 ext 515 or tsandison@charlesreadacademy.co.uk ext 502 to discuss ways to support your child's attendance.
CRA - Lets work together to make every day count!
Leave of absence request
A Principal can only authorise a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. We will take into account the Government guidance when considering what the exceptional circumstances are- all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be able to take your child out of school in exceptional circumstances, providing an application is made in advance by the parent/carer, this request complies with Government guidance and the leave is deemed to be ‘exceptional’ by the Principal.
If you take a leave of absence without our permission or if your child fails to return by the agreed date if permission was granted, then this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and noted in your child’s record. You might also be issued with a fixed penalty notice for this absence. If your child has not returned within 10 days of the expected date of return then, after consultation with the Local Authority, we may take your child off our school roll.
As examples, the following reasons are not considered to be exceptional circumstances:
- availability of cheap holidays
- periods overlapping with beginning or end of term
- visits to family
- renewing passports
Requests for leave of absence will only be considered if made in writing. Please ensure you use the leave of absence request form to do this.
To request a leave of absence, please use this form.
Mrs Coleman - Attendance Manager
House News.
Flags of the World – House Quiz
Students and staff at CRA put their flags of the world knowledge to the test this week, as they attempted to correctly identify 35 flags from the picture board.
Interest in the competition was extremely high with lots of students showcasing a wide range of flag knowledge. One student correctly identified 35 out of 35 flags and will be revealed on Monday in whole school assembly, along with the competitions full results.
70 house points will be awarded to the winning house team.
House ‘The Cube’ Returns Next Week
The final house competition of term takes place on Wednesday 12th February (next week) as participants prepare for the return of ‘The Cube’. Similar to the hit TV Gameshow, house teams will take on a series of challenges testing participants speed, accuracy, reaction time and composure on the main stage. Each house team requires one participant from each year group and a member of staff.
House New Year Cup – Race Down Under
ONLY 7 DAYS left to take part in this year’s House New Year Cup and we require just over 1,000km to complete our 4,949km target.
Terra have maintained their position in first place however Caeli made the biggest progress in the latest round of scores, to narrowly close the gap.
As a CRA community we have covered 3416.77km of our 4,949km, and are well and truly on the home straight – We have Perth and the finish line in our sights!!
433 entries and counting have been submitted so far across the 3 houses.
Deadline is Friday 14th February – Its not too late to enter so please Keep those scores coming in and spreading the word in the family to get more involved – submit your entries to housechampionship@charlesreadacademy.co.uk
CRA’s Got Talent Show
This year is the return of the House Talent Show (CRA’s Got Talent). Although the competition is not scheduled to take place until Term 6 we would like to provide students with the opportunity to start planning and rehearsing performances. Previous years have seen a range of different acts including singing, dancing, gymnastic routines and more… If you believe you have a performance to take part in this years Talent Show please speak to your tutor or head of house.
The Sporting Post.
PE kit reminder - 2024/2025
The standard PE kit is as follows:
- CRA House PE top (compulsory)
- CRA PE shorts or skorts (compulsory)
- CRA PE Hoodie (compulsory)
- Black socks. These can be purchased from any provider.
- PE track pants / leggings / skins - optional - must be plain navy or black. These can be worn under the CRA PE top, shorts or skorts. These items should have no logos/writing/labels. These can be purchased from any provider.
Sports trainers- These can be purchased from any provider. No fashion trainers.
Girls will take part in hockey and boys will take part in rugby during PE lessons. Gumshields and shinpads are recommended for their safety.
Shinpads will also be needed for girls' and boys' football.
Moulded football boots are also recommended as students can wear these on the 3G artificial surface and grass field.
Please can all students be collected from the BACK of the school when being picked up from after school clubs and fixtures.
Term Dates
Please see the latest term dates for 2024-25
A list of diary events can also be found on the CRA Website by clicking here
Credits:
Created with images by Yurii Kibalnik - "Business concept about Special Educational Needs with sign on the piece of paper." • dizain - "Mental health word cloud with magnifying glass, health concept" • Naypong Studio - "Sports Equipment on white background" • tatomm - "close up of calendar on the yellow table background, planning for business meeting or travel planning concept"