CRA Newsletter 14.03.25 Half Term 4 - March 2025

SLT Update

On Thursday we had our second Character Day at CRA with some fantastic sessions running from LCC Stay Safe partnership such as county lines and fore safety, as well as our CRA staff such as First Aid. The day was a real success and the students fully engaged with all the sessions showing CRA confidence and respect.

We are seeing an increase in internal truancy from some students. From Monday we are operating a new system for students with toilet passes. If a student wishes to use their pass, the member of staff will radio to the staff member on pass duty who will collect and return the student to their lesson.

We hope you enjoy your weekend and hopefully some sunshine!

Miss King, Head of School

Important dates to remember

  • 19th March - Year 9 Parents evening
  • 25th & 26th March - High School Musical Production
  • 27th March - Blood Brothers Theatre Trip
  • 4th April - End of Term 4

High School Musical Production

Our school production is being held at the Academy on the evenings of the 25th and 26th March 2025 starting at 6.45pm with doors open from 6.15pm. Tickets are now available through the My Child At School App so please place your orders. The cost is £3 for adults and £1 for children. Please be aware that cash payments for tickets will not be accepted. Tickets are restricted to 5 per family so as to give all families an opportunity to attend. If you would like additional tickets, please contact Ms Fulcher and if any are left after sales close then they will be offered to you.

Year 11

We are now taking orders for Year 11 Leavers Hoodies. Please go to your My Child At School app to place the order and make payment. We will not be accepting cash payments . I will need all orders by 22nd April please.

PROM

PROM will be held on the 27th June 2025 - Further information to follow.

CRA Character

This week, students had their second Character Day of the year. Year 7 focused on living the CRA values, Year 8 practised communicating with confidence and learning valuable First Aid Skills. Our Year 9s and 10s took part in their Stay Safe Day, whilst Year 11 learned about how to reduce exam stress, which will be vital as they approach their GCSEs.

Maths Department

Each week, our students at CRA, complete maths questions for their homework on Sparx. Some students answer additional questions, further increasing their mathematical knowledge. We do this as there are online resources to help and guide students if they are struggling with a question. You might like to ask them to show you what they typically do on a weekly basis.

This weeks Sparx Stars are;

  • Logan M Year 10
  • Marta A Year 9
  • Amelia Rose J Year 8

Table Talk

Many teenagers tell us that they are suffering with mental health.

However, like physical health there are lots of different aspects to mental health, and saying they are suffering with mental health does not help in gaining the support they require.

Mental health covers:

  • ✓ PTSD
  • ✓ Separation anxiety disorder
  • ✓ Depression
  • ✓ Eating disorder
  • ✓ Obsessive–compulsive disorder
  • ✓Dissociative identity disorder
  • ✓ Bipolar disorder
  • ✓ Personality disorders
  • ✓ Schizophrenia
  • ✓ Panic disorder
  • ✓ Specific phobia
  • ✓ Psychosis
  • ✓ Substance use disorder
  • ✓ Generalized anxiety disorder
  • ✓ Impulse-control disorder
  • ✓ Mood Disorders
  • ✓ Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • ✓ Borderline personality disorder
  • ✓ Factitious disorders
  • ✓ Social anxiety disorder
  • ✓ Somatic symptom disorder

These are just some of the areas of mental health that teenagers are suffering from. There is whole host of information on the internet to support with what each disorder is characterised as and where to find support. Please take the time to talk to your child about mental health and the importance of asking for support if they need it. The Tutor is the first port of call if they want to talk about anything in school and then they can be referred to a pastoral manager.

Below is a sample of some informative sites which reference types of mental health conditions:

  1. Mental disorders
  2. Mental health problems | What types are there? - Mind - Mind
  3. Mental health conditions - NHS

Why We Do What We Do

As an academy we have a range of standard operating procedures. We use these to make it easy for our students and staff to be good. We are clear with our expectations so everyone knows where they stand and remind students about these regularly via assemblies, drop down days and through interactions with teachers and support staff.

This week we are sharing the 90 second rule. We endeavour to get students in as quickly as possible to maximise their learning time.

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 - 17 March 25 - Times table is 12

Accelerated Reading

Week beginning - 17 March 2025 - Period 4

Thinking Ahead – My Future, My Choice

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 Religious Studies

Mr Rees - Careers' Support

Attendance.

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

Holiday Warning Letter

House News.

House Photography Competition – ‘House Elements’

It has been great to see so many excellent photography submissions for this years house competition.

This year you have been set a challenge to be creative and capture ‘house elements’ by including either water (Aqua), weather (Caeli) or landscape (Terra) within your photos.

The competition is open to all students, staff and parents with each person able to enter a maximum of 5 photos.

Entries must be emailed to housechampionship@charlesreadacademy.co.uk with a deadline of Tuesday 22nd April.

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Table Tennis

Some fantastic news from last weekend, we have some Table Tennis England National Champions at CRA!

Abraham won both the U17 and U15 boys singles event, retaining his U15 title from last year and stepping up an age category beat many older players to take the title.

Ella won a triple crown, winning the U17 singles event, U17 girls doubles and U17 mixed doubles with former CRA student Isaac.

In other news Ryan reached the quarter finals of the U15 boys singles and Ryan and Harrison the quarter finals of the U15 doubles.

The Sporting Post.

Term 1 Sports Newsletter 2024

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

Academic Term Dates 2024-25

A list of diary events can also be found on the CRA Website by clicking here

CREATED BY
Gemma Fulcher

Credits:

Created with images by Philip - "Class of 2025, word lettering script banner. Congrats Graduation lettering with academic cap. Template for design party high school or college, graduate invitations." • GMeta - "Stylish coir doormat with Stay Safe message and umbrella stand at entrance" • patpitchaya - "Mathematics" • Vitalii Vodolazskyi - "Hands holding book with title career guidance." • sosiukin - "Follow The Rules word written on wood block. Follow The Rules text on table, concept" • fotofabrika - "Table tennis, ping pong" • 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"