SLT Update
Its been such a festive week at CRA! We have had students taking part in the DRET Carols concert on Monday, our CRA rewards assembly where over 100 students were rewarded for their attendance, attitude to learning and individual subject success and we even had the school band and choir play for us! On Tuesday, KS3 and KS4 walked to the Corby Glen Church for our annual carol service and the students showed respect and confidence during the visit. On Wednesday we had over 120 students and staff running our Santa Run and then in the afternoon our House Christmas parties! Judging the tutor group trees was very hard due to the time and effort students had put in to create such unique CRA trees! On Thursday we had our first staff panto for the children and the atmosphere in the hall was electric! Friday, staff welcomed students from the buses with their festive singing outside for the final day.
Wishing all our staff, students and their families a wonderful Christmas break and we look forward to welcoming our students back to the academy on Monday 6th January.
Miss King, Head of School
Staff Pantomime
Cinderella – as you have never seen it before!
On Thursday afternoon all students were treated to a spectacular staff panto, loosely based on Cinderella. Staff demonstrated courage, confidence, and charisma as they took to the stage entertaining all – The Fairy Godmother, working with Buttons, tried to get Cinders to the Grand Ball, even though the Ugly Stepsisters had given her too many chores! Unfortunately, they needed to talk to the Enchanted Tree to find creatures to draw the carriage. Alas the Christmasaurus, Yeti, Phoenix and Medusa were just not up to the task. However, Dash the sparkly unicorn made sure that Cinders got to the Ball to meet her Prince. Did I mention that the plot was very unlike any Cinderella you might have seen elsewhere!
Staff went above and beyond and demonstrated the core values we find so important at CRA – confidence, resilience, aspiration, courage, respect, and ambition. Thank you to all and a special mention to Head Girl, Phoebe, who started the ball rolling and without whom none of this would have happened.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Ms Burrell (Writer and Director)
Music Department
Our annual Carol Services are a wonderful opportunity for students, staff and families to gather together to mark the Christmas season through singing carols, hearing biblical readings, and experiencing formal liturgy, led by a priest, in a significant church in the local area.
Our Music department is very proud of our students because they filled the St. Botolph Church in Boston with their beautiful voices singing in harmony the Latin Dona nobis Pacem (Give us peace)
CRA Character
This week staff and students have been responding to our Christmas activities in their usual characterful CRA fashion. Our year 11 student leaders stayed behind after their own Christmas Party to help staff with the Key Stage 3 Christmas Party, clearing tables and keeping everything running smoothly. Staff who participated in the panto were delighted to see students respond so well by getting into the Christmas spirit and being so supportive of staff who haven't stepped on stage to act for many years. The atmosphere created was a real embodiment of the warm and supportive environment of CRA.
Why We Do What We Do
Every year on the last day of term the staff gather together to sing Christmas songs and carols to our students as they arrive at school. It shows the students that we can join together, work together and perform even when it’s not necessarily our greatest attribute! Singing creates a feel good feeling and the words of Christmas songs and carols send messages of peace, kindness, care and love.
Merry Christmas to you all.
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 - 6 January 2025 - Times table is 8
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning - 6 January 2025 - Period 5
Attendance
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.
House Christmas Party
The Christmas spirit was very much at CRA this week as over 200 students and staff enjoyed an afternoon of House Christmas Party activities, Students and staff who attended the party indulged in a Christmas dinner before partaking in a variety of Christmas party games, Party games included pin the nose on Rudolf, Santa hat relay, mince pie eating competitions, dressing heads of house as snowmen, Christmas bingo, xmas pong and lots of singing.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere and great to see so many students bring the Christmas spirit by proudly presenting their Tutor group Christmas trees. It was another fantastic effort by all tutor groups this year who have been working together to create a theme for their trees before showcasing their final designs to the school at the party. Following some tough decisions in the judging it was Caeli 7 who were awarded 1st place with their tree of ‘giving’. Every student in year 7 searched at home for a gift they were kindly willing to gift to Barnados, supporting children who are less fortunate and may not receive any gifts this Christmas. Alongside the gifts from Caeli 7 students were personalised messages to the child who receives their gift. A lovely idea and another example of the amazing community we have at CRA.
Santa Run 2024
The 2024 Santa Run took place this week as 130+ students and staff at CRA participated in the 20 minute fun run around the school field. It was an amazing CRA community effort with over £,2,200 raised for the DRET Inspiration Fund, a fund which provides students from across the trust access to a wide range of enrichment opportunities across the academic year. Since the launch of the Santa Run, CRA have raised over £7,000 through this event and despite being the smallest secondary academy in the trust CRA continue to contribute and participate in great numbers.
Every runner who completed the 20 minute fun run received a medal before the fastest Santa (student or staff member who completed the most laps of the course within the time limit) and the highest fundraiser were awarded with a plaque for recognition of their efforts. Well done to Tudor in year 11 who was the fastest santa for the second year running and Snow in year 7 who raised over £100 to receive the highest fundraiser award.
Well done and a big thank you to everyone who took part or supported the event.
House Dodgeball
The final sports competition of the year saw students across years 7 to 11 go head to head in House Dodgeball. The competition was extremely competitive throughout the week with Caeli securing the first round of victories in the year 11 competition. Terra were quick to respond with consecutive victories in the year 10 and year 7 competitions to take the overall lead. Next up were the year 8s who produced a number of closely fought games but it was Terra who made it a hattrick of victories to be crowned over house dodgeball champions. The final games between the year 9s finished in a tie, with Aqua, Caeli and Terra all picking up victories against each other.
Well done to everyone who played their part.
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 Business Pics - "Elegant Stage with Golden Curtains. A sophisticated theater stage with opulent gold drapes against dark background, ready for a premiere performance" • Gular - "Christmas Holidays Worship with Organ Music in Church in Huge Lutheran Parish Church Xmas Holiday Decoration With Christmas Tree Candle Lights" • Мария Фадеева - "Illustration of kids singing Christmas carols outdoors, capturing a cheerful holiday atmosphere with soft snowflakes." • 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"