SLT Update
Although a shorter week this week, no less busy at CRA, with our Year 11s starting their formal GCSE exam series - we wish them all the very best of luck with their exams. We also had the DRET Primary Rounders cup on Thursday and it was lovely to see our students supporting the primary students taking part in the event. We are also on week 3 of our House Summer Games, with students enjoying handball this week. We have now opened our field area and it is great for the students to have that additional space to enjoy the finer weather in.
Year 11 Focus
I would like to congratulate the Y11 students on how well they have begun the examination season, they have been organised and well prepared, followed instructions well and worked hard during revision sessions. Please see the table below for next week's exams to support them in revision from home:
The importance of a having a healthy breakfast before exams
We have noticed that some students are arriving in the morning with sugary snacks as breakfast, or not eating anything at all. This is not ideal whilst sitting exams, fuelling the body correctly prior to an exam can have a significant impact on performance in the exam in relation to their stamina and resilience. Students are also arriving to school without a clear water bottle to take into the exam. It is important that students are eating prior to each exam to support their energy and focus, as well as coming to school with a full, clear water bottle.
Revision guide returns and uniform donations
Y11 students were spoken to this week and reminded of the need to return any revision guides they have been borrowed by June 19th. If students would like to return them as and when they finish the last exam of different subjects they are welcome to do so. To attend the Y11 Prom it is crucial that this is done.
Students were also asked about the possibility of donating their school uniform and PE kits on June 19th when they attend for their final day and leaver's assembly. This is of course the student's choice as to whether they do so, but any donations would be warmly received and would support our younger students and families.
Why We Do What We Do
The Year 11 exam season is now in full swing. Before each exam we do a 15 minute revision session just to help the year 11 students get their brain into the subject of the exam. Heads of Department and subject leaders will remind students about exam techniques, technical language and scaffolds that have supported them in their classwork such as using a PEEL paragraph, Point, Evidence, Example, Link. We find this helps the student focus and they are thinking about key vocabulary and approaches to the exam before they walk into the exam hall.
We wish all our year 11 students the best in their exams.
CRA Character
Again we saw some further success at the weekend for our table tennis scholars - now national champions - Abraham won the U15 - his first national individual title and Ella and Issac became doubles national champions and silver and bronze winners in the singles. Amazing CRA resilience, ambition and courage shown throughout. Well done to them 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 commencing 12th May 2024 - 7
Accelerated Reading
Week commencing 12th May 2024 - Period 2
Teen Support..
PARENT ONLINE SAFETY Q +A’s
Following the success of splitting our Online Safety Q+A’s into 2 events one for Primary Parents and one for Secondary Parents we have continued with this set up for June. Parents are welcome to attend both, so we would ask you advertise both the primary and secondary events in your setting so they are aware these are available. I have attached a poster with the information. However, text that can be used on your Parentmail systems is as follows:
Stay Safe Partnership’s Upcoming Online Safety Q+A events for Parents
In our 2023 Keeping Safe Survey Lincolnshire showed that effective parental/guardian supervision of a child’s online activity reduced the risk of children being bullied online by up to 39%. Being able to keep up to date with the latest apps and trends in order to keep your children safe can feel like an overwhelming task. The Stay Safe Partnership deliver Online Safety workshops in Primary and Secondary schools across Lincolnshire everyday. In this event we will give you the most up to date information and tools, so you feel confident that you can keep your children safe from online harm whilst still allowing them to explore the online world. Whether you want to know more around age appropriate apps, online trends, parental controls, social media or any other burning questions this is the event for you! Sign up is required.
Stay Safe Partnerships Online Safety Q+A for Parents of Primary Aged Children 5th June 2024 6-7:30pm FREE TEAMS event sign up required: https://buytickets.at/staysafepartnership/1238483
Stay Safe Partnerships Online Safety Q+A for Parents of Secondary Aged Children 19th June 2024 6-7:30 pm FREE TEAMS event sign up required: https://buytickets.at/staysafepartnership/1238529
Navigating Teen Relationships Online TEAMS event for Secondary aged parents
When your young person begins to date and become romantically involved with peers, their life can seem exciting, but can also be extremely difficult. Teenagers don’t always like to talk about what is happening in their love life however ‘Navigating teenage relationships’ aims to provide parents and guardians with a toolkit, to support your young person through the complexities of having a healthy relationship.
The Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership (LDAP) will run a one hour online TEAMS workshop on the 10th June 6-7:30pm. During the evening LDAP will discuss signs of unhealthy relationships, coercive control, love bombing and other red flags to look out for in your teens and where you can get support. The team is also happy to answer any questions you may have through the night. https://buytickets.at/staysafepartnership/1238653
STAFF ONLINE SAFETY Q+A:
Staff Online Safety Q+A TEAMS event 11th June 10-11:30am sign up required
In this event we will give you the most up to date information around Online trends and apps being used by children and young people in Lincolnshire. We will explore emerging risks and will discuss the tools and resources available to help you support parents, children and young people to stay safe from online harm whilst still getting the most out of this valuable resource. If you are a professional working with children and young people then this event is a great way to refresh and update your online safety knowledge. Whether you work for Police, Early Help, Education, Social Care, Mental Health you are welcome to join us. Sign up is required. https://buytickets.at/staysafepartnership/1238539
Attendance....
Attendance – Term 5, Week 4
Year 11 have achieved 1st place again with a top attendance score beating all the other year groups, well done Year 11, great effort. Year 10 are once again in 5th place as the lowest attending year group.
The girls have pulled back this week and beaten the boys to 1st place by a respectable 5.1%.
Caeli have finished first again with the highest overall attendance this week, beating Terra by 4.5%, well-done Caeli! Special mention for Caeli 10, Terra 11 and Terra 7 who have achieved 97%, excellent effort.
Wednesday has seen our highest percentage of absence this week. Missing just one day can have an impact on students learning experiences and outcomes.
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!
Mrs Coleman - Attendance Manager
House News
The House Summer Games continued at CRA this week with a brand-new experience for our students who had the opportunity to take part in ‘Goalball’. Goalball is a Paralympic sport for athletes with a visual impairment. Students were able to get a sense of the challenges athletes must overcome to be able to participate successfully in this sport by using ties for blindfolds.
Using only the stimulus from the sound of a bell in the ball students had to try and navigate their opponent’s position before rolling the ball into the opposing goal. Defenders had to try and work out through the sound of the ball which direction it was travelling before attempting to block and defend their goal.
The first round of matches ended in a draw with Aqua, Caeli and Terra year 7 & 8s each won one game each. The final round of games between year 9 & 10s take place today with the overall results revealed in whole school assembly on Monday.
Table Tennis
Last weekend was the Table Tennis England U15, U17 and U19 National Championships at the David Ross Sports Village at the University of Nottingham.
Ella, Isaac, Ryan and Abraham had all qualified to play in the event and all put in some fantastic performances, beating several higher ranked players and winning the following medals:
- Abraham U15 singles National Champion 🏆 U15 National doubles champion 🏆 U17 singles 🥉
- Isaac U17 singles 🥉 U17 National doubles champion 🏆 U19 doubles 🥉
- Ella U17 singles 🥈 U17 National doubles 🏆U19 singles 🥉 U19 mixed doubles 🥉 U19 girls doubles 🥈
The Sporting Post.
Free Sports Sessions
Please find attached a link to sports sessions that are ran by Grantham Positive Futures for free around Grantham.
Please can all students be collected from the BACK of the school when being picked up from after school clubs and fixtures.
Sports Kit
Please can any borrowed sports kit be returned as soon as possible. We have trainers, hoodies, netball dresses and football kit (shirts, shorts and socks) that have not been returned. This means that students are unable to also borrow these items for fixtures and limits teams when wanting to wear a full, matching kit.
Term Dates
Please see the latest term dates for 2022-23.
A list of diary events can also be found on the CRA Website by clicking here