8th September 2023

Weekly Letter 08.09.23

Dear Parent/Carer

We have loved having your children back with us at NUSA this week. It has been excellent to see how well they have settled in. Thank you for ensuring that they are all prepared with the correct uniform and equipment. We understand that some items are still on order and look forward to seeing everybody fully equipped asap. Just a little reminder that only NUSA school skirts should be worn to school.

In our assemblies this week, we have looked at how all students have ‘choices’. Ultimately, as our children begin to get older, they have more jurisdiction over what happens in their lives. This is why it is so important that we all help them make the right choice. Whether that be completing homework, revising, supporting with friendships or ensuring they are prepared for school, they need as much support as possible from both home and school to ensure that they leave us as successful as possible.

We will spend this year focusing on developing our work on our NUSA values. These are integrity, purpose, grit and being NUSA 24/7. I will write to you over the coming weeks about what we are doing with these values within school so that you can support at home.

Attendance:

There is an obvious and very direct link between progress and attendance. Our GCSE results this year showed that students who attended the most got the best grades. Whilst ability naturally comes into the grades students receive at the end of Year 11, it is evident that the more they attend school, the greater progress they make. I know that you all want your children to make the best progress possible, so please help us to help them by ensuring they are coming to school every day. Obviously, if your child is sick, it is important that they rest and recuperate. However, there may be occasions where a child wakes up feeling a little under the weather but by 10am, they feel fine again. It is on days like this that they should absolutely be coming in to school so that they can be learning and making the best progress possible.

Offer of training for Parents/Carers:

Be a life saver - Attend our free awareness session on CPR and the use of a Defibrillator (AED) in October 2023.

 

We are delighted to be hosting 2 sessions in October in partnership with East Midlands Ambulance Service on CPR (CardioPulmonary Resuscitation) and use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Part of the East Midlands Ambulance Service’s Cardiac Arrest Strategy is to raise the awareness of the public, of what to do if they were in the unfortunate position of dealing with a cardiac arrest. The sessions will take place in school on Monday 16th October at 4pm or Tuesday 17th October at 5pm. If you would like to reserve your free space, please click here to complete the form. Spaces to the session will be allocated on a first come first served basis. You will receive a confirmation email if you have been allocated a space. Where you are allocated a space, please ensure you attend, as it is really important that as many people as possible have awareness of this topic as it really can save a life, so please only reserve a space if you are sure you can join us. We look forward to seeing you, be sure to click above to reserve your spot.

ISTs:

Here at NUSA we call ‘homework’, ‘Independent study time’. For Y7-9, we will be trialling setting ISTs in Maths only for our first term. This is because we want to focus on the quality of IST we receive for maths and trial a new rewards system for completion of ‘homework’. This does not mean that your child should not do any other work at home and they are more than welcome, and should be encouraged, to regularly recap their knowledge of other subjects. At the end of the term, we will be launching a full IST programme for all students in Y7-9.

ISTs for Y10-11 will remain the same and are expected to be completed for every subject.

Medical passes:

Every term we review the issuing of medical exemption passes for students who require more frequent visits to the toilet. If your child needs to be issued with a medical pass, please contact your child’s Head of Year to arrange this to be issued.

Reading at NUSA:

We at NUSA have started the academic year picking up where we left off, with a love of reading. On our website, we have a wide range of subject specific vocabulary that you can read through with your child. The link can be found by clicking here.  Alternatively, you can scan the QR code below.

 

We will be sharing your child's reading age with them via their email and their reading ages will still be available on their reports. Should you have any questions regarding reading, please do not hesitate to email us at reading@nusa.org.uk

Revision guides:

If your child is currently studying for GCSE exams (year 10 or 11) and would like to purchase revision guides at a reduced cost, they can do so by completing the order form and taking it, along with the correct amount of money to Vera in A119. Order forms can be collected from tutors, Mrs Huskisson-Moore or Vera. Revision guides are available for a range of subjects including maths, English, Science, drama, Spanish, sport, history, geography, psychology and catering and are an invaluable tool to support students maximising their progress.  

SEND Drop ins:

We offer a number of ‘SEND drop ins’ throughout the year for parents/carers. These are open to any parent/carer who may want to discuss their child’s SEND needs further or parents/carers who have concerns that their children may have SEND needs that are yet to be diagnosed. If you wish to book an appointment in one of the slots below, please contact reception.

Wednesday SEND Drop in dates:

13/09/2023

27/09/2023

11/10/2023

25/10/2023

Coming up at NUSA:

Date

Event

27/09/2023

Year 6 Open evening

28/09/2023

Year 7 & Year 12 Settling in event

06/10/2023

INSET Day

16/10/2023

Community CPR & Defib Training - Ticket Only (information above)

17/10/2023

Community CPR & Defib Training - Ticket Only (information above)

19/10/2023

Nusa Sixth Form Open Evening

Safeguarding corner:

This week’s safeguarding corner comes from the NSPCC and focusses on online safety.

Have a wonderful weekend

Emma Howard

Headteacher