Hi everyone,
Even though it has been a short week, we have still managed to cram a lot in! Speaks volumes for the number of opportunities our students have and how committed our staff body is - even when we are on our knees ?.
A big thank you to Charlotte and the languages team for their incredible team effort this week to facilitate the Year 11 speaking exams and mocks. Students have taken them really seriously and attendance has been good which bodes well for a few weeks’ time.
It was certainly a lot quieter on the sporting front this week after our recent travels across the country. Last Friday saw a large amount of our year 7 & 8 girls enjoy a morning of rugby led by the coaches at Newton Abbot All Whites. We also welcomed a number of students from our feeder primary schools again after school on Monday for taster sessions in Football, Rugby and Netball. Our only fixture this week saw our year 8 boys’ football team win on penalties against Churston Grammar School to progress in the South Devon Cup. It was 3-3 after full time and the boys showed great composure to win 4-3 in an epic shootout.
Tuesday saw our Headteacher’s Commendation Awards celebration in the DCA. It was fantastic to see how many students were in attendance, reflecting how many have 100% attendance and no negatives which should definitely be recognised and rewarded. The number of students achieving this meant that we needed to put on a separate event for Year 10-11 and Year 7-9. There was a real feeling of pride in the room as they received their certificates, watched the movie Wonka and had a chocolate egg treat.
Thank you to Briony, Emma and Harriet for organising two targeted Year 11 parents’ meetings on Wednesday night to discuss with parents how they can best support the students at home and their learning in college. There was a great turn out and parents were very supportive of everything we are doing, and of what they can do at home to make sure their child/ren are making the most of the Easter holidays to revise and prepare for their exams.
Tomorrow sees the college ski trip depart for six days in the French Alps. We hope they have an incredible time and make memories that will stay with them forever. Thank you to Jamie, Charlotte, Charlie, Sam and Ffion who are taking them and giving up some of their Easter holiday.
There will be a considerable amount of work going on over the holidays by the premises and IT teams; thank you in advance for this, and for the positive impact the work will have - especially if the roofing work finally happens and we return with no leaks!
We have a number of year 11 revision sessions taking place over the Easter holidays in English, Maths, Btec Sport, iMedia, Performing Arts, French, Spanish & History. These sessions are for key targeted students who will undoubtedly benefit from the intensive support, so thank you to all those staff who are giving up their time to come in. I hope the students turn up and are appreciative of the support.
On that note, the college is open 8am-4pm Tues-Friday in the first week, Mon - Friday in the second. Please sign in on the paper record in reception if you do come into college.
Returning after the Easter holidays
We return to college on Monday 15th April which is Week A. As mentioned in briefing, the first 20 minutes of lesson 01 will be in tutor groups so that students can receive a new timetable, register and be given key messages for the summer term ahead. Timetables will be in tutor folders and key messages will be on tutor notices. Students will then go to lesson 01 when a bell rings at 08.55am where we would ask teachers to go through the slides that Mike Dicks will share that remind students of expectations in the classroom.
We wish Beth and Caroline all the best in their next adventures. Thank you for everything you have done for NAC in the time you have been with us. You will be missed.
Thank you to everyone for the incredible work you have done this term. It is always a tough term as we drive towards the year 11 exams whilst maintaining the highest of standards in everything we do. Our students are very lucky to have everyone looking out for them, guiding and supporting them and creating and delivering such high-quality teaching and learning. The progress we have made together and your drive to deliver it is amazing and is having an impact every day, as validated by Sam Johnstone who sees progress every time he visits.
Happy Easter; have a truly lovely break and properly rest and recharge. Let’s keep everything crossed that the sun comes out!
Amy