Principal’s Comments Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the last term. Thank you also for your support with student attendance and uniform. We have all been working hard to ensure that all of the young people continue to make good progress and move forward in their learning. We are really proud of what the students and the staff in New College are achieving and we are proud to be part of our community. As always in New College, it has been a busy term. Our Y8 students have been working in the community, our Y11 students have received Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards, and also during November our Y11 students sat some GCSE exams early and are waiting for the results to arrive in January. Next term will be just as busy—Y7 will be doing some work in the community and Y11 will be facing more GCSE exams in January and we wish them all the luck in the world. We hope that you have a lovely break and we look forward to welcoming the students back to New College on Monday 9th January at 9 am

OPEN EVENING

New College Leicester held their Open Evening on Wednesday 28th September. All the young people and their parents that attended were very impressed with the facilities that are on offer at New College and a lot of the young people said they cannot wait to come to New College next year. A huge thank you to the Year 8 student’s who were tour guides all the parents said what a credit you were to the school.

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New College Leicester Volume 3, Issue 2 December 2011

We would like to wish all Parents/Carer’s and Student’s A Very Happy Christmas & A Peaceful New

Year

Parent Voice at New College We know that many parents would like to have the opportunity to make suggestions for how we can develop and improve our school and that finding time to attend meetings after school is very difficult. We are, therefore, going to set up a system for you to make suggestions online. Please remember that this is about getting your views about developing the school as a whole. If you have concerns regarding an individual child, you should contact the school in the usual ways. Please email your suggestions to

parentvoice@newcollege.leicester.sch.uk We look forward to hearing from you and will publish key suggestions on our website.

HOW TO CONTACT US IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR CHILD As a parent, you will potentionally need to contact the college for a number of reasons: • Your child is unhappy • You would like more information about your child’s progress, behavior, attendance record etc • You need to pass on some information to us so we can help your child further • And many other reasons Your first point of contact MUST ALWAYS be your child’s tutor. The tutor can be contacted via: • Phoning main reception and leaving a message on 0116-2318500 • E mailing enquiries@newcollege.leicester.sch.uk • Using the website contact form We will ensure that the tutor is contacted as soon as possible.

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IS YOUR CHILD MISSING OUT ON:

FREE SCHOOL MEALS/SUBSIDISED TRIPS/ SUBSIDISED MUSIC TUITION

Are you on Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or other benefits? If so your child may be eligible for free school meals and subsidised trips. Your child could have a hot dinner each day, sometimes a roast or a curry, with a pudding, or take their choice from a range of sandwiches, baguettes, pizza and so on. Vegetarian food is also available. In order to apply, please bring proof of your benefit claim into Student Reception who will be happy to help you fill in the form. If you would like any advice about Free School Meals, please contact Mrs Hay-ley Brown on 0116 231 8526 and we will be happy to help you.

OVERALL ATTENDANCE FIGURES FOR NEW COLLEGE

Attendance is vital for all students at New College and we celebrate good attendance in many ways. Every week the top tutor groups in each year receive chocolates and we also celebrate individual attendance with reward trips at the end of each term. The overall attendance for the college is 93%. This year so far we have 174 students with 100% attendance. Yr 7 49 students Yr 8 23 students Yr 9 32 students Yr 10 46 students Yr 11 24 students

WILL YOUR CHILD BE IN THE 100% CLUB NEXT HALF-TERM? It could change their lives for the better:

Attendance + Hard work = Success

IMPROVING ATTENDANCE We will still be running a wide variety of exciting activities to encourage and reward good attendance. Faculties have also been working hard to ensure the lessons planned for next half term are the best that they can be. If you want your child to be part of these, they need to be in school. Please inform us at the earliest opportunity if your child is absent from school on 0116 2318512 detailing their name, year group, reason for absence and where possible their expected date of return. You also need to report to attendance any students that are going to be late to college or students that will need to leave for an appointment during the school day. Our Attendance Officer, Dawn Arlott is available to help you with any queries regarding your child’s attendance and can be contacted on 0116 2318512 between 8.00am and 4.00pm. At all other times, there is an answer phone available for your to leave you message and she will return your call at the earliest opportunity, if required.

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As a school we understand that there may be occasions when it is necessary for your child to take med-ication whilst they are in school.

For your information the school has an Administration of Medicines

Policy which you can access via the school WebPages under the “Useful Info” tab. Then select Policies

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New College Leicester Community Action Afternoon - Tuesday 1st November 2011

On a bright sunny Tuesday afternoon the third Community Action Group, made up of nine intrepid Year 8 students, set off for the New Parks Community Centre to meet with Caroline Walsh, City Warden and PCSO Gillian Edwards. The event was organised by Gill and Mrs Armani, Head of Year 8, and involved collecting litter from the community bordering the College. We spent about 45 minutes picking up litter along St Oswald’s Road and the edge of the adjoining playing field. The students worked extremely hard and collected 13 full black bags of litter. The group then went to the New Parks Community Centre to spend an enjoyable hour with local senior citizens at their bingo session. Unfortunately none of us won but we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A more comprehensive display of the afternoon can be seen at New College’s Reception. We are hoping to create similar programmes for other Key Stage 3 students, and many thanks to all the students who took part. The following Year 8 students were involved in the afternoon and congratulations to all of them: H Abdul Karim, T Bond, P Cook, T Flannery, A Henning, C Herald, C Jones, T O’Shea, S Smith

Drop in Session For Parents

The College will be running a drop in session for parents/carers and students where they can get advice on future pathways. The session will be on a Tuesday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and this will be ran by Connextions and the Careers Coordinator Mrs Sancha Wallis. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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LIBRARY NEWS HALLOWEEN WORKSHOP!

We celebrated Halloween in the Library this year with mask making, scary books, and pictures! As you can see from the pictures, students really enjoyed having fun with paint, glue and glitter,

we even had a cauldron full of sweets!

COSY CORNER

Students have really taken to our new “cosy corner” in the Library! Our selections of easy reads are very popular with students of all ages and a cosy environment helps them to relax

and enjoy each other’s company!

Child Protection Information

You will find enclosed with this newsletter our leaflet regarding child protection processes at New College Leicester.

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Magna Science Centre Trip On Wednesday 16th November 2011, 46 Year 8 students embarked on a science mission to National Lottery Funded Magna Adventure Centre, Sheffield.

In the Genes In a Bottle’ workshop pupils decoded their own DNA from their check cells and took it home to show off to their family and friends on a vail attached to a necklace. One student said “I’m going to keep my DNA forever”.

In the fire zone, students observed the only place in the UK where you can see a fire tornado, and they learnt about what is needed for a fire, and how fire-fighters apply this knowledge. “The fire tornado was amazing” said one student.

In the wind, water and earth zones, pupils enjoyed firing high pressure wind and water cannons and they operated JCB diggers to transport steel to process around different areas of the factory.

As part of the ’big melt’ show, pupils learnt about Sheffield’s history in the manufacture of Steel which incorporated strobe lighting and firework effects.

The day really did bring classroom science to life, and was enjoyed by all as confirmed by one student who said “This is the best trip I’ve ever been on”.

@newcollegeleics

Challenging RE Conference

On the 4th November 5 Year 9 students attended the Leicester City Challenging RE Confer-ence held at Holy Trinity Church. They were H Briers, C Ruane, T Beck, C Campbell and T Mabbott. They joined 175 other students from schools across the city to look at challenging issues with-in RE. The 5 students involved joined discussions and seminars on:-

1. Being creative in the environment 2. Ethical issues on euthanasia 3. Controversial issues in Judaism 4. Looking at Hindu beliefs

They all asked deep and meaningful questions which demonstrated how much they under-stood and wanted to find out more. After a very good and welcome lunch the Year 9’s were able to go and explore other ideas on religion in a Big Brother room or do some meditation.

Would you like to get a qualification in literacy to… 1. Develop your writing skills? 2. Help you to find a job? 3. Support your application into further learning? 4. Help support your children’s learning? Free class for New College Parents starts Tuesday January 17th 2012 - 9.30 – 11.30 It is on a first come first served basis and has limited placed. For more information, please call (Karen Simpson or Liz Crewe Tel 0116 2318519)

HEAD START HAIR

Hair Salon of Excellence • Creative cutting • Inspirational colours & perms • Complimentary blow dry/set

with chemical treatments

Phone 0116 231 8521 for a Hair

REDUCED PRICE TREATMENTS

CONNEXIONS UPDATE This term we have been focussing largely on year 11 students and those in 6th form who are due to leave. We have been helping with career ideas and career planning, as well as supporting students to apply to their post 16 options, such as college, using the online Lecap application ( Leicester Common Application Process), apprenticeships etc. as well as offering encouragement and motivation to help students to overcome any barriers they might have. It is hoped that all Lecap applications will be completed by the end of term, ready to be sent off in January. In addition we have also started to see some year 9’s with a view to supporting their transition from key stage 3 to key stage 4. We wish you all an enjoyable break. Contact details: rcooper@connexions.leics.org and over the holidays: 0116-2627254.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME AS WE WANT YOUR CHILD TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL— HOLIDAYS IN SCHOOL TERM TIME ARE NOT ALLOWED. Parents who take their children out of college during school term time without the Principal’s authorisation, or beyond an agreed date RISK BEING ISSUED WITH A PENALTY NOTICE OR TAKEN TO COURT. STOP and think what it will cost your child if they lose out on time in school and remember every school day counts. Time off from school is not a right. The Principal can allow a small amount of time out in special circumstances but these do not include:

· Availability of cheaper holidays · Poor weather and other such excuses

For further help and advice, speak to your school attendance officer, Mr Patel on 0116 231 8589 or your child’s Head of Year.

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SCHOOL UNIFORM

Please keep in mind the school’s uniform policy if you are thinking of buying your child clothes over the Christmas break for example coats should be plain black. Can we also remind you that facial piercings are not allowed in school so please don’t let your child have this done over the holiday as they will have to remove it on the first day back. For full details about our school uniform please refer to the school’s website- www.newcollege.leicester.sch.uk

Home/School Agreement – A reminder A copy of the Home/School agreement is included with this newsletter. The purpose of the agreement is to help us to work in partnership to ensure your child is as successful as possible. Please read the agreement carefully and if you have any questions please contact your child’s form tutor.