Weekly Parent BulletinWeek Commencing 04 March 2024

This Week:

• Year 9 Parent Meetings - Tuesday 5 March 2024 - 16:00 - 19:00
  • To allow staff time to prepare on this day, the school day will finish 30 minutes earlier than usual at 15:15pm
  • Any detentions issued will proceed as normal

• Parent/Carer Coffee Morning - Tuesday 5 March 2024 - 10:30 - 12:00

Parent-Teacher Meeting Dates:

• Year 11 (Second) - Tuesday 26 March 2024 - 16:00 - 19:00
• Year 8 - Tuesday 30 April 2024 - 16:00 - 19:00

Mr J Tomasevic - Assistant Headteacher

 

We have recently become aware that the students are using OmeTV.  This is an app that encourages users to make friends across the world. It is primarily used for video calls and users can be searched based on age and gender.  The age guidance for this app is 17+ and therefore, students should be not be accessing this app due to being able to talk random strangers.  Below is a link to a parent guide; however, if you need further guidance then please contact the school.

A reminder to all parents/carers that you should be checking your child's phone on a regular basis to ensure that you are aware of what apps they are using and how they are connecting with people.  There are many products that support families to monitor online usage such as Apple Family Set up, Google Family link. 

Please click on the link below which explains all the available products.  

https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/monitoring-apps-parents-guide/

Click Here - for an OmeTV factsheet

Mrs Gray - Deputy Headteacher

When?

• Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd May 
• All Year 10 students will be doing work experience. 
• There will be no Year 10 classes on in school.

How do you find a work experience placement?

Once your young person has decided what they would like to do, they will need to look for placements by:

• Asking around personal contacts
• Googling local companies
• Looking at the Safety Measures website. (log on details are on Satchel One)

Are there any limitations?

• The placement must have Public Liability Insurance.
• Parents must be happy for their child to attend this placement.
• Students cannot work directly with parents or at home or at their own primary school.

What should you do you if you can't find a placement?

It takes perseverance to find a placement and we will help where we can, but unfortunately, we are unable to provide every child with a placement.  If you are struggling after trying for some time, please do get in touch with Mrs Barrett at pbarrett@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk

What happens when my young person has found a placement?

• Check you are happy with the placement.
• Submit the details to the Mrs Cockayne in the school office - kcockayne@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk
• The office will contact the employer and then the risk assessment company, Safety Measures, will check that the company has Employer’s Liability Insurance. 
• Checking placements can take several months - so this is now urgent.

Mrs Barrett - Head of Careers

Dear Parents and Carers, 

We are kindly asking for parents and carers to work with us, to make drop-off and pick-up times safer for our community. Please note:

• Robin Hood Gymnastics Club have received a number of complaints from members and neighbours regarding the misuse of parking spaces, during NFS drop-off and pick-up times, by parents and carers. 
• Many parent/carer vehicles are being parked very awkwardly and unsafely, obstructing traffic flow.
• Some parents are exiting the one way system incorrectly, posing risks to pedestrians (particularly the young children who walk to our club with their parents)

Please can all relevant parents and carers:

• Use Haydn Road parking spaces near the front our school, or consider parking further down Haydn Road.
• Do not use Robin Hood Gymnastics Club car park, which is dedicated for its business operations only. 

As ever, we are sincerely grateful for your help with this important health and safety issue. 

Joel Tomasevic (Assistant Headteacher) 

What did students say?

• A growing number of Muslim students in school have requested a space to pray

What have NFS done? 

•  We have made a timetable of rooms available on both lunches, if any students require a space to pray (displayed on the door of  classroom 1.37)
•  Staff have volunteered their time to facilitate this and will be available in the room for the first 15 min of lunch time 4a or 4b 
• Jummah prayers will be lead by Sixth Formers Week A lunch 4a and Week B lunch 4b

Please also note:

• We are unable to meet the exact prayer time every day, as this changes and staff need time to eat their lunch
• We are unable to support wudu before prayer, as we do not have appropriate facilities (students can perform wudu before school)
•  If any student misuses this facility then they will not be allowed to use the prayer room
•  If students of any other faith require a space to pray please let me know (binglis@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk)

Many thanks, 

Mrs B Inglis (Joint Head of Personal Development)

Key Stage 3 students will be rotating in Design Technology and Food on Monday 26th February. Students have been informed of this in lessons, and a homework should be set for any students moving back in practical food lessons.

• Currently in double DT = move to double Food
• Currently in double Food = move to double DT
• Currently in single DT = move to single Food
• Currently in single Food = move to single DT

This information is on Satchel One for students, but if you need any help and support please contact Miss Burley at eburley@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk

Miss Burley - Head of DT

Next week is National Careers Week, which we will mark in school in the coming weeks. 

Here are a number of opportunities that may be of interest:

• NHS Sunday 3rd March 
• Careers in the music industry.  Wednesday 6th March 6pm – 7pm
• Parents guide – looking a vocational pathways
• Siemens apprenticeships – Tuesday 5th March 18:30 – 19:15 for parents and influencers
• Universities Virtual Fair - Wednesday 13th March – 16:30 – 19:00

In person careers fair at Nottingham High School

Virtual work experience opportunities:

• NHS Sunday 3rd March NHS  
• Arup 
• Crowe Accounting 
• Army 
• Cooper Parry
• Deloitte  
• PWC 

Virtual and in person work experience opportunities:

https://www.speakersforschools.org/work-experience-opportunities/

Mrs Barrett - Head of Careers

A reminder to parents and carers: 

Planners - It is an expectation that all students (Y7-11) have their planner in school, as part of the standard school equipment. Please support your child by ensuring they have packed this equipment in their bag. 

Mobile phones - A reminder of our policy that phones are 'Not Seen, Not Heard, Not Used' - If seen, heard or used the phone is confiscated, the child will be issued an R20 and a parent/carer will need to collect the phone. 

Jewellery - A reminder that wearing jewelry is not permitted in school, with only one discreet pair of stud earrings permitted. If worn, jewelry would be confiscated until the end of the school day. 

Ready to Learn - a visual reminder of all our 'Ready to Learn' equipment:

Mrs K Gray - Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) 

Music tuition is available for all students at Nottingham Free School. Some spaces have recently become available for the following music lessons:

• 1:1 or 2:1 spaces on Flute or Saxophone.
• 1:1, 2:1 or 3:1 spaces on Drums, Piano, Guitar, Trumpet and Trombone.

Payments for music lessons are:

• £116 per term for 1:1 tuition
• £58 per term for 2:1 tuition
• £39 per term for 3:1 tuition.

If your child is interested in learning a new instrument or would like to pick up an instrument they have previously played, please contact lwilson@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk for any further information.

Miss L Wilson - Head of Music

100 days of revision, one video a day to support revision. 

All at the following: https://corbettmaths.com/100-days/ 

Miss J Carter - Head of Maths