Dear Parents, Carers and Members of Our School Community,

Food Bank Appeal
As many of you know, our St Julian’s Food Bank is now fully up and running, and it has already made a real difference to many families across our school community. We are deeply grateful for the generosity shown during non-uniform days and other school events — your support has helped us keep our shelves stocked with essential non-perishable items. However, in recent weeks we have seen a significant rise in the number of students arriving at school hungry or without enough food to sustain them throughout the day. No child should have to learn on an empty stomach.

With Child Poverty Day taking place on 17th October, we are making a heartfelt appeal to our community. If you are able to help, we would be incredibly grateful for any donations of food or drinks. In particular, we are in need of:
 

Cereals and cereal bars

Individually wrapped breakfast items (such as pain au chocolat, waffles, croissants or brioche)

Dried goods such as pasta or rice

Every donation — large or small — makes a genuine difference and helps us ensure that no child goes hungry during the school day. Donations can be brought to school at any point throughout the year.

Thank you for your continued kindness and support. Together, we can help our young people thrive.

Inner Spark Workshops
We had the pleasure of hosting Ricardo Erasmus from paradigm shift on Tuesday, who is a transformational coach, inspirational speaker, and youth mentor with over two decades of experience empowering young people to shift their mindset and unleash their full potential. Known for his energetic and deeply compassionate approach, Ricardo spoke to our Year 7 to 9 pupils about how to break through barriers, overcome limiting beliefs, and step boldly into their future.

Ricardo’s coaching is grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu – a powerful African concept meaning “I am, because we are.” It’s a call to see the strength in community, the importance of shared responsibility, and the deep connection between individual growth and collective support. Ricardo was very impressed by our student’s knowledge and application of our school values of respect, inclusion, collaboration and ambition.
 

Pupil Grand Council 
Two Y7 students Hector Smith and Mila Dickenson represented St Julian’s school superbly at the Newport grand council event at John Frost school this week. The purpose of the Pupil Grand Council is to promote Children's rights and to give pupils a variety of experiences / opportunities whilst also seeing their views into important decisions that may affect their future.  The Pupil Grand Council is made up of 2 pupils from each school across Newport. The organisers were very impressed by the mature and intelligent contributions from Mila and Hector. Diolch both!
 

UKMT Senior Maths Challenge

Our Year 13s competed against other schools across the UK this week in the UKMT senior maths challenge. The competition consists of a 90 minute, 25 multiple choice question challenge aimed at students year 13 or below. The problems on the Senior Maths Challenge are designed to make students think. Stimulating problems for both beginners and experienced problem-solvers. Pupils can win a bronze, silver or gold award depending on how they score. The top performers in the country go onto the next stage and compete in the British Mathematical Olympiad. Thank you to Mrs Makarek in the Maths department for organising.

 

Performing Arts Trip to the Corn Exchange

Our performing arts department took a group of students to see Demand the Impossible at the corn exchange this week. Demand the Impossible is an immersive performance exploring police injustice and the undercover infiltration of activist networks. It challenges us to question truth, trust and power, as uncomfortable relationships between the state, police and citizens are exposed. 
 

Cross Country Champion
Well done to Martha Rawlinson who won the Year 7 South East Wales interschools cross country competition this week. A tremendous achievement. Da iawn Martha and all the pupils who competed for St Julian’s at the competition. Particularly to Cameron Bunn Year 7, Daniel Oladunjoye Year 8  and Rory Collins Year 12 who have qualified for the SEW Schools team. 
 

Year 7 Rugby 
Boom boom boom as Mr King would proudly announce at the start of every lesson and boom boom boom did the year sevens go in their first rugby match against John Frost.
At the start of term when we only had four year sevens keenly training every week. Mr Davies could only have imagined us playing rugby in lessons and never envisaged us getting a full 15 out to play a match. However, as the word started to spread and students realised training actually does improve your skills and team cohesion. More and more year sevens attended to the point where we had a full team last Monday!
And so with our bare 15 players onto the fun bus we went I made our way over to John Frost. However, Mr Davies need not have worried as the tries rained down and they won 52-0! Mr Davies was most pleased with the team’s commitment in defence and they did not concede a try.
 

And finally ….

Please contact the school if you have any general queries. The school phone lines are open from 0800 to 1600 (1530 on Fridays) on 01633 224490 or email on info@stjuliansschool.co.uk. For more specific queries related to your child, you may contact your child’s progress leader. Updates are also posted on our Twitter and Instagram accounts: @stjuliansschool and @stjuliansschoolnewport respectively.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Mr D White
Headteacher