Newsletter 7.10.22

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

It has certainly been a busy time for Year 7. Apart from their excellent response to finding their way around the school day, they have taken part in our Race for Life, had a day away at St Wilfrid’s Church and will soon be looking forward to their Year 7 Residential. A great time, then, to come together with their families to celebrate our Welcome Mass for Year 7. We were joined by Fr Peter and part of the school orchestra and choir to help celebrate all their gifts and talents, to pray for those we love and to look forward to the rest of their time in school.

Fr Peter spoke with great fondness of his belief in communities built on faith and seeing our school uniform as something that unites us as people of kindness and care for others. We hope that all students will take this challenge to heart and wear their uniform with even more pride and respect than they already do.

Thanks also to the PTFA for the refreshments and bringing along more information about their role in the school.

St Nicholas Music Festival – Monday 10^th and Tuesday 11^th October 6pm.

St Nicholas Music Festival – Monday 10^th and Tuesday 11^th October 6pm.
Join us for an hour of Music performed by our choirs and ensembles as well as the choirs of our Partner Primary schools. No tickets required but please let us know how many seats you require using this form https://forms.office.com/r/9FrTx6WLPV

We are joined by St Joseph’s, St Vincent’s and St Mary’s on Monday and by St Luke’s St Bede’s and St Wilfrid’s on Tuesday.

Sixth Form Open Evening – Thursday 13th October

No need to book – just turn up.

Music News

Congratulation Charlie Fitzsimmons who is now pushing on to Grade 4 on the Violin having passed Grades 2 and 3 within a Year! Well done Charlie…we look forward to hearing about your continued success.

Music Rehearsals Week beginning 10^th October

Monday Lunchtime               Jazz Band                  1M
Tuesday Lunchtime               Glee Club (All Years) 1M
New club…if you enjoy singing pop songs and songs from musicals this is for YOU!
Wednesday Lunchtime          Woodwind Group      1M
Wednesday 3.15-5pm            Chamber Choir           Hall
Thursday Lunchtime             String Group             1M

NO ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL THIS WEEK DUE TO SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING.

Character Day in the Sixth Form

Character Day in the Sixth Form

Today the Sixth Form have once again dressed up to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation, whilst at the same time a portion of the money raised will go towards the CAFOD Harvest.

Sixth Form Character Day has been an annual event for nearly ten years after a former student was given the all clear from her cancer treatment and wanted to give back to the charity that made her wish come true when she was younger.

The Sixth Formers have all made a huge effort, so today we have seen Sumo Wrestlers, a dinosaur, the Mario Brothers, Donald Duck, a judge, Little Red Riding Hood, Mexicans, Ali G and Mr Bradley as the BFG.

Parents’ & Carers’ Evenings 2022-23

Many thanks to everyone who took part in our consultation regarding ‘virtual’ or ‘in person’ Parents’ & Carers’ Evenings for the year ahead. 72% of respondents stated that they would prefer virtual events this year compared with 28% who stated they would prefer the evenings to be conducted in person. We will therefore continue with our virtual Parents’ Evening model for this year and further details will be issued for individual year groups throughout the year.

Duke of Edinburgh

Duke of Edinburgh

Last weekend 84 Year 10 and 11 pupils all passed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh qualifying expedition.

They walked 25km over the two days and, for quite a number of them, spent their first night camping in a tent/ cooking meals on trangias.

We have even had some lock keepers and local residents commenting on how polite and hardworking our pupils were.

This was a fanstastic achievement – we are very proud of them all.

Thank you to DofE Coordinator Miss Forsey and Mr Barker who also helped out all weekend.

Library and Literacy

BOOKBUZZ

I recently discovered the sad statistic that 1 in 5 children in England do not own any books of their own. For many of us, this seems hard to comprehend but, since the pandemic, it is a growing trend with parents telling the National Literacy Trust that the cost-of-living crisis has reduced their disposable income and books are just too expensive.

Libraries are a force for good in this area, both school and public, but there is nothing like having your own book to read and re-read, knowing that you’ve got its well-thumbed, well-loved pages to go back to for comfort and enjoyment. Possessing their own book gives children a sense of ownership over the story and increases their connections to the characters.

That is why the Library signs up for Bookbuzz every year. Each year 7 will get the opportunity to choose their own book to take home and keep. Orders are currently being placed in library lessons and we are looking forward to their arrival. Watch the Bookbuzz video via the link below:

Bookbuzz film 2022/23

PE kits and coats

We frequently get PE kits and coats handed in to Student Support. If they have names in, we will do our very best to find the owner. However, at least half of the items are unnamed and remain unclaimed.

We would strongly advise that students put names in most items.

Science Club

Biology Week 2022

It was so lovely to see so many students engaging with Science club this week. Mrs Pidsley did a dissection of a mouse so that students could learn more about the mammalian system. Students were particularly amazed to see how long the small intestine was!

KS3 Science Club is on every Tuesday Lunchtime in S5 12.45 to 1.15pm.

KS3 Information Evening

This is an invitation to all parents and carers of Key Stage 3 students to attend our Curriculum Information Evening next Wednesday 12^th October at 6 p.m. We will go through our new Assessment Policy as well as how you can support your child at home.

Mr Spencer

Photograph orders

The last date for ordering school photographs is Wednesday 12th October.
Details of how to order are on the proof envelope.
You can order by returning the envelope to school or by ordering online on www.picturemailorder.co.uk

European Day of Languages – competition winners

Here are the winners of the European Day of Languages competitions.

KS3 Form Quiz winners – 7C and 9C

KS4 Form Quiz winners – 11B

KS5 Form Quiz winners – 13K

Year 7 Poster competition winner – Rachel Aldridge (runners-up – Klara Krzyzanowska, Remy Jones, Ruby Spencer-Sloan)

Year 8 “Hello” competition winner – Ellie McFeat

Year 9 Culinary competition winner – Charlie Fitzsimmons and Aaron Shepherd.

Super Staff Challenge winner was – Mrs Lowe (runners-up – Mrs Pacitti, Mr McGuinness)

Well done to all the winners and participants!

PE kits in colder weather

As the autumnal weather is upon us, the PE department would like to remind the students that if they are doing an outdoor activity, they must dress appropriately.

The are allowed to wear skins, black or navy leggings under shorts or skorts or unbranded black or navy joggers.

Black or navy sweatshirts or fleeces are also allowed – however hoodies are not permitted.

Please put names in all items.

Football and Netball matches this week

It has been a great week for sport at St Nicholas.

The teams have represented the school brilliantly and have lots of fun in the process.

Hello Yellow – Learn to meditate

Sporting success – Caelan Haydon

Caelan Haydon competed in the Jaffa Trampolining, Tumbling and DMT British Championships 2022 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Saturday. He qualified to the finals on Sunday and finished 8th in Great Britain.

Caelan has also qualified for the English Championships where he will compete in Sheffield next Sunday 16th October 2022.

Well done Caelan – that is very impressive!

Sporting success – Anya Meenan

Anya Meenan took part in the Winsford Swimming Club Championships which concluded over the weekend. Her biggest achievement was in the 50 m butterfly. She was swimming against girls in higher squads and still managed to come 5^th and improve her time by 12.47% or 8.53 seconds.

Year 11 Maths revision

After school revision sessions for Higher Tier Maths with Mr Barnes have started. They run on a Thursday until 4.15pm in M4.

PTFA NEWS

This October, one lucky family will win an amazing Harry Potter double prize – a family ticket the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, AND a theatre voucher for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! Good luck

Remember to check your email to see if you’ve won!

If you haven’t signed up yet visit our lottery here – https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/st-nicholas-catholic-high-school

Have a great weekend everyone!

This week’s winning number is 304035 –one of our supporters won £6.90 in the draw! ?

Are you able to help with match funding?

If so, please do get in touch.

Thank you.

Your PTFA

Girls’ and Boys’ After School Sports

Monday: Staff Meeting

Tuesday: Football (All Years- Boys & Girls)

Wednesday: No Club

Thursday: No Club due to Sixth Form Open Evening

Friday: Run Club (All Years- Boys & Girls)

Fixtures:

Wednesday 12th October:

– Cross-Country competitions at Hartford High School

Vacancies at St Nicholas

Teaching Assistant

Permanent Part Time Position: 31.25 hours per week – 39 weeks per year.
Grade 5 – Application deadline is 9am Monday 10th October 2022.
For further information Click here

Cleaner

Working hours will either be mornings 5.30-7.30am or afternoons 3.30-5.30pm, £9.50 per hour
Please contact Mrs Dawn Poole on 01606 706020 for further information and/or an application form.
Closing date for applications: Friday 21 October 2022 at 9am.
For further information click here

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday 12^th October – Year 7, 8 & 9 Parents Information Evening 6-7pm
Thursday 13^th October – Sixth Form Open Evening 6-8pm
Friday 14th October – Year 8 rewards trip to Chester Zoo
Tuesday 18^th October – Year 9 Virtual Careers Day
Tuesday 18^th October Year 11 SEN Information Evening 4–5.15pm
Wednesday 19^th October – Year 7 Information Evening (Form Tutors only)
Wednesday 19^th October – Year 7 Parents’ Information Evening for Residential

For future dates click here

Attendance

“Everyone matter – so attendance matters”

Facebook and Twitter

Follow St Nicholas on Facebook and Twitter for updates and insight into what is going on in school.

Newsletter 7.10.22