Newsletter 07.10.2024 – St Nicholas Catholic High School

Message from Headteacher C Burns

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are now at the half-way point of the new term and I cannot express enough how proud I am of our students. They have all made such an excellent start! Students are looking smart in their uniform as well and I have been particularly impressed with their attitude and behaviour around school. There is so much going on here every day; I do hope they share positive experiences with you at the end of their school week and that they are proud of their achievements and progress being made. As always, please do contact us if your child needs any additional support and we will do all we can to help them.

Thank you for completing our questionnaire regarding the Catholic life of our school. Your feedback has been warmly received and we are overwhelmed by the lovely comments – thank you so much. One area for further development has been suggested by a few parents and this is to include them in the weekly prayer and reflection I send to our staff and students every Friday. I am therefore pleased to include this week’s prayer and reflection for you and I hope you can all find some time to enjoy this together over the weekend.

End of week prayer and reflection for our families and friends:

“Anyone who doesn’t welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The disciples try to keep the children from “bothering” Jesus. At that time, and still now in some places, children were considered less important; often overlooked and unheard.

Jesus, though, does not view the children as an interruption or an annoyance. Rather, he welcomes them, embraces and blesses them as precious in God’s eyes.

As Jesus welcomes the children, he also has a clear message for the surrounding adults – the kingdom of God belongs to these very little ones you are dismissing.

Children have a gift of reminding us how to live in the world with simplicity, trust and wonder. In their openness and joy, they point towards the love and compassion of the coming kingdom of God.

Friday was Family Fast Day, an opportunity to open our hearts to all our sisters and brothers in need. As we reflect on the gospel, let’s ensure we join Jesus in valuing the marginalised and excluded, and let’s work to create a better future for children today; something St. Nicholas do so well every day.

Father of all,
we pray for children,
across the world,
made in your image
and precious in your sight.
Together may we build a world
where all can flourish,
be included and find joy.
Amen.

Best wishes,

Craig Burns

Headteacher

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

Year 7 REtreat and Welcome Mass

It was a wonderful opportunity to take year 7 students to St Wilfrid’s parish church and parish centre this week. The students were able to spend some time finding out about the elements that make up a Catholic church, getting to know each other a little more, and joining together for hymn practice in readiness for their own Welcome Mass. We then celebrated Mass in the church with Fr Paul and Deacon David. As Mr Burns has already said to them, the readers were excellent and the whole year group sang beautifully. They were fully prepared for their own Welcome Mass in school with their families. Fr James was with us for the school Mass and we were joined by members of the school orchestra and choir. Pride of place was the altar cloth made by the whole of Year 7 and portraying the gifts and talents of all our students. It was a lovely celebration and a really family focused evening. We hope that everyone feels that they are part of the St Nicholas family.

Thanks to Mrs McKenna for leading the music, to Mrs Sandbach and the PTFA for the refreshments, the site staff for their hard work organising the space, to the RE and Tutor staff for supporting the students in their preparations and to everyone involved in making this a memorable celebration to welcome our Year 7 students to the St Nicholas community.

CAFOD Harvest Fast Day

Friday 4^th October is Family Fast Day for CAFOD – Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. CAFOD works across the world to support communities in crisis following disasters or long term need. As part of the Season of Creation, we are asked to contribute to a Harvest Fund to help those communities. A collection box will be in each form for the rest of this half-term to collect any change from the students. Even pennies can add up to make a difference to the lives of others. Please do encourage your children to take part. There is also an item on parent pay if you would like to donate that way.

Sixth Form Open Evening

We look forward to welcoming all future Sixth Formers to our Open Evening on Tuesday 22nd October 6-8pm

Library and Literacy

The theme for this year’s Black History Month is “Reclaiming Narratives.”

“This theme underscores a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage. It’s about taking control of our stories and honouring our heroes while challenging the narratives that have often overlooked the contributions and achievements of Black individuals both in the UK and globally. #ReclaimingNarratives” (BHM, 2024).

To support this theme, we have a collection of wonderful fiction and non-fiction books by Black authors.

Letter Urges PM to Prioritize Children’s Reading

On 30 September 2024, a coalition of publishers, authors, educators, and industry professionals sent an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling for a cross-government commitment to prioritise reading for pleasure among children. They highlighted the alarming decline in reading habits since the pandemic, especially among low-income families, and emphasised the numerous benefits of reading on children’s wellbeing and social skills. The letter urges the government to collaborate on a national reading plan, framing this initiative as crucial for the UK’s future prosperity.

If you are a publisher, author, illustrator, bookseller, librarian, teacher, researcher or of another profession working with children’s books and reading, you can sign the letter here:

https://openletter.earth/open-letter-to-the-prime-minister-on-childrens-reading-dcfee21b

The winners of the The Week Jumior Book Awards have been announced. Click the link below to see the winners.

https://www.theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk/2024/categories

European Day of Languages

On Thursday 26th September, the MFL Department celebrated the European Day of Languages. Staff and students got involved in a range of fun events on the day and in the week before such as competitions, a multilingual Sacred Space, quizzes and two events involving staff from all areas of school life – The Staff Challenge and The Masked Linguist!

KS3 – Poster Competition winners (as chosen by MFL staff and Language Ambassadors) were:

Alice Brown – 9C
Daisie Warren – 8T
Alexander Lustre – 7J
Sofia Alkac – 7R

The Find Someone Who Quiz was won by Deacon Kay – 8B

The joint winners of the Staff Challenge (staff members not in the MFL Department who made the most effort to use different languages in lessons) were Mr Watts and Mrs Pacitti.

Well done to everyone!

Hello Yellow – Mental Health Day

It’s mental health day with Hello Yellow next week.

There will be quizzes, chatterboxes to make and a pastoral challenge for pupils to complete. For students taking part there will be information in forms and prizes to be won! Hand in your completed challenge to your pastoral managers.

Here are some videos if you want to know a bit more about Mental Health

https://youtu.be/DxIDKZHW3-E

https://youtu.be/nCrjevx3-Js

St Luke’s Primary School Buddy Bench

Well done and thank you to Hattie and Jamie who returned to St Luke’s Primary School for the grand opening of the buddy bench that they raised money for whilst in year 6.

Science Club

Science club restarted last week, being run by our wonderful Science Ambassadors in Year 9. Our year 7’s explored acids and alkalis, making pH rainbows. This club is on a Friday Week 2 and all year 7 and 8 are welcome.

On a Friday week 1 our Science Ambassadors meet to plan the Science Club and work on their own independent Silver CREST projects. Year 9 and 10 are all welcome.

School Nurse

We have a school nurse coming into school on a regular basis. If you feel your child would benefit from a 1-1 face to face session, please contact your child’s Year Leader or Pastoral Manager.

Message from the Science Dept

Years 8-11 will receive weekly Science Sparx homework every Friday this academic year. The deadline will always be the following Friday at 9am. This will always be set on Teams and forms the major part of the homework set by the Science department, although there will be other tasks set within the schools homework policy where appropriate. Please can we call on your support to encourage your child to get into good habits to complete this work in good time every week. If you have any questions, at all, please don’t hesitate to email your child’s Science teacher .

Many thanks for you support in advance.

The Science Team

Sporting Success – Netball

The Year 8&9 Netball teams are off to a brilliant start this season.

Year 8 team beat Cransley 25-9 and then beat Weaverham 16-1

Year 9 team beat Cransley 44-16 and beat Weaverham 22-8.

Hopefully this will continue! Well done to both teams.

Sporting Success – Florence Rowling

Congratulations to Florence Rowling who has been selected to play for Cheshire Netball.
This is a wonderful achievement and we look forward to following her as she progresses further.

Florence’s parents would like to thank Mrs Simms and the PE staff who have given her so much confidence, support and belief.

Music Department News

Dates for your diary

Music Festival with our partner primary schools 6-7pm Tuesday 15th October and Wednesday 16th October
Tuesday October 15th : St Luke’s, St Bede’s and St Wilfrid’s
Wednesday October 16th : St Joseph’s, St Mary’s, St Vincent’s
Belgium Trip 24th October

Music Co-Curricular activities:

Lunchtime

Monday Jazz Band 1M & Keyboard Club 2M
Tuesday Year 7 Choir,& Year 10 Band
Wednesday Woodwind ensemble 1M & Belgium Tour Choir 2M
Thursday String Ensemble/Menin Gate Ensemble and Choir 1M
Friday Year 10 Band

After School
Monday Staff Choir 4.30pm
Tuesday Shrek the Musical DS1/Music Dept
Wednesday Choir 3.15-5pm
Thursday Orchestra Assembly Hall 3.15-4.15pm

Instrumental Lessons:

Tuesday : Piano, Flute, Singing, Clarinet, Saxophone
Wednesday : Piano, Flute
Thursday : Violin, Brass
Friday : Drum kit, Guitar

PTFA Newsletter

Dear Parents & Carers,

Please note our AGM will be held in school on Monday, 4th November at 5.15pm. Everyone is welcome.

Thank you.

OUR LOTTERY

PTFA Lottery

This week’s jackpot winning number is:

625650

One of our supporters won £17.70 in the draw! 😀 🎉

Please consider joining our school lottery if you’ve not already done so to help raise funds for school.

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

Community Notices

Local Chess Clubs

Northwich Junior Chess Club: Saturdays 9.30-11am at Victoria Road Primary School

Stockton Heath Junior Chess Club: Fridays 5.30-6.30pm at Bridgewater High School (Upper)

Pantomime auditions

Northwich Vics – players wanted

After school PE

Week commencing 7th October

Fixtures :

Monday: Meetings
Tuesday : Year 7 boys football at Winsford
Wednesday : Year 10 & 11 Netball @ Weaverham
Wednesday :Year 9 boys Football at Hartford
Thursday : Year 7 Information Evening

Clubs:

Tuesday– GCSE Practical Night & All Years Table Tennis

Wednesday– All Years Netball

Thursday– All Years Football

Friday– All Years Run Club & Sixth Form Fitness/Gym

Lunchtime clubs

Monday -Art KS4 in A2
History Musical Mondays – watching Hamilton – H1
Chess Club and Rubik’s club in M5
Tuesday: Computer Science
Revision in C2
Wednesday KS3 Art club in A1
Thursday Art club KS4 in A1
Friday Easy as Pi club (maths)
Friday Year 9 -11 Science Club Week 1
Year 7 and 8 Science Club Week 2
School Production Rehearsal – Drama Studio

After School Clubs

Tuesday : School Production Rehearsals 3.15 – 4.45
Wednesday Dungeons and Dragons
Wednesday Art Club in A2 all years 3.15-4.15
Thursday KS4 / 5 Spanish Film Club

Attendance

Everyone Matters – so Attendance Matters