Newsletter 08.09.2023
Newsletter 08.09.2023
Message from Headteacher Mr C Burns
Dear Parents and Carers,
It brings me great joy to write to you as we reflect on the completion of the first week of the school year at St. Nicholas Catholic High School. The start of a new academic year is always filled with excitement and anticipation, and I’m delighted to share that your children have risen to the occasion with enthusiasm and dedication.
In these initial days, we have witnessed your children’s adaptability as they have transitioned back to the school environment. They have embraced school routines again (in particularly warm weather!), rekindled friendships, and positively welcomed our new students in Year 7, or those who have joined us in other year groups. My welcome assemblies focused on how we can follow Jesus by respecting others and by being kind to everyone we meet. I have seen many examples of our students looking out for some of our new Year 7 already and this is great to see, demonstrating that ‘Everyone Matters’.
As we move forward into the school year, I want to express my gratitude to you for your unwavering support. Your involvement in your children’s education and your partnership with us are invaluable. Together, we will continue to nurture their potential and guide them towards success. Our GCSE examination results were significantly above the national average, and I was so pleased to welcome so many students back to our Sixth Form on Wednesday. Our A Level students also achieved some outstanding examination results in the summer and it is great to know that they have secured their places at university or places of work.
Please know that our doors are always open. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out to us.
Once again, I want to extend my congratulations to your children for an outstanding first week – they have arrived dressed for learning and with a very positive attitude. Let us embark on this educational journey together, confident in the knowledge that great achievements lie ahead.
Thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education. Here’s to a year filled with growth, discovery, and countless opportunities for each and every student at St. Nicholas Catholic High School.
Kind regards,
Craig Burns
Headteacher
WELCOME TO NEW STAFF
New staff:
Miss E Taylor – Science Teacher
Mr R Williams – Science Teacher
Miss L McNeill – Maths Teacher
Miss A Ridgway – English Teacher
Mrs C Rexha – ICT / Head of Year 9
Mrs L Bashford – Head of Geography
Mr A Kearns – Geography Teacher
Mrs K Thornton – English Teacher
Mrs D Scott – Business Studies Teacher
Mr D Walker – Geography Teacher
New Support Staff:
Mrs H Webb – Midday Assistant
Mr A Walker – ARC Teaching Assistant
Mrs A Lear – Cover Supervisor
The Senior Leadership Team Update:
Mr. C Burns – Headteacher
Mrs V Hill – Headteacher’s PA
Mr. J Heffernan – Deputy Headteacher
Mr. S Spencer – Associate Deputy Headteacher (Progress, Guidance & Support)
Mrs F MacCready – Business Manager
Mrs H Pardoe – Assistant Headteacher (Designated Safeguarding Lead and SENCO)
Mrs. A Senior – Assistant Headteacher (Director of Progress, Guidance & Support for Key Stage 3)
Mr. G Gerrard – Assistant Headteacher (Director of Progress, Guidance & Support for Key Stage 4)
Mr T Bradley – Assistant Headteacher (Director of Sixth Form)
Mr M Wycherley – Assistant Headteacher (Teaching, Learning & Staff Professional Development)
Mr. D Huws – Associate Assistant Headteacher (Whole school Literacy / Head of English)
Message from our Chaplain Mairie
Poppy outside Gyeongbok Palace, dressed in hanbok – traditional Korean dress.
Scouts Jamboree in South Korea
Over the summer holidays, two of our students travelled to South Korea to take part in the World Scout Jamboree which is held every 4 years. Poppy Johnson, our Senior Prefect in Year 13, and Praise Chilakalaka in Year 11, were selected to represent Mid Cheshire in this once in a lifetime experience. Due to extreme weather conditions and inadequate facilities on the camp site, the UK contingent spent 5 days on camp and then relocated to Seoul where they continued to meet with scouts from other cultures and visit temples, palaces and key landmarks.
Praise with Scout Ambassador and Polar explorer Dwayne Fields.
Sporting success - Eve Kelly and Alice Jordan
Massive well done to Eve Kelly, Alice Jordan and their team mates at Winsford Town. During the summer the team participated in a seven tournaments, got to the final every time and won three.
Well done girls!
Duke of Edinburgh
Train Information
The Education Season Ticket Scheme benefits families by helping you save up to 75% on not only the school run but also for weekend and evening travel for the full year.
Tickets and further information can be found on our website
www.northernrailway.co.uk/tickets/educational-season
Any enquiries can be answered by our dedicated team on education@northernrailway.co.uk
Library and Literacy
- Their own accounts on Accessit, the school’s Library Management System
- Their Overdrive eBook account, so they can access books any time, any place on compatible devices
- A wonderful FREE GIFT (spoiler alert….it’s a book). Each year 7 gets to choose a new book to take home and keep free of charge via the Bookbuzz scheme
Dungeons and Dragons Club
Mr Makin is hosting a Dungeons and Dragons Club every Wednesday lunchtime and after school in S3.
Come and join us for exciting battles and strategic adventures as we go through dangerous quests to search for treasure, battle deadly foes, and even carry out daring rescues.
Ask any member of staff of you are unsure of how to get to S3
Chess Club
Chess Club will be running on Tuesday lunchtimes in M3 (note that this is a change from last year).
All ages and abilities are welcome, it is a very casual affair. Students can eat their lunch in chess club.
There will be information about this term’s student chess competition coming out later in the month.
Food Club
This academic year sees the introduction of a new club – Food Club. This will take place once a week from the end of school until 4.30pm and will give you the opportunity to come along and make products that you wouldn’t usually make in lessons. You will have to provide your own ingredients, unless you normally have ingredients provided by school. You will also need to bring in your own containers.
Each term different year groups will be given priority so that fairness can be achieved for everyone who would like to take part. This Half Term priority goes to year 9 & the Food GCSE Yr 10 & Yr 11.
Here is how it will work:
Each half term the dates and practicals will be published in the news letter.
If you would like to come to the Food club on a particular week, then pop in to T6 on the designated Sign Up Day to let me know that you would like to attend the Food Club. I will sign you up and confirm that you have secured your spot.
There are only 12 places each week.
Places are given on a first come first served basis.
I will confirm with you that you have your space
Please only sign up with the permission of your parent/guardian
If you are not able to make it to the club, please notify me so that the space can be given to someone else
Any spaces not filled by the Priority year groups can then be offered to any other year group.
An overview of the whole year will be available outside T6 to have a look at. Ingredients needed will also be posted there.
Dates this Half Term:
Tuesday 12th September – Millies Cookies
Tuesday 19th September – Chocolate Brownie Cake
Tuesday 26th September – Albondigas (Spanish Meatballs in a tomato sauce)
Tuesday 3rd October – Chilli Loaded Nachos
Tuesday 10th October – Home made Chicken Nuggets and Wedges
Tuesday 17th October – Cinder Toffee
Because of the short turnaround time before the first Food Clun on Tuesday 12th September, for this week only can you please sign up by emailing me at r.pacitti@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk and I will email you to confirm your palce.
The sign up date for the following week when we will be making Chocolate Brownie Cake will be on Monday 11th September – come to T6 at breaktime only to sign up!
Language KS3 - poster competition
On September 26th, we will be celebrating the European Day of Languages in school.
Your challenge is to design a poster advertising this event.
Think about the different ways in which EUROPE is diverse, special and unique.
How many EUROPEAN languages can you include on your poster?
Hand your poster in to your MFL teacher or directly to Mrs McAleenan in L5 by Wednesday 20th September.
Prizes to be won!
PE - lunchtime and after school Clubs
Lunchtime:
Monday : Football – sports Hall – Year 9
Tuesday : Football – sports Hall – Year 10
Wednesday : Football – sports Hall – Year 7&8
Thursday : Football – sports Hall – Year 9
Friday : Football – sports Hall – Year 9
After School:
Tuesday 12/9 :
Football, boys and girls – this week Year 7 only
Wednesday 13/9 :
Football – boys and girls Year 10 & 11
Netball – boys and girls, All Years
Thursday 14/9
Hockey – boys and girls, All Years
Friday 15/9
Run Club – boys and girls, All Years
Upcoming dates
Thursday 12th September
Duke of Edinburgh Parent Information Evening 5.30pm
Year 12 Catton Hall Induction Day
Monday 18th September
PTFA Meeting 5.15-6.15pm
Tuesday 19th September
Parent Information Evening for Year 10 RE London Trip 6pm
Thursday 21st September
Year 11 Information Evening 5-6pm
Friday 22nd September
ARC Trip – Cadbury’s World
Monday 25th September
Student photos for Years 8, 9, 10 & 11
Tue 26th September
Year 7 RE Retreat Day
Wed 27th September
Whole School Open Evening 6 – 8:15 pm
Tues 17th Oct
Sixth Form Open Evening 6-8:15pm
Click here for future dates
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