A prayer to share
Prayer for Peace
In the face of anxiety and concern for the future,
we light a candle of peace.
God’s peace is coming,
on earth as it is on heaven.
Do not be afraid.
Peace is coming.
Amen
Message from our Chaplain Mairie
Advent
Advent is well underway at St Nicholas’ this week, with form prayer spaces and displays moving to purple and the Advent wreaths lighting their first candle as we begin the journey into light.
St Nicholas Feast Day Mass
We were delighted to welcome Fr Paul and Fr Simon to come and celebrate our feast day with a whole school Mass. We have had such a lot to celebrate at the end of this term and lots of people to pray for. We greatly appreciate all the staff and students who step up to make our Masses real milestones in the life of the school, especially for our patron day. Of course, the chocolate crunch was a great treat to celebrate the day too.
Staff Well-being
Several members of staff had a lovely evening making Christmas wreaths and table displays, sharing greenery from their gardens and other donations. It was a great atmosphere as lots of people had their first try at these arrangements. They were all very individual and very beautiful. Greenery at this time of year is always welcome.
Advent Hampers for SVP and Foodbank
Following on from Advent challenge for the Foodbank and SVP, the first hampers are starting to arrive in the chapel.
We have already had requests from the local community for over twenty hampers so every donation is very welcome. If you have been shopping this weekend please do consider if you can donate something this week. We would like to get the hampers out at the beginning of the last week of term.
Year 7 Book to Film Club
Every Thursday lunchtime Year 7s are invited to a Book to Film Club in E1. Currently we are watching a very festive film – The Polar Express – based on the 1985 novel by Chris Van Allsburg (for those that love this film they are currently making number 2). The Year 7s that attend are really enthusiastic about what we watch next and I have an amazing list that includes Harry Potter, The Hobbit and Holes.
If any Year 7 student is interested in joining, they just need to bring along their lunch and join us as soon as possible.
Sporting success – U18 Football
Our U18 Football Team put in a FANTASTIC display last week and beat Congleton Sixth Form 3-1 in the Quarter Final of the Cheshire Cup. They will now progress into the Semi Finals in the Spring. Notable performances were from the U18 Captain Devon Renshaw and Man of the Match performance from Ethan Stokes, goals were scored by Charlie Bird, Ethan Stokes and Oliver Dodd.
Sporting success – Year 7 Netball
Our Year 7’s played Middlewich High School this week. It was their first match for school and all the girls were brilliant-
A team won 20-5 and B’s lost 12-6.
Sporting success – Year 7 Football
On Tuesday 3rd our U13 travelled to Alsager in the next round of the Cheshire Cup.
The girls started off strong and fought for every ball against a very physical Alsager side.
Two early goals saw Alsager ahead at half time.
Change of ends brought some luck in St Nicks direction and Sophie scored an amazing volley within 5 minutes of the second half.
Unfortunately Alsager came back strong and the final score was 4-1 to Alsager.
A wonderful game to watch. The girls did St Nicholas proud.
Thank you to our ‘barmy army’ for your dedication & singing on the bus!!
Library and Literacy
Festive Fiction
Feeling festive yet? If not, try curling up by the fire with hot chocolate in one hand and a wonderful Christmassy story in the other. Try these recommendations:
Younger Teens:
Life was going to change for Nikolas, in ways he could never have imagined. Things were going to happen to him.
Good things.
Bad things.
Impossible things.
Good things.
Bad things.
Impossible things.
Father Christmas was not always an old, jolly man with a white beard, he was once just a little boy.
A fond, funny and magical tale from award-winning writer Matt Haig that tells the story of how one little boy from Finland came to become Father Christmas.
OK so your mum’s partner, Nick, has a big bushy beard, a thick red coat, a team of reindeer and just happens to be REALLY busy around Christmas Eve . . . what could that mean?!
Harper and Will’s lives are already full of festive wonder, but baby sister Yula is about to bring a whole new meaning to the magic of Christmas. Indoor snowflakes, naughty gingerbread biscuits and reindeer running wild spell Christmas chaos!
And with the Elf and Safety Department on the lookout for any unexplained festive magic, it’s up to their family keep the biggest Christmas secret ever . . .
A heart-warming and hilarious Christmas countdown advent story told in 25 chapters.
Dear Santa,
For Christmas this year, I would like:
Two hundred KitKat chunkies (full-size not multipack)
Baby Bella to stop shouting ‘BUM’ in public spaces
A new brother who doesn’t fart on me and call it a ‘tasty air biscuit’
Antoine or Daniel (I can’t decide!) to surprise me on Christmas Day with a grand romantic gesture
Cash (lots of it!)
A new diary (I’m really getting through them!)
Baby Bella to stop shouting ‘BUM’ in public spaces
A new brother who doesn’t fart on me and call it a ‘tasty air biscuit’
Antoine or Daniel (I can’t decide!) to surprise me on Christmas Day with a grand romantic gesture
Cash (lots of it!)
A new diary (I’m really getting through them!)
Lots of love,
Lottie xxx
PS. Please could you put a chocolate orange instead of a real orange in my stocking this year?
Lottie Brooks loves Christmas – there’s presents, all the KitKat Chunkys you can eat and no school for two weeks! But this year, Christmas might be a bit more chaotic than usual. The whole Brooks family are visiting for the festive break (along with some surprise visitors . . .), there’s a Secret Santa to organise, and the hammies won’t stop attacking Gavin, the Elf on the Shelf!
A wintery middle grade mystery collection of short stories by thirteen of the most exciting and diverse authors in children’s books today!
Co-edited by Serena Patel, the award-winning author of the Anisha: Accidental Detective series and by Robin Stevens, author of the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series.
Sleuthing through the snow, on a merry mysterious day, in disguise we go, investigating all the way…
This gorgeous Christmas hardback gift of a collection brings together thirteen of the bestselling, award-winning and exciting debut authors: Abiola Bello, Annabelle Sami, Benjamin Dean, E.L. Norry, Elle McNicoll, Dominique Valente, Joanna Williams, Maisie Chan, Nizrana Farook, Patrice Lawrence, Roopa Farooki, Serena Patel and Sharna Jackson.
With stunning illustrations by Harry Woodgate.
Join them as part of the Very Merry Murder Club as they lead you on a snow-covered wintery journey of Christmassy crimes, festive foul play and murderously magnificent mysteries!
Older Teens
When three very different siblings, Fern, Rowan and Willow, go home for a Christmas reunion at their family home in Edinburgh, it’s not long before some very big secrets threaten their cosy holiday …
The McAllister house on Arboretum Road has seen 120 Christmases since its completion. This year, Fern is bringing her gorgeous boyfriend home and she wants everything to be perfect. But her twin brother Rowan would rather go on the pull than pull crackers with the family. And their younger sister Willow is terrified of Christmas Day.
With four sleeps till Christmas,
Three secretive siblings,
Two hot houseguests,
And one juicy secret …
This Christmas, there will be some big surprises under the tree.
Three secretive siblings,
Two hot houseguests,
And one juicy secret …
This Christmas, there will be some big surprises under the tree.
Sometimes at Christmas, you don’t get what you want, you get what you need…
Sweet and sour, funny and moving, and very, very Christmassy – the perfect book to curl up with this holiday.
A whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, now a Netflix original series
‘I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.’
At the urge of her lucky-in-love brother, sixteen-year-old Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on her favourite bookshop shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Curious, Dash isn’t one to back down from a challenge – and the Book of Dares is the perfect distraction he’s been looking for.
As they send each other on a scavenger hunt across Manhattan, a whirlwhind romance ensues on paper. But finding out if they share their on-page chemistry in real life could be their biggest dare yet….
The festive season isn’t always happy for Tori Spring and her brother Charlie. And this year’s going to be harder than most. I used to think that difficult was better than boring, but I know better now.
I’m not going to think about the past few months, about Charlie and me, and all of the sad. I’m going to block it all out Just for today.
‘Happy Christmas,’ I say.
It’s Christmas Eve and the worst blizzard for fifty years has blanketed Gracetown. But as well as snowflakes, love is in the air – and appearing in the most unexpected ways . . .
Who’d have thought a freezing hike from a stranded train would end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger? Or that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow could lead to romance with an old friend? Or that the path to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks?
Touching, hilarious and filled with festive cheer, the magic of the holiday season shines on these three interconnected tales of love, romance and breathtaking kisses. The perfect book for a cold winter’s night for any fan of The Fault in Their Stars, The Sun is Also a Star and Eleanor and Park.
Coping at Christmas
Helpful numbers for anyone struggling.
Christmas Raffle
Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets in our Christmas raffle on ParentPay – we are very grateful. The raffle will finish on Wednesday at midnight and winners will be notified accordingly.
Tickets are available on ParentPay
Christmas Raffle 2024
Euro Camp Holiday: donated by Eurocamp
Fortnum & Mason Hamper – donated by Cheshire EV by DC Lomas
Meta Quest Reality Head Set – donated by: The Neurodivergent Mechanic YouTube
Full Car Service, donated by: D C Lomas Winsford
7 Day Brio Leisure Pass
Beauty Box – donated by Kay Melia
Kismet Hartford, £20 voucher – donated by Kismet
Out Door Christmas Lights: donated by Northwich Electrical Supplies
Escape Room Experience – donated by: Sam Lomas
£50 J D Sports Voucher x 2 – donated by:Sam Lomas
Do not forget that we have our AGM in school on 16th December at 5.15 pm – everyone is welcome to attend.
PTFA Lottery
Please consider joining our school lottery if you’ve not already done so to help raise funds for school.
This week’s jackpot winning numbers are:
766884
Two of our supporters won £17.70 in the draw! 😀 🎉
If you haven’t signed up yet please visit our lottery here – https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/st-nicholas-catholic-high-school
Thank you. 😁
After school PE
Week commencing 9th December
Fixtures :
Monday:
Tuesday :
GCSE Practical night
Wednesday :
Yr 9 Girls’ Football festival @ Hartford
Yr 10/11 Table Tennis @ Weaverham
Thursday :
U13 Cheshire Cup vs. Eaton Bank (A)
Clubs:
Tuesday– All Years Table Tennis
Wednesday– All Years Netball and All Years Rugby
Thursday– All Years Football
Friday– No run club
Tuesday– All Years Table Tennis
Wednesday– All Years Netball and All Years Rugby
Thursday– All Years Football
Friday– No run club
Music Co-Curricular
Week commencing 9th December
Lunchtime
Monday
Tuesday Parishioners’ lunch
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday Year 10 Band
Tuesday Parishioners’ lunch
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday Year 10 Band
After School
Monday Choir
Tuesday Shrek
Wednesday Choir 3.15-5pm
Monday Choir
Tuesday Shrek
Wednesday Choir 3.15-5pm
Thursday
Friday – Tatton Park
Lunchtime Clubs
Monday
Art KS4 in A2
History Musical Mondays – watching Hamilton – H1
Chess Club and Rubik’s club in M5
Y7 & Y8 Code club in C2
Tuesday:
Computer Science Revision in C2
Wednesday
KS3 Art club in A1
Thursday
Year 7 Book to Film Club in E1
Art club KS4 in A1
Friday
Easy as Pi club (maths)
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
Attendance
Everyone Matters – so Attendance Matters
Upcoming dates
- Fri 13th Dec – Year 11 Mock results day
- Mon 16th Dec – Year 9 Curriculum choice deadline
- Wed 18th Dec – Christmas carol concert 6:30pm
- Fri 20th Dec – SCHOOL CLOSES – 12:30pm
- Mon 6th Jan – Inset day
- Tue 7th Jan – SCHOOL REOPENS
