Newsletter 09.12.22

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

Parish Advent Lunch

We were delighted to welcome members of our local parishes back into school for and entertaining afternoon of lunch and music. Our Sixth Formers were the hosts for the afternoon, led by the head and senior prefects. The parishioners were welcomed in to a performance by our gifted orchestra and instrumental groups, whilst they completed an quiz and enjoyed a cup of tea. Then it was time to enjoy a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a St Nick’s famously, delicious mince pie, whilst being serenaded by members of our Junior, Chamber and Sixth Form choir. It was a lovely afternoon and a real blessing to be able to spend some time together. Thanks to Mrs Sandbach and her catering team and Mr Crossley and all the site staff for the time and effort to make the occasion happen. Also, to Mrs McKenna and Mr Rushworth for their support of our musicians and singers.

Foodbank and SVP

Our Advent charity appeal finishes this week. If you have any donations please do send them in on Monday. Thank you for all your support this year.

Charity foodbank Advent Collection

Christmas Carol Concert 15th December 7pm

Our Christmas Carol Concert takes place at 7pm on Thursday 15^th December.

We look forward to welcoming parents, carers and families to join us in celebrating the end of a busy term and enjoying some festive music.

The evening includes performances from all our ensembles and choirs with a selection of pieces and readings for the season.

In order to give us an idea of numbers, please fill in this form https://forms.office.com/e/S3GEw8K0mG to book your seat.

The St Nicholas Award

AIM

To continue to build a sense of community around the Gospel Values and to encourage all students to act in the ‘spirit’ of St Nicholas. In doing this, positive behaviour that has previously gone un-noticed will be celebrated around school.

THE AWARD

A permanent badge that can be worn on your blazer. You will be able to earn this badge only once.
Your name will be displayed on a board in our main reception area for the following term.
We will write home to your parents to celebrate your success with them.

Congratulations to

Sergio Vieira 7 Teresa

Brooke Moores 7 Camara

Mia-Lee Clarke 7 Kolbe

Elano Drys 8 Bernadette

Alessa Pacitti 8 John Paul

Darcy Randle 8 Romero

Megan Warren 9 Kolbe

Rodrigo Caracas 9 Bernadette

Olivia Isted 9 Bernadette

Gabriel McHugh 10 Bernadette

Martha Roper 10 Vincent de Paul

Sophie Farrall 10 Teresa

Faith Humphrys 11 Camara

Erin McCaw 11 Camara

Freya Seymour 11 Romero

Sixth Form Applications 2023

St Nicholas Sixth Form Applications for 2023 are now OPEN, and can be found on the school website, or click on the link: Sixth Form Applications 2023

St Nicholas Day

Tuesday 6th December was St Nicholas Day. This was marked by celebration assemblies for all year groups followed by hot chocolate and Mrs Sandbach’s famous chocolate crunch.

Library and Literacy News

FREE BOOKS FOR ALL!!!

Fill-a-bag of books | University of Waterloo Staff Association | University of Waterloo

On Monday 12^th December, the old library will be open at break and lunch for students to pick free books from the old library stock. There is a wonderful selection of Fiction and Non-Fiction available. As much as I wanted to bring them to the new library with me, I had to make room for some new authors and titles. There are hundreds of much-loved books waiting for a good home, so all students are invited to bring a bag and fill it to brim with reading material for the holidays.

Corpse Talk

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwIV8SNgQyXElngStwcgeSwUJVqTBXVZE

For fans of the popular series of graphic novels by Adam and Lisa Murphy, Corpse Talk is now also an animated biography series on YouTube. The graphic novels and accompanying videos are a great way to introduce your child to the biographies of various famous dead people. If your child enjoys the YouTube series, please encourage them to pick up one of the graphic novels in the library. Or why not order a copy from your local independent book shop as a Christmas gift?

Christmas holidays

We are closing for the Christmas holidays on Friday 16^th December at 12.30pm

Buses will be running as usual.

School reopens on Weds 4^th January to all students

Maths Masterclass

Congratulations to students from year 7 and year 8 who have been invited to participate in either Maths Masterclass Tutorials and the Maths Mastery Month.These sessions are designed to work through interesting, challenging and entertaining maths problems in order to help students to broaden their horizons, develop their skills and stretch their thinking. They include sessions hosted by Countdown series winner Dr Junaid Mubeen, best-selling author Dr Simon Singh and maths YouTuber Ayliean MacDonald.Well done! We look forward to hearing more about the sessions from students and seeing their certificates on completion.

Maths Origami

The maths department are running their Christmas Origami on Tuesday in M7. Please come along and make a Christmas bow.

Sporting success – Year 7 football

Our super year 7 girls won the 7 a-side football tournament this week. They beat Hartford High in the final on penalties and will now represent Vale Royal in the next round in January.

Fantastic work girls!!

Cheshire & Warrington LEP Careers and Education Survey

The Cheshire and Warrington Pledge have recently conducted some research with parents and carers in the form of listening groups across the region to hear their views on how we can best support young people with their future career and education choices. Please help them by filling in this online survey – it will take around 10-15 minutes to complete and will be open until Thursday 15th December. Everyone who responds to this survey will have the option to enter into a prize draw where you can be in with the chance of winning one of 3 x £50 GiftPay vouchers to spend at a retailer of your choice.

To take part in the survey, please click on the link here: Complete the survey

Christmas dinner in school Tuesday

Please join us in the dining room for Christmas Lunch on Tuesday 13^th December. We have the traditional roast, including a vegetarian option, with all the trimmings for £2.50. This also includes a chocolate Christmas tree ice-cream. There are limited numbers so please top up your lunch cards.

Theatre trip – An Inspector Calls

Year 11s – join the English department on a trip to see An Inspector Calls on Thursday 12^th January. There are still a few tickets left.

We will leave school at 5.30 and expect to be back at approximately 10:30.

Tickets can be bought on Parent Pay.

There are huge benefits to seeing a play performed live and it’s the famous Daldry production using the moving doll’s house!

Message from the NHS

PTFA News

Thank you to everyone who has bought a raffle ticket in our Christmas Raffle – we are extremely grateful. Our raffle will finish on Sunday, 11^th December. We are looking forward to giving out all our wonderful prizes next week.

Good luck everyone. ?

Your PTFA

Your School Lottery

This week’s jackpot winning numbers are:
311080

One of our supporters won £10.80 in the draw! ? ?

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

Trains – Industrial Action

RMT union have announced strike action on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December 2022 and on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January 2023. As a result of this Northern customers are advised not to travel between Tuesday 13 and Saturday 17 December.

From Sunday 18 December to Monday 2 January there will be some disruption to services due to the planned action.

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25 & 26 Dec) there will be No Northern services running.

For further information please consult the Industrial Action page on our website:

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/strikes

Winsford Workzone

Free adult courses. Click here for further information.

Accessing the Foodbank and new Food Distribution Centre, Greenbank

Whilst we hope that everyone is coping well with the present situation, this is a difficult time and we appreciate that there may be some families who are undergoing hardship because of changes in work or personal circumstances. The majority of Foodbank users will only access the Foodbank three times. but those three times will make a difference.

So that we may support our St Nicholas family, we have registered as a referral organisation for the Foodbank. If you would like to have this support, we are able to process an on-line referral and arrange an appointment for you to collect a five-day food package from an agreed centre.

Please do get in touch if we can be of help in this manner. Our chaplain is the point of contact – Mairie Gelling at m.gelling@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk . As always, our conversation and any information that we need to pass on to the Foodbank will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. For alternative access, you can also contact the local Citizens Advice in the Community on 07894 238963

For local families, a new Food Distribution Centre has now opened at Christchurch in Greenbank. The church is located at the Greenbank station car park. Open 12.15 – 12.45 every Wednesday.

Vacancies at St Nicholas

Cleaner

10 hours per week, two hours per day for 43 weeks per year (Term time + 4 weeks)
Working hours will either be mornings 5.30-7.30am or afternoons 3.30-5.30pm
£10.50 per hour

Please contact Mrs Dawn Poole on 01606 706020 or d.poole@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk for further information and/or an application form.

Leisure Assistant

We are looking for a are looking to appoint a reliable, independent, and enthusiastic individual to undertake this new role, supervising the hire of the school facilities including the sports hall during weekday evenings and weekends. This includes opening and locking up.
Part time casual contract.
Hours between 5.00-10.00pm Monday to Friday and potentially weekends.
Hours to be agreed in advance on a termly basis.
Grade 3 – £10.60 per hour
Closing date : Monday 12th December 2022 at 9am

Click here for further information

Music Rehearsals

Monday Lunch Jazz Band (2M) – Woodwind Ensemble (1M)
Tuesday Lunch – Everyone Aloud

Carol Concert Thursday Evening. Musicians and Singers to be back in school at 6.30pm. Carol Concert starts at 7pm

Boys’ and Girls’ After School Sports

Tuesday 13th December:

KS3/KS4 Basketball

Wednesday 14th December:

KS3 Rugby and Netball Club

Thursday 15th December:

GCSE Practical Sports Night

KS4 Rugby Training with DJ

Friday 16th December:

No clubs – school closes at 12:30pm

Fixtures

Tuesday

Year 7 Boys’ Indoor Football Competition @ Rudheath Senior Academy

Wednesday

Year 10 Boys’ Cheshire Cup Football vs. Hartford High School (3:30pm kick off)

Lunchtime and after school clubs

Monday lunch – Year 8 Technology Club in T3
Monday lunch – Year 7 Coding Club in C3
Monday lunch – Jazz Band in 1M
Monday lunch – Art Club in A1
Tuesday lunch – Glee Club (All Years) in 1M
Tuesday lunch – Science Club (for KS3) S5
Tuesday lunch – Art Club in A1
Tuesday after school 3.15 – 4.30 – Performing Arts Club in DS1
Wednesday lunch – Woodwind Group in 1M
Wednesday lunch – Dungeons and Dragons Club in B2
Wednesday 3.15-5pm Chamber Choir in the HallThursday lunch – String Group in 1MThursday 3.15-4.15pm Orchestra in the Hall
Thursday lunch – Chess Club in M5
Thursday lunch – Art Club in A2
Thursdays at 3.30 – KS4/5 Spanish Film Club in L5
Friday Lunch – Easy As Pi Maths Club in M1
Friday lunch – Art Club in A2

Upcoming Dates

Thursday 15^th December – Christmas Carol Concert 7pm
Friday 16^th December – SCHOOL CLOSES 12.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January – INSET DAY – school closed to pupils
Wednesday 4^th January – SCHOOL REOPENS

For future dates click here

Facebook and Twitter

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

Newsletter 09.12.22