Newsletter 12.11.2021

Newsletter 12.11.2021

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

Marking Remembrance  

Over the past weeks, our Art staff have worked with students and visitors to create a striking ‘Poppy Remembrance’ dress, which is now on display in the foyer. Our photo also shows our site manager, wearing his regimental tie and badge.

We were very proud and moved to be able to show our respect at 11.00am on Thursday 11th November,  when the whole school observed the Two Minute Silence, as a community, on the main yard, a wreath was laid by the Sixth Form senior prefects and the silence was brought to a close by the playing of The Last Post and Reveille by Edward from Year 8.  

On Remembrance Sunday many of our students will represent their cadet and scout groups across Cheshire and a wreath from St Nicholas’ will be presented at Northwich Cenotaph. 

“O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. Amen.” 

November is a time for remembrance and we will remember our own loved ones with stars in the chapel and our Book of Remembrance. 

Anti-Bullying Week 

Next week is  National Anti-Bullying Week and, in school, our Gospel Values and the 4R’s remind us that we should act respectfully towards others and protect them when we can. In  the Gospel readings for the week we are reminded that we are not to be the type of people who cause distress or act in anger and that there is always time to change. 

Learning Mentors
 

During Anti Bullying Week the Learning Mentor team will be:
Completing Form Time wellbeing activities relating to the theme ‘Kindness’.
The Learning Mentors will be out at every break and lunchtime with hints and tips to promote kindness within school and anti bullying banners will be displayed around the school.
Covid Update
We are pleased to report that covid cases currently remain low and since last week our school is now longer classed as having an outbreak.  The wearing of face coverings within communal areas of school however will remain in place for a further 2 weeks and will be reviewed on 19th November when we will update you regarding their continued use.  Please refer to this letter and leaflet from the CWAC council Director of Health which includes updated recommendations for the testing of students if they become a household contact of a confirmed case and the 12-15 vaccination programme. We encourage students to continue testing twice a week at home and will issue further home test kits to students as soon as the next delivery is received. In the meantime, please refer to the attached letter for sourcing test kits elsewhere.
Parent Focus Meeting – Wednesday 17th November

Our first Parent Focus Meeting of the year will take place on Wednesday 17th November at 6pm and our topics for discussion will be our Mission as a Catholic School and Our School Improvement Planning for the next 3 years. Please email admin@stnicholas.cheshire.sch.uk to confirm your attendance.

Bake-off Bonanza!
Year 8 form groups recently entered their star bakers to take part in the interform Bake-off! The standard was amazing and students had done themselves proud with the quality and presentation of their creations! Judges found it incredibly hard to decide on a winner and the competition which took place over two form times resulted in three winners for each day. A huge well done to all who took part – there is definitely a future Mary Berry here at St. Nicholas!
Library and literacy News

Recommendations for older teens:

Tamar by Mal Peet.

An astonishing novel about love, lies and secrets in a time of war.

Mal Peet’s Carnegie Medal-winning novel. When her grandfather dies, Tamar inherits a box containing a series of clues and coded messages. Out of the past, another Tamar emerges, a man involved in the terrifying world of resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Holland half a century earlier. His story is one of passionate love, jealousy and tragedy set against the daily fear and casual horror of the Second World War. Unravelling it will transform the younger Tamar’s life…

 

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

A teenage spy. A Nazi boarding school. The performance of a lifetime.

Sarah has played many roles – but now she faces her most challenging of all. Because there’s only one way for a Jewish orphan spy to survive at a school for the Nazi elite. And that’s to become a monster like them.

They think she is just a little girl. But she is the weapon they never saw coming… with a mission to destroy them all.

Sporting Success

Matthew Ross, 8 Camara has been selected for the Cheshire Hockey Academy as a Goalkeeper.

This is a great achievement. Good luck in your new role Matthew!

Cleaner Vacancy

We are looking to add another cleaner to our lovely, hardworking team.
10 hours/week before or after school.

Please click here for further details

Careers
Creating Careers – Heath and Social Care
Webinar on Heath and Social Care 4.30-5.30pm Thursday 25th November
Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Thursday 9th December
Follow the link on the attachment to sign up. 
Apprenticeship Fair 6th-10th December
Apprenticeships: Earn while you Learn’ will showcase up to 30 national employers from a range of STEM industries. Visitors will get to find out more about these employers, what they do and the apprenticeship opportunities they offer. Click here for further details.
Events and opportunities
Are you looking for events and opportunities for your child from year 9-13? Follow the link here.
Quality in Careers Standard
We have recently been assessed by Inspiring IAG for the Quality in Careers Standard. Whilst we are waiting for the official report, I would like to thank all students, staff, parents and employers involved in the positive experience and look forward to sharing the outcome with you.
Music Department Congratulations…

It’s always wonderful to hear about the success of former SNCHS pupils: Charlie Potts, who began his studies as a Music Undergraduate at Oxford University in September this year, has been awarded an Instrumental Scholarship. This means that Charlie is awarded a sum of money and has the title Oxford Scholar, along with the privilege of wearing a Scholar`s gown.

Music
Girls’ After School Sports
Monday 15th Nov– Staff Meeting – no after school activities
Tuesday 16th Nov– Football Practice (all Years)
Wednesday 17th Nov– Year 7 Netball Festival at HHS & Hockey Practice (all Years)
Thursday 18th Nov– Netball Practice (all Years)
Friday 19th Nov– Run Club (all Years)
After School Sports Results
It is great to have sporting competition back up and running.
This week we have had almost one hundred students competing for St Nicholas. We are so proud of all our teams and appreciate all your effort and commitment. 
Girls’ Football
Year 8&9 footballers played The Heath Wednesday evening.
They won 10-2;  it was a great team effort with hat-tricks from Ruby Hughes and Emma Rose.
Boys’ Football
Year 8 and 12/13 both had fixtures at Tytherington High Wednesday afternoon. Both teams played really well with the Year 8 winning 7-2 and the the Year12/13 narrowly losing 2-1.
Boys’ After School Sports
Monday 15th November:
Staff Meeting – no after school activities
Tuesday 16th November:
Year 10 football competition @ Hartford High School
Year 8 football training (3:15pm-4:00pm)
Wednesday 17th November:
Year 9 Cheshire Cup fixture vs. Poynton (Home)
Year 11 GCSE PE revision session (PE1) (3:15pm-4:30pm)
Thursday 18th November:
Year 7/8 rugby training (3:15pm-4:00pm)
Friday 19th November:
Year 11 Cheshire Cup fixture vs. Hartford High School (Away)
Upcoming Dates

Parents’ Focus Meeting 1  –  Wednesday 17th November 2021  (6.00 – 7.00pm) 

Year 11 Mock Exams finish  –  Friday 19th November 2021 

Year 9  Parents’ Evening  –  Monday 22nd November 2021  (4.15 – 7.30pm) 

Year 13 Reports to Parents  –  Wednesday 24th November 2021 

Inset Day  SCHOOL CLOSED TO PUPILS  – Friday 26th November 2021 

For future dates click here