Newsletter 14.01.22

Foodbank and Advent Charities

Thanks again to everyone who supported our Advent Charities. We have just heard from Mid-Cheshire Foodbank and I am very pleased to confirm that our donation to the food bank amounted to 445kg – the equivalent of a grand piano!

The Foodbank told us that this equated to nearly 5% of all donations to the Foodbank during December so was an extraordinary contribution to our local community. December was the Foodbank’s busiest month ever in 10 years of operating. They provided 5 days of food to over 1200 people in December alone and in the week before Christmas they gave out 3 times the number of food parcels that they do in a normal week.

Thanks very much to the Foodbank workers for all that they do throughout the year.

We sent 40 hampers to local churches to support people who they knew were in need.

Together with the coats, shoes and other donations over Advent, this had been a very significant contribution from staff, students and families. A real St Nicholas act of kindness!

Mission Statement Review

Mission Statement Review

Our school Mission Statement is the cornerstone of all that we do here at St Nicholas and over the last few terms, we have undertaken numerous activities to support a review of this most important of documents. Unfortunately we have had to ‘pause’ this process on numerous occasions due to school closure and Covid mitigations, but we are now in a position to proceed once again. Staff have engaged with a review of our current Mission Statement during staff training days and students have participated in various tasks on their retreat days, leadership training days and more recently during their RE lessons. The ‘wordle’ below captures words and phrases that the school community believe to be important considerations for any future review

We are now looking for a working party to help navigate through the next stage of this process and we would welcome any parents and carers who would like to be involved, to join us. Initially we would be asking for you to attend two, one hour meetings before the Easter holidays. If you would like to be involved then please email v.hill@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk

St Nicholas Award

After several months of planning – we have just recently rolled out our new ‘St Nicholas Award’. The award is based on the following principles, and will add to other rewards systems already in place:

We are constantly looking for ways to celebrate the positive behaviour we see around school. This Award should be something that all students can strive to achieve, and be very proud when they do.

The names of the first 15 students to receive this prestigious award are currently displayed in the reception area of school:

Congratulations to all – next nominations will be called for around Easter!

Literacy Focus

We recognise that there will be parents within our school community who want to support their child’s learning even more effectively at home. The most effective way to ensure student achievement across all subject disciplines is to develop solid, life-long literacy skills, including:

✔ Reading for pleasure
✔ Reading proficiency and fluency
✔ Writing proficiency and accuracy
✔ Vocabulary knowledge

The focus for this term is Homophones- these are words which sound the same but have different meaning. This focuses on writing proficiency and fluency and vocabulary knowledge.

Free Sanitary Products

Sanitary Period Products are available for free from the school office or the medical room. We have products available for students to take home so please tell your daughter to bring their bag down and we can give them enough for a few months.

COVID Vaccinations

We have been given dates for the second round of vaccinations by the local Health Protection Team – they will take place 14-16th Feb.

Further information and link to the consent form will be sent out once we have had the relevant information from the school aged immunisation team.

Flu Vaccination

If any parent still wishes their child to have their Flu Vaccine, there is a catch up clinic this Saturday 15th of January 2022 at Victoria Road Childrens Centre.

Parents will need to book on for a slot if they wish their child to attend.

Contact Number 01606 555285 to book a slot or for further dates

Year 4 Business Studies lesson – St Luke’s Frodsham

I had a wonderful time delivering a lesson via Teams to the lovely Class 4 at St Luke’s before Christmas. I introduced the students to the idea of market segmentation and targeting and developing a Unique Selling Point (USP) to compete effectively. The students designed a Christmas stocking that would be suitable for their target market and they had to consider what their USP would be. Wow – the entries were amazing! It was VERY difficult to judge but in the end 3 stockings were winners with each student receiving an Amazon gift voucher. I would like to say a huge well done and thank you to the staff and students for taking part.

Mrs Smart – Subject Leader Business Education

Facebook and Twitter

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

Boccia and New Age Kurling Success!

On Tuesday 11th January, several students from St Nicholas travelled to Rudheath Senior Academy to represent the school in the district Boccia and New Age Kurling finals. After several games, two teams won their respective group stages and qualified for the next round to be held later this month. They will now go on to represent Vale Royal in the Cheshire and Warrington School Games competition being held at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School. Well done to everyone involved!

Girls’ After School Sports

Monday 17th January:

Staff Meeting (no co-curricular clubs)

Tuesday 18th January:
No football club due to fixture (U13s v Helsby @ Moss Farm)

Wednesday 19th January:
Girls’ Rugby (3:15-4:05pm)

Thursday 20th January:

Girls’ Netball (3:15-4:05pm)

Friday 21st January:

Run Club (3:15-4:00pm)

Boys’ After School Sports

Monday 17th January:

Staff Meeting (no co-curricular clubs)

Tuesday 18th January:

Year 5/6 Quicksticks Hockey Competition with MA (Sports Hall: 3:45-5:30pm)

Wednesday 19th January:

Year 8 Football Training with AW (3:15-4:05pm)
Year 10 Cheshire Cup Football Fixture vs. St James’ @ Moss Farm with MA (2:00pm kick off)
Thursday 20th January:
Year 8/9 Rugby Training with DJ & AW (3:15-4:05pm)

Year 10/11 Rugby Training with MA (3:15-4:05pm)

Friday 21st January:

Run Club with TB (3:15-4:00pm)

Total Sport Club:

Total Sport Club, which open to Year 7/8 students, will be starting on Monday 24^th January (3:15-4:15pm) in the Sports Hall.
Those attending will be able to access sports and activities such as: boccia, table cricket, curling, table tennis and basketball as well as many more. We hope to see you there.

Upcoming Dates

Year 12 Work Experience – Monday 17th – Friday 21st January 2022
Year 7 Residential Departs – Wednesday 19th January 2022
Year 7 Residential Returns – Friday 21st January 2022 (2.15pm)
Mission Day 1 – Thursday 27th January 2022
Intermediate Maths Challenge Years 9, 10 and 11 – Wednesday 2nd February.
Parent Focus Meeting 2 – Wednesday 2nd February 2022 (6.00 – 7.00pm)
Year 7 Exams commence – Monday 7th February 2022
Year 8 SEN Information Evening – Tuesday 15th February 2022 (4.00 – 5.15pm)
Covid vaccinations in school – Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th February
Year 11 Parents’ Evening – Thursday 17th February 2022 (4.15 – 7.30pm)
Year 7 Exams finish – Friday 18th February 2022
SCHOOL CLOSES – Friday 18th February 2022
SCHOOL REOPENS – Monday 28th February 2022

For future dates click here

Attendance

“Everyone matters, so attendance matters”

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Newsletter 14.01.22