Newsletter 15.07.2026 – St Nicholas Catholic High School

A prayer to share

Loving God,

You showed us what love looks like through
Jesus—patient, kind, forgiving, and selfless.
Help us to live that kind of love each day.
Teach us to care for one another,
to include those who feel left out,
and to choose kindness even when it’s difficult.

When we are quick to judge, slow us down.
When we are hurt, help us to forgive.
When we feel unnoticed, remind us that we are deeply loved by You.

May our words be gentle, our actions be generous, and our hearts be open.

Let your love guide our school, our friendships, and our lives.
So that in all we do, we reflect your goodness.

Amen.

A Message from our Chaplain, Mairie

MiniDASH and Diocesan Mass for High Schools

On Friday, our Year 8 MiniDASH team joined with other high school students at St Columba’s in Chester to reflect on the Catholic Social Teaching project that they have been working on, and later to have Bishop Mark celebrate Mass for us for the school year that is coming to an end. Some comments from our students ‘It was good to go and meet up with students from other schools that we have met this year.’ ‘I have never seen a Bishop before. It was very interesting and inspiring to see Bishop Mark. It made the day very special.‘ ‘It was a great chance to think about the year we have been involved in MiniDash and how we now know more about Catholic Social Teaching.‘

Lent Charities

Now that all the fundraising has been gathered in, we are delighted to report a Challenge Total of £2096.

Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising through all the different events and challenges. We will be sending your donation to CAFOD and CAR?ITAS and I am sure that they will be very grateful for all you have done to support them.

Confirmation for students from St Mary’s, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel

Any student in Year 8 or above who belongs to St Mary’s parish is invited to attend an information meeting regarding preparation for Confirmation, at the parish centre at 7.00pm on Thursday 9^th July. Please speak to your parish priest or deacon if you have any queries.

Laura MacAleenan

Laura McAleenan Memorial Afternoon

In January, our school community was deeply saddened by the loss of our much-loved colleague, Laura McAleenan. Laura was an outstanding teacher in the MFL Department who inspired so many students with her love of languages. She was respected not only for her teaching expertise and dedication, but also for her kindness, warmth and genuine care for everyone around her. Laura was a treasured colleague, a wonderful friend and a much-valued member of the St Nicholas community.

On Monday 29th June, Laura’s family and friends were joined by students, parents, staff and members of the wider school community to celebrate her life through music and reflection. We are especially grateful to Helen McKenna for leading the school orchestra, along with the student and staff choirs, whose beautiful performances made the service such a moving occasion. Some of Laura’s favourite songs were featured, including Rule the World by Take That and Angels by Robbie Williams.

Members of the MFL Department shared reflections, poems and readings that celebrated Laura’s passion for languages and the difference she made to so many lives. One of Laura’s former students, Jack Carroll, also spoke warmly about the positive memories he has of her and the impact she had during his time at school. It was a heartfelt celebration that reflected just how much Laura meant to everyone who knew her.

The following day, members of the MFL Department, together with colleagues from across the school and students whom Laura had taught, gathered to plant a rose in her memory in our newly reformed Prayer Garden. The planter was kindly designed and built by Mr Grogan in the DT Department, creating a peaceful place where students, staff and visitors can pause to remember Laura. The rose will remain a lasting reminder of her kindness, compassion and the happiness she brought to so many people.

To celebrate Laura’s lasting contribution to the school and her passion for languages, two new permanent prizes have been established for Prize Night: the Laura McAleenan Award for Excellence in Spanish and the Laura McAleenan Award for Excellence in French. These awards will recognise students who show the same enthusiasm, commitment and love of languages that Laura shared throughout her teaching career.

Laura was also a passionate supporter of the charity Pseudomyxoma Survivor, helping to raise both awareness of the condition and vital funds for the charity. Anyone who would like to make a donation in Laura’s memory can do so by visiting: https://www.pseudomyxomasurvivor.org/donate/.

Rowing Success

Student Success at Rowing Regatta

On Weds 24th June two St Nicholas` crews competed in the All Aboard North West regional regatta at Warrington Rowing Club.

Both boats performed superbly, but it was the A crew, comprising of Fernando Bartok, Blane Dargie, Jude Hudson, Oliver Roberts and cox Max Ranfield, who took the top honours, finishing 2nd of all the Northwich boats and an incredible 8th overall in the entire NW region!

This regatta was the culmination of almost 6 months gruelling training and preparation at weekly sessions under the guidance of three amazing coaches at the Northwich Rowing Club, as part of the All Aboard Youth Rowing programme. This is a `dynamic initiative` supported by the Henley Royal Regatta Charitable trust, which aims to enable diverse groups of young people to experience the many physical and social benefits of the sport.

Having learned the basics of rowing on the indoor machines in the clubhouse, the boys moved onto the water in week 4, in coxed Foursomes (four rowing and one steering!) where they very quickly had to develop their technique, teamwork, fitness and focus and to understand that effective rowing is impossible without the timing and coordination of all 5 members of the team!

Congratulations to each member of the All Aboard team for their focus, commitment and hard work in completing the full course.

Well done Jacob Appleton, Fernando Bartok, Jake Cooke, Blane Dargie, Bailey Donnolly, Sam Elliott, Rhys Fittes, Josh Hewitt, Jude Hudson, Max Ranfield and Oliver Roberts.

Finally, our sincere thanks to the team at Northwich Rowing club, James, Sarah and Lorraine for their excellent coaching and patient support throughout the course.

Music Success

Some of our talented musicians have being doing their gradings in the past few weeks and have all passed with flying colours.

Congratulations to:

Carson Heung Grade 4 Flute with merit
Martha Duddy Grade 2 Flute
Matthew Lewis Grade 4 Clarinet with merit
Penny Lee Grade 4 Clarinet

Sporting Success

PE Success

Last week, St Nicholas Catholic High School retained our School Games Mark Platinum award for the seventh consecutive year!

The School Games Mark is a Government-led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success. We continue to be one of a very small percentage of secondary schools nationally to hold the award.

Our inter- and intra-school competition offer, along with provision of a broad and balanced, equal offer for boys and girls in Core PE, SEND sport and focus on ‘Sport for All’ have all been contributing factors. We are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible. As part of our application, we were asked to fulfil criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of staff has been rewarded this year.

Many thanks to everyone who has supported school sport this year, particularly the SEND department for their continued help with events!

Swimming Success

A big well done and good luck to Hattie Lawson who Hattie has qualified for the English nationals at the end of July in 200m Butterfly. These will be held in Ponds Forge Sheffield.

Athletics Success

Earlier this month, seven St Nicholas students represented Mid-Cheshire at the Cheshire Schools’ Track & Field Championships and Macclesfield Leisure Complex.

There were some outstanding efforts with many students achieving personal bests in their events.

Nathan Olajola 6th in 100m
Tom Wilkinson 10th in 800m
Ben Noone 8th in 1500m
Rhys Parkin 8th in Shot
Amelia Wheeldon 7th in 100m
Lauren Collier 5th in 1500m
Khloe Muponya 9th in javelin

Rewards Trip

Rewards trip to Hartford Golf Club

Students enjoyed a fantastic morning at Hartford Golf Club after saving their St Nicholas Dollars to earn the chance to take part. They chose between a game of mini golf or padel, with plenty of smiles, laughter and friendly competition throughout the morning. It was a well-deserved reward, and everyone had a brilliant time.

Further picture on Facebook

Library and Literacy

Summer reads

The summer holidays are just around the corner and how better to fill the days than finding a shady spot to settle into a summer read. Students are welcome to stock up on summer fiction (or non-fiction) from the library to keep them going over the holidays. They can also access their soraapp.com accounts all year round, which means there’s no need to pack bulky books if you’re jetting off this summer. Check out some of the summer themed books available from Soraapp.com below.

This pick-a-path series gives the reader the chance to make the decisions, and choose how the story goes! It’s the last day of school and Frankie Jones is looking down the barrel of a boring summer with only her guitar for company until … She gets a surprise chance to go to London. She’s dying to go – except that it will mean seeing her heartbreakingly cute British ex-friend. OR … Her dad invites her on a beach holiday. Which sounds great, except his new girlfriend – and her daughter – are coming too. Follow your heart right to the end, or go back and choose all over again.

Paige Redmond has always felt lucky to spend her summers in Clearwater Ridge, with lazy days sunning at the waterfalls and nights partying at the sprawling houses of the rich families who vacation there. The Covingtons are one of these families, and beautiful, brilliant Audrey Covington is Paige’s best friend. And last year, when Audrey’s crush-worthy brother Dylan finally started noticing Paige, she was sure it would be the best summer ever.

Except Audrey didn’t seem quite like herself. Then one night, she didn’t come home. Though Audrey wasn’t the first girl to disappear in Clearwater Ridge, she left behind more lies than clues. Now, one summer later, her case has gone cold, and nobody, least of all Paige, can make sense of what happened.

The Taylors – Teffy, Tay, TS, and Taylor – have survived their first year of high school and can’t wait for summer to start. But the drama doesn’t go away just because they want it to. It turns out that Teffy’s been keeping a massive secret from her parents. Tay’s supposed to spend the summer performing with her new band, but it’s not the rockstar life she expected. Taylor’s past comes back to haunt her while working at summer camp. And TS gets to spend the summer in London with Gemma’s very fancy family … who doesn’t approve of her.

The Taylors need each other more than ever, but they’re spending the summer apart. Is it going to be so long, London and so long, Taylors?

Eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She’s had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California.

But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother in Oakland, Cecile is nothing like they imagined. While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers.

Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.

Kofi is used to stuff going wrong, he’s usually in detention or about to be. But when he finds out his best friend Kelvin has a photographic memory, he comes up with a genius money-making scheme. The whole school is obsessed with music, but no one can ever make out the words, so the boys hit the jackpot selling a new fanzine full of song lyrics: PAPER JAM. It’s not long before one of the teacher’s tells Kofi: ‘You could be a real leader at this school, you know that?’ and . . . suddenly it’s turning out to be the best summer ever!

Wolf’s mother is obsessed with saving the world’s honeybees, so it’s not too surprising when she announces that she’s taking her Save the Bees show on the road–with the whole family. Wolf thinks it’s a terrible plan, and not just because he’ll have to wear a bee costume–in public. He likes his alternative school and hates the idea of missing weeks of classes. His teenage stepsister doesn’t want to leave her boyfriend, and one of his little half sisters has stopped talking altogether, but Wolf’s mom doesn’t seem to notice. She’s convinced that the world is doomed unless ordinary people take extraordinary action. It isn’t until the kids take some drastic action of their own that she is forced to listen when Wolf tells her that dragging the family around the province in a beat-up Ford panel van may not be the best idea she ever had.

Darby and Morgan haven’t spoken for two years, and their friend group has splintered. But when the body of their former science teacher is found in the marsh where they attended camp that summer, they realize they have more questions than answers . . . and even fewer memories.

No one remembers―or no one is talking.

The group of reunited friends suspects that a murderer is stalking the coastal highway 30A, and they are desperate to recover their memories as quickly as possible . . . before their history they can’t remember repeats itself.

Everyone has a secret.

As tensions rise and time runs out, Darby and Morgan begin to wonder if they can believe one another . . . or if they can even trust themselves.

After a falling out between their mothers, 13-year-old best friends Nell and Lydia are forbidden from seeing each other for the whole summer. Nell struggles with the thought of not only losing her best friend, but also losing the only person in whom Nell finds refuge from the difficulties she faces at home. Determined to find a place of their own, Nell and Lydia spend the summer hiding out in an abandoned golf course where Nell and Lydia find mysterious symbols scattered throughout the grounds. As they reveal the secret of the symbols, Nell discovers she isn’t the only one seeking haven and begins to uncover what’s really been hidden all along, finally allowing herself to be truly seen.

Summer 1940. As the cuckoo sings out across the Lake District, life is about to change for ever for local boy Tommy and his friend Sally, the mysterious evacuee girl who lives on the neighbouring farm. When they find a wounded Nazi airman in the woods, Sally persuades Tommy not to report it but to keep the German hidden. This starts a chain of events that leads to the uncovering of secrets about Sally’s past and a summer of adventure that neither child will ever forget. Hidden Summer is a quietly beautiful coming of age story about self-discovery, family, and friendship.

Amazing Art Homework

Amazing Art Homework

Our Year 8 and Year 9 students have produced some outstanding Art homework projects, showcasing their creativity, imagination and artistic skills.

Year 9 explored the work of Andy Warhol by creating Pop Art Research in a Can projects, demonstrating excellent research and vibrant, eye-catching designs inspired by the iconic artist. Meanwhile, Year 8 students impressed us with their imaginative cardboard sculptures, using a range of construction techniques to bring their ideas to life.

Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work and enthusiasm, and a special well done to those whose projects have been recognised with Dollars. Take a look at some of the fantastic winning work in the photos below!

PTFA Summer Raffle

PTFA Summer Raffle – Win a Dream Holiday!

EuroCamp Holiday

2 x £50 Amazon Vouchers

Full Car Service from D C Lomas Ltd

Luxury Wax Melts from Zaila’s Wax Melts Cheshire

GHD Limited Edition Hair Straighteners in Dusty Pink

7-Day Brio Leisure Pass

Bottles of Fizz & Alcohol

Beauty Gift Sets

And many more fantastic prizes!

Tickets are available to buy on ParentPay until Friday 17th July!

Good luck everyone!

Outgrown Uniform and PE kit

If your child is leaving school or has outgrown their uniform or PE kit, please send it in to school where we will reuse it for students who need it or pass it on to the Green Uniform and Babybank. This can also be sent in after the exams have finished.

Thank you for your help

Summer Holiday Support for Families

Summer Holiday Support for Families

Families receiving Free School Meals (FSM) can apply for summer holiday food support through Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). Applications open on 30 June 2026 and close on 31 August 2026. Click here

The current FSM support arrangements will continue over the summer. From September 2026, CRF support will focus on households facing an unexpected financial crisis and applicants will need to explain their circumstances.

Also from September, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will qualify for FSM, extending eligibility to more families. Click here

The CRF can also help with emergency, housing and heating costs.

The Green Uniform and Babybank in Winsford can help with School Uniform

Summer Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme

Bookings for the Summer HAF Programme open at 4pm on 25 June 2026. Families can browse activities and register interest now via EEQU: https://eequ.org/cheshirewestandchesterhaf

Free places are available for children eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals, subject to availability. Many providers also offer paid places so more children can take part.

This summer, 87 clubs across Cheshire West and Chester will provide activities, food and opportunities to learn new skills, make friends and try something new.

For other holiday activities, visit: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/schoolholidays

For support, email HAF@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Free Summer Brio Pass

Young people aged 12-16 in receipt of benefits-related free school meals can use our gym and swim facilities for free for the month of August. The gym can be accessed independently during our junior gym hours – Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm and weekends 10am – 4pm.
Every Wednesday in August there will be dedicated instructor-led sessions 11am-1pm such as Learn to Lift, callisthenics, HIIT. Followed by a packed lunch.
Participants will be required to attend a gym induction before their first session.
Swim sessions can be booked on the Brio app in line with our timetable.
For more information and to request a pass for your child, please access this link Brio Fitness Membership – Northwich with Brio
Any questions, please email northwichmc@brioleisure.org.

Free Breakfast for all at Morrisons

Families visiting their local Morrisons Café throughout the summer holidays can enjoy a free ‘Kellogg’s Breakfast’, which includes a bowl of cereal and a portion of fruit. The best part, it’s not just for kids, adults get to eat completely free too.

Free Period Products

The school gets free period products delivered several times a year. This is available to all students.
Please encourage your daughter to come to the medical room to pick up a few packs to take home over the summer holiday.

If your daughter is uncomfortable picking it up, please email Sharon – S.Kazmierczak@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk and we will try to deliver discretely. Alternatively parents are welcome to pick up a parcel – please email in advance so we can have it ready.

Community Notices

Attendance

Upcoming dates

Friday 17th July Years 7, 8, 9, 10 & 12 Rewards Trips/ Sixth Form Expedition to Morocco departs
Monday 20th July Year 12 Parents’ Evening 4.15–7.30pm, Dorigatti-Pringle tournament
Wednesday 22nd July SCHOOL CLOSES – 12.30pm

___________________________________________________

Thursday 3rd September School Opens to all students

Thursday 24th September Open Evening 4-6pm

Tuesday 20th October Sixth Form Open Evening 5-7pm

Click here for future dates

Click here to download 2025-26 Holiday Dates

Click here to download 2026-27 Holiday Dates