Ash Wednesday
We were very blessing to begin our Lenten journey by celebrating Ash Wednesday in school with liturgies for all year groups during the day. We are reminded that Lent gives us the time, opportunity and encouragement to change for the better. Our commitment to reconciliation and renewal was shown in the respectful and considered attitude of all our students during the liturgies.
Lent Charity
During the last week we have had assemblies with a difference. For our Lent challenge , we move to Saint houses, so all year forms in Bernadette, Camara, John Paul etc will work together to plan and promote as many fundraising opportunities as they can over the next half-term and up until the end of April. This is to support CARITAS Shrewsbury and CARITAS International, two really important charities that give practical and necessary support to individuals, families and communities. You can look at the work of CARITAS Shrewsbury here About (caritasshrewsbury.org.uk) and CARITAS International here Caritas – Ending poverty, promoting justice and restoring dignity
Last year we raised nearly £2,500 for the Good Shepherd Fund, which is their name for the Lent Appeal, you may remember this from The Children’s Society, a longstanding diocesan charity that is now included in the CARITAS family.
We are hoping for a number of exciting challenges and fundraising ideas to take place in school over the next weeks and will be including an item on ParentPay, if you wish to make a donation this way. Thank you in advance for your support.
We wish you all a restful and blessed half-term. Safe journey to all who are travelling.
Name | Certificate | Year |
Alexander Bickerton | Gold (Best in school) | 11 |
Edward Smalley | Gold (Best in year 10) | 10 |
Harry McDonagh | Gold | 10 |
Charlie Fitzsimmons | Silver | 10 |
Gemma Chadwick | Silver | 11 |
Chloe Yip | Silver | 10 |
George Yearsley | Silver | 10 |
Aidan Sham | Silver (Best in year 9) | 9 |
Luca Cairnduff | Silver | 10 |
Zachary Dean | Silver | 9 |
Neve Hancock | Silver | 10 |
Isaac Dixon | Silver | 11 |
Aaron Shepherd | Silver | 10 |
Sinead Garrard | Silver | 10 |
Sebastiano Verardi | Silver | 10 |
Jonah Ashworth | Bronze | 9 |
Ygritte Tsui | Bronze | 9 |
William Watts | Bronze | 10 |
Megan Simmons | Bronze | 11 |
Finn Scott | Bronze | 11 |
Peace Chilakalaka | Bronze | 10 |
Rory Johnston | Bronze | 10 |
Hugo Shum | Bronze | 10 |
Henryk Wieckowski | Bronze | 10 |
Alexander Kirkby | Bronze | 11 |
Rufus Reeves | Bronze | 9 |
Constance Scurry | Bronze | 10 |
Thomas Fallon-Williams | Bronze | 11 |
George Reynolds | Bronze | 9 |
James Lewis | Bronze | 9 |
Cameron Giles | Bronze | 11 |
Timmie Jacob | Bronze | 10 |
Alex Hubbard-Storrow | Bronze | 10 |
Brandon Williams | Bronze | 9 |
Ruben Alcazar | Bronze | 11 |
Nneoma Njoku | Bronze | 9 |
Alex Simmons | Bronze | 9 |
Edward Cranmer-Gordon | Bronze | 10 |
Holly Dutton | Bronze | 10 |
Matilda Hitchen | Bronze | 10 |
Zac Mikoleizik | Bronze | 10 |
Patrick Grice | Bronze | 11 |
Isabelle Leather | Bronze | 11 |
Alessa Pacitti | Bronze | 9 |
Charlie Yarwood | Bronze | 9 |
Belle Brown | Bronze | 10 |
Bailey Fearn | Bronze | 11 |
Alexandra Neshkova | Bronze | 11 |
Lucy Riddell | Bronze | 9 |
Rodrigo Caracas | Bronze | 10 |
Evie Grensinger | Bronze | 10 |
Lexi Mahon | Bronze | 11 |
UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge 2024
More than 100 students in year 9, 10 and 11 took part in the IMC last month, and 52 of these went on to achieve a certificate. The IMC tests maths skills in a challenging problem solving context. Special shout outs to Alex Bickerton (best in school) and Ed Smalley (best in year 10) who both achieved a Gold certificate and qualified for the follow-on round. Also to Aidan Sham (best in year 9) who achieved a Silver certificate, and to all the year 9 students who achieved a certificate because they sit the same paper as year 10 and 11.
Want to have a go? Here are an ‘easy’, ‘medium’ and ‘hard’ question from this year’s paper. Answers next week.
Easy:
Medium:
Hard:
Mrs Sandbach and the catering team have donated 100 Cream Eggs to St Luke’s Hospice in Winsford. Here they will be dressed as knitted Easter chicks and donated or sold to raise money for a two person ‘cuddle bed’ for the Hospice.
St Luke’s Hospice rang Mrs Sandbach and thanked her for the donation.
For further information about the hospice or if you wish to donate cream eggs or make a donation, click here https://slhospice.co.uk/
The Y12 Biologists ran a special Science Club this week for KS3 students to learn more about the mammalian system through a mouse dissection. We had over 50 students join them and there was a great atmosphere of calm, purposeful learning with great questions and enthusiasm to explore more about the body. Mrs Pidsley and Mrs Jones were truly impressed by the way the Y12 Biologists worked with the KS3 students, making it fun and engaging for all.
Dear Parents/ Carers,
As half term approaches we have put a PowerPoint together with some keywords practice. Often we find that students forget a keyword and as a result cannot “unlock” the question.
These are some great ideas how students can revise keywords and how you can revise together.
Click here to see the Powerpoint.
Our next revision session will be on Tuesday, 27th February 2024.
The next Year 11 mock exam is on Wednesday , 13th March 2024 (Y band) and Thursday, 14th March 2024 (b-band).
Wishing you a happy half term,
The RE department
Music Upcoming Events:
North Wales Choir Festival Llandudno 2nd March
NCO Mainly Baroque Concert 10th March Storyhouse Chester GCSE and A Level
Recital Evening 25th March A Level
Your School Lottery
Remember to check your email to see if you’ve won!
544802
One of our supporters won £14.40 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
Thank you everyone!
Romantasy is back in business
Followers of teen and YA fiction will notice trends in the popularity of genres. Remember Twilight and the torrent of amorous vamps that followed? Then came the zombies (Zom-B, Warm Bodies, The Enemy), dystopian and post apocalyptic fiction (Hunger Games, Divergent, Uglies, Maze Runner), magical realism (Shadowhunters ), fallen angels (Fallen, Hush Hush) and most recently we’ve been inundated with murder mysteries (One of Us is Lying, Good Girls Guide to Murder, Win Lose Kill Die etc).
Now, thanks in part to obsessed Tiktokkers, there’s a new genre in town. Well, not so much new as revived. Romantasy is back! That’s fantasy with but with strong romantic vibes for those not already familiar with authors such as Sarah J Mass. In fact, Sara J Mass’s newest book, House of Flame and Shadow has become the third fastest-selling science fiction and fantasy title since records began. It’s in good company with Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame) which has an Amazon show in the works and Shelby Mahurin’s Serpent and Dove series which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. If you haven’t already indulged in these fantasy worlds, now is the time to give it a go. Make sure to check the suitability of titles before giving to younger readers as content can vary between titles in the same series (e.g. I would happily loan out A Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass to yr 7s but later titles in the series are more suitable for 9s and above).
Check out the link below for more Romantasy titles:
https://www.epicreads.com/blog/romantasy-books/
World Book Day 7th March 2024
World Book day approaches and we have lots of activities planned for the week. We’ll let you know more nearer the time but here is the schedule of library events. The Lit-Spud competition (dressing up a potato as a book character) is open to all year groups and will be judged on Wednesday 6th March so make sure to get your entry into the library before then.
Book of the Week
One Punch Man vol.1 by ONE
Tongue in cheek superhero series about a despondent unemployed man called Saitama who decides to train himself to defeat any assailant in one punch. He soon grows bored of his ability, never finding an enemy to rival his power and becomes despondent once again. In a particularly grueling battle with a mosquito woman, he meets Genos, a cyborg who, after witnessing Saitama’s strength, begs him to mentor him. Will this give him a renewed purpose? You’ll have to read the rest of the series to find out.
It’s as silly as it sounds and is generally popular with boys 12+. Each adventure is stand alone and serialised, so good for readers with shorter attention spans
The Td/IPV and MenACWY vaccination programme for St Nicholas Catholic High School is scheduled for:
WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH
The vaccination is for Year 9 plus anyone in years 10 and 11 who have missed theirs last year.
St Nicholas Catholic High School, has a unique code that you will be prompted to input into the system. The code is: CP111450
Please submit consent here https://www.cwpstartingwellimms.co.uk/Forms/DTP
by 12 NOON MONDAY 11TH MARCH to ensure that your child receives the vaccination.
The Grange Theatre is launching a Young Company for young people (14-21yrs) who have a particular interest in the performing arts and who might be considering a career in the arts. The company will meet weekly during term time and is free to those students selected.
As well as encouraging students in contemporary theatre practice, I hope the Young Company will also form a peer group of support for likeminded individuals.
Level 2 Award in Childcare Development.
Monday 26th Feb – Fri 1st March
Coming February *FREE course : Level 2 Award in Childcare Development….
Learners will learn about the importance of play to a Child’s development.
Be able to plan activities that meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage
Gain and understanding of Autistic Spectrum Disorder
* FREE to anyone over 19 years of age on an out of work benefit or earning less than £20,319
To book a place, check your eligibility or further enquiries call or text: 07833 236675 or email workzonenorthwich@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Lunchtime:
Monday : Linguistics Club, Years 10,11,12,13 in E7
Monday : Memrise Club in L5
Tuesday : Science Club in S5
Tuesday: GCSE Computer Science Revision in C2
Tuesday : Chess Club in M5
Wednesday : Art club – all years in A1 and A2
Wednesday : Easy as Pi – Maths Club – in M6
Wednesday : Dungeons and Dragons in B5
Thursday : Art club -all years A1 in and A2 – KS4
Thursday : KS3 History Club – Week 2 in H1
Friday : GCSE History Film Club – Week 1 in H1
After School:
Tuesday
Performing Arts Club – 3.15 – 4.30 Drama
Food Club – Year 9 and GCSE – 3.15 – 4.30 in T6
Drama Club in Drama Studio
Wednesday
Dungeons and Dragons – in the library
Thursday
Art club for everyone in A2
Lunchtime:
Monday: Choir rehearsal with Mrs Leigh 1M
Tuesday : Year 9 band 1M
Wednesday : Jazz Band (GCSE and A Level)
Thursday : String Ensemble
After School:
Tuesday : GCSE Revision
Wednesday Choir
Thursday No ORCHESTRA- Year 13 Parents evening
Instrumental Lessons in school
MONDAY GUITAR, PIANO and FLUTE
TUESDAY SINGING
WEDNESDAY PIANO
THURSDAY VIOLIN, CLARINET AND SAXOPHONE
FRIDAY DRUM KIT
If you are interested in learning an instrument in school, please click here
Lunchtime:
Monday : Basketball – sports Hall – Year 9
Tuesday : Basketball – sports Hall – Year 10
Wednesday : Basketball – sports Hall – Year 7&8
Thursday : Football – sports Hall – Year 9
Friday : Football – sports Hall – Sixth Form
After School:
Some New Clubs this half term
Monday
Cricket Nets Practice
Tuesday
Football and Hockey All Years
Year 8 Basketball Home v Middlewich High School
Wednesday
Netball All Years
SEND table cricket competition at Wirral Grammar (daytime)
U15 indoor cricket competition at SNCH
Thursday
Year 7 Boys football at Middlewich
KS3 Rugby
Friday
Run Club
A Level PE Revision
Thursday 29th Feb English & Maths Mocks commence
Thursday 29th Feb Year 13 Parent’s Evening 4.15 – 7.30pm
Monday 4th Mar PTFA Meeting 5.15 – 6.15pm
Weds 6th Mar & Thurs 7th Mar Y11 GCSE Food preparation and nutrition practical exam
Friday 15th Mar Y11 and Y12 Silver and Gold DofE training expedition departs
Monday 18th Mar Year 9 exams commence
Tuesday 26th Mar Y8 Parents Evening 4.15 – 7.30pm
Wednesday 27th Mar Whole School Mass
Thursday 28th Mar Stanley Igoe Cup (Y11 pm)
EASTER HOLIDAY 29TH MARCH – 14TH APRIL
29th – 31st March Silver 7 Gold DofE Qualifying/Training Expedition
Monday 15th Apr School Reopens
Click here for future dates
“Everyone Matters – so attendance matters”