Newsletter 17.02.23

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

Half-Term – Ash Wednesday Lent itself begins during half-term with Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation but is a good way of beginning the season with intention. Our parishes will be distributing the ashes at services and Masses next week. The times will be in the newsletters this weekend.

Lent Charity Fundraising –

CARITAS Shrewsbury

We have now completed our assemblies to all our forms and given them the Lent challenge to think about over half-term. Each form has been asked to raise as much as it can during Lent, with a minimum challenge of £30. Part of this will go to CARITAS Shrewsbury to support their work in the diocese. This includes working with schools, families, community groups and individuals to provide practical and emotional support. Here is a link to the current Impact Report that gives details of the breadth of support that CARITAS has been able to offer, locally, over the past year.

Caritas-Impact-Report-2021-2022.pdf (caritasshrewsbury.org.uk)

Support for CARITAS International – Ukraine and Türkiye/Syria

CARITAS International is part of the Disasters Emergency Committee which is supporting the ongoing Ukraine Humanitarian Scheme. Following the dreadful earthquake that has affected so many people and communities in Türkiye and Syria, our fundraising will include support for the CARITAS agencies in those countries. CARITAS already has ‘feet on the ground’ in both countries. Here is their latest, though certainly already out of date, report on the first response Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, Caritas network launches first phase of aid – Caritas

I am sure that you agree that the work they do is invaluable, and we thank you in advance for supporting your child with their fundraising. Students will not start their fundraising activities until after the half-term, but if you would like to donate to the charity in the meantime, there will be an option on parentpay from this weekend.

Sporting Success – Annabel Hunter – Cheshire football

Annabel Hunter played for Cheshire last Friday night and the team beat Merseyside for the first time in their history. The final score was 2-1. The Secretary for Cheshire said that it was the greatest night in their history. Annabel scored both Cheshire goals.

Amazing achievement – well done Annabel!

Sporting Success – Katie Pollitt – England karate

Katie Pollitt competed at the WUKF British Open Championships last weekend at the K2 Arena in Crawley representing England. She finished 3^rd in the tournament and received a bronze medal.

Wow – what a talent. Amazing work Katie!

Library and Literacy

Reading fiction increases empathy and compassion

Multiple studies have tested the theory that reading makes us better people by increasing our empathy and compassion (Hammond, 2019). Some Universities are so convinced by the data that they have started to include literature modules in their medical degrees to encourage, “empathy, altruism, compassion, and caring toward patients” (Shapiro and Rucker 2003).

As parents, carers and teachers, we are not only responsible for the academic development of our children/students but also their emotional development. The development of empathy is vital if they are to learn to socialise successfully and create and maintain healthy relationships throughout their lives.

Every year, the empathy lab produces a list of books chosen especially for their empathy building power. We will be purchasing these titles for the library, but you can access the list here if you wish to look at the titles yourself.

Further reading on the relationship between reading and empathy

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190523-does-reading-fiction-make-us-better-people

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14534086/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4733342/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27449184/

Standardised School Year Consultation

Standardised School Year Consultation

CWAC is asking schools to share this information with parents. It will answer questions such as

Who is responsible for setting term dates?
How many days should the school be open for teaching?
Who sets a school’s INSET days?
Why are Cheshire West different to some other Local Authorities?

FAQ – Term dates for parents
FAQ – Term dates for schools
Standardised School Year – public consultation
Letter from CWaC

Alumni

At St Nicholas we are very proud of our students, past and present.
We always enjoy hearing about their future journeys and the success they achieve after studying with us.

Sophie Clare is currently working as as a singer and performer in Disneyland Paris.

“I look back at my time so fondly, and remember the great social environment that helped me make friends that I still speak to every day. I am also very grateful for the education I received here, especially due to the school musicals that gave me so much insight into professional stage life”

PTFA

Dear Parents & Carers,

Thank you to those of you who have purchased tickets for our Family Quiz evening on ParentPay. It promises to be a super evening.

If you are having a sort out at half term, why not have a pitch at our carboot fundraiser on the morning of 22nd April. ??

If you haven’t yet joined our school lottery, please think about joining. There is a winner every week. This week’s winning numbers are 595563 and one of our supporters has won £10.80

https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/st-nicholas-catholic-high-school

We hope you all have a fabulous half term.

Thank you as ever.

Your PTFA

Vacancies at St Nicholas

Teaching Assistant – Autism Provision
Permanent position – 32 hours per week – 39 weeks per year.
8.30am until 3.15pm Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri and 8.30am until 4.15pm on Wed.
Grade 6
Application deadline is 9am Monday 27 February 2023.
Click here for further details

Cleaner – before or after school
£10.50/hour (increasing to £10.60 in April)
Contact f.maccready@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk

Boys’ and Girls’ After School Sports

Monday 27th February

No clubs

Tuesday 28th February

School closed – Industrial Action

Wednesday 1st March
Netball (3:15pm-4:15pm)

U15 Cheshire Cup vs. Great Sankey (TBC)

Rugby – All Years with PE Dept (at Hartford High School): 3:15pm – 4:15pm

Thursday 2nd March

Year 13 Parent’s Evening

GCSE Practical Sports Club (3:15pm-4:15pm)

Hockey (3:15pm-4:15pm)
KS4 Rugby with DJ (3:15pm-4:15pm)

Friday 3rd March

Year 13 Revision

Music Department Co Curricular Timetable

Monday Lunch Woodwind Ensemble
Wednesday Lunch GCSE coursework
Wednesday 3.15-5pm Chamber Choir
Thursday Lunch String Ensemble
Thursday Lunch GCSE Coursework
Thursday 3.15-4.15 Orchestra
Friday Lunch “Everyone Aloud”

Lunchtime and after school clubs

Monday lunch – Year 8 Technology Club in T3
Monday lunch – Woodwind Ensemble in 1M
Monday lunch – Art Club in A1
Monday lunch – Year 7 & 8 Badminton/Table Tennis in Sports Hall (NJS/JC)
Monday lunch – Art Club in A1
Wednesday lunch – MUSIC GCSE COURSEWORK in 1M
Wednesday lunch – Dungeons and Dragons Club in B2
Wednesday lunch – week 1 – Book Club in the Library
Wednesday 3.15-5pm Chamber Choir in the Hall
Wednesday 3.15-4.15 GCSE Spanish Speaking Revision Club in L1
Wednesday lunch – Year 10 Badminton/Table Tennis in Sports Hall (MA)
Thursday lunch – String Group in 1M
Thursday 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
Thursday lunch – Year 11 Badminton/Table Tennis in Sports Hall (NJS/JC)
Friday Lunch – Easy As Pi Maths Club in M1
Friday Lunch ‘Everyone Aloud’ 1M
Friday lunch – Art Club in A2
Friday lunch- 6th Form Football in Sports Hall (NJS/MA)

Upcoming Dates

Monday 27th February – School opens
Tuesday 28th February – Industrial action – click here for details
Thursday 2nd March – Year 13 Parent and Carers’ Evening
Thursday 9th March – PTFA Family Quiz Night -7pm

Wednesday 5^th April – Easter Holidays

For future dates click here

Attendance

“Everyone matters – so attendance matters”

Facebook and Twitter

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

Newsletter 17.02.23