Newsletter 18.11.2024 – St Nicholas Catholic High School

A prayer to share

Prayer for Anti-bullying Week
Reflect on how you can make a difference in growing respect,
kindness and compassion across our school

Loving God,
We come together this week with open hearts,
asking for your guidance in
building a school filled with kindness and respect.
Help us to see each other’s worth,
to stand up for what’s right,
and to show courage when others are hurting.
May we choose compassion over cruelty,
lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down.
Grant us strength to speak out against bullying and to create a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and loved.

Amen.

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

This week we have been able to put into action our Catholic Social Teaching theme for the half-term. We are thinking about the principle of the ‘Dignity of the Human Person’, is the inspiration for a just and compassionate world.

Let’s end poverty

Our Sixth Form students have been looking at the ‘Let’s end poverty’ campaign being organised by Church Action on Poverty. After considering some of the recent statistics around poverty in the UK, they have completed postcard appeals which will be sent to Parliament as part of their campaign. It has been sobering to discover how people are affected in our own community and hopefully we will be encouraged to try to make a difference where we can.

Teams4U Shoebox Appeal

I was delighted to have the challenge of loading 80 packed shoeboxes into my car this week so that they can start their onward journey to Eastern Europe. I’m sure that many children will be surprised and pleased to open their boxes of goodies in a few weeks time. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the boxes and postage costs. Also to the Student Ambassadors who led the project over the past few weeks.

Northwich Schools’ Chess Competition

On Saturday, 50 players from 10 teams representing schools (and 1 junior chess club) from across the county came together to battle it out in the chess event of the year! Each team of 5 ranked their players from board 1 to board 5 who play a game against the corresponding board from another team. The total score across the 5 games determines the winner of the match.

The team spirit was phenomenal, as was the quality of chess. Each player started with 10 minutes on the clock with a 5 second increment for every move, so there was time to slow down and calculate the best moves, but some thrilling ‘time scrambles’ as players ran short of time.

St Nicholas entered two teams: a Sixth Form team made up of five year 12 students, and a High School team with players from year 7, 10 and 11.

The Sixth Form team started strong. After 3 rounds they were top of the table with wins against Hartford B, Northwich Knights and Northwich Bishops, but their streak ended when they met eventual champions Lymm High in round 4, and further losses against Weaverham and then against our own St Nick’s High School team saw them slide to 3 wins out of 6 and 6^th place overall.

There were notable performances from veteran Finn Scott on board 5 who won 5 out of his 6 games, and rookie John Yeates who won 4 out of 6 playing on board 3.

The High School team, saw off the Grange Senior team in round 1, but losses against Lymm High and Hartford A saw them sitting near the bottom of the table. However, they rallied to win their last 3 matches against Northwich Bishops, Grange Junior and St Nick’s Sixth Form to finish on 4 out of 6. Tie break rules meant St Nick’s High School team finished joint second with The Grange Senior team.

Special shout out goes to Harry Cope (year 10) finishing on 4 wins out of 6 on board 2, and to Hugo Shum (year 11) who had a perfect 6 wins out of 6 record on board 4.

Teams:

St Nick’s Sixth Form (all year 12)

Isaac Dixon

Harry Mitchell

John Yeates

Cameron Giles

Finn Scott

Teams:

St Nick’s High School

Joe Smith Y11

Harry Cope Y10

Colin Hung Y7

Hugo Shum Y11

Ed Bishop Y11

Sixth Form Applications

Thank you to all of the students who have already completed their Sixth Form Applications. However, just as a reminder our Sixth Form Applications close to St Nicholas students on the 1^st December. The application should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete, please click on this link which will take you to the application page on our website:

https://st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk/applications/

Please contact Mr Bradley with any questions t.bradley@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk

Make-a-Wish

Before half term our lovely Sixth Formers dressed up for the day. They raised £159.53 towards Make-A-Wish foundation.

Music News

Music – dates for the diary

Year 11 and Year 13 Recital Evening 27^th November 6.30pm

Christmas at Tatton (Choir) 13th December Matinee and evening performances.

SNCHS Christmas Carol Concert- WEDNESDAY 18^th December.

Library and Literacy

New National Literacy Trust Social Media Campaign Flips the Concept of Content Warnings

WARNING sticker for Reading for Pleasure campaign with coral background

According to new research published by the National Literacy Trust (NLT), children and young people’s enjoyment of reading has fallen to the lowest level in almost two decades over the past year.

A survey of more than 76,000 UK children and young people revealed that only one in three (35%) eight to 18-year-olds say they enjoy reading in their free time. This is the lowest level since records began and is a percentage point drop of around 9% in the past 12 months alone (43%).

The NLT research found that the reading enjoyment crisis is particularly impacting boys and young people in secondary school. According to the research, the gender gap in children and young people’s reading enjoyment nearly tripled in the last year (from 5% to 12%), with fewer than three in 10 (28%) boys now saying they enjoy reading in their free time, compared with four in 10 (41%) girls.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “With children and young people’s enjoyment of reading at an all-time low, and high numbers leaving primary and secondary school without the reading skills they need to thrive, the futures of a generation are being put at risk. The research revealed that when children and young people enjoy reading in their free time, their reading skills, aptitude for learning, wellbeing, empathy and confidence benefit.”

“So many families, schools, libraries, charities, publishers, businesses and more are already inspiring children’s reading in such diverse and innovative ways. But to truly make reading for pleasure a national priority, we are urging the government to form a reading taskforce and action plan with multi-sector partners—amplifying our collective reach and influence, strengthening our impact and reimagining solutions to this complex crisis”.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstones Children’s Laureate, said: “As Waterstones Children’s Laureate, I want to do everything in my power to get reading as a right for all into the national conversation. We know that children who read for pleasure, and children who are read to, gain all kinds of benefits. From increased vocabulary to vastly improved mental wellbeing. But today’s survey shows that too often as a nation we are withholding those benefits from our children”.

How to get involved

Check out the hashtag #growagenerationofreaders on social media to see the type of content being created. Then get creative and make your own post with a children’s or YA book issued with your own “warning”. We’ll be doing our bit here in the Library but here are some examples to inspire you.

PTFA News!

Unfortunately, we did not have a quorum for what was intended to be our AGM on 4th November, therefore the AGM will now take place on 16th December at 5.15 pm in school and is only expected to last 15 minutes.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Christmas Raffle

We have got some amazing prizes lined up for the Christmas Raffle.

Get the tickets on ParentPay at £1 per ticket. Thank you very much to those of you who have already bought tickets.

Prizes

1 week EuroCamp Holiday

A Fabulous Fortnum & Mason Hamper (worth £165)

A Full Car Service by DC Lomas in Winsford

A 7 Day Brio Leisure Pass
Kismet in Hartford £20 voucher

A Meta Quest Reality Head Set

A Beauty Box

Thank you,

Your PTFA

PTFA Lottery

Please consider joining our school lottery if you’ve not already done so to help raise funds for school.

This week’s jackpot winning numbers are:
155235

445808

Two of our supporters won £18. 30 in the draw! 😀 🎉

If you haven’t signed up yet please visit our lottery here – https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/st-nicholas-catholic-high-school

Thank you. 😁

Vacancies at St Nicholas

Teaching Assistant

25 hours/week – 39 weeks/year
Apply by: 9 am Monday 25 November 2024

Click here for further details

Administrator

25-35 hours/week – 39 weeks/year
Apply by: 9 am Monday 25 November 2024

Click here for further details

Community Notices

Art Club at Sandiway Library

Age 11-16

Hartford Christmas Light up

23 November

PLANNING YOUR FUTURE
Two events offering information and advice to support young people with SEND (0-25yrs) and their families.

PLANNING YOUR FUTURE
Two events offering information and advice to support
young people with SEND (0-25yrs) and their families.

After school PE

Week commencing 18^th November

Fixtures :

Monday:

Tuesday : Years 10 & 11 Netball v Knutsford (Home)
GCSE Practical night
Wednesday : Year 10 Netball Cransley (Home)
Years 8&9 Netball CHS Leftwich (Away )

Thursday :
PESSCO: Y5/6 Basketball
U13 & U15 Cricket Hartford HS A 3-5pm
Year 10 Football vs. Weaverham (Away) 3:30pm kick off – JC

Clubs:
Tuesday– All Years Table Tennis
Wednesday– All Years Netball and All Years Rugby
Thursday– All Years Football
Friday– All Years Run Club & Sixth Form Fitness/Gym

Music Co-Curricular

Week commencing 11th November

Lunchtime

Monday Choir – tenors & Keyboard Club 2M
Tuesday Year 7 Choir & Year 10 Band
Wednesday Woodwind ensemble 1M & Altos sectional 2M
Thursday String Ensemble & Year 7 Band & Y10 band
Friday Year 10 Band

After School
Monday
Tuesday Shrek the Musical
Wednesday Choir 3.15-5pm
Thursday Orchestra 3.15-4.15pm

Lunchtime Clubs

Monday
Art KS4 in A2
History Musical Mondays – watching Hamilton – H1
Chess Club and Rubik’s club in M5
Y7 & Y8 Code club in C2
Tuesday:
Computer Science Revision in C2
Wednesday
KS3 Art club in A1
Thursday
Art club KS4 in A1
Friday
Easy as Pi club (maths)
Year 9 -11 Science Club Week 1
Year 7 and 8 Science Club Week 2
School Production Rehearsal – Drama Studio

After School Clubs

Tuesday : School Production Rehearsals 3.15 – 4.45
Wednesday Dungeons and Dragons
Wednesday Art Club in A2 all years 3.15-4.15
Thursday KS4 / 5 Spanish Film Club

Attendance

Everyone Matters – so Attendance Matters

Upcoming dates

Mon 18^th Nov – Art Mocks
Tue 19^th Nov – Art mocks
Thurs 21st Nov – immunisations
Mon 25^th Nov – Advent Charity assemblies
Tue 26th Nov – Year 9 Parents’ evening 4:15 – 7:30pm
Fri 29^th Nov – INSET day
Thurs 5^th Dec – Year 9 options evening 5 – 6:30pm
Fri 13^th Dec – Year 11 Mock results day
Mon 16^th Dec – Year 9 Curriculum choice deadline
Wed 18^th Dec – Christmas carol concert 6:30pm
Fri 20^th Dec – SCHOOL CLOSES – 12:30pm
Mon 6^th Jan – Inset day
Tue 7^th Jan – SCHOOL REOPENS

Click here for further dates

Click here to download 2024-25 Holiday Dates

Click here to download 2025-26 Holiday Dates