Newsletter 21.01.22

Message from our Chaplain Mairie

Year 7 Residential

It has been a great pleasure to be with Year 7 on their residential. We have been very blessed with the weather and the beautiful surroundings of the Whitelakes centre. Our students have excelled themselves with a willingness to get involved and to ‘have a go’. Our Sacred Space reflection each evening has given us a chance to reflect on the day and how much we have learned about ourselves and each other. It has also given Year 7 a chance to get to know each other better on a social basis and may be the start of some new and long-lasting friendships. Our appreciation to all the staff at Whitelakes for making us feel so welcome and to all the staff involved in the trip.

View at Whitelakes

Mission Statement Our Mission Statement is around twenty years old now and we are taking the opportunity to revisit the wording and intention for the St Nicholas Catholic High School and Sixth Form of today. We have been reflecting on this with staff and students, including the student competition over Christmas. We are putting together a working party to look at the Mission Statement and would like to invite parents to be part of this. This would involve two or three meeting over the rest of the school year. If you would like to be involved please email me at m.gelling@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk .

Duke of Edinburgh Award 2021-2022

This academic year, we will be running the Bronze and Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards for pupils of St. Nicholas Catholic High School. The Bronze award will be open for pupils in Years 9 and 10, and the Gold award will be open for all sixth form pupils in Year 12. Letters have been sent out on ParentPay with all the information that you will need.

The DofE is a great chance for your child to broaden their horizons, discover new interests and talents, have fun with friends, develop essential skills for their future and achieve an internationally renowned Award.

The following dates have been booked for the expeditions:

Bronze Training Day: Saturday 10^th September 2022, at St Nicholas Catholic High School

Bronze Training Walk: Sunday 11^th September 2022, Delamere

Bronze Qualifying Expedition: Saturday 1^st October – Sunday 2^nd October 2022, Cheshire

Gold Training Expedition: Tuesday 19^th April 2022 – Thursday 21^st April 2022, Peak District

Gold Qualifying Expedition: Thursday 2^nd June 2022 – Sunday 5^th June 2022, Snowdonia

If you would like your child to take part in either Award, the reply slip and non-refundable deposit need to be returned and paid by Monday 31st January 2022.

If you have any questions, please feel free to speak to or email Miss Forsey at l.forsey@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk

If you would like some further information,
please look at the Duke of Edinburgh award website following this link- https://www.dofe.org/run/what/

Coats

A reminder that appropriate coats can of course be worn and full details of school uniform requirements are available via our school website.

Please can you ensure that coats are clearly labelled where possible to avoid them ending up in Lost Property.

Thank you.

Parent Focus Evening

On 2^nd February we are holding a Parent Focus Evening on Assessment at St Nicholas Catholic High School. This will involve a short presentation from Mr. Spencer outlining our current process at Key Stage 3. There are some proposed changes and an opportunity to feedback. This will take place virtually, if you would like to attend please e-mail admin@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk and a link will be sent nearer the time.

Cheshire School’s Book Award

We are looking for students to take part in The Cheshire School’s Book Award. The Cheshire School’s Book Award takes place every year. Students from schools across Cheshire read and review a selection of books from British authors and select a winner from each category. All participating students get the opportunity to attend the Award ceremony later in the year. Depending upon Covid restrictions, students could get the chance to meet the authors and have their books signed.

We have one copy of each book in the library. Any students who wish to take part can sign up in the library.

Parent Carer Forum

Dear Parent or Carer,

Here at the Parent Carer Forum, we are a group of volunteer parents and carers in Cheshire West
and Chester who have children and young people with Special Educational Needs and / or
a Disability (SEND), working in partnership with professionals.

We would really appreciate your time in completing a survey we have devised, your input is invaluable.
If you have more than one child it would be really helpful if you could complete a survey
for each child with SEND.

This is your chance to share your views on how the local authority meets the needs
of children and young people (from birth to 25 years old) with special educational needs
and disabilities and their families.

Click Here to complete

The survey closes on 31st January 2022.

COVID UPDATE

You may be aware that the rules regarding isolating have changed again with effect from 17^th January. People who have tested positive for Covid will have the option to reduce their isolation period now after 5 full days if they test negative with a LFD test on both day 5 & 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if the test is negative on the morning of day 5 & 6, students can return to school. If the result of either test is positive, people should continue to self-isolate until they a get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed the standard 10 full days whichever is earliest.

Furthermore, the guidance issued by the Government below on Wednesday, states that students are no longer required to wear face coverings in classrooms – however, they may choose to do so if they wish.

“All plan B measures will be removed in England, with a full return to plan A from 27^th January. From Thursday 20^th January, the wearing of face coverings is no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors in classrooms. From Thursday 27^th January, face coverings are no longer advised to be worn in communal areas of school. The wearing of face coverings outside of school, including on public and school transport, should continue, as per the wider advice on face coverings.’

Girls’ After School Sports

Monday 24th January:
Year 7/8 Total Sport Club in Sports Hall (3:15-4:15pm)
Tuesday 25th January:
Girls’ football (3:15-4:05pm)
Wednesday 26th January:

Girls’ Rugby (3:15-4:05pm)
Thursday 27th January:
Girls’ Netball (3:15-4:05pm)
Friday 28th January:
Run Club (3:15-4:00pm)

Boys’ After School Sports

Monday 24th January:
Year 7/8 Total Sport Club in Sports Hall (3:15-4:15pm)
Tuesday 25th January:
Year 7 Rugby Training with MA (3:15-4:05pm)
Wednesday 26th January:

Year 8 Football Training with AW (3:15-4:05pm)
Year 10 Basketball Fixture vs. Hartford High School (Away) with MA (3:15-4:30pm)
Thursday 27th 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 28th 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. No need to book – just turn up.
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.

Vacancies at St Nicholas’

Teacher of English

This is an exciting time for us as we look to further strengthen our English department here at St Nicholas. We are an excellent Catholic school with a fantastic reputation for the very highest of standards, outstanding students who are eager to learn and exceptional staff who walk the ‘extra mile’ to ensure that every student in our care lives life and lives it to the full.

We are looking to appoint a Teacher of English with a passion and vision for learning and teaching in English across all Key Stages – a highly effective practitioner who will make a difference by inspiring a love of learning in their students. The successful candidate will join a forward thinking and forward looking department who are keen to build upon the many successes within the school’s external inspection reports from both the Diocese and Ofsted.

https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/teacher-of-english-cheshire-west-and-chester-1555085?preview=1

Learning Mentor – Grade 7

Are you a caring, enthusiastic and hardworking individual who is looking for a challenging and rewarding role as a Learning Mentor?

As a Learning Mentor at St Nicholas Catholic High School, you will support students to maximise their academic potential through a range of emotional, behavioural and pastoral support strategies.

The successful candidate will work with a team of staff that undertakes a wide range of pastoral responsibilities within the school: Working 1 to 1 with students and liaising with outside agencies, supporting teaching and learning by making referrals and supporting students with barriers to learning.

https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/learning-mentor-grade-7-cheshire-west-and-chester-1555113?preview=1

Upcoming Dates

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”

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Newsletter 21.01.22