News from MCS

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It’s been all systems go this week, with staff training followed by induction for Year 7 and Year 12, then the return of all students. It is great to welcome everyone back! After all the planning and preparation that goes on in the months prior to a new school year, it really is fantastic to see school life up and running again after the summer break.

Many thanks to all of you for everything you’ve done to ensure your child returned to school ready to learn. Having the right equipment and uniform is a vital part of everyday success at school, and it has been fantastic to see our optimistic, ambitious and well-organised students start their new school year so well. You will recall that we changed uniform supplier recently, resulting in significantly cheaper uniform, and that we changed some policy details such as skirts and PE kit. I am aware that for some parents there have been some delays with delivery, and I apologise for that on behalf of the suppliers. If your child needs any support from us with regards uniform, they can access the Ready To Learn room or speak to their form tutor. We are happy to help.

Finally, I am very sorry to let you know that one of our colleagues in the food hall, Melissa Kitt, passed away unexpectedly just before the start of term. As well as being a superb member of the catering team, Melissa was, of course, a parent at MCS. She was also a great support to MCS Friends in catered events. She was always so positive, kind and welcoming to our students, and she will be much missed by all of us.

All the best for the weekend ahead.

Cofion cynnes,

Hugo Hutchison
Prifathro/Headteacher

Ben Hopkins-Firth has been playing up a year for East Wales U14's Rugby League Origin Program. 

Ben was presented with his Cap for East Wales at The Gnoll, Neath after a 22-22 draw against West Wales.

Congratulations, Ben.

Arianne Allford took part in the South West skating festival over the summer break and achieved a fantastic four medals:

Silver in solo dance
Gold in duo freedance with a routine to Chicago choreographed by her and her teammate
Gold in duo/trio teams
Gold in super teams, where she performed in a couples dance for the first time.

Once again, she has done herself, her team and her family proud.

Well done, Arianne.

Congratulations to Holly Bisson, Year 12, who was accepted into the Harvard University Pre-College program this summer.

While at Harvard, Holly completed an intensive course on climate change along with other college classes.

What a fabulous opportunity, Holly.

Ava Powell, Year 11, represented Wales in netball in The School Games National finals at Loughborough University. This is an amazing event where children of school age compete in many sports, including Netball, Cycling ,Hockey, Basketball, Modern Pentathlon and Athletics.

It’s an opportunity for elite sports people to come together for what can only be described as a mini-Olympics.  With the opening ceremony on the Thursday it was a fantastic opportunity for 1500 athletes to get together and represent their country in their respective sports.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday was all about competing and representing your country.

Wales had the opportunity to play netball against all super league franchises as well as playing against Scotland.

Wales fought hard over the weekend and were rewarded with a 39-22 win over Scotland.

This was a fantastic opportunity for the Wales U15 netball team and her family are so proud of Ava for playing outstanding netball all weekend, in the defensive end.

Well done, Ava.

Max Swayne played numerous tournaments over the summer and came away with many successes.

He played in the Shrewsbury Grade 3 Regional 16U competition and came 2^nd. He won an 18U Grade 4 singles competition at Llanelli. Max also played the grass court tournament at Penpergym near Abergavenny and came runner-up in the Adult Mixed Doubles with his partner, Megan. He won the 16U singles Grade 3 competition at Burnham-On-Sea. Max and his partner Corin came 2^nd in the Grade 3 18U doubles at the Glamorgan Open and also came 2^nd at the Welsh Championships held in Cardiff in the 16U Grade 3 Doubles, and 2^nd in the 18U mixed doubles with Caitlin.

To top this all off, Max had the opportunity to compete at The Road to Wimbledon 18U Doubles with his partner Tomas at Wimbledon!

Congratulations, Max, on your summer success!

Please remember that an automatic maximum daily spend of £5 is allocated to each student's account, and that different individual limits can be set by contacting Mrs Jenkins in the Finance Department (jennifer.jenkins@monmouth.schoolsedu.org.uk), who will be happy to set the limit you require.  Please remind your child of their daily limit, which includes purchases of food and drink.

Good value may be found by using the £1.80 Meal Deal options which comprise:

• Hot Meal including all accompaniments, and a piece of fruit or cookie or jelly OR
   
• Simple sandwich, and a piece of fruit or cookie or jelly, and 500ml water OR
   
• Simple baguette, and a piece of fruit or cookie or jelly, and 500ml water OR
   
•  Jacket Potato (one filling), and a piece of fruit or cookie or jelly, and 500ml water  OR

• Pasta (one sauce), and a piece of fruit or cookie or jelly, and 500ml water OR
   
• Cheese pizza, and a piece of fruit or cookie or jelly, and 500ml water

To help your child have a positive experience in our Food Hall.

If your child regularly uses the Food Hall, please can you ensure that there is always a positive balance on the account.

To help you with this, you can set your own email alert for a low dinner money balance by following the instructions below:

1. Navigate to Communication - Alert Settings

2. You are presented with each of the available alert notification options that you can now select by ticking the email alert and clicking the Save button at the bottom of the screen.

• Balance Alerts: for school meals, you are able to set a ‘threshold' amount. Once your balance drops below this value, you will receive an alert by email. Please note we do not use text alerts.

Please help your child maintain a balance on a lunch account as non-payment for school meals affects the quality of service we are able to offer and results in embarrassment at the tills for the student. If you think you are entitled to Free School Meals please visit the Monmouthshire County Council website to check your entitlement by clicking on the following link:

https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/home/counciltaxandbenefits/fsm/

Full details of the menus may be found on our website, by clicking HERE.  On this page you will also find a price list.

Sixth Form ties have now reached the Monkhouse warehouse.  The company is prioritising satisfying existing orders, the first of which have already been dispatched.

Once you have received your tie, would you please return the plain navy tie you were loaned to the Sixth Form Office.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Psychological Wellbeing in School Communities Team are holding four evening workshops to give parents of secondary aged children some ideas about how to support their children’s emotional wellbeing. They're open invitation workshops to all parents and run from 6-7pm on Wednesdays via MSTeams.   The date links below will take you through to the MSTeams link on the day of the workshop.

• 2nd October: Supporting Your Child's Emotional Wellbeing
   
• 16th October: Understanding Teenage Brains and Behaviour
   
• 30th October: Supporting Your Child with Anxiety
   
• 13th November: Supporting Your Child with Low Mood and Self-esteem