News from MCS

17/12/21

Image of school Christmas tree

Many congratulations to all of our Christmas Raffle winners, who are now the beneficiaries of some fantastic prizes (Bridges Monmouth were delighted to receive the second prize food hamper for their elderly groups, donated by a kind prizewinner).  Thank you also to everyone for supporting the school by participating in the raffle. Additionally, particular thanks to our redoubtable MCS Friends group, who as ever are wonderful supporters of students and staff at school as well as our wider school community.

This week, the Charity Committee has been busy organising and sorting the donations for the Homeless Christmas Collection. The team has sorted everything into gift bags to be delivered to local homeless shelters in and around Newport by Mr Hampshire and the Newport Lions Club.  These gift bags include toiletries, socks, hats, scarves, gloves, biscuits and colouring books and pens. They have also created bags specifically of tea, coffee and biscuits, which will also be delivered to shelters. These donations will have a huge impact this Christmas, and we would like to thank everyone that has donated items.

Families will have seen my separate communication about the start of next term, with all students now returning on Thursday 6th January. It continues to be a very fluid situation for all of us, and we as a school are also required to respond to any further updates that emerge from Welsh Government over the Christmas break. We will continue to communicate these to you as quickly as possible, and to plan for a continuation of learning and wellbeing provision. 

In the meantime, I wish all of you a restful, restorative and peaceful Christmas break. Many thanks to you all for your support, to all MCS staff for their professionalism and fortitude, and to all of our students for their resolution and endeavour through a challenging term. Nadolig Llawen!


Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

International Languages at MCS

The Faculty of International Languages is producing a video in partnership with Sanako, a language software company, demonstrating the innovative ways it can be used to develop student independence and confidence in language learning.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Faculty to show how the software is developing skills in languages and we will share details of how to view the video next year.

MCS Carol Service

Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our virtual Carol Service 2021. The parish committee of St Mary’s Priory kindly allowed us to continue to use the Church and conduct our service even when our plans for audiences were sadly halted due to the pandemic. We thank all of our wonderful students for their hard work and dedication after a year away from full ensembles effectively due to bubbles. We are so pleased that we were able to allow our students to take part in a full concert this year, albeit it to a small group of staff of MCS. The process and experience of preparing and performing was all there for our students which is the most important thing. We hope you enjoy this film together as families to begin your Christmas Festivities. Nadolig Llawen!

Carol Service 2021
 

Mrs Ritter

Wellbeing

I would like to sincerely wish everybody in our school community a well-deserved and enjoyable Christmas break. I hope you are able to celebrate and feel you have had the break you need. Whatever, wherever and which way you choose to spend the break, may it be a truly happy one for you.

It is also an important time to consider our own wellbeing whilst still trying to bring a little magic to others.

If you are finding it is more of a struggle than you had hoped, please follow this link for some Christmas wellbeing tips https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/christmas-and-mental-health/christmas-coping-tips/ 

D Williams
Assistant Headteacher

Love Monmouth, Hate Litter

This week a group of our school prefects handed out Love Monmouth Hate Litter’s (LMHL) logo to local businesses to raise awareness of the issue of litter in town. The idea was suggested by the school and discussed with the ‘Monmouth Town Council Litter Working Group’. This follows on from a competition to raise awareness of littering within our school.

After a quick photo shoot, and a good luck from the Town Council and Litter Group, the prefects visited local businesses, handing out the logos, to put in their shop windows. We are all extremely pleased with the results and the response from the businesses. We were also delighted that the Mayor wrote a letter to all businesses supporting our campaign.

MCS looks forward to continuing to work alongside the LMHL group.

Rowan Wilde - Head Boy

School Production - Grease

Grease production rehearsals have been flying along this term. Students have been working so well and so quickly to cover the whole script and all musical numbers/choreography before we break for Christmas. Here are some snaps of our rehearsals so far. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for regularly updates.  

Rehearsals

The show will run from Wednesday 26th January to Saturday 29th January with nightly shows at 7 pm together with a Saturday matinee at 2 pm. Attendance numbers are limited due to Covid restrictions and risk assessments.

There are still tickets available (although limited for certain shows) by visiting:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/monmouth-comprehensive-school

Winter Fuel Payments

We have been asked by Monmouthshire County Council to advise families of the new Winter Fuel Payment Scheme which has been introduced by Welsh Government.  They are trying to ensure that the details of the scheme are made available to as many people as possible in order to maximise take up and in particular to reach as many vulnerable families with children. 

Please click HERE for further details.

Lateral Flow Test Kits

If students, who have parental consent, require further Lateral Flow Test kits, they will be able to obtain them from their Form Tutor from their first day back in school.

A Week in Pictures


School Absence Line

Reporting an absence

Please note that the direct number to report your child's absence is 01600 775284.  Please note this is an answerphone which is available 24/7 for you to leave a message.

Covid Protocols

RISK ASSESSMENT - DECEMBER 2021

UNWELL PROTOCOL - DECEMBER 2021

STUDENT PROTOCOL - DECEMBER 2021

VISITOR PROTOCOL - DECEMBER 2021

Dates to Remember

TERM ENDS
All Day
17
December
BANK HOLIDAY
All Day
03
January
Staff Preparation Day
All Day
04
January
Staff Preparation Day
All Day
05
January
Students Return to School
All Day
06
January
Y10 English Lit Exam
until 11:30am
11
January
Careers & Higher Education Fair (CHEF)
All Day
12
January
Y8 Parents' Evening
3:30am – 6:30pm
13
January

Website: www.monmouthcomprehensive.org.uk | Twitter: @LearnWithMCS