Shwmae bawb

It’s been another busy time at MCS this week: we have had our incoming Year 7 students in this week for their taster days, which is always a really enjoyable time for all of us. It is great to spend some more time getting to know our new students, and plenty of current students also enjoy spotting old primary school friends and siblings arriving for their taster days. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 cohort as MCS students in September.

Final rehearsals are also taking place for our lower school show, which is always a real treat. As part of the schedule, we invite local primary schools to come and see the show in a special matinée performance. I’ve caught some of the rehearsals, and the chorus is a really impressive vocal powerhouse (and at around 120 cast members, I’m told it is the biggest cast we’ve ever had for a lower school show!). Some tickets are still available – our shows generally sell out, so move quickly to get your ticket if you’ve not already done so. Details are further down in this newsletter.

Finally, an update for you about tree safety at school, following the tragic recent incident in Southend where a large tree partially fell in a public park, resulting in the death of a seven-year-old girl and critically injuring a six-year-old: we have frequent tree surveys across the school site. The last survey was undertaken last summer, and any recommended work was carried out. We have booked another survey to take place this summer, and are in frequent liaison with Heath and Safety experts at the Local Authority on all site matters such as this.

All the best for the imminent weekend,

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

William McDonald (9ARI) and Evie Andrews (7APR) were part of the Mounted Games team that, following a weekend of competition, became STRUK British U15 Champions. 

The pair, who also both represent Wales, ride for North Hereford P.C. and Monmouthshire MGA where they are trained by Iain Hopkins. 

They were part of the team that recently won the P.C. team competition at The Royal Cheshire Show and will represent Wales at the European Championships in Ireland later this month.

Congratulations to both students.

Congratulations to Lyra for coming second in the Stourbridge 14U Grade 4 Competition last Sunday.

Lyra played three matches and was on court in total for over four hours in the sweltering heat! She dug deep and won a set tie-break in the semis to go on to win.

Lyra then played a girl older than her in the final and there was some great tennis played, but sadly she couldn’t clinch the win.

Heidi Sillman, Y7, represented the U13 Gwent Regional Netball squad at the House of Sport in Cardiff last weekend, competing in a tournament against seven other Welsh regions.

Her team came 4/8 and she played with real grit and determination throughout the day. 

Heidi has really enjoyed the season with Coleg Gwent and hopes to continue next season in the Welsh Performance Pathway.

We are delighted to advise that three of our students will be receiving a bursary from The Talent Foundry - Roddy Thomson Memorial Bursary.  The Talent Foundry Programme Manager, Julia Canavan, told us

"I am pleased to let you know that we have just received approval from M&G on our recommendation for this year's recipients of the Roddy Thomson Memorial Bursary. 

A bursary of £6000 (over 3 years) will be awarded to Rebecca Green. We were extremely impressed with her application and interview.

Both Zac and Mollie were also impressive candidates and we are pleased to say that each will be awarded a bursary of £5,250."

Congratulations to all three students.

This Saturday (05/07), Mylo Smith, Noah Young and Monty Manchad from Year 7 are completing a 27-mile charity cycle from Brecon to Goytre Wharf.

The charity that they are fundraising for is Cure INAD UK – a charity that works with sufferers of the rare inherited disorder Infantile Neuro Axonal Dystrophy (INAD). Children have a life expectancy of 5-10 years. Cure INAD UK is raising money to help fund research to find a cure, and medication to improve prognosis (Cure INAD UK).

If you would like to support the boys on their epic cycle ride, the link to donate is  www.justgiving.com/page/mylo-smith-1

Last week Holly Bisson (Yr 12) was fortunate enough to be one of three UK delegates sponsored by the Rotary Club to attend the World Affairs Seminar in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She has written a few words about her experience at the seminar…

 “The main focus of the seminar was peacebuilding, and over the seven days of the seminar there were peacebuilding diplomacy simulations, panels and presentations, including from prominent guest speakers, such as Maryam Durani, who won the 2012 International Women of Courage Award.

On the last day of the seminar, I was nominated to be one of seven delegates to present to Rotarians and news reporters from across the state on my experience at the seminar, which was exciting! 

I am extremely grateful to Rotary for sponsoring me through this amazing opportunity, and I greatly appreciated my time at the seminar.”

The Friends of MCS recently received the amazing news that their bid for £4,200 through Monmouth Town Council Community Grants Scheme has been successful.

The funds will be used to create an outdoor forest classroom—a unique, inclusive space, designed to support wellbeing by taking learning and support into nature.

Nestled in a forest setting within the school grounds, this classroom will be a sanctuary for students and staff, offering a natural environment that promotes mental health, encourages physical activity, and nurtures meaningful connections.

Please note that all students will be required to remove their padlocks and empty their lockers by the end of term on Friday 18th July.  The last week of term is always exceptionally busy with Summer Learning, but it is important that students ensure that all padlocks are removed and the lockers are emptied.

As we will need to clean the lockers over the summer, ready for the start of term in September, any padlocks left on will be removed and disposed of, along with the contents of the locker.

Please remember, for September, that a padlock with a shackle diameter of 6.3mm (1/4 ‘’) is required to secure any locker.  To ensure contents are safe and secure, please do not use a diameter smaller than this as it will not secure the locker and the door will be easily opened.

Could we also ask that Parentpay accounts are kept topped up to ensure students can continue to use the Food Hall until the end of term.  Thank you.

Welsh singer/songwriter, Bronwen Lewis came into school today to sing for Year 10. She sang a collection of songs, some of her own work, some translations of well-known English songs and took requests from the students of songs they would like to hear. She also talked about how Cymraeg has opened so many doors in her career and gave advice for anyone wanting to write and perform their own music. It was such a privilege to have such a successful Welsh language artist in our school. Ardderchog!

Cardiff University trip - Pam dysgu Cymraeg?/ Why learn Welsh?

Year 10, 11 and 12 students travelled to Cardiff University on Tuesday for a day of Welsh workshops organised by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, highlighting how Cymraeg can help you in the future.

We were treated to live music by Welsh Reggae artist Aleighcia Scott, heard from Welsh learners who now use Welsh as part of their careers, including Abbie Bolitho, TV producer, Josh Morgan who has an Instagram account called ‘Sketchy Welsh’ and Nia Morais who is the current Welsh Poet for Wales.

The students responded so well to all of the activities and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Da iawn bawb!

A huge thank you from Amnesty MCS to staff and students who raised money and awareness this Refugee Week.

We held a bake sale and raised over £200, which will be split between Amnesty International and Abergavenny Town of Sanctuary.

As well as contributing to and buying delicious cakes and biscuits, students wrote messages of welcome to refugees and participated in our myth-busting questionnaire about seeking asylum. Most students were accurate in their answers, no doubt aided by the informative Refugee Week assemblies, delivered by Sarah Foster from Abergavenny Town of Sanctuary, as well as a variety of lessons across subject areas related to the topic.

For more information - https://www.amnesty.org.uk/refugees-migrants-and-asylum

Amnesty club at MCS

The Nautical Leadership Experience is an immersive 8-night residential programme designed for young people who have had little or no previous access to seagoing activities.

It’s a fantastic chance for them to try something new, adventurous, and confidence-building.

Participants will live on campus at UWC Atlantic College and take part in a range of activities, including powerboating, an overnight sailing experience, and a visit to a local lifeboat station. Through the course, they will also work towards gaining the following qualifications:

• RYA Sea Survival
• Emergency First Aid at Work
• RYA VHF Radio Licence
• RLSS Water Safety Management
• RYA Powerboat Level 2

This experience is not only an adventure, it’s a chance for young people to develop teamwork, leadership, and practical skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Please use the link below to have a look at the website and download the brochure. 

https://www.uwcatlanticexperience.com/nle

The deadline to apply is 31st August 2025 (midnight BST).

Our lower school production starts next week and there are still tickets available if you would like to attend.

Monday 7th July – Thursday 10th July 2025 Time: 6:30 p.m. (Wednesday and Thursday particularly busy)

Book your tickets on the link below and support the incredible work of our young cast and crew.

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

Monmouthshire Show takes place on Sunday 17th August 2025. The following link -  2025 Homes and Gardens Schedule, - gives details of more than 60 classes ranging from home baking and produce to handicraft and floral displays.

Liz Alford, the Homes & Gardens Secretary, advises that their junior section is open to young people up to the age of 15 years, with age-specific classes.

All classes are free to enter before Saturday 9th August online at the link above. 

The committee would welcome entries from students at MCS.

Friends of the River Wye has launched the Big Ranunculus Watch and we’d love MCS staff, students and families to take part. 

https://friendsoftheriverwye.org.uk/big-ranunculus-watch  

Do you have any photos of the Wye showing water crowfoot? If so, we'd love to see them. Please send them to us and let us know where the photo was taken, when, if you're happy for the images to be shared and if you'd like to be credited for the image - using the form from our website.  

We're also eager to track where there's ranunculus now, so we can better understand what factors may help determine its recovery. If you see ranunculus in the Wye catchment, please take a photo and let us know via the form.  

The Wye was once well known for its extensive ranunculus beds, and standing on any bridge in summer, you'd likely be greeted by a sea of small white flowers floating on the river's surface. The Wye's status as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is largely due to the presence of this keystone species, which provides a rich habitat for many freshwater species to flourish. Today such sights are rare, but we don't have the data to show just how many of the Wye's ranunculus beds have disappeared. This is why we’re seeking help from communities up and down the Wye!

Friends of the River Wye is asking everyone to share any photos they have of ranunculus from across the Wye catchment - both current and historical. We will use this data to map the presence of ranunculus through time so we can better understand if and where it is recovering or if it is still in decline. 

Thank you

Friends of the River Wye