Shwame bawb

Please click here to view my video this week - I do need to advise you that my festive jumper has made a reappearance...

Students and staff alike are all looking forward to the Christmas break, and I hope that you all have plenty of time for rest and relaxation, and to celebrate together. 

A particular note of thanks to Ms Ritter, the whole Performing and Expressive Arts team, and all students who performed so superbly for a joyous Carol Service once again yesterday evening. 

All best wishes for a very Merry Christmas to you all, and many thanks to you for your unwavering support and positivity in our shared purpose.

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

Year 12 student Ava Powell represented Wales U17s against Northern Ireland at an international match last weekend in Belfast.

Ava also had dual captain roles and fully supported her team on court as well as playing outstandingly on court.

Congratulations, Ava.

With Christmas fast approaching, the Eco-Council decided to tackle the environmental impact of the festive season by sharing ideas to help students celebrate without compromising the planet. This year, the focus is on reducing Christmas waste.

For the second year in a row, the Eco-Council were kindly given permission to decorate the school Christmas tree. We chose to ditch plastic tinsel and baubles, instead decorating the tree entirely with handmade paper crafts.

In addition, we have created a set of top tips (link below) for more environmentally friendly gift-wrapping ideas, encouraging everyone to enjoy a greener and more sustainable Christmas.

TIPS FOR CHRISTMAS

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the MCSFA Christmas Raffle last week - your support means we can continue to fund items the school would not be able to purchase otherwise.

The lucky winners were:

• Apple iPad - A Young
• Christmas Hamper - R Bailey
• Drinks Hamper - H Duffield

The next Friends meeting will be on Tuesday 20th January at The Punch House in Monmouth. All welcome – we'd be delighted to see you.

                                   Happy Christmas from MCS Friends.

Don't forget that Monmouth Comprehensive Friends Association are using easyfundraising to raise some extra funds all year - for free! We'd love you to help us by collecting free cashback donations for Monmouth Comprehensive Friends Association every time you shop online - all courtesy of the retailer you shop with.

The simplest way to do this is to install the free easyfundraising app. You can use it to shop with all of the participating 8,000+ online retailers who will give us free money and it's available for android or iOS devices. This month only, with their Free £2 App-eal, if you register to support us via their app, we'll get a bonus £2!

Please get the app now (link below) and use it for all your shopping It would make such a difference. Thank you! 

EASYFUNDRAISING

On Saturday, 13th December, the Boat Club was buzzing with festive energy as the much-anticipated Reindeer Dash took centre stage. This annual event brought together 14 spirited teams of four, split into the Reindeer and Christmas leagues. The competition was fierce, with students making up the majority of rowers, and parents and alumni joining in for some special guest appearances.

The format was as thrilling as ever: the top two teams from each league advanced to the grand final—the Golden Reindeer Race—while the rest faced off in the quirky carrot race, a test of nerves and balance where the slowest crew over 200 metres would claim victory, provided they didn’t stop rowing. This unique twist, rowing’s answer to a track stand, led to some creative tactics and plenty of laughs. The carrot race final was not without drama, as a foul led to the win being awarded by default, keeping everyone on their toes. 

The highlight of the day was, undoubtedly, the Golden Reindeer Race. The atmosphere was electric as the lead changed hands repeatedly between Teams Dasher and Vixen. With just 100 metres to go, Dasher seemed poised for victory, but in a heart-stopping finish, Vixen surged ahead at the very last stroke to snatch the title of Reindeer Dash champions!

A huge thank-you goes out to the alumni and parents for both participating and cheering from the sidelines, to the Friends for organising a fantastic spread and raffle, and to Daniel Grey, whose technical wizardry brought live commentary and visuals that truly elevated the event. The Reindeer Dash was a resounding success, filled with camaraderie, competition, and festive cheer—an unforgettable day for all involved.

As the autumn term comes to a close, and we look forward to the joy of the Christmas season, we would like to reflect on the busy and successful term we have had. Particularly, by sharing some of the heartwarming SRB Christmas concert that was held yesterday afternoon. This is always a wonderful opportunity to showcase and celebrate the many talents that our remarkable students have. It was fantastic to witness the smooth transitions between the performances, the eagerness from all to embrace the opportunities that the concert has to offer, and the smiles on the students' faces.

We had comedy sketches, drama performances, musical instruments, singing, joke telling, dancing, individual performances and whole-class performances. It was incredible to see so many of our students performing but also giving each other support, getting involved and cheering each other on. The involvement and energy from the audience was mesmerising throughout. 

The students brought their usual energy and joy, spreading the Christmas cheer. As always, they were an absolute credit to us all and we are so proud of them! 

From all of us in the Specialist Resource Base, we thank you for your continuous support and best wishes and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  We look forward to creating more magical moments and memories with our wonderful students during the spring term.

Data Manager

Teaching Assistant Level 2 - Mainstream