Shwmae bawb

We bade a fond farewell to Year 11 and Year 13 today - we wish them all the best in their future endeavours. You can view my video this week by clicking here. 

All the very best for the sunny Bank Holiday weekend and half-term break.

Best wishes

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

Lockers

As we are fast approaching the date when Year 11 and Year 13 students will finish at MCS, could we please ask that if students use a locker at school, they ensure the lock is removed and the locker is clear and clean before leaving on their last day.

Year 13 should also return their access cards to the Sixth Form Office before leaving.

If, after the last day of term, any lockers still have their locks on them, they will be removed and the contents disposed of in preparation for the new Academic year.  This ensures all lockers can be cleaned before students start the September term.

All Year Groups will be expected to remove padlocks and empty lockers before the last day of term in July.

Y11/Y13 Lunch Accounts

Could you please ensure that Year 11 and Year 13 students have a positive balance for the remainder of the term and throughout the exam period.

If your child no longer uses the Food Hall, and they have an overdrawn balance, please arrange to settle this account either via ParentPay or by sending cash into Reception in an envelope with their name and form marked clearly.

The Food Hall staff will update their system to clear their overdrawn balance, which will result in you no longer receiving overdue balance reminders through ParentPay.

Please be aware that students in Year11/13 will not be permitted to go overdrawn or any further overdrawn during the summer term.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Finance Office.

The RNLI’s 2026 Float to Live campaign launched this week, as we approach the half-term break.

This advice is useful to everyone, however you use the water. It has helped save the lives of more than 50 people in all sorts of situations. From children in rip currents to runners falling into canals, from people swept out by waves, to fisherman falling overboard.

The core campaign message remains simple and practical: if you find yourself struggling in the water, Float to Live. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and try to control your breathing, move your hands and legs if needed, and remember that it’s OK if your legs sink — we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

More information may be found on the RNLI website:

https://rnli.org/safety/float

MCS still holds a number of exam certificates dating back to 2017.  If you know of any leavers from 2017 to 2025 who think they might not have collected their certificates, the school would be delighted to hear from them and make arrangements for the certificates to be collected. 

Students should ring 01600 775177 and the school will be able to confirm whether they have been collected or they are still awaiting collection. 

These certificates are often a crucial part of a student’s further education/work portfolio (and are costly to replace) and the school would be more than pleased to ensure they are safely in the right hands. 

Tickets are selling well for our 4-day production of 13Jr in July - especially for the final night.

A true coming-of-age musical, 13 JR. is made especially for adolescents with a universal message about friendship and being true to yourself.

Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, pre-teen New York City life and dropped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents' divorce.   Evan grapples with his parents' divorce, prepares for his impending Bar Mitzvah, and navigates the complicated social circles of a new school.

Tickets are available from :  www.ticketsource.com/monmouth-comprehensive-school or by using the QR code below.

Careers Wales will be running a series of online evenings for parents and carers, offering them the opportunity to discuss your child’s future with a qualified careers adviser. Our advisers provide personalised guidance on career choices, available options, and how best to support learners in making informed decisions about their next steps. 

Each session will consist of a 20-minute appointment via Microsoft Teams and will be available between 17:00 and 19:00. The first online parent/carer evening will be held on 3 June for parents and carers of children in Year 10 which you can book here.

Appointments are likely to be in high demand and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Autism Family Support Service (AFSS)  is a service delivered in partnership with the Bridges Centre. Our mission is to provide essential support and guidance to families who have a child diagnosed with autism, awaiting assessment or who are currently seeking support around neurodiversity.

Who Can Access the Service?

The service is available to any parent or carer living in Monmouthshire who cares for a child who is, or may be, autistic. It is important to note that a formal diagnosis is not required to access our service; we welcome self-referrals from any family concerned about their child’s development.

What We Offer

Once registered, a member of our team will conduct an initial call to discuss your specific needs, followed by a meeting to explore available support, which includes:

• Parent/Carer Support: Sharing resources, strategies for managing specific behaviors, and guidance through the diagnostic process.
• Monthly Coffee & Chat Sessions: Providing a space for peer support and lived experience advice.
• Training Workshops: Focused on practical skills, coping stratergies and understanding.
• Newsletters: Keeping families updated on local news and resources.
• Private Facebook Group: A secure community for peer support and discussion.
• Information on Events: Access to Monmouthshire Parent Carer Events.

Service Scope & Signposting

To ensure families receive the most appropriate care, we wish to clarify the scope of our provision. Autism Family Support is NOT a counselling service, and we do not provide clinical therapy or mental health treatment. Furthermore, we do not diagnose autism or submit formal applications for diagnosis.

However, we are committed to ensuring families find the right help. If a family requires therapeutic intervention or clinical services, we provide active signposting to relevant professional services and organisations better suited to meet those specific needs.

Contact Us

For general inquiries or to register for support, please feel free to reach out via the following channels:

• Email: autismfamilysupportservice@bridgescentre.org.uk
• Facebook: Find us on Facebook for updates and community news.

We are dedicated to being a supportive bridge for families navigating the complexities of autism and look forward to assisting those in our community.

For more details, please visit the Dance Blast website

https://www.dance-blast.org/