Shwmae bawb - welcome to the penultimate newsletter of this academic year. Click here to view my video.

Many congratulations to all involved in the lower school production of 13 Jr. this week. You can read more details further down this newsletter of what was a remarkable production once again, with a record 132 students on stage and many more involved in lighting, sound, backstage and front of house too. A real team effort.

We are marking the end of our school year with a range of activities next week.  On Tuesday, Year 7 and 8 will be celebrating Welsh culture with our annual Eisteddfod.  Athletics Sports Days will see tutor groups competing against each other in a range of disciplines, with Years 9 and 10 on Wednesday and Years 7 and 8 on Thursday.  Most students across Years 7 to 10 will also be taking part in well-deserved rewards trips.  On Wednesday, Year 7 are enjoying Minions at the cinema and Year 8 are bowling and shopping at Cribbs Causeway.  On Thursday,  Year 9 are wildlife spotting at the West Midland Safari Park and Year 10 are testing their nerves at Drayton Manor Theme Park.  Students not taking part in these trips have a schedule of activities in school including team building, table tennis tournaments, movie make-up and boxercise.  On Friday morning, students will spend time with their form group celebrating their school year and taking part in Year Group Rewards Assemblies before leaving for their Summer break at 12.55pm.

The weather continues to be warm next week so this is the uniform plan:

Monday to Thursday: if in school, wear PE kit (or summer uniform if preferred). If on a Reward Trip, wear appropriate non-uniform.

Friday: we will have a non-uniform day, in order to raise money for two charities - 21 Plus, being supported by Mr Owen (more details below of his remarkable planned run) and Blood Cancer UK, being supported by Mr Jenkins (we'll report on the 'Relics in Relics' trip next week). We will put donation links on Parent Pay, and students can also donate cash on the day itself. 

All students should come prepared for all outdoor activities with appropriate clothing and footwear, lots of water, sunscreen and a hat. There is also an as yet unconfirmed report that there will be an ice-cream van on site on the final day of the academic year...

All best wishes to you for the weekend ahead, and thank you for your support of our school.

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

Mr Owen’s Dragon 100-Mile Coastal Ultra Marathon – Raising Money for 21 Plus

On Saturday 18th July, Mr Owen will take on the incredible challenge of running 100 miles along the Welsh Coast Path, from Rhossili Bay to Cardiff Bay. This remarkable physical—and mental!—challenge is in aid of two charities that have made a significant difference to both Mr Owen’s family and the families of many current and former MCS students.

One of these charities is 21 Plus, a wonderful local organisation established and now run by the mums of former MCS students Dylan Hughes, Amelie Barker and Dylan Williams. The charity supports Mr Owen’s own daughter, Rosie, as well as many current and former MCS students, through specialist speech and language development. They also provide invaluable training and support for our school and local feeder primary schools, helping to ensure children with Down Syndrome have the very best possible opportunities to thrive.

If you are able to make a donation, no matter how big or small, Mr Owen would be incredibly grateful. Every contribution will help support these amazing charities and provide extra encouragement as he takes on this extraordinary challenge.

Thank you very much for your generosity and support.

To donate, please visit: Mr Owen's GoFundMe page

Please note that all students will be required to remove their padlocks and empty their lockers by the end of term at 1 pm on Friday 17th July.  The last week of term is always exceptionally busy with activities/trips, 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.

There's still time to enter our Summer Raffle with a chance of winning an iPad amongst other great prizes.

Please purchase on Parentpay or use the QR Code below.

The Friends of MCS are delighted to announce that Bridges Community Shop in Monmouth are our official partners for the resale of second-hand uniform.

The Friends and Bridges both get 50% of the proceeds, making it a win-win for each organisation.

Bridges have plenty of stock, and will do so over the summer, so get along there and grab a good quality blazer, jumper or PE kit ready to be re-loved. 

Monmouth Comprehensive School Alumni Shine at Henley Royal Regatta

Although Monmouth Comprehensive School Boat Club did not have crews entered at Henley Royal Regatta this year, the school’s rowing alumni made their presence felt across one of the sport’s most prestigious events.

From coaching roles to university and club competition, former students were involved throughout the regatta, demonstrating the continuing strength and reach of rowing at Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Alumnus David Newman was among those contributing off the water, coaching a crew in the Fawley Challenge Cup, while a number of former Monmouth Comprehensive School rowers represented clubs and universities on the Henley course.

Two alumni reached finals in their respective events. Violet Holbrow Brooksbank, rowing for the University of Washington, was part of the crew that contested the Island Challenge Cup final against Brown University. Washington led for much of the race before Brown produced a late surge to win by half a length in a dramatic finish.

There was triumph for Tom Powell in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, where his Imperial College London coxed four faced Newcastle University in the final. After falling behind to the pre-race favourites, Imperial found a relentless rhythm before the Barrier, edged ahead and held their lead to win by one length. For Tom’s father, Jamie Powell, Chair of Friends of Monmouth School Rowing, it was a memorable weekend of travelling between Henley and Monmouth, capped by seeing his son win a first Henley medal.

The performances provided an inspiring reminder of the talent and commitment developed through rowing at Monmouth Comprehensive School. Alumni, current pupils and supporters can watch race replays through Henley Royal Regatta’s official online channels.

Midsummer Regatta Celebrates Club Spirit at Monmouth Comprehensive School Boat Club

Monmouth Comprehensive School Boat Club enjoyed a fantastic day of racing on 4 July as members came together for the club’s annual Midsummer Regatta. Held in bright sunshine with a light holding breeze, the internal event brought together rowers from across the club for a friendly but competitive afternoon on the water.

Nine mixed crews of comparable ability, each named after events at Henley Royal Regatta, raced over a 400-metre side-by-side sprint course. The format began with three preliminary races, with crews then progressing into tiered finals so that every boat had the opportunity to race again, compete for a win, and demonstrate their skills.

The preliminary races produced close contests across the field. In Race 1, Fawley took first place ahead of Wyfold, with Stonor finishing third. Race 2 was won by Grand, followed by Temple in second and Elizabeth in third. In Race 3, Goblets crossed the line first, with Diamonds second and Albert third.

As a final flourish, the regatta concluded with three finals that reflected the day’s racing ladder: Tier 3, the bottom final, was won by Elizabeth, with Albert second and Stonor third; Tier 2, the second final, saw Temple take first place ahead of Diamonds in second and Wyfold in third; and Tier 1, the Grand Final, was won by Goblets, followed by Fawley in second and Grand in third.

After the racing concluded, the Club gathered to present its internal awards, recognising the effort, progress and contribution of rowers from across Monmouth Comprehensive School Boat Club. The day ended in a fitting spirit of celebration and gratitude, with thanks is extended to all the parents and volunteers whose generous support, time and encouragement helped make the regatta such a success.

We're currently preparing a funding application to Sport Wales to help make rowing more accessible to all young people at Monmouth Comprehensive School. The funding would help remove some of the financial barriers to participation, supporting both our current rowers and encouraging more students to take up the sport in the future.

The more responses we receive, the stronger our evidence will be, so we'd really appreciate as many students as possible taking a couple of minutes to complete it, using the link below – whether they've rowed before or not.

Monmouth Comprehensive School Boat Club – Student Participation Survey form – Fill out form

Many thanks for your continued support. It really does make a difference.

The new GCSE Fashion and Textiles students (Nens) have been developing their skills by learning to use new machinery and techniques while making products for a charitable cause: the Dress a Girl Around the World initiative by Hope 4 Women International. Through this project, students have made dresses and shorts which are sent to communities living in poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Thank you so much for your generous donations to this project. Your support means that we can continue to participate in this worthwhile initiative for many years to come.

13 The Musical – A Week to Remember

This week, our Year 7–9 cast of 130 students took to the stage for an outstanding production of 13 The Musical, performing to four sell-out audiences. The cast demonstrated incredible energy, commitment and talent, delivering performances full of humour, heart and confidence.

A particular highlight of the week was Wednesday morning's special performance for local primary schools and our Specialist Resource Base (SRB). More than 100 young people attended, and the joy and excitement in the theatre created a truly magical atmosphere. It was a performance that our cast, staff and the students in the audience will remember for years to come.

Throughout the week, our students showcased exceptional acting, singing and choreography, demonstrating professionalism, teamwork and enthusiasm in every performance. They should be incredibly proud of everything they have achieved.

A huge thank you goes to our dedicated staff, backstage crew, front-of-house team and families for their unwavering support in making the production such a memorable success.

Free pizza events this July

Transition Monmouth will be holding two pizza giveaway events at St James’ Community Hall, Wyesham. The free pizza will be available 20th and 27th July, 12pm-2pm, and accompanied by boxed fruit juices, while stocks last. When available there will be cups of fruit and salad from the Monmouth Community Fridge.

The event is open to all - families, friends and individuals are welcome. Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult. So, whether you are looking for a quick bite, or simply want to connect with your community, come and grab a free pizza – we look forward to seeing you there!