News from MCS

11- 14 July 2022

Monmouth Comprehensive School event tickets from TicketSource.

Dear all

Another action-packed week at MCS! A practical note to start: we have had 'summer uniform' for several weeks now, where students are not required to wear their blazer at any point during the school day. This includes when moving between lessons. We will now move to students not being required to bring their blazer to school at all for the rest of this term. Please could all students ensure that they have their lesson timetables with them, as they are often kept in a blazer pocket. We will revert to normal school uniform including blazers in September. We are also reviewing the timing and guidance around 'summer uniform' for next academic year. These decisions follow feedback from students, families and staff.

Talking of feedback, a reminder that the parent and carer survey is open and can be found by clicking this link. We welcome your views as part of our feedback and planning. The survey will be open until the end of Thursday next week. We will then write to you again regarding themes and action we will take in response.

Now is also the time of year that we also meet all students to review this year and look forward to next year. This is done via assemblies, now that we are permitted to hold them again. As was the case last year, we will gather student feedback as part of this process in order to inform our planning.

We have also had valuable discussions with students, both at student council and elsewhere, about the new Health and Wellbeing curriculum that launches in September. This curriculum comes with new time on the timetable for it to be delivered by form tutors. Directors of Learning will write to you regarding this curriculum in the new academic year.

Finally, we have welcomed Year 6 students in for their transition days this week. They have had a fantastic time getting to know each other, their teachers, other students and the school building. We are looking forward to them joining our school community in September.

All the best for an enjoyable and sunny weekend.

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

We have received communication from the community police team to be aware of, and remain vigilant to, an increasing number of community incidents associated with Nitrous Oxide cannisters commonly known as 'laughing gas' or NOS. It is important for us to pass this on to families so that you can be aware. Examples of such canisters are below. YOu may have seen these in our local community.

Wider paraphernalia linked to dispensing the contents of the NOS cannister are often referred to as 'whipped cream chargers'. These are usually brightly coloured metal containers (that unscrew to insert the cannister) with a balloon placed over the end for the gas to inflate the balloon. The inflated balloon is then removed and the contents inhaled. See below for examples.

Further information can be found on https://www.talktofrank.com/ and https://barod.cymru/where-to-get-help/service-2/gwent-n-gage/

Access Cards

If any Y13 students still have their white access cards, could they please call at school and drop them at Reception.  We can then clear them and reallocate for Sixth Form in September.

Lockers

All students will be required to remove their padlocks and empty their lockers by the end of term on Thursday 21st July.  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 along with the contents.

The Integrated Transport Unit has advised us that they are aware there is an issue affecting the bus travel smartcards issued by Gloucestershire County Council, meaning that they are marking as blocked or not correctly scanning when students are tapping on to the buses. They have informed transport operators that this issue is occurring and asked them to permit students travel whilst they are looking into the cause of the problem.

They send their apologies to any students affected by this; they have contacted their suppliers and are attempting to resolve this as quickly as possible.

‘MonLife Youth Service are running activities, events and trips for young people throughout this summer. This includes trips to Drayton Manor and Alton Towers for £10pp, an inter-town football tournament, free skate jams with prizes, community fun days, and more.

Students can stop in at the Attik (next to Monmouth library) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays after school to pick up a summer programme and letters for trips and events or speak to their youth worker.  

Alternatively, click HERE to visit the website for further information.

RISK ASSESSMENT

UNWELL PROTOCOL

VISITOR PROTOCOL