News from MCS

Stuart McLester, who many of you will know, retires from the Governing Body this month after a remarkable 33 years’ service to our school as a governor, including 17 years as Chair of Governors. He was awarded an MBE in 2018 for his services to education and his community. I find it difficult to express the enormous extent to which Stuart’s commitment, expert eye and fundamental sense of moral purpose has improved the lives of generations of young people at this school.

We are deeply grateful to him, and know that he will continue to be a close friend of the school in the years to come.

The Governing Body of Monmouth Comprehensive School is composed of volunteers from our community, parents, those appointed by the Local Authority, and staff. They carry out their duties to ensure that MCS continues to deliver an exceptional standard of comprehensive education for all students in our community.  Governors are a vital part of our success as a school, and we are tremendously grateful to them for their dedication.

Very best wishes for the coronation weekend.

Kind regards

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

Year 7 student Ben Hopkins-Firth started his love for rugby with Monmouth RFC, playing tag rugby from the age of six, moving to Croesyceiliog RFC at the beginning of the 22/23 season.

What Ben has achieved by the age of 12, especially in the last two school years (or U11s and now in U12s) in rugby Is quite special.

Ben also played for the Pontypool & District Schools team at the Principality Stadium in April 2022 where they won the D C Thomas Cup.

The following month, Ben played in Italy on tour with Pontypool & District Schools Rugby (Years 5/6), winning every match, winning the tournament and being capped for Wales in May 2022.  What an achievement!

As part of the U12 Croesyceiliog RFC team who were undefeated Champions of the Tiger's Challenge in Minehead, Ben and his team won seven out of seven matches, bringing home the Cup for his Club in April 2023.  They all won individual medals, the trophy and a large cup to be forwarded to their Club.

Ben's family are immensely proud of him and with very good reason.

Last Sunday, MCSBC raced its first regatta of the season.

It was an eventful day with the Club picking up three wins and losing by tight margins in other races.

Well done to first time winners, our WJ14 4X+ Emily Sanger, Jess Rogers, Amelia Charles and Niamh Hunter, coxed by Josie Asbury. Our senior squad picked up the other two wins with our J18 4+ of Elliot Lynch Warden, Lewis Edwards, Tom McNally and Tom Coates, coxed by Ffyn Parry and WJ18 1X Kate Rogers.

Notable performances were all our doubles, steering the course successfully as well as competing as doubles for the first time ever. Our W4+ were unlucky, missing out on a win by a foot whilst our J16 4x- had to re-row their final due to it being too close to call the first time around.  They sadly then missed out on a win by a canvas. Both crews will get another chance, in a couple of weeks, when they race at the next event, the Avon County Regatta.

When Izzy Young started at MCS, three and half years ago, she decided she would like to grow her hair as long as she could, to donate to The Little Princess Trust.  Izzy hopes this will allow a child to have as long a wig as they would like.

As you can see, Izzy donated over 17" of hair and is now fundraising for the Little Princess Trust, to offer further support.  Izzy's mum has set up a Justgiving page (link below), where you can find more details of the Trust and donate, if you would like to.  Thank you.

Isabelle is growing her hair...

U13 Girls Gwent Cup Champions 2023

Our U13 Girls were crowned Gwent Cup Champions to go alongside an incredible season where they also won the Newport County Cup and made it to the Welsh Cup Semi Finals.

The girls represented MCS superbly going unbeaten in the tournament winning
3-0 in the final against Caldicot. MCS played nine games in total, winning eight and drawing one in the group stage. This was an outstanding achievement from our Year 7 and 8 Girls.

A big thank you to the MCS Friends Association who raised money and bought the girls the brand-new kit which made its debut at the tournament.

Squad: Isla Davies, Lily Cornish, Myla Blatch, Elisabeth Jackson, Isabelle Hobson, Megan Jackson, Demi Littleboy, Alys Roberts, Jessica Stoddard and Captain Kacey Batty.

Newport East Schools Athletics Championships

Last week, Monmouth Comprehensive School took a squad of athletes to the Newport East Athletics Championships at Spytty Park in Newport.

A range of Year 9, 10 and 11 students competed to represent Newport East at the South East Wales Championships.

Students who finished 1^st or 2^nd in their event qualify to represent Newport East. These students are:

Junior Girls:
Sophie Flynn – Sprint Hurdles and High Jump
Ava Powell – 100m
Eva Harris – 300m
Emily Forde – 1500m
Emma Goddard – Long Jump

Junior Boys:
Sam Deighton – Sprint Hurdles
Will Chalk – 1500m
James Townsend – Long Jump
Max Rees – High Jump

Middle Girls:
Carys Yoxall – Sprint Hurdles and Shot Putt
Anya Edwards – 200m
Lily Pearce – 300m
Elsie Wright – 800m
Carmella Yeshin – 3000m
Ruby Lewis-Atwell – Discus and Triple Jump
Olivia Eaves – Long Jump
Miya-Mae Snell – High Jump

Middle Boys:
Ioan Hepburn – Sprint Hurdles
Jack Orchard – 100m
Dejourne Hillaire – 200m and Long Jump
Griff Rowe – 400m
George Mather – 800m
Gregory Young – 1500m
Ashton Morgan – 3000m
Zac Alexander – Discus
Adam Hawkins – High Jump

Well done to all students who competed and best of luck to the athletes representing Newport East at the South East Wales Championships on Tuesday.

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 Mrs Jones, Sixth Form Office, before leaving.

If, after their last day, any lockers still have 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.