News from MCS

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Season's greetings to you on the first day of Advent. Whilst our school Christmas tree is not yet up, I have noticed a few low-profile smaller festive embellishments around the school already - and I am happy to report that my first mince pie of the season was delicious.

Please click here for a video that sets out our thinking behind a review of our current approach to mobile phones. Your views on the matter are welcome.

As the cold snap sustains, here are some reminders of how students can ensure they stay warm throughout the day:

- A t-shirt or vest underneath a school shirt is recommended.

- School jumpers are recommended in this weather. Non-uniform jumpers or hoodies are not permitted, and students will be required to remove them.

- Repeated wearing of non-uniform items in school may lead to their confiscation.

- A coat is also recommended. We permit students to wear coats in the atrium and open spaces, as due to the open nature of the building design it can be a little colder in these areas when the temperatures plummet. Coats must be removed before entering a classroom.

I hope that this provides a helpful reminder. All the best for a restful weekend.

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

Any parents and carers visiting the school for meetings with members of staff after the end of the school day should access the school from the front entrance as normal.

Students leaving school after school clubs will be able to leave via the rear doors as they are programmed to allow students to exit through these doors.

This week, our debating teams participated in the Rotary Youth Speaks competition against Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls. Both senior and intermediate teams were successful, each winning first place in their category. They now go on to the district final in Maisemore, Gloucester, on 24^th February 2024.

The intermediate team – Constance Wigg, Maya Thomas and Alice Gardner-Roberts – spoke on the topic of the twenty miles per hour speed limit in Wales, while the senior team – Ruby Parkes, Tilly Parkes and Lucy Edmunds – debated the primacy of the environment as a global priority. The judges praised the students’ togetherness as teams, their sense of humour and engagement with the audience.

There was stiff competition, particularly in the senior round: the boys’ team spoke eloquently on the subject of the importance of globalisation, and for a nail-biting moment we thought they might steal the crown. However, in the end, the Monmouth Comprehensive School team had it. Both teams were thrilled at the outcome.

This term, all Year 10 students have been working in teams to develop innovative ways to support the wellbeing of young people as part of their Enterprise and Employability Challenge. 

On Thursday, they pitched their ideas to our Year 8 students during their Market Stall event.  This allowed Year 10 to gather feedback to inform further improvements to their plans.  Ideas shared ranged from healthy eating tips to fitness routines and mindfulness apps.

Once again, we are asking for donations for The Wallich in Newport, working in partnership with Newport Lions Club. 

Each Year Group is asked to bring in certain items as detailed on the poster below and Form Tutors will be discussing this with students during Registration this week. 

If you feel you are able to donate any of these items, we would be very grateful. Thank you.

Draw closes 12 December, 2023

The 2024 Upper School Production takes place at MCS with performances as follows:

Wednesday 31st January - 7 pm
Thursday 1st February - 7pm
Friday 2nd February - 7pm (filling up)
Saturday 3rd February - 2 pm and 7 pm (Saturday night - only 28 tickets left)

Tickets for this must-see Upper School production are now on sale at www.ticketsource.co.uk 

General Admission - £12
Students/Children - £9
OAPs - £9

Local Transport Plan - Have your say
 

MCC has launched a public consultation on our Local Transport Plan, which will shape our vision and ambition for transport in and around our County.

With a focus on creating a sustainable, integrated and accessible transport network, MCC is seeking your views on its proposed vision, objectives and strategic framework for the future development of Monmouthshire's transport network.  The Local Transport Plan will also inform the emerging replacement Local Development Plan and Regional Transport Plan, which is being developed by the Cardiiff Capital Region.

To view the proposals and provide your feedback, visit the online exhibition here:

MCC Local Transport Plan

We are keen to hear all the voices of our community and urge everyone to share their thoughts and feedback, which will be used to inform the final Local Transport Plan .

The consultation closes at 23:59 on Friday 15 December, 2023.

Foster Wales Monmouthshire

There are children in Monmouthshire who desperately need foster families. Every child deserves to grow up in a loving family environment, but some children are in children’s homes because there aren’t enough foster carers. Could you help?  Please click on the link below for more information.

👉 https://bit.ly/3SCWWd3

Health Board Launches Free Health Services Guide for Gwent Ahead of Busy Winter Period  

ABUHB are proud to introduce the 'Gwent Health Guide’ - a new online tool designed to assist the residents of Gwent in navigating the complexities of the local healthcare system.      

With Winter fast approaching, the web tool, which is accessible through the Health Board's website, aims to empower individuals in finding the right health and wellbeing services for themselves, their family members, and loved ones.  

The new guide was developed in response to concerns expressed by local people about the challenges they face in knowing where to seek medical help from NHS services. By ensuring that local residents can access the appropriate healthcare services promptly, the free, comprehensive ‘Gwent Health Guide’ aims to take some of the pressure off local NHS services and improve patient experience.  

The online resource offers advice on where to go for a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns in the Gwent area, from life-threatening illnesses and injuries, to mental health difficulties and minor ailments. Easy to use and accessible 24/7, the tool is available in both English and Welsh, as well as offering an option to translate its contents into more than 100 languages via the ReciteMe assistive toolbar.  

For more information and to access the 'Gwent Health Guide,' please visit https://abuhb.nhs.wales/hospitals/gwent-health-guide/