News from MCS

Blwyddyn newydd dda, pawb/Happy new year, everyone.

I hope that you had an enjoyable Christmas break, despite the unreasonably appalling weather at times. Students and staff alike have returned to the new term with renewed vigour and vitality - it is incredible to see what a period of rest does to recharge and renew us all.

It was a particularly rapid start for Year 11, who sat GCSE English on the second day of term and who are now undertaking science practical exams and other assessments. Well done to all of them for their efforts. This term is far shorter than the autumn term, and so at times the pace of deadlines, exams and events feels very rapid indeed. The exam information events for Year 10 and Year 11 we have held have been helpful, I hope, but do please ask if you have any further questions.

We would appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes to complete our latest parent and carer survey - please click here. Your feedback helps us continue to improve. We strive to do our best in all aspects of school life, but we don't always get it right, and feedback from you (whether positive or negative) is an important part of our school improvement plans. Thank you for taking the time to contribute.

Finally, you will see further down this newsletter that a few tickets to Les Misérables remain. Wednesday has the best remaining availability, but most shows are almost sold out, so please do buy now rather than later. I have managed to hear a few snippets of the rehearsals, and I can tell you from that preview that it is going to be an exceptional production that you really will not want to miss. 

All the best for the weekend,

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

A reminder that there will be a meeting for parents of Year 11 students attending the Paris trip in February on Monday 15th January at 5.30pm in the School Hall. Students are also welcome to attend if they wish.

Please access the building from the rear entrance of the school - you may park in the staff car park or bus bay.  Please remember to bring your child's passport along to the meeting.

Thursday 18th January

5-7pm with presentations at 5pm and 6pm

We are delighted to welcome Year 11 students and parents to our open evening to experience the range of learning opportunities we provide at MCS post-16.  Our twenty-first century learning environment and recent developments in technology support our sixth form students with acquiring the skills, knowledge and aptitudes for future learning and life-long success.

Please visit as many areas as you wish on this evening and enquire about courses, approaches to learning and extra-curricular activities.

We hope you will find this a useful and informative evening in planning for your child’s next pathway. We are a school that has the very highest expectations and are determined to do the best we can for every student to achieve their potential.

5pm – 5.20pm - Presentation in the School Hall by senior staff and the Head Student Team.

5pm – 7pm - Parents and students are invited to visit Faculties, see displays, experiments, view work and talk to staff and students about subjects and courses available.

6pm – 6.20pm - Another opportunity to see the presentation in the School Hall.

Please click HERE to visit our Sixth Form Admission page on our website.

Discover for yourself a Sixth Form recognised nationally for producing excellent outcomes over many years, performing consistently around the top 10% of Sixth Forms across the UK.

What is RYLA?

It is, quite simply, a life-changing five days in the life of any young person. Students from different backgrounds are put together in groups to experience not only learning new activities, but also teaching these activities. They learn the skills of working and living together in groups. They learn how to help each other, communicate and solve problems. They are taken out of their comfort zones and put in situations they would probably not otherwise find themselves in.  Click HERE for more information.

RYLA offers the opportunity to young people aged 16 or 17 at the time of their course (Year 11 and Year 12) to:

· Develop team-working skills

· Explore leadership through leading a team and being led.

· Develop greater personal confidence

· Try out new and challenging activities.

· Learn about the Rotary family and what it offers individuals and communities

Please click HERE for the RYLA Leadership Programme 2024

Rotary Monmouth will sponsor up to two students to attend this summer course at Storey Arms.   The full programme of events may be found by clicking HERE.

To download an application form, please click HERE.  All applications should be handed in at School Reception no later than Monday 19th February.

Anticipation builds as our Upper School production moves closer - there's still time to purchase your ticket. 

Please don't miss out - once they're gone, they're gone and these productions are always superb.
 

Wednesday 31st January - 7 pm (good availability)
Thursday 1st February - 7pm (15 tickets available)
Friday 2nd February - 7pm (8 tickets available
Saturday 3rd February - 2 pm (21 tickets available)
Saturday 3rd February - 7 pm (3 tickets available)

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

As part of their GCSE Year 10 Built Environment course, students must  understand and follow all Health & Safety aspects of construction including wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Today, they were fully kitted out to ensure their full understanding of safety in a construction workplace.
 

Wednesday 7^th February 6-8pm

This annual event is designed to support young people and their parents or guardians to find information and make contacts that will help young people make informed choices about their post-16 and post-18 pathways. We have over 100 employers, education institutions, apprenticeship and training providers coming to MCS and this is the biggest event of this type in the region.

The Fair will prove extremely useful to students from a variety of year groups:

Year 9 and 10: Will be considering their Year 10 subject choices and their pathway after GCSEs.  By talking to career professionals, further education and university representatives, Year 9 and 10 students and parents can get subject advice relevant to their future goals.

Year 11: Will soon be deciding whether to stay on at school in the Sixth Form, go to college, undertake training or enter into employment. The Fair will help their research with all of these pathways so they can develop a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C for next year.

Year 12 and 13: Will soon be considering, or in the process of applying for their University or career choices. The Fair will help with both.

We are extremely grateful to the many individuals who have given their time freely, and in many cases travelled long distances, in order to represent their career, college or university. Please do talk to them to find out what they do, how they got where they are and what advice they can offer.

As a Health Board, we want inclusivity to run through all aspects of the work we deliver for the people of Gwent. It is important to us that we engage with all potential service users and stakeholders, and further to the email we sent last week we would like to remind you of the current engagement opportunity, so that you can consider the information and share your views. 

For more information please visit: https://abuhb.nhs.wales/about-us/engagement/public-engagement-consultation/current-opportunities/draft-sep/

To ensure that we are able to take all potential views and concerns into account, we kindly ask that you contact us via any of the means outlined in the briefing paper at any time during the engagement period which is scheduled to end at 5.00pm on Friday 16th February 2024.

There is also an opportunity to join an online session at the times listed below:

• Thursday 18th January 2024 between 16:00 – 17:00
• Tuesday 6th February 2024 between 09:00 – 10:00

Please contact us by e-mail with any comments (or register if you would like to join one of the on-line sessions above) at abb.edi@wales.nhs.uk

Your feedback on our draft objectives will help to further develop our proposed plan and support in the development of an associated action plan that will be published in March 2024.