News from MCS

Annwyl pawb

I spent a good portion of Monday as an attendee at the Head Student 2024-25 interviews, which are run by the current Head Student team, and what a pleasure it was. The shortlisted candidates were a hugely impressive set of individuals who spoke eloquently, advocated strongly for causes they are passionate about and painted an inspirational picture of their vision for next year. Many congratulations to Florence Hills, Archie Barrell, Molly Pittaway and Saffron Jarvis for being appointed to the team for next year – a superb group of student leaders who will no doubt go on to do great things both next year at MCS and beyond in the wider world.

These are vital leadership roles in our school. As well as being advocates for, and representatives of, the whole student body, the Head Students at MCS represent the School at events such as Open Evenings and Awards Evenings, giving speeches to hundreds of visitors. They chair all Year Councils and the School Council. They organise the enduringly popular extravaganza that is Monmouth’s Got Talent. They connect with our Town Council, County Council and others to represent student views and advocate for causes. They are invited to attend Governor meetings. They take part in decision-making in all areas of school life. It really is no mean feat, especially alongside the academic demands of Year 13. Our current Head Student team of Matthew Keenan, Phoebe Hodgson, Edie Geddes-Bell and Sam North have been a ‘vintage year’ – not only carrying out all of these duties above brilliantly but doing so with resilience, good humour and collaboration. I am also delighted to have left them with the conundrum of which of them was the ‘wild card’ pick when we appointed them a year ago…

Finally, it seems to have become a bit of a habit for me to comment on the weather in these messages – a particularly British thing to do. So: the days are lengthening, and we are all getting more sunshine in our lives, just at this crucial stage of preparation in so many of our students’ educational journey. I hope that the change in weather puts an extra spring in their step as they progress towards the examinations.

Cofion cynnes

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

Welsh National Opera

Year 7 student Laurence Regan has been cast in the role of Gherardino in Puccini’s ‘Il Trittico’ (a solo in Italian!)

Laurence is also a member of the children’s choir in their forthcoming productions (when he is not Gherardino).

As well as the Millennium Centre, WNO will tour a few venues in England over the summer and autumn period.

Emma Goddard, Caelah Morgan & Ruby Arnott are heading off to Florida next week to compete in the Summit World Junior All Star Cheerleading Championships. 

Over 1000 teams will be competing from over 40 countries.  The girls will be representing Gymfinty in Tredegar who are the only club from Wales to make it through to this stage.  

This is the pinnacle of their season, they have been working unbelievably hard preparing for this training 3/4 times a week!

Good luck girls, we hope you have a successful competition.

After starting his new hobby last November, on 9^th April, Year 9 student, Matthew Bullen, who attends Cinderford Tae Kwon-Do with his mum Louise, dad Rob, and sister Tehya-Rose, took his first Colour Belt Grading.

Mr Ken Penman, Instructor at Cinderford TKD, is hugely proud to announce that Matthew and all the Bullens passed their Gradings.  He said, “Matthew is an incredible, inspirational young man, and a joy to know and teach, and we look forward to taking him through his Tae Kwon-Do journey.” 

Well done, Matthew - good luck with your future Gradings.

Please use the links below to access the latest menus in the Food Hall and the Summer Extracurricular Schedule.

MENUS APRIL 2024

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Welsh Water have supplied the following information/links which may be of interest to you during the closure of Monnow Street.  We understand pedestrian access will be maintained throughout this period.
 

**Monnow Street Update – April 2024***

From the 23^rd April until the end of May, you will see one of our teams working between the junction of Nailer’s Lane/Monnow Street to the junction of Monnow Street/Agincourt Street. We will be installing the brand-new water pipe in the carriageway, which means a road closure will be in place at this location.

Motorists will be able to travel up as far as the junction of Nailers Lane/Monnow Street. Temporary traffic management will be in place where the closure starts, and we will be assisting on site to direct motorists in the town.

We’re kindly asking that during this time that parking spaces along the street be kept free for deliveries and turning traffic.

We will continue to work with businesses during this time to make sure deliveries are made.

Discussions have been carried out with the local authority regarding transport and emergency vehicles during our time of work.

Residents may experience some disruption to their water supply when we connect their property onto the new water pipe. Prior notice will be given.

Here is the link to our ‘In your area’ page that will have all updated information on around the ongoing work in the area - https://www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/in-your-area

Please click HERE for the Welsh Water community letter.

If anyone has any concerns or queries, please contact our communications inbox – community@dwrcymru.com

We are delighted to introduce you to the recently selected Student Leadership Team who will take us through the 2024/25 academic year.

Archie Barrell, Florence Hills, Molly Pittaway and Saffron Jarvis.

We will shortly be bidding a fond farewell to the current Student Leadership Team - Matthew Keenan, Phoebe Hodgson, Edie Geddes-Bell and Sam North - and we would like to thank them for all the hard work they have put into their roles this year and wish them good luck wherever life takes them after MCS.

Helping my Child Stay Safe Online

Online spaces, games and media offer young people platforms to connect with others and to learn. At Monmouth Comprehensive School, students will be working across a number of digital platforms both in and out of the classroom, which can, of course, present risks. These include:

• Exposure to inappropriate content

• Sharing too much personal information

• Connecting with harmful people

• Spending unhealthy amounts of time online

One of the best ways to help young people stay safe online is to talk to them about what they do. If you understand the situations they encounter you are better placed to offer them advice on how to deal with them. This Hwb resource contains a series of helpful guides to develop your own understanding and education resources you can use with your children to teach them about the importance of safe and responsible use of technology.

Online workshop for Parents and Carers

Register for our Free Online Webinar: 'Parenting in a Digital World: Promoting Safety, Wellbeing, and Resilience for Children and Young People' taking place online on the 25th of April 2024 - 5.15pm to 6.30pm  

Many thanks to all the Year 7s who have entered this term's 6-aside competition.

Over 80 Year 7 students have put their names forward, which is a fantastic response. This week saw the teams in Group 1 playing the first set of fixtures. There was some quality football on show and the League Table after the first round can be seen below.