Annwyl pawb

The flooding across our community from last Sunday onwards meant that the start of the week was pretty awful for all of us, and I made the decision to close the school to students and staff on Monday, after advice. When we accessed the site, it was a relief to see that the building itself was almost entirely unaffected, although there was some flooding on the netball courts and other outside areas. Every time there are floods, I am really grateful for the forethought of planners to build our wonderful building on the highest part of the site. I know other schools have been affected more significantly, in particular Osbaston, and I know also that a large number of families have been directly affected by flooding into or around their homes. Our sympathies go out to everyone affected – please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help.

Whilst on the subject of gratitude for people’s work in a moment of crisis, I’d also like to say thank you to the MCC operations teams (some of whom are parents at our school, or relatives of staff) for their incredible work in getting roads, landslides and floods under control after the flooding. I am sure that it took a monumental effort, and that effort ensured we were able to open fully again on Tuesday, after exceptional work again as well by our own site team here.

Very best wishes to you for the weekend ahead of us.

Cofion cynnes,

Hugo Hutchison
Prifathro/Headteacher

For the first time ever, members from the MCS ski team competed at the British Schools Ski Championships in Llandudno last weekend. Qualification for the championships was earned by Rufus Hiscox Y9, Tomos Bisson Y9 and Holly Bisson Y12 via the Welsh Schools Ski Championships in October. 

If there are any MCS pupils out there who enjoy skiing and would be willing to give dry-slope skiing a go, then please get in contact, via Mrs Baker at the school, since the regional South East Wales heats will be taking place in the spring, and would be an ideal place for new team members to start.

You do not have to be super good or super fast to take part - just to enjoy skiing!

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the procedures in place for safe drop offs and pickups at the school.

The front entrance to the School is for students to arrive safely on foot.  As you will be aware, pedestrian access from Old Dixton Road and the Burgage is limited with some areas having little or no pavement for students to use.   Student safety is compromised when cars are pulling in, turning and dropping off students.  The amount of cars doing this also poses a problem for our neighbours as they try to leave their properties and, even more importantly, blocks the road should emergency vehicles need to gain access.

At the start of the day, the safe ‘drop-off’ point for students arriving by car is at the rear of the School in the car park accessed via the Dixton Road.  Please use the drop-off zone (the vehicle to pavement area on the left) and then exit the school site.   Please do not park in the parking bays to drop off your child/children.  If you need to park and come into School, please use the visitor car park located adjacent to the Leisure Centre, off the Old Dixton Road and report to Reception on arrival.

Students can be safely collected from the car park at the end of the school day from 3.20pm, once home to school transport vehicles have exited.

Students cycling to school can lock and leave their bicycles in the bike racks by the visitor’s carpark.

Your ongoing co-operation is appreciated.

The festive season is here, and we have some wonderful news! 🎄 Did you know that you can support Monmouth Comprehensive Friends Association every time you shop for Christmas gifts online? We've partnered with Easyfundraising – an amazing platform that lets you raise free donations with every purchase you made. 

With over 8000 participating retailers, you can do everything from your Christmas food shop at Tesco, to booking holiday plans with Booking.com, ordering festive takeaways with JUSTEAT, and more!

Here’s a special holiday bonus: for the next two weeks, every supporter who signs up to support Monmouth Comprehensive Friends Association through Easyfundraising will trigger a bonus donation for us.  If 100 people sign up before Christmas, we will receive £100 to support the school.

It only takes a few minutes to join. Spread the joy this Christmas and help us make a difference! Sign up here:

EASYFUNDRAISING - MCS

or scan the QR code below, where you will be able to choose MCS Friends as your ‘cause’.  Thank you.

The MCS Friends would like to thank all the parents who have donated and/or bought second-hand uniform from the Magic Cottage since September. 

We receive 50% of sales and it all goes to help enhance our children's school experience, through added equipment and activities the school budget cannot extend to.

As winter is upon us, there is a particular need for jumpers, PE tracksuits and long sleeve PE tops as well as the constant demand for ties!

We'd be very grateful if you could drop items into school, at Reception.

The Summer 2024 exam certificates have arrived and are available for collection by students who left us in July.  Students still in school will have received their certificates during Form period.

If your son/daughter left us in July 2024, they can come to School Reception to collect them or, if they are sending someone in to collect on their behalf, they will need to supply them with a note/text to grant permission.  If a sibling is still in school here, as long as they have written permission to collect, they can sign for them at Reception and take them home.

Following on from securing a wonderful second place finish in the local Wyedean Rally, Graham Elsmore brought the Nik Elsmore driven Mitsubushi Evolution 9 rally car into school last week.  As well as students being able to look closely at the technology of a modern rally car, they were also able to talk to Graham, the “King of the Dean” himself, having won the Wyedean Rally on three consecutive occasions.

Graham was able to share his rallying experiences, discussing the changes in safety, engine and suspension technology and his own career as a works rally driver for Ford, British Leyland, Toyota and Vauxhall. 

Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 Engineering students were thrilled to have the opportunity to see the rally car and talk with Mr Elsmore about how it works. Seeing some of the modern, high performance materials that they have researched and learned about in class actually being used gave them a fantastic chance to show how much they already know while also gaining an understanding of how useful these sophisticated materials are in the real world. Many of the engineers came away feeling like they knew and understood more than they previously thought and could see and describe how problems in the rally car were overcome with engineering ingenuity.

Product Design and Textiles students also had the opportunity to look around the car, with Mr Elsmore talking them through the safety features of not only the rally car but also fire-proof materials in the race suit, the strength of safety harnesses and how technology developments in foams to ergonomically fit the cars’ occupants have advanced the safety and comfort of the sport, allowing drivers to race longer and with less risk. Some handy inspiration for the GCSE non-examined assessment context of reducing risk!