Media coverage can regularly feel negative and stressful, particularly within the last couple of weeks regarding the Ukraine war, climate emergency, cost of living squeeze and the backdrop of Covid-19.
As a result, everyday thoughts, concerns or worries may be magnified by current worldwide events. If the issue or problem the student is experiencing is related to school life, here are a few reminders of how we can support students, parents and carers in navigating the issue and trying to help in addressing it supportively and finding ways to overcome the problem:
- Form Tutor: usually a first point of contact for students and families for both academic/learning queries as well as general wellbeing issues.
- Teaching Staff and Subject/Faculty Leaders: specific queries about barriers/problems that focus on a subject/progress.
- Director of Learning: can support liaison between academic and wellbeing issues where the issues may be more widespread and can impact on school attendance, academic progress and wellbeing.
- Wellbeing Team: each Year group has a designated Pastoral Support Officer (PSO) to support students who can simply touch base with them to chat something through with everyday concerns or more complex issues.
Parent/carers can contact the school by phone/email and request to speak with the specific staff above. We will always attempt to return the communication as soon as possible within the busy days we have, supporting the large school community with learning and wellbeing.
We also recognise that students sometimes find it hard to discuss the issues they experience face-to-face with staff and, sometimes, parents/carers. We have created a specific email address for students to write and share the problem; this is a student-facing support system and can be accessed by emailing Mon.Wellbeing@monmouth.schoolsedu.org.uk
Some of our external agency links have sourced some resources to signpost and share for helping children and families through such frightening events.
This link provides a helpful summary by the British Psychological Society of how to help children manage stress about war, conflict and crises.
- The Anna Freud Centre has also recommended BBC Bitesize for talking to teens about the Ukrainian invasion here.
- With the inevitable arrival of refugees within the UK, and possibly Monmouthshire, we could do well to consider how we can support their arrival. The UK Trauma Council has a range of information and resources to help improve outcomes for refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people.
If you have concerns related to school that you, as parents/carers, would like to talk about, please do not hesitate to contact the staff identified above. During a time like this it is important that we manage our responses and look after one another. Stay well and enjoy the weekend.
This year's competition is to design an animal themed red nose. Photo submissions should be emailed to Mrs Banyai by 9am, Friday 18th March - rebecca.banyai@monmouth.schoolsedu.org.uk. There will be a prize for the best nose.
Maisie was crowned Welsh Champion 2022 in the U19 Tumble and Vault competition. Maisie won the overall Individual Gold and was part of the SE Wales Gold Medal Team. 
After two years without an Eisteddfod, the Welsh Faculty and students were extremely excited to have the opportunity to hold a smaller version of the MCS Eisteddfod this year, on Thursday March 3rd. The Eisteddfod is a very important cultural event in Wales and so it was fantastic to work with students on the different competitions in the lead up to the afternoon.
Then came the final part of our Eisteddfod, the Seremoni
Cadeirio (Chairing Ceremony). Each student was asked to write a poem on the theme of ‘Hapusrwydd’ (Happiness).We received some lovely poems and the judges thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
