News from MCS

Annwyl pawb/Dear all

Many thanks to all who attended our Year 11 Information Evening - I hope that you found it useful to hear from key staff as this crucial year in your child's education progresses. As ever, please make contact with your child's form tutor in the first instance if you have any questions. Contact details can be found here. Please check your emails for the Information Evening presentation which was emailed home earlier today.  A Year 10 Information Evening will follow later this term.

Our weekly focus next week will be on mobile phones, and our current approach can be found here. Whilst most students follow the rule that mobile phones should be off and in a bag or locker throughout the school day (with some study-based exemptions for Sixth Form students), we are seeing an increase in the numbers of students needing to be reminded more frequently. I would rather not move to a policy of immediate confiscation, so in order to support the school and your child may I ask that you discuss their adherence to this policy. If you are interested in seeing the video that will be shown to all students on Monday, you can access it here. Many thanks for your support in this matter. 

We are also investigating what further support we can provide for families in constructively managing phone use for their child, and we will share further guidance. We also aim to run a drop-in session after school this term so that advice on apps, screen limits and levels of parental control can be shared.

Finally, as I write this, Mr Lewis has popped into my office to share a piece of work that a student has written. They are moving elsewhere in the UK and so are moving schools - today is their last day at MCS. They have written the most moving and heartfelt piece about our school community, and how much they have enjoyed their time here. It is very busy here every day, like all schools - never a quiet day! - but moments like this are incredible at shining a light on a student's individual experience here. I am grateful to everyone who works so hard to make it happen. I wish her all the best in the next step in her life (I promised I wouldn't name her...) .

All the best for a restful weekend.

Hugo Hutchison

Headteacher

Congratulations this week, following NFYFC competitions go to:

Lucy Evans (Year 13) who placed 1st in Gwent Young Farmers Junior Member of The Year 2023.

Phoebe Hodgson and Lucy Evans (Year 13)  for placing 2nd in the Brainstrust Competition.

Grace Evans (Year 9)  who placed 1st for Best Speaker in Junior Reading

Kady Harris and Grace Evans  (Year 9) who placed 1st for Junior Reading.  Kady and Grace will now go on to represent Gwent next year.

The Book Fair continues at school until Wednesday 11 October but we'd also like to remind students that we have a large number of books in our library which they are welcome to borrow at any time. 

If they have any questions, they should drop in and see Miss Barnes who will be more than happy to run through the borrowing process.

As advised by email earlier this week, ABUHB School Nursing Service will be visiting the school to offer students in Years 7 – 11 a nasal flu spray vaccine on 4^th and 5^th December.  Please note, no needles involved! 

The consent form can be completed here: https://forms.office.com/e/eyggpck0Kf

Please submit one form per child no later than 12 midnight on Thursday 30 November.  This year, once you have submitted your consent, you will receive a confirmation from the Health Board that it has been received – always useful to have as the day approaches. 

Any consent forms submitted after this time will result in your child not receiving their vaccine at school on the days above, instead your child will be moved to the ABUHB mass vaccination site list and will receive an invitation for that venue at a later date.

Should you have any difficulties accessing the above link, please contact 01633 431685 for further support.  This is also the number to use if you have any queries at all – please do not contact the school, as we are simply acting as a venue for ABUHB. 

Please note that Fluenz is a live vaccine and relevant information for immunocompromised students or families may be found by clicking on this link: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/fluvaccine/ which is the link on the consent form. This has FAQs and Eligibility criteria and a 'What if my child has a health condition' etc.

It’s very important to protect your child from flu to make sure they stay as healthy as possible, as flu is likely to circulate this winter. The best flu vaccine for most children is a nasal spray. This is the vaccine that will be given on the day. For information about flu vaccination, please visit phw.nhs.wales/fluvaccine.  

Please discuss this vaccination with your child to ensure they are aware you have (or have not) given consent. 

Finally, could we just reiterate that any consent forms submitted after 12 midnight on 30 November will result in your child not receiving their vaccine at school on the days above. 
 

The Friends Association AGM takes place on Wednesday 11th October at 7.30 pm at  The Club, Priory House, Whitecross Street, Monmouth. NP25 3BY

Everyone is welcome. We would love to see some new faces and ideas. 

We are also looking for new Chair / Vice Chair. If anyone is interested please email moncompfriends@gmail.com for more information. 
 

Please come and join us for a fabulous evening of fun!

Hello

We are the Sixth Form Wellbeing Ambassadors who are here to support and guide students at MCS.

We can be recognised by our purple badges and you will see us in and around the school.  We are normally in the atrium at break and lunch time so please come along and see us and say hello.