SCHOOL NEWS ST NICHOLAS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

12TH JANUARY 2018 ISSUE 13

HHAPPY APPY EEPIPHANY!PIPHANY!

THE JOURNEY OF THE WISE MEN or Magi is a story we all enjoy especially, perhaps because it involves presents! It is an opportunity to join in the delight of a wandering, hopeful journey that results in finding faith and God in the most unlikely of places. We also enjoy the twist at the end when the wise men outwitted Herod with the help of an

angel. Our Christmas cards may well have focused on the star which started the Magi on the journey and then guided them to the end. Our faith can seem like a star, sometimes mysterious and out of reach but always there in the darkness. The first light of the star shines at our baptism as God’s promise to guide us through life. The star of faith illuminates the ordinary events of life showing us moments of extraordinary grace – the birth of a child in your family, the first time you fall in love, the people you meet who make a big difference in your life, success in a job, becoming a grandparent, a hand reached out in help, an ear of understanding, anything creative in your life. Each of us has our own personal star guiding us – the star of prayer, love, friendship, support … the star has a different name at different times. Be grateful for your star – and be grateful that you have been a star for others. In the book of God, each of us shines brightly.

Mairie Gelling School Chaplain

Guide us, O God, and protect us kindly, as the star protected the Magi of old. Lead us to places where we can offer light to those in need. AMEN

S t Maximilian Kolbe is one of our form patron saints. His Feast Day

is on 15th August during the Summer holidays, so we remember him in School on his birthday which is the 8th January. Saint Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan Friar, who was arrested and sent to Auschwitz for hiding Jews during the Second World War. When the Nazi guards selected ten people to be starved to death in punishment, Kolbe volunteered to die in place of a stranger. The man

whose place he took was present at Kolbe’s canonisation in 1981. St Pope John Paul II declared that Kolbe should be recognised as a martyr because the Nazi regime was inherently an act of hatred against religious faith, meaning Kolbe’s death equated to martyrdom. At his canonisation, St Pope John Paul II said, “Maximilian did not die but gave his life … for his brother.”

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“No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek Truth

and to serve it when we have found it.”

FOR YEARS 8 AND 9 GIRLS

Year 8 - 1st Injection Year 9 - 2nd Injection

PLEASE NOTE that all consent forms MUST be signed and returned by

Tuesday 16th or your child will not receive their vaccination.

HPV VACCINATIONS

Tuesday 16th January

St Nicholas is introducing the basics of yoga to students! This includes asana (movement), basic breathing techniques and guided relaxation. The practice of yoga helps students build better awareness of themselves, becoming more tuned in to how they feel, noticing stress and tension when they arise within the body and the mind. It is a wonderful opportunity to allow the stresses of school life to melt away and recharge both body and mind.

Mats will be provided and students will only need to have comfortable, stretchy clothing to practice. No experience is needed but please let your teacher know of any medical conditions or injuries so she can ensure a safe practice.

DETAILS WEDNESDAY 3.30—4.30PM EVERY WEEK STARTING 17TH JANUARY 2018 until the end of term

and is available to all year groups. Cost is £3.50 a session (6 sessions to be paid in advance £21) to be paid via Parent Pay .

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please make your payment by Monday 15th January.

NEW SCHOOL GATES

The improvements to site security are now complete. The new school gates will be closed between 8.45am and 3pm each day, and VISITOR PARKING is now available adjacent to the main campus road in clearly marked ‘visitor’ spaces.

Between the hours of 8.45am and 3pm, all visitors will need to access the school site through the new pedestrian gated entrance next to the Sixth Form Centre. To gain access visitors will be required to liaise with reception through an intercom system and confirm the reasons for their visit. Once confirmed, the automated gates will allow access to reception with CCTV adding extra security for all.

YOGA CLUB

Just a reminder that the first PTFA meeting of the year will take place in School on

MONDAY 15TH JANUARY from 6 - 7pm.

TUESDAY THURSDAY LUNCH

9TH JAN WHOLE CAST Call back in the morning!

The Meek shall inherit

11TH JAN

Act 2 scripted parts and Dan, Jess L, Rosie,

Sam and Tom W

16TH JAN WHOLE CAST 18TH JAN Andrey, Seymour, Ronette, Crystal, Chiffon, Audrey II

SUNDAY 21ST JAN

WHOLE CAST MUSICAL NUMBERS

12noon - 4pm

A HUGE WELL DONE!

A huge ‘well done!’ to all the musicians and singers who performed at the Christmas Carol Concert. All ensembles took part ranging from the Concert Band to the Staff Choir as well as beautiful readings and poems, which proved to be a very fitting start to the festive season. Congratulations to the Chamber Choir who performed with a professional Orchestra, the Northern Chamber Orchestra, in Tenants Hall at Tatton on 8th December. The Choir performed a very demanding repertoire, which was accompanied by the orchestra. The Choir received rapturous applause with many giving them a standing ovation!

WHOLE SCHOOL CHOIR PRACTICE takes place on Fridays 3.15pm - 4.15pm

in the Assembly Hall. All Years 7-13 are welcome! AUDITIONS FOR CHAMBER CHOIR: Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th January at break in 1M.

LUNCHTIME - 1M LUNCHTIME - 2M AFTER SCHOOL

MONDAY Singformers

TUESDAY Flute Ensemble Year 7 Keyboard Club Concert Band Little Shop of Horrors

WEDNESDAY String Ensemble Theory Class Chamber Choir

(3.15pm – 5pm)

THURSDAY Jazz Band Year 8 Keyboard Club Little Shop of Horrors

FRIDAY Little Shop of Horrors Year 9 Keyboard Club Whole School Choir

(3.15pm – 4.15pm)

Rehearsals 2018 Term 2:1 M

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“Everyone Matters, so Attendance Matters.”

Weekly attendance update Period: 04/12/2017 to 08/12/2017

Bernadette Camara John-Paul Kolbe Romero Teresa Vincent DePaul Ward Year Total

Year 7 95.60% 98.52% 94.64% 99.26% 97.41% 97.50% 99.26% NA 97.46%

Year 8 96.21% 97.93% 99.66% 89.29% 96.55% 95.36% 94.64% NA 95.66%

Year 9 93.08% 93.08% 94.44% 90.00% 97.24% 99.64% 97.14% 98.57% 95.40%

Year 10 95.19% 97.14% 92.40% 94.64% 98.93% 97.59% 90.36% 95.83% 95.26%

Year 11 98.40% 94.00% 94.48% 98.18% 93.20% 98.00% 89.60% 92.80% 94.83%

Whole School 95.69% 96.13% 95.13% 94.27% 96.67% 97.62% 94.20% 95.73% 95.68%

Wednesday 17th January YEAR 7 RESIDENTIAL TO DEARNE VALLEY DEPARTS

Students should take their luggage to DS1 on arrival.

Friday 19th January YEAR 7 RESIDENTIAL RETURNS Approximately 4pm

Please refer to all details sent in the letter via Parent Pay.

MEETING FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Monday 15th January at 6pm In the School Hall Any questions, please contact: dofe@st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk

Tuesday 16th January

5pm - 6pm

SKI MEETING FOR PARENTS

Wednesday 17th January

3.15 pm - 4.15pm

NETBALL PRACTICE

for Years 8 to 13

Thursday 18th January

3.15 pm - 4.15pm

GIRLS FOOTBALL PRACTICE

for Years 8 to 13

Friday 19th January

After School

RUNNING CLUB

AMERICAN THEME DAY

YEARS 12 and 13 MOCK EXAMS Running between

Monday 15th January until Wednesday 24th January (inclusive)

U18 CHESHIRE CUP NEWS

The 6th Form Football Squad

have made it to the Quarter Finals

after beating Birchwood 2 - 0

Goals from

Ronan Eves, 13 Camara

and Kallam Boyle, 12 Bernadette