REMEMBRANCE 100

Across the country, there have been special commemorations of the hundred year anniversary of the end of World War One. In St Nicholas’, we spent the week in a number of activities across the school that reminded us of the sacrifices made at that time, particularly by members of our own families. The assemblies, led by the History department, remembered the many unknown soldiers. The English department and our own daily prayers included the poems of the renowned war poet Wilfrid Owen. Lunchtime football challenges took their team names from the local regiments. The Art department created a collage of poppies across an ominous grey battleground and RE covered their poppies with prayers. Two silent crosses marked a moment in time in the busy bustle of school life. On Remembrance Sunday, many of our students represented their cadet and scout groups at the services across Cheshire. St Nicholas’ itself was represented at the Northwich Cenotaph. Last Thursday, more students attended a service at the Memorial Orchard in Weaverham. The centre point of our show of respect happened on Friday when the whole school observed the Two Minute Silence, as a community, on the main yard. The silence was brought to a close by the playing of The Last Post by a Year 7 student. With the hope that one day we will all truly know peace in the world and in our own lives.

This poem was written by a Year 9 student after the Two Minute Silence

The men who fought on those battlefields

Through the days and night Through constant sound of gun fire

Without no thought of fright The screams of the injured

The fears of the brave Our thoughts are forever with you now

Written on your grave

MAIRIE GELLING, CHAPLAIN

SCHOOL NEWS ST NICHOLAS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

16TH NOVEMBER 2018 ISSUE 9—2018/19

Parent & Carer Feedback

Key Dates for 2018-19 Thank you for your feedback on our new school website which has been extremely positive. We have updated the website with the 'Key Dates' as suggested - this can be found via the Information/Further Information/Key Dates. The Holiday dates for the year can now be found there alongside other key events throughout the year. Enrichment Activities A booklet containing our extensive and inclusive range of enrichment activities and trips for each Key Stage can be found on our website via Information/Everyone Matters/Enrichment & Extra Curricular. Following a number of suggestions we are also currently compiling a list of clubs and activities that take place at lunchtimes and after school. We will publish this soon.

“Everyone Matters, so Attendance Matters.”

Period: 5.11.18—9.11.18 Weekly attendance Weekly attendance Weekly attendance

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

Year 7 96 99 97 99 98 100 98 97 96

Year 8 96 98 95 98 100 93 96 96

Year 9 93 96 98 99 97 100 98 93

Year 10 96 98 97 94 95 97 100 94 95

Year 11 95 100 100 98 97 100 93 98 97

Whole School 95 98 97 97 97 97 98 94 95

*Data includes 96% of students in each form.

LUNCHTIME

1M

LUNCHTIME

2M

AFTER SCHOOL

1M/Assembly Hall

MONDAY

SINGFORMERS

SISTER ACT GRADE 5 Theory

TUESDAY

Flute Ensemble

(Grade 3 upwards)

SISTER ACT SISTER ACT

WEDNESDAY

String Ensemble

SISTER ACT CHOIR

DRUM SHED

THURSDAY

Vocal Harmony

(All Years)

SISTER ACT SISTER ACT

FRIDAY

Jazz Band

(Grades 5-8)

SISTER ACT

Concert Band

(Grade 2-8) 3.15-4.15

Upcoming Rehearsals for School Production

Wednesday 28th

– Friday

30th

November 2018

STUDENTS/CONCESSIONS £6.00

ADULTS £10.00

Available now via Parentpay

Sixth Form Applications for September

2019

Year 11 Students Reminder - Sixth Form

Applications for September 2019 need to be

made via the school website by 23rd

November.

Dublin Music Tour 2018

On Friday 2nd November, the choir, instrumentalists, Mrs McKenna, Mrs Bainbridge, Mrs Leigh and Fr Simon arrived

at school at 5 am, met by Mr Humphries to help us get the instruments out of storage, ready to board the coach to

Holyhead. Sailing across the Irish Sea took about 3 hours but we all found something to keep us occupied; we

couldn’t resist singing but it was good practice for our future performances. We ate at the hostel on Friday evening

– we all agreed the food wasn’t amazing but we had a great evening playing games, including a riff-off when some

people, (mentioning no names) got overly competitive.

Saturday was the day of our first performance. After breakfast, the coach was loaded with all the instruments. We

were given our packed lunches and we set off for Christchurch Cathedral where we performed to a very

appreciative audience. Following our successful performance we set off to Howth, a beautiful coastal village. After

a chance to do some shopping at the market, we walked along the water’s edge as the sun was setting. The views

were fabulous and there were plenty of photo opportunities. Back at the hostel we had dinner and went down to

the meeting room. We were greeted by the rock band playing and Fr Simon singing Jonny B. Goode. After that mini

performance, it was time for KARAOKE! There were many great performances, particularly one from Mrs

Bainbridge that left us all in stitches. We will never listen to Mamma Mia in the same way again!

On Sunday we set off for our second performance, at St Teresa’s church. We were providing the music for their

memorial Mass as well as giving a short recital afterwards. Our final performance received a standing ovation. After

the Mass, we had the afternoon to walk around Dublin for shopping and sight-seeing. Monday was the day we

were travelling to Belfast to go to the Titanic museum. Whilst we were there Fr Simon set us a challenge – to do

the best impression of an iceberg! More on this later. Back at the hostel, after dinner, it was time for the talent

show. This was one of the highlights of the trip. Charlie did an amazingly accurate impression of Mrs McKenna, and

we had a stand-up comedy performance from Matt. Then the teachers got their own back by doing impressions of

us! The talent show was finished off by a fab performance of Lean on Me by Year 13.

Finally, certificates were handed out. The awards included the award for chattiest person which was won by Briony

and most cheerful person which was won by Amelia. Fr Simon also judged his iceberg competition which had many

great/interesting entries. The winner was Charlie whose iceberg impression made excellent use of a hoodie. Before

leaving Dublin, we went back to the Cathedral with a plan to walk to Grafton Street. Following Father Simon’s

directions we ended up doing a circuit of Dublin centre without finding Grafton Street – that was even with the

help of Google Maps. Maybe we won`t put Fr Simon in charge of map reading next time! We arrived back about

8.45pm, tired and happy to be home but with lots of amazing memories (and photos) to look back on. Thank you

again to all the staff who made this trip possible. We can’t wait for next year’s trip.

Livvy Morris 8Kolbe

Day Date Fixture / Practice Venue Start Time

Pick up

Monday 19th Nov Staff Meeting

Tuesday 20th Nov Boys Year 8 6-a-side Football v Hartford

AWAY 4.00pm 5.00pm

Boys Year 9 Basketball v Knutsford

AWAY 3.30pm 5.30pm

Girls

Wednesday 21st Nov Boys Year 9 County Cup Football v Failibroome

HOME 3.00pm 4.30pm

Girls Netball Practice Home 3.15pm 4.15pm

Primary Year 5/6 Sports Hall Athletics

Sports Hall

3.30pm 5.30pm

Thursday 22nd Nov Boys Year 10 & 11 Basketball v Knutsford

HOME 3.30pm 5.30pm

Year 11 County Cup v Congleton

AWAY 3.00pm 4.30pm

Girls Indoor Cricket Club Home 3.15pm 4.15pm

Friday 23rd Nov All Run Club Home 3.15pm 4.15pm

Girls Football Practice Home 3.15pm 4.15pm

Congratulations to the Year 7 boys football team who became the Vale Royal 7 a-side champions on Tuesday evening. They played some excellent football and ended the tournament unbeaten. A wonderful achievement. Well done boys!

Individual Success

Fantastic achievement; Grace Duckworth became the youngest player to debut for Crewe Alexanders Ladies Football first team last weekend. She was only 16 years and 2 days old.

Boys Football League

Finishes

Year 7—2nd

Year 8—WINNERS

Year 9—4th

Year 10—3rd

Year 11—WINNERS

Congratulations to Charlotte

Roberts on finishing 5th in

the IDO World

Championships in Poland.

The Year 8 boys

football team played

against Eaton Bank on

Thursday evening in

the 2nd round of the

County Cup winning

4-1.

Boys Football

NEWS

We have a vacancy for a new Chair with effect from our AGM on 14th January 2019. The Charity Trustees would be happy to meet informally, over coffee or a glass of wine, with anyone who has any questions about the role (full details on the PTFA section of the website). Please contact our current Chair, Kim Griffiths kim@copley.co.uk to arrange a no-obligation chat.

Thursday 22nd November from

5.30 pm until 8.00 pm.

Looking forward to seeing lots of our school families there for a fantastic evening of Christmas shopping and indulgence! There will be a nominal entrance charge of £1 per adult (no charge for children/students). If anyone can spare an hour on the afternoon and/or evening to help us out setting up, assisting on one of our PTFA stalls or serving drinks and refreshments from the kitchen we would be very grateful – we need about six additional helpers. Please contact kim@copley.co.uk

It’s a great fun evening for all the family! **Don’t forget to send your chocolate donations into

school for the Chocolate Tombola! Thank you**

Christmas Raffle Thanks to everyone who has bought tickets so far. We really appreciate your support.

First Prize is a 7 night Eurocamp family holiday. 2nd Prize is beautiful Christmas Hamper (complete with wicker basket) and a magnum of Prosecco. Third prize is £50 cash. Tickets £1 each, available to via Parentpay.

The Raffle will be drawn during the last week of term. Please support us by buying a ticket or three!

Are there any more wonderfully generous parents out there who work for companies that

offer a Matched Funding scheme? If so, we would LOVE to hear from you. Not only is it a

great way to get involved with school/PTFA on your own terms but you will also be making an enormous difference to our fund-raising capabilities. Whatever time you can spare, we will work with you to make the most of your generosity. Please contact kim@copley.co.uk if you can help.

Please sign up to our Facebook page where we can keep you fully informed on what’s going on with PTFA: www.facebook.com/stnicksptfa