NEWSLETTER 21st January 2019 – 25th January 2019

St Monica’s R.C High School

Bury Old Road, Prestwich

Manchester. M25 1JH

0161 773 6436

SAFEGUARDING

If you have a concern for the

safety of a child at the school

you can contact Mrs. Walker, the

designated Child Protection

Officer on 0161 773 6436 or

g.walker@stmonicas.co.uk You

can also contact Bury Social

Services directly on 0161 253

5678.

UNIFORM

All uniform should be of the

highest standard and in line with

school policy. The uniform

guidelines are on the school

website. Please note with the

cold weather drawing in a

reminder for pupils:

Coats should be Dark Blue/Black/Dark Green

No coats are to be worn in the building.

No hoodies.

ATTENDANCE

Whole School Attendance 7th January – 11th January was 95.5%.

Congratulations to form 8C who

Achieved 100% attendance and will have a wear your own clothes day

on Monday 21st January

Please note own clothes must be suitable for school, no baseball caps,

children should not show their midriff, no crop tops or low slung trousers

that will show their underwear. No offensive clothing should be worn.

Clothes should be suitable for a school environment.

MATHS INFORMATION

MATHS ONLINE HOMEWORK /REVISION SESSIONS Every Thursday for KS4 from 3-4 pm and on Fridays 3- 3.45 pm for KS3 both

in Room 50.

MATHS CHALLENGE CLUB Maths club runs every Wednesday first half of lunch in room 35. Mrs Melia

MOBILES

After the holiday break we understand pupils will have new gadgets &

technology please ensure they are aware the use of mobile phones is not

allowed during the school day including if students are using the LRC after

school, For Health and Safety reasons, pupils may hand their mobile phones

into the main office at the start of the day and collect them at the end. Pupils

caught using their mobile phones in school will have their phones confiscated

and placed in the office for them to collect at the end of the day. If this happens

a second time, in a half term, parents will have to collect them from the school

office in person, the next day. The third time, in a half term, a mobile phone is

confiscated it will be kept to the end of the half term.

YEAR 11 GEOGRAPHY ENRICHMENT TRIP NEW YORK 17TH-21ST FEB

An information meeting for all pupils and parent/carer will take place on

Weds. 23rd Jan. 6-7pm in the main school hall. It is important all attend as

paperwork will require signature. Any problems please contact me ASAP Mr

Day.

CURRENT YEAR 10 GEOGRAPHY ENRICHMENT TRIP NEW YORK 2020

INTEREST

The letter of interest for the Geography New York Trip has been sent out this

week to current Year 10 Geography students, the trip will take place during

February half term 2020. If you are interested in the trip please pay the £100

deposit on parent pay by Thursday, the 7th of February. If you have any

questions, please contact myself or Mrs Watson. A copy of the letter is

attached. Thank you, Mr Day

NEWSLETTER 21st January 2019 – 25th January 2019

SCHOOL CAR PARK

The school car park is for staff & pre-arranged visitors only. There are limited spaces available and with the introduction of

the security gate the turning circle is not available to members of the public. Therefore, unnecessary vehicles on the car park

can cause a Health & Safety issue.

We have a security staff member on the gates who will question your reason for requiring access to the car park.

There are plenty of parking facilities near school on Bury Old Road (just past the Ostrich pub) or on Scholes Lane.

We have limited disabled parking spaces and these should only be used should you have a valid disabled badge.

Mrs Cannon

FINANCE

DINNER MONEY YEAR 11 PARENT PAY

Please be aware school will not accept cash from the 29.10.18, all YEAR 11 pupils must use parent pay. Pupils who receive

free school meals (fsm) can top up their account via parent pay for break purchases otherwise the fsm has to be used at

lunch time. Please make sure your account is up to date. Thank you Mrs Cannon

PARENT PAY – General

Please remember to log onto your account regularly to check you are up to date with any payments for trips and revision

guides. If a refund has been actioned via Parent Pay from school you should receive a notification on your Parent Pay

account and be able to withdraw the money to your bank by clicking on your parent account, statement, withdrawal.

CHANGE AT SCHOOL

Please can you make sure pupils have the correct notes/ change to top up their dinner money account via the machines if

they are year 7- 10. With the introduction of Parent Pay at school the finance office has limited funds so does not always

have change.

CHESS CLUB Chess Club every Tuesday lunch in room 33. All welcome. Mr Rodger

ROAD CLOSURES

Please see the attached information for temporary road closure for Ramsbottom starting Monday the 18th February 2019.

NEWSLETTER 21st January 2019 – 25th January 2019

SPORT

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Greater Manchester Girls Tournament @ Manchester Rugby Club from 1PM

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

TRAVEL SAFE

Travelling on public transport is safe, however the police offer this advice to avoid putting yourself at risk from crime:

Use timetables to plan your journey in advance to minimise the time you spend waiting at bus stops and stations, especially at night.

Avoid poorly lit areas such as footpaths, subways and alleyways. Try to appear confident that you know your surroundings at all times. If you are travelling alone let someone know how and where you are travelling and contact them to let them know you

have arrived safely. Choose a seat in busy areas of the train, tram or bus, if there are not many passengers sit close to the driver or train

guard. Don't be too proud to change seats if you feel uncomfortable. Keep your valuables out of sight, especially jewellery. Keep your belongings close at hand. Be aware of the people around you, where they are sitting and standing and what they are doing. In the unlikely event that you are threatened or attacked, don't fight back. Make as much noise as possible and run

away, your possessions can be replaced, your health and well-being is much more important. Report the attack to the police as quickly as possible.

If you are threatened on a bus, tell the driver. On trains tell the guide or use the emergency handle. On Metrolink trams use the emergency intercom.

If you use taxis, only use reputable companies. Before getting in the taxi ask the driver to tell you the name of the company and check the licence plate on the vehicle. Always sit in the back seat. If you have any doubt don't get in.

Mrs Walker

PARKING OUTSIDE SCHOOL

Could we remind all parents who drop off/ collect children in the school day not to park in the school entrance or in the bus

stops, please do not park on the opposite side of the road this compromises the Health and Safety of our pupils and carries a

fine. Security at school will pass on vehicle registrations to the police who park in these areas. If you are collecting pupils by

car, please arrange to collect pupils at a location a little further away from the school or after 3.10pm when most pupils have

left. Thank You. Mrs Cannon

LITURGICAL NEWSLETTER 21st January 2019 – 25th January 2019

THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF ST MONICA’S SCHOOL

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we read from the Gospel of John. We read about Jesus’ first miracle of changing water into wine.

This miracle teaches us that, although divine, Jesus was also human. In the reading Jesus helps out the unfortunate

bridegroom whose wedding celebrations are on the verge of disaster because they’re about to run out of wine. Jesus’

miracle brings joy to his own mother and gives a joyful celebration to the whole village.

Jesus came to bring joy to everyone. Happiness comes and goes, but the joy that comes from close friendship with Jesus

stays forever.

Dear Lord Jesus, please help our family to experience the joy that you bring, and to share it with all those that we meet.

Amen

‘Dear young people, if we are close to Jesus we will have joy in our hearts and a smile on our face.’ Pope Francis

YEAR 8 FORM TIME REFLECTION

Y8 form groups are invited into our school chapel for a form time reflection lead by The Pupil Chaplaincy Team.

The theme will be Christian Unity.

Forms to come down after morning registration.

Wednesday 23/1/19 – 8G Thursday 24/1/19- 8K

Friday 25/1/19 – 8L

PARISH ASSEMBLIES

It has been a tradition at St Monica’s to welcome parish priests to come and speak to pupils from their parish. It is an

opportunity for the pupils to be reminded that their parish is always open to them and an opportunity for the priest to

advertise Lenten activities in their parish.

Assemblies are 8.30am-8.45am in the main school hall for all pupils.

W/C 4th March 2019

Monday – Our Lady of Dolours

Tuesday – St Bernadette & St Michael

Wednesday – Ash Wednesday

Thursday – Our Lady of Grace

Friday – St Mary’s

LITURGICAL NEWSLETTER 21st January 2019 – 25th January 2019

FLAME 2019 – #SIGNIFICANCE At 2.30am on Saturday 2nd March 2019 coaches full of young people will close their doors, rev their engines, and set off down the M6 from the

northern part of Lancaster Diocese; by 4.00am coaches will be heading South from Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle, East from Bristol

and Wales, and North East from Cornwall – along with planes from Jersey, Ireland and even Norway, and tube trains from across London – all

travelling to the same destination, carrying thousands of young people to The SSE Arena, Wembley, for the fourth Flame Congress, entitled

“Significance.”

As the young people arrive, the Arena will be alive with music and light, in a warm-up provided by Candice McKenzie, a Eurovision judge, a DJ

at the Ministry of Sound, and a presenter on Premier Gospel; the Arena will gradually fill with as many as ten thousand young people from all

over the country, with all the energy, joy and excitement that young people bring to such a space.

There is something both powerful and unique about being Church in a space more usually associated with “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got

Talent.” This vibrant and extraordinary expression of Church has its roots in the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to England in 2010. He challenged

the young people of England and Wales to “Be Saints.” He asked them to look deeply at their lives and to consider, “What will your legacy be?”

The Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed) was responsible for organising the gathering of young people at Westminster Cathedral and

in front of the stage at Hyde Park; those moments showed us the potential for such gatherings, and the energy from the Papal Visit carried

forward into Flame 2012, then 2015 and 2017.

What can the young people – and the teachers, youth leaders, catechists, priests and Bishops accompanying them – expect from Flame2019?

We are delighted to have secured a truly excellent line-up of speakers and presenters. GuvnaB is a well-known rap artist who sings and speaks

about his Christian faith, and he will be on stage with his wife, Emma, who runs a website “Girl got faith” where she helps teenagers, especially

around struggles with self-image. They will speak individually and together, and it will undoubtedly resonate with the hearts of all who listen,

since both GuvnaB and Emma will be speaking from lived experience accompanying those who are the age of most of the Flame audience.

They will be joined on stage by Robert Madu, who is flying in from Texas, USA. Robert is a fast paced, funny, warm and engaging speaker,

deeply rooted in Christian faith, and with wonderful stories and images that make points which are both challenging and inspiring. Having

listened to him, he is not someone you forget in a hurry! He fills Arenas across America, and it is wonderful to be able to bring him to England.

Music at Flame2019 comes from Tim Hughes, author of “Here I am to worship” and many, many more praise and worship songs that will be

familiar to those in the Arena – or which they will quickly be able to pick up. Tim animates large gatherings and festivals in the UK and abroad

throughout the year. The music has always been a magnificent feature of Flame – we hope to send people back to their parishes humming

some new tunes, and we know that music introduced at Flame is being sung in school and parish Masses across the country. It is joyful,

uplifting, and easy for a congregation to learn.

We are very hopeful that Jean Vanier will be able to record an interview for us; he is too ill to be with us at Flame, but there are a number of

ways in which we will be sharing his great wisdom of life, and superb accompaniment of those in the L’Arche communities.

Fresh from the Synod on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment is Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All

Ireland. He will share with the Arena his impressions of the Synod, and what it meant for him to be a part of it.

All of the input is centred around the theme “Significance.” The Chair of CYMFed, Fr Dermott Donnelly, describes why this theme has been

chosen: “Today, young people often feel constrained to measure self-esteem and self-worth simply by Instagram ‘likes’, responses to

Facebook status updates and Snapchat conversations. We aim to explore, for just a few hours, the deep Catholic Truth of our being; that we

are ‘God’s work of art’ (Eph 2:10) and we can only ever really understand ourselves in relationship with Him. We hope that Flame 2019 will

offer our young people a fresh perspective of their true significance, as ‘beloved children of God’ (qv Matt 3:17), in a personal relationship with

God the Father.” Leading into Adoration, RISE Theatre will present the drama first offered at Adoremus, “Jesus is here” and a 120 strong youth

Gospel choir, drawn from seven Catholic schools, will begin the closing liturgy.

Together with virtually all the Bishops of England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols will conclude the day by leading us in Adoration of the

Blessed Sacrament – and previous Flame Congresses have been characterised by deep stillness and prayer in these moments of Adoration –

as well as offering a concluding homily. We are very grateful for the Cardinal’s support of Flame from the very beginning, back in 2012.

Nearly 6,000 tickets have already been sold; for your school, youth group or parish Confirmation group to be part of this amazing day, simply

go to www.cymfed.org.uk/f lame2019 for full details, or contact your local Diocesan Youth Coordinator Lorraine Leonard –

lorrraine. leonard@dioceseofsal ford.org.uk Fr Dominic Howarth (Chair of the CYMFed Flame Congress organising team)

January, 2019.

Dear Parent/ Carer,

Geography Enrichment Trip to New York: February half-term, 2020 – Cost approx. £999

After the success of the past visits to New York the Geography department are arranging a fourth visit to New York

during the February half term, 2020. The trip will depart on Sunday 16th and return on Thursday 20th February for 3 nights

and 5 days to New York. The trip will be opened up to all current year ten pupils who are studying GCSE Geography.

The trip will be limited to 50 students who will travel with five members of staff. We are working in partnership with

NST Travel Group who are a well-established educational travel company.

We have managed to negotiate the trip for approx. £999. This includes return flights from Manchester to New York via

Heathrow, transfers, accommodation, travel insurance, breakfast and evening meals and numerous activities. The trip will

consist of sight-seeing such as High Line, Times Square, Staten Island Ferry, 9-11 Memorial and Central Park as well as

many other activities.

Please be aware that this trip is not compulsory and is an enrichment activity rather than a statutory

scheme of work. This represents excellent value for money, having received quotations significantly higher.

If your child is interested in this trip please return the reply slip below with a £100 deposit (via parent pay) by Friday the

7th February 2019. Upon receipt of the reply slip and taking into account initial and on-going pastoral checks including

good attendance, good punctuality, good behaviour etc. a letter confirming acceptance on the trip will follow with further

details of a payment plan. Should the trip be over subscribed, names will be drawn from a ‘hat’, as per school policy.

Your deposit will be refunded via parent pay if your child is not successful in gaining a place on the trip.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT REFUNDS FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL FROM THE TRIP WILL ONLY

TAKE PLACE IF A REPLACEMENT PUPIL IS ALLOCATED ON THE TRIP (subject to tour operator

charges).

CANCELLATION FEES (FROM THE TOUR OPERATOR) WILL APPLY FOLLOWING WITHDRAWL

FROM THE TRIP (IF NO REPLACEMENT IS FOUND) AT ANY POINT YOU WILL BE LIABLE TO PAY

THE CANCELLATION FEE.

Payment schedules will run from Jan ’19-Dec’19.

The school has the right to review and veto any place offered up to the point of departure and during the trip based upon

behaviour, attendance and attainment.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Mr R Day,

New York Trip - Lead

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Name of Parent/Carer……………………………… Name of Student……………………Form…..

I would like my son / daughter to be considered for a place on the Geography Trip to New York in February 2020 and

have paid £100 deposit via parent pay.

Please note that this is an expression of interest only and your child is not guaranteed a place on this trip.

Signed………………………………………………… Date………………………………………..