11 Medi 2026
Welcome to this week’s School Blog and the end of our first full week of the new school year! It has been wonderful to see the school fully back to life, with students settling into their new routines, reconnecting with friends and getting stuck into their learning. Our new Year 7 students are continuing to find their feet and become part of the Castell Alun community, while across the school there has already been so much happening both in and beyond the classroom. We’re looking forward to sharing some of the highlights from a busy and positive first week.
Fresh Starts
Our first whole-school assembly of the year took place this morning, and it is always an impressive sight to see so many members of our school community gathered together in one place. Led by Mr Ellis and the Year 11 team, the theme of the assembly was ‘Fresh Starts’, with a simple but powerful message:
You are not defined by last year. You are defined by what you do next.
Whether last year was a brilliant one, an average one, or a year in which things perhaps did not go quite as well as hoped, students were reminded that what matters most is what happens next. A fresh start gives everyone the opportunity to make changes, set new goals and make positive choices. Equally, those who experienced success last year were encouraged not to become comfortable, but to continue building on what they have achieved.
Through examples of well-known individuals who experienced setbacks before going on to achieve great things, the assembly explored the importance of resilience, determination and consistency. Success is rarely the result of one big decision. More often, it comes from hundreds of everyday choices repeated consistently: reading regularly, checking your Planner, arriving at lessons ready to learn, working hard, being reliable and continuing when things become difficult.
This linked beautifully to the words of St David:
“Gwnewch y pethau bychain” – “Do the little things.”
The things we do each day may not always seem significant at the time, but together they can make an enormous difference. Meaningful choices. Positive actions. Brighter tomorrows. What we do today matters, and it is those daily actions that help us to develop successful futures.
The assembly also gave us an opportunity to celebrate some exceptional achievements from across our school community. Ollie has captained Wales U16s in football and continues his development with Wrexham Academy; Erin represented Manchester Thunder U16s at the School Games in Loughborough; Fin represented Wales U18s in hockey; Idele medalled in three events at the Welsh Championships in Swansea; and Ben has been selected for the Wales U18 rugby training squad alongside his involvement with Sale Rugby Academy. We also celebrated Bethan, Bess, Seren, Penelope and Daisy, who qualified for the World Dance Championships in Dublin; Robyn, who has represented Wales and Great Britain in kayaking across Europe; and Hallie, who has represented Great Britain in ice hockey.
The talent behind these achievements is impressive, but perhaps even more impressive is what happens when nobody is watching: the training, practice, early mornings, setbacks and determination to keep improving. They are fantastic examples of exactly what this morning’s assembly was about – doing the little things consistently can eventually lead to very big things.
We were also treated to a beautiful musical performance from Lily which provided another opportunity to celebrate the breadth of talent within our school.
As we begin a new school year, the message for every student is a positive one. Your story is still being written. Yesterday does not determine tomorrow. What you choose to do today does. By living our values of Respect, Determination and Honesty, making positive choices and doing the little things well each day, we can all play our part in Developing Successful Futures.
CAFA
This Monday at 6.30pm, we will be holding our first Castell Alun Friends Association (CAFA) meeting of the new school year.
CAFA plays such an important role in our school community, raising a fantastic amount of money each year that goes directly towards providing additional opportunities, resources and experiences for our students.
We would love to welcome some new members this year. There is absolutely no expectation to make a huge commitment – whether you can help regularly, support the occasional event, share ideas, lend a hand when you can, or simply come along to find out a little more, every bit of support makes a difference.
If you are a parent, carer or member of our wider school community who would like to get involved, please come along on Monday. The more people we have involved, the more we can do for our students!
We’d be delighted to see you at 6.30pm on Monday at the main entrance to the school.
Sporting Achievements
Erin in Year 10 had a fantastic achievement, when she competed in the School Games in Loughborough over the weekend, representing Manchester Thunder. Erin and her team won all of their group-stage matches to secure a place in the final, where they faced a strong Mavericks side.
Although they narrowly lost the final by six goals, reaching this stage is an outstanding achievement for Erin, who is competing at the highest level of franchise netball for her age. Well done, Erin – we are incredibly proud of you!
Lost Property
A reminder that each Friday, photographs of all unclaimed lost property are shared on the School Blog for parents and carers to view, as well as on Google Classroom for students to check. If students recognise an item, they should speak to their group tutor to arrange collection during registration or at another suitable time during the school day. Any items that remain unclaimed at the end of each half term will be donated to charity, so please do take a look each week to see if you spot anything familiar!
In Closing
As we come to the end of our first full week, this morning’s assembly provided a fitting message for us all to take forward. A new school year brings a fresh start and an opportunity to make each day count. By living our values of Respect, Determination and Honesty, making positive choices and remembering the words of St David, “Gwnewch y pethau bychain” – “Do the little things,” we can all make a difference. What we do today matters, and all of those everyday actions help us to continue Developing Successful Futures together.
Penwythnos da i bawb – have a wonderful weekend!
Safeguarding
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Officers: Mr Ellis, Mrs Davies or Mr Stewart. You can reach them via the School Office or by using our Contact Form.
