6 Rhagfyr 2024
Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog
At Castell Alun, we are proud to see our students living out our values of respect, determination and honesty in everything they do. This week, our students have shown great enthusiasm and commitment in a variety of activities, from celebrating bilingualism and exploring future opportunities to engaging in creative and sporting challenges. We are excited to share their achievements and the many ways they are growing and thriving, both in and out of the classroom. Thank you for being part of our journey as we continue to support and inspire each other every day.
Celebrating Bilingualism
This week has been an important milestone as we proudly showcased our Cymraeg and bilingualism. On Tuesday afternoon, we undertook the Cymraeg Campus award verification process. Mrs. Wareing, along with 10 members of our Cyngor Cymraeg (Welsh Council), presented the incredible work we’ve done to meet the Siarter Iaith success criteria. Our panel of visitors toured the school, where they saw our bilingual signage, cultural displays and stunning Cymraeg murals created by our talented students.
During the visit, our students shared their experiences of taking ownership and driving bilingualism forward at Castell Alun. Their confidence, dedication and enthusiasm were truly inspirational and deserve great praise. The panel also spoke with Mr. Ellis and Mrs. Wareing about their leadership and commitment to promoting the Welsh language and bilingualism so effectively in an English-medium school in Flintshire.
We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the verification process and will keep you updated in the coming weeks.
Building Creativity
Our Year 7 Nurture Group students and their parents/carers have had 3 STEM Lego workshops with the Brick Consultant, Steve Guiness this month. Steve’s love of Lego began in his childhood and in recent years he won the Channel 4 UK Lego Masters competition, became an official fan-designer with his Lego Ideas Typewriter set and gained official certification with Lego Education. His passion is creativity and inspiring all ages to learn through play.
Each workshop our students took part in and had basic STEM skills embedded and undertook a wide range of hands-on activities that encourage teamwork, communication, creativity and learning through play. Each student also received a bespoke Lego kit, designed by Steve, to take home and enable them to continue their learning through play.
Students have enjoyed working with their family members on a number of tasks including bridge building, making mechanisms and a Christmas themed finale. Students built Christmas themed panels and letters spelling out #BuildToGive. Images have been shared on social media as for each homemade LEGO heart shared with #BuildToGive, Lego will donate a LEGO set to a child in need of play.
These workshops were free to attend as they are fully funded by Flintshire County Council as part of the W45 Strength in Numbers project.
Year 10 Impress in the Dragon’s Den
This week, our Year 10 students showcased their entrepreneurial flair at an exciting Dragon’s Den-style event as part of the Enterprise Challenge for GCSE Skills. They presented their innovative business ideas to a panel of ‘Dragons’ from Airbus, HSBC, and Hope House, impressing everyone with their creativity, confidence and professionalism.
The students put in tremendous effort to develop unique concepts and delivered polished presentations, tackling tough questions with poise. This event provided an invaluable opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting, while gaining practical experience.
A huge congratulations to everyone involved for making the event such a success—we can’t wait to see how Year 10 shines next at the Christmas Market!
Inspiring Futures
The Year 9 SEREN group recently enjoyed an inspiring and action-packed day at Wrexham University. The visit was filled with engaging activities and valuable insights into the world of higher education. The trip kicked off with a fascinating campus tour, offering students the chance to explore the university’s facilities and gain a real sense of what student life is like. This was followed by an interactive fingerprinting activity, which combined fun with learning, as students delved into practical applications of forensic science.
The day wrapped up with an informative and motivational lecture on the importance of higher education. This highlighted the many opportunities it can open up. Students left feeling inspired, more confident about their future paths and excited to explore their own potential. This experience provided a glimpse into university life as well as a greater understanding of the possibilities that lie ahead.
Theatr Clwyd Visit
Our Year 7 students had an incredible afternoon at Theatr Clwyd, thoroughly enjoying the rock and roll pantomime Mother Goose. The performance was packed with energy, humour, and music. It was wonderful to see the students so engaged, laughing along and immersed in the show. The show also gave students a chance to see how performing arts come to life on stage. The students’ behaviour throughout the trip was exemplary; they were a credit to the school. They showed respect and enthusiasm from start to finish. Despite the wet and windy weather on the way back, the excitement and memories made it all worthwhile. A big Diolch yn fawr goes to the staff who organised the trip.
Sporting Updates
Castell Alun recently hosted a vibrant sporting tournament, which was part of our ongoing collaboration with our local primary schools. The event saw fantastic participation across both football and netball. Estyn eventually emerged as the winners of the football tournament and Derwen took the victory in netball. Our Sixth Form students played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of the event. They assisted with refereeing, scoring and umpiring, showcasing their leadership and commitment to the school community. It was wonderful to see so many students, both primary and secondary, getting involved, demonstrating great teamwork and having fun. The tournament was a fantastic celebration of sportsmanship and collaboration. It highlighted the strong bonds we continue to build with our primary school partners.
Our Year 10 boys delivered a fantastic performance in the Welsh Schools FA. They secured an impressive 6-1 victory against Ysgol Treffynnon! With this win, they now advance to the National rounds—well done, team!
Upcoming Events
Castell Alun Christmas Concert – Thursday 12th December – 7:00pm
Tickets are now available for the Castell Alun Christmas Concert. The show is taking place on Thursday, 12th December at 7:00pm. Priced at £5 (plus booking fee), tickets include refreshments. It promises to be a wonderful evening of festive music and entertainment. Secure your spot here: Castell Alun Christmas Concert Tickets.
In Closing
As we head into the final two weeks before Christmas, it’s a great time to reflect on all the fantastic achievements of our students and the strong sense of community here at Castell Alun. Last week, our Year 7 Talent Show was a highlight, with some truly impressive performances. Brandon stole the show, winning first place with an amazing drumming performance of Metallica! Arthur took second place with his incredible breakdancing skills. Tamsin and Grace came in third for their beautiful rendition of a song. With the school’s annual Christmas Concert just around the corner, we’re excited to celebrate the festive season and the incredible talent within our school.
Let’s keep up the good work as we continue to embody our values of respect, determination, and honesty in everything we do. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to sharing more festive cheer and finishing the term on a high note! See you for the next School Blog
Diolch am ddarllen.
Safeguarding
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Officers: Mr Colin Ellis, Mrs Gail Davies and Mr Craig Stewart. You can reach them via the School Office or by using our Contact Form.
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