End of Year School Blog
Welcome to the School Blog. We have just one week left, so this will be the final School Blog of the academic year. Although everyone at school is ready for the summer break, standards remain high in both academic and behavioural terms.
Celebrating Reading Millionaires
Some of our students enjoyed a wonderful start to Monday morning this week with a breakfast of sweet, warm waffles and hot chocolate to celebrate becoming ‘Reading Millionaires’. As part of the Accelerated Reader programme, Key Stage 3 students faced the challenge at the start of the academic year: to read a million words! We’re thrilled to announce that 15 students across Key Stage 3 rose to the challenge. To read a million words or more is an incredible feat, and these avid readers accomplished it splendidly. We congratulate every one of them for this phenomenal achievement!
Recommended Reads by Our Reading Millionaires:
- Amelia: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Isabel: Dark Matter series by Teri Terry
- Olivia: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
- Ella: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
- Jamie: Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
- Grace: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
New Intake Events
On Tuesday, we hosted our New Intake Parents’ Evening for the families of current Year 6 students, helping them prepare for their child’s transition into secondary school. The evening was a tremendous success with outstanding attendance. More importantly, we’re incredibly thankful to run such events once again. Thank you to all who attended, and please remember, if you need any further assistance, contact the school at your earliest convenience.
On Thursday, we followed up the Parents’ Evening with a New Intake Day. Excitement filled the air as we greeted the Year 6 students in the Sports Hall and introduced them to their group tutors. The new students had a full day of activities and many found their feet and their voice within minutes!
Welsh Culture Celebrations
We take immense pride in celebrating our wonderful Welsh culture and language. Yesterday, 40 of our Year 7 students visited the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen. They had a fantastic time using their Cymraeg with each other, teachers, and stall-holders around the field. Prizes went to students who participated in a scavenger hunt, using their problem-solving and Welsh language skills. Everyone enjoyed watching competitors from around the world perform in song and dance.
Our Welsh celebrations will continue next week as all Year 7 students will participate in our Eisteddfod Ysgol (School Eisteddfod) on Monday. This event is always enjoyable and exciting. Over the past weeks, students have worked hard on various homework competitions, including Art posters, English poems about Wales, and History profiles of important Welsh people. They’ve also prepared for on-stage competitions, including recitation, dancing, singing, rapping, and the crucial choir competition. This year, the choirs will sing ‘Yma o Hyd’ to celebrate the recent success of our football team. Pob lwc (Good luck) to all competitors on Monday. We’re in for a treat with a special guest joining us to present some prizes.
Da iawn i bawb am gymryd rhan a dathlu ein diwylliant ac iaith. Mae’n rhywbeth rydyn ni’n falch iawn ohono yma yng Nghastell Alun. Well done to everyone for taking part and celebrating our culture and language.
Year 12 and Upcoming Events
Today marks the last school day for Year 12 this academic year. Many students will undertake work experience next week and beyond. These students have worked immensely hard through trying times and will receive their A/S and other examination results on Thursday, 18th August.
Next Tuesday, our current Year 7 students will enjoy their annual zoo trip. Excitement abounds as personal plans for what to see and packed-lunch options are discussed! Our Year 12 Health and Social Care students also return from a field trip to London on Monday. Indeed, it’s a busy week because our Sixth Form Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award students will undertake their final expedition as well. We wish them all the very best. Achieving this level says a great deal about their skills and commitment. Employers look very favourably upon such qualifications, and Castell Alun provides many students with access to all levels of D of E annually.
Celebrating Student Achievements
There’s much to celebrate both in and out of school. Recently, several students participated in the Anthea Bell Foreign Language Translation Competition, run by Oxford University. They translated a poem from French or German into English. Congratulations to Megan (Year 8) who won the Level 2 French competition for Wales and Alice (Year 8) who won the Level 1 German competition for Wales. Megan was also named the runner-up for the Level 2 French competition nationally. The staff at Castell Alun are very proud of all participants!
MFL Club and Sports Achievements
Our KS3 MFL club has thrived recently, with exceptional participation and enthusiasm.
Congratulations to Evan (Year 9), who won the Welsh Cup with his Hawarden Park under-15s Cricket Team. The team will represent Wales in the ECB Nations Cup. Awesome job, Evan!
Charlie (Year 9) competed in the Welsh Schools Championships last weekend and placed 2nd in Wales with a stunning jump of 1m 68. Impressive work, Charlie!
Luca (Year 9) has been training with the Football Association of Wales for a couple of years and has been selected to play in the Cymru Cup. Well done, Luca!
Special Mention
We want to give a special mention to Marc Flackett, IT Manager at Castell Alun, who will attempt a charity abseil down Liverpool Cathedral this weekend. Marc will abseil 150ft in aid of Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. Your support for this wonderful cause would be greatly appreciated. If you can assist, please contribute by following this link: Marc’s Abseil Fundraising.
Upcoming Dates and Final Words
As we look towards the summer break, we remind everyone that A and A/S level results day is 18th August, and GCSE results day is 25th August. Families concerned will have received communications about these events. All students return to school lessons on Monday, 5th September 2022, although Year 12 enrolment occurs between 9am and midday on Friday, 2nd September.
We wish you all a relaxing summer and thank you for everything you’ve contributed this year to enhance our students’ lives and experiences. It is each of you who make Castell Alun a special place to be.
Rydym yn dymuno cyfnod gwyliau haf haeddiannol i bawb. Diolch am bopeth.
See you back here in September for the next School Blog!
