Christmas Countdown
As we start Advent and with fewer than three weeks remaining until we close for Christmas on Thursday, 21st December, the term is flying by! Much has been accomplished, but there’s still plenty to do.
Talent Show Excitement
On Wednesday morning, it felt like we had invited Simon Cowell and friends into school! During registration and period 1, students who made it through the qualifying rounds showcased their amazing talents in front of an excited Year 7 audience. The talent on display was beyond explanation!
Although there’s insufficient space to describe all the acts, it’s fair to say that Seren’s dance talents were absolutely amazing—rumour has it she’s already experiencing success in Britain’s Got Talent qualification rounds! Oliver wowed his peers by unicycling around a packed hall of fascinated friends, who cheered loudly to put him off! Videos were also shown of other wonderful acts that couldn’t be showcased on the day itself.
Aachen Christmas Market Trip
Late on Wednesday evening, our Year 9 to 11 students returned from the Aachen Christmas Market trip. Some of you may have already seen the live photo stream from Germany. Every student has come back buzzing from their short cultural immersion in a typical German festive setting. For many, this was their first opportunity to travel abroad, and each embraced the challenge, benefiting greatly from the experience. Spirits were high throughout the trip, whether during the bus and ferry journeys, in the student hotel, or in the market itself.
Student Wellbeing Ambassadors
At Castell Alun, we have recently trained Student Wellbeing Ambassadors. This initiative, run by students for students, includes ambassadors from Years 10 to 13 who have been introducing themselves in year group assemblies over the past couple of weeks. There has been great interest across the school, especially from Years 7 to 9. The aim is to support students, provide a safe space to talk and relax, and signpost them to additional support networks. A drop-in session with other activities is available in M23 each week for each year group. Our Ambassadors will be identifiable as they will wear a green pin around school.
Sixth Form Trial Exams
Our Year 12 and 13 students began their Sixth Form trial exams yesterday. Although it’s not an occasion most would look forward to, these mocks provide valuable experience and a platform for determining progress against examination board specifications. And don’t worry—they’ll be over well before Christmas so that everyone can enjoy the break! Pob luc pawb.
Sporting News: Flintshire Cross Country Success
In sporting news, the Flintshire Cross Country event brought several successes for our students. The results are as follows: Year 7 girls – 1st, Year 7 boys – 2nd, Year 8 and 9 girls – 3rd, Year 8 and 9 boys – 4th, Year 10 and 11 girls – 3rd, Year 10 and 11 boys – 1st. The following students deserve particular congratulations for being selected to run for Flintshire in the North East Wales round on 14th December: Bethan, Megan, Samuel, Dylan, Seb (all Year 7), Evie (Year 8), Jenna (Year 10), Milo, Tom, and Harry (all Year 11). We are very proud of each and every one of you for your participation in this event.
Sixth Form Charity Collection
It’s heartwarming to know that our Sixth Form students have collected over 150 selection boxes for the Flintshire Foodbank. These treats will be a blessing to those less fortunate over the festive period. Diolch yn fawr Years 12 and 13.
Upcoming Events
On Tuesday, 19th December, we will hold our highly acclaimed Christmas Concert. Doors open at 6.30 pm, and the concert begins at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased via the School Gateway app for £4 per person, including refreshments.
Next week, our Year 10 students will enter the Dragon’s Den on Monday. Here they will pitch their ideas in small groups to local business people. This is part of their Skills Challenge, and it’s always interesting to see which students exhibit genuine entrepreneurial flair. Presentation skills are crucial to student development. We deliberately nurture these to assist students as they prepare for the world of work.
On Tuesday, our Year 7 students will attend their annual Christmas Service at Hope Parish Church. Some students will ring the bells, perform readings, and sing in a musical item. We are very grateful to Father Paul Wheelar and all our friends at the Church. On Thursday, Year 7 students will go on the pantomime trip as we build up towards Christmas. There is great excitement among Year 7 at present!
Please inform former Year 11 and Year 13 students that they are invited to Castell Alun on Wednesday, 20th December, to collect their certificates between 9.30 am and 12 noon. If they cannot collect their certificates personally, a friend or family member can collect them on their behalf with a letter of authorisation from the person named on the certificates. It is essential to collect these certificates as they may be required for future job interviews, university applications, or training courses.
See you back here soon for the next School Blog!
