Welcome to the last School Blog of 2024!
20 Rhagfyr 2024
Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog
The last day (and School Blog) of the Autumn term has finally arrived and it is the perfect time to reflect on the true essence of the season: togetherness. At our school, the Christmas spirit isn’t just about decorations or festivities—it’s about the connections we share with one another. Community, family and friends are at the heart of everything we do, reminding us that we are stronger and happier when we support and care for one another.
Whether it’s the laughter shared in classrooms, the kindness shown during charity drives, or the warmth of holiday celebrations, this season is a beautiful reminder of how much we mean to each other. As we head into the holidays, let’s carry that spirit of gratitude and unity with us, cherishing the bonds that make our school a truly special place.
Siarter Iaith Bronze Award
We are incredibly proud to announce that Castell Alun has become the first school in Flintshire to be awarded the prestigious Bronze Award for the Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus. This recognition celebrates our commitment to promoting bilingualism and the Welsh language within our school community.
Earlier this month, the verification process took place, and we were thrilled to receive the official Welsh Government certificate, which acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and wider community in embracing and enhancing bilingualism across the school.
This achievement reflects the excellent Welsh language provision at Castell Alun, and we are excited to now set our sights on striving for the Silver Award. Pictured are the representatives from our Cyngor Cymraeg (Welsh Council), who played a key role in this accomplishment, alongside Mrs. Wareing.
Year 10 Christmas Market
Our Year 10 students have shown incredible enterprise and generosity by successfully running the annual Christmas Market, raising an impressive £3,315.43 for Hope House Children’s Hospice. The event was a festive showcase of creativity, hard work and community spirit.
Students designed, created and sold a wide range of handmade products, including beautiful Christmas crafts, crocheted gifts and delicious sweets. The market was buzzing with visitors, as students enthusiastically promoted their products and demonstrated their creativity.
The success of the market is a testament to the students’ dedication, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills. Their efforts not only brought festive cheer to the school community but also made a meaningful difference for Hope House Children’s Hospice.
A huge congratulations to Year 10 for this outstanding achievement and thank you to everyone who supported the event. Your generosity and hard work have helped spread joy this Christmas season!
Year 12 Yule Logs
Year 12 students have been showcasing their creativity in Food and Nutrition lessons this week by making delicious Yule logs. The students demonstrated impressive baking and decorating skills, bringing festive cheer to the classroom with their beautifully crafted treats. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season through culinary creativity!
Wrexham Christmas Fair
Ellie Joyce and Georgia Jones did the Sixth Form Charity Committee proud this week, raising money for Hope House charity with their Christmas goodies fair. The event was at the Ramada hotel in Wrexham which was hosting the Chamber of Commerce Christmas networking event.
We attended the event as part of our partnerships as a Young Chamber school which allows us to engage with a range of different employers in the local area. Da iawn to the charity committee!
Business Languages Championship
On the 12th December, 11 Year 9 students competed in the Business Languages Championship held at Prestatyn High School. Students had to plan their own music festival that would be held in France or Germany and use their language skills to promote their event.
The students were very enthusiastic and used their language skills to create promotional videos, interview their chosen celebrity and promote their event to the other teams. Castell Alun students were praised for their communication skills and good pronunciation. It was lovely to see students using skills from all subjects with their language skills to create their music festival.
Festive Church Service
Year 7 students recently enjoyed a festive trip to the local church for their Christmas service. It was a heart-warming event that showcased their talents and community spirit. The service featured beautiful performances by the school choir and the enchanting sounds of the bell ringers, adding a magical touch to the occasion.
Thoughtful readings were delivered by Daniel and Grace, who captivated the audience with their confident and expressive delivery. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to come together to celebrate the season. They were also able to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas in a serene and welcoming setting.
Chill Factore
Tonight, our students who are attending the Ski Trip in February had the opportunity to attend the Chill Factor in Manchester. For some it was their first time skiing and it was great to see the amount of progress made in just 2 hours of skiing! @CastellAlun #Austria2025🎿🎿 pic.twitter.com/Q03MBw41Dd
— CAHS PE 🎾🏈🏀 (@CAHS_PE) December 19, 2024
Students attending the Ski Trip in February were given a fantastic opportunity to visit the Chill Factore in Manchester. This gave them a real taste of skiing ahead of their adventure. For many of them, it was their first time on the slopes. It was amazing to see how quickly they adapted and improved their skills in just two hours of skiing! From learning the basics to gaining confidence on the snow, the progress was impressive. The experience has got everyone even more excited for the upcoming trip to Austria in 2025. We can’t wait to see how much more they’ll achieve by then!
Food Bank Collection
Tutor groups have been hard at work this week. They have been generously collecting goods for the Food Bank helping to spread Christmas cheer to those in need. The overwhelming support from students, staff and families has been truly heart-warming—diolch yn fawr to everyone who contributed!
This year, we are proud to be collaborating with Hope Church. Together we will distribute the donated food items to those less fortunate in our community. The invaluable role in ensuring these donations reach the people who need them most deserves a massive thank you. Together, we are making a meaningful difference and embodying the true spirit of giving this Christmas season.
Sports Updates
A huge well done to Thomas in Year 13, our towering 6ft 6in back-row and second-row star. He will represent the Wales U20 Development Team this Friday in their match against Scotland at The Hive Stadium, home of Edinburgh Rugby.
Thomas has shown incredible dedication and determination, training tirelessly throughout the season to prepare for this opportunity. We’re all rooting for him as he takes on this exciting challenge. We hope it paves the way for a Six Nations call-up this coming spring.
On behalf of everyone at the school, we wish Thomas the very best of luck.
This week has been full of exciting sporting updates at Castell Alun! Our Year 8/9 boys’ rugby team welcomed Ysgol Dinas Bran for a friendly match. Although the final score was 10-50 in their favour, our boys displayed great resilience and determination throughout the game. Congratulations to our Sixth Form football team. They secured a thrilling 1-0 victory against Prestatyn in the Welsh Schools FA competition. They clinched the win in the final moments and progressing to the national rounds!
In rugby, it was an exciting experience for our Year 7/8 girls’ and Year 7 boys’ teams Despite being newcomers to the sport, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. A big thank you to Year 11 students Rhys, George and Ben. Their help was invaluable in coaching and refereeing the games.
In Closing
As we reach the final day of the Autumn term, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the incredible achievements, efforts and community spirit that have defined this term at Castell Alun.
From our Year 10 students raising over £3,300 for Hope House Hospice to the Year 7 students spreading festive cheer at their church service, the sense of togetherness has been felt throughout the school.
It’s clear that whether it’s through sport, charity work, or celebrating the holiday season, our school thrives on unity, resilience, and kindness. As we head into the holidays, let’s carry forward the spirit of gratitude and community, cherishing the connections that make Castell Alun such a special place. We wish everyone a restful and joyful holiday season!
Dymunwn i chi wyliau ymlaciol a heddychlon!
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.
