Bore da.
You will probably have received the guidance on the theme of COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) via school e-mail from Flintshire Local Authority and Public Health Wales at the start of this week. If you did not receive this e-mail, please contact school as a matter of urgency as this means that we do not hold your current e-mail address. I fully understand your concerns with regards to this matter, and would ask you to read the information available on the pathway below, which should always be the latest available national guidance relevant to the school setting. The situation is clearly progressing at some pace and, at the time of writing, we await further communication from Flintshire Local Authority. When we receive subsequent information from Flintshire we will endeavour to share it with you as soon as we are able. Yesterday evening we were told that schools should cancel all trips abroad and thus this morning we are contacting all trip providers in order to implement this advice. All parents / carers with children who have places on a school trip abroad will be contacted with further information as soon as we are able. In the meantime, whilst we remain in school, we are taking all possible measures to ensure the wellbeing of the entire school family and putting plans in place, should government advice change.
Our Lower School Assembly on Tuesday celebrated international Women’s Week and was led by no fewer than 8 members of female staff and Annabel (Year 9). We were treated to a Welsh Transition report from Elin and Emily (Year 8) also. Indeed, last Friday 15 Year 8 girls attended a Fire and Rescue Day at Wrexham Fire Station as part of the Brigade’s drive to recruit female fire-fighters. The girls had a brilliant morning learning about the emergency services, trying on the gear and also got to see a real life call out – exciting stuff! The organisers emailed the school to congratulate our girls on their enthusiasm and behaviour. They also commented, “We hope that each girl got to take away something from the day, if not motivation to consider joining an Emergency Service, then a belief in themselves that the world is their oyster and they can be anything they put their minds to.”
As you are aware, we run a Praise and Reward scheme in school and celebrate regularly those students who are recognised as exhibiting the traits we hold dear as a school. Congratulations to our latest winning students! These students have won gift vouchers after being entered into a prize draw for having received either the most praise points or for having the highest attendance in their Year. The next draw will be held after the end of the 2nd term.
On Monday and Tuesday evening lots of our students represented the school fantastically well at the William Aston Hall in two concerts entitled ‘AmaSing’. It has been said by many that our students stole the show and they certainly had a great time performing vocally and exhibiting wonderful dance skills, under the leadership of Mrs Nesbitt. Well done everyone – we’re so proud of you all!
We’ve all had a fun week raising funds for Sport Relief. Students participated in ‘Just Dance’, table tennis and cross-bar challenges, with staff contributing to proceedings in a netball match also. Today is our non-uniform (sporty attire) day and the event is clearly going down well!
This week has seen a large group of Year 7 students go on a 3 day trip to Nant. A wonderful time was had by all and activities included orienteering, problem solving and gorge walking. On the Tuesday our students avoided the wind and rain on a visit to to a former slate mine in Cwm Penmachno, where they had the opportunity to abseil, climb, take a boat ride and slide on a zip wire, while also experiencing some local culture and learning about local history.
Our Year 12 Geographers had an informative fieldtrip to Talacre Beach in order to support their studies on Thursday and our A/S and A level R.E. students got a lot out of their revision events off-site towards the close of the week also.
Really well done to Year 7 students Sophie, Sophia, Freya and Chloe, who represented Castell Alun and indeed Flintshire in the Inter Area 5×60 Badminton Competition on Thursday.
Congratulations to Gabe (Year 9) who won 2nd place in the MBKC (Manchester Buxton Kart Championship) recently. Gabe and his team of students under the age of 18 had to compete in a number of rounds all over the UK and accumulate points towards the end of season league title. He has all kinds of plans for the future now, especially as this is how most Formula 1 drivers begin their training. Amazing stuff Gabe!
Next week sees more practical and indeed some oral exams for our older students and a ski trip to Chill Factore. On Friday we’ll hold another transition event for our gifted writers in Year 6.
And finally, we always like to keep in touch with our alumni and have just been informed that two of our previous students – Fern and Harvey, have been appointed Lord-Lieutenant Cadets for the year 2020 by the Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association. They will be presented with their badges at an Awards Ceremony this month. Great news and well done both!
I hope you all keep well.