Bore da,

As this will be our last blog of the year, may we begin by thanking you all sincerely for the support and encouragement you have given the school this academic year. Students have undoubtedly made a great deal of progress and they, like us, are most grateful for the working partnerships we have with all families, with the common aim of getting the best for and from our students. Long may this continue! Diolch yn fawr iawn.

As you would expect at this time of year, there are a number of activities going on around school as our aim is always to give our students the very best experiences and opportunities possible.

On Monday representatives of local businesses came into school to put our Year 10 students through their paces in the ‘Dragons’ Den’, as part of their Skills Challenge. Our Year 10 students presented their concepts and products to business specialists from Airbus, HSBC, Crystal Collections, Marstep Recruitment and Ty Gobaith with the intention of gleaning meaningful, supportive, constructive feedback….. and making some sales to… all in the name of raising money for Hope House. We are tremendously grateful to Guy, Claire, Rhys, Vanessa, Lucy, Holly and Cameron for their time and expertise in supporting our students and a big diolch yn fawr also to Haydn and Nicola from Hope House itself. Our students benefited greatly from this experience.

On Tuesday our entire Year 7 were taken over to Hope Church for our annual Christmas service. Father Paul Wheeler led our time together and a number of our students were given the opportunity to ring the church bells, which they clearly enjoyed. Tremendous readings were brought by Rosie, Harri and Sara, and the festive occasion was enjoyed by all. Diolch yn fawr to all of our friends in the Parish Church.

Year 7 have had a busy week! On Thursday the year group attended the pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at Theatr Clwyd in Mold. The afternoon was full of fun and frivolity and is, of course, an annual occasion for our Year 7 students at this time of year. Diolch to our English team, and in particular Mrs. Angharad Evans, who coordinated this visit.

Today a small number of Year 7 and Year 8 students were treated to a STEM engineering activity with the ‘Smallpeice Trust’ in the school hall. At the time of writing our students are enthusiastically engaged in creating models of airplanes under the watchful eye of Mr. Andy Bruno. Thanks very much Andy! Who knows, where this could lead our students?

Recently our Year 12 Welsh students attended a residential language course in Bala. They participated in language and literature workshops and lessons during their time there, and over the entire period of three days each student was immersed in the Welsh language. Such opportunities are incredibly valuable as we seek to develop further, as expressed in our School Development Plan, everyone’s ability to speak Cymraeg. Bendigedig! If only we were able to offer such opportunities to all students and staff!

Di iawn to all of our students who took part in the annual County Christmas Celebration at St. Mary’s Church in Mold this week. This is the first time the event has been held in over four years. Castell Alun participants performed in the following ensembles: guitar ensemble – Evan (Year 13), Harry (Year 11), Louis (Year 10), Jack (Year 9), string orchestra – Poppy (Year 12) and Cora (Year 11), wind orchestra – Eloise (Year 13), Matthew (Year 13), Megan (Year 12) and James (Year 10) and senior choir Katie (Year 7). We are truly fortunate to have so many students with a wonderful gift in music.

Llongyfarchiadau this week to our Sixth Form football team, who beat Bryn Hyfryd in the next round of the Welsh Cup. The boys now progress to the final 16 of this trophy. Also, well done to our Year 10 Basketball team who have now won 3 out of 3 games in the Flintshire Schools’ Competition. We are also very proud of the following students, who have successfully trialed for North East Wales in Netball, Ruby and Daisy (Year 12), Sophie (Year 11), Alex and Ffion (Year 10), Pheobe (Year 9) and Lucy and Erin (Year 8). These girls will represent NE Wales in February in the inter counties netball tournament.

With Christmas just around the corner, the final few days in school will be extremely busy and, we hope, a lot of fun. Year 10 will hold their Christmas market on Monday and make as much money as they possibly can for Hope House, with students from other year groups having the opportunity to visit the market during the morning session. If

possible, it would be wonderful if students visiting the market were able to spend change rather than notes in order to purchase Christmas treats and other goodies on sale.

Also on Monday, students will be able to have a Christmas lunch in the canteen, should they so wish and, of course, our school Christmas Concert will take place on Tuesday evening in the school hall. The doors will open at 6.30pm with the concert beginning at 7pm. Please use the School Gateway App to purchase one of the few remaining tickets at a cost of £4.

As we draw towards the close of next week, we will hold our main school Christmas assembly for all students and each year group will engage in fun activities during extra allocated pastoral time. Year 7 will have a disco and staff have threatened to put on a pantomime for Year 9 students to name but a few of the activities planned.

Coleg Cambria have asked to share the attached information to parents/carers concerning part-time and adult education courses which are due to start in January. They are also holding Adult Education Open Events on the 22nd and 23rd January. https://www.cambria.ac.uk/about/all-publications/

So, as we approach the close of term it is wonderful to see staff entering into the festive spirit also. Just last night a large group of our teaching and support staff joined together to make decorative festive wreaths in a session led by Mrs. Mason-Bernardi. Everyone had a great time!

Nadolig Llawen – have a wonderful peaceful break, diolch