This week has been all about new beginnings and moving on to new challenges.
On Tuesday we were thrilled to meet so many parents/carers of our new intake and our sports hall felt very full when so many families joined us for our induction evening. This session marked the formal beginning of our partnership with new intake parents and their children, and on Thursday the students themselves joined us for an entire school day. During new intake day there is was palpable buzz of excitement around the campus and it was overwhelming to hear just how many students are so incredibly excited about becoming members of the Castell Alun family from September 2023. The Year 6 students took part in taster lessons in maths (orienteering), science, history and French. Current Year 7 students Lily, Katy and Joseph performed brilliantly in the hall at the end of the day to the delight of all onlookers. Early indications show that the school is welcoming many talented, polite, studious young people into Year 7 in just a couple of months time now. Should any families have any further questions over the coming weeks, please do feel free to ring or email school before the close of term.
In transition of a different kind, on Thursday evening, we held our Year 11 Prom at the St. David’s Park Hotel in Ewloe. As usual our students really made a great effort for this wonderful event and the venue was packed! Awards were presented for many different humorous categories and our Year 11 Band, ably supported by Mr. Ross Bevan, rocked the evening away, much to the delight of all students. There was fun, frivolity and food aplenty, and we all owe a great debt of gratitude to Mrs. Lisa Allen (Student Development Manager) and her wonderful Group Tutors for their roles in organising and running this event.
Today we welcome external students who will be joining our Year 12 in September 2023. It is wonderful to meet so many eager young adults who have chosen to join us as a result of all the experiences on offer in our Sixth Form.
Robyn (Year 9) has been interviewed by the Canoe Wales Ceufad Magazine and is on the front page of the summer issue. You really have to see this to believe it! Robyn is the youngest ever winner of the Canoe Wales Paddler of the Year Award and her interview in the magazine is highly informative and runs over four pages! Robyn clearly is a superstar of the future and we all eagerly await further news of her successes. Many congratulations Robyn!
This Saturday, 1st July, the CAFA Car Boot sale takes place. Gates for cars open at 9.30 and last admittance is at 9.55am, ready to open to the public at 10 am. The sale will be taking place on the back car park. Cost per car is £5 and you can book your place either by emailing or by scanning the QR code on the attached poster. There will be a stall selling pre-loved uniform and refreshments. CAFA work throughout the year raising much needed funds which help support the students in our school in various ways, from setting up STEM Science clubs to help with funding trips. If you would like to show your much appreciated support, we look forward to seeing you.
On Saturday a large number of students from Years 8 to 10 leave for a trip to Belgium and Germany. This two-centre trip is a regular fixture in the school calendar and provides a wonderful experience for participating students to immerse themselves in both a French and German speaking culture. The party will visit local places of interest in Ypres and Cologne and be given tasks to do to develop their foreign language skills further. It promises to be a great deal of fun and we will report back in a subsequent blog.
On Thursday next week, around half of our Year 7 students will attend the Llangollen Eisteddfod and gain a broader appreciation of what it means to be proud to be Welsh, whilst embracing talents of people who have travelled from all over the world. The very next day Friday 7th June, a number of our sixth form students depart on a further school trip to Germany (Berlin) and Poland (Krakow).
We are most grateful to be able to provide such amazing opportunities for our students, although it is important to note that we offer a wealth enriching experiences through our extra-curricular and wider learning programmes a lot closer to home!
Have a lovely weekend