As the examination season begins there is most certainly a studious focus in school in all year groups.

We have held rewards breakfasts for hardworking and high-performing students in various year groups over the past couple of weeks and it is unsurprising that the hot chocolate and waffles on offer have proved a motivating factor!

Students in Year 8 completed their sponsored run on Tuesday in aid of Nightingale House and monies are still being collected, so please do contribute if you are able, and we will update you on the amount raised in the near future. Well done to everyone in Year 8. You battled through the rain and most of you really enjoyed it. Thanks for your efforts.

Furthermore, a number of Year 8 students have recently enjoyed a trip to the Urdd Centre, Glan-Llyn. Students had lots of fun starting the day with map reading in Welsh for an orienteering session. This was followed by a dip in the pool before tackling the high ropes course and a leap of faith. After dinner, students enjoyed canoeing on Llyn Tegid. Students had to listen carefully and follow instructions in Welsh and then were required to demonstrate their team work and Welsh communication skills as they competed to be the first team to cross a section of the lake. The group were a delight at all times and were great ambassadors for the school. Diolch to all members of staff who made this possible.

In other Welsh news…A big da iawn the KS3 students who have recently taken part in both Urdd and Menter Iaith competitions. Charlotte and Julliet (both Year 8) secured 1st place in the Menter Iaith photography competition, while Jack (Year 7) picked up 3rd place in both the photography and video competitions. Theo and Isabel (Year 7) have been getting creative and designing comic strips and T-shirts for the Urdd Eisteddfod. They were awarded 1st place in the county round and we wish them luck for the next round – Phobe and Maisie (Year 7) recently performed in the recitation competition at the local Eisteddfod and both received praise and complimentary comments from the judges. Da iawn to all!

Well done to our Years 7 and 8 hockey teams who successfully participated in the Hockey Wales Festival at Mold Alun and a big thank you to Maya (Year 10), a school Hockey Ambassador, who assisted in the running of the event.

Interform competitions are always incredibly well supported at Castell Alun. These events have now begun in earnest for Years 7, 8 and 9 with many willing participants and even more avid spectators. Have a great time everyone! May the best team win!

In Sixth Form news, our Criminology students recently enjoyed a top quality training event, facilitated by the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit (DASU). Criminology is an exceptionally popular subject within the school, and the students are regularly supported in their learning through focussed visits from specialist external speakers. These guests to our school not only support learning but also make students aware about possible career opportunities in this field. We would like to thank them for taking the time to come and speak to the students.

An enthusiastic audience thoroughly enjoyed a free concert by our school rock band ‘Lies’ on Thursday this week. This band is phenomenally talented as are the upper school singers and dancers who also participated wonderfully at the event. We are really proud of all of you and thank you so much for your time and effort. Again please!

All the very best of luck to our Sixth Form Girls’ netball team as they compete in the finals of the President’s Cup on Sunday of this weekend. We believe in you and we know you can do it!

And finally, may we shamelessly promote ex-student Eleanor Davies who is taking part in a fundraiser for an animal charity – “A Skydive for Four Paws”. Eleanor will undertake a tandem jump from 10,000 feet in July and you are able to contribute by following this link :- . http://gofund.me/22122bc

The weekend looks dry, have a good one everyone.