Bore da,
It has been lovely to welcome back Year 12 upon completion of their examination leave. Well done to our students for all of their efforts in AS Level and equivalent examinations. Today a great many Year 12 students are in Liverpool visiting a UCAS fair with Mr. Kevin Davies and Miss Lauren Robinson. The fair is run by Liverpool University with the intention of giving all students a better understanding of the application process, should they wish to pursue education at a university post Sixth Form.
As you know, we are now absolutely in the middle of public examination season and our students are speaking warmly of the support that they continue to receive from their teachers as they navigate their way through this challenging period. In just two weeks time the public examination period will be drawing to a close, upon which students, parents and staff alike will all draw a collective deep breath! 
Our leaving ceremonies for both Year 11 and 13 before half term were wonderful occasions and we are extremely grateful for the support of all those parents/carers who were able to attend. Strange though it seems, as one cohort prepares for pastures new, another cohort of current Year 6 students has this week had visits from our teaching staff and some Year 7 students to help in their preparations for joining us at the start of September. A great big diolch to everybody involved in these meetings! The excitement of these younger students to become part of Castell Alun is palpable and we have already undertaken some transition events with more planned to ensure that younger students move smoothly into secondary school life at the start of the next academic year. On Tuesday 27th June, Year 6 parents/carers are invited to join us for our New Intake Evening (further information to follow) and on Thursday 29th June, we hold our New Intake Day for the children themselves.
We are pleased to report once again that a large number of Year 10 students will this weekend participate in a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze assessed expedition. We now simply have to hope that the predicted storms do not materialise! Everybody who participates in our extremely popular Duke of Edinbugh programme derives all kinds of benefits as they develop their skills, and perhaps the greatest of these in their thorough enjoyment of the expedition itself.
Well done to Emily, Year 7, for her success at the International Ju Jitsu Championships in Southend on 27th May. She came away with a gold medal in Ground Fighting, gold in Continuous Fighting and bronze in Random Attacks. Emily is clearly at the top of her game in this self defence discipline and we are thrilled about her successes and eagerly anticipate more good news in the near future.
Brilliant stuff also Oscar, Year 9, who took part in a Freestyle skiing event over half term. He swapped his racing skis for freestyle skis and impressed the coaches with his tricks. The event was organised by Futures Project of Snowsports England, who encourage and promote grassroots youth freestyle skiing. For anyone who would appreciate further information on snowsports in the area, please be so good as to contact: https://www.northwalessnowsports.co.uk/
Have a lovely weekend