18 Jul 2008 - Bryngwyn Matters 43 (July 2008)
As we come to the end of another academic year, it is time to wish a happy and long retirement to a number of our teaching staff. Mrs Susan Davies who was appointed to the English Department in 1984, finishes after a long bout of illness. Miss Laura Morgan joined the MFL department in 1985. Mrs Pauline Collis joined the Learning Support Department in 1991 and since 2003 has been an Assistant Headteacher, whilst Mrs Meryl Jones joined the same department a year later in 1992. Finally, Mr Goronwy Owen joined the P.E. Department in 1993. Between them, they have given 95 years of service to Bryngwyn pupils. A big thank you is well deserved.
Back to Winning Ways
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In the Coleg Sir Gâr inter-schools quiz we won back the shield that we temporarily relinquished after finishing second to Coedcae last year. Our successful team comprising of James Beckett (Year 10), Morgan Thomas (Year 9), William Bonnell (Year 8) and Ollie Jacob (Year 7) were worthy winners after the customary ten rounds of ten questions. We have now won this annual quiz three times in the last four years. Each team member won a £10 gift token for themselves as well as a £100 cheque for the school. Well done to you all.
Da Iawn!
In the inaugural Welsh language inter-schools quiz, organised by Mentor Iaith, our team of Year 9 pupils, also ran out winners. Laura Button, Matthew Cooke, Ioan Davies, Steffan Richards, Hannah Thomas, Jamie Thomas and Jessica Thomas made up the winning team.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi
Yes, reference to St. David’s Day in July! As no newsletter was published at the end of a short Spring term, here are some brief details of the day to keep you up to date. Tom Jenkins, Year 11, won the English Chair and Hannah Elliott, Year 10, won the Welsh Chair. The overall winners of the Eisteddfod and Champions for 2008 were Tywi House. Special mention must be made to Hannah Fisher in Year 7, who not only won the local round of the Urdd Eisteddfod in the individual Welsh recitation, but reached the National Finals after winning the regional round.
Sporting Digest
Golf
Five pupils entered the Dyfed Schools’ Golf Championships in Tenby with Alexandra Jenkins in Year 9 winning the girls individual competition.
Soccer
After being crowned Dyfed Champions before Christmas, our U14s boys team reached the quarter finals of the Welsh Schools Championships before losing to Betws School, Newport.
Following a season where he scored 17 tries in 17 games, Curtis Morris, Year 10, was voted ‘Player of the Year’ at the U15s Llanelli Schoolboys Annual Dinner. At the same event, Jason Frater, also of Year 10, was voted ‘Most Improved Player’.
Indoor Athletics
Tony Lewis, Year 8, capped an outstanding indoor season in
Outdoor Athletics
The junior girls team won the Llanelli event and went on to represent the town at the Dyfed Championships held in Haverfordwest.
Super Schools
Year 7 pupils were put through their paces as part of the ‘Super Schools Wales’ initiative. We are the first school in Llanelli to be invited to participate. Olympic Athlete, Jamie Baulch, spoke to pupils about the positive benefits of participation in sports activities from a young age. They undertook a series of timed circuit training activities and raised a staggering £500, the majority of which will go to improving their Year Group area following consultation with the Year Council. The atmosphere was excellent, Jamie Baulch was a wonderful motivator and no doubt our pupils will take on board the importance of fitness in their lives. According to the organisers, Bryngwyn is the most responsive school they have visited to date.
Smart Alecs
The charity organisation, Christian Aid gave a big thankyou to two Year 10 classes after receiving a cheque for £20. The pupils participated in a nationwide ‘Quizaid’ and the money raised will go towards helping the world’s poorest communities.
Celebration of Achievement
Parents were invited to an evening of celebration in June. Displays of GCSE Art work and coursework pieces from the D&T Department were on view. The school orchestra played various musical items and a small group from the 'Oliver' cast performed two items from the forthcoming musical. Rhian Chinnok, Year 8 and Tiffany Jones, Year 9, performed a ‘Street/Hip Hop’ routine which had taken them and others to the World Championships in
Skiing Trip
The famous Austrian ski resort of Kitzbuhel was the destination for the 90 strong party at Easter. Global warming was not an issue on this trip as heavy snowfall resulted in excellent skiing conditions. The beginners learnt quickly and the more experienced pupils had plenty of challenging runs to occupy them. The hotel staff and skiing instructors were very complimentary about our pupils, and with no visits to the local hospital, a wonderful time was had by one and all.
School Prom
Stretch Limos, Dinner Jackets and Ball Gowns were part of the scene in the school car park on a beautiful evening on Wednesday 7 May. For the fourth year running the School Prom was held at the Manor Park Hotel in Clydach. After the formal dinner and the awarding of special prizes the evening finished with a disco. Once again, the mature and responsible behaviour of our pupils was a credit to both themselves and the school.
Manga Style Art
A small group of Year 10 pupils are producing large scale murals depicting the wide variety of people associated with the school community. Before long we will witness the fruits of their labour in the stairwells between C and D blocks.
In a similar vein, the art work of Year 8 and 9 pupils has already brightened up the grey brickwork of the quad between C and E block.
‘Learning for Life’
Bryngwyn was one of a small number of schools to be invited to participate in the ‘Learning for Life’ poster competition, an idea well imbedded in the Scottish education system and currently being trialled in the Principality. This project is close to the heart of the Prince of Wales, who has been very complementary about the standard of entries received from Welsh participants. Year 9 and Year 10 pupil entries were submitted by Miss Alison Collins and Mrs Sharon Ellis. The Bryngwyn winners were: Jessica Thomas, Matthew Cooke, Shannon Fitzgerald, Sadie Lewis and Joanne Sullit. They researched life issues and wrote thought provoking entries linking their own experiences with future aspirations. The winning entries will be on display at the Senedd in
Work Experience
For Year 10 pupils the school year ended with a week of work experience. Thanks to the cooperation of local employers, all our pupils had the opportunity to experience the world of work in a whole variety of jobs. For some this was their first taste of working life.