28 Mar 2002 - Bryngwyn Matters (Number 25)
The gift of the gab
All five secondary schools in Llanelli took part in the annual 'Youth Speaks' debating competition held in the council chamber at the Town Hall earlier this term.Whilst the judges congratulated all the schools on attaining a very high standard of debate, the laurels belonged to Bryngwyn who scooped two of the three awards.
Considering the motion 'Media hype exploits children', our team of Jack Felton, Kayleigh Phillips and Sarah Evans of Year 11 won the Best Team, with Jack walking away with the prize of Best Speaker.
Positively Mad
Thirty Year 11 pupils attended a course at the Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen in February to try and fine tune their memory skills in preparation for their forthcoming GCSE exams.
The audience were taught various techniques and strategies for accelerating learning and efficient revision. These consisted of Mind Maps, Journey Techniques and How to Learn Foreign Words.
The response from all concerned was very positive with many of the pupils not only enjoying the style of presentation but also planning to put what they had learnt into practice.
Oxbridge Success.
The School continues its tradition of recent years by having ex-pupils accepted at one of the Oxbridge Colleges. This time it is the turn of David Lupini, our ex-head boy, who has been offered a place at Christ's College, Cambridge to study medicine.
Croeso Cynnes Iawn
When we return after the Easter break the new Head of English will be in post. Miss Alison Collins, an ex-head girl at Bryngwyn, returns to her old school after a break of nine years.
Miss Collins left Bryngwyn in 1993 after completing her A-levels in English, History and French. She spent the next three years gaining an English degree at St. Hughes College, Oxford and after two spells of teaching at Glan Y Môr and Amman Valley, returns to familiar territory to take over the reigns of the English department. A warm welcome is also extended to Mr. Edwin Davies who joins the Geography Department. We hope their stay is both rewarding and enjoyable.
Pastures New.
As two new members of staff join us after the Easter break, two will be leaving Bryngwyn. Mrs Ruth Stevenson our reprographics technician is going to set up her own company. Her cheerful disposition and helpful manner will be missed by all.
Mr David Thomas who has been travelling to school from Haverfordwest on a daily basis deserves a special thank you. Mr Thomas took up a temporary appointment eighteen months ago when he replaced Miss Catrin Jones. Their service to the School has been exemplary and we wish them both every success in the future. Pob hwyl!
Maths Challenge.
The top sets in Years 10 and 11 sat a challenging one hour paper set by the United Kingdom Maths Trust. Fifteen pupils in all received certificates with Jack Felton, Emily Pullham and Alex Laffan gaining gold awards, Pearl Newton, Adam Wilson, Rebecca Baul and Azzedine Bouleghlimat gaining silver awards and James Beynon, Ian James-Tall, Matthew Bennett, Sophie Davies, Sam Clifton, Ryan Ellis, Gareth Taylor and Matthew Morns gaining bronze awards.
Sporting Digest.
Football
Welsh Cap
After a successful Welsh trial last term, Wayne Thomas was selected to represent Wales against Eire in Dublin to win his Welsh Cap at U15 level.
Quarter-finalists.
The Boys Ul6s reached the final of the Dyfed Championships, and as such went through to the last eight of the Welsh competition. Unfortunately the long bus ride to North East Wales proved unsuccessful when they were defeated 4-0 by Connah's Quay.
Champions.
In a game fitting of a final, the girls U 14 team became Dyfed Champions when they beat Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi 4-3 in the final. Trailing 2-0 just before half time the girls showed plenty of determination to come back from behind and take the title with Heidi Davies of Year 8 scoring a hat-trick in the process. As with the U16 boys team, they are now through to the last eight of the Welsh competition and another long trip to North Wales, this time to Llandudno, awaits them.
Netball.
The girls U16 team have had a successful season. Winning both the Llanelli and Dyfed title they went on to pick up a third placed spot in the Welsh National championships in Bangor.
Squash.
Competing against older opposition in the Llanelli U18 tournament, the school teams acquitted themselves well, with the A Team gaining the runners up place and the B Team winning the plate.
Indoor Athletics.
Jenna Jones, Melissa Hughes, Leanne Bowen of Year 8 and Katie Clement of Year 9 represented West Wales in the Welsh Schools Championships in Cardiff in early March. Jenna Jones gained a silver medal in the sprint and went on to represent Wales in both the sprint and relay at the Great Britain Championships in Birmingham where she came a creditable fifth in the sprint event.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
The annual St. David's Day Eisteddfod proved a real nail biter this year. The winner wasn't decided until the very last event. With the standard of performances as high as ever it was the turn of Morlais House to win the 'Shield'.
Jack Felton of Year 11 won his third Chair in a row when he took the English Chair and Hannah Staphnill of Year 9 won the Welsh Chair.
'@Bristol' Visit.
Thanks to a grant received as part of 'Science Year', eighty four Year 8 pupils had a full day of science activities at this science centre in Bristol. All pupils came back enthused and excited about the subject, having had plenty of demonstrations and hands-on experiments to carry out.
Year 7 Urdd Visit.
The annual Welsh Department trip to Llangrannog proved to be its usual success. Forty five pupils from Year 7, two pupils from Year 11 and five members of staff engaged in two and a half days of frantic activity and little sleep. With a whole host of activities, such as horse riding, quad bikes, tobogganing, skiing, swimming, roller blading and many more.
Everyone looked forward to a well deserved rest when they returned home.
Young Enterprise.
Under the leadership and guidance of Mrs Vicky Harries, the enterprise company set up by Scott Beynon, Matthew Cooper, Phillip Evans, Elizabeth Evans, Craig Postlethwaite and Carly Rees has gone from strength to strength. The company was set up to sell mouse mats and screen savers for computers. Firstly they won an all expenses paid trip to County Wexford, Ireland as one of eight teams from South West Wales. When they arrived to watch the finals of the Irish Schools Young Enterprise competition, they were judged to be the best entry from all the Welsh participants.
Easter Revision Course.
The television rental company 'Pay As You View' are again sponsoring four days of intensive revision during the Easter holidays for Year 11 pupils. As a result eighteen of our pupils will have extra tuition in Maths, English and Science which should help them raise their standards of achievements in these three core subjects.
Buen Viaje.
Modern art enthusiasts in Year 9 and 10 are in for a real treat this Easter when they visit Barcelona with the Art Department. Visits to Picasso's museum and Gaudi's Park to view his mosaic forms are scheduled, together with recreational visits to the 'Neu Camp' stadium, the 'Dancing Fountains' at the Olympic Village and Port Aventura Theme Park. If time allows, and the pupils and staff are not spent out, a shopping spree at Las Ramblas is also on the cards.
Inter-Schools Quiz.
In the annual LlanelIi Inter-Schools Quiz organised and staged in Coleg Sir Gâr, our team of Rhys Fisher (Year 10), Tom Platt (Year 9) and Kate Edwards (Year 8) came a very close second to Coedcae School. After ten rounds of ten questions, a mere 1½ points separated us from the winners.
Library Extension.
Work has just started on the development of a new Library suite. The wall between the existing Library and F1 is being knocked down to establish a much larger facility from which we will all benefit.
Don't forget that School starts back after the Easter break on Tuesday 16 April.
Happy Easter Everyone.
All five secondary schools in Llanelli took part in the annual 'Youth Speaks' debating competition held in the council chamber at the Town Hall earlier this term.Whilst the judges congratulated all the schools on attaining a very high standard of debate, the laurels belonged to Bryngwyn who scooped two of the three awards.
Considering the motion 'Media hype exploits children', our team of Jack Felton, Kayleigh Phillips and Sarah Evans of Year 11 won the Best Team, with Jack walking away with the prize of Best Speaker.
Positively Mad
Thirty Year 11 pupils attended a course at the Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen in February to try and fine tune their memory skills in preparation for their forthcoming GCSE exams.
The audience were taught various techniques and strategies for accelerating learning and efficient revision. These consisted of Mind Maps, Journey Techniques and How to Learn Foreign Words.
The response from all concerned was very positive with many of the pupils not only enjoying the style of presentation but also planning to put what they had learnt into practice.
Oxbridge Success.
The School continues its tradition of recent years by having ex-pupils accepted at one of the Oxbridge Colleges. This time it is the turn of David Lupini, our ex-head boy, who has been offered a place at Christ's College, Cambridge to study medicine.
Croeso Cynnes Iawn
When we return after the Easter break the new Head of English will be in post. Miss Alison Collins, an ex-head girl at Bryngwyn, returns to her old school after a break of nine years.
Miss Collins left Bryngwyn in 1993 after completing her A-levels in English, History and French. She spent the next three years gaining an English degree at St. Hughes College, Oxford and after two spells of teaching at Glan Y Môr and Amman Valley, returns to familiar territory to take over the reigns of the English department. A warm welcome is also extended to Mr. Edwin Davies who joins the Geography Department. We hope their stay is both rewarding and enjoyable.
Pastures New.
As two new members of staff join us after the Easter break, two will be leaving Bryngwyn. Mrs Ruth Stevenson our reprographics technician is going to set up her own company. Her cheerful disposition and helpful manner will be missed by all.
Mr David Thomas who has been travelling to school from Haverfordwest on a daily basis deserves a special thank you. Mr Thomas took up a temporary appointment eighteen months ago when he replaced Miss Catrin Jones. Their service to the School has been exemplary and we wish them both every success in the future. Pob hwyl!
Maths Challenge.
The top sets in Years 10 and 11 sat a challenging one hour paper set by the United Kingdom Maths Trust. Fifteen pupils in all received certificates with Jack Felton, Emily Pullham and Alex Laffan gaining gold awards, Pearl Newton, Adam Wilson, Rebecca Baul and Azzedine Bouleghlimat gaining silver awards and James Beynon, Ian James-Tall, Matthew Bennett, Sophie Davies, Sam Clifton, Ryan Ellis, Gareth Taylor and Matthew Morns gaining bronze awards.
Sporting Digest.
Football
Welsh Cap
After a successful Welsh trial last term, Wayne Thomas was selected to represent Wales against Eire in Dublin to win his Welsh Cap at U15 level.
Quarter-finalists.
The Boys Ul6s reached the final of the Dyfed Championships, and as such went through to the last eight of the Welsh competition. Unfortunately the long bus ride to North East Wales proved unsuccessful when they were defeated 4-0 by Connah's Quay.
Champions.
In a game fitting of a final, the girls U 14 team became Dyfed Champions when they beat Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi 4-3 in the final. Trailing 2-0 just before half time the girls showed plenty of determination to come back from behind and take the title with Heidi Davies of Year 8 scoring a hat-trick in the process. As with the U16 boys team, they are now through to the last eight of the Welsh competition and another long trip to North Wales, this time to Llandudno, awaits them.
Netball.
The girls U16 team have had a successful season. Winning both the Llanelli and Dyfed title they went on to pick up a third placed spot in the Welsh National championships in Bangor.
Squash.
Competing against older opposition in the Llanelli U18 tournament, the school teams acquitted themselves well, with the A Team gaining the runners up place and the B Team winning the plate.
Indoor Athletics.
Jenna Jones, Melissa Hughes, Leanne Bowen of Year 8 and Katie Clement of Year 9 represented West Wales in the Welsh Schools Championships in Cardiff in early March. Jenna Jones gained a silver medal in the sprint and went on to represent Wales in both the sprint and relay at the Great Britain Championships in Birmingham where she came a creditable fifth in the sprint event.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
The annual St. David's Day Eisteddfod proved a real nail biter this year. The winner wasn't decided until the very last event. With the standard of performances as high as ever it was the turn of Morlais House to win the 'Shield'.
Jack Felton of Year 11 won his third Chair in a row when he took the English Chair and Hannah Staphnill of Year 9 won the Welsh Chair.
'@Bristol' Visit.
Thanks to a grant received as part of 'Science Year', eighty four Year 8 pupils had a full day of science activities at this science centre in Bristol. All pupils came back enthused and excited about the subject, having had plenty of demonstrations and hands-on experiments to carry out.
Year 7 Urdd Visit.
The annual Welsh Department trip to Llangrannog proved to be its usual success. Forty five pupils from Year 7, two pupils from Year 11 and five members of staff engaged in two and a half days of frantic activity and little sleep. With a whole host of activities, such as horse riding, quad bikes, tobogganing, skiing, swimming, roller blading and many more.
Everyone looked forward to a well deserved rest when they returned home.
Young Enterprise.
Under the leadership and guidance of Mrs Vicky Harries, the enterprise company set up by Scott Beynon, Matthew Cooper, Phillip Evans, Elizabeth Evans, Craig Postlethwaite and Carly Rees has gone from strength to strength. The company was set up to sell mouse mats and screen savers for computers. Firstly they won an all expenses paid trip to County Wexford, Ireland as one of eight teams from South West Wales. When they arrived to watch the finals of the Irish Schools Young Enterprise competition, they were judged to be the best entry from all the Welsh participants.
Easter Revision Course.
The television rental company 'Pay As You View' are again sponsoring four days of intensive revision during the Easter holidays for Year 11 pupils. As a result eighteen of our pupils will have extra tuition in Maths, English and Science which should help them raise their standards of achievements in these three core subjects.
Buen Viaje.
Modern art enthusiasts in Year 9 and 10 are in for a real treat this Easter when they visit Barcelona with the Art Department. Visits to Picasso's museum and Gaudi's Park to view his mosaic forms are scheduled, together with recreational visits to the 'Neu Camp' stadium, the 'Dancing Fountains' at the Olympic Village and Port Aventura Theme Park. If time allows, and the pupils and staff are not spent out, a shopping spree at Las Ramblas is also on the cards.
Inter-Schools Quiz.
In the annual LlanelIi Inter-Schools Quiz organised and staged in Coleg Sir Gâr, our team of Rhys Fisher (Year 10), Tom Platt (Year 9) and Kate Edwards (Year 8) came a very close second to Coedcae School. After ten rounds of ten questions, a mere 1½ points separated us from the winners.
Library Extension.
Work has just started on the development of a new Library suite. The wall between the existing Library and F1 is being knocked down to establish a much larger facility from which we will all benefit.
Don't forget that School starts back after the Easter break on Tuesday 16 April.
Happy Easter Everyone.