20 Jul 2007 - Bryngwyn Matters 41 (JUly 2007)

 

Happy Retirement

As we approach the end of the academic year it is time to bid a fond farewell to three long standing members of the school teaching staff. Mrs Jennifer Prestcott started at Bryngwyn in 1978, just one year after the school opened and after a brief break has been here ever since as a member of the English Department. Mr Wyn Jones and Mrs Mary Morgan both took up their appointments in the Technology Department in 1979. All three have done sterling work over their many years and we wish them all a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Also leaving us for pastures new is Miss Catrin Thomas who has been with us for the past two years in the P.E. Department. We wish her well in her new post

Baby Boon

The 'storks' have been busy flying over the school this year delivering babies to various members of the female staff. The latest additions this term are: Ffion to Mrs Katherine Jones; Osian to Ms Angharad Rhisiart and Morgan to Mrs Sarah Bradley. Mothers and babies are are all doing well.

Tragic Loss

The whole school community was shocked to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of Year 10 pupil Mehran Akhtar last month. Mehran had suffered from ill health over a number of years but had never complained and always enjoyed school life to the full. Our thoughts and sympathy are extended to his family and friends.

College Quiz

After winning the trophy for the Coleg Sir Gâr inter-schools quiz for the past two years, the school team had to be content with second place this year. After ten rounds of searching questions our team of Karim Bouleghlimat (Year 10), James Beckett (Year 9), Morgan Thomas (Year 8) and William Bonnell (Year 7) aquitted themselves well, but not quite good enough to beat Coedcae the eventual winners. No £100 cheque for the school this year, but each team member earned themselves a £10 gift token. Well done to you all.

Three Counties Orchestra

Most of the members of this orchestra, made up of talented musicians from the counties of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, not surprisingly, are made up of sixth form students. It is therefore with particular pride we can boast the inclusion of two of our pupils. Craig Thomas (Year 10) and Christopher Smith (Year 9).

CYCA Update

Thanks to our association with Carmarthenshire Youth Childrens' Association our pupils have benefited from a range of after school clubs and activities. Here is just a small sample of its success:

First Aid - 42 pupils have attended the First Aid Certificate course and have completed and passed the examination consisting of practical and theoretical aspects of first aid.

Bike Maintenance - 8 pupils have passed their Basic Mountain Bike Maintenance Course.

Fly Fishing - 8 pupils went on a fly fishing trip to Pontybedw, Natgaredig and each one came back with a trout for their supper.

Music Therapy - 10 pupils took part in a music therapy course which was run in the Antioch Centre. The course led to the pupils achieving both the Youth Activity and Youth Challenge Award accredited by Asdan.

Sporting Digest

Rugby

As predicted in the last newsletter, Luke Lewis, Year 11, went on to gain his Welsh cap at U'16 level. He made the starting line up in their game against Italy and came on as a substitute against both England and France, scoring a consolation try in the England match.

Tennis

In the Year 8 boys tennis tournament held at Llanelli Tennis Club as part of our activities week at the end of term, Ross Etherington beat Rhys Morgan in three sets in the final. In the Inter-Year tournament held this term, Ryan Blakeway was the Year 7 champion, Rhys Morgan, Year 8 and Ben Williams, Year 9.

Athletics

The following pupils were winners at the Llanelli Schools Athletics Competition:
Tony Lewis (Year 7) - 100m and 200m
Henry Hughes (Year 8) - 100m hurdles
Shaun Youngman (Year 9) - Triple Jump
Rhys Webb (Year 10) - 100m hurdles, 200m and Javelin.

French Music Tour

The Music and Modern Foreign Language Departments teamed up to take 49 pupils to Normandy in the last week of term. A mixture of cultural and historical visits were accompanied by the delivery of a musical concert in the grounds of the Chateaux at Caen. As a practice run, the orchestra and choir provided an evening of music and song at the Calsonic club on 4 July.

Tregwaith

The Careers Company ran another excellent day for Year 9 pupils in early May. Taking on the roles of 24 year olds living in a typical small Welsh community they gained an insight into the responsibilities of young adults when making decisions that would affect both themselves and others in their fictitious village. Working out how much tax was taken from their monthly salaries was a rude awakening to the adult world.

'A way with words'

In a 11-18 age group competition run by the 'Young Writers', 83 of our pupils were winners and had their poems published in this year's publication 'A way with words'. A phenomenal result considering no one at Bryngwyn is older than 16!

Glan-Llyn

On the weekend of July 13-16, two Year 10 pupils, Tom Jenkins and Craig Lewis, attended the Urdd camp at Glan-Llyn, Bala. They both had a great time taking part in activities such as sailing, canoeing and white water rafting. Good luck to the group of Year 8 pupils who are attending the camp in August.

Iaith ar Waith 2007

On Wednesday 18 July as part of our end of term activities, 140 Year 9 pupils enjoyed a morning of Welsh language activities in the ninth annual 'Iaith ar Waith' morning. The contributors this year were many and varied and included representatives from the media, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Urdd. The highlight of the morning however, was the contribution of the actor Dafydd Hywel who had the pupils spellbound with stories of his career and how being able to speak Welsh has given him opportunities he would otherwise not have had. Many thanks to the ten companies who provided the sessions and to the staff who helped ensure that the day was such a success. Congratulations to Hannah Elliott who won the prize for the best answers to the questionnaire.

School Quiz

After a morning in the Welsh careers convention Year 9 pupils were put through their paces by 8 rounds of challenging questions set by Mrs Ellis of the English Department. The winning team of six included: Rhian Webber, Alissa Vereschinsky, Rachel Churm, Hannah Elliot (again!), Adele Powell and Abi Ryan. Their winning score of 54 out of 60 was too much to handle for the remaining teams. The staff team apparently refused an answer sheet when offered - rumour has it they couldn't be seen to be beaten by the younger generation!!

Building Work

When you return to school on Tuesday 4th September all the work which has started at the end of term on the improvements for disability access should have been completed. To bring us in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, no expense is being spared to ensure that disabled people are not treated less favourably than others in respect to accessibility and training.