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Education

Brush up your Shakespeare this March

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Celebrating Shakespeare’s legacy: 400 years on

EVERY primary school in the UK can book their place on the first-ever virtual school trip to the childhood home of William Shakespeare, as part of an innovative digital launch programme planned for Shakespeare Week in March 2016.

School children from Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon will become tour guides in the digital production, which will be hosted by Baroness Floella Benjamin. There will also be an opportunity to take part in a live Q&A with a panel of experts, chaired by Baroness Floella.

Shakespeare Week was established by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 2014 as a way to share and celebrate Shakespeare’s creative legacy with every primary school child in the country.  This year, more than 1.5 million children in 10,000 primary schools are expected to take part in Shakespeare Week.

Vote for your favourite Shakespeare play

Over the next few months, children will also get the chance to vote for a Shakespeare play they would most like to see, live in their classrooms. Excerpts from the top three plays voted by children will be brought to life by a troop of actors and beamed into classrooms during Shakespeare Week.  To help them decide, teachers will be able to download free resources available on the Shakespeare Week website.

Passport to Shakespeare

Children will have access to a free Passport to Shakespeare, containing fun activities for the whole family including information about how to take part in free Shakespeare-themed events at public libraries and cultural attractions near where they live.

Free award-winning resources for schools

Shakespeare Week has recently won Best Educational Initiative in the Museum and Heritage Awards for its resources, impact and engagement  – offering teachers a wealth of fun free resources across every curriculum subject, including new KS1 and KS2 resources for 2016.

Jacqueline Green, head of learning and participation at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said: “As we welcome the world to Stratford-upon-Avon next year in celebration of 400 years of Shakespeare’s legacy, we are taking young William Shakespeare’s world live to classrooms all across the UK. Through Shakespeare Week we will bring his legacy to brilliant life to inspire young minds across the nation.”

Shakespeare Week is a free scheme for primary school children and their families, run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. To register, access free resources and take part in Shakespeare Week 2016, visit www.shakespeareweek.org.uk

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Education

Second Pembrokeshire Chess Tournament celebrates youth and skill

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THE SECOND Pembrokeshire Chess Tournament drew participants from 21 schools across the region, culminating in a day of intense competition and camaraderie.

The tournament, reported by Vicky Brown, saw young chess enthusiasts gather for a day marked by strategic gameplay and exceptional talent. Henry Burton from Redhill emerged victorious, claiming the top spot in a closely contested field. The duo of Steffan Hughes and Huw Holliday, also from Redhill, followed closely in second place, while Osian Griffiths (Ysgol Caer Elen), Bryn Williams (Milford Haven Community School), and Iolo Hughes (Redhill) shared the third place, showcasing the depth of talent present among the participants.

In recognition of outstanding sportsmanship, Carys Callan from Redhill was honoured with the ‘David Pinch Award’, embodying the spirit of fair play and respect that marked the tournament. A special mention was given to Tyler Davison-Hall from Johnston CP School for participating in the Game of the Tournament, further highlighting the event’s competitive yet friendly atmosphere.

The tournament benefitted significantly from the expertise of Ian Eustis from the Welsh Chess Union, who served as Arbiter, ensuring the smooth running of the games. The event was also supported by Martin Jones and Scott Hammett, who took on the roles of stewards, and the Friends of Redhill (FOR), who managed the refreshments, contributing to the day’s success.

The local chess community, including participants and spectators, expressed their appreciation for the organisational efforts that made the event possible. For those interested in furthering their chess skills, the Pembrokeshire Chess Club extends an invitation to meet on Tuesday evenings in Steynton. Martin Jones, contactable at 07884384131, is available for further details regarding membership and participation.

Looking ahead, Redhill is poised to host its next chess tournament on Saturday, 8th June, promising another opportunity for young chess players to demonstrate their skills and passion for the game. The success of this event not only highlights the thriving chess scene in Pembrokeshire but also sets the stage for future tournaments that continue to inspire and engage the youth in the noble game of chess.

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Education

Don’t miss out on help with school essentials

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88% of those eligible have claimed their free School Essentials grant to help with costs like school uniform, shoes, bags, sports kit and equipment. Have you claimed yours?

Children of families on lower incomes who receive certain benefits, those seeking asylum and children in care can claim £125 per year to help with school costs. Because of the extra cost families might face when their children start secondary school, £200 is available for eligible pupils going into year 7. It could also mean extra funding for your school.

There’s still time to check eligibility and apply for this year’s funding now before applications close on 31 May.

You can apply every year for each of your children. Pupils from all kinds of education settings are eligible as long as they are aged 5-16. This applies to pupils in all schools and settings, including special schools and pupil referral units.

Headteacher of Ysgol Gymunedol Trimsaran, Steffan Jones, explained how the grant helps pupils at his school: “You want every child to be treated the same, and you want every child to have the same experiences. These grants do help, so that all children can get involved and enjoy their time at school, not just those who can afford it.”

The grant can be used to pay for:

  • school uniform, including coats and shoes.
  • school activities, like learning a musical instrument, sports kit and equipment for after school activities.
  • classroom essentials, like pens, pencils and bags.

Even if your child already receives a Free School Meal, you still need to check eligibility to access the School Essentials Grant and extra funding for your school. To find out more about the Schools Essentials Grant and to check eligibility, visit Get help with school costs | GOV.WALES

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Charity

Bags of Books returns to Milford Haven and surrounding areas this Easter

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THE INFAMOUS Bags of Books is set to return to Milford Haven and surrounding areas over the Easter holidays.

Milford Haven School who launched the project with Milford Youth Matters over 3 years ago are continuing in their bid to improve literacy skills and encourage a love of reading for pleasure by giving away over 700 books.

Thanks to funding from the South Hook LNG Community grant they have purchased books for young people of all ages and reading abilities and will be hanging them on the fences of the schools in their catchment area.

The community are invited to come and choose a book from the following locations over the Easter holidays:

  • Neyland Community Primary School – Monday 25th March
  • Johnston Community Primary School – Tuesday 26th March
  • Coastlands Primary School – Wednesday 27th March
  • Gelliswick Primary School – Tuesday 2nd April
  • Milford Haven Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April
  • St Francis Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April

Milford Haven Secondary School will also hang over 150 books on their fence after the Easter Holidays on Wednesday 10th April for those in our community who cannot attend the other locations.

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