Sports Day: At Ysgol Glannau Gwaun

IT’S BEEN an exciting year for Ysgol Glannau Gwaun. 

The school is proud to have won the Pembrokeshire Eco Bronze and Silver Awards for its work carried out in the essential area of environmental awareness.

These awards follow the school’s achievement of the Silver Sustainable Schools certificate in 2015, thanks to the staff and pupils’ dedication to Eco-based areas.

These areas include transport, healthy living, littering, and the local environment and community. The pupils and staff also looked at the school and its uses.

They have undertaken thorough investigations and utilised IT to research their findings. With Mr Tim Owen as Co-ordinator, an Eco club was set up under the tuition of Mrs Bethan Homer.

Thanks go to Tom Latter, Deputy Chairman of the Governing Body, who has greatly helped the school and given an invaluable input. The school would also like to thank Mrs Janie Pridham and Mr Tim Brew for their support over the last two years.

The children were presented with the Pembrokeshire Eco Awards by Miss Kiri Howell, The Education Officer for Keep Wales Tidy. Ysgol Glannau Gwaun will now progress to the next stage in the Eco process, to try and achieve the Eco Green Flag.

Two sports days were held recently; one for the Foundation Phase and one for pupils in Key Stage Two. Support from the parents was fantastic during both events. A fun and friendly atmosphere was complemented by dry weather and a touch of competitiveness. Special thanks go to Mrs Helen McLoughlin, PE teacher and specialist, for her dedication to training the pupils for the events, and also to Mr Steffan Davies for his input as well.

The school would like to thank the Friends of Glannau Gwaun, who kindly provided refreshments for participants and spectators.

Congratulations to Huw Davies and Nia Jones for winning the Victor and Victrix Ludorum 2016.

Celebrating academic success is Holly Sinnot-Cleary from Year Six, who was recently awarded the Ysgol Glannau Gwaun Shield for maintaining a high standard of written and spoken Welsh. Her work carried out through the medium of Welsh has been fantastic. The school would like to wish Holly the best of luck at Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

As part of the school’s links with the community, WPC Helen Llewellyn had a lengthy discussion with senior pupils regarding the need to stay aware when faced with new and different scenarios and situations.

The pupils worked together in small groups with Mrs Bethan Homer following an IT presentation from Helen.

A night out under the stars was enjoyed this year by 84 pupils, accompanied by a large group of staff, including the Headteacher and Deputy.

The camp was set up in the school’s gated and fenced off playing field, to ensure complete safety for the children. The children and staff were unphased by the less than nice weather, and a singalong around the campfire with Mr Williams playing his guitar made the night one to remember for everyone involved.

A number of exciting trips also took place at Ysgol Glannau Gwaun this year.

Pupils were invited to see a famous reminder of 1979’s Last Invasion of Britain as part of their study of the local area.

Raymond and Valerie Llewlin are the owners of Bristgarn Farm, which is home to a peculiar grandfather clock.

During the invasion, one of the French soldiers became alarmed by the clock’s ticking noise, and fired his musket into it. The two bullet holes in the clock are still visible to this day.

Years One and Two of Reception enjoyed a very warm welcome from Folly Farm during their recent trip to the Welsh attraction, and the weather was fantastic too!

Thanks must go to the staff at Folly Farm for providing the children with wonderful memories of meeting all of the wonderful animals and wildlife.

A recent visit to Fishguard Harbor was also thoroughly enjoyed by pupils from Years One and Two.

The keen children had fun meeting the Lifeboat crew and trying on their rescue clothes.

This was followed by an interesting tour around the Stena ship and Captain’s Bridge.

The school would like to thank the Harbour staff for the patience and kindness. On the last day of term, Year Six pupils demonstrated a number of talents in front of a captivated audience, consisting of pupils, staff, parents and families.

Some of the exciting demonstrations included dancing, singing, playing the piano, martial arts skills and even a pet chicken!

Each pupil leaving was then presented with a personalised leaver’s hoodie and notebook from the Friends of Ysgol Glannau Gwaun. As a retirement gift, Mr Tim Owen was also given his own hoodie, which he greatly appreciated.

Finally, the pupils were thanked for their contributions to the school by the Headmaster, who wished them the best of luck in their futures.

The following staff left Glannau Gwaun at the end of term: Mrs Mari Jones, Deputy Headteacher; Mr Tim Owen, Teacher; Mrs Hefina Evans, LSA; Miss Helen Evans, LSA; Mr Paul Thomas, LSA; Mrs Roz Harries, LSA; and Mrs Susan MacLeod,

NNEB LSA. The Governing Body and entire school community wish them well.

Thanks also to teachers, Mrs Melody Griffiths, Mrs Claire Sommerville and Mrs Lydia Lawrence for their invaluable contributions. The School welcomes back next term Mrs Nicola Williams, Senior Teacher, and Miss Bethan Rees, who has been on secondment in the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.