News

An exciting year for Ysgol Glannau Gwaun

Published

8 years ago

August 16, 2016

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.

Crime

Manslaughter charge following death in Carmarthenshire

Published

32 seconds ago

April 29, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have confirmed Jason Thomas, 39, from Llanelli, has been charged with manslaughter following an incident on Saturday, March 25.

Police were called to a property in Robinson St, Llanelli to concerns for the welfare of a man.

Liam Rhys Morgan-Whittle, 22, was taken to hospital where he sadly passed away.

Jason Thomas was quickly arrested and later released on conditional bail while the police investigation continued.

He will appear at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 30, it has been confirmed.

***Passed away: Liam Rhys Morgan-Whittle***

News

£10,000 legal row over English-only parking charge notice continues

Published

5 mins ago

April 29, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE LANGUAGE campaigner Toni Schiavone will appear in court in Aberystwyth for the fourth time on Monday, 13 May over his refusal to pay an English-only parking charge notice, after the parking company One Parking Solution won an appeal to reintroduce the case in January.

This is despite the judge, Gareth Humphreys, warning that the company should carefully consider the value of continuing with a case that has already been “long, beyond unfortunate” and has cost the parking company over £10,000 in legal fees to date.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith have called on the court to rule that English-only parking charge notices are insufficient as ruled by the judge Mervyn Jones-Evans in a recent case in Caernarfon, and on the Welsh Government to legislate to ensure the rights of Welsh speakers in the private sector are respected.

Toni Schiavone received the English-only notice for not paying for parking in a car park in Llangrannog in September 2020.

The original case was thrown out of court in May 2022 because a representative from the parking company was not present, and the second case in August 2023 was also thrown out because the case was presented late and under incorrect rules.

On 26 January this year, One Parking Solution won an appeal enabling them to continue prosecuting Mr Schiavone, after the judge ruled that there were no grounds to throw the first two cases out of court.

Speaking at the hearing in January, Toni Schiavone said he had received a letter with costs of £10,156.70 a the day before from One Parking Solution, and that the company had acted “disrespectfully, unreasonably and vindictively.” According to research by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, translating the notice into Welsh would have cost only £60.

Siân Howys, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Welsh Language Rights Group said:

“It is disappointing that One Parking Solution have decided to resubmit this case, but the real reason Toni must appear in court yet again is because the rights of people who live in Wales to use the Welsh language are not ensured in statute. We have seen other cases of this recently as HSBC and the energy company OVO have weakened or even abolished their Welsh-medium services, without any serious response from our Government.

“We call on our members and supporters to be present on 13 May to support Toni, and to demand that the right to use the Welsh language in all aspects of life is respected through legislation.”

On 30 January, the Welsh Government voted against Heledd Fychan MS’s motion on behalf of Plaid Cymru in the Senedd to set Welsh Language Standards on a statutory basis for institutions in the private sector, such as banks, supermarkets and private car parks.

During the debate, Siân Gwenllian MS referred to Toni Schiavone’s case as an example of the need to legislate to ensure the rights of Welsh speakers. Discussing the parking company, she said:

“Once again, the response is arrogant and insulting.

“Why must Welsh speakers continue to campaign and demand services through the medium of Welsh?

“It is high time that the basic rights of Welsh speakers were respected through statute, and that in all aspects of life.”

Community

Anzac Day commemoration service held in Milford Haven

Published

21 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN a service held on Sunday (Apr 28), the Milford Haven Branch of the Royal British Legion led a poignant commemoration service to mark Anzac Day, honouring the valor and sacrifices of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.

The service, which took place at 11:00am, on Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, witnessed a significant turnout.

Attendees included members of the Australian Signals and Signal Company as well as representatives of Milford Haven Town Council and the Milford Haven Sea Cadets.

The service commenced with a welcome and introduction by Lt Col Warren Coetzer, followed by a rendition of the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, and Wales, embodying a spirit of unity and remembrance. The anthems were a moving tribute to the camaraderie and international bonds formed in times of conflict.

***ANZAC service: Remembering soldiers who fought bravely (Pic: MHTC)***

During the service, the Ode of Remembrance was recited, a profound moment that prompted reflection on the courage and fellowship of the ANZAC forces.

The emblematic Rising Sun Cap Badge and the Union Flag were prominently displayed on the event programme, symbolising the service and sacrifice of those who served under them.

Local dignitaries laid wreaths, and a two-minute silence was observed, offering a chance for personal reflection on the cost of war and the price of peace.

**Sea Cadets and member of the public at the service (Pic: MH Sea Cadets)**

The commemoration concluded with a prayer for peace, leaving the attendees with a message of hope and a renewed commitment to the values for which the ANZAC soldiers bravely fought.

The service was not just a remembrance of past sacrifices but also a reminder of the enduring spirit of the ANZACs, which continues to inspire and guide future generations.