Ysgol MAESTEG School Newsletter

Spring Term/Newyddiadur y Gwanwyn 2011

Headteacher’s Letter to parents

This has been an extremely eventful term with so much to celebrate. The “Safe Routes to School” is now open

with pupils able to access the school via the new entrance Mynedfa Ffordd Dysgu. We look forward to Llwybr Cwrt-y-

Mwnws opening in the next few weeks and more pupils

walking to school along the safe routes. Enhancement activities have flourished with pupils

participating in a range of competitions to challenge their skills.

I was delighted to see so many parents join us at the Careers Evenings, Progress Evenings and the school Musical

Concert.

Early next term we say farewell to our Year 11 and Year 13 students in readiness for their impending

examinations. Parents are reminded that all pupils have a revision programme. To ensure success this must be

adhered to. There are only 8 working days remaining for

students when they return after Easter so the Easter break needs to be used wisely. The difference between grades will

be determined by the amount of revision undertaken. Wishing you all an enjoyable Easter Break.

Ms A. Carhart

Dates of interest….

Please note the Summer term will end on

Thursday 21st July 2011.

Term starts— Tuesday, 3rd May, 2011

Yr 10 Parents Evening - 11 May (3.30pm—6pm)

Yr 8 Parents Evening -24 May (3.30pm—6pm)

Half Term Ends— Friday, 27 May, 2011

Summer Term starts Monday 6 June

INSET Days, 1st July and 4th July

A Level Exam Results Day— 18 August, 2011

GCSE Exam Results Day— 25 August, 2011

Riverside Project…. How proud and pleased we are to be included in the plans to

create a riverside walk from Caerau to Llangynwyd.

A group of pupils, supervised by Ms Diane Sayce have adopted a

section of the foot path which runs parallel to the Llynfi River near Cwmdu

Street.

They have been busy clearing paths, planting bulbs, collecting

litter and involved in educational programme learning about the wild life

that exists in the vicinity of the river. Opposite is a photograph of a

‘hibernacula’ and the pupils who created it, during their last visit. This

construction of stone, earth, branches and leaves provides a haven for

creatures, especially during the winter months.

Our future plans involve trips to the Parc Slip Wildlife centre, Kenfig

Nature Reserve and Bryngarw Park to learn more interesting facts about

our local environment.

We are also grateful to three pupils in particular, Ryan Morrin, Leigh Thomas and Cerys Jones 7P1 who

attended the official opening of the Cwmdu Street Bridge on Saturday, 29th January conducted by His Worship

The Town Mayor Councillor Phil John.

We, as a school, are committed to the development of the Riverside Walk which opens up the whole of

the Llynfi Valley for the benefit of residents and visitors to our community. We extend our thanks and gratitude to

Mr Doug Dixon and Diane O’Reilly (Llynfi Valley River Care Group) and Brian Jones (Keep Wales Tidy) who are

valued partners and friends of the school. Mrs S. Davies

Page 2 Ysgol MAESTEG School

This is the extract from Jessica Brocklebank -Year 8:

“A Day in the Life of a World War 2 Land Girl” Life in the valleys was

always tedious but it

became worse when

war came. Even more

children and working

men were sent down

into the dreary, dark,

black abysses that were

the pits.

I wasn't to go down

there; it was late 1939

when I had to move to my aunt’s, who I had never met before,

in Maesteg..

I was to go by train from Llandovery to there— people had

given Maesteg the nickname of 'The Home of Coal'...

Welsh Department News….

Emily Thomas (Yr 7) and Jes-sica Brocklebank (Yr 8) won

the chair/crown at the Eistedd-fod in school for their English

written entries

This is the extract from

Emily Thomas year 7: “The Land of my Fathers”

The land of my father’s is precious to me I open the curtains and what do I see?

The hills and the fields so green and bright The clouds in the sky so fluffy and light

The lambs in the fields, they skip and play While farmers toil both night and day

The cows move slowly, udders to burst Carrying milk to quench my brother's thirst

This wonderful land with streams running free

Summer time playing, a soaking for me Catching tiny tadpoles, getting very wet

Climbing a tall tree, just for a bet.

Maths Department News….

Trading Challenge Roadshow Last half term , as part of our STEM programme, a team from BP visited the school to work with Year 10. It was a 1 day, high impact course combining work on Maths, Science, Business and Enterprise. Pupils worked in 2 hour sessions in the gym, buying and selling shares in oil. In each round the groups had to decide how a world event such as climate or economic change would affect the price of oil before the financial expert for the team chose how many barrels to buy or sell. Each team comprised: • a Chair, who held the team together • a Market Analyst, who led on interpreting the news and advising the team whether to buy, sell or do nothing at all • a Trader, who did the actual trade by completing the trading forms and taking them to the Assistant Controller on time • and finally, an Accountant, who kept tabs on the financial state of the team and calculated profit or loss. There were prizes for the winning team in each session and fierce competition as each group tried to

get ahead of the others. Mr Carruthers

Art Department News….Urdd Competition Five pupils from Year 8 were selected to represent M a e s t e g School for the U r d d

competition. The pupils had to create a piece of work to be entered based on their local area. The pupils selected a landscape artist to inspire their work. The pupils who took part were Shauna Butts, Jack Fry, Amy Thomas, Megan Thomas and Non Watcharaphong. All pupils worked extremely hard and put in a lot of effort in their

own time as well as class time. We were very pleased to hear that Jack Fry and Amy Thomas were successful in the 1st stage of the competition and are now going through to the National Urdd competition. Below are photos of the c a n d i d a t e s w i t h t h e i r entries. Unfortunately Non was absent from School but his work is shown opposite….. Well done to all

Miss H. Jones

More Welsh news…..

Once again Yr 12 and 13 Welsh pupils have taken part in the Millennium Volunteers scheme - completing voluntary hours both in school and in the community. Llongyfarchiadau to Julia Hurley on reaching her 200 hour certificate, and to Siobhan Elward Jones, Natalie Davies, Nia Jenkins, Evan Pryce and Manon Thomas for completing over 100 hours. Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 Welsh and Spanish pupils were invited to the Chapter Arts in Cardiff on Thursday 31st March to watch the tri-lingual film 'Patagonia'. The film was subtitled but mainly in Welsh and Spanish and followed two stories between Wales and South America. All who attended were a credit to the school. One of the actors in the film, Rhys Parry Jones has offered to come in and speak to the pupils very soon. Diolch yn fawr i Sian Stephens from Menter Bro Ogwr for supporting staff on the visit. The editor from the Welsh magazine IAW responded to a recent e-mail from 9cw1 saying how impressed she was with their work - she asked for a photo to accompany the work for a double page spread in May’s edition. Copies can be seen in the Welsh teaching rooms. Da iawn

School Council News !! ( Cyngor Yr Ysgol ) The School Council are now well established and were congratulated on being a very eloquent and pro-active group by Ms Carhart. The notice board is in the atrium and together with the plasma screen will keep staff and

pupils up to date with issues and new initiatives. A number of sub - groups have been set up and 2 Yr 12 pupils have been given positions on the Governors Committee. We look forward to the future where pupils’ voices will continue to be heard and valued. Mrs Darra

F1 “Team Inferno”…... Congratulations to team Inferno, comprising of pupils from the Technology After– School club, who competed in the 2011 F1 In - schools competition. The team was entered for the South Wales regional final where they were judged on the speed/

performance of the car, as well as supporting evidence of their design, verbal presentation and marketing display. They won two awards: ―Best Sponsorship & Marketing‖ and ―Best New Team‖. The judges were very impressed and asked them to represent South Wales to compete in the UK final in London. In the UK Final the team again raced and presented their progress to a team of Jaguar judges. Unfortunately they were unsuccessful on the day against some very tough competition, but they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to next year. Mr. Will Jones

Annual Careers /

Options Evening Hundreds of parents and

pupils packed the school on a beautiful spring evening to make this year's event one of the best ever. Local colleges, universities from across Wales, Careers Wales, training providers, the Armed Forces, Tata Steel, the emergency services and other providers came to offer

help and guidance on possible future career paths for our Year 9 and Year 11 students. Also available for consultation were representatives of the school faculties, who had arranged superb displays of their work to help pupils make up their minds which subjects to take for GCSE or A level. Members of the Sixth Form provided invaluable help meeting and greeting parents and generally oiling the wheels of the evening. Thanks to them and indeed everyone who attended or helped put on this successful and enjoyable event.

Mrs Winkler

Cystadlu Yn Yr Urdd Competing In The Urdd

We are delighted with

the success of our

talented pupils in the

Urdd National Eisteddfod

this year.

The Urdd National

Eisteddfod is one of Europe’s largest

cultural, youth festivals and in 2011, it will be

held in Swansea. A family friendly event,

the Eisteddfod is a celebration of the Welsh

language and culture as well as a

showcase of young, Welsh talent.

Congratulations to: / Llongyfarchiadau i :

Harvey Rees Yr8 Who has reached the final

round of the Yrs 7 – 9 Trumpet Solo, at

Swansea in May.

Katie Rees Yr7 Who came 2nd in the Urdd

National Swimming Gala at Cardiff

International Pool in January.

Sian Wells Yr10 Who came 3rd in the

Urdd National Gymnastics Final in

Aberystwyth in February.

Also Amy Thomas and Jack Fry Yr8 and Nia

Powys Yr10, who have reached the final

adjudication in the Art and Textiles

competitions.

GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT ROUND!

POB LWC YN Y ROWND NESAF!

We are also proud of other pupils who

competed and represented the school

well. Sian Davies

Sixth Form news…..

Congratulations go to……...

Kate Jury (Yr 13) has been

accepted to work in ―Camp America‖ for

the Summer. We hope she has a great

time!

Amy Jenkins (Head Girl) and

Kate Jury for winning a bursary for

Aberystwyth University next year. I’m

sure that £1,000 will help!

Laura Jenkins (Yr 13) and Zoe

Williams (Yr 12) who have volunteered to

go to Africa in the Summer holidays and

work in an orphanage. We wish them

every success and also hope that they

really enjoy the experience.

Mrs Grifftiths

Prince’s Trust /Asdan and After-School Club news…..

Year 10 Prince's Trust pupils raised

£391.25 on "Go Red" for Wales day

(pictured right….)

Top left is a picture of Year 10 Asdan

―Wise for Life‖ activity at the

Adventures centre in Porthcawl. Pupils

enjoyed using the Climbing wall, giant

rope and obstacle climbing frame.

These pupils have also now successfully

completed and achieved their Prince’s

Trust Bronze awards.—Well done!

Middle left is a picture of Year 10

Asdan—Arson rap project with the Fire

Service. Designing and printing fire

safety, road safety tee-shirts.

Middle and bottom right are After

School cooking club with Mr. Hill and

Mrs Darra (alias Jamie & Delia). Pupils

have so far made Rice Krispie cakes,

Ham Salad wraps, Sausage rolls and

chocolate brownie cake.

*Engineering Education Scheme—Wales* Pupils and staff who represented the School at the EESW

Presentation at the Celtic Manor on 11th April, 2011

Year 13 pupils

Cathy Bastian and

Dale Toomey with

their model of the

Paper Mills at the

EESW Exhibition

held on 11th April

at the Celtic

Manor Resort.

After School Club Cinema

Trip Through the generosity of Cymorth (Young People’s Partnership) funding, we were able to reward 31 of our After School Club pupils with a free trip to the Odeon Cinema for their excellent attendance, to see a showing of Rango. The pupils, without exception, were a credit to Maesteg School, a fact which was commented on by a member of the public. On leaving the cinema each pupil was treated to a free Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream by the staff at the Odeon Cinema. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed this free excursion, and the accompanying staff would like to pass on their appreciation to the pupils for their excellent behaviour. The After School Club is available for all pupils interested in attending at Maesteg School, Monday – Thursday 3pm–5pm - at a cost of £1.00 per session. Some of the activities on offer include Craft Club, Cookery Club, Photography/IT club, Rock Climbing, Fitness/Sports Club, Mountain Biking and Archery.

Why not come along!!!!!!