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Flourishing Learning

Environment

Ysgol Uwchradd Y Drenewydd

Newtown High School

Newsletter

Summer 2011

C A N U

This term, our school proves that we can help not only nationally, but internationally, with the rising success of Dolen Ffermio.

In This Issue:

• P.2:Dolen Ffermio makes big impact. • P.3: SNAG, School Dinners and Science. • P.4-5:Sport Special. • P.6: Retirement, Rewards and Really Cool

People. • P.7: NHS ♥ Newtown & Awesome Achieve-

ments • P.8: Activities Week • P.9: Black & White Ball • P.10: School Eisteddfod • P.11: Important Notices, Dates & Contact

Info

Dolen Ffermio - Helping

Another High School

Around three weeks ago we welcomed a very special guest to our school. Val

Talbot has been a great help in establishing our link with Mukongoro high

school in Uganda. Our latest cause was to raise £1,000 for a new fence

around the school, to keep unwanted animals out of the grounds. This would

have a massive impact on school life as they could grow their own food near-

by without it being torn to shreds by intruding goats or other animals.

It was important that the money we raised for the fence was transported

across safely, as pos%ng such a large sum of money would be extremely risky

and costly for our partner school to exchange into Ugandan currency. A'er all

our efforts to raise the money, it would be terrible to lose it.

This is where Val proved invaluable. She a*ended an assembly of ours to ex-

plain more about how she transported the money and received a warm wel-

come into Mukongoro high school. Without her help it would be almost im-

possible to help the school as we have. A big thank you to Val, as well as all

pupils who contributed in Newtown High School’s Got Talent, bake sales with

Mrs. Vernon and other fundraising events. As a school community we have

made a difference!

2.

SNAG, School Dinners &

Science

Congratulations to Miss Wood’s Year 9 Chemistry Team who recently participated in a Chemistry quiz in Aberystwyth. Ffion But-ler, Thea Hughes, Megan Irving and Rebec-ca Smith used various practical tests to com-plete the challenge and left the seaside with a fantastic fourth prize. Well done girls!

The school has turned over yet another new leaf! Last week saw the school suc-cessfully securing its third Healthy Schools Award and another leaf shaped

plaque to add to the expanding collection. This means that the school has suc-cessfully maintained the actions already put in place, through PSRE and the in-volvement of SNAG (School Nutrition Action Group). But we’re not stopping

there...in September we will start preparing for Phase 4. Bring it on!

SNAG also a*ended a conference in Llandrindod where they were asked to do

a presenta%on on the work we have done in the school canteen. Mary Evans,

Healthy Schools Assessor, said that “the work done on healthy ea%ng in New-

town High School is not just good it’s ground breaking!” Well done everyone!

3.

An exci%ng %me is here for New-

town High School! As most of

you may well know by now, our

school over the past few months

has been in the middle of build-

ing new changing rooms - and

now, they’re ready! The next

project is for the outdoor facili-

%es at the back of school to be

improved, for which work has al-

ready started. Watch this

space...

Congratula%ons go to several individuals for spor%ng success outside of

school. Mr Thurston completed the Across Wales Walk, a grand total of 42

miles, raising £340 for Severn Hospice. Mrs Thomas (Maths) and Sophie Main-

waring (Yr10) also completed the walk. Addi%onally, Mrs Loxam successfully

completed her first triathlon, which involved swimming, biking and running.

Say hello to Newtown

High School’s latest

addi�on - the new

changing rooms!

Brand new facilities

4.

Powys Schools Athle%cs Championships in Brecon (May):

* Lloyd Powell (Yr11) - 1st in the 1500m Steeplechase

* Faye Rees (Yr11) - 1st in the 100m Hurdles

* Jordan Dean (Yr8) - 2nd in the High Jump

* Mat Howarth (Yr8) - 1st & 2nd in the Shot & Discus

* Harry Owen (Yr9) - 1st in the 800m

* Jack Owen (Yr10) - 2nd in the High Jump

* Jodeci Dean (Yr11) - 3rd in the 100m Hurdles

* Richard Davies (Yr11) - 3rd in the 400m

* David Powell (Yr11) - 2nd & 3rd in the Hammer & 400m Hurdles

* Year 8 boys relay team - 3rd

NASUWT Powys School Athle%cs in Newtown (June):

* Jak Renshaw (Yr11) - 1st in the 200m middle boys

* Kieran Stacey (Yr11) - 1st in the 800m middle boys

* Harry Owen (Yr9) - 1st in the 800m junior boys

* Charlie Humphreys (Yr9) - 2nd in the 1500m junior boys

* Richard Davies (Yr11) - 2nd in the 1500m middle boys

* Jodeci Dean (Yr 11) - 1st in the High Jump middle boys

* Robbie Howells (Yr 9) - 2nd in the Long Jump junior boys

* Lauren Moore (Yr 11) - 3rd in the Long Jump middle girls

* Imogen Rendall—2nd in the Hurdles junior girls

Athletics

Cricket Both teams put up a valiant effort in

Caereinion this month. Despite playing

brilliantly, our Under 13’s didn’t quite

manage to secure a win, but the Under

16’s won by 23 runs. Well done every-

one! 5.

Retirement, Rewards and

Really Cool People!

Following last term’s coverage of

Ffion Butler’s success in the BBC

Radio 2 500 word short story

compe%%on, we can say that,

whilst she didn’t manage to hit

the top spot, she DID get to

meet the celebrity Chris Evans!

Congratula%ons for reaching the

final stages Ffion.

For Newtown High School pupils and staff members,

school is almost out for the summer. But for maths

teacher, Mr John Davies, this year will be different as

he prepares to re%re, closing the book on his 37 year

career at the school.

Mr. Davies is a much loved teacher who will be greatly

missed by students and colleagues alike. Mrs Pryce

and all the staff at the school wish him a very happy

and well-deserved re%rement. Anyone who would like

to wish him well can send cards and messages via the

school office.

Elections have taken place and New-town High School can now announce its new head pupils: Head Girl: Lauren Robinson Head Boy: Jack Taylor Deputy Head Girl: Rosie Powell Deputy Head Boy: Richard Williams

6.

Rotary Interna%onal District 1180

have awarded a Presiden%al Cita%on

to our Interact Club. District Gover-

nor Gwynn Dryhurst presented this

award to Hannah Stead Jones, our

Interact President. Projects that the

group undertook in 2010/11 includ-

ed raising funds for: The Disabled

Games, The Across Wales Walk, Shel-

terbox, Air Ambulance, Hope House

and much more besides. Congratula-

%ons to the group.

Congratula%ons also to Mollie

Hughes, who recently won the Rota-

ry Wri%ng Award. Well done Mollie!

NHS ♥’s Newtown

Awesome Achievements

Last Friday saw local architect Doug Hughes launching the ‘We ♥ Newtown’

project to the school community. Doug presented to students from across Key

Stages 3 & 5, asking for their views regarding the future of Newtown. Once his

presenta%on was complete, students returned to their tutor groups to discuss

the ideas put forward in the presenta%on and to come up with some of their

own. These will be fed through to the student council and passed on to Doug

who will be returning in September to see what we’ve come up with.

Several Year 10 students have just com-

pleted their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

Award. To achieve this, students had to

volunteer in the community, develop a

skill, complete camping expedi%ons and

undertake physical exercise. You may

have seen Chris Cole in the County

Times for cre-

a%ng a steam

engine from

scratch as his

skill!

Well done

everyone!

7.

Year 10

As part of their Welsh Baccalaureate, Year 10 students spent an Appren%ce-

style day crea%ng their own business proposals to present. These proposals

will be pitched to a commi*ee and those running the successful pitch will

have the opportunity to actually set up and run with their business idea.

Year 11

This week our Year 11 pupils have tried their hand at a range of different jobs

in the local community. In their placements, which range between more than

50 companies, schools and businesses, they have developed new skills and

had a taste of life a'er school. Examples of the wide variety of different work

experience placements included:

• Jamie Cochrane - Tanat Valley Motors;

• Ciera Trigg - Hanra*y Solicitors;

• Cherie Bridges - Hope Day Nursery;

• Chloe Hamer - Vastre Veterinary Centre and

• Nathan Bucknall - Abermule Primary School.

Year 13

The focus of the week for Year 13 was

experiencing the languages and cul-

tures of different countries. Ac%vi%es

ranged from cooking to vocabulary

lessons, sports sessions to dancing!

Activities Week

8.

Black and White Ball

As part of our KS2-3 transi%on week the school

held a black-and-white themed summer ball.

New Year 7 pupils joined Years 8 & 9 in an

evening of music and fun to complete their

welcome to the school. The event was orga-

nized by Miss Harrison and the Sixth Form.

Funds raised from the evening are being given

to Shrewsbury’s Rainbow Ward and came to a

grand total of just under £500. Everyone had a

fantas%c evening, as you can see!

9.

School Eisteddfod

The whole school joined together for a morning of music, drama and entertain-

ment in the school’s annual Eisteddfod. Students from all key stages took part

and performed for an eager audience of Year 8-10 students. The winner of the

Chair for wri%ng in Welsh went to Ellie Hughes (Year 10) whilst Cherie Bridges

(Year 11) took the Chair for wri%ng in English.

It was a brilliant success and wri*en/ar%s%c compe%%ons can s%ll be seen on dis-

play boards around school.

10.

Contact details if your child is off school for any reason:

Telephone: 01686 626304

Text: 07969 793389

Email: absence@newtown-hs.powys.sch.uk

Holiday forms can be obtained from reception or the e-mail address

below.

Ffon/phone: 01686 626304

Facs/Fax: 01686 629956

Website: www.newtown-

hs.powys.sch.uk

This term’s newsletter has been compiled

by Sophie Thomas, Leanne Evans and

Cherie Bridges.

Measles Informa%on:

As you may or may not be informed already, there has recently been a mea-

sles outbreak in certain parts of Europe. Over the summer, we would like to

say that if at any %me you or your family experience any change in how you

are feeling, don’t hesitate to contact your GP or doctor. Remember, if your

child is going on the History trip to Belgium late on in the school year, it is

recommended that you are re-vaccinated against measles (possibly in the

form of an MMR booster) before you go. For any more informa%on

11.

The last day of term is Thursday 14th July and school will start again on

Monday September 5th.

Mrs Pryce wishes you a healthy, happy, resTul summer break.