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Ski Trip 2023 - Andorra

Over February half term we were excited to be able to resume our school ski trip following the period missed due to COVID. We had a full coach booked onto the trip for our inaugural visit to the slopes of Andorra. This was the first time the School had been Skiing in Andorra and it didn't disappoint. On our arrival in Andorra the weather was glorious with temperatures on our first day on the slopes reaching (a very warm) mid 20s. With some worry about whether the snow cover would last the week due to the heat we were told that snow was once again on its way. Over the next couple of days we had quite significant snowfall which refreshed the slopes and made for very pleasant ski conditions. 

It was great to see the progress that all students made throughout the week, from our beginners taking their first steps onto the slopes who managed to progress very well to tackle some of the more challenging runs through to our advanced skiers who found themselves comfortably skiing off piste with the guidance of their group instructor. 

We were really lucky with our accommodation, right in the heart of Andorra. It allowed students some time to explore the area in the evenings and make their 'duty free!' purchases. The hotel provided an ideal base and more food and choice of food at breakfast and dinner than we could have hoped for. 

Being in the city of Andorra meant we could take a short walk to visit the Caldea Spa. Billed as the largest spa in Southern Europe it certainly impressed. With its range of pools, jacuzzi and other cold and hot therapy areas our late evening visit flew by. One of the main highlights is probably being able to swim straight from the pool inside through to the outside heated pool.

The students on this trip were an absolute pleasure to be with all week and certainly made the most of their time away from home with friends. With no injuries.....apart from me!, what a successful and rewarding trip!  Mr Jones

Information has been sent out to parents of Y8, 9 and 10 students about our plans to return to Andorra next Feb half term. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

It has been a very busy term for the Science and Technology Learning Area, with visits to TATA Steel in Port Talbot, University of Wales Trinity St David’s campus in SA1 and Swansea University. We have been very fortunate to welcome visitors from our wider school community, with talks from parents, grandparents and ex-students. Our students have benefited from visits and talks from experts from Bristol, Cardiff, Nottingham and Swansea universities, with talks on topics as diverse as The Magical Kingdom of Fungi and Dark Matter in the Universe. 

Of particular note was our celebration of the UN’s 8th annual International Women in STEM day. We were fortunate to have inspirational interactions with many notable women working in the STEM field. Two visitors from Bristol University, Amy Mickelburgh and Rosie Ford, spoke to our students about their research in the Microbiology and Chemistry areas. We welcomed Professor Yamni Nigum to school to tell us all about her groundbreaking programme encouraging us all to “Love a Maggot”. A group of Year 12 girls had a fantastic day with the Motorsport Engineering department at UWTSD, where, as well as the opportunity to develop their problem solving and teamwork skills, they had a chance to drive the racing car simulator and had Q&A sessions with engineers from Range Rover. A big thank to all the people involved for being such positive role models for all our students.

To keep up to date with the goings on within our Learning Area, then please follow our Twitter feed - @SciTechOlchfa

This term in iThink 7CHT have been exploring the life of an 11-year-old in Medieval Wales. They have spent the term creating model villages based on Cosmeston village in Penarth. Gwaith da year 7!  

Olchfa’s Expressive Arts Department sell out production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was a tremendous success. It was a delight to see pupils in all year groups supporting each other in the process and building strong relationships with one another. This production really gave pupils a great experience refining their skills and showcasing their talent. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Olchfa community along with our dedicated staff who gave up their time to make this show a success. A special thanks to our pupils for their dedication to a challenging and rewarding process. 

In the words of Lumiere, ‘We would like you to relax,  pull up a chair as we proudly present’ our 2024 production after the Easter break… 
 

Fixtures Update