Newsletters

Olchfa School - Christmas Newsletter 2023

Message from the Headteacher

It has been a jam-packed Autumn term! Before reflecting on the work of our young people and staff, I would like to offer a personal perspective. It is a privilege to serve as the headteacher of Olchfa. My job has been made considerably easier by the lovely welcome and shows of support I have received from across the school and wider community. It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you in person, whether it be at formal events, in the audience for Sister Act or on the touchline. Diolch yn fawr to you all.

This newsletter offers a snapshot of what we are trying to be as a school – a school which is both in and of its community. Academic outcomes and standards of behaviour will always matter at Olchfa, but a true education is one in partnership and one where wider life and talent are nourished and developed. The 3G pitch demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving the school’s facilities and making them available to enhance our community. We hope to bring your news of further investment and development as the year progresses.

Until then, Nadolig Llawen a Blywddyn Newydd Dda, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Mr J Kennedy, Headteacher/Pennaeth

School News

3G Pitch

Our new 3G pitch is now open and available to use. Pupils have been using the pitch during PE lessons and the PE department have used the space for fixtures. The pitch has also proved a popular amenity with the local community as it is used in the evenings and on weekends.

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Humanities Club

(Don't forget, the club runs between 3pm-4pm every Wednesday in room 46 with Mr Evans, Mr Devany and Miss Page!)

Humanities club students created 3D diagrams of planet Earth, which displayed the face of planet Earth and the different layers of the Earth’s inner crust and core.

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Students also designed their own active volcanoes, using card, plastic bottles, washing-up liquid, food colouring and bicarbonate of soda which spewed out lava and were very successful!

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During another Humanities Club session, students learnt about the great Roman Army and the shields they used during combat. Having studied the meaning behind the patterns on Roman soldiers shields, the students developed their own shields and design patterns using cardboard and paper.

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Last week, while attending the annual presentation evening for Swansea's B Company cadets, George in Yr 10 received the award for best cadet for 2023. This is a huge achievement as the company is made up of 250 cadets. Well done George!Example Content

Seren Event

We took 71 Year 12 students to Swansea University, Bay Campus, on the 16th November for the 'Leadership for Future Generations' event run in collaboration with Seren and Swansea University. The pupils were impeccably behaved throughout. They engaged in a Leadership workshop which resulted in them generating AI poems among the 280 students in attendance. Aaron Zhou was one of six students chosen to ask a question during the Q&A session with President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton & Mark Drakeford. He asked ‘Through your journeys in politics, and being world renowned politicians, what is the advice you could give to us that you apply to your own everyday life?’ Miss Conibear

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2023 DVLA Code Challenge

Josiah, Joshua and Jaxon competed as Team Technotronics in the 2023 DVLA Code Challenge. After spending many hours at lunchtimes, in after-school sessions and at home working on their radioactive waste-detecting robot, CHIP, the team submitted a video entry and were invited to the Challenge Final on December 5th at the Richard Ley Development Centre. At the event, the team demonstrated their code to the judges and had fun taking part in activities run by the Police, MoD, and Fire and Rescue Service. Technotronics won first prize in the Secondary (11-16) category, beating two other finalist schools, and received a trophy, £2000 of equipment for the school and a Raspberry Pi each. Thank you to everyone who voted for the team. Well done, Technotronics!

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Senior UK Maths Challenge and Senior Kangaroo

On Tuesday 3rd of October, 117 of our Year 12 and Year 13 Maths students took part in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge and achieved 2 Gold, 19 Silver and 32 Bronze certificates! The recipients are:

Gold

Ridha I (Best in School), Noah L (Best in Year 12)

Silver

Yu Han C, Daniel C, Matthew C, Vinoli G, Aidan N, Daniel D, Ioan P, Rahim U, Daniel C, Ivor L, Reuben V, Iolo K, Jacqueline T, Aaron Z, Hannah C, Yousuf K, Ioan and Emily P-J

Bronze

Owen J, Hemachandra K, Georgia W, Ibrahim M, Omar Y, Benjamin Z-P, Angelina C, Charlotte C, Ena K, Abida A, Huzaifah A, William P, Imogen R, Jameela J, Emma B, Raffiul M, Harris P C, Marcus Y, Felix H, Ashwin M, Niamh C, Megan B-C, Jude B, Parsa E, Amelie V-S, Hana A, Tom B, Sophie H-G, Saheb H, Favour I, Charlie L, Ewan W and Daniel H

Ridha and Noah took part in the follow-on, invitation only, competition Senior Kangaroo which is for the top performing mathematicians in the country! Well done!

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Top of the Bench Competition

Well done to Ryan Cullen, Thomas Derrick, Jana Radwan, Leon Brandrick, Eva Christy, Mahiba Hossain, Afnan Shabih and Leon Li who represented Olchfa at the annual South West Wales interschool chemistry competition. Competing against 50 teams from across the area, both the Olchfa teams did very well and enjoyed the day at Swansea University, taking part in quizzes and completing practical experiments in university laboratories. Next year we plan to return and win the whole competition!

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CyberFirst Girls Competition

In November, teams Girls3 and H.A.L.F. competed in the CyberFirst Girls Competition, run by the National Cyber Security Centre. They had nine days to earn points for their team by completing coding, logic, cyber security and networking challenges. The girls demonstrated excellent teamwork and computational thinking skills and we are so proud of their performance. An extra well done to Girls3 (front row) who were the top-scoring Olchfa team.

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Congratulations to Ruby Rowlands who has become our second Pupil Associate Governor. She joins Max Ellis in the role.

School Production - Sister Act Jr

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Thank you to all the staff and pupils who made this production the success it deserved!

CAROL SERVICE

Thank you to all of those who attended Olchfa's Carol Service at St Mary's Church On Wednesday 20th December. Pupils from years 7-13 showcased talent; it was a festive delight! Thank you to all the staff, pupils, governors and the school community for their support #christmas #community

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Charity News

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Ty Olwen Christmas Stocking Appeal

We would like to thank all staff and pupils for their donations once again this Christmas. All items received will be distributed to patients in Ty Olwen, to houses of those receiving the support of their community teams and amongst the wider hospital. The team at Ty Olwen said "Please send our heartfelt thanks to all involved with this year's donations, I am sure some do not realise how invaluable our gifts are for those in the hospice and wider community at this time of the year".

If we don't see you before the end of term, have a fantastic Christmas.

Community Team

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