20 June 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rhieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
A moment to stop and reflect, and a mixed bag of emotions…
In my humble opinion, this week is always a defining week in the annual cycle of our school. It is a week that is often overlooked and a week that passes by at speed. It is a week that invariably coincides with the longest day of the year.
It is the week that sees Year 11 and Year 13 sit their final GCSE and A-Level exams and launch themselves with gusto into leavers assemblies and leavers dinners.
The leavers assembly for Year 11 will bring a mixture of nostalgia, laughter and a hint of sadness as we look back at photographs of them as fresh faced Year 7’s. It is also the day that we keep the Sharpie industry afloat with the obligatory signing of shirts.
And in the week that Taylor Swift brought her Eras tour to Cardiff, the leavers assembly and leavers dinner will signal the end of an era for our students. We may not be boosting the Welsh economy to the extent that a Taylor Swift concert will, but as our students take the next step in life they will progress as creative and enterprising individuals ready to live fulfilling lives as valued members of society. And in that vein, they will certainly make a great contribution to the future landscape of Wales and the world.
This might not be fully reflected in the video that will be shared in the Year 11 leavers assembly on Friday morning! Here is a sneak peek of what’s in store. Year 7 v Year 11!
Returning to my original train of thought, this unique week is a complete dichotomy for us. As Year 11 and 13 go boldly into the next phase of life, we welcome Year 6 into our LHS community as they embark on their transition. The circle of life continues.
On Monday, Year 6 came up to meet their peers and their pastoral team. If the excited noise levels are anything to go by, we are in for a great 5/7 years with this cohort! It was also a delight to welcome the Year 6 parents and carers in the evening. Many are seasoned experts at the transition experience, with older children in the school. Many are embarking on the rollercoaster for the first time. Either way, we buckle up together.
So, we are exceptionally proud of our departing students. It leaves us feeling a little bereft. A touch of the empty nest syndrome. We’ve been together for better and for worse, in sickness and in health. But we are equally excited for our new intake.
I would also like to take the opportunity to commend Year 10 on the mature and meticulous way in which they have approached their GCSE exams. They have been superb.
Now it is the turn of Years 7, 8 and 9 to give their personalised assessments some welly.
Finally, to our Year 7 parents, can you believe that it was a year ago that you were attending the transition evening. Now your children are 4 school weeks away from going into Year 8!
If anyone could slow time down a little, please do!
A visit to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Year 12 paid a visit to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama set design facility.
Students were given the opportunity to tour the vast workshop, explore the development of puppets, the scale models and had the chance to see full sized sets being made.
As part of the Drama GCSE and A Level students can opt to be assessed on set design.
Therefore, it was a fantastic experience for all involved and the start of a new partnership with the Royal Welsh College.
We certainly have some budding set designers to keep your eyes on!
This coincides with the building of the stage and set for our upcoming summer production of Footloose. When the set has to arrive by van, you know it promises to be exhilarating!
This week in Health and Wellbeing…
This week it was the turn of our carrots and garlic to be harvested. You can tell just from the photo that it is going to be delicious!
Also, Year 9 enjoyed a fabulous session when Size of Wales visited to discuss deforestation. Size of Wales are passionate about educating young people about the importance of forests and the vital role they play in combatting climate change.
We have planted hundreds of trees on our school estate over the last 18 months and are now fully committed to becoming a deforestation free school.
We went to Hay…
Students from Learning Support went to the Hay festival on 24th of May. They had such an amazing experience. The staff were so excited to see how engaged they were listening to authors, asking questions and meeting them in the bookshop to have their books signed. They were so grateful for the opportunity to take them free to such an event. This trip will remain etched in the memories of the staff and students forever.
That’s it for Thursday 20th June. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy longest day of the year.
We have many positive functions and events to attend to in the next fortnight so I look forward to bringing you more news and updates next week.
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry, Headteacher