Carol evening This year s carols evening was a real Christmas event. We were treated to performances of some of our favourite Christmas songs by harpists and guitarists, readings, and a powerful drama by year 10 pupils discussing the true meaning of the festival. The evening was a true representation of the school's talent, with a huge choir and a total of 5 instrumental items from the younger pupils. But for me, the audience participation was the highlight of the night. Their willingness to contribute to the Christmas spirit, joining in every famous carol created a most entertaining evening. By Morgan Evans Year 12 Christmas 2017 Celebrating the festive season with Christmas jumpers and a Santa run! Half Term Dates Start End 1 (Autumn 2017) 5/9/17 27/10/17 2 (Autumn 2017) 6/11/17 22/12/17 3 (Spring 2018) 8/1/18 16/2/18 4 (Spring 2018) 26/2/18 29/3/18 Years 11, 12 and 13 An individual report on results of the recent mock examinations has been distributed to the pupils this week. Please contact the school if you haven t received a copy. *The first week back in January is Week 2* Nadolig llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Bringing Christmas to the Elderly On Wednesday, some of our talented pupils spent a wonderful morning in the company of the residents of Garth Olwg Old People s home singing carols and instrumental items. Pharmacy Trip During November, I had the opportunity to go on a chemistry trip to the University of South Wales. The experience in the chemistry laboratories was very educational. At the beginning of the trip we had a sheet of paper full of ingredients and steps to make moisturiser. I was pleased by the fact my moisturiser was successful. I used the right measurements and temperatures and mixed the mixture fast and vigorously enough to make it of a good quality. My favourite part was adding the orange essential oil and putting the mixtures into a hot water bath. Then we moved to another laboratory to do titration. The aim of the session was to get medicine from different prices and see if the price corresponds to the effectiveness of the medicine. The tablets were for indigestion. At the end of titration we could see the effectiveness of the tablets. When collecting data from the other two groups on the cheaper tablets and completing a full A4 page of calculations we concluded that the tablets were more or less as effective, therefore we pay for the brand name e.g. Rennie. After that we went to a lecture hall where we learnt about all the benefits of pursuing a degree and a job in the chemistry field. I learned about large companies that have benefited people and discovered the variety of things you can do with a degree in Chemistry, such as pharmacy or chemical engineering. In conclusion, the experience had opened my eyes to what's available in the chemistry field and I feel that the experience of real work has been beneficial because I have a better idea of what I can do in the future. By Bethan Horscroft-Preest Year 12. Have you registered yet? Schoolcomms works far more intrinsically with our on-site school administration software and we hope that this will allow us to improve our links with parents. Information will continue to be sent via email, text or, preferably, via the free app available for download called School Gateway.
Aneurin Karadog On the 23 rd of November the famous Welsh poet and former pupil Aneurin Karadog and the Welsh national college came to our school to hold a workshop for the students of year 11. The students have studied Aneurin s poem Gweld y Gorwel for their GCSE and it was an invaluable experience to be able to hear the poet sharing the background to his poem during the session. He even rapped about tea to us at the end of the session! During the second session the lecturers Lisa Shepard and Angharad Price, from Cardiff and Bangor universities, held a workshop about studying Welsh in university. We had the chance to listen to all of the opportunities available to Welsh language graduates and the need for Welsh speakers in a number of different fields. We were also able to share our ideas regarding the Government s target - to ensure one million Welsh speakers. It was a beneficial and fun morning for us! A Journey to the Bay Expressive Arts On Tuesday, 21st November, year 7 pupils, visited Cardiff Bay to watch the Tiger Bay show. It was a great opportunity and we all felt very lucky. When we arrived at Cardiff Bay, we needed to complete a photography task for our next Expressive Arts project. We had to think about taking pictures that can be changed to show the old Cardiff Bay. Everyone was busy thinking about what angles were best and what filters to use on our cameras; everyone enjoyed this. Then we went to the Millennium Centre to have our seat for the show, Tiger Bay. The performance was very special. There was a lot of history and lots of great singing and acting! We felt that we were back in the period sure with the atmosphere the lights created during the performance and the special set. Although the story was sad, everyone enjoyed the unforgettable opportunity. We are all looking forward to starting our next Expressive Arts project on our topic of old and new Cardiff Bay. I would like to thank the Expressive Arts departments for giving us the great opportunity. By Gethin Williams Year 7. 3-19 School Consultation. We would like to remind you that there are only a few weeks let to respond to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council s plans to create a 3-19 School on the Garth Olwg Campus. The closing date is January 26 th 2018 after it was extended by the Authority from December, therefore please ignore any December dates on the documentation. The Authority s plans and the consultation document can be found here http://gartholwg.co.uk/login/uploaded/consultation%20-%20english%20version.pdf To get all the latest news follow us on Twitter: @Garth_Olwg, @MathGarth, @GwyddGarth, @CelfyddydauGO
The division between the North American and Eurasion tectonic plates. The Geography Department s Trip to Iceland At the end of the October half term, a bus of pupils and teachers from Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg travelled to Heathrow Airport. At the end of the long journey was Reykjavik, Iceland s capital city. Within a short while of arriving, everyone was relaxing in the heat of the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa, and looking forward to three days in the fascinating country. We were very lucky in regards to the weather and as a result were able to see Iceland at its best. We went to see the Golden Circle, which includes the Strokkur geyser, the crater of Kerid volcano, Gullfoss waterfall, Hellisheidi geothermic power station and the distribution of the North American and Eurasia tectonic plates. We had a busy second day too; Skogafoss waterfalls and Seljalandsfoss, Sólheimajökull glacier and Reynishverfi black beach. Even with our packed schedule we still had time to go swimming in an outdoor pool, taste Iceland s best ice cream, witness the Aurora Borealis and to shop in the capital city. It was and impossible task to choose a hightlight of this trip but we can quote one pupil who said on Garth Olwg s Twitter account An unforgettable trip! Shool Governor s Report Do you want to know more about Garth Olwg s exam results, our pupils attainment, attendance figures, the governing body s priorities or about the achievements of our young people over the past year? You can read all this information, and more, here on our website, in the Annual Report of Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg s Governing Body 2016/17.The report includes detail on a number of noteworthy events which have occurred during the past year, including: The Strokkur Geyser Our celebration of Garth Olwg s GCSE results which were the best results in Rhondda Cynon Taf (L2+Threshold) The successful transfer of the Garth Olwg Campus from the PFI contract to Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Authority ownership The production of High School Musical which showcased the talent of our pupils and staff A speech by the Football Association of Wales s Head of Public Affairs, Ian Gwyn Hughes A variety of extra-curricular events, from competing in the National Urdd Eisteddfod in Bridgend and Taff Ely, to educational trips both here in Wales and to the continent We also provide highlights from all of the school s curriculum areas. The annual report, in its new format, seeks to provide you with a taste of the broad range of activities undertaken by the school in order to enrich the experiences of pupils. This is part of our attempt as a governing body to improve communication between Ysgol Garth Olwg and the wider community.to ensure you receive the latest school news, please follow the school s Twitter account, @garth_olwg, and our Facebook page, and you can also register your email address and mobile phone number in order to receive messages on a regular basis. Thank you again for your support to Garth Olwg s staff, pupils and governors. The Skogafoss waterfall The Sólheimajökul glacier Have you registered yet? Schoolcomms works far more intrinsically with our on-site school administration software and we hope that this will allow us to improve our links with parents. Information will continue to be sent via email, text or, preferably, via the free app available for download called School Gateway
A voyage to Patagonia In October, Ethan Williams, (year 13) undertook the journey of a lifetime to Patagonia, Argentina. The trip is Organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the trip was the movements 10 th expedition since its first in 2008. Whilst in Y Wladfa, Ethan, along with the other 24 young people from across Wales who joined him took part in voluntary work, visited local school children and competed in the Eisteddfod Del Chubut, coming 2 nd in the choir competition. Ethan said that This was the best experience of my life! I am so glad to have been able to share the experience with such fantastic people from all over Wales, with whom I will be friends forever. Congratulations also to 2 year 12 pupils, Ella Jones-Iles and Lauren Mogford who have been selected to join the expedition in October 2018. Ella and Lauren say that they are excited to meet new friends and speak welsh on the other side of the world! They need to raise 2500 by September to go on the expedition and have already started their fundraising efforts. Under 15 s girls Urdd football tournament report. On Thursday the seventh of December, the schools under 15 s girl s football team took part in the Urdd girls football tournament in Sardis Road. We played against all the local school teams, in a round robin tournament. First we played Bryncelynnog, and we started the tournament strongly with a 3-0 win. Megan Bowen, from year 8, scored 2 goals and Beca Jones from year 10 scored one. In the second game, we played Y Pant. We found it hard to put the ball in the net in a close game but, luckily, Megan Bowen scored just before the game finished, to put us 1-0 up and to safely win the game. Straight after, we had another close game against Pontypridd High. Again only winning 1-0, but with some excellent play down the field Megan Bowen scored another good goal. After two tight games we played against two teams from Hawthorn winning 4-0 against team A, with Megan Bowen again scoring the goals. Then we went on to play Hawthorn(B) winning 5-0. This time Katie Harding, Lara Watts and Eliza Collie (also from year 8) scoring one goal apiece, and Ellie Harris and Nia Williams got a goal each, from defence! After playing every team we went through to the final to play BrynCelynnog, once again. By this time, we had really gelled as a team and as a result won the final 7-0. Again Megan Bowen scored 4, and Katie Harding, Eliza Collie and Lara Watts scoring 1 each. We were all very proud to come away winners, and to not concede a single goal all day! Well done to all the girls who were a part of the team success; Beca Jones, Carys Minton,Ellie Harris, Katie Harding, Jenna Hill, Georgia Maisey, Lara Watts, Nia Williams, Eliza Collie, Megan Bowen. Have you registered yet? Schoolcomms works far more intrinsically with our on-site school administration software and we hope that this will allow us to improve our links with parents. Information will continue to be sent via email, text or, preferably, via the free app available for download called School Gateway To get all the latest news follow us on Twitter: @Garth_Olwg, @MathGarth, @GwyddGarth, @CelfyddydauGO
Cricket - A big congratulations to Callum Nicholls who has won Welsh U13 s cricket player of the year. Well done Callum keep it up sounds like the current Ashes squad may need your help!! Netball Congratulations to our year 9 and 10 girls for reaching the semi-final of the national Urdd tournament this year. Well done! Wales football stars get cooking! During November, Lauren Bird, Erin Hughes, and I, got the chance to taste Aaron Ramsey and Chris Gunter's food as part of LIDL'S 'Dragon kitchen' cooking challenge. The food was very tasty. Gunter cooked a chicken tandoori wrap, and Ramsey cooked spaghetti in a tomato sauce. I thought Ramsey's food was the tastiest and almost everyone agreed so Ramsey was crowned winner of the day. Thank you Miss Morgan for arranging the trip. By Maddison Keetch, year 11. Wales U17 s Netball Tour to Nottingham This year has been quite a year forme on the netball court. Following the excitement of being selected for Wales, I was given the honour of being made captain. In March we won the silver medal in an European competition in Belfast. As a result, the team was invited to play in an end of season English league tournament the National Premier League (NPL). This was a historic occasion as it was the first time a team from Wales had been asked to play in an event of such a high standard. As Welsh Netball is not very well funded, it was up to us, the players, to raise the sixthousand pounds needed to fund the tour. This effort developed our teamwork and with hard work and generous community sponsorship, we succeeded in raising the money in time. The girls played exceptionally well throughout the tournament, gaining in confidence as the competition went on. We played against Loughborough Lightning, Team Bath, Wasps, Surrey Storm, Manchester Thunder, Southern Tigers and Yorkshire Jets. By the end of play we had succeeded in winning four games, drawing one and losing two, leaving us a very respectable fifth position at the end. After our fundraising efforts, it is worth noting that Manchester Thunder were funded by two of the team s fathers - Paul Scholes (ex Man Utd) and Peter Jones (Dragon s Den) who had each contributed 25,000! By Gwenno Iolo Davies, Blwyddyn 12. (Wales U17 Netball team captain) Alex and Anna Halliday competed this month in the Welsh regional indoor championships in Cardiff. Alex won gold in the 200m coming first in south Wales and first overall in the competition with a time of 23.77secs. Anna came 7th in the under 13's girls 200m for south Wales with a personal best of 30.16secs. They both did very well! To get all the latest news follow us on Twitter: Gala nofio Urdd Morgannwg Ganol Congratulations go to Carwyn Salmon, (yr.9) on winning the freestyle and breast stroke in the (yr.9) and 10 boys category and to Owen Leach, (yr.9) on winning the butterfly and individual medley also in the yr 9-10 boys. Also well done to Joseph Fowler (yr.7), for coming second in the butterfly and third in the individual medley year 7-8 boys. On top of these individual triumphs, the year 9-10 boys team won the freestyle relay and the IM relay. We wish the team well in the Welsh finals in Cardiff in January. Good luck boys! @Garth_Olwg, @MathGarth, @GwyddGarth