Bulletin for Parents – October 2014

Welcome! Important Dates Welcome back to everyone at the start of a new school year. A special welcome to those pupils who are starting at Ysgol for the first time and to their parents. We 27.10.14 – 31.10.14 wish everyone a very happy and successful year. Half Term Holidays Pupils’ Examination Success Once again it was a pleasure to celebrate our pupils’ success. The A Level pass rates were very 03.11.14 encouraging at all grades with the vast majority managing to secure their first choice course at School opens after University. A very high percentage of the year succeeded in achieving the Welsh half term Baccalaureate qualification, gaining a place in Higher Education as a result of this success. This success reflects the hard work of all the pupils and staff as well as their parents’ support. 18.11.14 Congratulations and best wishes to all of them. Parents’ Evening Yr. 8 Very good GCSE results were achieved again this year – with 96% of year 11 pupils achieving the equivalent of 5 A*-C grades. This is much higher than the average for schools. 02.12.14 We are particularly pleased too that no pupils have left the school without any qualifications. Parents’ Evening Yr. 7

19.12.14 - Last day at school before the Christmas holidays

The best GCSE results were achieved by The best A level results were achieved by Elin Cain, Cai Dickinson and Nic Johns. Adam Hughes, Cara Thomas and Ben Roberts. Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen Pupils’ Prize Giving The School Annual Prize Giving was held on Wednesday 18th September in the school hall. It is an opportunity to celebrate the successes of our pupils and young people academically, in their extra-curricular activities and for their attendance and effort with school work.

Our guest speaker this year was Mr Dewi R. Jones – the former Head of Education for . Our guests were Mrs Beryl Orwig – the Dafydd Orwig Scholarship,

Councillor Godfrey Northam – Chair of the Bethesda Council and Mrs Mair Leverett, Chair of the Community Council.

It was also a great pleasure to welcome the headteachers of the primary schools in the catchment area. After all, the pupils’ success is just as much a result of the work of the primary

schools as it is of our work in the secondary school.

The school would like to thank the following sponsors for their financial contributions towards the Prize Giving this year:- Jones & Whitehead, Electricians, - DU Construction Ltd; Builders, Gaerwen – Welsh , , Bethesda – Tony Davies, Plumber, .

PRIZE WINNERS, 2013-2014

100% Attendance Prizes Reece Davies Nel Rhys Cai Williams Morgan Davies Nia George Joshua Hughes Sion Jones Elen Owen Dylan Robertson Ieuan Hughes Mari Jones Cadi Rhys Arwel Davies Manon Hughes Ben Jones Morgan Jones Huw Owen Year 7 Prizes :- Ella Baker Lowri Ford Meilir Griffiths Beca Nia Thalia Lichtenstein Cai Rees Williams Mia Richards Ceri Williams

Subject Prizes:- Welsh (Sponsored by Mr & Mrs J H Evans, Tegfryn, Rhiwlas) Alys Haf Llinos Roberts English Kara Bullock Adam Hughes French Elin Cain Meilir Griffiths Music Jac Peall Mari Williams Mathematics Luke Crow Ben Jones Math Owen Science KS3 Owain Morgan Martha Evans Science KS 4 Cai Dickinson Rhiannon Llwyd Science KS 5 Cara Thomas Ben Roberts History Luke Crowe Bethan Hughes Geography Nicholas Johns Jasmine Jones Religious Studies Sara Evans Llinos Evans Physical Education Llinos Evans Gethin Williams Art Joshua Williams Dion Jones Hospitality Rhys Evans Sara Evans Child Development Lisa Francis Llinos Evans Design and Technology (Resistive) Jade Roberts Joshua Williams Information Technology Morgan Davies Cadi Roberts

Progress Prize (Sponsored by the family of the late Wyn Davies, Bronydd Isaf, Llanllechid) Dewi Moses-Roberts Beca Bullock

Llandygai Community Council Prizes Effort Yr. 7 Megan Williams Dafydd Williams Effort Yr. 8 Stephanie Owen Alex Welling Effort Yr. 9 Chloe Davies Tomos Gwyn Jones Effort Yr. 10 Daniel Evans Lois Owen

Sports Champion of the Year – Year 7 Beca Nia Caio Hughes Cai Williams

Sports Champion of the Year – Year 8 Sophie Ellis Esme Crowe Ben Williams

Sports Champion of the Year – Year 9 Elin Owen David Florence

Sports Champion of the Year – Year 10 Manon Hughes Harri Phillips

Best Team of the Year Boys’ under 13 Rugby Team

Cai Griffiths Joseph Bullock Pedr Owen Joshua Hughes Shaun Roberts Ben Williams Mathew Buchanan Gruffydd Roberts Sion Jones Sion Davies Kieran Briggs Jorden Roberts Kieron Bullock Osian Sanderson Dafydd Williams Joshua Dignam Caio Hughes Morgan Davies Jac Oliver Rhys Puw

Best Performance at GCSE Cai Dickinson Elin Cain Nicholas Johns

Best Performance at A Level Adam Hughes Ben Roberts Cara Thomas

Carwyn Thomas Shield Sophie Ellis

Athlete of the Year Trophy Sion Bullock

Frank Rhys Jones Memorial Prize Bethesda Community Council Hannah Cook Scholarship Dafydd Orwig Scholarship A year and a half ago Hannah lived in Cai Jones Steffan Owain Adam Hughes Banbury in Oxfordshire, spoke only Steffan Owen Kyle Thomas Cara Thomas English and had no links with .

Now, having been in the Secondary

Schools’ Language Unit in , These four are following courses in These two have now started on their she is fluent in Welsh and plays a full that will lead to a specific courses in . We wish part in all the school’s activities. Quite craft in the future, such as a carpenter, you all the best. an achievement! plumber or electrician.

Staff A warm welcome to the new member of staff who has joined us this term:-

 Miss Delyth Hughes – Mathematics Teacher

Diaries All pupils in years 7-13 have received a personal diary in order to organise their work at all times. The diary is also an important channel of communication between the school and parents. We will use the diary to give you information about the following matters:-

 Homework  Reports and Assessments  Monitoring and tracking progress against targets  Tutorial Interviews  Letters for Parents  Examinations/Controlled Assessments  Attendance

We would kindly ask you to discuss the contents of the diary with your child and to sign it each week.

Holidays during term time

The National Assembly has issued new guidelines that entitle schools to impose a financial penalty of £120 on parents whose children have missed 10 or more days without the school’s agreement. This includes holidays taken during term time.

With the support of parents and staff, the school has worked very hard to improve the attendance figures and prizes are awarded to the class and the individuals with the best attendance. One thing that affects the attendance figures is holidays taken during school term time.

In common with every other secondary school in Gwynedd, the governors have decided to allow family holidays of up to 5 days only in years 7-9, but no days at all in years 10 and 11. We are asking for parents to support us by not arranging family holidays during school term time.

Punctuality

All pupils are expected to be in school by 8:45am to ensure an orderly start to the day. We ask for parents’ co-operation with this, particularly at the start of a new school year. Pupils who arrive late in the morning or who are late for their lessons will be kept in at dinner time and then after school.

Pupils’ Absence

Regular attendance at school is essential if the pupils are to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. In order to maintain and improve attendance levels at the school we would kindly ask you to contact us on the first day of your child’s absence. 1. Please contact the school between 8:30 and 9:00 on the first morning that your child is absent:- Telephone 01248 600291. 2. If the school has not received a telephone call between 8:30 and 9:00 o’clock telling us why your child is not at school, we will then try to contact the parent with a text message. 3. You are requested to note the reason for the absence in your child’s diary.

Thank-you for your co-operation. Homework Club Free School Meals / School Uniform Grant

We are keen to ensure that parents are able to claim the financial The Homework Club is open every Monday to Thursday assistance available to them, e.g. grants are available from the from 3:20 to 4:20 in a computer room. County Council to provide free school meals for some pupils and to help parents buy school uniforms. This is a great opportunity for pupils to get help with their Don’t forget that you need to renew your application each year. If school work. you have not applied before the end of term, you will be expected to pay for your child’s school uniform/dinner from the start of next All pupils from years 7 to 11 are welcome to attend the Club. term. Contact the Benefits Department on 01286 682689.

Leaving the School Premises

Year 7 – 11 pupils are not permitted to leave the school premises during the morning break or at dinner time. Our main concern is for their health and safety, for two main reasons:

1. It there was a fire in the school at dinner time, for example, we would not know anything about your child, who should be in school.

2. If your child left the school premises without permission and had an accident, we would like to make it clear to you as parents that the school would not be responsible for them.

We would be most grateful if you could discuss the dangers with your child. Only pupils with parents’ permission and who have been given a dinner token are allowed to leave the school premises and only at dinner time.

Skills Week A skills week for the whole school was held at the beginning of October. A purposeful and interesting programme had been arranged for all the school years. Year 7 pupils were in Rhyd Ddu for a two day Induction Course – on the first day staying overnight in Rhyd Ddu and undertaking the arduous walk up the Aran and on the second day building a shelter in Parc Meurig, with the emphasis on working as a team. They all came home tired but having enjoyed themselves – knowing each other better and really feeling a part of Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen – A warm welcome to you all!

Since Year 7 were in Rhyd Ddu we took the opportunity to give the rest of the school a variety of experiences, concentrating on developing their skills. Here is a taste of the week’s activities:-

• Year 7 – Rhyd Ddu, activities relating to Indonesia and making a film. • Year 8 – Literacy and numeracy activities, problem solving, Chinese culture, a visit to the Gwynedd Museum and a citizenship day, focussing on water supplies throughout the world. • Year 9 – Anti-bullying activities, Wales Remembers looking at the First World War, a visit to Yr Ysgwrn (the home of Hedd Wyn) and making a film about Ioan Doyle. • Year 10 – A session by Careers Wales on transferable skills, a workshop on the Assembly, the National Park and study skills. Preparing for the Baccalaureate enterprise activity and fitness sessions, ‘Question Time’ sessions with local councillors. • Year 11 – Attending a careers conference in Llandudno, a study skills workshop and mock interviews, the Baccalaureate individual investigation and fitness sessions.

The pupils have developed a range of valuable skills that will make them better learners and prepare them to contribute fully to their communities in the future.

Llwyddo’n Lleol

Congratulations to the team of 9 year 10 pupils on winning the first prize in a ‘Community Challenge’ competition held by Llwyddo’n Lleol in Gwynedd. The team had to create a business idea for the local community and, although this was not a requirement of the rules of the competition, the group used their computer skills to make a film and a presentation to sell their idea. They were given excellent feedback by the judges, who noted the high standard of their bid. The group has already used the prize of £1,000 to buy resources to establish their business. They will also go on to the next round of the competition at the level.

Writing Squad On Sunday 14th September Esme Crowe, Year 9, attended a Writing Squad in Tŷ Newydd, the home of David Lloyd George, in Llanymstumdwy. The workshop was led by the poet Siân Northey, whose volume of poetry was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year competition this year. The theme of the day was ‘Doors’. Esme enjoyed a most worthwhile day.

Design and Technology Department

Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen was fortunate enough to host a visit from three lecturers from the Engineering Department of the University of South Wales. Two successful workshops were held with Year 11 pupils as well as our sixth form students, jointly with students from Ysgol Brynrefail. They worked on a number of interesting aspects of engineering and were given a chance to solve problems by building a bridge from paper and drinking straws as well and seeing the effect of heat on sports balls.

Physical Education Department

Results of recent games:-

Under 16 Rugby Ysgol Syr 19 – 19 Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen

Under 14 Rugby Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen 59 – 5 Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen

Under 14 Rugby Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen 34 – 12 Friars – Tries by:- Mathew Buchanan x 5, Ben Williams, Gruff Roberts x 4, Kieren Briggs x 2, Caio Hughes x 3. Well done lads!

Netball The Year 10 netball team lost a very close game against Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen with the final score being 5-4. Jade Roberts managed to score a number of goals but Syr Hugh scored their fifth goal in the last twenty seconds. It was a very good performance by the girls of Dyffryn Ogwen!

Congratulations to Manon Hughes, Year 11, who has been selected to represent Eryri in the under 16 netball squad. Manon will be competing in the Welsh inter-counties competition during the year.