Cwmbran High NEWS ‘Stronger Together’ Easter Edition

Cwmbran High School Stories and photographs provided by staff, pupils and parents. Edited by D Baribeault. Officially Opened Charity Concert

"But I would like to pay tribute to everyone in Cwmbran and for Coed Eva for their commitment and passion for this project and to the 21st Century Schools programme. "In years to come you will be able to look back and say that you have left your communities Minister for Education and Skills Huw Lewis in a much better place than you found them in and I thank you oliticians and community for that." Cwmbran High School choir P leaders gathered for the official opening of Cwmbran Torfaen council leader Cllr Bob n 9th March the Performing Wellington added: "People in Arts department put on the High School. Cwmbran should be proud of O Welsh education minister Huw first ever concert in the CHS’s this. The school is going on to newly refurbished Hall. The Lewis unveiled a slate plaque better things." to celebrate the merger of concert was planned to raise Fairwater and Work on the school, carried out funds for Coed Eva School after schools on the former Fairwater by contractor Willmott Dixon the fire that destroyed their site, six months after teaching Construction, included Infant School. It was very well refurbishment of the lower block, first started at the school. supported by staff, pupils and new kitchen and dining facilities, parents and raised a total of The multi-million building remodelling of existing £500.15 which has been project was funded through the classrooms, an overhaul of donated to Coed Eva School. 21st Century Schools heating and electrical systems in programme - a collaboration the lower block, and alterations The Hall was full and the between the Welsh to site access and parking. feedback from the audience was Government and local fantastic. The programme authorities to improve school Cwmbran High’s Headteacher included instrumentalists and Helen Coulson said: “This is the buildings across the country. vocalists from CHS, Coed Eva start of a new era and it is Mr Lewis, who said the event school choir, Coed Eva School lovely to be part of this new Community Choir, CHS senior would be his last school future for staff, pupils and the opening before he steps down choir, CHS Deaf choir and a wider community in Cwmbran GCSE drama group from CHS. at May's Assembly elections, and Torfaen. said: "The investment we are All of the acts were fantastic – seeing across Torfaen is "It is not very often that you get showcasing the amazing talent fantastic but investment means to shape a new school and we we have in our school and local change and change can make are looking forward to the community. people uncomfortable, nervy challenge." and even fractious as they deal Article taken from the South Story thanks to Mrs L with the challenges that brings. Argus. Chamberlain - Head of Music.

Cwmbran High School Ski Trip to USA

Pupils and staff at the fancy dress disco

The pupils’ behaviour was exemplary and they were a credit to the school. Mr Lloyd would like to thank Mr Williams, Mr Povey, Mrs Alonzi, Mrs Siviter, Miss Roberts and Mr Powell for all their help and support during the trip. What a way to start Cwmbran High School’s first ski trip!

Story thanks to Mr P Lloyd, Maths Department.

wmbran High School staff to magnificent views from the C and pupils enjoyed a top of The Empire State Kyran Bishop fantastic first ski trip to building as the sun began to Killington, USA this February set over the city that never Approached by Ospreys half-term before travelling sleeps. Pupils were treated to wmbran High School’s Kyran down to New York City for a a meal at The Hard Rock Café C Bishop was recently bite of the ‘Big Apple’. The before having a wander approached by the senior coach pupils enjoyed 5 days skiing on around Times Square. Staff of the Ospreys wheelchair rugby beautifully groomed slopes and pupils rounded off the trip team, who asked if he would like with amazing scenery in with 4 hours sightseeing on the to play for them. Kyran will be variable temperatures ranging last day with visits to Central undertaking an intensive grading from -30oC to 10oC. After Park, The Rockefeller Centre, process to hopefully enable him skiing pupils enjoyed a bowling the 9/11 memorial, shopping to play for the team. and pizza night and a fifa and at Chinatown and intimate I had a chat with Kyran who told movie night with popocorn, views of The Statue of Liberty me the news first hand, he was crisps and drinks. The pupils from the Staten Island ferry. very excited and explained that also participated in a fancy normally the minimum age was dress disco night whilst also 16 years old but as he was so visiting the local shopping mall talented he would be pushed and taking a plunge in the through. He proudly told me that hotel’s indoor pool. if he made it through the grading he Pupils then enjoyed 2 hours would be the shopping at Woodbury second Common Outlets which boasts youngest player over 200 shops before in the UK. We descending on New York City. wish you all the Staff and pupils were treated best with the Mr P Lloyd—Main organiser of the trip process. Autism Awareness at Cheeky Monkeys Pupils Celebrate

French Language

group of our students visited A Cheeky Monkeys in Cwm- bran to raise awareness of au- tism. The staff at Cheeky Mon- keys were extremely welcoming and the students did a brilliant job and were a real credit to, not only the Base but the school. upils and Staff got into own French assistant Pauline. P the French spirit on Friday Pupils were very entertained by the 18th March to celebrate the stereotypically French outfits the International day of worn by the staff. French Language. Organised by the Head of Modern Foreign L:anguages Department Mrs Groskop and supported by her dedicated team, pupils were treated to a variety of French experiences. Pupils got to learn about French culture in lessons and were treated to French food There were also competitions at break and lunch including including one called ‘What do Amazing Tribute to croissants, brie and chocolate you know about France?’ where mousse made by our very pupils were tested on their knowledge of French culture. David Bowie There was also a survey carried his spectacular piece of art is the out to find friends or family who T work of Year 12 A level Art student Carly Holliday. As a tribute speak French. to the late artist, Winners of the various quizzes Carly used pencils collected Easter goodies. as her medium to capture Bowie. Carly hopes to Story thanks to Mrs T Groskop - continue to study art Head of Modern Foreign after leaving school. Languages. Library News ASD Base Extreme Makeover

fter many months of A fundraising and a lot of hard work our Life Skills Suite in the ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) base is complete and will be officially opened on the anuary saw the launch of our 21st March by the Mayor of J Year 7 reading club, with the Torfaen. help of Ellie Cummings, Year 12, The students were involved in who has been volunteering in the every part of creating our base library as part of her Skills from preparing the walls Challenge course. to building furniture and are The club meets in the library on all very proud of what they Wednesday lunch times and have enjoyed a number of activities including, making book marks and posters, bunting about their favourite books and their have achieved. impressive Year 7 reading club We are extremely grateful to display, that recommends their M2 Flooring, Jigsaw Property favourite books. Our next theme, Maintenance, Johnstones Paint for the Summer term, is ‘Diary of and ASDA for their support with a Wimpy Kid’ and the group are our venture. looking forward to trying the Story thanks to Mrs E Nicolaou - different activities related to Head of ASD base. these popular books. If you are in year 7 and are interested in joining the group the ‘1000 voices’ from a number please speak to Miss Ayling in Deaf Choir Perform at of Welsh Primary School Choirs the library. Motorpoint Arena and as a result of their inspiring World Book Day was celebrated performance have been invited to on 3rd March this year. There Cwm Glas Primary School in was a lovely display of Swansea to perform in April. Also recommended books and new performing at the event were Lee books, which was created by Mead (West End star) and Henry Briony Paddison (year 10) who Gallagher (of Britain’s Got Tal- has been helping in the library ent). Their popularity is growing as part of her Skills Challenge and they also have performances volunteering. at the Gaer Community Centre 'A quiz was held in the library, and Ty George House coming up, with pupils searching for the as well as a concert with Blae- answers to the clues. A winner wmbran Deaf Choir per- navon Male Voice Choir! All this is was drawn at random from the C formed at The Motorpoint thanks to the hard work of Miss correct entries, and received a Arena on Friday 26th Febru- Mary Cole (Choir Leader) and £10 Love to Shop voucher. ary in the 1000 Voice Choir Mrs Louise Heirene. Story thanks to Miss J Ayling. Concert. They signed alongside Story thanks to C Simms, Head of the Hearing Impaired Base. The ‘Welsh Bacc’ page Latest news from the Welsh Baccalaureate - by Mr G Brenton

fter a reasonably quiet This is a page A first term, where we dedicated to the introduced new skills and new Welsh qualifications to the school; Baccalaureate laying down some excellent qualification. foundations, the second term really came to life for the message to our Chair of department. We currently Governors and Skills Twitter draw upon experiences of staff account. There were a number of from departments from across highlights; however the one that the school to deliver and assess really got the audience going the new Welsh Baccalaureate was the first official play of a Qualification, also known as the rap written by some of our Year Skills Challenge Certificate. For 10 students. After workshopping years employers have bashed a track with V.Simmonds a few down the door of the Welsh weeks earlier students “laid Government saying things like down” some lyrics on inequality, “Students are leaving school ith our Yr 12 SKCC in an attempt to raise awareness with all these pieces of paper, W students acting as key to those in the room. with all these qualifications, but note speakers for the event, we what can they actually do”. The reflected on a range of global Enterprise and Employability WBQ/Skills Challenge issues from race, human Certificate aims to address trafficking, inequality, the Challenge - Hope House. some of these concerns by health care system and minority developing real life languages. After previously fter applying for jobs within applying critical thinking and their teams, year 10 students experiences for our young problem solving skills to A people. pitched ideas to a panel of secondary research on the “Dragon’s”. One panel included topics, to help create their own representatives from local Year 13 Enterprise/Working personal standpoint, the key businesses, The Senior Leadership note speakers, Megan Jones, Team, The Governing Body and with others. Jordan Davies, Shane Summers, Hope House Children’s hospice George Lippiat and Ceri By being personally effective, s our Year 13 students Etheridge, used fantastic students have been displaying A prepare to leave school to literacy skills to deliver thought creativity and innovation as they follow employment, university or provoking comments and develop their entrepreneurial and other training or further creative and innovative ideas employability skills. Our Year 10 education routes, they are on how to tackle the issues students have been seeking, and completing some of the final raised. in most cases receiving, financial aspects of the “legacy” WBQ Organised from scratch by our investment. Some of our groups by developing their enterprise WBQ Pupil Engagement were physically given £10 and skills while accrediting a Level 3 Officer, Carys Jones, the event have been pro-active in selling Working With Others was hailed as an outstanding products in, and outside of school, Qualification. They have taken success leading the mayor of to raise money for Hope House. over the library and are Torfaen, one of our invited We look on currently working in groups guests, to tweet the following course to have conducting formal meetings, to turned £40 prepare a pitch to be delivered investment into to a group of local £400 profit in entrepreneurs. They are looking just two weeks. for a gap in the market to A fantastic produce and sell/provide a achievement product or service. Who knows by all those we may have the next Sir Alan involved. Sugar on our hands. Year 10 Global Community Challenge Citizenship Challenge

hile the topics Obesity, Social Initiative W Extremism and Gender Inequality are not always seen as the most interesting and exciting, they are issues that affect us all and whilst we have been studying these issues in lessons, students have been developing their critical thinking skills to create innovative ways to raise awareness of these topics to citizens across the globe.

While some students have created ur Year 10 and Year 12 evaluation of these to be videos for YouTube, others have O students have been awarded additional A-Level/ created their own websites however involved in a range of activities GCSE qualifications too. One most interesting, and potentially to support our school and local of the most exciting and rewarding, is the work we have communities through a range of interesting activities our young been doing to raise awareness on social initiatives. After meticulous people engaged with was one Childhood Obesity. As featured in attention to detail to plan and called Street Games which was the recent budget the topic of organise themselves students delivered in conjunction with Childhood Obesity is definitely a have been proposing, and local organisation “Randomz”. hot topic up for discussion and completing, a range of activities. Students spend two days on debate and this focus has featured These have included the delivery intense activities that embraced heavily in the work we are currently of Magic Tricks to students in our and supported a range of doing. ASD base, ICT teaching to Year community based initiatives and After working alongside staff from 6 students from our feeder projects. Torfaen Catering, our Year 10 students have been creating and primary schools, running and A huge thank you to Randomz devising their own leaflets, posters delivering Film Clubs, Library for their support in this project and displays to be put up in the Clubs and Science Clubs to name and working alongside our school canteen to try and make just a few. Not only will these WBQ Engagement Officer for their target audience (young activities look good on our Cwmbran High School, Carys people) more aware of what they students’ CV’s but they are also Jones. are eating and drinking. Look using the planning, delivery and below at some of fantastic ideas for posters and leaflets created by our Year 10 students, being printed and evaluated by the target Investigation’s, Communications audience (our students) very soon. and Problem Solving portfolios. Good Bye, Good luck We thank her enormously for her hard work, determination and and Welcome attention to detail, wishing her well for the future. his term we said a sad We also welcome Mrs Sian T goodbye to Miss Nicola Davies into the team who will be Smith, who has been involved supporting our Year 13 students with Year 13 WBQ since as they complete any final parts October. Miss Smith supported of the course before they leave a large number of our students us at the end of the year. through their Individual