Summer Newsletter From the Head: "I hope that you enjoy reading the contents of this newsletter which represents only a small part of the rich tapestry of life at Pencoedtre High. I am very proud to have the position I do and to work with the community and the young people of JULY Barry is a privilege. May I take the opportunity to thank all our pupils for all their efforts this year and to all parents and carers for supporting the school so Important Dates faithfully. Have a great summer!" Mr. T. Davies TERM ENDS Friday 19th July 2019 Pencoedtre High’s First Presentation Evening A-LEVEL RESULTS DAY Thursday 15TH August Pencoedtre High held their first Presentation Evening on 20th 2019 June. it was a lovely evening celebrating our pupils and their GCSE RESULTS DAY achievements. We had fantastic musical performances throughout the evening. Jane Hutt attended to support the new Thursday 22nd August school and many staff were there to congratulate the pupils. 2019 There was also a fantastic DT and Art exhibition, showcasing the INSET work of our talented pupils. Monday 2nd September 2019 AUTUMN TERM BEGINS FOR PUPILS Tuesday 3rd September 2019 (See pages 2 and 3 for more Presentation Evening Photographs) Presentation Evening Highlights Page 2 Pencoedtre High School Did you know you can follow us on Twitter? @PencoedtreHS for all the latest news. Summer Newsletter Page 3 Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly Page 4 Pencoedtre High School . “Your children are not your children. On Friday 28th June we said farewell to our They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for Year 11 cohort. This was our last all girl year itself. group and so it felt even more special for They come through you but not from you, and though those of us who have taught the pupils for they are with you yet they belong not to you. the last 5 years. They enjoyed a formal You may give them your love but not your thoughts, ceremony in the hall introduced by Mr for they have their own thoughts. Davies (Head of School), followed by an You may house their bodies but not their souls, for emotional speech from Miss Dix (Head of their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, Year). The pupils received certificates and which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. there were musical performances from the You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make talented Lisa Grice, Harrie Dutton and them like you. Jemima Wilson. Afterwards was the signing For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. of the shirts and taking of photos with refreshments in the Lesser hall. There was a You are the bows from which your children as living lovely atmosphere, the pupils were very well arrows are sent forth. behaved and there were plenty of tears, The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infi- although we hope to see many of the nite, and He bends you with His might pupils back in September to join our Sixth that His arrows may go swift and far. Form so it’s not really goodbye! Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.” ― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet Summer Newsletter Page 5 Year 11 Prom Page 6 Pencoedtre High School Did you know you can follow us on Twitter? @PencoedtreHS for all the latest news. Summer Newsletter Page 7 Year 11 Prom Page 8 Pencoedtre High School Year 11 Memories Year 11 were tasked to reminisce about Bryn Hafren and the time they had spent there and the prospect of moving on. Did you know you can follow us on Twitter? "We were only eleven when we came here @PencoedtreHS Lungs shallow from nervous breath for all the latest news. Our bodies small in form, our voices - Like chipmunks squeaking. Wide-eyed with wonder To the metropolis of teal building So unlike our previous homes Where we studied. Year seven, we made bonds. Year eight, we thought we were grown up. Year nine, we fought and made up. Year ten, when we started to wise up. Memories of this place will simply exist In our minds - No brick, mortar, glass or steel Will we hold in our hands. This memory shall be a simple ripple A soft petal placed on a still lake As the sun rises to new flowers Blooming in its wake. My biggest regret? Not knowing you all sooner. We the children We the future Teachers Lawyers Musicians Doctors Athletes And so much more. Here's to the remnants of Bryn Hafren." Georgia Brown Summer Newsletter Page 9 Valedictory Our annual Sixth Form Valedictory Dinner was held on Friday 28th June at the Radisson Blu hotel in Cardiff. For our Year 13 students, this was a great opportunity to celebrate the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter. The evening was really successful and gave us all a chance to get dressed up and end the year celebrating how much we have all achieved and how much we have matured. It also gave us the chance to reflect on what a great 7 years we have had in secondary school including looking back on our Year 7 photographs – some people haven’t changed at all! We all have great memories that we will cherish forever and take with us as we embark on our new adventures. This was also a chance for all the teachers who turned up to celebrate our successes with us as they are the ones who have seen us grow from children into young adults. I would like to wish everyone Good Luck for the future and I wish them all every success. Julie Rice— Head Girl Page 10 Pencoedtre High School Leaving School Did you know you can follow us on Twitter? @PencoedtreHS for all the latest news. This year I have been honoured to have held the title of Head Pupil at Pencoedtre High School. Your school years really are the best years of your life even if it is a massive rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. For me personally, my school journey was made easier with the help and support of every teacher that has taught me during the last 7 years. The care and guidance from my form tutors and my Heads of Year has been invaluable. I would also like to thank all the teachers for their dedication to our education and success. A shout out to all the support staff too, who probably don’t realise the positive impact that they can have during a young person’s school experience. As adults we now face new decisions, with us deciding our own paths. Some of us are going on to university, some to college, and some to work. Some of us might not know what we want to do yet, and that’s ok too. We will all find our place now we have finished school; it just takes some of us longer than others. With a sigh of relief, I am pleased to say that with the support of our teachers, our friends and our families we have managed to get through this stressful, yet rewarding stage of our lives and I am so looking forward to whatever the future holds. Julie Rice— Head Girl Summer Newsletter Page 11 It’s a MYSTERY in History!! Year 7 have been investigating a real History mystery as part of their work about the Middle Ages. They've hunted down clues about the murder of Thomas Becket and are now close to revealing the identity of the guilty party! Year 8 had to battle a fiendishly difficult Escape Room, using their knowledge of the Renaissance to solve the puzzles keeping them locked inside their Medici dungeon. They then looked at the conditions of industrial London in the nineteenth century in order to work out why 1888 Whitechapel was the perfect hunting ground for Britain's most infamous killer. MFL WELCOMES MRS ROCHE!! Modern Foreign Languages welcomes Mrs Roche. We would like to wish her all the very best in her new school. Page 12 Pencoedtre High School PR receive a special visitor from Texas Did you know you can follow us on Twitter? @PencoedtreHS for all the latest news. This was an exciting week for Philosophy and Religion as we had a special visitor from Texas. Gregory Trickett, an Associate Professor of Philosophy who came to speak to year 8 and 9 students discussing topics such as Life and Death Issues and Inspirational Leaders. Pupils were excited and enthused by his talks and not only learnt a lot more about the topics we are studying but also learning a lot about Texas, especially the best fast food places! A great experience which students thoroughly enjoyed! Summer Newsletter Page 13 Year 6 Transition Week Page 14 Pencoedtre High School Did you know you can follow us on Twitter? @PencoedtreHS for all the latest news. Pencoedtre High School hosted year 6 pupils for a fantastic four day transition event. The pupils met their form tutor and spent four days with the pupils who will be in their new form class – it was a great way to get to know each other and start to build friendships so that September is not so scary. Pupils experienced a wide range of subjects and activities, including Maths, English, a Drama production, a Dance lesson, Art, Languages, singing, Samba drumming and much more.