Together we can do great things Gyda’n gilydd, gallwn wneud pethau mawr Headteacher/Prifathro Mrs S Parry Headteachers Blog Number 136 Blog Prifathro Rhif 5th March 2021 Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rieni,Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr LHS - the return This week, we received the wonderful news that infection rates in Wales have reduced to a rate that Welsh Government consider it safe for us to formally plan for the staggered return of all students from 15th March. On Monday 8th March I will send our comprehensive plans to all stakeholders to allow everyone to get ready to return. We are reviewing all risk assessments and health and safety processes around the school. As part of this, we will be sending out guidance and resources for the optional use of lateral flow testing for staff and students. Rest assured that we will temper our enthusiasm to get back with our commitment to health and safety. There will be significant additional measures in place. We are preparing all details in preparation to update you on Monday. Patagonia bound on our 100 Heroes Charity and Fitness Event! In the meantime, please do follow the link below to view a very special video message that has been made by the staff of City Hospice to talk about the impact that our 100 Heroes campaign can have on the work that they do. We are really touched to hear from the amazing staff who work at City Hospice. We are making the journey of 12,000km to Patagonia because City Hospice has provided love and care for many members of our community and is close to our heart. We are putting our ‘Heart & Sole’ into this challenge. https://youtu.be/xZ7447zevxo Llanishen High School, Heol Hir, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5YL Phone: 029 2068 0800 Fax. 029 2068 0830 Email: [email protected] www.ltanishen.cardiff.sch.uk Twitter@lanishenhs The show must go on! I really hope our readers had a good St David’s Day on Monday. It has been a very different event from our normal celebrations in schools (no Welsh cakes in the staffroom this year). But we are not defeated. Our Eisteddfod is a glorious virtual event this Friday. I am delighted to bring you a video of students showcasing their talents and celebration of our Welsh culture. Thank you to the Welsh and Music departments for bringing this together. Congratulations to the students for their wonderful performances and work. The link below will take you to view this stunning performance that premieres at 8:30 am on Friday morning. You will also find it on the front page of the school website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9yqr2KIsfQ Our Year 7 and 8 pastoral teams will also share the video with their form groups on Monday. As you will see from the video, the Virtual Eisteddfod involves competitions from across all subjects in the school and celebrates the work from a huge number of students. It really showcases and allows us to appreciate just how hard some of our students are working during these challenging times. The music lockdown performance of 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams, which opens our Eisteddfod, consists of 183 different student videos of playing and singing! LHS Virtual Eisteddfod 2021 Welcome to the Llanishen High School Virtual Eisteddfod 2021!This competition showcases the amazing talent of our Year 7 and 8 pupils, displaying their work ... www.youtube.com Here is a sample of some of the wonderful entries that we’ve received for Science this year… Let’s start with some extracts from the life of William Frost, by Hayden Watkins in 7H…. And some extracts from the impact of Donald Davies by Samuel Morgan in 7A….. Some sobering lessons on global warming from Izzy Freedman in 8G…. And from Vaxsini Ravi ….. From Paris Leaman in 8B….. Finally, from Amy Favager (7G) on the life of Edward George Bowen…. extra info childhood facts about him Edward George "Taffy" At Swansea University Bowen Bowen was a Welsh Edward George Bowen was born had met his future wife, Enid physicist who made a at Crockett in Swansea, 14 January Vesta Williams, who was from major contribution to 1911 in south Wales, to George nearby Neath. They married in the development of Bowen and Ellen Ann (née 1938, and had three sons: radar, and also helped Owen). Edward, David, and John. win both the Battle of Edward Bowen was highly intelligent, Bowen had an enduring love Britain and the Battle of and so was able to get a good of cricket, and played regularly. the Atlantic. education by winning scholarships. He also became a keen sailor. From an early age he developed a In December 1987, he suffered ww2 strong interest in radio and cricket. a stroke and gradually On the outbreak of He entered Swansea University and deteriorated. He died on 12 the Second World War, read physics and related subjects. August 1991 at the age of 80. Bowen's unit was moved He graduated with a First-Class to St Athan. One of the first Honours degree in 1930 and things that Bowen did there continued with postgraduate was to try to detect a research on X-rays and the structure submarine by radar. By of alloys, earning an MSc in 1931. then, the cavity magnetron had been improved by John Randall and Harry Boot, making airborne radar a powerful tool. By December 1940, operational aircraft were able to detect submarines at up to 15 miles range. This technology had a major effect on winning the Battle of the Atlantic and eventually enabled forces to be built up by sea for the invasion of Europe. Also, we are delighted that the St David’s Day celebrations extended as far as this….! I might have said this already this evening, but this is another link that is not to be missed. Fantastic to see and hear from Donte Day! http://seren.thinkorchard.com/ Poetry in motion in English this week.. Mrs Card has been overwhelmed by some of her Year 9 responses to slam poetry in motion. Two students in particular have absolutely stood out …..Isla Howells and Luca Jackson. Mrs Card challenged the class to become budding poets themselves. Following a template, each student wrote their own "honest poem" to share something of themselves. Isla went one step further and even performed hers for Mrs Card in true slam poetry style. Luca's poem is moving and poignant and we are delighted to share it with you now. My Honest Poem by Luca Jackson I was born on the 17th of August. A sunny summer day in the middle of the Holidays, and the temperature is great. I don’t know how to draw or paint my creative thoughts I’m a sucker for junk food with all its salt and seasoning I’m still learning to communicate in German It’s only early days but it’s going pretty well I’ve been learning it because why not I was born happy and I’ve happy since I like Warhammer 40K a lot I’ve been told I can be too quiet I assume this is because I am introverted I will try and work on being talkative Secretly I get really nervous every time I speak I have an odd fascination with mechanical things that move and how those things work I assume I like them because I like to see what things are made of and how they were made to work. I guess that’s why I like to assemble models at home You see, my fascination with knowing how things or why they happen, reminds be that I’m not afraid discovering new things, even if it’s negative, like knowing that you’re just a speck on a revolving dirt mound But I’m scared to death of everything that’s going to happen the very moment that I think about the future of our earth. I’m clumsy. Yesterday I tripped over my insecurities, landed on my confidence, and it shattered like a window by a school yard. I’ve never been in the popular group, but I have this urge speak to people and for everyone not to hate me I know this sounds weird, but I wonder what my tablet says about me when I’m not around. I wonder if they think about what I search or judge what I say and do when I’m on my own. Hi, my name is Luca. I enjoy running, music and sitting around doing nothing. But I don’t speak my thoughts as often as I should. I have solar powered confidence. And a battery-operated ego. My hobbies include Editing my future. Hiding behind my computer screen. And trying to convince myself that I’m worth something. You see I don’t know much, but I do know this: I know that I’m a decent person, who just wants decent people around them. And I know that I deserve to be loved. Well done Luca. Now it’s time to warm up for some exercise. If you need some inspiration this week, let me point you in the direction of Lucy Ollerton from Year 8 who is keeping fit on the trampoline with her Border collie Bee! Red Nose Day Fun Day with our BTEC gang! As part of their coursework, Mrs Birch-Hursts’ Year 13 BTEC class have organised a sports event. We are running a virtual fun day event on Friday 19th March for Comic Relief for Years 7 and 8.