9 May 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rhieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
Everybody get Footloose!
Ok readers. I’m not going to lie to you. The last few weeks have been hard graft for Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 as they all prepare for the most important exams of their lives to date. One really important piece of advice we can give to our students as they balance out their hours of revision over the coming months is ‘do not abandon your hobbies, extra-curricular activities and releases, whatever they may be.’ If you love sport, keep doing some. If you love creative arts, keep doing some. Whatever you love, keep doing it. Scale back sensibly. But remember that you need some down time.
That is my seamless link to the first news item today. Footloose is coming to Llanishen High School! Get those toes tapping and your hands clapping to our next school production! The show will be running from the 9th to the 11th of July, so kick off those Sunday shoes and join us! Tickets are on sale now on parent pay, or contact Mrs Brown.
Rehearsals are undoubtedly a much needed dose of release and rejuvenation for those students in Years 10 to 13, and the following shots from rehearsal this week remind me of my most favourite aspect of our summer production – Years 7 through to 13 performing on stage together. It’s a joyous thing. Here are some sneaky behind the scenes shots from the feel good show of the summer!
UKMT Junior Challenge – the results are in!
Nex today, the power and joy of mathematics! Llanishen High School has been stretching the minds of the very brightest in Key Stage 3 with the UKMT Junior Challenge. This maths challenge provides a variety of puzzles that increase in difficulty as you progress. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. We are delighted to have so many high-achieving pupils succeeding!
From Year 7 we had 27 Bronze Awards, and 6 Silver Awards. A big congratulations to silver stars Ryan Eascott, Angus Gurney, Jinglei Lin, Lucas Bateman, Chloe Davies and Daniel Micklewright who also achieved Best in Year!
From Year 8 we achieved 22 Bronze Awards, 19 Silver Awards and 6 Gold Awards. We are exceptionally proud of you! Gold awards winners were Aishvaryaa Rajaram, Charlie Morris, Theo Turner, Harry Pink, Isaac Williams and Ava Leslie who also achieved Best in School! Four students qualified to the next round, the Junior Kangaroo, which takes place on 11th June 2024.
Well done to you all. We will follow the next stage with baited breath!
Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award May 2024
Next today, an update from Mrs Birch-Hurst who led our intrepid Year 10 students on a journey of discovery.
“I thought I should fill you in on the incredible achievements of the Year 10 Silver gang of 40 students!
We had a very gruelling experience that included torrential rain at night and heavy or light rain in the daytime. We were out from Wednesday to Saturday, culminating in getting up at 02:30 and summitting Pen-y Fan at 05:30 on the Saturday, hoping to see the sunrise!
Alas it was covered in cloud, but a least it was our first relatively dry walk (although we were all wearing damp or wet clothes from the days before!)
All students carried their food, tents, cooking utensils, stoves, fuel and food for four days.
They walked for 6 hours in the daytime and set up camp each day, and re set up camp with sodden tents the next. They cooked their own food, and washed up and cleared up after breakfast and evening meals.
Some students had to abandon washed out tents and seek emergency shelter in the minibus. Others just lay there listening to the thundery rain lashing down and prayed they would keep mainly dry if they stayed still! (Well that’s what I did!)
Nobody complained. They administered their own first aid and bonded together beautifully.
Not a mobile phone was seen!
Over my time of being involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at LHS I have probably run at least 30 expeditions. This one was certainly up there for being the most testing for the students and for me too. I have since thrown my tent away as waking up in a puddle was not great and a couple of poles snapped anyway!
I was so very impressed by all the students, and especially those who were crying and asking parents to pick them up on the first night…they carried on and summitted at the end! Awe inspiring!
These 40 students are all incredible young people and we should be very proud of them!
I would also like to say how amazing Mrs Francis was. She came up for two nights (I can’t believe she actually came back for a second!) and “staffed” one of the campsites for me. Without her being there, I could not have let the trip proceed as my two volunteer helpers were unable to make it.’
On behalf of the students, I would like to thank Mrs Birch-Hurst and Mrs Francis. I can confirm that most students are now dry. Let’s conclude with evidence that our silver and gold students did indeed get up very early to not see a sunrise…..
Year 7 Girls Football Cup Winners!
Next today, a big shout out to some of our Year 7 girls who play for Thornhill Athletic Football Club. The under 12s played in the South Wales Women’s and Girls Shield Cup Final on Sunday and won!
It was a tough game which was a draw at full time and then they went on to win on penalties.
The match saw great performances from them all. We would like to congratulate Nabira Irfan, Evie Burnett, Mia Parsons, Charley Taylor, Ruby Brewis, Sophia Blease, Faith Jones, Elsie Robinson and Ffion Talboys.
Well done to you all girls. Keep us posted on your future exploits..
Welsh Learner of the Year
We finish this week with some really exciting news.
The Welsh department entered Alice Thomas from Year 13 for the Welsh Learner of the Year competition in the Urdd Eisteddfod.
Alice has got through to the final, to be held at the Eisteddfod in Powys on Wednesday of May half term.
We are absolutely delighted for Alice, the Welsh Department and LHS on this fantastic achievement. We wish her every success at the final interview!
Well done everyone! We look forward to bringing you more news and updates next week.
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry, Headteacher