15 March 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rhieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
World Book Day 2024!
Last week saw us celebrating in style, starting with World Book Day. The theme this year was ‘Murder Mystery.’ Not an easy theme, hence there are some rather tenuous links to the brief! Nonetheless, a superb effort from the staff.
Our celebrations included an extreme reading challenge, a visiting author, and games and competitions.
Students were also invited to solve the mystery of who dognapped Dave?
You won’t believe who the dognaper turned out to be!
As part or our celebrations we would like to commend LHS’s team of avid readers, Eve Rushbrooke, Sami Cross, Ameera Khatrush and Fajar Rukhsana who competed in the Welsh heats of the Literacy Trust’s National Reading Champions Quiz 2024. Unfortunately, they didn’t come first and secure a place in the London finals, but they come third out of 12 schools across Wales and we think that is a massive achievement! Well done on a superb performance!
As part of our ongoing commitment to literacy and reading for pleasure, two groups of amazing students (who attend our fantastic Learning support department), took part in a literacy and art session with Mr Bump (art teacher Mr Dawe) and Verucca Salt (Mrs Hazeltine-Rees) in the library on World Book Day.
The pupils read the range of graphic novels available in the library and under the expert advice of Mr Bump, planned, wrote and illustrated a scene from their own graphic novel.
As the Spring term draws to a close, the Year 12 and Year 7 ‘buddy reading’ programme will also finish, so the Year 12’s can dedicate their time to their summer exams. The programme is an opportunity for the Year 12 students to support year 7 students to develop their reading (and gain valuable experience of volunteering). Year 7 students not only get one on one time reading, but also get to see what it is like to be a 6th form student in the PSA.
International Women’s Day 2024 – Getting girls into STEM
Have you ever wondered how much liquid a nappy can actually hold, and how? That was just one of the hands-on experiments that took place to explore smart materials on Monday 11th March.
Llanishen High School is on a mission to get more girls into STEM subjects – from GCSE and beyond – with the launch of a new workshop series this March designed to inspire. Despite some improvements in recent years, there’s still a noticeable gap between boys and girls and their subject choices. The theme of International Women’s Day 2024 is inclusion, so we are hoping to change that with some inspiration from leading female voices in Welsh STEM industries.
The first workshop was led by Vibhushinie Bentotahewa, a Lecturer in Computer Security and Programme Director for BSc Computer Security at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Alongside third year student, Georgina Cayley, Vibhushinie spoke with some of Year 11’s top-performing girls to explore opportunities available in the field of cybersecurity, cyber espionage, ethical hacking, and defensive security as well as training opportunities that are tailored specifically for girls pursuing STEM subjects.
LHS was thrilled to welcome Vibhushinie and Georgina. Representation matters, and we know how important it is that our students see that anything is possible through the huge range of career opportunities now available to girls looking to enter the STEM industries.
Like many sectors, you need the right qualifications before you can get started. So entry into these professions all starts right here, in school. Now is the time to get inspired, hear from industry thought leaders and understand that they can make a huge impact right here in Wales. That’s where we come in, and we’re already looking forward to what’s coming up.
The second workshop was delivered by Mel and Rhian from SparkLab Cymru. As two former Heads of Chemistry, Mel and Rhian combined a range of hands-on chemistry experiments alongside a presentation on the extensive career paths that open up when you pursue STEM subjects. SparkLab really inspired us to step outside of our comfort zone and experience the awe in the world around us. We’re hoping to host more girls in STEM workshops in the near future, so if you’re a woman working in STEM who wants to get involved, please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Here are some snaps from the day….
Llanishen Learners’ LDP Engagement Project
On 4th March, Mr Mann led 15 of our Year 7 students to the All Nations centre to take part in a series of workshops run by Cardiff LA and the Child Friendly City team. Their mission was to help shape the Cardiff Local Development Plan and to forge towards a Child Friendly City.
Cardiff’s Local Development Plan will shape the urban landscape of the city for the next 2 decades. During this time even our youngest learners will have gone through the school system and graduated university / entered the world of work and will be living with the outcomes of the LDP. It will be their city and therefore it is not only appropriate to consult them about the future direction of its growth, it is their right – under the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
Our Year 7’s worked with Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning to design a future residential community at Ty Glas in Llanishen. In preparation, our learners engaged with the UNCRC to understand the importance of being consulted. They considered what makes a great place to live and grow up.
Year 7 worked with learners from other schools in our Llanishen cluster including learners from Bryn Celyn Primary School, Springwood Primary School, Llysfaen Primary School and Ton-Yr-Ywen Primary School.
They offered insightful, honest and creative ideas. A superb day! Cue…action shots of the action research….
Learning Support Star of the Week
This weeks Star of the Week goes to the fabulous Ruby Grouse in Year 11.
Ruby really embraced a recent trip to the Careers Wales apprenticeship fair and was fantastic company.
She is eternally positive and we know that she will bring joy and sunshine to whatever field she pursues.
Well done Ruby.
Scouting success
It is always amazing to hear about the variety of achievements and activities that our students get up to outside of school.
After achieving his chief gold scout award last year, Jack Lovatt from Year 10 was invited into the Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s scout group and was invited to be part of the guard of honour for the St David’s day service in St John’s church. This is a true honour and a task that Jack undertook with great pride, solemnity, and respect.
It is amazing to see students thriving in different aspects of life, and the skills of leadership and teamwork are invaluable. Here are some photographs that captured the events.
Athletics Success
Congratulations also go to Gethin, Adam, Abbi and Amelie from LHS. They represented Cardiff & the Vale in the U13 Welsh Sportshall final last Sunday.
They all did really well in their individual events and overall, the boys came 3rd and the girls came 1st.
Therefore the girls are going through to the finals next month in Stoke, to represent Wales in the UK finals.
Well done everyone. We shall follow the girls on their next adventures. Good luck Abbi and Amelie.
As the penultimate week of the spring term comes to an end, we would like to wish you are very happy and healthy weekend, from our very unique family to yours.
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry, Headteacher