MORE than 140 families attended an open evening at a Flintshire high school last week to gain an insight into every faculty and participate in a host of interactive activities, as well as hearing from its newest students about their experiences since joining in September.
Ysgol Treffynnon has hailed the evening as a resounding success, exceeding last year's record attendance to become the school's 'best ever' open event.
Ysgol Treffynnon students help visitors in design technology to make their own keyrings.
John Weir, headteacher, said: "The open evening was an unparalleled triumph for our school. Parents were overwhelmingly positive, commending our dedicated staff and wonderful student helpers and speakers, as well as the accessible and engaging environment we enjoy here at Ysgol Treffynnon. Attendees had the unique opportunity to delve deeply into the Ysgol Treffynnon experience, gaining hands-on insights across all academic disciplines.
Children try out different activities in design technology/engineering.
"The children who visited from our partner primary schools were an absolute credit to their families, exemplifying the highest standards of politeness and engagement. Their enthusiastic participation in activities and thoughtful conversations with our staff and students significantly enriched the event.
Read more: Flintshire sixth formers building confidence in the great outdoors
"I would like to thank everyone who came on the night, and our amazing staff and students for making it such a wonderful evening."
Lucy Tait, Year 7, talks about her experiences of settling well into high school.
Mr Weir, who won the Pearson's Silver Award for UK Secondary Headteacher of the Year 2022, gave a passionate address to a packed audience. He then introduced four of the school's new Year 7 students - Pheobe Cain, Lucy Tait, Georgia Evans, and Harry Bamford - who took to the podium to speak about how much they were enjoying their first term at Ysgol Treffynnon and how the school's transition residential had helped them enormously.
Read more: Poignant reflection, 'bathing' in nature, Year 7s and more school news
Ysgol Treffynnon students showed families around the school's facilities and provided information about organised activities in each subject area for the children to take part in.
A prospective student gives the drum kit a try in the music department.
The languages, literacy and communication faculty organised a range of activities including Maze Runner "In the Bag", a poetry station to 'make your own' haiku or acrostic poems, Scrabble Cymraeg, and a Shakespearean Insults Graffiti Wall, as well as having examples of work, textbooks, and revision guides on view.
Read more: Building community awareness for new Flintshire school campus
In expressive arts, there were keyboard pieces to play on the Apple Macs, drum demonstrations, and student performances, while in art, children could learn printmaking techniques, and use games and activities on the Tate website with student helpers on hand to assist.
Children are fascinated by the teacher-led methane bubbles demo.
There was a laser cutting demonstration of key rings for children to take home in the science and design technology faculty, and 3D printer and CAD/CAM demos. Children were able to test acids and alkalis in science, have a go at a heart and rat dissection, and watch flame tests and a methane bubbles teacher demo.
Read more: Over 50 North Wales schools sign up for Children’s University project
In humanities, there was a variety of interactive geography-focused learning opportunities from decorating cakes with map symbols and guessing foods from around the world while blindfolded, to a geographical photo booth. Visitors explored information panels created by history students and were also able to "dig" for artefacts.
A heart dissection demonstration in science.
A range of maths and logic puzzles, games and activities, demonstrations of TT Rockstars and MathsWatch engaged children in the mathematics and numeracy faculty.
The health and wellbeing faculty held various cookery sessions including bread making in the food technology department, and in physical education Ysgol Treffynnon students demonstrated the gymnastics equipment and trampoline.
Young visitors explore computer-based activities in ICT and business.
Visitors were given goody bags comprising a branded PE bag containing a pen, pencil, pencil case, water bottle, note pad, prospectus, a copy of the latest newsletter, and a flyer about the school's breakfast and homework clubs.
• Parents and carers of Year 7 students are invited to a 'Settling in Evening' providing an opportunity to meet their child's form tutor and gain valuable insights into their transition into Year 7. The event is on Monday, October 9, from 4pm-6.30pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here