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Argoed High School , Mynydd Isa

Emyr Williams demonstrates a piece of equipment.

A group of More Able and Talented (MAT) high school students took part in an exciting new workshop to develop a deeper understanding of the concept of Sound.

Fifteen Year 9 students participated in the physics workshop which was delivered by science communicators from Xplore!, Wrexham.

The organisation has just launched the new workshop to support schools with their enhanced learning programme for students in the Seren Network, a Welsh Government initiative that helps the brightest students in Wales achieve their full academic potential.

The students take turns using different materials to mimic various sounds.

Rachel Benyon and Emyr Williams from Xplore! began the session with an explanation of soundwaves and how sound travels. Afterwards, the learners were invited to participate in a variety of practical activities to experiment with sound and create their own instruments.

They made harmonicas, used tuning forks, and tried out different materials to try and mimic sounds just in the way that the film industry would for something such as lightsabers, walking on snow, and bird flight. They also made tin can phones and water bottle pianos.

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Matilda Hewins said: "The session was so much fun, and it was great to use everyday objects to explore science. It made me think about how much we are not noticing going on around us! Rachel and Emyr were both really nice, explaining everything to us at each station."

Emyr Williams and Rachel Benyon with the group.

Amanda Scotter, skills and qualifications officer, organised the event. She said: "The workshop was a great opportunity for us to enhance the curriculum for our learners who are showing a particular enthusiasm and proficiency in science.

"We are really grateful to Rachel and Emyr for visiting our school and bringing with them such a variety of equipment to help bring learning to life. We hope the workshop has encouraged our learners to stretch their abilities and broaden their knowledge."

Ysgol Derwenfa, Leeswood

Deputy headteacher John Andrew Jones, with pupils Ava, Libby, TJ, Ethan, Jacob, Harley and Daniel Font from Aura Sports Development.

There was cause for celebration, as the school received the Aura Dragon Sports Platinum Award for Physical Activity and School Sport for the 2023-24 academic year. This is the second consecutive year the school has achieved the award.

Deputy headteacher John Andrew Jones said: "We are absolutely delighted to have once again achieved the Platinum Award.

"We would like to thank William Broster from Aura Sports Development for all of his hard work in providing opportunities for the children to take part in sport and physical activity.

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"We are incredibly proud of this award, and to be one of only four schools in Flintshire is a real achievement for our small village school.

"It has been a real pleasure to see the children enjoy representing the school across a range of sports and we hope that this will encourage them to stay active in the future."

Headteacher Andrew Jones and deputy headteacher John Andrew Jones, with Jacob Weaver, Ava Couchman, Ethan Couchman and TJ Evans, with their new training kits sponsored by Arnold Clark. Photo: Rick Matthews Photography

Pupils at the school have also received new sports jackets.

The jackets are sponsored by Arnold Clark as part of their national kit giveaway programme, and will be used to keep the children warm when they are attending sports festivals and matches across the county.

Ysgol Bryn Alyn, Wrexham

Year 8 pupils that helped with tea and coffee, Lucas Francis, Ben Langton and Rayyan Faisal, with Ken Skates.

The school recently hosted a significant event aimed at promoting railway safety across Wales.

The Wales Rail Safe Friendly initiative was officially launched by Ken Skates, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

The event highlighted the importance of railway safety, community engagement, and educational outreach in fostering a culture of safety among young people. Pupils from neighbouring primary school Ysgol Heulfan, joined Year 7 YBA pupils at the event.

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During the launch, Liz Ballantyne emphasised the critical role young people play in promoting safety not only for themselves but within their communities.

She sadly lost her son Harrison on June 27, 2017 after he entered Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal to retrieve a football. Harrison climbed on to a stationary freight wagon and received a fatal electric shock from an overhead cable, despite not touching it.

Year 7 poster competition winners Ruby Edwards and Jenson Mitchelmore.

Mr Skates in his address said he was delighted to be at the school, and thanked YBA for their warm welcome and that he is proud to be part of the Wales Rail Safe Friendly launch.

Headteacher Adele Slinn also spoke about how as a school that is quite close to a train station, rail safety is discussed annually and how pupils are fantastic ambassadors who pass on their knowledge to friends and family.

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As part of the event, students were encouraged to participate in a creative project where they would design posters focused on railway safety messaging. The event was met with enthusiasm from students, who expressed eagerness to get involved and share their ideas. Many students were seen brainstorming and sketching designs, highlighting their passion for making the railways safer for everyone.

The Wales Rail Safe Friendly initiative launch at Ysgol Bryn Alyn.

The competition, encouraged students to reflect on rail safety issues and present their ideas in a visually engaging manner. Two of the winners Ruby Edwards and Jenson Mitchelmore's poster featured vibrant illustrations alongside important safety messages, incorporating elements that resonated strongly with their audience.

The Wales Rail Safe Friendly initiative aims to build a stronger relationship between young people and the railway network, ensuring that future generations prioritise safety practices in their everyday lives. Events like these raise awareness and help build a sense of community responsibility among young travellers.

Ysgol Tŷ Ffynnon, Deeside

The School Council at Ysgol T? Ffynnon arranged a Jeans for Genes Day.

The School Council organised a Jeans for Genes Day on Friday, September 20. The whole school came in wearing jeans or denim, raising £335.

School Council presented a whole school assembly to highlight the importance of genetic research and also explain why Tŷ Ffynnon supports this charity. Council members expressed their thanks for donations from parents and pupils.

Ysgol Rhiwabon, Wrexham

The annual Year 7 SWAN Induction period came to a successful completion after the first week of school.

SWAN is designed to further enhance our strong transition activities completed during the summer term by supporting the youngest students to become familiar with their new school and teachers in structured and nurturing induction programme.

Pupils who took part in the Year 7 SWAN Induction at Ysgol Rhiwabon.

Carefully designed sessions based on the theme of ‘Education through the Ages’, provides students with an opportunity to experience activities such as a Victorian classroom, writing a letter to their future self, completing a diary entry, oracy presentations and school orientation activities so students get to know the layout of the school more easily.

Paddy Bingham, assistant headteacher said: "Feedback from our students has once again been excellent and it has been wonderful to see them beginning their secondary school journey in such a positive manner.”

Agnieszka Mueller and Heidi Keefe from Kronospan at Ysgol Rhiwabon.

• Year 11 students go a careers insight with a visit from Agnieszka Mueller and Heidi Keefe from Kronospan in Chirk.

The informative apprentice talk gave students a valuable insight into apprenticeships and will help inform students of the opportunities available to them.

• The school will be holding a regular free uniform swap shop, in a bid to tackle the cost of living crisis.

The Swap Shop will be available every Tuesday from 3.15pm-4.15pm in the school reception to collect any items for free.

Donations in good condition are also welcome of blazers, jumpers, trousers, skirts, PE kit, football boots, winter coats. Drop off at reception.

Flint High School

ABOUT 60 students at the Flintshire high school have been inspired to get their creative juices flowing in readiness to enter a young people's writing competition as part of this year's Daniel Owen Festival.

Two groups of Year 9 English students each spent an afternoon in a creative writing workshop led by local author and creative practitioner, Dr Sara Louise Wheeler.

The students enjoyed looking at how to structure a creative piece of writing and developed some interesting ideas around this year's theme of "early warning" which ties in with Daniel Owen's hobby of breeding canaries. The saying 'a canary in a coal mine', has long meant an early warning of danger.

Flint High School students start putting ideas together for their own creative pieces of work.

Entrants can write a poem, short story, song or play in English or Welsh of up to 500 words.

Dr Wheeler designed the workshops drawing on her experiences as a writer and using activities that she has seen working well in creative writing workshops she has attended.

She said: "I am continually surprised and delighted by the energy, enthusiasm, and vivid imaginations of the young people who attend these workshops. It is fascinating to see how some students naturally lean towards poetry, whilst others plan out entire novels - all within the one session!

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"One thing which was both reassuring and yet sobering, was how much knowledge the students demonstrated on the themes of climate change and the potential for future epidemics and pandemics. These issues are a very real threat to their futures, and they are deeply concerned and engaged in learning about how to mitigate them.

Dr Sara Louise Wheeler explains some techniques for creative writing during the workshop.

"I always learn from the young people as well, which is lovely. I saw how one of the Flint High students had used post-it notes to storyboard her story, which enabled her to move sections of the story around. This was a real light-bulb moment for me - it seemed so simple once I saw how this worked for her story, and I shall be trying this technique out myself for my next long piece of writing. I wish them the best of luck with the competition."

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Jemma Defries, curriculum leader of English, said: "The workshop was an excellent way to engage students with the competition; Sara encouraged them all to think outside the box around the theme of 'early warnings'. It prompted lots of high level discussion around real life events that could occur and how we might react to certain situations.

"We love any opportunity to get an author visit at Flint High and have had several quite famous authors such as Lucy Strange, Phil Earle and A.M Dassu complete workshops with our students. It was so lovely to have a published writer who is local to the area come in and inspire our students. The workshops generated such a buzz around the theme that I can't wait to see some completed entries."

The competition's closing date is midnight on Friday, October 4 and entries will be judged by established writers. All short-listed entrants will be invited to read/have their submissions read on Saturday, October 19 at Dance, Song and Stories in Daniel Owen Square. The winner in each of the Welsh and English categories will be presented with a glass trophy and each of the two runners up with a book token.