Latest News
December 2009
Polite Reminders
Please would all parents refrain from dropping off or collecting pupils from the staff car park in Lower School unless it is an emergency. Thanks for your co-operation.
Pupils are reminded not to bring chewing gum into school.
Please could you ensure all pupils are wearing the correct uniform, especially black shoes, in the New Year.
Staff Achievements
A number of our energetic staff helped raise money for the RNLI at the Reindeer Run in Margam Park on a cold Sunday morning!
Musical Items
The Music department have also been busy with a number of events this term. The Annual Concert held at the Lower School was a wonderful display of the talents of pupils at Dwr y Felin. The variety of musical items as well as the different instruments on display was a credit to all. It was also very pleasing to see pupils from the whole school represented, from Year 7 to Year 11.
During the Prize Giving at Lower School we were also fortunate to have the lower school orchestra playing a selection of pieces. The upper school choir have been invited to a sing at a champagne dinner reception at the Liberty Stadium on 17th December for the Premier Club and Conference Box members, Ospreys and Swans Management and Business Sponsors. Where next?!
Further dates for the diary:
Rock and pop Concert in February; venue to be confirmed.
Annual Summer Concert to be held in the Orangery at 6:30pm on Thursday 6th May. Our production of “Fame” will take place in the Lower School Hall in July. Put the dates in your diary!!!
Mr X Appeal 2009
Once again Upper School pupils raised money to support the local Mr X appeal. This year we have bought and wrapped presents for 43 children. Well done to all!!
Annual Prize Giving
Once again we held our Prize Giving Ceremonies this term to recognise and celebrate the success of individual pupils in both the Upper and Lower Schools. The Upper School presentations were made in October at Neath Port Talbot College where several current and past pupils were recognised for their achievements during the past year. We are grateful to Mr Ravi Pawar (ex Deputy Head teacher) who was our guest speaker for this occasion as well as our Honoured guests including Deputy Mayor Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Mrs Lella James. Our Lower School Prize Giving celebrated the attainment and endeavour of the younger pupils including a number who achieved 100% Attendance.
Deiniol Jones Visit
The Welsh department have been very fortunate to hold a question and answer session between the year 10 option classes and the Cardiff Blues second row player Mr Deiniol Jones. The visit was arranged in conjunction with the drive on bilingualism throughout the school and was aimed at promoting and raising the profile of the Welsh language. The session was conducted through the medium of Welsh and proved very interesting and beneficial to the pupils. The pupils will now use the information gathered to aid them with their GCSE work. Everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the experience. And we would like to thank Mr Jones for coming to the school. Da iawn i bawb!
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to Lowri White, Megan Llewelyn and Georgia Brennan who have all been selected to represent Afan Nedd Tawe Netball squad.
Connor Haren (Year 7) represented Wales in the World Kick Boxing Championships in Spain. He competed against Ireland, Canada, Italy and Germany. Wales were crowned as WORLD CHAMPIONS!! Well done Connor and his team.
Nick Edwards (Year 11) has captained the Boys Club of Wales U16 Football team.
Stacey Collins (Year 11) was selected to represent the Welsh Schools' Athletic Association in the Schools Indoor Pentathlon in Glasgow on Saturday 5th December. They were competing against teams from England, Scotland and Ireland, and came 3rd overall. Well done Stacey!
Ben Evans (Year 11) was invited to play the trumpet (solo) in Cardiff in the ceremony where they welcomed the Queen's baton for the Commonwealth Games, as it passes through the continents on its way to India for the Games next year. This was quite a prestigious event, attended by many important dignitaries, and he carried out his task very competently and very professionally. We are extremely proud of his musical achievements.
Rhys Morgan (last years Year 11) is now one of ten finalists in the UK Young Drummer of the Year 2009.
Crime Prevention Winners
The year 8 crime prevention team took part in the Neath Port Talbot All Wales Schools Crime prevention Quiz. After weeks of revising the highway code, fire safety, Drugs and healthy living the team won on a tie break question. Congratulations to Jessica, Emily, Joseph, Sam and Beth for all their hard work. The team go on to represent Neath Port Talbot in the South Wales Final on January 11th 2010.
Girls football 5x60 v Llangatwg
First win of the season. On Tuesday 24th November a Year 7 and 8 team played against Llangatwg. With only one addition, but several casualties from the previous week, the girls played with a lot more confidence. The match, played over 3 ten minute thirds was a very even match which we eventually won 3-2 courtesy of a Sophie Hughes hat-trick. However, 4 of the goals were scored in the last 10 minutes. In phases we passed the ball well and had several breaks which could have resulted in more goals but for some fine saves by their goal keeper. Da iawn merched!
Year 7
Hannah Lake, Sophie Hughes, Ella Brown, Elle Brown and Chloe Saltmarsh.
Year 8
Molly Jackson, Emilia ball and Bethan Williams.
Anti-Bullying Roadshows
Four Year 10 pupils participated in an Anti-Bullying Roadshow in Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli on Thursday 12th November. They attended various anti-bullying workshops and were given free tickets to watch the Scarlets as a thank you for attending! They are currently developing the ideas from the course in school.
November 2009
Girls football 5x60 v Cwrt Sart
On Tuesday 17th November we played against Cwrt Sart on the Lower School Astroturf. The match was made up of two 8 aside games. One game was mainly pupils from Year 7 and 8, the second also had 4 Upper School pupils. Considering this is only the second school game the performance was very promising. We passed the ball very nicely and had far more clear cut chances. The Year 7/8 game finished 0-0 and the mixed game finished 3-1 to Cwrt Sart with Sophie Hughes of Year 7 scoring for us. Well done girls!
Year 7
Hannah Lake, Sophie Hughes, Ella Brown, Elle Brown and Chloe Saltmarsh.
Year 8
Clarissa Jervis, Jessica Willis, Emilia ball and Bethan Williams.
Year 10
Emily Gaze, Lisa Amphlett, Shelly Coleman and Nia Sturgess.
September 2009
GCSE Exam Results
At the start of a new academic year, we are once again celebrating the success of the pupils of Dwr y Felin. 73% of pupils in Year 11 achieved at least five A* - C grades with a number of outstanding individual results. 95% of the pupils had 5 or more A* to G and 91% obtained a C grade in at least one subject. Many congratulations to all! I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, parents and governors for their continued support and commitment. To celebrate the achievements of these pupils, as well as a number of other pupils, we will be holding our annual Prize Giving Evening on 22nd October – more details to follow. These results are excellent and reflect the progress made by the school since the last inspection. It is worth noting that we were a school with a rolling average of 50s for our 5 A* to C grades 6 years ago when we had a good inspection. It will be interesting to see how we are judged in the Spring term of 2010, during our next inspection, when we are now a school in the 70s/
New Deputy Headteacher
As you are all aware, Mr Pawar left us at the end of the summer term to take up his new post as Headteacher at Blackwood School near Newport. It therefore gives us great pleasure in welcoming our new Deputy Headteacher, Mr Martin Howell, to Dwr y Felin.
School Counsellor
We have been fortunate this year to have an addition to our non-teaching staff. Mrs Sarah Pozzi has joined us and our partner primary schools on a part time basis as a school based counsellor. Pupils will have the opportunity to meet with Mrs Pozzi on a “one-to-one” basis. We hope that this introduction will be another strategy to help support pupils during their time at Dwr y Felin. Should you wish any further information please contact Mrs Rose at Upper School.
Extra Curricular Clubs
A full and complete programme of the clubs and activities on offer to your child, both at lunchtime and after school will be issued shortly. The range and number of clubs on offer has increased considerably over the last few years.
Whilst everything possible has been done to organise the timetable so that clubs for a particular year group do not clash, there are occasions where this has not been possible due to the numerous amount of activities on offer.
5X60
A reminder that the 5X60 clubs will start again this term with activities such as cheerleading, football, dodgeball and fitness activities on the menu for pupils. All pupils are welcome to attend the clubs. For more information see Michelle Hall (5X60 Officer).
First Aid
Following changes in legislation, we are amending our first aid policies in school. We are no longer able to issue Paracetemol tablets to pupils in school. We are only able to look after and supervise pupils who have prescribed medication. If your child needs to take any medication in school, would you please send it into school clearly labelled with their name and an accompanying letter giving your permission for us to issue the medication. Should you wish further clarification on this matter please contact your child’s Head of Year.