Celebrating inclusive community at St Illtyd’s
On Friday 11th April, the pupils and staff at St Illtyd’s celebrated “Culture Day”. We have nearly 50 languages spoken in the school with pupils from all over the world. A lot of our learners have Dual Nationality.
The LIT group spent several weeks in the lead up to the event preparing and creating activities for the day. During the day pupils learnt about culture and took part in a flag quiz during form time. Pupils then looked at all the languages spoken by learners at St Illtyd’s and were encouraged to say a phrase in various languages.
The day ended with a food tasting in the hall. Staff and pupils were able to taste food from around the world and enjoy music from different cultures. Culture Day was enjoyed by all.
St Illtyd’s is on a journey towards the Silver Award of the Rights Respecting Schools Award, and this day reminded all our pupils of their rights. Culture Day served as a reminder of three of the articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Article 7 - Name & Nationality
Article 8 - Identity
Article 30 - Minority Culture, Language and Religion
Luisa May, Community Focused Schools Coordinator
Animation Workshop at Cardiff Met University
At the end of June, 30 pupils in Year 8 were lucky enough to visit Cardiff School of Art and Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Llandaff campus for an animation workshop. The workshop was run by Lewys and Gabe, two alumni of Cardiff School of Art and Design who have gone on to form Mwnci Animation with a third alumni, Callum.
The animation workshop guided our pupils through each stage of the animation process- from starting with an idea, developing the idea, creating a storyboard, pre-production and through to filming the animation itself. Our pupils learnt many new skills and learnt what the role of an animator involves.
Our pupils had a fantastic day. We would like to thank Lewys and Gabe for running the workshop and Student Ambassador Lily for looking after us. We would like to thank Caroline Ryan and all the team at Reaching Wider South East Wales for organising this amazing opportunity for our pupils and for providing the transport.
Luisa May, Community Focused Schools Coordinator
Bienvenue Lycée Largenté
In April this year, the staff and pupils at St Illtyd’s were excited to host our first ever French exchange. Lycée Largenté, a school in Bayonne in southwest France is our exchange school. 35 pupils in Years 8 and 9 were paired with pen pals and started the exchange by writing letters (in French) and receiving letters (in English) from their pen pals in France.
On April 8th, we welcomed pupils and staff from Lycée Largenté to St Illtyd’s. Our French visitors had a warm welcome to the school and had a tour of the school before meeting up with their pen pals from St Illtyd's. Our pupils enjoyed meeting their pen pals and getting to know them. They all clicked together so quickly and easily.
Our pupils then took our visitors from Lycée Largenté to a lesson before meeting in the hall to say their goodbyes. It was a fantastic day with a great atmosphere throughout the school- full of excitement and enthusiasm.
A huge thanks to all the pupils and staff from Lycée Largenté for coming to visit! It was wonderful to receive thank you cards and notes from the pupils of Lycée Largenté after their visit. We are hoping we can build on this in the future, and it is a first step towards a long and successful exchange with the French school in the years to come.
Domice Carbonnaux, Teacher of French
Bowling and LaserQuest Wellbeing Reward Trips
At the end of the Spring term, pupils from Years 7 to 10 enjoyed a day out at SuperbowlUK Cardiff as part of our Wellbeing Rewards package at the school. Pupils enjoyed a game of LaserQuest and a game of bowling as well as having free time playing in the arcade games and relaxing with their friends. A fantastic time was had by all.
Luisa May, Community Focused Schools Coordinator
Congratulations Sailors
In February, a group of 16 Year 9 pupils took part in a two-day RYA Keelboat Level 1- Start Sailing course with Cardiff Sailing Centre. Over the course of two days, pupils not only learnt how to sail but also developed teamwork and communication skills. At the end of the Spring term, we invited Anthony Chappin, Chief Sailing Officer at Cardiff Sailing Centre to present our pupils with their certificates. Well done to all our sailors.
We would like to thank the Reardon Smith Nautical Trust for funding this opportunity - we are extremely grateful to RSNT for their support of the school and for giving us our pupils these opportunities.
Luisa May, Community Focused Schools Coordinator
