KIM JAMES-WILLIAMS ART EXHIBITION

Pupils in years 3 and 6 had an opportunity to visit an exhibition by one of the school's parents today. Recently Kim has been very busy researching and practising her skills - she recently visited the school in order to experiment and practise by drawing pupils and staff working. Today we saw the completed collection at the Aberystwyth University Art School. Many thanks to Kim for her interesting talk, and for showing us her technique when drawing people.

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THE OLYMPIC TORCH VISITS THE SCHOOL

It was nice to welcome one of the Olympic torchbearers to the school today. Bridget James, who ran with the torch from the National Library up Penglais Hill in the morning, visited us in the afternoon in order to visit every classroom and give the pupils the chance to see and hold the torch themselves. Here in the photo Bridget is pictured with the pupils who decided to run alongside her on the road near the National Library. What fit children!

HALFORDS TOUR SERIES

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The weather for the Halfords Tour Series was very different compared to last year, with the Sun shining along the promenade in Aberystwyth. The sun also shone on Ysgol Gymraeg riders as they managed to win several medals during the event. Congratulations to Dwynwen from Year 6 on winning the race for years 5&6 girls, with Sioned from year 5 coming second and Lily from year 6 third. In the race for years 3&4 boys Iestyn Llŷr won the silver medal. Well done to everyone who raced with many coming in the top ten.

ARAD GOCH THEATRE COMPANY : GUTO NYTH BRÂN

With the Olympic Games just around the corner, and to coincide with the flame passing through Aberystwyth this weekend, years 3,4,5&6 visited Theatr y Werin at the Arts Centre to watch a performance of Guto Nyth Brân. Thanks once again to Arad Goch Theatre Company for a production which the pupils and staff enjoyed immensely, by bringing the story of the "fastest boy in the world" to life.

P.T.A SPONSORED WALK

Many thanks to everyone who supported the Sponsored Walk this year. It was great to see so many taking part - pupils, parents, relatives, staff and past pupils all enjoying a leisurely walk along the various footpahs: along Plascrug Avenue for the little ones and to the cricket field and back for the older children. A big thank you also to Tŷ Nant for sponsoring the walk and providing us with hundreds of bottles of water for the thirsty walkers.

LOOK WHO'S GROWING!

As you can see, the chicks have been very busy eating a lot of food as they are by now very big chicks indeed! Soon they will be thinking about leaving the nest for the first time. Their parents are still busy feeding them regularly for them to continue to grow and get stronger ready for the big leap. We will need to keep a careful eye on them to watch that happen.

YEAR 2 FOLLOW THE ROUTE FOR THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

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» Staff and pupils from one of the Year 2 classes stand on a map of Wales with the locations where the torch is set to visit

We are all aware by now of the Olympic torch's relay around Britain. On Sunday, the torch will reach Aberystwyth. Today, year 2 pupils managed to reinact the journey on the school yard by using a map of Wales and imagining the rest of Britain. The pupils managed to complete the relay in 1minute and 5seconds. That's surely a World Record!

THANK YOU MRS PITCHER!

Many thanks to one of the school's parents, Mrs Pitcher, for yet again coming in to the school to help tidy and spruce up the school's green areas. Here her daughter and friends help plant new flowers and plants in the border by the main entrance. Thank you Mrs Pitcher for all your hard work throughout the year!

ELMER'S DAY IN YEAR 2

During this term we have based our curricular activities on the story of 'Elfed' (Elmer Elephant). The highlight was a party to celebrate 'Diwrnod Elfed' (Elmer's Day) for which we have been preparing for a long time. The children used their computer skills to produce attractive posters and invitations, and colourful party hats were made and worn with pride! Jelly making was great fun and everyone particularly enjoyed preparing sandwiches: ham, cheese and of course, jam! Fairy cakes were kindly baked by Mrs Atkinson and decorated by the children. They were delicious! We had a picnic outside Elfed's cafe followed by dancing, games and a lot of fun. It was a fantastic day.
Year 2 pupils

MARTHA (FAIR TRADE)

Year 5 had a very interesting visitor on Tuesday the twenty second of May.  Martha came all the way from Zimbabwe to tell us how Fair Trade has improved her family’s quality of life in Zimbabwe.  We saw photographs of the new water well that Fair Trade money has given them.  Anna and Jack won Fair Trade chocolate for answering questions correctly.  We then went out to the wonderful sunshine in the nature garden to enjoy an African drumming workshop.  We each had a chance to play an African drum and learn some African beats, and Martha even taught us some African songs.  Martha (and Elsie!) also danced wonderfully to the African beats.  It really was a sight to remember!
Gwenllian Morfudd and Huw Taylor, Year 5 Fair Trade representatives

YEAR 3 VISIT THE ROYAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF WALES

Tuesday morning was a busy one for the pupils of year 3, when they visited the Royal Historical Commission of Wales to look at aerial photographs, maps and old photographs of the town. We're very grateful to the Commission for the warm welcome we received and for the opportunity to learn more about our local area.

YEAR 6 AT THE NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS

Click here to view the whole collection (171 photos)

In order to support the Geography work learnt in the classroom this term, Year 6 visited the National Botanical Gardens near Llanarthne. The aim of the trip was to learn and see an example of how to live a greener life, as the garden is very sustainable. It collects rainwater, grows willow for its own biomass boiler and treats its waste on site etc. Many thanks to Gloria for guiding us around the garden, and for her interesting facts and useful information.

Tir na nÓg COMPETITION

» Mrs Delyth Huws from the Town Library with the pupils who gave a presentation on the three books which are on the short list

Like last year, we have been fortunate as a school to take part and work with the Town Library and National Books Council to decide which book we feel should win the Tir na nÓg prize for the best English children's book. This year there were three books shortlisted, Saving SS Shannon, Nelson at Sea and Full Moon. We chose Nelson at Sea as our favourite book but which one will the official judges choose? We'll have to wait and see!

BRING A BIKE DAY IN YEAR 1

It was Bikes Day in Year 1 today. Everyone came to school with their bikes and scooters and spent a session on the yard going around different coloured cones and through narrow gaps. Everyone had a lot of fun cycling together, learning how to ride carefully without bumping into anyone else, which is quite a skill!

RED, AMBER AND GREEN!

» Reception Class pupils learning how traffic lights work

"We went for a walk to see the traffic lights on Llanbadarn road. The lights were three colours red, amber and green. When the lights were green the cars could go but when the lights changed to red the cars had to stop to let us cross."
Beatrix and Mairwen, Reception Class

WORK ON THE EXTENSION BEGINS

The work on the school hall extension has begun. The new building will enable us to create two rooms for P.E. and Music as well as allowing us to have one large room for lunch time and school assemblies. The new After School Club will be located in the new building also.

NATIONAL URDD CROSS-COUNTRY FINALS

» Iestyn and Rhys with their medals at the end of the race

Many congratulations to all the runners who competed in the Cross Country races held at Blaendolau fields on Saturday.

Results:
1st - Boys Year 3 team
2nd - Girls Year 5 team
2nd - Girls Year 6 team
3rd - Rhys Evans - Ind.Yr.3
3rd - Dwynwen Davies - Ind.Yr.3
3rd - Boys Year 4 team
3rd - Boys Year 5 team
3rd - Girls Year 3 team

URDD NATIONAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

» The school's football team

Following the team's fantastic performance on winning the county football tournament this year, unfortunately they lost two and drew one match in the national tournament losing out on a place in the final 8. It was however great to see the boys playing well and enjoying themselves on the pitch. Better luck next year!

CEREDIGION'S BOOK QUIZ

» Members of the Welsh Books Quiz who were successful in the Years 5&6 category.

Recently, members of Year 6 had a lot of fun whilst competing in the Books Quiz. During the Ceredigion round, they had to discuss a book (Lowri Angel) and give a presentation on another book (Sais ydi o, Miss) Congratulations to the eight members on winning the competition for years 5 and 6. They will now compete at national level which is held on June 20th. Best of luck to them.

SIWAN'S POETRY ON THE PROM

» Siwan with her poetry on the Aberystwyth promenade

"Earlier in the year the Welsh Children's Poet Laureate Eurig Salisbury visited the school to hold a poetry workshop as part of the prom restoration project. The aim of the visit was to create poetic lines inspired by the view from the promenade here in Aberystwyth. Luckily, my ideas were considered and now I have a line of poetry engraved in slate on the prom!"
Siwan, Class 6J

KS2 BIKE RACE!

» The pupils are eager to start the race!

At the end of the month the Halfords Tour Series visits Aberystwyth. During the afternoon races will be held for primary schools, and so we held a preliminary race at the school to see who'll be representing the school at the Halfords race. Congratualtions to the 20 pupils who'll be competing on May 25th, and best of luck.

TIME FOR PLANTING!

» Year 6 pupils busily planting courgettes

The children have been very busy recently planting various vegetables in the nature garden. There are now all kinds of vegetables growing there: carrots, boccoli, onions, potatoes, courgettes and herbs to name but a few. The pupils are now responsible for ensuring they are watered and looked after so that they grow well in order to sell them at the end of term.

FEEDING THE LITTLE CHICKS!

» Video : Feeding time!

You'll be glad to hear that the chicks have all hatched safely and are now keeping their parents busy with their very healthy appetites!

NIA IS BIRMINGHAM CITY'S MASCOT!

» Nia with the match programme for Birmingham v Blackpool, along with a certificate she received from the club

"I had quite a shock last night when I found out I was the mascot for Birmingham City Football Club during their match against Blackpool City. I met all the players, lead them out onto the pitch, had food with them after the match and received a signed football shirt. It was brilliant! The only sad thing was that Birmingham lost 3-2!"
Nia, Class 6LL

DAMIEN WALFORD DAVIES VISITS YEAR 1

» Year 1 pupils with Professor Damien Walford Davies

"We enjoyed looking at photographs of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is very far away. Mr Davies has visited the cave where Jesus went. There were lots of cats in Jerusalem. Mr Davies is writing a book about Jerusalem. Mr Davies travelled to Jerusalem in an aeroplane. The Golden building (Dome of the Rock) looked brilliant! The brightly coloured clothes were very nice too. Lucy and Cristyn helped Mr Davies show the photographs of Jerusalem to the rest of the class."
Cristyn, Matty, Mair, Gareth and Ella Gwawr, Year 1

OFFICIAL OPENING OF WALES COAST PATH

» Pupils being filmed for the Welsh television programme 'Bro'

On Saturday the Wales Coast Path was officialy opened with celebrations held on the promenade in Aberystwyth. Pupils from the school went to the prom and then the beach in order to film for a television programme 'Bro' which will be broadcasted Monday evening.

Did you know?
The path is 870 miles long, it being the world's first coastal path to cover an entire country.

Click here to learn more about the path on the Countryside Council for Wales website

YEAR 3 VISIT CWMWYTHIG FARM

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» Calves at Cwmwythig farm relaxing!

"Year 3 was full of wellingtons this morning as we prepared to visit Cwmwtyhig farm - a cattle farm near Capel Bangor. When we arrived, we were shown the food that the cattle eat and the milking parlour. There are hundreds of cattle on the farm, producing 9,000 litres of milk every day! We then had a chance to sit in one of the tractors! Brilliant!"
Alaw, Class 3M

THE EGGS HAVE HATCHED!

» A video showing the hatching of the first few eggs

Today, on the first day of May, the chicks began to hatch. Three of them hatched during the morning, with four others hatching in the afternoon. Some pupils were fortunate enough to actually watch the shells of the eggs hatching! We now await the others to hatch!