Another busy year has come to an end at Stepaside School, with the children and staff having achieved their usual high standards in many activities, with lots of wonderful sporting achievements throughout the autumn term.
Pupils represented the school at the annual county cross country event held in October at Oakwood Park. All who took part gave a good account of themselves and special congratulations must go to Jodi Cullen and Bethan Owen who came second and third, respectively, in the Third Year girls race.
Year 3: Jodie Cullen, Bethan Owen, Josh Lewis, Josh Thomas, Elliot Hoad.
Year 4: Dani Gristey, Ryan Lewis, Ross Hurst, Nathan Farmiloe.
Year 5: Bethany Poole, Gemma Morgan, Kira Hardy, Anthony Lewis, Jake Proctor, David Dunfee.
Year 6: Ellen Thomas, Grace Bevan, Lara Craig, Nathan Owen, Owain Evans, Sam Baker.
Following hot on the heels of the cross country squad were the girls football team. The girls took part in the Cymru Challenge, a six-a-side competition held at Greenhill School, Tenby. The girls won all of their matches which guaranteed their place in the finals. Stepaside, winners of group A, played the winners of group B. Stepaside kept up their excellent play and won the tournament with a final score of 2-0.
This spirited team went on to represent the West Wales region and played in the all-Wales finals held in the Cwmdu Leisure Arena in Swansea on November 20. Well done to all in the team, a super achievement showing the way forward for girls football in our area.
Final sporting congratulations must go to the boys and girls who took part in the District Urdd Swimming Gala. The senior boys team came first in the medley relay and second in the freestyle relay.
Some very good individual placings were also achieved, with Dean Pellington winning first place in both individual medley and breaststroke, while David Dunfee was placed fifth in breaststroke and third in backstroke. The girls were represented by Kira Hardy, Ellen Thomas and Lara Craig.
All should feel a sense of achievement from the commitment and effort shown. The senior boys will go on to represent Pembrokeshire in the National Championships which will be held in Bangor in the new year.
On November 27, a Christmas Fayre was held in the school hall organised by the Friends of Stepaside School, ably helped by older children from the school.
This fayre raised £1,759.12, which will go towards equipment for the school.
During the year, the Friends of Stepaside School have paid for the summer trips for the children and subsidised their trip to the Torch Theatre, as well as paying for numerous pieces of equipment.
Parents and friends of the school would like to thank everyone who has supported the school throughout the year by giving raffle prizes and buying tickets. Thanks also go to the Co-op in Kilgetty.
As part of the healthy eating campaign, children were asked to design a dinner, 'Eat a rainbow, beat a stroke'. The winner in the school was Ryan Page, Year 4. He and the other winners in the area went to Tenby Junior School for the presentations.
As part of the community Christmas festivities, a volunteer choir from the school entertained a large gathering in the Community Centre in Kilgetty on December 11.