Netherwood pupils have always had a reputation for caring, and this week, once again, they proved it at their Harvest Assembly. Once again, our special visitor was Mrs. Val Newton, who travels regularly to Romania distributing aid collected in Wales. This year, besides the mountain of pasta and rice, which seems to get bigger and bigger, pupils also brought in shoes, bags of them!
Mrs. Newton told us of some of the families she visits in Albania, Moldova and Kosovo, as well as Romania, and of how they walk to school, many miles, often barefoot, and what a difference our shoes were going to make. The shoes were all in good condition and, we know, they will all go to deserving families.
As the assembly drew to a close, senior mistress, Mrs. Phillips, asked the pupils to think for a moment of the people of Kashmir and surrounding areas, and I know that many have been so moved by the plight of these poor people that they have contributed to the emergency aid fund.
Later that day, Year 9, accompanied by Mrs. Macnaghten, visited the NHS World of Careers at Carmarthen Leisure Centre, and were amazed at the number and variety of careers on offer in the NHS.
This excellent event is very interactive, and pupils had the opportunity to take part in a quiz with many prizes, which necessitated them asking questions and visiting all the stands. We are grateful that the pupils receive the opportunity to attend such events, as the more advice and help they can get as they plan their future lives, the better.
It was a week for trips, as on Friday, Year 6 and Mrs. Morgan went off to Haverfordwest to the 'Crucial Crew' event. There, the pupils were able to meet with members of all the emergency services and find out how they help us, while taking part in lots of fun activities. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt a great deal. Who knows, perhaps one or two of them may have even found their future careers!
It was not just the older children who were having fun last week. Pupils from the Pre-Prep Department enjoyed a 'Funday Friday' by having a 'Balloon Afternoon', inspired by reading 'The Blue Balloon' by Mick Inkpen. They found out about static electricity, leading to some very weird hairdos, and developed their own games, experimenting with movement. They ended up by decorating their balloons in bizarre and wonderful ways. Physics is never like that for Year 11!
After such a busy week, pupils and staff are looking forward to half-term next week.