TECHNO GAMES

On Friday, December 14, a party of students took part in the recording of BBC2's TechnoGames at Shepperton Studios in Middlesex. TechnoGames is the sister production to the popular BBC2 programme RoboWars in which robots built by school children, students and design engineers take part in a series of Olympic type events.

Year 9 student Hannah Thomas took part in the TechnoGames general knowledge quiz and won first prize, a coveted TechnoGames T-shirt.

The students enjoyed themselves so much they intend to pay a return visit next year, only this time they will be taking their own robot with them to compete in the games.

CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPION

Dai Davies holds his trophy as Brianne Cross Country League champion for boys Years 9/10 for the 2001/2002 season. Dai finished 1st, 3rd and 2nd in the three matches in the league, which earned him the highest score of all the runners competing. He fully deserved his victory.

INSPECTION REPORT

The school is pleased to announce the publication of the final report following inspection last term. A special report will follow, but the governors and all at the school are delighted with what is an outstanding inspection report.

NEW FITNESS CENTRE

A very special event took place at the end of last term when the school officially opened its brand new fitness centre.

The centre is the culmination of many years of internal fund-raising by the PE Department and is the result of much hard work and vision by the then headteacher, Dr. Keith Davies.

In recognition of Dr. Davies's contribution and privatising of funding, the PE Department decided to name the new centre the 'Keith Davies Fitness Centre'. This was also very fitting in view of Dr. Davies's retirement at the end of December.

The centre was officially opened by Mr. Peter Herbert, the current Welsh rugby team fitness adviser.

Special guests were Mr. Scott Quinnell, British Lion and new Welsh captain, and Mr. Jonathan Jones, the four times world powerboat champion.

The opening was attended by governors and staff of the school, guests and participating pupils, all of whom were very impressed and complimentary about the new facility.

The centre will undoubtedly pay long term dividends and aims to foster positive attitudes towards physical activity both in a sporting context and as a leisure and recreational activity centre.

Physical conditioning of our sporting teams will surely improve. Look out our opposition schools.

Many thanks are also extended to Mr. Graham Evans, of the Physical Education Department, without whom none of this would have been possible.

STADIUM TOUR

Pupils visited Cardiff for a Life Skills visit to the Millennium Stadium. The group was taken on a tour of the stadium that included a brief history of the ground and the building of the new stadium. Pupils enjoyed seeing the Royal Box, walking around the ground and seeing the hospitality suites. They were interested to meet up with George the Harris Hawk that is used to deter pigeons from nesting in the ground.

WORK

PLACEMENTS

Once again our GNVQ students and staff are very grateful for the help and support shown by many different caring instructors in the local area who offered work placements in health and social care.

We are particularly keen to say thank you to the local primary schools and residential homes for the elderly who welcomed our students during 2001. These students all gained valuable experience in care settings. This experience enabled them to successfully complete compulsory assignments for their portfolios. We hope to continue working with you in 2002.

FILM TRIP

"Fantastic," "Wicked", "Wicked" were the various responses from the 250 pupils who attended the matinee performance of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. The film was thoroughly enjoyed by all and was well worth the trip. Watch this space for a similar Christmas outing next year.