Fieldtrip to Mynydd y Gwrhyd Wind Farm, Cwmgors

On Tuesday 10^th May, members of the Pupil Leadership Team, eco-club and a small group of Y7 pupils visited Mynydd y Gwrhyd wind farm near Cwmgors in the Amman Valley.

On the trip, pupils learnt about the history of the site and had the opportunity to climb into the turbine to see the control centre and visit the sub-station where they took part in some group tasks and viewed photographs of the various stages of site development.

The site is home to two 2.35 MW wind turbines, which produce enough clean, low carbon energy to supply over 2,500 homes each year. Both turbines are community owned. The initial idea for ‘wind power not opencast’ was proposed in 1998 but 20 years of site testing, public debate, consultations and fundraising were required before the wind turbines were eventually constructed in March 2017. Further details can be found here: http://awel.coop/

The pupils involved were a credit to the school, showing great interest and enthusiasm, answering and asking lots of questions and fully involving themselves in the opportunities presented to them.

This week is World Autism Awareness Week. Saturday 2^nd April is Autism Awareness Day.

• One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK – although many individuals are undiagnosed, and so the number can be a lot larger.
• Autistic people contribute to our Morriston Comprehensive community. Everyone here will know someone with Autism, or have Autism themselves.
• It is VERY important that we do not segregate these individuals, and create an environment where Autistic people are accepted, valued and appreciated.
• It is important to learn about Autism in order to be kinder and more tolerant and understanding.
• Morriston Comprehensive School is an inclusive school = everyone should be treated equally and able to express themselves in their own way.

Morriston Comprehensive School has an Autism community who contribute largely to the school – It would be great if everyone could educate themselves on Autism and become more accepting of differences.

International Women’s Day – Women of Steel (The Wave Radio & TATA Steel)

30 Girls in Year 9 took part in the Women of Steel virtual event and participated in talks from many inspirational women including:

Claire Scott – The Wave Breakfast Presenter. Claire has worked in radio for many years, and wakes up South Wales every morning on South West Wales No1 Commercial radio station.

Rebecca Edwards-Symmons – Rebecca is the Head of Commercial at Swansea City Football Club and not only holds the most senior female role at The Swans, but is the only female Head of Commercial in the whole of the EFL Championship.

Rebecca F John -Rebecca is an award winning author originally from Pwll, Llanelli. She’s had her short stories published on BBC Radio 4, shortlisted for the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award, winner of the PEN International New Voices Award and named on Hay Festival’s ‘The Hay 30’ list.

Anna Ryder Richardson – Anna is famously known for her interior design, BBC’s Changing Rooms, television presenting , I’m A Celeb and her amazing work in wildlife conservation at Manor House Wildlife Park.

Jackie Ball – a firefighter with Mid and West Wales Fire Service, based at Neath station. Jackie didn’t have a straight forward path into working in the Fire Service, achieving her dream later in life.

The girls took a lot from the session and are hopefully inspired to follow their own exciting career paths – some fantastic life stories told to inspire all!

Dear Parent/Carer,

Swansea Schools Stand Up for Ukraine 

Morriston Comprehensive will be taking part in raising money for Ukraine alongside other Swansea schools. This will take place on Thursday 10th March, and will be a non-school uniform day.

Pupils and staff are asked to wear something you already have in yellow or blue (PE tops can be an option). We are asking for £1 contribution if possible.  All money collected will be sent to the Ukraine crisis through the Red Cross DEC Appeal.

Thank you for your support.

Dear Parent / Carer

I want to update you on changes we have received from Welsh Government regarding Covid guidelines in schools.

Wales completed the move to Alert Level Zero on 28 January. Welsh Government have stated that case rates of Covid-19 have reduced from the levels seen around the Christmas and New Year period, and now appear to have stabilised. Although community rates remain at high levels, the progress made by the vaccination programme means that hospital admissions and direct harms are much lower than what has been seen during previous waves of the virus.

Because of this, WG have recommended a cautious approach, where all schools move to ‘High risk’ level and implement the following changes commencing after half term. (Tuesday March 1^st)

• Staff and secondary-aged learners are encouraged to use Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) twice a week. (This advice does not impact on arrangements for those identified as contacts of positive cases, who we advise to use LFTs each day for 7 days or those who have symptoms, who should self-isolate and arrange a PCR test as soon as possible).
• Pupils will not be required to wear face coverings in classrooms, although learners can continue to wear a face covering if they wish.
• Pupils, staff and visitors are still expected to wear face coverings when moving around indoor communal areas outside of the classroom, such as corridors, where physical distance cannot be maintained.

I hope this clarifies the Covid situation for the beginning of the next half term. I will notify you immediately if we receive any further information from the local authority or Welsh Government.

We look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Tuesday, March 1^st following our inset day on the 28^{th of} February.

Regards

M Franklin

Headteacher

I last wrote to you in December 2021 indicating that all schools in Swansea would be in a very high-risk level from January 2022. I need to tell you that our schools are still operating within the very high-risk level. Schools will use the highest control measures possible until 18 February, at least. Wales is at alert level zero, our schools are not. During January we saw the rate of Covid cases across Swansea schools increase on…

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….

This letter is to inform you of the current situation in Morriston Comprehensive School relating to the pandemic.
As you are aware, the Covid case rate is high locally and this has, as was inevitable, impacted adversely on staffing
levels at our school as well as upon pupil absence rates.
Most schools throughout the Local Authority are now in the position where the numbers of pupils testing positive for
Covid within the first half term exceeded or even doubled the number that had done so across the whole of the last
academic year. The same is true, in many of our schools, of the teaching and support staff

Become a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament (WYP)

​​Elections are being held to choose the next young people to lead discussions on the issues which matter to them. 

​The first Welsh Youth Parliament elections were held in 2018 and following a further consultation with young people, and passionate speeches by all WYPMs in the Senedd Chamber. Littering and Plastic Waste, Life Skills in the Curriculum and Emotional and Mental Health Support were chosen as the three main topics the WYP would focus on. During their two year term WYPMs have successfully championed the voice of young people on these and several other issues on a national platform. You can read more about the forming of the WYP and the work done by its first elected members by visiting www.youthparliament.wales

CLICK HERE to download – Guidance for Parents, Carers, Schools & Youth Groups

Cynefin

A beautiful Welsh word meaning belonging of mind, body and spirit. Connected to the land, heritage and essence of a place.

This term a group of pupils from year 8 have been working with their English Teacher, Mrs Jenkins and the Arts Council of Wales to look at what this concept means to us here in Morriston.  Do we all belong? if not, why not? who or what is stopping us?  Through the project, the pupils gave very honest and open accounts of the things that they believe, have heard, seen and done through their lives and experiences so far.  They shared their thoughts and feelings and challenged their unconscious biases.  What followed has blown us away.

The pupils have created a book – yes, a whole book, full of their thoughts and voices.  We have published this book: here’s the cover and introduction to tell you more:

The book is full of poems, lyrics, information and shorts from the pupils.

The pupils have also made a film that is going to be used Nationally to highlight the issues and promote Wales’s desire to create ‘ethically informed citizens of the future’.  All we know is, if 8×1 are the future, then it’s in safe hands.