Dear Parent / carer of Year 11 students,

Following a request from Year 11 students to bring the year group event forward from the original date (22nd June) , we have decided to now hold a short celebration event on Friday June 10.th from 11.00 am in the central hub area. We have chosen this date as there are no GCSE examinations in the afternoon.

We will provide refreshments and cake and give students the opportunity to enjoy some time with their year group and sign shirts if they want.

We would remind Year 11 that they will need to be in school uniform for all their GCSE examinations and would need to have a spare shirt if they want to have them signed. Year 11 will be allowed to leave at lunch time if they do not have a lesson in the afternoon.

Apologies if you inadvertently received information about this Friday, but this date is not possible as there is a Computing examination in the afternoon.

Thank you in advance for your support

Regards
Martin Franklin
Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers of year 12,

How does the university application process work? Can we afford it? What financial support is available? What are the alternatives to university? Is it worth it?

If these are questions that you have pondered, then please join us at an in-person talk about all things university on June 23rd between 6 and 7pm in our Theatre.

We will aim to give you a complete outline of the UCAS university application process and how you can be better informed to help your child navigate the choices presented to them post 18.

We will also outline the support and guidance that we will be providing in school for the whole of year 12 and how you can help them keep on track through the summer of year 12 after their AS exams and into starting year 13 A level courses.

The talk will be led by Miss Richmond, our Deputy Headteacher who will also share contact details of our Careers advisor, Mr R. Anderson to answer any wider questions you may have.

Relationships and Sexuality Education Community Consultation

Please take a moment to offer your views and opinions on what you feel we should STOP, START, and CONTINUE in relation to Relationships and Sexuality Education at Morriston Comprehensive School.

Please click the link to view the results of the recent parent survey. Make sure you have your volume turned up.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

It’s almost time for Tesco and Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2022, an unforgettable day of fun and fundraising. The school has entered this race for a number of years and had tremendous fun.

This year Cancer Research UK is hoping for their biggest and best event yet – and our school could help make it happen. We need as many teachers and pupils as possible to join together and walk, jog or run 5K to help raise money and save lives.

The work Cancer Research UK undertake to beat cancer and develop life-saving treatments is funded entirely by people like you. So, the more fabulous girls who join Race for Life, the better – and we’d love your daughter to be there this year.

Our school will be taking part in Race for Life in Llanelli – Festival Fields, Millennium Coastal Park on Sunday 12^th June. The school will provide transport for you daughter to and from the venue.

The cost of entry and transport will be £10.

Pupils are to meet staff at the school at 9am. We will travel to the Coastal Park and take part in the event, returning to school by 2.00pm approximately.

Pupils will need to wear trainers and predominantly pink sports clothing. We are ordering pink personalised t shirts. If you would like to purchase one the cost will be £10.00.

Money and forms need to be completed and returned via Parent Mail to school ASAP but no later than 26^th May to secure your place.

 Thank you. I look forward to seeing you on the day.

PE Department

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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