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A selection of photos from the BBC News School Report day.
BBC School News Report proved to be a real success. Year 9 students working with Brendan Williams of the BBC successfully produced newsworthy items with two videos, two audio sequences and five text based.
Brendan Williams was very impressed with the work of the students and commented on the professional approach by all involved. He paid tribute to the school’s Radio Team and was interviewed live on CAHS Radio.
Year 11 and 12 students provided technical support in both audio and video production.
Audio Reports
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- World Book Day – Survey Results
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- World Book Day – Interview with Teacher
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- World Book Day – Interview with School Librarian
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- World Book Day – Reading Olympics
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- World Book Day – Teachers’ Favourite Books
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Text Reports
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On the 29th March, year seven students from Castell Alun high school are participating in an Olympic day to celebrate the United Kingdom hosting the 2012 Olympic Games. The event is a charity fund raiser to support Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool. The year group plan to raise a fantastic amount of money by taking part in different events within their form groups. These enthusiastic children are dressing up in Olympic themes for £2 per person. On the day, the children and teachers are participating in events such as Obstacle courses etc.
Other activities the pupils will be involved with will be included in their everyday lessons. Each subject will somehow relate to the Olympic Games. For example, in History the pupils will study past games and in Art they will be designing their own medals.
We interviewed four year seven students for their opinions of the exciting, upcoming event. The children were keen to express their views on this day and had great expectations. Thomas from year 7 said, I’m very excited for the hurdle and relay races”. Whilst his friend Jordan said “I’m looking forward to cycling and canoeing”. The young pupils were disappointed that they could not get tickets for this once in a life time experience but were enthusiastic to witness the event on television. As thought, the children said they were looking forward to the day as they would not have to wear uniform.
We later spoke to Emily and Jack of year 9 to get their opinions on the Olympic Games. These two keen sporting students take part in many activities, such as, netball, athletics, football, badminton and mountain biking. They told us “We are extremely excited for the event as the athletes are role models to us, they inspire us to be like them”. Emily and Jack said “We like the sound of an Olympic day, and hope that our year group could participate in similar events”.
Welsh teachers around Castell Alun High School expressed their opinions to us about Wales’ involvement in the Olympics. They said “Wales should be more involved in these world famous games. We believe Wales should have their own team”.
Both the Head of year 7 and Assistant Deputy Head of Castell Alun say the event is a very creative idea and that it will encourage the students to get involved with cultural events. Mr. Edwards said “I will be there taking photos of all the events taking place”. He also said “The day will allow everyone to take part as most pupils enjoy sport”.
We hope the year 7’s enjoy this Olympic themed day and raise a large amount of money for their chosen charity.
Castell Alun high school has been participating in various reading activities, this is to promote world book day, which was on the 1st of March 2012.
There has been a reading Olympics for year 7 students, encouraging young children to take part in a reading competition. This helps children to realize the joys of reading and appreciate different genres. There are three stages of the competition, bronze, silver, and gold. Each ranging in reading difficulty and genre. Every stage challenges the young readers with a different number of books to read to be awarded with a certificate. We would like to congratulate ‘the trolls’ and ‘the reading monkey men’, as they won the reading Olympics competition.
There has also been an arranged book swap in the library. Unfortunately it was postponed as there wasn’t enough books to be swapped. But the librarian hopes it will be up and running before the end of the current term. This event gives the opportunity for students and staff to trade an old book in good condition for other people to read and joy as much as they did. The librarian said ‘I thought it would be a good idea, as we all have old books that we have read lying around, which could be exchanged so other people can enjoy them.’
There also isn’t a lack of reading enthusiasm in the teachers as we went around asking them what their favourite books were. Castell Alun’s Mr Chainey enjoys reading the book ‘Labyrinths’. The year 9 head of year Mr Croasdale likes ‘grapes of Roth’. English teacher Mrs Jenkins’ favourite book is ‘Tess of the Derbville’. Also math teacher Mrs Jubb likes to read the classic ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
On Saturday, Wales have the chance to enter the record books with pride as they gain the chance to win three Grand Slams.
Taking place at the millennium stadium, the game will decide whether Wales wins the grand slam or not. If Wales wins the match, then they will have won 3 Grand-Slams in 8 years, an achievement that hasn’t been made since the 1970’s.
A grand slam is where the team goes through the whole tournament, without loosing a single game, which on its own is a great achievement, but Wales have managed two win two so far. If they win this Grand-Slam, then the triumph will be far greater for Welsh prop Adam Jones as well as Ryan Jones and Gethin Jenkins. Theses player will have the chance to join an exclusive club of elite rugby players who have taken part in the winning of three grand slams, along with seventies players; Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and Gerald Davies who achieved this status during the games of 1971, 1976 and 1978.
Adam Jones, of the Ospreys, admitted that it was difficult to contain the growing expectations of a Welsh victory. The people of Wales are growing restless due to the upcoming match. Wales will face France on Saturday 17th. It is hoped that the captain Sam Warburton will recover from his injury in time for the game.
We interviewed several teachers at Castell Alun High School; We had a mixed response from them about the teams, country and their connections to that specific country. A mixed gender poll of Welsh students showed that 80%* preferred Wales to France. Mr Chainey – an English teacher- was all for Wales with his Welsh background and his opinion is that Wales have a better squad and more co-ordinated game play, ‘Wales are the better side’ said Mr Chainey. When asked why he replied with ‘because I live there.’
Mr Cummins – a French teacher- gave us a very mixed emotion on his interview, he said ‘Wales are the better side, but I like the country of France better because it has nicer weather and a good culture.’ Welsh born and raised Mrs Maxwell gave us a highly enthusiastic interview, ‘Wales are the better side, but winning the Grand Slam will be difficult. Wales have got passion and also the ability to win. They never let their heads drop even when the game isn’t going their way. They have outstanding team spirit and desire to win. I support Wales because I am Welsh and it’s my nation and I will support them as long as they show dedication and passion.’
As part of the BBC school report we interviewed Islwyn Jones, a self-employed Falconer; involved in the Dynamo Project set up by the Welsh Assembly, to open younger people up to the prospect of starting their own business. As one of the entrepreneurs participating in the project he spoke to the students of a Year 9 class at Castell Alun High School. He grabbed the students’ attention with the story of his journey into falconry and his passion for birds.
He spoke to the children about the pros and cons of self employment and about the challenges faced in these current tough economic times. He and his birds can be hired for weddings; to carry rings down the isle; carnivals; country shows, and even private events.
His explained his work with people on probation, giving them ideas of business ventures upon leaving prison, also how he works with people with physical and psychological impairments, who often find it easier interacting with birds rather than people.
Pupil; Chris, said “the presentation helped me understand self-employment and made me think about it as a career. Although seeing the birds out and flying around the classroom was the best part of the presentation!”
Mr. Davies, who has organised the entrepreneurs coming to school, said “I invited the entrepreneurs to school, to talk to the students as self-employment isn’t considered a viable career option and isn’t covered in school usually. So I thought it would be very useful and interesting for them to gain an insight into the possibilities of self-employment.”
