Headteacher's blog 22.09.2023 - Milford Haven School

Shwmae, welcome back to this week’s blog. Please read on to find out some of the wonderful things we have had to celebrate this week and don’t forget to check out our upcoming events for some dates to add to your diary.

Celebrating last week's

Classchart Champions

Featured News...

Diolch – Thank You

A huge thank you to the Soroptimists of Milford Haven for their very kind donation of hygiene products.

These products will be available on school site for those pupils who need to access them. It has also allowed us to make up emergency home packs for those in need.

Take What You Need – Cymerwch yr hyn sydd ei angen arnoch chi

We are pleased to launch our Take What You Need Trolley that will be located in the school Library.

This trolley is packed with items such as food, period products, basic hygiene products and stationary. Pupils are able to access the trolley for items they may need.

Once again we would like to say thank you to those in the community that help us help our young people. So diolch to the Soroptimists of Milford Haven for their kind donation of hygiene products and Youth Bank and the Period Dignity Grant for helping us to purchase period products.

If you would like to donate or sponsor the trolley or get involved in any way we always welcome and appreciate the amazing support of our community. You can get involved by emailing jcrolla@milfordhavenschool.co.uk

Period Dignity

We are extremely happy to announce that as part of our ongoing period dignity journey here at Milford Haven School we have now installed a Period Pick n Mix Station thanks to the wonderful initiative running through Pembrokeshire County Council.

This year we are focusing on young people being able to make more informed choices about the products they want, instead of being handed products that they may not want, need or even be able to use. That is why our Period Pick n Mix station is filled with products that our pupils have chosen.

We are at the beginning of our sustainable period product journey and are very proud to say that this station features over 90% eco-friendly and reusable products.

Alongside this station that can be located in the Attendance Office, we continue to stock our red boxes in the toilets, have period products available in over 15 locations throughout school and we also have an emergency rail of school uniform and underwear.

Our Year 7 pupils have recently attended their Period Dignity assembly but watch this space for another great Period Dignity project coming to MHS soon.

HOHA News

The latest news from our Heads of House & Achievements

This week we were lucky enough to attend the PATCH Toy Appeal to discuss this year’s Tags on the Tree project which is part of the Defender House Charity calendar of events.

During the first week of term Miss Truswell HWB group came out on top in diamond house for both ClassCharts and Attendance. Pictured is Dylan W a proud HWB captain. This week Mr Ridley HWB group took the lead with attendance, pictured is George P HWB captain for 9 MR Di and our other year 9 HWB group took the lead with class charts! Congratulations Zach for leading your HWB group to success! The race has well and truly started to be the best HWB group in diamond house, helping us on our way to win the house cup again.

AOLE Highlights

This week's highlights from our AOLE departments.

Music Award
Llongyfarchiadau to Caitlyn, one of our newest pupils for gaining not one but 2 music awards- a Merit in grade 4 musical theatre, and grade 3 distinction in Rock school screen acting.

Science
8 Babbage have been learning about reproduction in flowering plants. Here are some photos from their flower dissection practical.

Year 7 English
Miss Rowley was delighted with the eager hands up in English today! Every single hand in the air to tell her ‘what makes a hero’! She thinks they are all heroes!!! Da iawn 7.5

Sport News

This week's highlights from our sports teams

u15’s – 6-2 Winners

Boys YEAR 10 (u15s) v Ysgol CAERELEN – 14-9-23

It was a tough close first half with the score being 1-1 for a long time, and the boys stuck to the game plan, although missing a first half penalty the half ended 2-1 to us.

We started the second half stronger and missed another penalty before finishing the game as 6-2 winners. Each and everyone of the squad played their part, along with manager Jack B and the travelling supporters.

Josh J (Captain): ‘a good performance from all of us, dominated most of the game and some good goals by Kian, Ashton and Finley (man of the match). Onto the next round. Well done all the boys.’

The boys will now play either Ysgol BRO-PRESELI or Ysgol BRO-DINEFWR in the next round

Goal scored by:

Kian

Ashton

Finley

Players Player: Finley T

Coaches Player: Kian J

& Charlie D

U15’s VS Caer Elen

On Thursday our Year 9 and 10 girls took on Caer Elen in the first Welsh cup round! The girls played amazing considering we only had 10 players available.

After half time we were losing 4-0 but the girls didn’t give up until the final whistle. They had an incredible second half with lots of opportunities on goal against an excellent Goalie. Final result of the game was 5-2.

Due to unforeseen circumstances this cup game will be replayed the end of September and we can’t wait to see the girls work hard to hopefully pull of a win this time with a full squad!

Goals scored by:

Ffion Williams

Chloe Badrock

Players player – Chloe Badrock. Miss Griffiths and Miss Carrinton want to give an extra special thanks to Chloe for stepping into the team last minute to help the girls play!

Coaches Player – Evie Clark – who gave 100% effort through the game and created a lot of opportunities for goals to be scored!

A huge well done and good luck in the rematch!

Massive DIOLCH to Ogi for sponsoring our kit.

u12’s FRIENDLY – Winners

Boys YEAR 7 (u12s) v Ysgol PENRHYN DEWI – 20-9-23

Our year 7 boys played their first ever football game tonight, away to Penrhyn Dewi and came away with a convincing win. A cracking display of great skills, passing and working well as team. The team was led well by Ethan H, and the whole squad played their part and did themselves proud.

Exciting times ahead with this cracking bunch of boys, but less of the Christmas songs on the bus! An excellent start to year 7

Da iawn

The boys will now play CaerElen next week in the

1st round.

Goals were shared between:

Ethan H

Ethan A

Chester

Flynn

Rio

Kenny

Oliver

Jack

Louie

Ollie Mc

Mason

Coaches Players: Flynn

Massive DIOLCH to Thomas Davidson for coming along as a coach from year 11

Massive DIOLCH to Ogi for sponsoring our playing shirts.

MHS VS Preseli

U16 Hockey

– Winners 6-0

We had a strong squad of 16 turn up to play Preseli this evening and the girls played outstanding. They showed excellent spacing, passing and teamwork throughout the match and it was a great first match of the season.

Captain Evie TG post match feedback ‘Brilliant effort from all the girls, great game to start off the season!!

’

Goals scored:

Daisy T

Ella M

Maddie P

Pippa J

Players player – Chloe B

Coaches Player – Olivia J

Year 8 and9 Netball

Year 8 and 9 made a fabulous start to their netball fixtures this year playing Preseli.

Both teams worked really well and made a great foundation to work on in training. Da iawn merched

Year 8 players player- Annabelle G

Year 8 coaches player- Paige M

Year 9 coaches players- Ffion W

& Hallie R

As always a PROUD Miss Griffiths, Miss Scotcher, Miss Carrington, PE department & the whole school

Massive DIOLCH to Evans Coaches for our sponsored Kit

MHS Year 9 Boys v Haverfordwest High (AWAY) Round 1 – 20.09.23

Our Year 9 Boys travelled to Haverfordwest High on Wednesday afternoon to play our Welsh Cup 1st Round match, an excellent all round team performance led by Captain Taio seen the team win 4-0 after a solid defensive display whilst being clinical in front of goal.

After playing some free-flowing football in the first half, a well taken finish into the bottom corner from Jayden 5 minutes before half time meant a 1-0 lead at the break. Going into the second half and the boys knew a second was needed, up stepped Jayden with a free kick which fell to Dillon for a composed finish from a few yards out then some neat play down the right hand side seen Rossi cut the ball back to Iestyn to slot home at the back post which was met with celebrations before Harry John completed the win with a thunderous deflected strike into the bottom corner!

The whole squad played their part in the victory, as a large squad was named, unfortunately not everyone got onto the pitch due to the Welsh Cup limit of 16.

Congratulations to our Year 9 boys who progress to Round 3 of the Welsh Cup (We have a BYE in Round 2).

Jayden

Dillon

Iestyn

Harry

Rossi

Ethan

Players Players – Rossi & Dillon

Managers Players – Elwood & Harry

A special mention to the travelling group who warmed up Bobby and supported the team incredibly well – Emily, Millie, Kleo, Amanda, Eva & Molly. Thank you & well done girls!!

Thank you…

To the parents & guardians who watched and supported.

Evan Coaches for the impeccable transport as always.

Ogi for sponsoring our football kit.

Haverfordwest High School for hosting & officiating the fixture.

Hot Chocolate Friday

Da iawn to last week's HCF pupils

Extra-Curricular

Latest news on extra-curricular and well being activities

Enrichment
Please use the link below to access our current Enrichment booklet for the autumn term:
https://milfordhavenschool.co.uk/enrichment/

Wellbeing Friday’s
Please use the link below to access our current Wellbeing Friday schedule for the autumn term:
https://milfordhavenschool.co.uk/wellbeingfridays/

Drama Club
Join Drama Club and take part in our annual school production.

Surf Club
Surf Club is back, Outer Reef have launched their after school surf club, scan the QR code to book.

Coding Club
Year 10 Computer Science pupils will be back running MHS Coders every Friday Break 1. This half term our coding club is running a competition to create a Halloween themed game in Scratch. Competition entries need to be submitted before Friday 27th October, prizes and points up for grabs!

Creative Classwork

Some wonderful work produced this week at MHS

Welsh Phrase of the Week

Cymraeg Yr Wythnos

‘Bore da‘

‘Good morning’

UNICEF RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article of the Week

IDENTITY
Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations. No one should take this away from them, but if this happens, governments must help children to quickly get their identity back.

Dates for your Diary

Please note that these are subject to change.

Follow the link below for our full parent calendar.
https://milfordhavenschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PARENTS-September-2023-2024.docx.pdf

Announcements

Uniform – Gwisg

This is your reminder that we have now returned to our autumn uniform. For more information please use the link below to access a letter issued last week from our Deputy Head.
https://milfordhavenschool.co.uk/…/School-Uniform…

Important Announcement – Cyhoeddiad Pwysig

An important reminder that Milford Haven School is a nut free school.

We have several pupils with nut allergies and more who have joined us this September.

Please remember not to bring nuts into school. This includes all nut types and all products containing nut based spreads such as Nutella and Peanut Butter.

If you are unsure if something contains nuts please check all packaging for allergy information.

Important Information

Please click the link below for full details of our term dates as well as the school calendar.

Website Link: https://milfordhavenschool.co.uk/school-calendar/

A reminder that copies of all the letters we have issued this academic year can be found on the ‘Letters Home’ page of our school website. It is advisable to check this page on a regular basis to ensure that you stay up to date with school information. Link to ‘Letters Home’ website page: https://milfordhavenschool.co.uk/letters-home/

GCSE POD is a fantastic resource which Milford Haven School continues to promote amongst learners and their parents/carers.

GCSE POD holds a wealth of support for a range of subjects, with some content specific for KS3 as well as KS4. Learners are encouraged to use their MHS Google log-in to access the site and start exploring the site which could prove extremely beneficial for our KS4 learners.

Please look at the following parent site tour where you can see what is on offer: https://bit.ly/2P1hJKZ

Young person’s mental health toolkit from HWB.

Below is a link to the young person’s mental health toolkit from HWB, designed for 11 to 25-year-olds. Here you will find six playlists to direct you to a wide range of online resources to help you through the lockdown and beyond. In each of the playlists you’ll find self-help websites, apps, helplines, and more that are here to support your mental health and well-being.

Please remember: if you’re finding it difficult to cope, make sure you speak to someone you trust. Who this might be is different for everyone, but it might include family members or carers, a teacher, a helpline, or a doctor. How you feel is important and lots of people are here to help if you need them.

Link to toolkit: https://hwb.gov.wales/…/e53adf44-76cb-4635-b6c2…/en