NEWS LETTER CHRISTMAS 2008

It’s been a sad term with the loss of Ben our thoughts and prayers go out to his family this Christmas. In the New Year the pupils will have decided on a suitable memorial that we will put in place to celebrate his life and contribution to our school community.

The School Carol Service will be held on the Thursday 18^th December in the Great Hall at 7 p.m. There will be a Friends of Sandfields PTA meeting at 6.30 p.m. All Welcome

The exam process has changed significantly since our time in school Year ten and eleven face exam modules that contribute to their final results. I would request parents to support us in preparing children to achieve their full potential, times and dates of exams appear on the school web site.

As from January 2009 the school gym will be open 5 evenings during the week; this is a really good facility and at £15 a month with personal tuition it is a real steal. For further details contact the school or come up of an evening.

The school with our primary colleagues present had a visit from Jane Hutt the Education Minister for Wales. She spoke to pupil members of the school council and was very impressed with both the pupil’s attitude and maturity, and standards at the school itself.

The school was asked to present a work shop at the prestigious, “Children in Wales” conference at Cardiff. Sandfield’s pupils addressed an audience from around Wales and did the school and the estate proud. Again showing the excellent standards present at our school.

Year 11 pupils won the “Best in Stand” competition at Aberafan Shopping Centre in the Level 1 competition in the Neath Port Talbot Entrepreneur’s they will now go through to the next round in the competition. One of the team members won the prize of “Best Sales” person of the day.

All that remains for me to do is to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year on behalf of the staff and pupils of our school.

School Calendar dates are overleaf.

SCHOOL CALENDAR DATES

Term Ends – Friday 19^th December 2008 – 2.30 p.m. for pupils

Term restarts for pupils – Tuesday 6^th January 2009

Year 11 English GCSE’S – Thursday 8th January 2009 - a.m.

Tuesday 13^th January 2009 - p.m.

Friday 16^th January 2009 – a.m.

Year 11 Additional Science GCSE’S – Thursday 15^th January – p.m. Chemistry

Monday 19^th January – a.m. Physics

Year 11 Health & Social Care GCSE – Monday 12^th January - p.m.

Year 9 Exams – Monday 26^th January 2009 – Friday 29^th January 2009

Half Term - Monday 16^th February 2009 – Friday 20^th February 2009

School Production – Tuesday 3^rd March 2009 – Thursday 5^th March 2009