Our last edition of the year - and what a busy and successful year it has been. We have celebrated our 75th anniversary, welcomed back ex-Flint High School students who have seen how much our school has changed, whilst keeping tight hold on the tradition and values which make our school so welcoming and so important to the community. My personal thanks go to the many distinguished visitors who have spent time with us this year and complemented our students.
Staff, students, parents and friends alike were delighted to welcome back ex-student Ian PulestonDavies to Flint High School as guest of honour at the recent Record of Achievement night. Ian presented the portfolios to the students and enthralled the packed hall with a lively and entertaining question and answer session. Ian left Flint High School in 1975 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor. Ian has made his dream a reality and his Curriculum Vitae reads like a directory of British television, with appearances in Hollyoaks, Eastenders, Brookside and Holby City, amongst others, in his early years. Later roles included parts in Hustle, Life On Mars, Daziel and Pascoe, Silent Witness, Waking The Dead and Foyle’s War and The Bill. However, Ian is most widely known for his current roles of Charlie Fisher in Waterloo Road and Owen Armstrong in Coronation Street. When he first passed Ken Barlow in the corridor, just had to phone his mum and dad and say “Guess who I’ve just seen!” Ian hadn’t been back to Flint High School since 1975 and he was thrilled to be back, reminiscing on old times. Throughout his visit, Ian stopped and
Flint Times July 2011
chatted with old school friends and staff who were keen to meet this VIP. Always the gentleman, Ian charmed the Governors and other guests of the school and won the hearts of the students and staff by posing for countless photographs. Ian even accompanied the Year 11 students to their Prom at Northop Hall Country House Hotel.
We thank Ian for making the evening so very special and sincerely hope that it is not another 36 years before he visits again! Ÿ FHS Students shine at ROA Night Ÿ Flint High School makes even more history at the Toyota Challenge! Ÿ Laser cutter arrives in Design Technology Ÿ Plus all your PE news.
Heads of Department have summed up the high points of the past year. Here are some of their memories:
Ÿ Time- team win Welsh Heritage award for their project! The idea tied in with the 75th anniversary of the school; a timeline display on the Humanities corridor – there are many old photographs and items from across the years to see. The latest addition to the collection is a WW1 rifle (older than 75 years but a must see addition) that was dug out of the ground in France by Mr Pierce-Jones, one of our Governors! Ÿ The History Department is organising two European tours – to Belgium to see the WW1 battlefields in November and Poland to visit the Auschwitz Concentration camp. Both visits will be very rewarding and interesting.
Ÿ The excitement of Year 10 set 2 entering the Foundation GCSE a year early and we await their success. Ÿ A very enjoyable STEM Trip to GlynDwr University Ÿ Y9 Trip to Cardiff to complete their Application of Number element of Welsh Bacc. Ÿ Year 10 end of year examination marks were very pleasing Ÿ Excellent Eisteddfod entries
Ÿ Academic success for ex-Flint High School student Julie Richards will graduate from Salford University with a Degree in Languages this month; Ex Flint High School student Rachel Hammond began a Degree in French and Spanish in September; Victoria Wheeler and Hannah Hughes have just taken their AS-Level French Exam. Ÿ Learning Chinese! Emily Jones and Rebekah Johnson, two of our gifted Year 9 linguists, spent two days at the Argoed School learning Mandarin Chinese. Ÿ The Eisteddfod. There were some excellent French entries for the Eisteddfod. A really high standard was set - well done to all those
students in Years 7 and 8 who participated and flew the flag for French!
Ÿ Year 9 classes used green screen technology to create a news broadcasts on volcanic activity as if it they were standing with the scene of devastation behind them. Ÿ A really well attended trip to Chester Zoo for year 8 (two coaches), looking at ecosystems and a trip to the Manchester United ground as part of a module on World Sport for year 9. Ÿ A speaker from Christian Aid for year groups 8, 9 and 10 came to talk to them about charity projects in poorer countries. Ÿ A partnership project with an Italian school for year 9 students to really find out about what living in another country is like. Ÿ Following independent research work on computers and guidance in lessons, 8L produced some really well organized and informative group presentations on global warming.
Ÿ Little Shop of Horrors in October was a fabulous show and a huge success for all involved Ÿ The Spring Concert that took place at St Marys Church in April showcased our wonderful Music students. Ÿ Very successful exam performances in Performing Arts. Highlights included year 12 “A Day in The Life of a Primary School” amongst other plays and year 13 “Fly me To the Moon (Sun)” based on The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare Ÿ The BTEC Dance girls have performed many times during the year, at Dancefest in Theatre Clwyd, at Ysgol Maes Hyfryd and during the school Eisteddfod. Ÿ Huge advancements/changes in our technical equipment and workers! Josh Jones (year 11) has led the way with moving the department into the 21st Century (only ten years after everyone else joined it!) We’ve had a new sound system, revamped lighting rig and lots of other new equipment. Watch out for a newly decorated Drama Theatre when we come back in September!! Watch this space….
By Emily Moore 8F On the 24th of June, Flint High School held a school Eisteddfod for years 7 and 8 was organised by Miss E W Jones. An Eisteddfod is a celebration of Welsh Culture. There were 4 houses; Y Ddraig Goch / Red Dragon, Y Groes Geltaidd / Celtic Cross, Cennin / Leek and Cennin Pedr / Daffodil. The team with the most points at the end wins. To get these points we had to take part in on and off stage competitions. The competitions were in all subjects. I competed in many on stage competitions, including Music, English and Welsh. In music as a group we sang our own version of Don’t Stop Believing, we came 3rd with this, for our Team Y Ddraig Goch. I came 2nd for my individual performance on my Flute, playing the Harry Potter theme tune. in this. We also did a recital in English called “A Welsh Rare Bite” which we came 1st in! I also competed in off stage competitions, two of which I won. In Technology I did a Computer Aided Design piece, designing a photo frame with a Welsh theme and I came 2nd. My favourite competition of the day was the Drama Pieces because they were really funny and really
Do you fancy designing banners, thumbnails and films for the school web-site or compiling a report & photoshoot? If so make your way to Room 16 in Technology and have a chat with Mr Jenkins.
The sun shines on the righteous, as the saying goes, and so was the case for the annual Flint High School sports day. Mr Spearpoint oversaw the
event, ably assisted by Mrs Stevenson, who was attending her final sports day prior to taking early retirement. The effort and determination of the competing students was matched only by their support for their team-mates as another sports day passed off successfully, culminating in the traditional obstacle race. Fingers crossed for the same next year.
good. The best recital was Alex Harrison’s Welsh recital Best Wishes to those staff who are leaving and our because she pronounced it very clearly and I loved the thanks for their dedication and hard work: way she used loads of props. The best singing groups were Y Groes Geltaidd singing “Good Morning Baltimore” and Cennin Pedr singing “Hallelujah”. The on stage competitions were all judged by Mr Fenlon a.k.a Mr Cowell and the off stage competitions were judged by Mr Roberts from Maes Hyfryd. The overall winner of The School Eisteddfod was ‘Y Ddraig Goch’. For winning, all members of Y Ddraig Goch have won an afternoon of Welsh activities and treats!
Having been set the task of coming up with a solution to the problem of providing water for the employee’s allotments at Toyota’s (TMUK) Deeside manufacturing plant, the group of Year 8 girls have constructed a scale model of the site to illustrate their proposed solution. They will be taking the model to show senior Toyota engineers at Derby on 14th July as part of their presentation to TMUK. Good luck girls!
Our Year 9 team returned victorious from the 2011 British National Finals of the Toyota Challenge competition held at Toyota's (TMUK) Plant in Derby. The ‘Lucky Duckies’, ( ) competed with their microprocessor controlled buggy, and came away with the top prize. The day proved to be historic, as Flint High School is the first Toyota Liaison school to win. The team not only added to their prize money from the Welsh Regional Finals, but also won a week’s activity holiday in Spain! Nick Freeman, Senior Manager, External Affairs, Toyota Manufacturing UK, said: "The quality of work that we see at the national final is outstanding. The attention to detail, pride and determination that the students have in their vehicles are a joy to watch". His comments were echoed by Chris Calver, education manager at Rapid: "Congratulations to Flint High School. The 2011 final has been one of the best since the competition began in 2002. The level of design innovation and the passion these students have for engineering is incredible and they are a credit to their schools."
The Design and Technology Department recently took delivery of a state-of-the-art laser cutter. The machine has an A1 sized bed and will cut , card, paper, leather, cloth and wood up to 12mm thick cleanly and consistently. Additionally, it will also engrave most materials.
The Year 7 ‘Solar Fuzion’ team of four Year 7 students narrowly missed out making it British National double for Flint High School with their solar powered vehicle in the second of the two national competitions. However, having seen their fellow students prepare for a Thanks go to FLAG and the prize money from the Toyota Challenge week in the Spanish sun, they have vowed to go one winners for contributing to the better next year! cost. Here’s looking towards new and exciting projects in the new school year.
Melanie Beck, Gabrielle Cutler, Tia Williams, Victoria Scofield, Lois Roberts, Sophie Stewart and Sheamardin Maizano also appeared at the Festival of Youth Sport, entertaining the crowds with their slick display. Well done girls!
This Years Festival of Youth Sport took place on Thursday 14th April 2011. Teams from Flint High School competed in the skateboarding, cricket and cheerleadi ng events. A fine time was had by all and all those taking part said that they were already looking forward to next year. Well done to all of you. Pupils from the primary schools have been coming up to Flint High School every Wednesday to take part in a multi activity club. One of the activities on offer is Climbing. Thanks to the Sports Leaders for all their help.
At the Skate Park, the following pupils took part: Peter Renshaw, Jordan Foster, Aaron Nicholson, Dylan Bowden, Scott Earnshaw, Kyle Doran, Owen Hopwood, Cailum Challinor, Bradley Hughes, Brandon Adamson and Sam Hunt.
On Saturday 11th June, students from Flint High School took to the water in Rhug for Slalom Racing and came away with some fantastic results. Ms Grandy (Head Coach) believes that the drive and determination of the students was truly evident in their events. Well done to all of you.
Jamie Jackson (Div 4) 1st Place Promoted to Div 3 Avril Clark (Div 4) 1st Place After a 2 hour coaching promoted to Div 3, Sunday session they were assessed event 1st Place in Junior Event on working as a team, helping fellow participants Amy Raynor (Div 3) Sat 3rd, Sun and skill. On the day the 1st Junior team took to the skate park for 1 ½ minutes to show Rachel Jackson (Div 4) 2nd Place Sat, 1st place Sun in off their tricks. Junior Race. Alex Harrison (Div 4) Sat 1st Junior, Sun 2nd Junior Ladies Team Race Winners Amy Raynor and Charlotte Flint High School cheer leaders, in the shape of Jones. Hannah Hunt, Shola Owen Jones, Lauren Poole, Special Thanks to Ms S Harrison for all her help and support on the day.
With one game left to play this year, Flint High’s Year 10’s have played 3 and won 3. Our first game against Mold Alun was played in our sportshall. Following some early pressure from the Mold bowlers our batsmenTim Davies and Alex Russell helped set a respectable target. Then our bowlers Adam Jones , Tim Davies, Gareth Jones, Callum Bartley and Alex Russell bowled brilliantly to seal the win. Our second game of the season was away at the Argoed. After being put into bat, Callum Bartley hit a quickfire 25 in the first two overs before having to retire. Then our batsmen sent them a big target to chase. Then our bowlers, with the aid of great wicketkeeping from Connor Todd and two terrific catches from Niall Roberts sealed the win. Our third game of the season was away at Castell Alun. I put them into bat and after a poor start we soon bowled them out helped by an amazinf 5 wickets from Niall Roberts. Helped by 31 from Tim Davies we won by 7 wickets. This now leaves us unbeaten since the start of Year 7, which is an amazing feat considering the quality of the opposition we have faced.
7AG
7RD
7CJ
7SG
Girls
29
52
25
39
Boys
33
37
38
42
Total
62
89
63
81
Position
4th
1st
3rd
2nd
8CDJ
8RE
8FH
8EWJ
Girls
50
22
37
27
Boys
36
37
41
32
Total
86
59
78
59
Position
1st
=3rd
2nd
=3rd
9LE
9NJS
9GL/JR
9NW
Girls
33
37
38
22
Boys
36
36
41
26
Total
69
73
79
48
Position
3rd
2nd
1st
4th
Year 10 Cricket Champion.
Year 7 and 8 have concentrated on the exciting windball game (soft orange ball), playing a number of short matches. Both year 7 and year 8 did extremely well against the Argoed. We finished with 5 victories and 3 losses. At the recent play night held at Flint, we again faired well against the Argoed but Castell Alun proved too strong for us, as did an elite Buckley, Elfed squad. Particularly well done to Tom Harrison, Jake Bradley, Oliver Chan, Tom Hill, Om Roscoe, Travis White, Alex Shields and Ross Settle for their commitment.
What a year. The best in my memory for Flint High School. At the first Deeside Athletics Event Josh Gelder (Javelin), Alex Russell (3000m), Rhian Williams (Hurdles), Tia Williams (Javelin) and Chloe Hughes were all selected to represent Flintshire. This was a great achievement especially considering that Alex and Rhian are a year below the age limit and Chloe and Tia are two years below. We really produced sparks at the inter schools competition, where our year 7 & 8 boys came 3rd and our girls won. This meant that the girls team qualified for the next round at Wrexham, taking on the best schools in Clwyd. Unfortunately this proved a step too far and we finished a very creditable third. We have learnt much from the season and I hope to build on these results next year. I cannot stress enough what an achievement this is, when we compete against and beat schools who have twice as many students as us. Well done to all athletes who took part, with the outstanding individual results listed below.
Chloe Hughes Charlotte Walters Chloe Hughes Tia Williams Chloe Hughes Charlotte Walters Chloe Hughes Chloe Hughes Anisha Roberts Chloe Hughes
Tom Collins Tom Bibby Danny McAdam Om Roscoe Boys Relay Catherine Archer Ashleigh Smith Girls relay Catherine Archer Girls Relay Tom Bibby
100m 13.60 800m 3:02 LJ 4.70 Javelin 20.41 100m 13.70 800m 2.57 LJ 4.37 100m 14.00 1500m 6:25 LJ 4.69
200m HJ LJ Discus
28.13 1.45m 4.34 22.52 54.97 Discus 20.89 Shot 6.51 59.90 Discus 18.69 58.1 HJ 1.39
3rd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 3rd 1st
2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 3rd
Chris Pierce
300m
44.02 3rd
Aaron Williams Alex Russell Dan Noble Rhian Williams Rhian Williams Girls Relay
200m 3000m 100m H 80m H 300m H
25.35 9:39 20.94 12.75 48.94 57.69
Josh Gelder
Javelin
36.33 1st
2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 1st
Chloe Hughes is an amazing all round athlete. Her finest performance to date is being Welsh record holder in Long Jump with an incredible leap of 4.89m.
Year 10 Rhian Williams has really come to the fore in recent years through her dedication to the hurdles. Next week she represents Wales in the 300m Hurdles. We wish her luck.
As I am sure many of you are now aware, Mrs Stevenson is leaving us. I can’t stress what a fantastic teacher and friend she is. Like many of the staff I have so many happy memories. Mrs Stevenson has played a huge part in producing girls who love being physically active. She has also frightened many a poor soul to death with her Black Nun impression at Glan Llyn. She will greatly missed by students and staff alike and we wish her the very happiest of retirements, we know she will stay in touch ……. Beware the return of the nun!