Sports

Year 13 visit Central Gurdwara in Notting Hill

Year 13 RS students along with their RS teacher, Mrs Gemma Pinches, visited London on Thursday 22nd November. The group were joined by Merthyr college RS and Geography students. The purpose of the excursion was for students to visit the Central Gurdwara in Notting Hill, to enrich their study of the Sikh faith as part of their A Level study.

The Central Gurdwara is the oldest Gurdwara in Europe which was formed in  the  year 1908,   to promote religious and social activities among the Sikhs who had settled  in  the  UK from India during and after the partition of the Punjab.

All students partook in a seminar led by two Sikh custodians – who discussed key aspects of the WJEC specification to help prepare for their exams. The custodians spoke with passion and spirit about their history and custom and were engaging with the students. Pupils were able to ask questions in relation to the A level WJEC specification on Sikhism, which will help them in their classroom study.

Whilst in the Gurdwara Pupils were expected to adhere to the rules and regulations that all members of the Sikh community follow and showed their utmost respect to the religious practices.to rules set. Pupils listened to a reading form the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) and experienced the manner in which Sikh worship takes place through the day in the Diwan Hall.

After the seminar and worship experience pupils took part in the Sikh offering of Langar (Every Gurdwara has a langar hall where all people are welcome to a free meal regardless of their sex, colour or religion. There are no rituals observed in the langar and everyone eats together. All the food is vegetarian so that no religious group is offended and is prepared with self-less service) The Central Gurdwara shares Langar with approx. 60-100 non-Sikhs, every meal time, from the Notting hill area who are unable to afford food for themselves, any individual or family in need are welcome. The Gurdwara also serves 600 homeless people every evening from Monday-Thurs, using their food truck and food made from the Langar Kitchen.

Students then has an opportunity to tour the area of Notting hill and visited the famous book shop from the ‘Notting hill’ film, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, they also visited the magic shop from the Paddington Bear film franchise.

 

 

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Compliments from the Urdd

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Bore da,

My Name is Leon Welsby and I am the assistant development officer for Mid Glamorgan with the Urdd.

I thought it important for me to extend my gratitude and upmost thanks for the support I receive from not only from your staff but your pupils also.

Back in September with the huge support of Lynsey Cruickshank I was able to re-establish my forum within the school. The 8 pupils have been attending regular meetings out of school hours and have some very strong and creative ideas on how they wish to be better supported with learning Welsh. As part of the forum I offer them opportunities to volunteer and be around the Welsh Language.

Every year we hold our swimming gala over at ynysawdre pool and every year I receive tremendous support from Jo Long who organises volunteers for me and also works hard to organise competitors, who, every year are of a very high standard.

The event last week was made a lot easier by the positive attitude of your pupils and their readiness to get stuck in and enjoy the event. They were constantly smiling and it was a pleasure to have them there as it made the running of the day a lot easier.

I thought it important that the great work of your pupils and staff is recognised as people are too quick to complain but very rarely compliment.

Thank you also for allowing the volunteers to attend. I look forward to meeting with the forum next week to pass on further thanks and to working together at future events.

Diolch

LEON WELSBY

Urdd Gobaith Cymru

URDD National Football Tournament

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 Year 7/8 football boys won the URDD National Football Tournament in Cardiff yesterday. They beat Ystalefera 2-0 in the Final. I am extremely proud of the boys of their massive achievement today. 

Mr Philips (PE Teacher)

Representing Wales At 12

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Joseph Jennings (#15) represented Wales in the U12s tournament with Glozball at Gloucester College. A fantastic achievement at just 12 years of age with a promising career ahead of him. Well done, we are all very proud of you.

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CCYD has a “World Champion” Jake Davies

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When you were in school did you ever know a ” World Champion” ?

Well we do at CCYD, his name is Jake Davies and he has just won 7 Gold medals at the Tang Soo Do World Championships at the former Olympic Copperbox Arena in London!!!!.

Aged just 17 Jake competed against other martial artists from all over the world including America, Brazil and Australia.  He won all 7 golds at 2nd Dan Black Belt 16-23 category and proved to be the best in the world in weapons (knife and staff) as well as sparring (fighting against an opponent) and form ( a display of precise and accurate moves used to both defend and attack).

Earlier this year (April) Jake competed in the UK Open Championships and won all 3 Gold Medals, his next focus is on the National Championships in November held in Neath where he hopes to again steal the show and bring home all the golds.

This young man is a remarkable asset to the school, he is both humble and disciplined in his studies and home life and never talks of his achievements let alone boast about them.

Well we are all so proud of you Jake, best of luck for November and let us know how you get on ( or your mum will).

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