Elfed Echo – Summer 2013

Adlais Elfed Echo
Your voice, heard!
Second edition
Students Devise Dynamic Drama
Performance on 17th July 2013 at 7.00pm.
As summer draws near in Buckley, the
students of Elfed get ready to finish
another school year.
The newly formed Elfed Drama Club will
perform two exciting new plays at the
end of term in July, a perfect way to
celebrate the end of the school year!
‘Behind Closed Doors’ is a play about
identity, friendship and being part of a
community. Set in various time periods,
the story involves a group of curious
teenagers whose task is to ask local
citizens about their community and life as
part of a group project for school.
The second play is the "Story of Buckley" Eager students rehearse their play ‘Behind Closed Doors.’
but with a slight twist.
There has never been a more fun packed and exciting year for the Drama Club at Elfed and we are
sure to see two of its finest plays thanks to the tireless effort of all actors and the Sixth Formers who
will direct ‘The Story of Buckley.’
We hope to see you, the audience, at these plays and hope you will enjoy them immensely.
‘Behind Closed Doors’ and ‘The Story of Buckley’ will be performed at 7pm on Wednesday 17th July
2013 at Theatr Elfed. Tickets are available free of charge from the office or call 01244 550217 to
make reservations.
By Ligia Soares
Adlais Elfed Echo Launched
Summer 2013
Poet Inspires
Primary Pupils
Elfed High School Transitition Programme for
Key Stage 2 pupils.
Levi Tafari, a Liverpudlian poet, came to Elfed to
work with children in Year 5 from Drury CP,
Mountain Lane, Southdown and Westwood
primary schools.
The session started with Levi telling pupils about
who he is and about his culture and then he read
out a few of his own poems such as ‘Celebr8,’
‘Melanin,’ ‘Street of Hope,’ and ‘Daughter of
Merseyside’. He asked the pupils how the poems
affected them.
The children then split into small groups and Elfed
students worked with them, to help them put their
ideas into words. Levi also sat with the pupils to
see how far they had got with their poems.
Levi gathered the groups together to hear what
they had written and the students then thanked
Levi for teaching them about poetry before
returning to their own schools.
When asked why it is important to learn about
poetry at a young age Levi replied, "If children
learn or read poetry, they can then transform
future feelings into words and decide if they want
to pursue poetry as a career choice."
By Kerina Perhat
Adlais Elfed Echo was extremely well received at the launch party last month. Guest of honour,
Haydn Iball, said, “The quality of writing is excellent. I am really impressed by the level of
sophistication in the reports.”
There is a sense of pride amongst students and parents alike. Elenya Buscombe, Copy Editor, said,
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with students to produce Elfed’s first student newspaper. It has
been a unique experience and I am very pleased with the outcome.” The parent of a student reporter
declared, “I love to see my child’s picture and writing in the newspaper. It’s just incredible.”
The Adlais Elfed Echo team are ecstatic with the response and will continue to deliver a high quality
newspaper to our local schools and the wider community.
Do you want to tell us what you think of the Adlais Elfed Echo?
Send us an email on adlaiselfedecho@live.com
Inside this issue...
Please call Mrs Rosemary Jones, Headteacher, to arrange an appointment to view the school.
★
★
★
Eisteddfod Elfed 2013
★
★★
Eisteddfod Elfed 2013 was one of the best yet, with winners coming from all tutor groups in
Years 7 and 8. Everyone left with a smile upon their faces.
The early awards went to Owen Jones for the Year 8 Poster Competition and Hannah and
Yasmin from 8D for the Dance Competition. Georgia Cash, Vicky Searle and Liza Walsh
picked up their medals for the Art Competitions.
Jessica Goodwin and Alys Thompson of 7E won against Maia Iball of 7D in the Maths 24
Competition and Austin Teare and Marcus Williams (8F and 8D) came second to Bethan
Bellis and Rebecca Blackwell in the epic battle of the Year 8 Maths Competition.
Eve Hughes and Owen Jones were announced winners of the Year 7 and 8 Singing
Competition, and Josie Glancey was presented with a medal for best musician. The
winners of the Choir were 8E/7E and Josie Glancey received a second medal for her poetry.
The event finished with the outstanding Year 7 volcano dances.
Remember; it’s your voice, heard!
Let us know what you think of this issue – send us an email
on:adlaiselfedecho@live.com
2
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
★
Adlais Elfed Echo is looking to recruit new students to write for the
newspaper. Have you got what it takes? See Miss Pennington or Mrs
Culshaw to get involved!
★
Calling All Journalists!
★
By Elenya Buscombe
★★
On a journey to Poland to tour the concentration camps, Amira Mattar
(12L) and I explored the haunting sites of Auschwitz. Organised by the
Holocaust Education Trust, we were granted the opportunity to learn
about the tragedy that occurred in these camps.
The camps are known as Auschwitz 1, the original camp, and AuschwitzBirkenau. Auschwitz–Birkenau was one of the five "death camps"
constructed by the Nazis and was the biggest mass killing centre ever
created.
At Auschwitz 1, we saw the iconic image of the entrance sign, translating
to “work makes one free”. This site was mainly an exhibition of the
evidence of the war crimes. This evidence included piles of glasses, shoes
and other valuables. We felt that only when we viewed this evidence did
we begin to comprehend the extent of the trauma that occurred there.
When we visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, we stood at the selection point and
saw a cattle cart which transferred one hundred people at a time. The
people that arrived were put into two lines, the left line meant immediate
death by gas chambers and the right meant that they would become a
prisoner of the camp.
We also visited an old washroom that was used to display photos that
were taken from the prisoners, along with other valuables. Most of these
were happy family photos. This part of the tour was also very emotional as
it showed that the Holocaust wasn’t just about numbers, but was the
degradation of individuals and the removal of their individuality.
We finished the tour with a speech by Rabbi Barry Marcus and we placed
candles on the train tracks as a sign of respect to those who died. Our
experience made it clear to us that it is the reflection of the past that gives
names to those given numbers. Both Amira and I left with a clear aim to
not allow the past to be repeated.
★★★
★★
Not Just Numbers
★
★★
★★
By Owen Jones
★
Then, the moment everyone was waiting for – The Chair Competition (prize for the best
short story)! And the winner was... Erin Walker of 7E! She sat on the chair proudly as
everyone flooded out of the theatre after a very exciting morning. Llongyfarchiadau,
congratulations to all.
Miles of Smiles Concert
★★★
Students from all year groups show off their talents for charity.
Elfed High School held a charity concert to raise money for the Miles of
Smiles Appeal. The charity funds trips to Disneyland and Lapland to make
dreams come true for hundreds of children and their families.
The concert was presented by Erin Sunderland and Cody Willoughby and
auditions were held by the Sixth Form students who then chose a superb
line-up, showcasing various performers and talents.
Hayden Hughes, Alex Humphreys and George Searle opened the night with
their band, followed by Amber Wynne performing a brilliant ballet routine. The
night continued with musical performances by Josh Owens, Owen Jones,
Erin Sunderland, Jay Bevan and Ryan Hopwood and an excellent
contemporary dance performance by Julie Markvatova.
Instrumentalists also stepped up to perform, with Michael Ludden on guitar
and Emilie Davies on piano.
Ryan Barnes took to the stage with his unique, yet incredible, rendition of ‘I
Will Follow Him’ from ‘Sister Act’, using only sign language.
The applause from the audience at the end of the concert confirmed that the
evening had been a huge success and a performance to make Elfed proud, a
sentiment that was confirmed by headteacher Mrs Jones at the end of the
night.
By Georgia Cash.
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk
Mock Interview Day
Our reporter investigates:
improve their interview skills and develop their
formal communication skills, Elfed brought in
employers from various sectors of the
business world to interview the students.
Representatives from the British Army, Airbus,
Tesco and other organisations attended and all
gave students feedback on their interview.
Amongst the skills developed, selecting
appropriate clothing was one of the most
beneficial to students, who now feel more
confident in choosing outfits for future
interviews.
Students take part in mock interviews in their
chosen sector.
On the 15th March, Elfed High School held a Mock
Interview Day in order to prepare Year 11 students
for applying for real jobs, colleges and universities.
As Year 11 have almost completed their time at
school, they are preparing for life in further
education or going into full time work. To help them
Students generally felt quite nervous. Lorna
Henry, 16, said, “It was a bit nerve-racking at first,
but when I got in there and started talking, it was
fine.”
Hayden Hughes, 16, said, “The feedback was really
helpful and Mock Interview Day has prepared me
for future interviews.”
By Calli Dollery.
Remembrance at Belgium Battlefields
They visited the famous Menin Gate and
attended the daily service in memory of
those who were missing after World War
One. It was a wonderful experience.
The next morning they were off to some
of the many war grave memorials,
including Thiepval Memorial to the
missing of the Somme. Whilst there, the
students also found the graves marking
the final resting place of relatives of their
own. On the same day, the students went
down in the trenches themselves.
Exploring the trenches was a touching
experience for everyone.
Students travel to Belgium for a unique experience.
In February, some Year 9 students set off to Ypres
in Belgium, with Mrs Woosey, Mr Jones, Mr
Weatherley and their very own tour guide Ben! The
students were on an emotive journey they would
never forget.
Arts Clubs at Elfed
Monday
Swing Band
Tuesday
Choir
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
String / Drama Club
Play an Instrument Day
Karaoke Club
Come along and get involved!
Caitlin Ion, a Year 9 student said, 'I really
enjoyed the trip. It was one of the best experiences
of my life!' All the students enjoyed the experience
and learnt a lot about the First World War from it.
By Phoebe Willoughby.
Young Enterprise
Are you in Year 12 and interested in
business? The Young Enterprise
programme will allow 17 students to run a
real firm for a whole year!
Develop skills to enhance your
employability and enterprise capabilities!
See Mr Kelleher or Miss Williams at the
beginning of September to get involved!
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
Twitter or
Facebook?
These days, teenagers’ lives might be
dominated by social networking; the two
most well-known sites being Facebook
and Twitter. With 500 million Twitter users
and a staggering 1.06 billion Facebook
users, it’s evident which is the most
popular but which is the best – Twitter or
Facebook?
I put this question to the users of Twitter
and asked fifty people which they thought
was better. All said Twitter.
A number of people have said there are
many advantages for Facebook, such as
being able to connect with friends and
family quickly and easily; you can share
pictures, videos and posts with your
friends at the touch of a button. However,
Twitter’s good points seem to greatly
outnumber Facebook’s.
Twitter is all about networking. You can
interact with people you have met, haven’t
met, will meet, won’t meet, anyone and
everyone. You can connect with people
with similar interests to you and can make
your timeline whatever you want it to be.
Twitter is like a personalised magazine full
of interesting tweets about things you’re
interested in, whereas Facebook is more
like a collage of posts you probably don’t
care about.
Generally, your Facebook friends are all
people you know, whether they be friends,
family or classmates, while Twitter
connects you with people across the
globe and it is very easy to act yourself or
even reinvent yourself without fear of being
judged or ridiculed.
Lastly, Twitter makes it easier to connect
with people you admire, such as the lead
singer of your favourite band, your
favourite sports personality, an actor from
your favourite TV show or the author of
your favourite book. Twitter is also very
crucial to the music industry, as electropop band The Good Natured point out,
“Twitter makes it easier to connect with
fans, which is very important to us as a
band.”
Looking at all of the various reasons why
Twitter is preferred over Facebook, I have
to say that I agree but what do you think?
Send us an email at
adlaiselfedecho@live.com .
By Georgia Cash
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk
3
Rising Star... Joel Sampson
Holly Maguire caught up with Year 10’s Joel
Sampson and asked why he loves football.
What got you interested in football?
I got interested in football thanks to a girl in Year
11. She wanted to go to football and her mum
asked me if I wanted to go, I was 6 years old. So I
went with her and then ever since then really I’ve
enjoyed the game.
How long have you been interested in football?
I’ve been interested in football ever since I can
remember, really. I started kicking a ball when I
was six years old.
How often do you play?
It varies; at the start of the seasons we play one
game a week. Through the winter we might have
no games for a whole month because of the
weather. Then coming to the end of the season
there could be two, three games a week.
Who do you play with?
I play with a lot of the lads in my year; Rhys, Aled,
Joe, there are too many to name really. We also
play for Buckley Town and Airbus and Elfed, of
course.
What do you like about football over other
sports?
I like it because it is a competitive sport and I’m
quite a competitive person. You always have to be
alert, so you have to be in control of your body
and your mind. I like the fact that it is quite a
physical sport.
Have you been in any football competitions?
Buckley Town has been in many competitions
around the UK. We have been as far north as
Berwick in Scotland and we have been down
south to the Isle of White.
Have you got very far in any of them?
We’ve won many tournaments and a lot of
trophies. In a lot of the tournaments we get to the
quarters or semi-finals. Sometimes, well most of
the time, we win them.
What’s your strongest position on the field?
My strongest position on the field is striker.
Why?
Because I score quite a lot of goals and I’m good
at where I play.
Does your football team influence how you play?
I wouldn’t say it’s the football team that influences
me; it’s more the manager as sometimes he tells
me where to play and what to do.
Do you see yourself with a future career in
football?
All lads my age will always try for this in the future
but you have to be realistic, so probably not.
How to log on to your Vivo account to check your rewards.
Type in your username. This is your first and second name with a full stop in the middle.
For example: john.smith
Type in the domain name which is Elfed.
Type in your password (this should have been created by you!)
Click log in and check out how many Vivos you’ve earned recently!
If you have any problems with logging on, go and see Miss Messum!
Elfed hosts
Consortium
Concert
On Wednesday 20th March, Theatr Elfed was
host to the Buckley - Mynydd Isa Consortium
Concert.
Pupils in Years 5 and above showed off their
talents in front of friends and family, through
playing an instrument, singing, dancing, and
through sign language. Many schools around
the area participated in this event, including
Elfed and Argoed High Schools, Southdown,
Westwood, Mountain Lane and Drury primary
schools and Ysgol Mynydd Isa.
Highlights of the night included a cheerleading
performance, street dance routines, and some
magnificent performances from Elfed’s Ryan
Hopwood, Owen Jones and Chloe Kidd.
The show was brought to an end by a
performance of ‘The Circle of Life’ from the
film The Lion King. This was performed by all
students that took part in the concert, which
was an excellent way to end such a
successful night. All proceeds were donated
to Childline.
By Shannon Gates.
Drury Primary School News
The pupils of Year 6 at Drury CP enjoyed three fun days at Glan Llyn, Bala.
They shared their experience with three other primary schools. They were
accompanied by their headteacher, Mr Biltcliffe, and their class teacher,
Miss Jones. The pupils took part in many activities and enjoyed themselves
thoroughly.
One of the activities the pupils took part in was canoeing. Firstly, they had to
gear up with life jackets, learn how to handle the paddle and how to row.
The canoes were then doubled up and attached together with a plank of
wood to stop them from capsizing. Next, they had to row out to a small
island, put mud from the lake on their faces and then cross to the other size
of the canoe without falling into the lake. Finally, there was a race back to
the main building.
On the first night, there was a disco in the hall; some of the selection of
music included ‘Gangnam Style,’ ‘Harlem Shake’ and One Direction songs.
Everyone in group Arenig had to keep going outside to cool down and the
Drury boys lead the way with the fantastically rubbish dancing!
A highlight of the second day was the high ropes. There were two to
experience; the Parachute Jump (Leap of Faith) which involved stepping off
a piece of wood whilst strapped to some rope and secondly, the Tram Line,
which involved walking on ropes with only a harness attaching pupils to
metal tracks.
Another activity the pupils took part in was dance. It was not the usual
‘Gangnam Style’, it was old fashioned country style. The pupils had to
partner up with a friend and learn the dance, step by step. The students
4
enjoyed learning
something new and it gave
them something to laugh
about.
At the end of the second
day, there was a massive
game of tag, which took
place all over the
premises. All Year 6 boys
got involved and Dylan
Davies was the overall
winner.
The
trip will never be
Drury pupils enjoy the great outdoors
forgotten by the pupils. “The
Coke and Slush Puppy machines were good but the beds were hard to get
out of,” said John Higgins. The students enjoyed the trip so much and they
look forward to trips in the future. “I think Glan Llyn was really good and a
great opportunity to make new friends before high school,” said Georgia
Lamb.
The students behaved well and had a fantastic time, whilst participating in
activities that proved to be good learning steps.
By Dylan Davies, Beth Whitley and Nikolay Barber.
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk
Mountain Lane
★
Southdown
Westwood
Fabulous Fancy Dress Return of the Talent Crazy Construction
★
★
At Westwood C.P, builders have been setting
up and getting ready to start improving the
school’s appearance for the better.
Students and teachers at Mountain Lane Primary
school have been preparing for their chance to
showcase their talent in their second school talent
show in the school hall. Lots of pupils auditioned
but only THE BEST were chosen.
The school is over one hundred years old and
everyone’s getting involved to help out and upgrade the facilities. On Monday June 10th, the
builders will be putting effort and hard work into
making our school more modern. Mr Nicholson
said, “There will be some friendly builders
around the teachers’ car park.” Also, Charlotte
Shone said “I think it’s good to have new
improvements, but, sadly, I will not be here next
year to see the final result.”
★
★
A few weeks ago Mountain Lane held their second
school talent show, “Return of Talent.” All children
from Year 2 to the Year 6 were given the
opportunity to audition the chance to take part. The
auditions took four weeks to complete. Finally, the
best acts were chosen from each year group by the
judges, Mr. Downes (Simon Cowell), Mrs. Walker
and others who came along as well. The last talent
show was so successful amongst both students
and teachers that they decided to hold a second
show.
★
★
★
It is amazing how much effort goes into
everyone’s costumes; there is a huge variety of
fancy dress costumes, from T.V. characters to
Christmas trees coming down the yard like a
big parade. Everyone enjoys seeing the
wonderful rainbow of smiling children. There is a
big buzz as everyone is so excited. All involved
assemble in the hall for the big competition. All
participants, from Reception to Year 6, strut
their stuff to the stage hoping to win a prize.
You’ve seen the ambition; you’ve heard the
endeavour, and now, a whole new adventure…
Mountains of Talent: Return of the Talent!
★
On the last day of the Christmas term,
Southdown C.P. had a fabulous fancy dress
day. Everyone in the school joined in on the
amazing day. There were three judges, Miss
Shaw, Mrs Snowdon-Jones and Mrs Daley. This
is a long-standing Southdown tradition, going
back as far as anyone can remember!
★
★
★
It must have been a hard decision for the judges,
although it must have been entertaining to watch all
of the acts as well. There was singing, dancing,
comedy, instrument playing and much, much more!
However, it won’t just be the children performing;
most of the teachers will be showing their talent as
well.
Students and teachers are extremely excited for the
finals, which will held on Wednesday, 26th June
2013, where each pupil will be able to vote for their
favourite act and they will finally have the results
from 21st June – 1st July.
★
★
Pupils and teachers at Southdown really enjoy
the traditional annual fancy dress competition.
Even now, they are planning their costumes for
this year’s event.
When asked about the show, Abbey Young said,
“Last talent show, I auditioned and got through, it
was fun performing in front of the school but it was
a bit nerve-racking. Unfortunately, I didn’t win, but
the other acts were stupendous. Mountain of Talent
is fun as it allows children to showcase their talents,
that they may not be able in schoolwork,” and,
Grace Mitchell, 7 years old said, “It’s amazing to
show our talent but it is quite scary, though I still
REALLY enjoy it.”
★
The host was Mr Smith, a Year 5 teacher. This
was his first time being host, he said: “I was a
little bit nervous as every eye was on me. I felt
like it was an interview because if I did well, I
would be asked to do it next year. I’m not sure
if I was happy about that. As I got into it, I
enjoyed it. I dressed up as a rather spectacular
Dennis the Menace. I also had my wonderful
side-kick Minnie the Minx (Mrs Jones).”
★
★
★ ★
★
The Year 5 winner, Isabelle Ewing said, ”I was
Marge Simpson. When I won I felt happy
because I put a lot of effort into my costume.
My mum sewed my green dress and I made my
wig by putting two pieces of card together and
painting cotton wool balls blue and sticking
them onto my hat. It wasn’t comfy because it
stuck behind my ears and kept falling down.”
★
Tradition continues as pupils get creative to
compete for first place in annual competition.
Last year, Mountain Lane had Bruno Mars (Mr.
Downes), a group of cowgirls (most female
teachers in KS2), two singers, followed by an
Eskimo (Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Shaw)
then to finish it off, a magnificent ballet dancer (Mr.
Caughter) wearing his lovely pink leotard, tutu and
tights.
There will be a new lift for future disabled
children, to make it safer for them to get
upstairs. Mairelle Mattar said,” I think it’s a
good idea to upgrade the school because
children with disabilities can have a normal
school life.” There will be new tables and chairs
for pupils in classes. Other things will be added
like a new climbing wall, new doors, new
toilets, a new climbing frame and the best and
biggest new thing is…
A new classroom!
Years 3 and 4 classes will be joining Years 5
and 6 upstairs in the old A.B.A.unit!
The clearout for the big construction gets
pupils excited.
Everyone is excited for the new changes of
design at Westwood. Evonne Blackwell said “I
think it’s a great idea to refurbish the school
and to help pupils learn.”
By Charlotte Shone, Evonne Blackwell and
Mairelle Mattar.
By Molly Allday, Charlie Ashton and Jamie Glancey.
By Tom Sparrow , Isabelle Ewing and Katie
Holcroft.
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk
5
★★★★★★★★★★★★
5 Minutes With...
Gareth Aled and
Charlotte Gray!
★★★★★★★★★★★★
Elenya Buscombe caught up with ‘The Hub’
actors Gareth Aled and Charlotte Gray to gain
some insight to what life as an actor is really
like.
Q: Where did you study or train for your career?
A: Gareth: Growing up, I went to local operatics
where I discovered that I couldn’t really sing or
dance very well [laughs]. That wasn’t what I really
wanted to do either and so I did a lot of my own
work. I got jobs leading workshops and
performing in schools for a year and then I got
into drama school. I went to the Royal Welsh
College of Music & Drama in Cardiff for three
years and graduated.
Q: What was it that encouraged you to enter
this career path?
A: Gareth: My family encouraged me. Someone
told me something quite cliché which was, “if
money was no object and money didn’t matter,
what would you most like to spend your time
doing? Once you’ve figured out that, do that and
forget the money”. It doesn’t feel like work. You
do the jobs outside of the acting job, such as
working in a bar, the events and the promotions.
That is a totally different feeling to getting up and
going to the rehearsal room, going the theatre or
coming to this school because it’s not work.
A: Charlotte: I did amateur dramatics from about
six years old, mainly because my sister was doing
it, but I never thought it would ever be a career.
I’m from South Wales and from a working class
family so I couldn’t afford to go to Stage Coach
but then I got into the National Youth Theatre
6
Name: Gareth Aled
Name: Charlotte Gray
Born: Denbighshire, North
Wales
Born: Nantyglo, South Wales
Trained at: Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama
Trained at: Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama
Performed in: War Horse (West
End production), The Hub,
Branches, The Heart of Robin
Hood, Solomon, Cendrillon and
Measure for Measure.
Wales which is the most fantastic organisation.
At sixteen, they subsidised a lot of it. I went for a
four and a half week course to put on a
production and came back thinking I could do
this. I got into drama school at eighteen. Even
going to a few drama school auditions helps you
to tune up. In the bus to London which you’ve
never done before, trying to read the book you’re
going to do your speech from is terrifying. You
realize that that’s your job then and, from about
sixteen/seventeen, it became that I needed to
educate myself in my career path, which involved
National Youth Theatre Wales and Drama School.
Q: Were there any drawbacks when you began
your career?
A: Gareth: Yes, the feeling that I was the only
actor and the only pupil in the school that wanted
to be an actor and so I felt like a bit of an odd
egg. A drawback is the insecurity of the job. The
probability of getting into drama school, getting
an agent or even a job is a bit like trying to win the
lottery. You always think you’re not going to get
there but you do and you persist. You don’t know
how you’re going to pay the bills or pay for other
practical things. I’m from around here but moving
to London and not knowing how you’re going to
pay the bills is scary. There are loads of
drawbacks but it’s all worth it in the end.
A: Charlotte: You’re only as good as the job
you’re currently doing and next you’re at square
one trying to get that job. You try and keep going
but there are moments when you’re still
constantly working, which are wonderful as well;
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
Performed in: Alice Through
the Looking Glass, Blue
Remembered Hills, A Red
Threatening Sky, Pygmalion,
The Hub and Rape of the Fair
Country.
you never get bored.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Gareth: The fact that I can call it my job and,
when I’m lucky enough, I get paid to do it,
whether that’s one month of the year or twelve.
The fact that you can look back at where it all
started and know it’s still happening. It’s still part
of my life and it’s a real privilege.
A: Charlotte: I love the idea of being in centre
script, spending three months breaking it down
before you even get to the rehearsal.
Q: What advice would you give to others
wanting to enter this career?
A: Charlotte: You’ve got to be prepared for the
work that’s involved. I think first you’ve got to
work really hard on what you want to do. If you
want to be an actor, what is it you love about
that? You need to be reading all the amazing
plays that are out there. You need to know your
back-story of all this amazing literature.
A: Gareth: I got offered this advice and it’s
something that I pass on is that if you’re an actor,
director or work freelance so you’re selfemployed, you need to be as good as you can be
and prepared. Someone told me, whether you’re
a hairdresser, plumber, a guitarist, or an actor, if
you can be punctual, a nice person to be around
and strive to do good work, and do all those three
things, you’re more likely to stay in work.
Diolch yn fawr. Thank you to Gareth and Charlotte
for taking the time to let the Adlais Elfed Echo
interview them.
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk
Fresh Off the Charts
Demi Lovato – ‘Demi’
A year ago, Demi Lovato opened her heart to the world
and now, she could not be at a stronger point in her
career.
Her new album ‘Demi’ has a faultless track listing, with
highlights including lead single ‘Heart Attack,’ ‘Made in
the U.S.A.’ and ‘Fire Starter.’ ‘Demi’ has a song for
everyone, like ‘Neon Lights’ for clubbers and a beautiful ballad ‘Warrior,’
which closes the album, for the more soft-hearted.
‘Really Don’t Care,’ a duet with 2010 X Factor UK runner up Cher Lloyd, is
a girly, fun track which is perfect for Cher to make her own. Demi Lovato
showcases her vocal power on this album which could be compared to
that of Beyoncé; her vocal range is powerful!
‘Demi’, Lovato’s fourth album, is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time.
With feel-good love songs, the track list will no doubt get you on your feet
and leave you pleading for more.
‘Demi’ is out now! You can purchase it from HMV, Asda, Tesco or you can
download it from iTunes or Amazon!
Reviews of the latest music, films and games by our reporters:
Josh Gonzalez, Adam Hughes, Olivia Arkley, Jess Jones and Owen Jones.
I give the game 10/10 as it will keep you glued to your screen for hours on
end!
Super Head Esploder X
This new game by Youtube sensations ‘Smosh’ is
peaking everyone’s interest with its innovative design
and user interaction.There is no downside to this game;
it is perfect for children and, of course, anybody else for
that matter!
You take on the role of Billy and, as our hero falls asleep watching ‘Smosh’
videos, he becomes a super hero in his 8bit dreams! Use his propeller hat,
weapons, skills and agility to ‘esplode’ evil flying heads and ‘smosh’
enemies to escape from this horrifying nightmare!
If you think this game is for you then you can buy it from the app store
(Apple devices only) for the small price of £1.49! All in all, I give this game
10/10.
Star Trek: Into Darkness 3D
If I could sum up the new Star Trek film, ‘Into Darkness,’
in one word, it would be ‘spectacular.’ There are
explosions, fight scenes and lots of action from start to
finish.
Fall Out Boy – Save Rock and Roll
‘Save Rock and Roll’ is the fifth studio album by
American pop-punk band Fall Out Boy. It was the
band's first studio album in four years and a follow-up to
2008's Folie à Deux.
The album's first single, "My Songs Know What You Did
in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up)," reached charts worldwide, including the US
Billboard Hot 100 at No. 26 and in the UK at No. 5. The album features
huge names in the music industry, including Courtney Love and Elton
John. They also collaborate with an unexpected American rapper, Big
Sean, and, oddly, it works well. The album's sound was pleasantly
surprising; it is a totally brand new side of Fall Out Boy, they were reborn
with confidence. Although it has the same old-school soulful vocals,
ripping guitar riffs, addictive rhythms and relatable lyrics, they obviously
used techniques they learnt from their solo experiments over the four year
break. I believe the soul-punk album lead-singer Patrick Stump released in
2011 has influenced some of their electric hooks within ‘Save Rock and
Roll’. The band has branched out into exhilarating new territory without
straying too far from their trademark sound.
Band Boss
In this edition of Adlais Elfed Echo, I will be reviewing
‘Band Boss,’ the fun game app that can be found on
the app store (this is for Apple products only, e.g.
iPhones, iPads etc) at the price of 69p. It will soon be
available on the Android market.
The game consists of you making a record label and managing an artist
well enough that they reach fame and stardom.
You begin the game with $1,000 (I suggest you go on tour first to gain
some money to start recording your debut single). Once you finish your
tour, you can start recording a single or you can go on tour again
(personally, I do because I can gain up to $70,000). When your first single
is released, you have to wait a week for its debut in the charts (my
personal best is #28).
After that it’s up to you; you can release another single or release your
debut album! When you have spare time, you can even go on holiday and
buy your artist mansions, yachts and tour buses (depending on your bank
balance!).
The movie starts with an action packed scene which
involves a huge active volcano on a mysterious planet that is about to
erupt and Spock (Zachary Quinto) is inside the volcano trying to stop it
erupting. The Star Fleet then come into trouble with an attack from John
Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the Enterprise team has to step in
and go to a forbidden planet that could start a war if humans went on it.
John Harrison is the “bad guy” and he was frozen from 300 years ago.
Star Fleet Commanders have brought him back to life to use him to invent
weapons in case a war started; this was foiled by Captain Jim Kirk (Chris
Pine) when he thought that John Harrison was on their side. At the very
end, Spock fought John Harrison but I’m not going to ruin the end. The
special effects were amazing, especially in 3D. As soon as you think the
action had calmed down, a massive explosion comes out of the screen; it
makes you jump because you’re not expecting it.
They also bring back the old Spock (Leonard Nimoy). This is a ‘must
watch’ film, even if you haven’t watched any of the other Star Trek films; it
is simply fantastic.
The Apprentice
Lord Alan Sugar is back with his “You’re fired” phrase
and the pointy finger as he starts his search for his next
apprentice!
This series has the apprentices creating their own beers
and selling flat pack furniture to make the most money
and win the round. Then, once again, the apprentices will enter the
boardroom and see what Lord Alan Sugar thinks of their product. The
winning team are rewarded, for example, by climbing the O2 Arena in
London and going to Belgium to taste some fine beer!
Who knows who will win? With only a few weeks to go until the final when
Lord Alan Sugar says ‘You’re hired,” we’ll be on the edge of our seats
waiting for the winner!
Watch ‘The Apprentice’ every Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk
7
Back of the Net!
The latest sports news from Elfed High School
Cheerleading Champions
Football Literacy
Study Scheme
A group of Year 7 and 8s visit Wrexham Football
Stadium for a new football and literacy scheme.
Twelve students from
Year 7 and 8 took
part in an exciting
and educational
scheme last term. It
was a football and
literacy scheme lead
by Tony Merola, the
Boys’ Development
Officer from
Wrexham Football
Club.
Part of the scheme focused on football and the students were taught
lots of new skills, played lots of tackling and passing games and even
had the privilege of visiting Wrexham Football Stadium. Whilst at
Wrexham Stadium, they were shown around the trophy rooms,
changing rooms and the pitch; it was a very memorable experience.
In April, Year 8 Elfed students competed in a cheerleading competition
at the Sports Hall at Elfed High School as part of the Flintshire Sports
Festival.
After training twice a week for over a month, the cheerleading squad
performed their routine in the ‘Best the Best You Can Be’ service before
finally performing for the judges of the competition. They chose Glee’s
‘Thriller / Heads Will Roll’ as their dance track and, to make the routine
more realistic, they dressed up as zombies.
After a lengthy wait, the results were finally in, revealing that Elfed had
secured first place in the competition.
Laura Hodgson, 8F, said, ‘I really enjoyed taking part and I’m so glad
we won.’
Students at Elfed look forward to participating in the Flintshire Sports
Festival again next year.
The other side of the scheme supported students’ literacy. They were
taught how to write a full and detailed match report! Jack Evans, Year 8,
said ‘I’ve never really been interested in football, I’m more a rugby
person but this scheme has got me more involved in football than ever
before.’ The students were impressed with the scheme and would all love to
take part again.
Elfed cheerleaders achieve first place in Flintshire Sports Festival
Competition.
By Phoebe Willoughby
By Bethan Bellis
Autumn Term Sports Clubs Fun at 5 x 60 Festival
Lunchtime Activities
Monday
Netball
Netball
Tuesday
Cricket
Table Tennis
Dodgeball
Football
Badminton
Girls’ Football
Squash
Gym Club
Basketball
Hockey
Indoor Football
Hula Hooping
Dodgeball
Netball
Fitness Room
Inter-form Sports
Netball
Racket Club
Badminton
Table Tennis
Street Dance
Staff Sports!
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8
On Wednesday 29th May, Year 9 students
at Elfed took part in a 5 x 60 Festival,
organised by 5 x 60 officer, Steve Thomas.
The students were fortunate to have a visit
from European skateboarding champion,
Neil Danns, from Liverpool.
After School Activities
Many students were thrilled to find out that
Students participate in
they had the chance to participate in
‘boxercise’ at 5 x 60 Festival. unusual events, such as Street Skills,
Boxercise, Wheelchair Basketball and more. In a vote that was taken, it
was revealed that the majority of Year 9 enjoyed wheelchair basketball the
most as it was a very different skill that was fun to learn.
Carregan Parry said, “It was so much fun. I wish it could happen again but
for even longer!”
A few students were even given passes to go along to a free hula-hooping
session in the Multi-activity Room to help improve their hula-hooping
skills. It was a very successful morning organised by Elfed,an experience
that students will never forget.
Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School, Buckley CH7 3HQ 01244 550217 -
By Shannon Gates
www.elfed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk