Dear Parents and Friends

We have had various visitors to the school this week enhancing our curriculum. Theatre Clwyd visited some of our Year 9 pupils - an event enjoyed by all who took part.

Year 8 pupils were entertained by Flintshire Music Service who provided an excellent rendition of various music items, some of which involved mass audience participation. I would like to thank all the peripatetic teachers who took part and for the positive way the pupils participated.

Year 7 pupils had a safety morning delivered by providers ranging from the Police and Fire Service to Child Line and Road Safety. I would like to thank all the people who came in to provide such excellent presentations and pupils for their active participation.

Trial examinations for Year 11 pupils start on Monday 16th November. Pupils are reminded that they are required to attend normal lessons when they do not have an exam.

Simeon Molloy
Headteacher

Christmas Concert Tuesday 15th December
The Christmas concert is only a month away. The choir, string group, junior band and senior band will be performing.
Any students who want to contribute either as a soloist, band or stage manager should see me as soon as possible.
Many Thanks - Mr C Millard

Ahs Radio
Hi there, have you all logged on to our radio station. You can read stories about your friends, listen to interviews, and watch videos of year 11 pupils in France. But most importantly it is where you can find out what issues / points you as students have discussed with the student council. For example, did you know that there is a proposed plan to place benches under the shaded area for you to sit and have lunch, or just relax.
There are polls to vote on different topics including, the type of music you would like to hear in the canteen to what do you think of ‘JEDWOOD' from the X Factor.
There are pupil blogs to read and to keep you entertained. You can leave comments, become friends of the pupils writing the stories and you make sure you have your SAY about what you would like to see / hear or change!!
Log on to
www.radiowaves.co.uk/s/AHSradio

Library News
The winners of the Halloween Quiz were:
Year 7 - Winner: Nic Hooper 7SW; Runner-up: Lewys Taylor 7SW
Year 8 - Louise Darlington 8PSm
Year 9 - Laura King 9GN
Year 10 - Melissa Bentley 10KH
Well done to you all!

Year 7 Book Club takes place in the Library on a Thursday after school until 4pm. All year 7s are welcome.

Years 8,9 & 10 Book Club is on Tuesday 3.10 - 4pm

Governors Report To Parents
The summary of this report has been sent out with pupils today.

Calling all dancers in year 7!
Do you like dancing?
Do you want to help Children In Need and Nightingale House Hospice? Join dance class - every Tuesday at lunchtime
in the gym - 12.30 - 12.55. Only 20p per class!

Children in Need
Children in Need day is Friday 20th November. This years theme is ‘Superheroes & Villains'. We ask for a £1 contribution towards the theme of the day.
Any other tutor groups who are willing to raise money in another way will be gratefully received.
Thank you for your support - Mrs S Robins

Argoed High School Website
Argoed High School has a new website.
www.argoed-hs.flintshire.sch.uk

Year 7 & 8 Hockey
Unfortunately due to bad weather last week, the year 7 & 8 match against Mold was cancelled. This will be rearranged but only if teams are attending practices.

Year 8 & 11 Netball - The match that was due to be played against Castell Alun this week has been rearranged to Monday 7th December.

Gym Club - As the exams are still taking
place, gym club will take place afterschool
in the Sports Hall starting the week after next.

In Year 7 or 8?
Love drama?
Why not come to DRAMA CLUB on Tuesdays from 3.15 - 4pm in the drama studio??!!

I hope that you all had a lovely half term (yes even the parents!) and that you are now rested and ready for the half term ahead.

It was a great pleasure to meet Year 11 parents last Tuesday and we are grateful for the high level of support you give us. It is a fine example of succeeding together for excellence in learning.

Examinations have been the theme for our Year 11 students this week. Some students have now sat their first actual GCSE paper in Mathematics, with the second exam taking place on the 10th November. All students should be well and truly underway with their revision as the trial exams start on Monday 16th November. Students should ensure that they are aware of all their exam times and dates. I would also remind students that they are to attend exams wearing full school uniform and that they should ensure that they have the correct equipment with them for each subject.

The new cashless system in the canteen went live this Thursday. Pupils can put money into their accounts using the machines in school or cheques can be posted in the cheque box at the canteen (made payable to Flintshire County Council with the pupils name and tutor group on the reverse). There is a daily spend amount which is currently set at £3.50, this can be altered up or down with written consent from parents. This allows you to put in an amount for the week (or longer) and gives you the piece of mind knowing that the dinner money is only spent in the canteen. Thank you to everyone for making this such a smooth transition.

Simeon Molloy
Head Teacher

Humanities Trip To Chester
All  Year 8 pupils took part in a Humanities trip to Chester before half term. Pupils carried out questionnaires, land use surveys and pedestrian counts in preparation for their work in the IT room. They also visited the Cathedral (a first for many pupils). Here they looked at the symbolism within the cathedral, wrote a poem and studied the history of the Cathedral.

The behaviour of the pupils was excellent and several members of the public stopped to comment.
Well done Year 8!

Calling all budding Morris Dancers
Sharonettes Morris Dancing Troup in Buckley are looking for new dancers to join. Places are available for girls and boys of all ages. Training is on a Thursday evening at Buckley Workingmen's Club, Lane End, 5pm ‘til 8pm, depending on the age groups.
For more information, please call Sharon on 07795565507.

Year 11 English re-sit exams
Monday 9th November-Paper 1 (Periods 1 & 2)
Thursday 12th November-Paper 2 (Periods 1 & 2)
There will be an 8.00am revision session in the library on both days.
Ms R Devine

Guide Christmas Fair

Saturday 28th November 2009
1.00pm - 4.00pm

@
The Mynydd Isa Community Centre
For Mynydd Isa Guides

 The Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition

The Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition that took place before half term was fantastic. Despite the cold, wind and rain, most participants kept in high spirits, with nearly all completing the trek. Pupils will be making their final expedition in March.
Thank you to all pupils and staff for their contributions. A big thank you to Mr Rodger, Miss Matthews, Mrs Guy, Mrs Williams, Miss Saby and Miss Morgan for helping and braving the elements!!
Miss Gilsenan

Netball
Congratulations to the Year 9 Netball team, who won their match against Richard Gwyn this week.
Year 10 also played and lost narrowly by 3 goals, despite an excellent performance from all.  Well done.

Year 9 Hockey
The Tournament that was due to place on Monday 9th November has been re-scheduled to Monday 23rd November, due to the pitch being re marked.

Dear Parents,

Year 11 Pupils have returned from a wonderful trip to Toulouse. We have been keeping tabs on their progress through the Mfl ‘ning' website and it is clear that everyone had a brilliant time. There is nothing better for learning about language and culture than visiting the country. I would like to thank all the staff and pupils involved especially Mrs Holton for leading the trip and also our colleagues and pupils in France. I am sure that further news will follow both on the website and in the newsletter.

The Mexican day on Wednesday was a great success and I would like to thank all those pupils and staff who took the time and effort over their costumes, they were brilliant. I know that the radio group took photographs and interviewed people. Thank you to the canteen staff for the wonderful Mexican food they served and for their tremendous costumes (the fake moustaches were an excellent touch!).

Important Notice
The cashless system in the Canteen will ‘go live' on Thursday 5th November. On Monday and Tuesday of that week pupils will be registering on the system.

I wish you all a lovely and safe break (Year 11's don't forget to revise for your exams!).

Simeon Molloy
Headteacher

Year 10 Engineering (New Course)
I would like to say what a successful first half term my Engineers have had. Already this term, the pupils have wired a plug and started making a chain de-linker at Deeside College. In school we have disassembled and rebuilt bikes.
For the Welsh Baccalaureate part of the course pupils are planning projects with other local schools.
I am very pleased with the progress pupils have made so far and the maturity shown at college and in school .
A great start to a new exciting course! Well done!
Mrs R. Griffin

** Girls Football will restart the second week after half-term **

FOOTBALLS!
If you wish to play football at lunchtimes, you must bring your own footballs! The P.E. Department have lent out many that have been lost or not returned.

Year 9 Hockey Playnight
This is on Monday 9th November.
Those wishing to play must attend practices.

Year 11
Don't forget to revise during the holidays for your GCSE exams after half-term. Maths paper 1 is on Thursday 5th November.

My Maths Password
This has now changed. All students in Years 8 - 11 should know the new password. If you don't know it, see your Maths teacher.

Mynydd Isa Youth Club - will be open next week during half-term as usual - Monday & Wednesday 7.00 - 9.30pm.
There will be a Youth Club Open Evening on Wednesday November 4th in the Youth Wing, for parents and children to meet the Youth Club staff and see the club in action.
All years are welcome, especially years 7, 8 & 9.
Dave Butler - Mynydd Isa Youth Club

Youth Speaks
This Monday evening at the Beaufort Hotel, the finals of the Flintshire Rotary Club Public Speaking Competition took place. Teams had the daunting task of addressing a large, mainly adult audience. The Intermediate Team, who spoke movingly on the topic of gratitude will not proceed further, but the Senior Team who discussed the teaching of Shakespeare in our schools, were the Flintshire winners. They now proceed to the North Wales and Merseyside Finals.
Hope Lloyd, Katie Deyes, Shaun Dumbill, Kieron Collings, Jacob Bragg, Dominic Cawdell and Tom Blomfield were all a credit to the school.

Visiting Author
On Tuesday morning, the 3rd of November, the school is fortunate to have a second author, Dan Freedman, visiting the school. He will speak to all of Year 7 and 8 about his writing and his career as a sports journalist. Probably there will be an opportunity to buy some of his novels.