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A year of Celebration and opportunity

Phoenix Rising from the ashes. A very poignant moment

In July Bedwellty Comprehensive School is due to close its doors for the last time. The school was first opened in 1921 as Maesycymmer later moving to its current site in Aberbargoed in 1937. However, it is hoped that the spirit of Bedwellty will live on in a remote region of Uganda.

Over the past few years the pupils of Bedwellty have supported Ezra - a local charity. Ezra ? meaning hope in Hebrew, has been trying to build a school in the Uganda. The King?s Primary School in Mbale, was opened earlier this year and is providing education for living for the youngsters in this very deprived area of Uganda. Its pupils are mainly orphans of the recent insurgence, or of diseases such as cholera, malaria and AIDs. Ezra has also drilled a borehole for fresh water and considerably reduced the risk of Cholera and other water bourn diseases, so the whole village benefits.

Harvest Festival

Bedwellty also used the occasion of the Harvest Service to collect small toys and toiletries to send to the children as Christmas presents

Presenting the plaque

Mary Griffiths and Sally Hyman Headteacher with the Phoenix Plaque to be sent to Uganda

Surplus equipment

The pupils of Bedwellty decided to send their surplus furniture, equipment, books and sports kit out to Uganda. The Ugandan children have nothing, if they want a game of football they have to first weave the ball out of grass, the ball rarely survives the game!

Remembrance Service

The Roll of Honour commemorates those pupils and staff who dies for their country. This service, the last at Bedwellty, was very moving and was attended by representatives of the Governors, Sursum, The Royal Britsh Legion, the Army Cadets and the school.
The Roll of Honour will be transferred later this year.

Raising Money for Ezra

To co-incide with Children in Need Day, the school organised its annual Ezra Fund Raising event. A concert and games in the school hall in the morning and a disco in the afternoon. The teachers entertained the pupils throughout the morning -for a price! Over £900 was raised on the day

Bedwellty's generosity and its attitude to closure saluted

Container arrives at the Kings' School Uganda

The whole village turned out to help unload and take the contents into the school. Apparently they were delighted with what we sent - there were floods of tears of joy. They worked into the night to unload and put the stuff away.

Tables and Chairs

Tables and Chairs are unloaded just in time for the start of the new intake of pupils.

At last a real football to play with

Pupils now have proper sport equipment to play with. Bedwellty sent out footballs, rugby balls, hockey sticks and tennis rackets. The football was a huge success straigh away

Presents at the start of the new term

The container was delayed on route and did not arrive as planned in time for Cristmas. However, the container did arrive in time for the start of the new term and all the pupils and staff had their presents from Bedwellty pupils.

presents

Delighted

SURSUM REUNION Maes Manor Hotel - contact Sursum via school

Maes Manor Hotel - contact Sursum via school

Project Phoenix - Can you help? Raise a team to join the bowlathon

Project Phoenix
(Keeping the Bedwellty spirit alive in Africa)

01.03.05


Dear Friends
Re. Ezra sponsored bowlathon, Monday 18th April 2005

Following our previous, successful, sponsored bowlathons, Mr. Wayne Denison (manager) of Hollywood Bowl in Cardiff Bay has kindly given us permission to hold another one on Monday18th April. We have been donated four lanes again, from 12 noon to midnight .

Once again, we aim to have teams of six people bowling for an allocated one hour slot. If there is no team following immediately afterwards, the current team can continue bowling for another hour. The quieter times last year were during the day and after 10pm..

Each team member will be expected to raise at least £20 in sponsorship. This will ensure we raise £120 per team. However, this is not carved in stone and obviously there will be leeway. Individuals who cannot get a full team can come along and join other individuals to make up a team.

Come and join the fun! Photos will be on site to show the school progress; what the money was spent on last time and what it will be spent on this time.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are able to raise one or more teams; which time slot you would like and how many sponsor forms you require.

Should you require any further information, please contact me at the above address.

Yours sincerely,
Mary Griffiths
(Charity leader and ex Bedwellty pupil)

A small party of former Bedwellty pupils and staff along with Ezra and a couple of volunteer teacher

Amy and Becca former Bedwellty pupils and Sally Hyman the former Headteacher joined Mary and Alwyn from Ezra and their niece Nicole, plus Jean and John volunteer treacher trainers to travel to Bunabutye to the King's School to help.

The Fence

Part of the project had been to collect enough funds to build a security fence around the school