Parish Newsletter
Newsletter message w/e 7/3/24
It has been a busy last two weeks at the school. Highlights include a wonderful whole school mass to celebrate ST David’s Day, led by Father Martin and celebrating the message of joy and faith. The school enjoyed a full day of Eisteddfod competitions with a range of wonderful contributions in the arts, languages, and physical fitness! Years 10 and 11 have an engaging performance workshop exploring elements of Personal Social Education. Congratulations to our Year 7 and 8 pupils who represented Carmarthenshire in the National gymnastics finals, achieving a bronze medal. This week saw our options evening for Year 9. Please pray that they would make wise choices for their future studies, and for Year 10 who will be sitting Mock exams in the coming week.
Newsletter message w/e/ 23/2/24
The first week after the half term saw the school focusing on two new Catholic Pupil Virtues: faith-filled and hopeful. We pray that during the Lenten period our whole school community would be inspired to grow in these virtues. Year 7 pupil undertook a wonderful visit to Our Lady Queen of Peace, where the RE department along with Father Martin explore baptism in a day-long experience at the parish church. Year 10 pupils visited Parc y Scarlets for a Careers Fair. On the weekend, our senior team will be involved in the regional finals for the Youth Speaks public speaking competition. Places remain available for pupils wishing to join us in Year 7 next year. As the only Catholic secondary school in Carmarthen, I hope you will continue to support the school and its Catholic ethos by promoting admissions to the school. Thank you for your continued prayer and support to our school community.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Exam Invigilators
ALNCO
Newsletter message w/e/ 9/2/24
This week saw pupils leave on our school trip to Pompeii, run through the Humanities Faculty. We wish staff and pupils and exciting adventure and safe travelling over this weekend. Pupils took part in an Athletics meeting in Llanelli and on a STEM visit to Coleg Sir Gar. Next week is half term; we wish all pupils and staff a restful time with their families. Places remain available for pupils wishing to join us in Year 7 next year. As the only Catholic secondary school in Carmarthen, I hope you will continue to support the school and its Catholic ethos by promoting admissions to the school. Thank you for your continued prayer and support to our school community.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Exam Invigilators
ALNCO
Newsletter message w/e/ 26/1/24
The school commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day with a moving whole school assembly led by Mrs Roberts, impeccably observed by the whole school community. Our pupils across all year groups performed outstandingly well in the recent Llanelli Cross Country Competition, winning 8 out of the 18 medals available and half of the gold medal places. Both intermediate and senior teams performed superbly at the Carmarthenshire District Rotary Youth Speaks competition. Our senior team won, going through to the next round, covering all South Wales. Year 11 have recently completed their Science GCSE practical exams. Please continue to pray for our pupils, especially those who are moving toward their key examinations.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Exam Invigilators
Newsletter message w/e/ 12/1/24
The school returned welcomed back the pupils this week, refreshed after the Christmas break. Our half-term focus is on the Catholic Pupil Profile virtues of being compassionate and loving. This week our Year 9 and 10 pupils took part in the Youth Speaks Llanelli event, hosted at SJL. Both teams were successful and will take part in the district final next week. The event produced strong contributions from all teams, and we are very proud of the quality of speeches. The school also hosted another successful parental event through the Ten Ten group exploring how to talk to our young people about pornography. Year 11 girls were involved in a netball tournament, with schools across Llanelli. Please pray for our Year 11 pupils as they prepare for their GCSE Science practical exams next week.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Exam Invigilators
Lunchtime Supervisors
Newsletter message w/e 07/12/23
Please continue to pray for the parents’ key decisions for the children’s futures and for the school as we prepare to help their transition to secondary school and promote the choice of the only Catholic secondary school in the Local Authority.
This week we welcomed in the School’s Inspectorate, Estyn, who reviewed our progress as a school since their last visit. We are grateful for their wisdom and the insights they brought to us at the school. Many thanks to the staff and pupils who represented the school superbly, as ever.
We had confirmed that our Pentre Awel design team came joint first in their design project and their ideas will go forward in the planning of the office spaces at the new build.
Please keep our Year 11 pupils in your prayers as they started their Mock Exams this week and will continue through next week.
Pupils from Year 7 and 8 took part in the Athletics meet this week, with a number successfully progress to the trials for the national finals.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Teaching Assistant
Lunchtime Supervisor Please contact the school for details
St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive Careers Site Eteach (26892)
Newsletter message w/e 23/11/23
This week saw the launch of exciting new awards at the school which will encourage and celebrate pupils’ engagement in the Catholic life of the school and parish communities. The Acutis and Frassati Awards will challenge pupils to undertake a range of activities which will enable them to serve the school and local community as well as deepening their own faith.
Please continue to pray for the parents’ key decisions for the children’s futures and for the school as we prepare to help their transition to secondary school and promote the choice of the only Catholic secondary school in the Local Authority.
This week we welcomed in the Catholic Education Service inspectorate who have completed a review of the Catholic provision at the school. We look forward to their report which will no doubt offer wisdom and be a blessing to the school as we continue to strive to follow God’s plans for us.
A group of Year 10 pupils completed their pitch for their design brief for one of the rooms at the new Pentre Awel site. They performed superbly and delivered outstanding ideas to the committee. Pupils from a range of year groups are continuing an exciting 6-week Physics mentoring programme with Aberystwyth University. Pupils also competed in the Faraday Science competition.
Finally, please keep our Year 11 pupils in your prayers as they continue their preparations for Mock Exams in 2 weeks.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Teaching Assistant
Lunchtime Supervisor
Please contact the school for details
St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive Careers Site Eteach (26892)
Newsletter message w/e 10/11/23
Please continue to pray for the parents’ key decisions for the children’s futures and for the school as we prepare to help their transition to secondary school and promote the choice of the only Catholic secondary school in the Local Authority. We began the term exploring the new Catholic Pupil Values for this half term – being attentive and discerning. Please pray for the pupils that they may grow in these values in the coming weeks.
A number of Year 10 pupils were involved in a GCHQ Language Competition throughout this week, challenging them on their knowledge of languages across the world. Pupils from a range of year groups began an exciting 6-week Physics mentoring programme with Aberystwyth University.
Finally, please keep our Year 10 pupils in your prayers as they undertake their GCSE English oral exams next week.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Teaching Assistant – Wellbeing Officer,
Teaching Assistant
Lunchtime Supervisor Please contact the school for details
St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive Careers Site Eteach (26892)
Newsletter message w/e 27/10/23
Please see eTeach website for details. Deadline Monday 6th November.
Newsletter message w/e 20/10/23
Please continue to pray for the parents’ key decisions for the children’s futures and for the school as we prepare to help their transition to secondary school and promote the choice of the only Catholic secondary school in the Local Authority. Year 9 had success in both netball and football fixtures this week. Year 7 had a talk in assembly from Kooth, an agency supporting mental health. A number of parents visited the school for a session lead by the Catholic education group Ten Ten on the issue of talking to your child about pornography, supporting our families in this challenging aspect of parenting in today’s society. This was a very positive event which we will look to run again in January.
Vacancies at St John Lloyd
Teaching Assistant, St John Lloyd, FT, Temporary to July 2024.
Data Manager, St John Lloyd, Full Time, permanent
Please see eTeach website for details.
St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive Careers Site Eteach (26892)
Newsletter message w/e 13/10/23
This week the school enjoyed a successful Open evening giving Year 5 and 6 pupils and their parents the opportunity to come into the school to visit departments and find out about our ethos. Please continue to pray for the parents key decisions for the children’s futures and for the school as we prepare to help their transition to secondary school. Meanwhile, Year 7 enjoyed a welcome Mass with Father Martin. Year 10 pupils continued to work with architects on their design brief in the Pentre Awel project and also experienced a advanced Maths session at the local college. Year 11 pupils successfully and impressively went through our senior prefect interviews. Finally the school celebrated Diwrnod Shwmae, with a range of activities to promote the use of Welsh by staff and pupils alike.
Vacancy: Teaching Assistant, St John Lloyd, FT, Temporary to July 2024. Please see eTeach website for details.
Newsletter message w/e 6/10/23
School has been busy with exciting events for the chidren in the last fortnight. Year 7 have visited The Botanical Gardens and Kidwelly Castle with the Art and Humanities Faculties. Year 10 have visited Stratford to take part in a workshop and to watch ‘Macbeth’ with the English faculty. We also celebrated European Day of Languages in style, with many staff donning cultural outfits, pupils taking part in quizzes and Father Martin entering the spirit by adding a range of languages to the celebration of our whole school mass. Please pray for the success of our upcoming Welcome Evening, which gives parents and pupils from Years 5 & 6 the opportunity to visit the school on Thursday 12th October at 6pm. We really look forward to seeing any pupils and parents from those year groups in the parish.
Newsletter message w/e 22/9/23
This week has seen the exciting launch of a number of initiatives at the school. Year 7 and 8 pupil collected their Chromebooks in a scheme to enable them to each have a device that they can use to support their learning under the new Curriculum for Wales. Also, the school became the first in Wales to launch a Young Archaeology Club. Please pray for the success of our upcoming Welcome Evening, which gives parents and pupils from Years 5 & 6 the opportunity to visit the school on Thursday 12th October at 6pm. We really look forward to seeing any pupils and parents from those year groups in the parish.
Newsletter message w/e 15/9/23
The first two weeks have seen the pupils settling in really well to the new term. Please pray in particular for our Year 7 pupils as they get used to the transition to secondary school. This half term we are developing and celebrating pupils’ values of being grateful and generous and we look forward to celebrating our first whole school mass of the new term next week. Please pray for the success of our upcoming Welcome Evening, which gives parents and pupils from Years 5 & 6 the opportunity to visit the school on Thursday 12th October at 6pm. We really look forward to seeing any pupils and parents from those year groups in the parish.
Notices – 2022/23
Newsletter message
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
We were thrilled to celebrate Ascension with a lunchtime service held by Father Martin.
We have launched a version of our termly newsletter for the parishes to read – a poster has been sent to each parish to celebrate and enjoy seeing the work done at the school.
This week saw the start of the GCSE written exams for our Year 11 pupils, the culmination of five years partnership working between staff, pupils and parents. Please could you hold the pupils in your prayers.
Our pupils are participating in the Llanelli School Athletics meet. Good luck to all involved.
Year 7 pupils were involved in Techno Camps, developing their coding skills and The Brilliant Club continued their work with some of our Year 9 pupils.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers. Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd
Newsletter message w/e 28/5/23
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
This week we shared our leavers’ assembly with Year 11, who have continued with their GCSEs this week. The celebration included the gift of the Tau Cross to each member of the year group. We ask that you hold them in your prayers as they move toward the next season of their lives and say their au revoir to St John Lloyd.
It’s been a busy week at the school, with some exciting learning opportunities for our pupils. On Tuesday, more of our Year 7 pupils explored coding through a visit from Techno Camps.
On Wednesday, pupils from Years 8 and 10 took part in a Hockey Festival, whilst a group of Year 9 attended the launch of an exciting design project at Parc Y Scarlets working with Bouygues and other schools from the local authority.
On Thursday, the Brilliant Club were in working with a group of Year 10 students. Finally on Friday, there was a trip to the Hay Festival with Year 8. Also, following a number of successes at the Llanelli meet last week, a large group of pupils from across the year groups were competing in the Dyfed athletics competition. Pob lwc to all!
We will be on our half term break next week. Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd
Newsletter message w/e 9/6/23
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
This week our Year 10 and 11 pupils have been undertaking GCSE exams and our Year 7 and 8 pupils their summer assessments. Please continue to hold them in your prayers.
In assembly this week, we celebrated the values of Eloquence and Truthfulness, awarding the success of a Year 7 pupil on his first place in the Urdd for writing and delivering a speech in Welsh on his thoughts on technology.
We also acknowledged and prayerfully supported 40 Year 10 pupils who are taking over as the new prefect team. We were thrilled to see so many of our pupils volunteering to undertake leadership roles in the school.
A number of our pupils competed in the Dyfed Athletics Championships again this week.
Also, we welcomed Halfway Primary school for a hockey event as part of our transition work. Mrs Roberts, Head of transition has been visiting many of our primary schools this week to help prepare the pupils transferring to us next year. We ask that you hold the pupils and their families in your prayers as they make the transition to secondary school.
Year 7 enjoyed a visit from a member of the local community and his help who spoke to them about his eyesight loss and life with a guide dog.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd
Newsletter message w/e 16/6/2023
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
On Thursday 29th June, we will hold an Open Evening for Year 4 and 5 parents to visit and see the school. We warmly invite you to come along to support the Catholic education provided by the school.
This week our Year 10 and 11 pupils have been undertaking GCSE exams. Please continue to hold them in your prayers.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive
Newsletter message w/e 23/6/2023
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
On Thursday 29th June, we will hold an Open Evening for Year 4 and 5 parents to visit and see the school. We warmly invite you to come along to support the Catholic education provided by the school.
This week our Year 10 and 11 pupils completed the last of their GCSE exams. Thank you for your prayerful support for them and their families.
This week saw a number of visits from our local primary schools on a series of Year 5 taster days, enabling pupils to experience St John Lloyd ahead of the applications for secondary schools next year. This week we welcomed Dafen Primary, Halfway Primary, Model School, St Mary’s, Carmarthen and Pentip. In addition, some of our Year 6 pupils with additional learning needs came for transition day to help them familiarise themselves with life in a secondary school.
Some of our Year 10 pupils undertook their first visit to Coleg Sir Gar for a ‘Crime Scene to Courtroom’ project. Whist others continued their work on the exciting Inspire Project, enabling our youngsters to experience team building activities.
In a busy week for Year 10, our GCSE Geography students undertook a two-day fieldtrip visit as part of their studies.
On the sporting front, our athletes undertook another meet in Carmarthen on Friday.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive
Newsletter message w/e 30/6/2023
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
This Thursday we held our Open Evening for Year 4 and 5 parents to visit and see the school.
This week saw a number of visits from our local primary schools on a series of Year 5 taster days, enabling pupils to experience St John Lloyd ahead of the applications for secondary schools next year. This week we welcomed Dafen Primary, Halfway Primary, Model School, St Mary’s, Carmarthen and Pentip. In addition, some of our Year 6 pupils with additional learning needs came for transition day to help them familiarise themselves with life in a secondary school.
Some of our Year 10 pupils undertook the second visit to Coleg Sir Gar for a ‘Crime Scene to Courtroom’ project. Whist others continued their work on the exciting Inspire Project, enabling our youngsters to experience team building activities.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive
Newsletter message w/e 30/6/2023
Welcome to our weekly update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
This Thursday we held our Open Evening for Year 4 and 5 parents to visit and see the school.
This week saw a number of visits from our local primary schools on a series of Year 5 taster days, enabling pupils to experience St John Lloyd ahead of the applications for secondary schools next year. This week we welcomed Dafen Primary, Halfway Primary, Model School, St Mary’s, Carmarthen and Pentip. In addition, some of our Year 6 pupils with additional learning needs came for transition day to help them familiarise themselves with life in a secondary school.
Some of our Year 10 pupils undertook the second visit to Coleg Sir Gar for a ‘Crime Scene to Courtroom’ project. Whist others continued their work on the exciting Inspire Project, enabling our youngsters to experience team building activities.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive
Newsletter message w/e 10/7/2023
Welcome to our update from St John Lloyd Catholic, Llanelli.
The last fortnight has been a busy time at SJL. We were able to celebrate the successes of our students in an Awards evening on Thursday 6th July. The event was marked with typical sagacity and humour from our guest speaker Fr Martin Donnelly.
Many exciting school events have been enjoyed by the pupil – Year 10 undertook a visit to Swansea University to undertake practical experiments; they also had the chance to carry out mock interviews with a range of external volunteers from local businesses; Year 7 enjoyed a languages afternoon. We also had a visit from Total Food Marketing who explored the world of food marketing, including a taster session! At time of writing, we are due to celebrate Sports Day this week, though the weather may intervene. Pray blessings on a suitable alternative!
Year 9 pupils undertook a pilgrimage visit to St David’s this Thursday. Thanks to all who made the day a blessing.
We also welcomed our new intake from Year 6 on a day-long visit. Please continue to pray for them as the take the step into secondary school.
Thank you for your ongoing prayerful support for our Catholic school community – parents, pupils and staff. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Andrew Hurley, Headteacher, St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive
