Children from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tyle'r Ynn visiting the S4C Grotto in Neath on Monday evening, 5th December.

The doors of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe were opened to the Menter Iaith once again for our Summer Playscheme 2005, thanks to head teacher Mrs Myfanwy Rees and the school governors.

The playscheme ran for six days 26-28 July and 2-4 August 2005 under the leadership of Rhys Evans and Leanne Brinn with technical assistance from Rhodri Pugh and volunteers Catrin Heledd Richards, Rhys Lloyd Davies, Steffan Pugh, Sarah Thomas a Lisa Evans. The response was very good with approximately 60 children attending the scheme.

During the six days the children took part in numerous activities. All types of traditional games and for the first time a chance to try the Menter Iaith Cyber Café which has been very popular in other schools the Menter Iaith has visited. The children also had the opportunity to visit the art and craft room, where a few master pieces were created, good enough to hang on the wall of any art gallery in the world!

Thanks to the vision of our National Assembly, the children had the chance of swimming at Pontardawe Swimming Pool free of charge on Thursdays during the two weeks.

A big thank you to the children and parents of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe for their support once again. Thanks also must go to the staff and volunteers for being so professional in their work and for giving all the children the best possible care. Well done to you all.

The Menter Iaith summer play scheme was held in Pontardawe Welsh Primary School for 4 weeks from 28 July to 22 August. We had a good response and by the end of the scheme there we over 100 children's names on the register

After a very succesful playscheme in Pontardawe it was time for Menter Iaith to move on to the next playscheme, this time in Neath. The playscheme was held at Ysgol Gymraeg Castell Nedd, and Menter Iaith would like to hugely thank Mrs P Jones, the schools headmistress, for her generousity for allowing Menter Iaith to use the school as the playscheme’s location.

As in Pontardawe, the playscheme in Neath was a great success. Attendances were high on a daily bases which kept the playscheme’s staff on their toes every day! It was lovely to see so many young people playing, working and enjoying together and all through the medium of Welsh.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the numerous activities during the fortnight. They enjoyed ativities such as creating muriels, using he cybercaff, played loads of games and sports, created drama’s, art work, dancing and much much more. Some of the activities had to be done indoors because they had to shelter from the weather now and again…..no not to shelter from the rain but from the blistering sun for a change!! The children went swimming twice during the playscheme in Neath swimming pool and one of the highlights for them was when they shared the pool with the lion and Welshman Gavin Henson! All of the children had a great time and said that they couldn’t wait for the playscheme next summer.

Menter Iaith would like to thank everyone who supported the playscheme especially the young people that attended.

Menter Iaith Castell-nedd Port Talbot, the Welsh language initiative, organised a project to encourage pupils to think about the environment.
On the 15 October the Menter's Project Officer with an Officer from BTCV went to Cwmllynfell Primary School to work with 15 children building bird boxes and planting bulbs.