We recieved a very warm welcome from Pontardawe Welsh Medium Primary School at their summer fair. Despite the rain many parents and pupils came to support their school. Eifion Price from the folk group Jac Y Do joined us at the school to entertain the children with some folk dancing

Young children learn languages easily. They absorb language like a sponge absorbs water. That the Welsh Language Board’s message with this project. Menter Iaith has been working with TWF on this exciting project. We have been visiting baby clinics to give parents information about the advantages of raising children bilingually and Welsh medium education emphasizing the that bilingualism isn’t exclusive to the children of Welsh speaking parents. Book Start will be holding special sessions at the libraries during the National Book Week and we will be visiting those sessions to chat to the parents.

SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN AND GAMES! SUMMER 2007
for children age 8-12
at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe and
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Castell-nedd

Sport, Art & Craft, Swimming

Tuesday – Thursday 9.00a.m. – 3.30p.m.
The children will be supervised lunch times
£6 a day (£5 more than one child)
or £15 paid in advance

24 – 26 July
31 July – 2 August

To register or for further information
01792 864949

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

It’s been a very busy month for Menter Iaith with The Welsh Language Board’s Welsh-Kids Soak It Up! campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to promote Welsh language medium education and to show non-Welsh speaking parents that their children are welcome to go to Welsh medium schools. We were targeting families with children three years old and younger because young children’s minds are like sponges, absorbing the Welsh language whilst learning Welsh as an adult is much harder. We had goodies from The Welsh Language Board to give to parents which included a sponge, bib, coloring book and crayons all in an eco friendly reusable cotton bag.
He have been working with TWF, visiting baby clinics in Pontardawe, Neath, Port Talbot, Skewen and Neath Port Talbot Hospital. We also visited Book Start sessions at libraries during the National Book Week. Getting out of the office to meet the babies and parents of the county was a pleasure and many were eager to learn more about Welsh medium education.
We had a very successful day at Boots in Neath. The Welsh Language Board had arranged for a photographer to be present to take pictures of children three years old and younger for free. Many parents came over to get a free photo of their child and to chat to us about Welsh medium education. On the 27th of February we spent the day at the Aberavan Shopping Center giving away our KSIU goodies to parents and talking to them about the advantages of Welsh medium education. We are very grateful to Bethan Williams from Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, Emma Francis from The Welsh Language Board, Patsy Bracewell o TWF and Rosfa the magician for helping us on the day. Rosfa was entertaining the children, parents and staff during the day! It was a fun filled day and we managed to speak to about 250 parents about Welsh medium education.

Picture Above:
Aberavon Shopping Centre
Awel Davies(Menter Iaith), Patsy Bracewell(TWF), Alun Pugh (Menter Iaith), Emma Francis (Bwrdd yr Iaith), Bethan Williams (Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin)

Picture Below:
Boots, Neath

The doors of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Castell-nedd and Pontardawe were opened to Menter Iaith once again this summer for Play Schemes, thanks to head teachers Mr Tudur Jones, Mrs Myfanwy Rees and their school governors.

The play schemes ran for six days from 24 July – 2 August 2007 under the leadership of Rhys Evans, Andrew Lewis and Emily Cole at Neath and Lowri James, Rhodri Pugh and Rhodri Phillips at Pontardawe with invaluable assistance from volunteers Catrin Heledd Richards, Rhodri Ross, Steffan Pugh and Rhian and Sian Jones. This year the response was excellent with up to 50 children attending the scheme on a daily basis at Neath and up to 35 at Pontardawe.

During the six days the children had the opportunity to take part in numerous activities including traditional games and of course the very popular Cyber Café. The children also had the opportunity to visit our art and craft room, where a few master pieces were created, some good enough to hang on the wall of any art gallery in the world!

Thanks to the vision of our National Assembly, the children were able to swim at Dyfed Road, Neath and Pontardawe Swimming Pools free of charge on Thursdays during the two weeks.

Menter Iaith Castell-nedd Port Talbot would like to thank the children and parents of both schools for their support once again. Thanks also must go to the staff and volunteers for being so professional in their work and for giving the children the best possible care and enjoyment during the summer holidays.

February of this year saw a group of young people come together to enjoy and interact through the medium of Welsh. It was time once again for Menter Iaith Castell Nedd Port Talbot to run one of its successful play schemes during half term. This time saw a partnership between Menter Iaith Castell Nedd and Menter Dyffryn Aman running the play scheme in the Cwmtawe area.

The holiday play scheme was held at Neuadd Cwmllynfell Hall. Besides holding the play scheme over half term, this multi-functional building runs many activities, various classes and hosts numerous events. The Menter’s staff were delighted with the hall and its excellent facilities. Menter Iaith would like to offer a big thanks to Martin Harris (Hall Manager) and the Hall’s committee for their generosity and support during the half term.

A lovely cross section of young people attended the play scheme from the villages of Cwmllynfell, Rhiwfawr, Cefn Bryn Brain, Ystradowen and even Cwmtwrch. The play scheme leaders were delighted to see young people from different schools and different villages working, having fun and interacting so well with each other.

There were numerous fun activities held during the three days of the play scheme. They played plenty of indoor games, football and touch rugby. Arts and crafts sessions were held, they had numerous competitions from pool competitions, dance competitions and various playstation games competitions. The young people were lucky enough to have an illustration workshop from Sarah Jones who has graduated in illustration. To close the play scheme they watched a film of their choice on a big screen in the hall.

Rhys and Lisa (play scheme leaders) were delighted to see several familiar faces returning to the play scheme once again and were equally happy to see new faces and new friends. They would like to thank everyone who attended and all who supported the play scheme.

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.