A Pembrokeshire school marked its 190th birthday with a series of special events.
Ysgol Casblaidd, formerly known as St Dogwells School, has been celebrating the milestone with activities that allow pupils to experience life in a Victorian-era school.
The highlights of this celebration included a ‘Victorian Day’ where the school transformed itself to function like it did in 1841.
This day provided students with a genuine glimpse into the school day during the Victorian era, complete with lessons taught in silence, chanting times tables, and having lunch in the classroom.
Children were seen and not heard, with the playtime activities of hopscotch and tag reflecting the simpler times.
The afternoon saw boys participating in ‘Drills’ for their physical education lesson, while girls were taught sewing.
The pupils played their roles so well that they described the day as ‘bythgofiadwy’, a day they will never forget.
Another part of the celebration was the Harvest Service.
This year, the service focused on giving thanks for Ysgol Casblaidd and its community.
Pen y Bont Chapel was filled with the school children who performed admirably by singing, reading, and acting sketches from the past.
The school also opened its doors on Saturday, October 19, to pupils, families, and community members, past and present.
Former teachers, headteachers, and governors came together to share memories and stories over tea, coffee, and cake.
Mrs Harries, the oldest member of the community who attended Ysgol Casblaidd, shared a few words, adding a personal touch to the gathering.
On October 22, the school welcomed artist Rhys Padarn Jones to help students design a mural that captured the school’s history with a modern twist.
The pupils also created a commemorative tea towel as part of the celebrations.
The busy half term concluded with a school community trip to St Fagans.
All students, families, and staff spent a delightful day at the museum where the children experienced a lesson in the Victorian school.
The PFA organised a birthday disco at Letterston Memorial Hall, complete with a birthday cake and the school’s birthday song sung multiple times.
Looking ahead, as 2024 draws to a close, the school plans to plant a tree for each pupil to commemorate this significant occasion.