BBC1 Wales 10.40pm Monday 28th/Tuesday 29th November
Recently three Ysgol Dewi Sant pupils: Tommy Reynolds, Sarah Jenkins and Ewan Miles had the opportunity to fly across the world to take part in a documentary for the BBC about education in South Korea. This is their story:
“Students in Korea spend 19 years in education, not a minimum of 16, and are still required to give a year to the armed forces in national service. They spend their
school lives working toward KSATs – the Korean equivalent of A-Levels – which help students get into prestigious colleges and universities, which to them is the ultimate goal.
Gangnam, where we stayed, was beautiful; the rich part of Seoul; a luxurious place. We each stayed with a student counterpart of similar ability and personality, attending school and sampling the young Korean lifestyle.
Three full days were spent in school and we stayed with our host families for four nights from Tuesday until Saturday morning, when we visited the Palace in Seoul and had a beautiful send-off. Sarah attended Suhmoon Girls School, Tommy and Ewan the prestigious Dankook University School. Coeducation is uncommon. Days are long and lessons many. Korean students don’t select, instead they take most subjects through their whole school career – including English, Korean, Maths A and B, Korean History, Music, Science.
Typically students start school at 8 am and finish at 4 pm. Lateness incurs chores such as cleaning the classroom for a month – no exaggeration. After school they may spend hours in a library studying and doing homework or return to the self-study room at school until as late as 11. Go home, shower, sleep, rinse, repeat. It’s tough.
In Korea education is well-funded and school principals have absolute power. Teachers have the social status of doctors and are highly respected. It was reflected in school where kids were disciplined, worked hard, and saw teachers as mentors and key figures in their lives. However, surprisingly, teachers and students often have great banter with each other, which is a lovely if unexpected thing. Students appreciate school, they value their education, perhaps more than Westerners do.
There are a few things we could take away from their system, but we felt in the end they lose out. So much time is spent on academia and they don’t have access to extra-curricular activities like we do.
The guys we met, really funny and kind as they were, were quite immature as a result of not going to school side by side with girls, and devoting all of their spare time to either study or video games.
In summary: it was an exceedingly amazing opportunity, a massively interesting experience. We stayed with some lovely people, tasted some exquisite food and had a truly magnificent time.”

Pictures BBC

Sat 3rd & Sun 4th Dec: St Aidans annual Christmas Tree festival. if you would like to enter, please contact Sam Probert or Helen Phillips. The church will be open all weekend for people to come and see and vote for the different entries.
The festival will close with a Christmas concert featuring the Goodwick Community Brass Band on the 4th December from 6 pm. Tickets £5 (Children free) and available from any PCC member.
Sunday 18th December: @ 6pm Nine lessons
and carols – St Aidans Solva.
Saturday 24th December: @ 11.45pm
Midnight mass – St Aidans Solva.
Sunday 25th December: @ 11.15am
Christmas Eucharist – St Davids Whitchurch.

Tuesday 6th December from 5.30 to 7.30 pm.
Festive Treats and Special Offers. Please support Solva Businesses!
Get in the festive spirit and support local businesses. A really lovely social evening plus a chance to see and purchase unique gift ideas – a bit different from the usual High Street offerings!
Window on Wales – Mulled wine and special offers
Shalom – Christmas cards
Oriel Fach – Spiced cider
Sail Loft Gallery – Special offers plus Christmas trees on sale
Vermillion – locally made gifts
Harbour Inn – 25% off grills plus Tony’s Bingo
Ship Inn – Launching “fabulous food factory” children’s menu at £3.25, plus complimentary snacks for grown-ups!

Parc y Capel committee’s annual Christmas Carol singing will be held on Wednesday 14th December at 5.30 pm in Parc y Capel, around the Christmas tree. All welcome!
Mulled wine and mince pies (alternative refreshments available) will be served in the
Memorial Hall. We hope that Father Christmas will also be there! (If the weather is
not suitable the whole event will be held in the Hall).

Presents:
Thu 5 Jan: “Captain Fantastic” (PG) Drama
Thu 2 Feb: “Café Society” (12A) Romantic comedy
Thu 2 Mar: “Bridget Jones’s Baby” (15) Romantic comedy
Cinema Tickets: Adults: £5.00; Under 18’s: £3.50
Doors open: 7.00 pm / Show: 7.30 pm

Arranged jointly by St Aidans Church and Capel Ucha’, in aid of SHELTER, will take
place on Thursday 15th December at 7.00 pm in Capel Ucha’.
Please support this worthy cause.

November draw results:
1st prize £50 No.23 Maggie McKenzie
2nd prize £30 No.107 Moira Johnston
3rd prize £20 No.10 Rhian Perry