Welsh cakes, leek soup and dawnsio gwerin!
National spirit was in the air at Rydal Penrhos this week as St David’s Day celebrations inspired Prep pupils to dress up and take part in a range of exciting activities both in and outside school.
Although Rydal Penrhos teaches its curriculum through the medium of English, the school is proud of the central role Welsh language, culture and identity plays in the day-to-day life of its pupils. This encompasses so much more than just the timetabled Welsh lessons that pupils enjoy from Reception to Year 9. The prevalence of Welsh culture at Rydal Penrhos derives from an ethos that runs much deeper.
This is something that can be felt all across the school. From the singing of classic Welsh hymns like ‘Calon Lan’ in morning chapel, which reliably puts a spring in a pupils’ steps before they embark on their day, to the use of local Welsh produce as part of delicious school meals every day; the influence of our land and its history finds its way into the everyday life of all pupils.
Welsh culture at Rydal Penrhos has been in the foreground this week as pupils across the school celebrated Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, or St David’s Day, the feast day for Wales’ patron saint. In the Prep, pupils participated in an entire ‘Welsh Week’ which has seen pupils engage in a variety of activities in their lessons and extracurricular sessions…
Welsh Folk Dancing
Reception put on their dancing shoes as they tried Welsh folk dancing for the first time. Making use of the space available in the Prep’s beautiful Lyndon Library, pupils learnt the basics of ‘dawnsio gwerin’ as it is known.
Welsh folk dancing has a long and rich history that continues to this day, taking pride of place at both local and national Eisteddfod competitions. While not quite at Eisteddfod standard yet, Reception pupils picked up the dance with surprising speed, largely because they were having such good fun!
There are plenty of opportunities for our youngest pupils at the school to dance, with Pre-School pupils having the option to take part in ballet sessions with the Pre-School Manager, Miss Spencer.
Welsh Cake Making
One of Wales most loved food items is the Welsh cake, a traditional sweet bread made of flour, butter (or lard), dried fruits, eggs, milk, and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
The Welsh cake rose to popularity in the late 19th Century; today, they remain popular within Wales and the UK, served both hot and cold.
Reception tried their hand at making their own Welsh cakes on the morning of St David's Day, with pupils putting together their own individual mixture and producing four cakes to take home with them at the end of their day.
We are sure that parents who were lucky enough to try one were particularly happy with Reception's latest classroom project!
St David's Day Assembly
Morning assembly is an incredibly important time of the day at any school but particularly so in our Prep. It is a time when we both pause and get going with the day, when we reflect and also look forward. It is also a fantastic platform to deal with the major themes of the day, whether that is in school, in the wider world, or both.
St David's Day Assembly on the morning of Wednesday 1 March was all this and more. Pupils took the lead in proceedings. The Prep sung a powerful rendition of Calon Lan, among other Welsh songs, and also enjoyed an informative presentation led by their peers.
We are delighted to share some photos and videos of the assembly that really give a sense of being there!
Leek Soup Making
The leek is, alongside the daffodil, one of the most recognisable symbols of Wales.
The origins of this connection are a matter of debate. One legend suggests that King Cadwaladr of Gwynedd instructed his soldiers to wear the vegetable on their helmets in an ancient battle against the Saxons.
Another claims that St David would subsist on the vegetable alone while fasting. Year 1 and Year 2 got an insight into what this must have been like as they put their culinary skills to the test making vegetable leek soup on St David's Day.
Some delicious results ensued!
