Photos and news from schools in Flintshire and Wrexham

If you would like to feature anything from your school, you can share with us direct here or email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk

Gwenfro Community Primary School, Wrexham

Cast of The Sleepy Shepherd at Gwenfro CP School.

Cast of The Sleepy Shepherd at Gwenfro CP School.

Year 1 and 2 pupils got into the festive spirit by performing The Sleepy Shepherd for their families.

Ysgol Ty Ffynnon, Deeside

Emma Griffiths, who took part in an event at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Emma Griffiths, one of the Flintshire school's pupils plays in the Wirral Youth Brass band, and recently took part in a performance at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

The aim of the event was to raise funds for the NSPCC. Other events also took part and the whole evening raised more than £15,000.

The school community is very proud Emma took part in this worthwhile event.

Sofia and her winning Anti-Bullying Week poster.

The School Council organised a poster competition during Anti-Bullying Week. Sofia won competition by designing a brilliant poster to promote the event. She was very pleased her poster will be displayed around school and she won a prize.

Ysgol Bro Alun, Gwersyllt

The oak tree planted at Ysgol Bro Alun for their 10th anniversary.

As part of the Wrexham school's 10th anniversary celebrations, Years 1 and 2 had a planting party. Parents joined them to celebrate the milestone by burying a time capsule filled with photographs and letters from the children.

They also planted an oak tree which they can watch grow over the next decade and will be a part of the school's history forever.

Ysgol Mynydd Isa

The chest of books to choose from at Ysgol Mynydd Isa.

The school has been welcoming a special furry guest each week, as part of its reading initiative.

Each year, there are new development priorities at the Flintshire primary school, and this year it is to encourage children to read and make sure they enjoy reading.

This has seen author assemblies at the school and now regular visits from a dog!

Reading aloud with Penny, and Jenny Sullivan, during a session at Ysgol Mynydd Isa.

Teacher Angela O'Donnell-Roberts said: "Each class is running their own initiatives to encourage pupils to enjoy reading. One of the parents from our class has a therapy dog called Penny and has started coming in to listen to a group of Year 5 and 6 pupils every Friday.

"Penny does some tricks for the children as a reward for good reading.

"We have a weekly challenge for the class to meet, with points for reading a home marked in pupils' reading diaries.

"If they can meet the challenge set, the class can choose a reward. The last one chosen was a game of hide and seek."

The group of Ysgol Mynydd Isa pupils with visiting therapy dog Penny.

Parent Jenny Sullivan brings sheepdog Penny to a weekly reading session, and provides a fun twist that encourages the youngsters with their reading.

Jenny said: "I've worked with dogs for six years, my daughter Willow is at the school and I thought 'what can I do to help?'. So I combined children and dogs.

"Penny is a 'joy dog', she brings happiness and she spreads happiness."

Reading aloud during a session at Ysgol Mynydd Isa.

During the session, pupils read aloud from a chosen book, moving on to the next reader each time Penny barks.

Willow Brow, nine, loves having her dog in school, and says it has made her enjoy reading more. Her favourite book is The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

Eleven-year-old Codie Dodd, who has a miniature dachshund at home, said: "It's very exciting having Penny in school. I enjoy reading aloud and like to do the activities with her afterwards.

"My favourite book is George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl."

Ysgol Rhiwabon, Wrexham

Students at Ysgol Rhiwabon organised a charity footbal match.

Year 8 students have been working on a project to raise money for charity. This can take lots of different forms and students have chosen to fundraise for a range of different causes.

One group of students decided to join together with their football team and host a charity match in order to fundraise for Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Kailun Magness, Louie Anderson, Rocco Evans, Ollie-Jay Binnersley and Noah Thomas.

The group of boys, led by Rocco Evans, organised the match including:

• booking the pitch

• producing posters to advertise the match

• organising the players and referee

• asking for donations from the spectators.

The boys have so far raised a total of £70 and they are still collecting donations.

Ysgol Rhiwabon's tree at the Festival of Christmas Trees at St Mary's Church.

The school also took part in Ruabon's Festival of Christmas Trees at St Mary's Church. The festival sees village community groups of all sizes decorating a tree to spread festive cheer.

The decorations for Ysgol Rhiwabon's tree were made by students from Years 7 Year 8 in their design and technology lessons, with each one featuring the meaning of Christmas to each child.

The annual school and community carol concert will be held in St Mary’s Church, Ruabon, on Thursday, December 14.

Start time is 7pm, people are advised to arrive early to ensure their seat.

Mountain Lane Primary School, Buckley

AN MS was beamed straight into the classroom of the Flintshire school as part of an "innovative" outreach programme.

Llyr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales in the Senedd, had a wide-ranging discussion with Year 5 pupils from Mountain Lane, as part of the Digital Dialogue project.

During the video conference call, organised by not-for-profit and, non-partisan organisation, The Politics Project, the pupils discussed topics such as air pollution, single use vapes and 20mph zones.

Digital Dialogue events are 45 minute to one hour long video calls between politicians and their student constituents, and are one of the key components of social enterprise The Politics Project's Digital Dialogue: Wales programme.

It is run in schools across Wales and equips students with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in politics and in their local communities.

The programme is designed to give young people a voice letting them have direct conversations with their political representatives about issues that matter to them.

In preparation for the session pupils at Mountain Lane took part in workshops.

Llyr Gruffydd and Mountain Lane Primary School pupils during the The Politics Project.

These focused on helping them understand what the Senedd is, how Members represent them and how to construct questions while improving their confidence in public speaking.

Llyr said: "The digital age makes it possible to directly engage with constituents in new ways.

"It's important that we use all the tools at our disposal to ensure that young people are engaged with the democratic process in Wales.

"That's why I was very pleased to take part in the Digital Dialogue session with pupils from Mountain Lane Primary School.

"I would like to thank The Politics Project for arranging this innovative event, the aim of which was to demonstrate to young people that they have an important voice and how they can use it.

"The pupils at Mountain Lane Primary School asked incisive questions and made thoughtful contributions that would not be out of place on the floor of the Senedd.

"It is evident that they care a great deal about the issues that affect their communities and how democratic engagement can be harnessed to improve people's lives."

A spokesperson for The Politics Project said: "Thank you to Llyr Gruffydd MS and the learners and teachers at Mountain Lane Primary School for an excellent Digital Dialogue.

"The questions prepared were fantastic and It was great to see young people engaged in local issues such as vandalism and littering.

"The Politics Project wants to make sure that during their time at school every young person can have the chance to have a meaningful conversation with a politician and build positive relationships.

"We really appreciate Llyr's support in helping us achieve that aim."

The Politics Project specialises in youth democratic education, that empowers teachers to help young people find, and use their political voice.

The Digital Dialogue: Wales programme is a political literacy initiative, developed by The Politics Project and funded by the Welsh Government.

For more information about The Politics Project please visit: www.thepoliticsproject.org.uk