#LoveOurColleges week draws to a close with a focus on how further education colleges have responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s been a challenging year, however we are proud of how students, staff and families adapted to a different way of living and learning, whether that be at college or home.
We all embraced technology, getting to grips with Zoom and Teams. We set up a home learning resources page on our website, and kept up regular correspondence to families to make sure everyone was coping as well as possible in difficult circumstances. Students kept up their pathway learning and practised their independence skills at home, gardening, cooking, cleaning and keeping fit.
Staff created videos to teach new skills such as learning Welsh, signing to songs, learning dances and creating mocktails or trying out new sports.
Many of our usual events couldn’t take place in the usual way but that didn’t stop us coming together virtually for Sports Week, a pet show, Prom, skills competitions, and weekly Zoom funs and games.
Some students and staff even took part in Derwen LEJOG, a virtual charity challenge to walk the length of Britain through August.
We held Summer and Autumn Open Day virtually.
Welcome back
We were delighted to welcome most of our students back in September, and have reopened our Garden Centre Shop and Garden Cafe.
Whilst some of our work placements are unavailable at the moment, we have been creative in thinking of new ways to support work experience. A new Tip Top Take Out service offering staff a lunch menu has been especially popular, It provides Hospitality and Housekeeping students with catering and front of house experience whilst treating staff to a delicious home-cooked meal or light bite.
We look forward to welcoming students back safely after their half term break, and with the confidence that we can carry on rising to the challenges to provide outstanding provision for our outstanding students.
We’d like to round off an inspiration #LoveOurColleges week with a message from our Principal Meryl Green.
