Pupils are on song to celebrate Welsh Language Charter success / Disgyblion yn canu i ddathlu llwyddiant y Siarter Iaith Gymraeg

Welsh-medium schools from across Neath Port Talbot have held a one-day festival to celebrate their achievements in promoting the wider use of the language during the past academic year.

The schools have all signed up to the Welsh Language Charter, a Welsh Government initiative which aims to increase children and young people’s social use of Welsh and to inspire them to use the language in every aspect of their lives.

As part of the charter schools will have the opportunity to win bronze, silver and gold awards through the activities of their entire school, including pupils, staff, parents, governors, the school council and the wider community.

At the event, which was hosted by Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, 11 schools were presented with their silver awards and took part in sports and music activities.

The festival ‘Gig Tanio’r Ddraig’ saw eleven of the county borough’s schools, plus one from Powys, join together to perform a song which was written especially for the event.

‘Tanio’r Ddraig’ was composed by singer Mei Gwynedd who has been working with the schools since June and joined them at the festival to lead the performance. Also appearing onstage were popular Welsh-language acts ‘Mellt’ and the rapper Ed Holden (aka Mr Phormula).

The schools’ achievements were praised by Cllr Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, who said: “Our Welsh-medium schools play a key role in safeguarding and promoting the language within the county borough and so I am very pleased to see the progress they have made in the past year under the Welsh Language Charter”.

“Raising the standard of pupils’ spoken Welsh will also have a positive effect on their educational attainment and as part of our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan the Council is always seeking ways to promote the use of Welsh outside the classroom in a way that appeals to pupils and their interests.”

Disgyblion yn canu i ddathlu llwyddiant y Siarter Iaith Gymraeg

Mae ysgolion Cymraeg yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot wedi cynnal gŵyl undydd i ddathlu eu llwyddiannau wrth hybu defnydd ehangach o’r iaith yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd ddiwethaf.

Mae’r ysgolion i gyd wedi cofrestru ar gyfer y Siarter Iaith, menter gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy’n ceisio cynyddu defnydd o’r Gymraeg ymhlith pobl ifanc a phlant a’u hysbrydoli i ddefnyddio’r iaith ym mhob agwedd ar eu bywydau.

Fel rhan o’r siarter, bydd ysgolion yn cael y cyfle i ennill gwobrau efydd, arian ac aur drwy weithgareddau ysgol gyfan, sy’n cynnwys disgyblion, staff, rhieni, llywodraethwyr, y cyngor ysgol a’r gymuned ehangach.

Yn y digwyddiad, a gynhaliwyd gan Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, cyflwynwyd y wobr arian i 11 o ysgolion, a chymerodd yr ysgolion ran mewn gweithgareddau chwaraeon a cherddoriaeth.

Roedd 11 o ysgolion y fwrdeistref sirol, yn ogystal ag un ysgol o Bowys yn bresennol yn yr ŵyl, o’r enw ‘Gig Tanio’r Ddraig’. Daethant at ei gilydd i berfformio cân a gyfansoddwyd yn arbennig ar gyfer y digwyddiad.

Cafodd ‘Tanio’r Ddraig’ ei chyfansoddi gan y canwr Mei Gwynedd, sydd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’r ysgolion ers mis Mehefin ac ymunodd â nhw yn yr ŵyl i arwain y perfformiad. Hefyd ar y llwyfan roedd y perfformwyr Cymraeg poblogaidd ‘Mellt’ a’r rapiwr Ed Holden (a adwaenir hefyd fel Mr Phormula).

Rhoddwyd canmoliaeth i lwyddiannau’r ysgol gan y Cyng. Peter Rees, Aelod y Cabinet dros Addysg, Sgiliau a Diwylliant. Meddai, “Mae ein hysgolion Cymraeg yn chwarae rôl allweddol wrth ddiogelu a hybu’r iaith yn y fwrdeistref sirol, felly rwy’n falch iawn o weld y cynnydd y maent wedi’i wneud dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf dan y Siarter Iaith .”

“Bydd gwella safon Cymraeg lafar y disgyblion hefyd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar eu cyrhaeddiad addysgol ac fel rhan o’n Cynllun Strategol y Gymraeg mewn Addysg, mae’r cyngor bob amser yn chwilio am ffyrdd i hybu defnydd o’r Gymraeg y tu allan i’r dosbarth mewn ffordd sy’n apelio at ddisgyblion a’u diddordebau.”