Last Thursday, 10th March 2022, the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan and the Lord Mayor of Swansea visited Sketty Primary school to plant a tree for the Queen's Canopy as part of the Queen's Jubilee and to celebrate Swansea being a Queen's Canopy "Champion city".

Our special visitors were given a tour of the school by Head teacher Mrs Bev Phillips; Vice Chair of Governors, Mr Paul Mort; one of our school Governors Mrs Emma Laycock; and Chair of the PTA Mr Tom Basset. Also present were Sketty Primary School Councillors and Rights Respecting School Ambassadors.

The dignitaries met all the pupils and staff at Sketty Primary School. The Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff and Lord Mayor are all women, so it was fantastic for them to visit on the week of International Women's Day 2022.

After our special visitors had planted the tree for the Queen's Jubilee, we moved to the official opening of our new adventure play area which our PTA have kindly raised money for. We all did a countdown and the Lord Lieutenant cut the ribbon and opened the area. We are looking forward to spending lots of time there, playing with our friends, so many thanks to our PTA on behalf of all the children and the staff, we are so grateful for all your fundraising work.

Then, the Lord Lieutenant officially opened our Well-being Shed. Rights Respecting Ambassadors and School Councillors talked to the dignitaries about the work they have been doing to support children's health and well-being in Sketty Primary School. This work includes pupils' ideas for the new Curriculum of Wales; a well-being 'Special Mission' with Sally Holland, The Children's Commissioner of Wales and UNICEF's Outright campaign to support Mental Health. Our special visitors loved the well-being shed and congratulated School Council and Rights Respecting School Ambassadors on all their hard work to help support pupils with their well-being and mental health.

Afterwards, the dignitaries met Sketty Primary Sports Ambassadors who explained their role of supporting sport across the school and teaching Physical Education lessons to fellow pupils, through the medium of welsh. 

Finally, the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff and the Lord Mayor were presented with gifts from our School Councillors and Rights Respecting Schools Ambassadors.

Savannah, Faye and Bethan presented each of the dignitaries with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Savannah explained the sentiment behind the flowers in the bouquet, sunflowers to support Ukraine as they are the Ukrainian national flower and daffodils to represent Wales. Our special visitors thanked us and said that the flowers were lovely. Freya, Macie and Isabelle presented a pack of greeting cards that our pupils had made. Freya told the dignitaries our pupils had used silk printing to make them. The Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff and the Lord Mayor said that the cards were beautiful and very detailed.

The dignitaries, thanked us for the gifts and said that they had thoroughly enjoyed their visit to our school meeting pupils, staff, governors and parents. They said they were very impressed and hoped to be able to visit our again in the near future. 

Later that day, School Council and Rights Respecting School Ambassadors officially opened our new outdoor reading area, again funded by our wonderful PTA. Thank you all! Pupils and staff are looking forward to using it reading outdoors.

It was a great day at Sketty Primary School and one we will remember for a long time to come.