Shwmae, we are the Criw Cymraeg at Nantyffyllon. We are made up of representatives from years 2-6. Our role is to help promote the use of Welsh throughout the school. We do this by recording our 'Ymadrodd' which is shared with pupils and parents via Seesaw. We also present a weekly Welsh assembly when we share our Ymadrodd and present stories about Wales, learn about famous Welsh people and our history. We also meet monthly to plan events and organise games.

2024-2025

We have been fortunate to be involved in a partnership project with Ysgol Gynradd Cynwyd Sant. We met on numerous occasions at Cynwyd Sant, our school and at the local park. We enjoyed playing yard games in Welsh as well as the Criw of Cynwyd Sant supporting our pupils with learning some poems for the Urdd Eisteddfod. Our favourite part was making some clay 'dreigiau'.  We finished the project with a cluster concert when other primary schools in the valley were invited to join us and share their Eisteddfod songs, poems and enjoy some Dawnsio Gwerin. We learnt so much and our confidence was boosted immensely. this year we also entered the Urdd individual and groups learners recitation competitions competing at the Tabernacl chapel in Bridgend and at Maesteg town hall. We narrowly missed out performing at Margam park. It was great fun again attending the Ser y sir presentation event for the Urdd Art and Craft. We had quite a few pupils who were placed 1st 2nd nad 3rd in the local rounds. Da iawn i bawb !   We ended 2025 by making Shwmae bracelets and keyrings and selling them at the school summer fete. We raised £129.00 for the Sir Gareth Edwards cancer charity who the Criw had decided to support whilst using their Cymraeg. 

2025-2026

This year has already been very busy celebrating many events including Diwrnod Shwmae, the Urdd Jambori, Dydd Gwyl Miwsig and our whole school Spring theme 'Gwlad Gwlad'. We've been fortunate to have many Welsh speaking visitors this year too, including a Welsh opera singer, The Mari Lwyd and John Nicolls, Welsh folk singer. Eirlys Edwards talked to us about her work running the Sir Gareth Edwards charity. we asked her questions in Welsh. Eleri Sion also visited as an ambassador of the charity. To celebrate Maesteg being 200 year old and the Anniversary of Hen Wlad fy nhadau first being performed in here, we performed our Eisteddfod poem 'Heini' for the 'Gwlad Gwlad' concert in Maesteg town Hall. March brought the school Eisteddfod which was a huge success again this year and we were fortunate to be successful at the Urdd Eisteddfod Rhanbarthol at Maesteg Town Hall. We were on our way to Ynys Mon but needed to do some fundraising to get there. Fortunately some of our parents were very keen to visit and did an amazing job fundraising. The Criw organised a raffle Cymraeg, a Helfa Dysor and a Sel Teisen. £2,350 was raised by all pupils and families.

Eisteddfod Yr Urdd 2026  The Criw's Experience.

After all the practising during lunchtimes we were ready for our performance. We left school at 5.30 am on a bus with Mrs Workman, Mrs Carr and our parents to get to Ynys Mon. Some of us had never been to an Eisteddfod before so we were all really excited ! What a fantastic day it was, we enjoyed going around all the stalls and meeting Mr Urdd of course. Our performance on stage was a brilliant experience, feeling nervous and apprehensive but all the dedication and practising was worth it ! 

Gwobr Aur Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus (Criw)

Following our experience at the Eisteddfod it was time for our Cymraeg Campus verification. We had worked so has this year to gather all the evidence together, it was now time to practise our presentation and walk and talk around the school. When Mrs Davies came to meet us we introduced ourselves in Welsh and showed her around the school. We pointed out all the Welsh displays and gave her a tour of Cymraeg in each class. We then did a presentation for her and showed her all the photographs we had taken. We performed our group recitation and she also stayed to watch Welsh assemblies. She was so pleased with the progress that she awarded us the Gold Award! An amazing achievement for everyone at Nantyffyllon Primary!