Leading ladies take centre stage
Lower Sixth form pupil and Mathematics sensation Emily Li:
It has been a memorable few months for Emily since she arrived at Rydal Penrhos in September, with the 16-year-old emerging as one of the brightest minds currently learning at the school.
She wasted no time in making a significant impact academically, and achieved a certificate of distinction from the UKMT Maths Olympiad, where she gained no fewer than three perfect solutions to the opening three questions of the test.
For her efforts she will also receive a book prize, in addition to three honourable mentions.
This ensured that Emily qualified for the British Olympiad, and thanks to another superb performance she earned a place at the British Mathematical Olympiad training camp in Budapest, Hungary over the festive period.
The Sixth Former, who is aiming for a big International Baccalaureate score next summer, is set for even more Maths success in the future in what has been a glittering beginning to her life at Rydal Penrhos.
Mr Cashell, said: “Emily has already established herself as a prominent and valued member of the school community, and she has an enormous amount of potential which will see her go very far in whatever she decides to do.
“Her mathematical achievements speak for themselves and thanks to the hard work of department head Pete Richmond and his staff, Emi8ly has flourished so far during her time at Rydal Penrhos and long may that continue.”
Chess sensation Imogen Camp:
It has been another year of fantastic achievement for Year 11 pupil Imogen, who continues to show why she is regarded as one of the most gifted young Chess players in the country.
The 16-year-old was competing in the senior category for the first time and turned in a fabulous performance to secure a three-way tie for the crown.
This is the latest in a long line of chess success for the pupil, who has a number of regional and national junior titles to her name in what has been a glittering young career to date.
She has also been a part of the Welsh squad and competed at high profile events including the World Youth Championships.
In addition this success, the pupil also produced a stunning effort in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, achieving a Gold certificate and a place at the Pink Kangaroo.
The GCSE pupil, who expected to attain high marks this summer, is also a standout Netballer and has turned in a number of impressive performances for Rydal Penrhos’ first VII, who enjoyed a highly successful campaign under the captaincy of Soumini Peeka.
Music superstar Shannon Yang:
There are not many more gifted musicians at Rydal Penrhos than Shannon, who has made a last impression on the school’s department since she joined in 2015.
The boarder and Chinese native is an exceptionally talented violin player, something that has seen her claim a number of high-profile distinctions in-and-out of school.
An Upper Sixth pupil, Shannon came away with the overall honour for Osborn House during Rydal Penrhos’ recent Senior Inter-House Music competition, where she beat off a host of other talented rivals to gain valuable points.
She has also caught the eye during various concerts put on throughout the year at the school, with her standout efforts in the Christmas Concert and last year’s Summer Concert living long in the memory.
The 18-year-old has also achieved notable success in prestigious regional competitions, which included a sensational first place in the strings category at the Chester Music Festival.
Mr Williams, said: “Shannon’s talent is there for all to see and there is no ceiling on what she can achieve with a violin in her hand.
“She is an exceptional pupil who has shown not only a great willingness to learn, but also has an enormous amount of natural ability and confidence performing in-front of large crowds, something that has been a key component to her success here at Rydal Penrhos.
“Anyone that has ever seen her perform a solo piece knows just how special her talent is, and her presence at the school has given us all a great sense of pride.”
Art scholar Elysia Gilman:
Not only is Elysia one of the most talented artists at Rydal Penrhos, but she has also served as a fantastic role model to her fellow pupils during her time at the school.
The 17-year-old, who began her journey at Rydal Penrhos in 2007 when she began Year 3, has already made a significant contribution to school life in a number of different ways.
Such is the standard of her work, she was asked by the Year 10 group to give them some helpful tips on skin tones and painting flesh after seeing her fabulous work on display throughout the Art department.
Prior to the special workshop, Elysia prepared colour charts and palettes all with the colours she felt were necessary, before demonstrating how she approached the problem of flesh tones by first mixing up a coloured ground and then adding secondary and prime colours.
In addition to her artistic prowess, Elysia is also a Peer Mentor and recently lent her support to a Year 5 Familiarisation afternoon, where she helped with an activity to welcome the Prep School pupils, which featured none other than her younger brother James.
Sporting and drama standout Samantha Randall:
Since joining us in 2011 as a Year 7 pupil, Sam has established herself as an extremely well-rounded pupil with a number of talents.
Currently in the Lower Sixth, the 17-year-old is very strong academically, which was demonstrated with her superb GCSE results last summer where she gained no fewer than three A* grades, five A’s and a B for her efforts.
In addition she also gained an A grade in Mathematics after sitting the exam a year early.
Sam has also become a huge part of Rydal Penrhos’ Charity Committee during her first few months in the Sixth Form, and has been a key contributor to a number of events including the Christmas Market and Cake Sales.
Along with fellow Lower Sixth pupils Mollie Smithfield and Samiya Garrod, Sam helped the Eryri Squad achieve Team Gold at the Welsh Schools Cross-Country Championships, which were held at the Brecon Beacons in March.
Adding to her success, Sam also led the Rydal Penrhos team to the overall title at the Conwy Athletics Championships last week.
The gifted pupil and Peer Mentor has also played a huge part in a number of Dramatic Society productions in recent years, with her performances in To Kill a Mockingbird and Annie the Musical drawing widespread acclaim.
Academic success Olivia Williams:
Since arriving at Rydal Penrhos as a Year 7 pupil in 2011, Olivia has shown in various areas just how immensely gifted she is.
The Lower Sixth pupil is a strong academic, which was highlighted by the exceptional GCSE results she obtained as a reward for all her hard work last summer.
The 17-year-old achieved no fewer than six A* grades, while also securing four A’s and a Distinction in further Mathematics.
In addition to this, the Edwards House boarder has also made a number of impressive performances as part of the Rydal Penrhos Dramatic Society, with her efforts in both To Kill a Mockingbird and Annie the Musical drawing widespread praise.
She was also part of the school team that competed at the ICAEW BASE National Business and Accounting competition recently.
They engaged in a business challenge that enabled them to develop key employability skills and understand what it’s like to be an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, with the team performing exceptionally well throughout the event.