Happy New Year

In Trevelin, as across the rest of the world, we bade farewell to 2020 and welcomed the new year with open arms. Whilst 2020 will no doubt bring some unwelcome memories to some of us, others will have seen it as an opportunity to learn about their limitations and recognize their achievements. Some will have thrived and flourished while others, perhaps, will have suffered. This is where our challenge lies in 2021, and this will be the focus of our commitment to the children and the local community.

We started the school year in March 2020 with great enthusiasm, but soon the Argentine Government had ordered the closure of all the nation's educational institutions, in the wake of the pandemic. And so Ysgol y Cwm closed its doors on March 17th (it is worth noting that, luckily, COVID 19 didn't appear in the Andes area until October).

The school managed to keep in touch with most of the children by sharing resources and running virtual classes over digital platforms such as Classroom and Zoom. The efforts of the families and the teaching team were vital in maintaining the connection between the pupils and the school.

The Governors of Ysgol y Cwm would therefore like to extend a word of thanks to the following:

- The teachers, for being so flexible in developing a new way of learning from home, often with a weak internet connection and with their own equipment, and for achieving that which was planned.
- The families, for their children's dedication and accompaniment in undertaking tasks and homework, and for  participating in the virtual activities, as well as for persevering with the monthly payments to the school, which enable us to maintain our commitments throughout the year.
- To our friends in Wales and around the world for their gifts and contributions, which support the teaching of the Welsh language here in Patagonia
- To the British Council, for their monthly contribution to the payment of  the local Welsh teachers' salaries.
- To the Patagonia Instruments Project, for providing musical instruments to the children.
- To the Trevelin Welsh Society, who are continuing with the work of extending the school buiulding.
- To the Municipality of Trevelin for their monthly contributions.
- To the Ministry of Education of Chubut Province for their co-operation in contributing towards the payment of teachers' salaries.
- To the ‘Cooperativa 16 de Octubre’ co-operative, who donated equipment for supplying drinking water to the school.
- To the local community, for joining in with the events and contributing with their presence.
- To the school’s founders and all of our other friends, for their encouragement and lasting contributions.

Although we face 2021 with much uncertainty, we know that there is strength in unity. This will enable us all to achieve our objectives, which are:

- The formation of  another class in the primary school, Year 5.
- Offering more virtual and digital content, as needed and given the difficulties of employing Welsh teachers from Wales.
- Continuing the scholarship system for students, which is supported by donations from our friends.
- Adapting the school to follow and adhere to the hygiene protocols, which are likely to continue well into this year.

All of these efforts require an expenditure of approximately $ 1,100,000ARG (approximately £ 10,000) per month. Most of it is donated by the pupils' families, and is used to pay wages, insurance, services and also to pay for maintenance and cleaning, and to provide snacks for the children.

This year, the children's annual trips to attractions such as Los Alerces National Park, La Hoya Ski Centre, and the local fish farm had to be cancelled. They didn't have the opportunity to board the La Trochita train, or to camp on the banks of the Rio Grande. The school had planned to attend the Young People's Eisteddfod in Gaiman in September, but that too was cancelled. The children took part in the Eisteddfod over the internet. The lockdown period has been very long and the children and their parents are very excited about the possibility of starting classes again this year.

Since October, the school has been running self-funded community workshops in subjects such as language, dance and cookery, following the rules and protocols set by the local health authorities.

Getting to participate once more in school activities was very important to the children. It allowed them to meet again, to see their friends and to do things like go for a walk in small, well-organized groups of 10. They could once again feel a sense of normality, and that this too shall pass!

Everyone involved with Ysgol y Cwm would like to say thank you very much to all those who have been in touch and have contributed during the past year. Hopefully, we can continue to walk forward together, to ease the burden on those who have the least but want to offer their children a bilingual education.

This year comes with many expectations, and we hope to be able to make many more friends from Wales and beyond . We also hope that we will be able to welcome more local families to the Ysgol y Cwm community, and that we will continue to realize the vision of the school’s  founders and continue to pay this living tribute to our forefathers.
We would like to end with a word of condolence.

The Welsh community in the Andes said goodbye to one of its most distinguished sons during the run-up to Christmas. Oscar Kansas Jones, President of the Trevelin Welsh Society, died at his home on December 23rd. His passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, and he will be greatly missed in the concerts, entertainment evenings, cultural events and actos, where he was a constant and welcoming presence.

Everyone at Ysgol y Cwm would like to send our love to Melva Tardón, his wife, their children Fabián and Lorena, as well as their grandchildren, Iñaki, Iago and Alvaro. Our school will forever remember him as one of its founding pillars.
 
Best wishes on behalf of Ysgol y Cwm,
Erica Hammond
Head of Ysgol y Cwm (School 1038)
 
Margarita Jones de Green
President of Trevelin Welsh School Association

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Sr. Oscar Kansas Jones