THE first Welsh-medium primary school to be built in Newport is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is inviting former pupils who have travelled far and wide to send in a birthday card.

Before Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd was established in Ringland in 1993, Welsh-medium primary pupils attended High Cross, but were often taught in the school hall and did not have their own space.

So pupils and staff were thrilled when Newport council not only gave them their own school, but built a brand new primary school, on land surrounding what was then Hartridge High School, now Llanwern.

Head teacher Gwenda Roberts, who transferred to the new school as head of Key Stage 1 under the leadership of then head teacher Arwyn Thomas, remembers the day in early September 1993 when they entered the finished building.

“It was a very happy day,” said Mrs Roberts, who has been head teacher at the 388-pupil school since 1997.

“I remember thinking, ‘oh at last.’ Traditionally English medium schools would get new buildings and Welsh schools would get the old one, which was fine because all we wanted was a home. We didn’t ask for a brand new school, so it was a huge thing. There was a lot of media interest.”

The school has a strong Welsh language ethos and culture, said Mrs Roberts, and is known throughout Wales due to the high number of young teachers and future head teachers who have trained there.

“We are the only school to carry the city’s name, Casnewydd, and when we compete in the Urdd Eisteddfod, people knowimmediately where we are from,” she said.

“There have been many highlights over the years, more numerous than I can remember, but I count every year as a success and the school is going from strength to strength.”

Mrs Roberts appealed to former students or their parents to write to the school and send them a birthday card, explaining where they are now and what has happened in the years since they left primary school.

“We have ex-pupils working on the staff and children of ex-pupils attending the school,” she said. “At least 1,000 young people have learned through the medium of Welsh here, Newport residents will have been here at the school, and it would be great to hear from them to hear what they are doing now.”

Former pupils can send birthday cards to Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd, Hartridge Farm Road, Newport, NP18 2LN.