Latest news with #Shearman
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Headteacher celebrates 'rollercoaster' 15 years at school
PUPILS at a Powys primary school have thrown their departing headteacher a special rollercoaster-themed farewell, to honour his love of theme parks. Adam Shearman has been the headteacher of Llanelwedd Church in Wales Primary School, near Builth Wells, for 15 years, but is heading to another school in the county in September. Llanelwedd deputy head Satu Haikala said staff and pupils 'brought Disneyworld to Llanelwedd' as a way of giving Mr Shearman a fitting send-off at the end of term. Members of staff planned a special surprise to honour Mr Shearman's love of theme parks with a surprise roller coaster ride around the school grounds. The playground was decorated as a theme park and a special cart had been designed as a 'rollercoaster', where children in Year 6 pushed Mr Shearman through specially decorated theme lands that included references to his favourite theme parks; as well as to the other schools that he has supported over the last 15 years. All the pupils wore Disney-themed outfits and lined up in rows for Mr Shearman to be pushed through. They waved, cheered, threw streamers and joined in the fun. Mr Shearman had no idea that staff and pupils had conspired to organise the leaving party. 'I didn't have a clue,' he said. 'Bearing in mind we have 113 children, not one of them said a word. They knew it was a secret. 'When I walked into school I was met by our deputy headteacher, dressed as one of Snow White's dwarves. 'I then walked into assembly to see the whole school dressed as Disney characters. The staff were dressed as Snow White and her dwarves.' Another teacher, Paul Walby, who is also leaving this term, was dressed as Snow White herself. Ms Haikala, the school's deputy head, said: 'We had a collection and didn't make enough to send Mr Shearman to Disneyworld, so we brought Disneyworld to Llanelwedd.' The children also sang songs from their recent production of the Wizard of Oz. Mr Shearman joined the school in 2010, when it had just 43 children; he now leaves the school with 94 pupils, with a further 19 in the school-based pre-school setting. On the school's Facebook page he said: 'I find myself reflecting on the journey we've shared. 'Llanelwedd school has never been just a place of learning, it has been a living, breathing community where curiosity is encouraged, resilience is built and compassion is celebrated. 'Together, we've weathered challenges (and flooding), embraced change and created a culture that values both academic achievements and empathy. 'Over the years the school has grown and developed, but at its heart is the children. The children at Llanelwedd are like family.' The was described as 'thriving' by Church in Wales inspectors who visited just before Easter. 'The true legacy of a school lies not in its buildings or measured by the awards it wins but is in the hearts and minds of those who pass through its doors,' added Mr Shearman. 'As I move on to new adventures, I leave with immense pride and unwavering hope for the future of this remarkable school. 'I know the school is in very safe hands with the new headteacher, Ms Haikala, and the wonderful staff team here. 'I would like to thank the whole school community for their support, good wishes and contributions. It has truly been an honour to serve as the headteacher of this very special place.'
Powys County Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Wizard of Oz and sports week ends term at Llanelwedd Primary
Llanelwedd Church in Wales Primary School students and staff wrapped up the summer term with a serious of activities. In late June, the entire school showcased their talents at the Wyeside, performing The Wizard of Oz. Children from Reception to Year 6 participated, donning colourful costumes and singing songs. The performance was directed by Mr Shearman, headteacher, who praised the pupils for their "energy, confidence and teamwork." June also saw the school's annual Sports Week, featuring a variety of activities. Every pupil participated in challenges including a bike course, swimming sessions, and tennis. The week also included a special visit from the Cambrian Archers who introduced the children to archery. Sports Day, held on the Thursday, saw all house teams competing, with Wye house taking home the trophy in a close contest. The school's Year 6 boys' cricket team also had a memorable term. The team travelled to Cardiff to compete in the South East Wales Cricket Finals. After winning all their group games, the team finished fourth overall. The school expressed pride in the team's performance and sportsmanship. A school spokesperson said: "With such a busy and successful term behind them, pupils and staff alike are now ready for a well-earned summer break." The series of events marked an end to the academic year, with pupils and staff now looking forward to the summer holidays.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Smartwatch Saves Bodysurfer Lost at Sea (Video)
Despite the abstract dystopian futures of artificial intelligence turning on humanity, a population of cyborg zombies, the prophetic 'singularity' event, et al, technology has its undeniable benefits. Case in point: saving lives. And one man experienced this, quite literally, firsthand. Rick Shearman was bodysurfing Byron Bay last year, when conditions shifted quickly, and he found himself being sucked out to sea. Soon, he was about a mile offshore, treading water, clinging to life. And so, he acted; he activated a distress signal on his Apple Watch, prompting rescuers to come and find him via helicopter, and save his life. Hear Shearman tell the tale below: 'I was out there for 15, 20 minutes and it just kept getting bigger and gnarlier,' Shearman said. 'I was facing the fact that I might be treading water for up to an hour or two. I tried that emergency feature out of desperation, and yeah, was pretty astounded when it dialed through to triple zero. I stayed on the line until the chopper came over the horizon and picked me up.' Now, nearly a year after his rescue, Apple is using Shearman's story in a new campaign.'I'm calling from my Apple Watch,' Shearman can be heard in the ad, a hint of panic in his voice. 'I was bodysurfing, but I've been sucked right out to sea in Byron Bay.' It's not the first time a smartwatch has been credited with saving someone's life, not even close. There's been numerous accounts of wearable technologies swooping in and rescuing people – whether it's as a result of heart rate detection, a fall, a car crash, etc. For Shearman, he added: 'If it wasn't for being able to access that service in my watch I'd probably be bobbing out somewhere in international waters by now.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Apple Watch ad uses real SOS call from man swept out to sea
Remember that man who was rescued from the ocean after calling for help on his Apple Watch last year? Apple has released audio from that call in a new ad highlighting the Watch's safety features. Rick Shearman was swimming off an Australian beach last July when he was caught in a current and dragged approximately one mile from the shore. Fortunately, he was able to call for help using his Apple Watch Ultra's Emergency SOS feature, which put him in touch with local emergency services (000 in Australia). The Watch also kept them updated on Shearman's coordinates, so the rescue helicopter didn't have to spend too much time searching for him in an endless expanse of blue. The call is an interesting listen, with Shearman sounding much less panicked than most others would be in his situation (which no doubt contributed to his survival). Though he was clearly tired at that point, freaking out would have been a phenomenally poor use of his depleting energy. It's also clear enough to be comprehensible even without Apple's helpful subtitles, which is quite the feat considering that Shearman was treading water and holding his wrist to his mouth or ear in turns. It's possible that Apple cleaned the audio up a bit for the ad, but even so, it was still apparently clear enough for Australia's emergency services to understand.
