Week 11 - Friday 22nd November 2019

Welcome to our weekly newsletter and week 11 of the school year. Today we have supported the Just 1 tree charity with a non uniform day. Thank you to everyone that has supported. We are delighted to let you know we have raised £381.50 for the charity.

Fundraising

Here are some members of our Children's Voice who remind you why we took part in the Just 1 Tree fundraiser today.

We are also pleased to inform parents that we will be supporting The Alzheimer's Society 'Elf Day' on Friday 6th December. Children will be able to wear non uniform, Christmas tops or even an elf outfit! All money raised will go to help people affected by dementia. At Oldcastle we are keen to raise awareness of mental health and we are pleased the Children's Voice are supporting the charity.

We hope you are able to support our Children's Voice fundraising charities in anyway you can. We appreciate that there are 3 events quite close together but hope children can raise awareness of the charities by supporting the non uniform days.

Criw Cymraeg

In our Criw Cymraeg meeting this week children discussed how to encourage fellow children to take part in our mascot competition. We created a Google Slides presentation to share with classes around the school and we are excited to see the entries.

We discussed our progress so far and how excited we are to hear so much Welsh being used in school. In the next few weeks we are hoping to have a school assembly to present our new ideas to everyone.

Our word of the week is;

Mwynhewch! Enjoy!

https://flipgrid.com/s/68aa39343c02

Our phrase is;

Ble rwyt ti’n byw? Where do you live?

https://flipgrid.com/s/389ed8f429d9

Sickness Policy

Please can we remind parents that in line with advice from the Health Protection Agency, children who have vomited or had diarrhoea must not return to school until 48 hours has passed since the last episode of sickness or diarrhoea. Please refer to the advice on our website. Health Protection Agency Poster

Schools cross country competition years 3 to 6

There is a schools cross country competition on Saturday 23rd November for children in years 3 to 6 in Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen. There are 4 races with the first race beginning at 10am. Attendees should arrive by 9.30am and be accompanied by an adult. The events are usually completed by 11am. To enter children and parents need to meet at the venue. The school are grateful that a parent has offered to coordinate the children from Oldcastle on the day.

Christmas Concerts

Christmas is fast approaching and we have been planning the dates for our Christmas concerts. Concerts will take place at the school on the following dates. Due to limited numbers in the main hall we will be providing parents with tickets for these events - please keep the tickets safe as they are not replaceable. Tickets have been sent home to parents this week. Please note the change to the years 5 and 6 performance on 10th December.

Nursery

• Wednesday 11th and Friday 13th December - 9.30am - parents will receive 2 tickets for each show

Reception

• Monday 16th December - 9.30am and 2pm - parents will receive 2 tickets for each show

Year 1 and 2

• Thursday 5th December- 9.30am and 1.30pm - parents will receive 1 ticket for the morning and 1 for the afternoon

Years 3 and 4

• Monday 9th December - 9.30am and 1.30pm - parents will receive 1 ticket for the morning and 1 for the afternoon

Years 5 and 6

• Tuesday 10th December - 9.30am and 5pm - parents will receive 1 ticket for the morning and 1 for the evening

PTA

At a PTA meeting today the following were elected to the PTA committee to support the Chair Angela Minton.

Vice Chair - Kim Lewis

Treasurer - Lowri McCausland

Secretary - Julia Shaw

The PTA are arranging a pre loved Christmas costume and jumper sale on Friday 29th November from 2.30pm. If you have any Christmas costumes / jumpers gathering dust at home please drop them into school and the PTA will be able to include these in their fundraising sale. Please bring any items into the school office and come along on 29th November for a coffee and a mince pie and get this years costume sorted.

The new PTA are looking for class representatives to help raise funds for our children through fun events. There will be no obligation to attend meetings, you would just need to pass messages on to you child’s class to help reach a wider audience. If this is something that you could help with, please contact Angela on 07584620033 or leave a message at the school office.

You will all be pleased to know that the PTA are also planning a school disco for Wednesday 18th December. Tickets will be available shortly.

Twitter

Don't forget we regularly use our Twitter account to let parents know what we have been up to in school. Please have a look @oldcastleschool

Headteacher Award

The following children were presented with a Headteachers Award during assembly today. This weeks theme is 'listening skills.

• Year 1 Mrs Morcom-Lewis - Ivy
• Year 1 Miss Vaughan - Henry
• Year 2 Mrs Roberts - Scott
• Year 2 Miss Lewis / Mrs Guy - Amelia
• Year 3 Brotherton / Mrs Burr - Faith
• Year 3 Miss Davies - Timea
• Year 4 Miss Radford - Amelia
• Year 4 Miss Craven - Minh
• Year 5 Miss Jones - Seren
• Year 5 Miss James - Norah
• Year 6 Mrs Coleman - Ecrin
• Year 6 Mrs Evans - Lilly-Marie

Year 5 went on a polar expedition this week with Techniquest. The sessions looked great fun!

5JJ had a great trip to the Senedd as part of their topic - Pupil Parliament 5BJ will be visiting next week.

Nursery children went on a learning walk this week to look for bugs. They were delighted to find woodlice and worms in our garden!

Early Help

Children, young people and their families sometimes need a little extra help and support to have happy, healthy and successful lives. The Early Help team are available to support families. More information is available in the leaflet below.

Christmas in Bridgend

Saturday 23rd November - Christmas lights switch on in Bridgend town centre

Diary Dates

• Saturday 23rd November - School cross country competition years 3 to 6
• Wednesday 27th November - 5BJ trip to the Senedd
• Friday 29th November - PTA Christmas Costume Sale
• Monday 2nd December - Nursery trip to Gower Heritage Centre
• Thursday 5th December - Reception trip to Brecon Mountain Railway
• Thursday 5th December - Years 1 and 2 Christmas Concert - ticketed event at 9.30am and 1.30pm
• Friday 6th December - Elf Day fundraiser for Alzheimer's Society - children may wear own clothes, Christmas jumper or dress as an Elf!
• Friday 6th December - Choir concert in Brackla Community Centre
• Monday 9th December - Years 3 and 4 Christmas Concert - ticketed event at 9.30am and 1,30pm
• Tuesday 10th December - Year 1 trip to Dan yr Ogof
• Tuesday 10th December - Year 2 trip to Cardiff Castle
• Tuesday 10th December - Years 5 and 6 Christmas concert 9.30am and 5pm
• Wednesday 11th December - Nursery Christmas Concert - ticketed event at 9.30am
• Thursday 12th December - Christmas Dinner Day
• Friday 13th December - Nursery Christmas Concert - ticketed event at 9.30am
• Monday 16th December - Reception Christmas Concert - ticketed event at 9.30am and 2pm
• Wednesday 18th December - Juniors to visit Pantomime
• Wednesday 18th December - PTA Disco
• Friday 20th December - Term Ends
• Monday 6th January - Back to School
• Monday 6th January to Friday 17th January - 4C Swimming
• Monday 13th January to Friday 31st January - 4M Swimming
• Monday 3rd February to Friday 7th February - 5BJ Swimming
• Monday 10th February to Friday 14th February - 5JJ Swimming
• Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February - Half term
• Monday 24th February - Back to School
• Monday 24th February to Friday 28th February - 6C Swimming
• Monday 2nd March to Friday 6th March - 6E Swimming
• Monday 6th April to Friday 17th April - Easter holidays
• Monday 20th April - Back to school
• Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May - Half term
• Monday 1st June - Inset Day
• Tuesday 2nd June - Inset Day
• Friday 17th July - Term Ends
• Monday 20th July - Inset Day

Inset Days 2019/20

• Monday 4th November 2019
• Tuesday 5th November 2019
• Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd June 2020
• Monday 20th July 2020