Week 20 - Friday 7th February 2020
Welcome to our newsletter for week 20 of the school year.
Time to Talk Day - Thursday 6th February
On Thursday we were delighted to support Time to Talk Day. We started the day with a coffee morning for parents who were able to enjoy a coffee, a cake and a chat. Thank you to everyone that came along. Throughout the day all children in the school took part in different activities which encouraged children to get a conversation started. Lots of children started the conversation with 'Would you rather ........?' and this definitely seemed to break the ice. Children were encouraged to chat and were invited to have a drink and a biscuit or fruit.
Staff were invited to have time to talk and also enjoyed a cake and a cuppa. The campaign is designed to change the way in which people think and act about mental health problems. We hope that children have enjoyed our day of activities and share these with parents.
New Curriculum for Wales
On Friday, Mr Thompson presented a view of the new curriculum to parents. Thank you to the parents that were able to make it to the meeting. For those not able to make it, information will be uploaded to our website shortly.
Safer Internet Day competition
We are looking forward to attending the Safer Internet Day final next Tuesday with a group of children. We are delighted that one of our digital day videos has been selected to go forward to the final. The competition is run by Welsh Government with the aim of informing other children how to stay safe online. We look forward to informing you next week.
Thrive
We provided more detail on our Thrive - social and emotional development - approach last week. Here are a couple of photographs of our Thrive room that is used by our Thrive Practitioner.
School Eisteddfod
Our school eisteddfod will take place on Monday 2nd March. Children will be working in their house colours to develop competition entries for handwriting, singing, poems and artwork after half term. Children may wear their house colours on Monday 2nd March.
The PTA have arranged a link with Cheeky Baby T-shorts again and parents may buy house colour t-shirts online. The t-shirts will then be delivered to school for distribution.
Please can parents add a note to the order with their child's class number so that the t-shirts may be distributed. T-shirts are £7.50, all orders should be completed online by 19th February. T-shirts will be handed out week beginning 24th February.
Please note that t-shirts are not compulsory and are parental choice.
Parents Evening - Reception to Year 6
Parents evening for children in reception to year 6 will take place week beginning 24th February. Parents will have received an email from 'notifications@primarysite.net' with an invitation to book your timeslot for your child's class. If you have not received an email we advise that you initially check your 'junk' folder to see if the email have been received. If you have not received an email from us please contact the office and we will be able to book the appointment for you and check we have an up to date email address. Parents evening are an ideal opportunity to speak to your child's teacher who will provide an update on how your child is progressing in school in a range of areas.
School Swimming
Children in 5JJ will commence swimming lessons next week. Children will require swimming kit (costume, towel and goggles) and a packed lunch each day. Payment should be made via Parent Pay - the cost is £5.
- 5JJ - 10th February to 14th February
- 6C - 24th February to 28th February
- 6E - 2nd March to 6th March
Criw Cymraeg
Oldcastle’s Criw Cymraeg would like to invite you to join us for a Welsh afternoon on Thursday, February the 13th at 2:15 p.m. Pupil’s will be performing Welsh songs and teaching welsh words and phrases to parents. We will be talking about the school’s new Welsh initiative and we are hoping you will join us for a Welsh Cake! Gwelwch chi’n fuan! See you soon!
Our Criw Cymraeg have put together an online notice board to inform parents and children - please have a look to see what welsh initiatives we have in place. Criw Cymraeg initiatives
Anaphylaxic Campaign
We have a number of children in school who may suffer an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction happens when a person comes in contact with something, such as a food, that their body thinks will be harmful for them.
We often send messages home to parents to inform that we strive to be a nut free school. Please be mindful about including any nut products in your child's lunch box and help us be a nut free school.
What else you can do to help:
- Good hygiene – wash hands
- Help make sure your friends with allergies are safe
- Ask your friend about their allergy
- Don’t share your lunch or snacks
Nursery and reception - St Davids Day photos
The Glamorgan Gazette will be in school on Monday 10th February to take photos of nursery and reception children in their welsh outfits. The photographs will appear in the newspaper close to St Davids Day. Rising 3's will not be having their photos taken.
Lost Property
We have an enormous amount of lost property yet again. If your child has lost something in school please come and have a look in our lost property collection to see if you can find it. We have items including water bottles, lunch boxes, coats, school uniform, p.e. kit and umbrellas! We hope we can reunite some items with their owners.
Don't forget we regularly use our Twitter account to let parents know what we have been up to in school.
Headteacher's Award
During a school assembly, the following headteacher awards were distributed. The theme for today was 'Oracy Skills'.
- Reception Miss Walters - Faith
- Reception Miss Williams - Darius
- Year 1 Miss Vaughan - Edwyn
- Year 1 Mrs Morcom Lewis - Joseph
- Year 2 Miss Lewis / Mrs Guy - Gruff
- Year 2 Mrs Roberts - Daniel
- Year 3 Mrs Brotherton / Mrs Burr - Owen
- Year 3 Miss Davies - Phoebe
- Year 4 Miss Radford - Jude
- Year 4 Miss Craven - Lydia and Seren
- Year 5 Miss Jones - swimming
- Year 5 Miss James - Lilly
- Year 6 Mrs Coleman - Seren
- Year 6 Mrs Evans - Mya
Admissions to Reception class
Bridgend County Borough Council have opened their application process for children joining reception class starting in September 2020. Applications are online - apply here. Deadline for applications is 13th February 2020.
Admissions to Nursery
Applications for admission for full time nursery from September 2020, and part time from January or April 2021, are also open via Bridgend County Borough Council. Applications must be received by 27th March 2021. Apply here
Don't forget School Savings Club every Wednesday
Diary Dates
- Monday 10th February - Nursery and Reception St Davids Day photos
- Monday 10th February to Friday 14th February - 5JJ Swimming
- Tuesday 11th February - Safer Internet Day Final
- Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February - Half term
- Monday 24th February - Back to School
- Monday 24th February - Parents Evening Week
- Monday 24th February to Friday 28th February - 6C Swimming
- Wednesday 29th February - Nursery, reception and year 6 long class photos
- Monday 2nd March to Friday 6th March - 6E Swimming
- Tuesday 10th March - Reception trip to Cefn Mably
- Monday 6th April to Friday 17th April - Easter holidays
- Monday 20th April - Back to school
- Monday 4th May - Inset Day
- Friday 8th May - Bank Holiday
- Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May - Half term
- Monday 1st June - Inset Day
- Tuesday 2nd June - Inset Day
- Tuesday 9th June to Saturday 13th June - Year 6 residential trip
- Friday 17th July - Term Ends
- Monday 20th July - Inset Day
Inset Days 2020
- Monday 4th May 2020
- Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd June 2020
- Monday 20th July 2020