Week 3 - Friday 20th September 2019

Welcome to our weekly newsletter. We are already week 3 of the new school year and our children have been busy setling back into school routine.

School Communication - The School App

From next week, specific messages regarding your child's class will be sent via our School App. To receive the messages parents must confirm their mobile number via the automated messages generated by the App. If you have not confirmed your account you will not receive the specific messages about your child and their class. Please call into the office if you are having problems with any aspect of the App.

Trip letters and Media Consent letter

Thank you to those parents who have completed and returned the trip consent and media consent forms. If you have not returned your child's copies please return as soon as possible. Your child will not be allowed to attend any external trips without a completed form. Replacement forms are available from the admin office if you require a copy.

Class Newsletters

Class newsletters are now available to view on our website. We hope you enjoy reading and discovering what children are learning in their year group during the Autumn term. https://bit.ly/2kWrPO7

Parents Presentation - Wednesday 25th September

We would like to invite parents to a presentation with your child's class teacher on Wednesday 25th September. We will be holding 2 sessions - one at 3.30pm and one at 4.15pm - parents may choose which session they would like to attend. All parents who have children in Reception to Year 6 are invited to attend. The sessions do not apply to nursery.

Each teacher will be delivering a short presentation to parents informing them what they will be covering in class throughout the year. Year 6 parents will also learn about transition arrangements for their child to move into year 7. The presentations will take place in your child's classroom.

We hope you are able to join us and hear about the exciting plans your child's class teacher has for this year.

Children's Voice Elections

We have received lots of applications from children who would like to be a representative on the Children's Voice Council. We plan to run elections shortly and we look forward to informing you who our Children's Voice representatives will be.

Music Scholarship

If your child is interested in the music scholarship please encourage them to make their interest known to Miss Ellett by Friday 27th September 2019.

Music Lessons

We have some availability for private music lessons for children in years 3 to 6. Lessons are £50 per term and we have availability in piano, singing, violin, guitar and recorder. Children have 10 lessons a term and are taught in small groups of 2 or 3 children. Please contact the admin office if you would like your child to participate.

Years 5 and 6 trip to Welsh National Opera

This term Year 5 & 6 have the amazing opportunity to visit the Welsh National Opera’s production of ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The trip is an all expenses paid trip during school time thanks to funding from the Welsh National Opera and is part of their Expressive Arts topic this term.

The trip will take place on Thursday 3rd October from 9:30 am until 2:00pm. Coaches will take the children to and from school to the Millennium Centre. Children will return to school for normal school collection time. All children will require a packed lunch and a carton of drink, children may also bring a small bag of sweets. Should your child qualify for free school meals and require a packed lunch, then please contact the office a minimum of three days in advance.

One of our pupils, Layla from year 4, is playing a hedgehog in the production and we are all very excited about attending the opera to see her perform with the rest of the cast. We are extremely grateful to the Welsh National Opera to be able to enjoy this wonderful opportunity. Please ensure you have completed the Annual Trip Consent Form to enable your child to attend.

Panto - Years 3 to 6

Years 3 to 6 will be visiting the Panto in Porthcawl this years on 18th December. This years children will be entertained by a cast performing Snow White. The performances are always enjoyable. The cost of the trip is £11 and children will require a packed lunch on the day. If you wish your child to attend please ensure payment is made through Parent Pay by Thursday 24th October. Tickets will be booked and paid for on Friday 25th October and we cannot guarantee a place if you have not paid by this date.

Macmillan Coffee Morning - Friday 27th September

We are delighted to be supporting the Macmillan coffee morning again this year. We hope you are able to join us on 27th September for a coffee / tea and a slice of cake between 8.15am and 10am. All money raised will be donated to the Macmillan Cancer Charity. We will be welcoming cake donations from the Thursday 26th but please can we ask that a list of ingredients is included with cakes.

Bridgend Show

We were delighted to learn this week that we have been awarded First Place for the school earning the most points in the Bridgend Show competitions. Well done to everyone that took the time to participate and provide an entry into the Show. We are always keen to support the Show every year and we are delighted to receive a certificate and trophy for our efforts.

School Holiday Club - October Half Term

The Oldcastle holiday club will operate from Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November from 9am to 3.30pm at a cost of £18 per day. Children from the age of 5 years to 11 years will be able to attend the club. Children will be able to participate in a range of exciting sports, and arts and crafts activity sessions throughout the day provided by our qualified staff. The Club will operate in the main hall and nursery areas in the school and utilise other areas as required. Children will need to bring a packed lunch and water to drink throughout the day. Please complete a booking form for each child. Once your booking form has been received we will issue a Parent Pay invoice to you. Discounts are available for sibling and weekly bookings. Please contact the admin team on 01656 815790 or by email holidayclub@oldcastleprimary.co.uk if you have any questions.

Booking forms are available here.

School Savings Club

Savings club takes places every Wednesday. The Credit Union of Wales have an exciting competition for all schools involved in the school savings club. Please have a look at our website via this link for more information. https://bit.ly/2kVkaQi

Choir concert - Friday 11th October

Our school choir will be performing at the Bridgend Male Choir Annual Concert on Friday 11th October at the Sony Theatre, Bridgend College. We have a limited amount of tickets available for parents to buy. Parents of choir children may buy 2 tickets per child at a cost of £10 per adult or £2.50 per child. Please contact the admin office if you would like to purchase tickets. Tickets are also available from the Bridgend Male Choir website.

Parking

We have received complaints from residents of South Street and St Marie Street regarding parents parking and the blocking of driveways. Please can we ask that parents are courteous to local residents and do not block driveways. Thank you for your co-operation.

P.E.

P.E. will be held on the following days for each year group:

• Nursery - Friday
• Reception - Friday
• Year 1 - Monday
• Year 2 - Tuesday
• Year 3 - Monday
• Year 4 - Wednesday
• Year 5 - Thursday
• Year 6 - Thursday

Schools Cross Country Event - Years 3 to 6

The first event for the Schools Cross Country competition will be held at Bryntirion Comprehensive School on Saturday 28^th September.

There are 4 races, with the first race beginning at 10am and therefore attendees must arrive no later than 9.30am. The competition is for junior age children (years 3-6) and children must be accompanied by an adult, who is responsible for their child’s welfare at all times at each venue. The events should be finished by 11am. NO DOGS ARE EVER ALLOWED AT THE EVENTS.

To enter children and parents simply need to meet at the venue and a parent has offered to coordinate children from Oldcastle on the day. Children will be provided with Oldcastle bibs to wear for the competition - these bibs were provided by the PTA and Bridgend Male Choir.

Two further events are provisionally arranged for Saturday 19^th October and Saturday 23^rd November. Venues tbc.

Headteacher Award

The following children were presented with a Headteachers Award during assembly today. This weeks theme is Problem Solving.

• Year 1 Mrs Morcom-Lewis - Henry
• Year 1 Miss Vaughan - Boaz
• Year 2 Mrs Roberts - Isla
• Year 2 Miss Lewis / Mrs Guy - Ilan
• Year 3 Brotherton / Mrs Burr - Reuben
• Year 3 Miss Davies - Lewis
• Year 4 Miss Radford - Chloe
• Year 4 Miss Craven - Lois
• Year 5 Miss Jones - Tomasz
• Year 5 Miss James - Matty
• Year 6 Mrs Coleman - Elin
• Year 6 Mrs Evans - Angelina

Diary Dates

• Wednesday 25th September - Parents Presentation at 3.45pm
• Friday 27th September - Macmillan Coffee Morning 8.15am to 10am
• Saturday 28th September - Schools Cross Country event years 3 to 6
• Tuesday 1st October - Year 2 trip to Techniquest
• Thursday 3rd October - Years 5 and 6 visit to Welsh National Opera at Millennium Centre
• Friday 11th October - Choir concert at Sony Theatre
• Friday 18th October - PTA Clothing Collection
• Friday 25th October - Term Ends
• Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November - Half term
• Monday 4th November - Inset Day
• Tuesday 5th November - Inset Day
• Wednesday 6th November - Back to School
• Wednesday 18th December - Juniors to visit Pantomime
• Friday 20th December - Term Ends
• Monday 6th January - Back to School
• Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February - Half term
• Monday 24th February - Back to School
• 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