Week 7 - Friday 18th October 2019

STEM Days

Oldcastle Primary School are delighted to let you know about some exciting educational experiences we have coming up after half term.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) week has played an important role in our school calendar for the last few years. This year we are keen to develop the focus on science, technology and maths subjects even more with the introduction of focused learning days throughout the school year. We have 5 STEM Days planned throughout the school year and the first of these will take place following the October half term inset days.

Wednesday 6th November will be an exciting start to the new school term as we head straight into our STEM day with a launch assembly! Throughout the day we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Lunar landings and look at the future projects for moon landing and the possibility of building on the moon! Pupils will take part in investigations, taking on different STEM roles to determine if its possible to build on the moon, how to get there, where is best to build and what we need.

The STEM days held throughout the school year will be used as evidence for Oldcastle to gain The Space Education Quality Mark. The Space Education Quality Mark (SEQM) is awarded to schools who want to inspire and engage students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. At Oldcastle we are fully committed to doing this!

Thursday 7th November will also be a STEM Day with our focus being on technology and digital wellbeing. As technology continues to be such a huge part of our lives, it has an impact on our digital well-being. Digital well-being is about having an awareness of how our online activities can make us feel and the importance of looking after ourselves and others online. It also includes understanding what to do if something goes wrong. Throughout the day children will be taking part in a range of activities to understand how we use the internet in our daily lives and how we can make sure it doesn’t effect our wellbeing.

As a school we will be working towards a Welsh Government Safer Internet Day competition in February as part of Safer Internet Day. The aim will be to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. The competition aims to encourage children and young people to express their creativity and share their understanding of digital well-being and online safety issues. The theme of the competition is “A better internet: How to look after yourself and others”.

Children throughout the school will be involved in creating a film that is an advert in a public announcement style. Aimed at their friends and family, the film will explore how to look after yourself and others online. This will also include the impact that being online can have on our emotions, mental well-being and even on our physical health and knowing what to do if something goes wrong. Parents will need to complete a media consent form to enable children to be part of the filming.

In order for your child to take part in the Safer Internet Day film we require parental consent. Please complete the Google form and press submit if you consent to your child being included in the filming. Consent Form

Harvest Festival

As part of our school harvest festival celebrations we have been collecting for Bridgend Foodbank. Thank you to everyone that has bought in items of food and donated to the Foodbank.

In school today we held our Harvest Celebration assembly and each class from years 1 to 6 took part in the whole school assembly. We would like to say a special thank you to Mrs Christine Judd from Nolton Church who supported our assembly with a story and a prayer.

• Year 1 performed a harvest song
• Year 2 delivered a food poem
• Year 3 performed a acrostic poem
• Year 4 performed a poem on volunteers
• Year 5 Harvest Time poem
• Year 6 Harvest around the world

Remembrance Celebrations

On Friday 8th November we will be participating as a whole school in remembrance day activities to mark the 80th anniversary of the start of World War 2. Children will be working throughout the day to create a display of poppies in our main hall and working on poetry to mark the event.

We would like to involve parents and the local community in our commemorations and will be inviting parents and grandparents to view our poppy display in the afternoon - times to be confirmed.

Do you have a relative that was involved in World War 1 or World 2? As part of our remembrance celebrations we are asking parents to send in names of relatives who they wish to be remembered and our children will write the name on a poppy and it will be included in our display. Remembrance Day Commemoration Form.

Our celebrations will culminate for children on Monday 11th November when they will mark a minutes silence at 11am and read out a poem per year group.

Following half term we will have poppies and other Royal British Legion merchandise available for pupils to purchase.

Allergy Advice

Please can we remind parents that Oldcastle Primary strive to be a nut free school. We have children and staff with a nut allergy and we would ask that nut products are not included in packed lunches. Thank you for your cooperation.

Oldcastle School PTA - Annual General Meeting

The PTA held an Annual General Meeting on Thursday after school. At the meeting, the current committee members decided to stand down and not put themselves forward for re-election. Elections were held and Angela Minton was elected as Chair of the PTA. Congratulations Angela. Angela is mum to Olly in year 2 and has been involved with other PTA's and education establishments for a number of years.

At the meeting no one was elected into the position of Secretary or Treasurer so an additional meeting will be held on Thursday 7th November at 3.30pm. The outgoing committee members have pledged to still be involved and will work with whoever is involved in the PTA. The constitution of the PTA states that there MUST be 3 committee members so please consider getting involved. The PTA is a great way to meet parents and become involved in the Oldcastle Primary community. We hope you will be able to attend and show your support to ensure the PTA continues to operate at our school.

The School would like to thank the outgoing PTA for all their hard work and dedication to fundraising over the last few years.

PTA Clothing Collection

The PTA clothing collection today was a great success and raised £101 for the PTA. Thank you to everyone who bought in bags for the clothing collection.

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 will be issued in November.

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 1.30pm - parents will receive 1 ticket for the morning and 1 for the afternoon

Year 6 - applications to secondary school

Bridgend County Borough Council will be accepting applications for pupils transferring from year 6 to secondary school from Monday 21st October. More information is available on the BCBC website. www.bridgend.gov.uk

Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner will be served on Thursday 12th December. The cost of the meal is £2.20. Please inform us if your child requires Christmas dinner or if they will be bringing their own sandwiches on this day - a response is required for both options.

Payment for the Christmas dinner should be made to your child's dinner account via Bridgend County Borough Council website. Please ensure payment is received before Monday 9th December. Children who receive free school meals will need to order a dinner via the form but payment will not be required. Christmas lunch will not be served to any child with no credit on their account.

Please complete a separate form for multiple children. Please return the form by 21st November to guarantee a Christmas dinner for your child.

Christmas Dinner Form

Criw Cymraeg

At Oldcastle we are aiming to enthuse our children to use Welsh in every aspect of their lives. Criw Cymraeg have been slected by teachers and they will be responsible for choosing a welsh word and phrase of the week for the entire school. Criw Cymraeg members for 2019 / 20 are:

• 2G/L - Holly
• 2R - Isla
• 3B - Bella
• 3D - Ella B
• 4C - Edyth A
• 4R - Layla
• 5JJ - Florence
• 5JJ - Rafferty
• 5BJ - Seren
• 5BJ - Taylor
• 6C - Rhys H
• 6C - Jessy
• 6E - Isabelle R
• 6E - Ben

Our chosen phrases of the week are (the words in italic are the phonetic pronunciation of the words) :

Diolch (Thank you) Croeso (You’re welcome)

Dee- ol- ch (ch as in chwech) Croy- so

Sut wyt ti? (How are you?)

Sit oit tee?

Data Collection Sheets

It is important that we hold up to date contact information for your child. You will have received a copy of the contact numbers we hold - please can you check the numbers and email addresses and confirm the data we hold is correct. The data sheet will need to be returned to school.

We are continuing to email parents with relevant information regarding the school and your child's class, if you have not been receiving emails from notifications@primarysite.net please check your spam. If you have changed your email address please ensure you let us know.

Panto - Years 3 to 6 - please pay by 24th October

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.

Schools Cross Country Event - Years 3 to 6

The next event for the Schools Cross Country competition will be held at Brynteg Comprehensive School on Saturday 18th October. Good luck to all that attend!

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.

School Nurse Nasal Flu Spray - 23rd October

Parents of children in reception to year 6 have received a nasal flu spray consent form for your child. If you have not returned the form please return to school as soon as possible. The form will need to be returned even if you do not consent to your child receiving the vaccine. The nurses will be in school on 23rd October.

School Photos

Individual and sibling school photos were sent home with children this week. If you wish to order through the school, please send in order by Wednesday 23rd October. Thank you.

Headteacher Award

• Due to our Harvest celebrations headteachers awards did not take place today.

Half term events

We have been informed of an event that is taking place in half term that parents and children may find interested.

Bewitched Bridgend takes place on Thursday 31st October from 11am to 3pm in the Rhiw Shopping Centre and Indoor Market. There will be lots of halloween fun activities throughout the day.

Diary Dates

• Saturday 19th October - Schools cross country event for years 3 to 6
• Friday 25th October - Year 4 trip to fire station
• 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 20th November - 5JJ trip to the Senedd
• Wednesday 27th November - 5BJ trip to the Senedd
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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