Week 20 - Friday 8th February 2019

Welcome to our newsletter for week ending 8th February. It has been a busy week in school, especially with our canteen not being accessible due to a new electrical distribution board being installed. We would like to thank Catering Services and the catering team for adapting to the change in circumstances and operating a dinner service this week. Thank you also to the Breakfast Club staff and our own staff for ensuring the smooth running throughout the changes this week. The canteen building is back to normal and we look forward to updating you with news of our solar panel installation on the canteen roof shortly.

Money Skills

Over the following two weeks we will be having visitors into school to deliver sessions to our children around money.

Children in reception to year 2 will learn 'How we use money' and understand that there are choices to make regarding what to do with money. They will also understand that money can be spent, saved or donated and also the differences between needs and wants.

Years 3 and 4 will help solve a fraud that has been committed and they will understand different types of scams and financial fraud. They will also learn the financial and emotional impact of identity theft and how to protect themselves and others from identity theft and fraud.

Years 5 and 6 will be planning a party! As part of their session they will learn how to identify what makes a good party, plan and organise a party by making decisions about what to include within a set budget and identify costs and show an understanding of value for money.

We will also have additional sessions from Bridgend Credit Union who will be helping each class understand the importance of savings. In particular foundation phase will look at the importance of savings money for the things they need, and juniors will learn about managing their money as they get older.

The above sessions are being provided by Nat West and the Credit Union, and we are extremely grateful to them for coming along to provide these exciting sessions.

Parent Governor Vacancy

We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor. If you are interested in becoming a Governor at Oldcastle Primary please apply by providing a statement of 100 words or less on why you would like to become a School Governor. Please send this information in by email to admin.oldcastleprimary@bridgend.gov.uk or drop it into the school office. Governors play a key role in leading, supporting and improving schools. They act as a link between parents, the local community and the school. They are impartial and make decisions that seek to improve the school. If you would like further information on becoming a School Governor please click here. Application statements need to be submitted by Friday 15th February 2019.

Cross Country Competition

There is a Cross Country competition for children in years 3 to 6 on Saturday 16th February. The competition will be held in Ynysawdre Comprehensive and will start at 10am. Registration will take place at 9.30am and children will need to arrive at this time if they wish to attend.

School Vacancies

We currently have 2 vacancies for Learning Support Officers. For further information please view the details on our website. https://bit.ly/2Wz3k7B The closing date for applications is 18th February 2019 at midday.

Eisteddfod - Monday 4th March

We will be holding our annual Eisteddfod celebrations on Monday 4th March. Children are busy in school working towards the Eisteddfod competitions focusing on welsh art, handwriting and poetry. Children will also be creating a piece of digital art. We are excited to see the results and we look forward to sharing some of these with you. In the morning of the 4th March we will hold a celebration assembly when we will celebrate the Chairing of the Bard (a year 6 pupil who wins the poetry competition). During the afternoon children will have the opportunity to discover more about welsh crafts and culture.

School Savings Club

We had an increase in savers this week with 78 children at our School Saving Club this week saving over £720 amongst them. Don't forget School Savings Club takes place every Wednesday morning and new members are always welcome. The school provides £2 into the account of every child that joins the school savings scheme. School Savings Club is open from 8.45am if you would prefer to bring your child with their savings, or children have the opportunity to visit the Savings Club with their class throughout the morning. We look forward to seeing our school savers every Wednesday and look forward to hearing what they are savings towards.

Table Tennis

Well done to Seren and Evelyn from year 4 who are took part in the Welsh National Primary School Table Tennis Championships in the Sports Wales Centre on Wednesday 6th February. We are delighted to let you know that they came 13th out of 39 schools, and Seren has been selected to represent Wales at the forthcoming Table Tennis International Primary Schools Competition in Belfast. Ardderchog!

Glamorgan Gazette St David's Day photo

Nursery and reception children will be bringing home a proof for the Glamorgan Gazette St David's Day photo today. If you would like to order through the school please return by Thursday 14th February.

Tree Works

You may have noticed some tree work in the playground this afternoon. The Local Authority have undertaken a survey of the large tree is the main yard and a tree expert has identified the tree to be dangerous. Unfortunately the tree has to be removed. As a result of the removal of the tree we are committed to planting some trees in large containers. We will keep you updated.

Cardiff Museum

Our year 2 and 6 children were thrilled to visit the National Museum Cardiff this week and see the spacecraft that brought British astronaut Tim Peake back to Earth from the International Space Station. Children were excited to get up close to the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, complete with fully-equipped interior and see the char marks on its outer body from its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. They were also able to see Tim Peake’s Sokol KV-2 emergency spacesuit, the spacecraft antenna, interactive displays about the International Space Station (ISS) and life in space.

Children were also able to look at other exciting exhibitions in the museum and had a fantastic time. Museum staff completed teaching staff on the behaviour of our pupils.

Code Club

Our Digital Leaders had great fun using @Sphero @SpheroEdu to demonstrate the difference of particle movement in a solid, liquid and gas. Looks amazing! Our digital leaders are looking forward to sharing their knowledge with other classes in the coming weeks.

Headteacher Award

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

• Year 1 Mrs Morcom-Lewis - Leila
• Year 1 Miss Mullins - Isla
• Year 2 Mrs Roberts - Oliver
• Year 2 Mrs Evans - Malakai
• Year 3 Miss Minkowski - Esme
• Year 3 Miss Davies - Katerina
• Year 4 Miss Jones - Seren
• Year 4 Miss Craven - Faith
• Year 5 Mr Clements - Tayja
• Year 5 Miss James- Evan
• Year 6 Mrs Coleman - Sophie
• Year 6 Mrs Taylor-Jones - Lola

Attendance of the Week

Class of the Week for the best attendance was awarded to 1M (96.4%) in Foundation Phase and 6TJ (97.6%) in Key Stage 2. Our whole school attendance target is 95.9% for the year. This week’s attendance was 92.1%.

Diary Dates

• Week beginning 11th February - 5J swimming
• Saturday 16 February - Schools Cross Country years 3 to 6
• Week beginning 18th February - 6T swimming
• Half term - 25th February to 1st March
• Back to School - Monday 4th March
• Monday 4th March - Eisteddfod
• Week beginning 4th March - 6C swimming
• Friday 15th March - School Council Fundraiser 'Red Nose Day'
• Friday 22nd March - Year 5 trip to Big Pit
• Tuesday 26th March - Reception trip to Cefn Mably
• Inset Day - Monday 22nd July 2019

Inset Days 2019/20

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