Week 11 - Friday 27th November 2020

Once again we want to thank our parents and children for the support over the last week.

The change in Welsh Government guidance regarding the use of face coverings on school premises was taken on board by our parents so efficiently.

The guidance states : All parents and carers to wear a face covering when visiting school, dropping off and collecting pupils.

We really are grateful that parents are supportive of these measures that are put in place to keep our staff and parents safe in these times. The response from parents has been overwhelmingly supportive and we can't thank you enough for helping us implement the guidance. Working together we can keep ourselves and others safe.

Please can we also remind parents of the Welsh Government guidelines regarding COVID 19 -

• If you or any other member of your household has COVID symptoms you must stay at home. If you have symptoms you should get a test.

• Children should not attend school if you or someone else in your household has symptoms or is having a test.

• Once the test result is received as negative children may return to school. Please inform the school when you receive the test result.

• If a positive result is received children should isolate for the 14 day period.

After School Club

After school club bookings for the period, 4th January to 12th February are now open and available to book. Deadline for booking a place is 4th December.

Please book by clicking on the link below. All bookings should be made via the form.

After School Club Bookings January to February 2021

Christmas Dinner

Don't forget if you have booked a Christmas dinner for your child these will take place on the following dates. Please ensure you have paid the money into your child's dinner money account at least 24 hours beforehand.

Thursday 10th December - Nursery, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 5

Friday 11th December - Reception, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6

As we will be limited to space during the serving of Christmas dinner we will require all children to bring sandwiches on the day that their year group is NOT having Christmas dinner.

Children may Christmas jumpers on the Christmas Dinner days.

Oldcastle PTA

For your information the Christmas event planned by the PTA will now take place on Monday 7th December. More details next week!

PTA Committee

Angela Minton - Olly Year 3

Kim Lewis - Lewis Year 4, Aaron Year 2, Dewi Nursery

Lowri McCausland - Eli Year 4, Ozias Year 2, Aoife Year 1

Julia Shaw - Reuben Year 1

Website Review

We are looking to undertake a review of our school website to ensure it responds to our parents needs. The website has been in operation for a few years and we are keen to make it mobile responsive. As well as making it more accessible via mobile devices and tablets we will be refreshing the design. We are keen to hear views from parents on the content and design of the website - in normal circumstances we would arrange a parents focus group but at the present time we are unable to arrange this. However please let us know if you have any views or suggestions by completing this form. We look forward to hearing your comments.

Website Review Form

School Savings Club

Another busy week in school savings club with 105 savers from all year groups. We really are so proud of our pupils who take part in the savings club to save their money. We always love to hear what the children are saving for! Its that time of year when children may wish to withdraw some of their money from the savings account. If the wish to do this the best option at the present time is to complete the online form via the Bridgend School Savers website and this can be sent directly to parents via BACS payment.

Click here Bridgend School Savers Website or click this link for the Withdrawal Form

Nasal Flu Vaccine

The school nursing team will be in school on Thursday 3rd December to administer the nasal flu vaccine to children whose parents have provided consent.

Headlice

Please can we ask that parents check their child's hair this weekend for headlice.

Admissions to Reception Class

The local authority applications to reception classes opened to parents from Monday 23rd November. All parents of children in our current nursery class will need to apply for a place in the reception class for September 2021. Applications should be made via Bridgend Council website - the closing date for applications is 4pm on 12th February 2021. Please click the link below to access the application process.

Reception Class Application Process

School App

Don't forget we use The School App for lots of our communication to parents. Parents will need to download the app in the Play or App stores. Once downloaded type in Oldcastle Primary School and you will be able to view our school. If you have any problems accessing the school app please let us know. Emails are another method of communication we regularly use so please ensure we have the most up to date email address for you. We regularly send emails and app messages so if you are not receiving them please get in touch.

Inset Days

Inset days for the school year have been approved and these are:

• Monday 12th April 2021

• Monday 7th June 2021

• Monday 19th July 2021

• Tuesday 20th July 2021

Bridgend Elf Trail and Bridgend Brass Bus Tour

Please find below information from Bridgend Town Council regarding Christmas activities.

Bridgend Elf Trail:

This year Bridgend Town Council will run the Bridgend Christmas Elf Trail.

Elf hunters/detectives needed!

Santa’s elves have hidden in windows and shop fronts around Bridgend Town Centre, use the map below with its picture clues to find all 14! Post your selfies with the elves to our Bridgend Elf Trail Facebook page with the hash tag #bridgendelfieselfie for a chance to win a fabulous goodie bag.

Competition Details

• Competition runs from 28th November - 24th December.

• One lucky person will be selected at random from our Bridgend Elf Trail Facebook page.

• Each selfie posted with #bridgendelfieselfie or #bridgendelftrail counts as 1 entry.

• Entrants need to make their posts public so that we can see them.

• Children will need the permission of a parent or guardian before sharing their picture and in compliance with terms and

conditions of use for Facebook.

• This trail and competition is run by Bridgend Town Council.

Have fun finding our elves and exploring Bridgend Town Centre. We can’t wait to see your Elfie selfies!

Bringing Christmas to the wards:

As a substitute for Santa’s grotto this year we will take Santa on a tour of the Bridgend Town Council wards.

Bridgend Brass Band Bus

Bridgend Town Council will bring traditional Christmas cheer to residents in the wards of Morfa, Newcastle, and Oldcastle this Christmas. The RAF St. Athan Voluntary Band will visit the wards to play carols and Christmas music from an open top double decker bus. There will also be a very special visitor aboard the bus - Santa!! Please follow our Bridgend Town Council Facebook Page where further details of Santa’s route will be released closer to the date. Please Note: The bus is unable to go into Wildmill due to the height of the bridges. An alternative mode of transport will be arranged for Santa to this area. This activity is weather permitting and will not be able to take place if the weather is inclement.

Year 4 - HYGGE

Year 4 focused on wellbeing by enjoying the simple things in life with our friends and family. Children have learnt that the term "HYGGE" is defined as "Finding beauty in the simple things allows us to really enjoy what we have in the moment". The children have been playing card games, board games, colouring and drawing in a calm and relaxing environment this afternoon.

COVID Symptoms

Please remember if you or child presents any othe COVID symptoms you must self isolate and have a test.

• High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature);

• New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual);

• Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

Please can we also remind parents of the Welsh Government guidelines regarding COVID 19 -

• If you or any other member of your household has COVID symptoms you must stay at home. If you have symptoms you should get a test.

• Children should not attend school if you or someone else in your household has symptoms or is having a test.

• Once the test result is received as negative children may return to school. Please inform the school when you receive the test result.

• If a positive result is received children should isolate for the 14 day period.

Keeping in contact

Please ensure you contact the school in the following ways when you need to inform us of COVID symptoms and / or test.

Telephone - 01656 815790 during school hours

And / or Email - ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk