Week 4 - Friday 2nd October 2020

Another week has flown by and we can't believe we are now into October. Thank you for your ongoing support throughout this difficult 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

Thank you

Our staff were delighted to receive a special gift this week from the Compassion Church in Bridgend. All staff received a care package in the form of chocolates, hand sanitiser, hand cream and disinfectant wipes. Our staff were so touched by the gesture and we all want to thank the Compassion Church for thinking of us and appreciating everything that we do. The chocolates certainly didn't last long!

World Mental Health Day fundraising - Wear Yellow on Friday 9th October!

Young people are at the heart of what we do, and we want to make sure that everyone is talking about mental health. World Mental Health Day is on Friday 9th October and we would like to get everyone talking about mental health at Oldcastle Primary on this day.

As part of our awareness we will be supporting the YoungMinds charity through their #helloyellow campaign. The charity has the aim of improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

We encourage all our children and staff to wear yellow on Friday 9th October to support the charity - children may bring in a donation to the charity.

www.youngminds.org.uk

School Assessments

During each year the school uses a range of testing tools for assessing pupils but also to support teachers with the planning and delivering learning. In previous years we have bought in such tools and online assessments and will continue to do this in some subject areas. However, we will also use the personalised assessment tools available via HWB from Welsh Government. We intend to do this over the next few weeks and will repeat this in the summer term 2021. If you have any questions about this please let the school know and we would be happy to discuss these with you.

School Savings Club

It was so lovely to see our young savers at Savings Club this week. We had 58 savers this week well done! Thank you for your support. Savings Club will continue every Wednesday morning.

Breakfast Club

At the present time we, along with our cluster of primary schools, have decided not to operate the breakfast club facility at Oldcastle Primary. This is in relation to a risk assessment undertaken on the operation of the breakfast club in the canteen facility. School governors approved this decision this week. The decision will be constantly reviewed and we will look at how this service may be provided in the future.

Late Club / After School Club

As previously communicated late club will not be running at the present time due to COVID restrictions. Booking for after school club after half term can be made from next week. A booking form will be sent by email to parents next week.

Packed lunch / snacks

Please remember that we have a number of children in school with a nut allergy. Please do not send in any items that contain nuts into school. This includes nutella bars and peanut butter sandwiches.

If your child brings an item in their packed lunch that requires a spoon / fork they will need to bring one into school with them. We do not have a supply of spoons or forks to provide to our packed lunch children.

School Photos

The school photographer has been in school today taking individual photos of children. The proofs from the photos will be sent home to parents on Monday.

Safer Internet Day

Welsh Government launched their Safer Internet Day competition with schools this week and we were delighted to be informed that the photo used to promote the scheme was of our children! Last year we were runners up in the competition with an entry from our reception children. Here's a reminder of our reception children promoting how to stay safe online. Online Safety Video

Launch press release with Oldcastle photo

Inset Days

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

• Monday 2nd November 2020

• Monday 12th April 2021

• Monday 7th June 2021

• Monday 19th July 2021

• Tuesday 20th July 2021

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.

Your child will not be able to attend school if they have any of the above symptoms. Please also let us know if your child has been advised to have a test so that we can provide appropriate information to Public Health Wales if required.

P.E.

On the days when your child's class has P.E. they should wear their P.E. kit to school for the day instead of their uniform.. P.E. kit should consist of dark shorts / leggings / tracksuit and a white t-shirt. On top of the P.E. kit we recommend a school hoodie / jumper / cardigan, tracksuit and trainers. Please also remember that jewellery should not be worn for P.E - this includes earrings, necklaces, rings and hard headbands - and long hair should be tied back.

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

• Reception - Thursday

• Year 1 - Monday

• Year 2 - Friday

• Year 3 - Wednesday

• Year 4 - Tuesday

• Year 5 - Friday

• Year 6 - Thursday

Water Bottle

Please can you ensure your child comes to school with a water bottle that is named. Children in years 3 - 6 will need to ensure they have sufficient supply for the day, either by bringing in a large bottle or two smaller bottles, this is due to accessibility to water supplies outside of their class bubble.

Nasal Flu Vaccination Programme

The School nursing team have booked the nasal flu vaccination programme to take place at Oldcastle on Thursday 3rd December. More information will be provided nearer the time.