Week 6 - Friday 16th October 2020

Once again we want to thank parents for your continued support during these difficult times. We are grateful for the support we receive as we work to ensure we operate Oldcastle Primary safely.

As a general reminder, please continue to use the one way system to access the school - this is working well and aiding in social distancing. We are constantly reviewing the system to ensure that it is as robust as possible. Social distancing is still in operation amongst adults and we ask that you follow the welsh government guidelines.

We are aware of news in the press regarding a circuit break around the half term period. To date no details have been finalised and released to schools. We will endeavour to inform parents of any changes to the school term dates as soon as we hear any details.

At the current time, half term will start on Friday 23rd October and children will return to school Tuesday 3rd November (Monday 2nd November is an inset day).

Parents Evenings - Autumn 2020

Due to the current social distancing measures, it is recommended that traditional parents’ evenings (that is where parents come into school to meet their child’s teachers and discuss progress, with or without the child present) do not take place for the time being.

This means that we will defer our autumn term parents evening which are normally held in October/November of each year.

We continue to ensure that teaching staff are available to discuss any concerns parents may have, and engage with parents via other means where appropriate. Where a discussion with a parent cannot take place via these routes and face-to-face contact is considered necessary then appropriate measures would need to be put in place, including social distancing of two metres.

If you have any concerns and would like to speak to your child's teacher please email ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk or speak to the Office Team on 01656 815790.

Young Minds

Thank you to everyone that supported our charity fundraiser last week we are delighted to inform you that you raised over £360!

School Savings Club

Wow we had 104 savers at our school savings club this week. The last time we had this amount of savings was June 2018! What a fantastic turnout. So lovely to see many of our pupils saving their money. Well done! Thank you for your support. Savings Club will continue every Wednesday morning. If your child would like to join please download and complete an application form available on our website. Every new child account will receive £2 from the school to start them on their savings journey. School Savings Club Application Form

National Cycle Training - Year 6 only - please return the form if you haven't already done so.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Road Safety Team in partnership with the Prevention & Wellbeing service will shortly be offering National Standard Cycle Training. There’s a requirement for each child to have a road worthy correct size cycle together with a helmet to the correct British standard. Parents in year 6 have received a letter which will need to be completed and returned to school providing permission for your child to take part.

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. Please also remember that grapes should not be sent into school.

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 clothing

Please can parents ensure that all school jumpers and coats are labelled with your child's name. It is extremely difficult to get items back to children if a name is not written on the item of clothing.

Children in Need

We are delighted to support Children in Need again this year in November. After the stress and worry of the coronavirus pandemic, the charity are making children's mental health their number one priority this year. As part of our commitment to Children in Need we aim to supercharge our pupils mental welbeing. We look forward to telling you more nearer the time!

Local residents

Once again we have been asked by local residents to remind parents that South Street and St Marie Street are residential areas. Please can parents be mindful of local residents when arriving and leaving school in particular be considerate when parking and walking past property. Some residents have contacted us to ask that pupils do not tap on doors and windows as they pass the houses. South Street has particularly limited parking and we suggest that parents find an alternative place to park. Thank you for your cooperation.

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.

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

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. Letters will be sent home with children in Reception to Year 6 after half term - all parents are required to complete a form to indicate if your child will be having the vaccine.