House Rewards

Today in assembly Mrs Littlewood announced  the house rewards for the period September to November.  A massive total of 33,067 reward tokens have been collected over this period. Wow well done to all our children who achieved a token for positive and polite behaviour and working well in class.

On Wednesday 29th November we will hold a Rewards Day for each year group and house colour to take part in their reward. The rewards are chosen by our junior leaders and are detailed below.  Please note all dietary requirements will be taken into consideration with any food related activities.

Blue house don't forget your PJ's on Wednesday!

Sports Fixtures

Today our netball and rugby teams hosted Cefn Cribbwr.  We were delighted to be able to arrange sports fixtures today and even better that the school came to visit us.   Well done to everyone that took part and represented Oldcastle today.

Our rugby team today.  

• Well done to our rugby team who won 6 tries to 1 against Cefn Cribbwr.

Our netball teams today.  Three teams played in matches with the scores as follows:

• Team 1 - winning 11 to 1 - Player of the Match Nieve

• Team 2 - winning 4 to 1 - Player of the Match Rosie 

• Team 3 - winning 8 to 0 - Player of the Match Leila

Willow Weaving

Today, some of our pupils have been able to take part in a Willow Weaving Workshop with Melanie Bastier from Out To Learn Willow.  The workshop was funded by Bridgend Town Council as part of its community engagement plan for Christmas 2023.  Excellent work.

School Country Country Years 3 to 6 tomorrow

The Schools Cross Country competition for children in years 3 to 6 takes place on Saturday 25th November in Brynteg Comprehensive School.  Please meet at 9.30am for a 10am start.  A staff member will be in attendance on the day to co-odinate the children into events. 

We are delighted to announce that we have received funding from two local businesses to purchase new cross country bibs.  We are so pleased to be able to buy this new kit we hope to receive these in the next few weeks.  Many thanks to Fox Landscaping and ECS Solutions.

Christmas Tree

We are so grateful for all the support we have received following our appeal for a Christmas tree.  We are so lucky to have such thoughtful parents and local businesses  and we look forward to sharing more details of our Christmas display with you next week.

Parent Governor Vacancy - Closing Date 24th November 2023

We currently have a vacancy for a parent governor on our school Governing Body.  Parent governors are parents of children who attend the school.  They are voted on to the school’s governing body by other parents whose children attend the school.   School governors play an important role in school life to lead, support and improve.  They act as a between parents, the local community and the school. Governors are impartial and make decisions that seek to improve the school. 

You do not need any particular qualifications to become a school governor as you will benefit from free training, but you do need to be aged 18 or over and you will need to have:

• an interest in our children’s future

• the desire to make a difference

• time and energy

• a readiness to accept responsibility

• the commitment to work in a team

• the enthusiasm to ask questions, listen and learn

• the motivation to help shape the future of education within Bridgend County Borough.

Once appointed, a school governor’s term of office lasts for four years. You would be expected to attend three governing body meetings per school year, one in each term, and committee meetings, where relevant.

For further information on the application process please click here.  Please complete an application form using the specified criteria and return to admin@oldcastleps.bridgend.cymru

Application Closing Date - Friday 24th November 2023

Christmas Concerts

We know its early to be talking about Christmas but we appreciate that parents like to be given plenty of notice regarding Christmas concerts.  Christmas concerts will take place on the following days and times.  There will be two performances per year group and parents / carers will be able to apply for up to 2 tickets for each performance.  Tickets will be £1 per person and payment can be made in cash on the door at the time of the concert.  Please complete the google form below to reserve your tickets for the performances you wish to attend.

• Nursery - Our First Nativity - Nursery Ticket Application Form

• Reception - Happy Birthday Jesus - Reception Ticket Application Form

• Year 1 - Christmas Show    - Year 1 Ticket Application Form

• Year 2 - Christmas Around The World - Year 2 Ticket Application Form

• Year 3 - Christmas Around The World - Year 3 Ticket Allocation Form

• Year 4 - A Star For Christmas - Year 4 Ticket Allocation Form

• Year 5 - Christmas in the 80's - Year 5 Ticket Allocation Form

• Year 6 - Christmas At The Movies - Year 6 Ticket Allocation Form

PTA Annual General Meeting

At the Parent and Teacher Association annual general meeting this week the following parents were voted in as committee members:

• Chair - Lowri George

• Vice Chair - Kim Lewis

• Treasurer - Lowri McCausland

• Secretary - Vacant

The school would like to thank outgoing chair Mrs Angela Minton for her support and commitment to the school over her term as chair of the PTA.

The PTA still have a vacant position for the role of secretary.  If you are interested in finding out more information on this voluntary position please do get in touch or contact the PTA directly via their Facebook page.

We look forward to sharing information with you on events and activities organised by the PTA.    The PTA will be supporting the Christmas concerts in December with the sale of refreshment and raffle tickets.

Christmas Hamper Donations

The PTA are asking for donations to create colourful Christmas hampers for each Christmas Concert Performance. The hampers will be raffled at each Christmas Concert performance.

We would be grateful if children / parents can donate an item based on the below colours for each class. Donations can be whatever you wish in that colour such as, chocolates, sweets, smellies, candles, tea, coffee, drinks, biscuits or novelty items etc.

Please hand any donations into the school office.  Deadline for the donations is Friday 1st December.

Thank you for your support.

Christmas Tree – School Cash Back Scheme

If you are trimming up this weekend, please remember that Ty Cerrig Christmas Tree Farm in  Bonvilston, CF5 6TR currently have a scheme where our school can earn money. The scheme enables participating schools to receive money back from your tree purchase - simply select our school from the drop down in the appointment menu or mention our school name when you pay at the farm to earn cash back for Oldcastle School. 

Please see the website for more information.

https://www.tycerrigchristmastrees.co.uk/

Nativity Costume / Christmas Jumper Donations

Do you have any nativity costumes or Christmas Jumpers that your child has grown out of?  We will happily accept these as donations to pass these onto other children.  We hope to have a range of costumes that we can display on a clothes rail and parents will be able to help themselves.  Please drop any donations into the school office.  Thank you for your support.

Reading Workshops

Mrs Burr will be holding reading events for parents in the new year.  The sessions will provide parents with an overview of reading within Oldcastle Primary School.  The sessions will be held on the following dates - please complete the short Google form if you would like to like.

• Nursery to Year 1 - 11th January - 9.15 am to 10am and 3.30pm to  4.15pm   Booking Form

• Year 2 to Year 6 - 18th January - 9.15am to 10am and 2.15pm to 3pm  Booking Form

School Attendance

Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%. This week the attendance across the school was 94.7%.

School Uniform Policy

Please can we remind parents of the following which is contained in our School Uniform Policy.  For your information our school policies are available to view on our website.

School Uniform Policy 

School Start Time

Please can we remind all parents from nursery to year 6 that school starts at 8.55am.  Children who arrive after this time cause disruption to the class registration process. Children who arrive after 9.05am are marked as late on the class register.

Dinner Money

Payment for school dinners should be made via the Bridgend Council website.  Please ensure your child's account has funds at least 48 hours before they require a school dinner.

Throughout the year we will implement the following values each month.

• September - Determination and Perseverance

• October - Respect and Responsibility

• November - Friendship and forgiveness 

• December - Compassion and Hope  / Understanding and Patience

• January - Community and Service 

• February - Co-operation and being a good citizen within society

• March - Learning and Effort

• April - Showing gratitude

• May - Care and Generosity

• June - Honesty and trust

• July - Taking and managing risks

At Oldcastle, we are proud of each other and ourselves. We nurture all of our community so that we grow as confident, responsible and happy people. Oldcastle school is more than just learning.

• We try hard for each other

• We act responsibly

• We treat people how we’d like to be treated

• We work as a team

• We trust and respect each other

• We listen and learn together

• We share knowledge and experience

Together we make the difference

Together we shape innovative experiences 

More information on our values and visions can be found on our website.  Visions and Values

Nut Free School

Please can we remind parents that we strive to be a nut free school as we have a number of pupils who have a severe allergy to nuts.  

This includes nut products such as peanut butter and nutella. 

Contact details

Please ensure we have up to date contact details for you to ensure you keep up to date with school news and we are able to contact you during the school day if required.  You can either email us with change of details (ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk) or complete the change of details form.  

Bridgend Town Council have an event this weekend to switch the Christmas lights on.  The event will also include the following FREE activities:

• Elf School - come as yourself, leave as an elf

• Walking parade with Santa, the Grinch, illuminated angels, naughty elves and panto characters

• Switch on at 5pm

• Entertainment stage featuring local choirs, a saxophone quartet and Bridgend College’s Jack and the Beanstalk Cast.

• Photo opportunities in the Giant Snow Globe and accessible sleigh

• Free festive Welshcakes and Christmas themed side stalls.

• The Grinch who will be causing mischief around the town centre.

Language and Play

We had our last LAP session on Thursday and it was based on the ‘Stickman’ storybook.  The children made their very own stickman/lady and decorated them beautifully.  They also got to make a chocolate stickman with edible eyes!  Other activities included making a split pin stickman and the letter ‘S’ out of playdough. We finished the session singing ‘Away in a Manger’, which the children have been busy practising for their Christmas Nativity.  Thank you to all the grown ups that have joined us this term and to Mrs Perry for helping out.  We will be running NAP (Numbers and Play) in January, so make sure that you look out for the email with all the information on how to sign up. 

This week in nursery

Nursery have been thinking about what they look like and have painted self portraits and made a mini me. They look fabulous. Dai Iawn Nursery!

Year 3 are creating box film sets to retell the story of Ruby Bridges using Stop Motion as part of their Women who Changed the World unit 

Enrichement Tennis

Enrichment Cooking

Squash Success

Well done to Heidi in year 5 who competed in the England Squash Inter counties Tournament recently, representing the Wales Regional Team, as player No. 1 in the girls U11's. Although still recovering from broken toes, Heidi won all her matches, and the team secured a place in the finals early next year. 

Her next competition will be in January where Heidi will compete in the British Junior Open Championships  competing against players from all over the world, the only Welsh girl in U11's.

• 25th November - Cross Country years 3 to 6

• 4th to 6th December - Year 6 Residential Trip to Culmington Manor

• 13th December - Christmas Dinner Day

• 18th December - Nursery and Reception The Little Elf Event

• 20th December - Pantomime Years 1 to 6

• 21st December- Last Day in School 

• 22nd December - Inset Day

• 8th January - Return to School

The next Parents Evenings are planned for week beginning 11th March 2024.

Inset Days 2023/24

Inset Days have been approved by Governors for 2023/24 and they are as follows:

• Monday 4th September 2023

• Friday 22nd December 2023

• Monday 19th February 2024

• Friday 22nd March 2024

• Monday 3rd June 2024

• Monday 22nd July 2024

P.E. lessons this term will take place on the following days.  Children attending school should wear their P.E. kit to school on the day of their lesson.

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Thursday

• Year 1 - Wednesday

• Year 2 - Monday

• Year 3 - Thursday

• Year 4 - Tuesday

• Year 5 - Wednesday

• Year 6 - Monday

In the event that you have a concern regarding a child please follow this procedure:

• During school hours please contact Mrs Ceri Littlewood, safeguarding lead at Oldcastle Primary School.

• Out of school hours please  contact  the  out of hours Emergency Duty Team Tel No 01443743665

More information on Safeguarding at Oldcastle can be found on our website.