We've had a busy four day week this week with lots of exciting learning taking place.  School is closed for pupils tomorrow as staff complete training.  We return to school on Monday 8th April. Have a lovely Easter holidays.

Yesterday we had a lovely whole school get together to watch performances by our musical theatre pupils and choir members.  Well done to everyone who stood up and performed in front of the whole school!!

British Sign Language Week

All pupils took part in sign language sessions this week as part of British Sign Language week - we hope children have been showing you what they have learnt.  We had some fantastic feedback from pupils:

I think that I learnt a whole lot of things and I really struggled with sign language so I think it's really good to learn about it. But I do think deaf people struggle with the world they cannot hear so I reckon it's hard for them to understand it.

I think it was really fun and very educational. My favourite bit to learn is the greetings and the alphabet so people can spell their name and be able to say thank you or please when someone does something kind or you want someone to do something. I think a lot of people struggle with sign language including me so I think it is really important to learn, and every class should know some BSL.

I really enjoyed the British sign language because we learnt a lot of colours ,animals and the alphabet. We also learned a lot of family members like aunties and uncles brothers and sisters. I also enjoyed it because if anyone I approach is deaf and I need to talk to them I can.

For more information on sign language please click here - British Sign Language

House Colour Rewards

On Monday we announced the house points for the last term.  A staggering 20,248 tokens have been collected across the four houses!!  Well done everyone.  There was much excitement in the online assembly when children found out what position their house had come and what their rewards they would have.  

The rewards were chosen by our junior leadership team and children loved taking part in them.  

Year 6 End of Term Production

The year 6 end of term production is always memorable as children start planning and preparing for the production.  This year we are delighted to announce that the production will be Annie!  

We have been announcing all cast members over the past weeks - this week we announced the following roles. Please click on the clip below to reveal who will be playing this role.

Grace

Oliver Warbucks

Apple Seller

Drake

Servants

Bert Healey

Boylan Sisters

School Attendance

Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%.  

Change to recycling law in Wales

From 6th April there is a change to the recycling law in Wales. All workplaces in Wales must separate their waste for recycling. The changes are not only focused on improving the quality and quantity of recycling but are vital to delivering Wales’s commitments to reach zero waste and reduce our carbon emissions by 2050.

As a result of the law change we will have a new waste regime in school following the Easter holidays.

Children will be encouraged to place their fruit waste in the food bins in allocated areas and there will be no bins on the yard - please help us by taking your rubbish home.  Our eco committee will be helping to get the message across to children.  Children who have sandwiches will be encouraged to take their waste home with them in their lunch box.

Schools may be fined if the new recycling regime is not followed so we value your support in this positive change to waste in schools.

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

Outdoor Learning

Year 2 Den Building

Barney is looking forward to the Easter holidays and enjoying more time at the beach.  Thank you Gracie-Rose for Barney's lovely picture!

This week in Nursery

We have been learning about sinking and floating and had great fun playing in the water!  We have also been on an egg hunt and looked for numbers on the eggs.

Rainforest Session 

Well done to Theo and Lewis for participating in the Under 11's DC Thomas Cup final in the Principality Stadium today.  Bridgend Schools played Pontypool Schools in an exciting match. You had lots of support during lunch today! Well done Theo for scoring a try.

Baby and Toddler Group

Don't forget  we run a baby and toddler group every Wednesday morning during term time from 9am to 11am.  Baby and Toddler Group 

We love seeing the babies and toddlers coming each week to the Toddler Group - over the last couple of weeks the children and parents have been very creative!

Toddler Group will start again on Wednesday 10th April.

CAMHS SHINE team will be running workshops across Easter school holidays for parents of children and young people across Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board.  For further information on how to join these free workshops, please see the information poster attached.

Parents will also be interested in learning about Healthy Habits which has been put together by the SHINE team.  Health Habits

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

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

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. 

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.