It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news of Miss Williams' passing. She was a cherished member of our school community. As a dedicated teacher, Miss Williams touched the lives of countless pupils, colleagues, and families during her teaching career. Her dedication to her pupils and her commitment to fostering a positive learning environment was evident to all who had the privilege of knowing her.

While we may not have had the opportunity to know Miss Williams as well as we would have liked, her presence will be greatly missed by both pupils and staff alike. Her enthusiasm for education and warm demeanor has left a lasting impression on our school community.

During this difficult time, we are thinking about Miss Williams' family and loved ones. We extend our deepest condolences to them as they navigate through this period of grief.

While we mourn Miss Williams's passing, her memory will live on in the hearts of those whose lives she touched, and her contributions to our school community will always be remembered.

We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received this week.

Food Pantry

Our food pantry has been relocated to our Community Room in school.  This allows parents to come in and choose items you would use rather than be provided with food .  The food that has been donated by Baobab Bach is surplus food provided by supermarkets.  The tinned and dry goods are well within use by date and are simply items that the supermarkets no longer require.  Please do pop in and look at our community room and the food pantry - all we ask is that you bring your own bag for life.  For £5 you can choose 15 items from the shelves.  Below is an idea of the type of items available.  

Free Uniform

A clothes rail of free uniform is on display in main reception and we encourage parents to help themselves. Please do pop in and help yourself. We hope the weather will start to improve and we will be able to roll the rails out the the car park for pick up time. All the uniform is free of charge.

Wellbeing Team Competition

Mrs Jury and the Wellbeing Team launched a competition to all children in assembly last week and asked them to create a poster that can be displayed around the school reminding pupils and staff of the new  recycling bins we have in school.  Children have two weeks to develop posters and these can be drawn or prepared on a computer.  All we ask is that the poster is colourful and contains all the correct information.  You can remind your child of the presentation by clicking here. - Recycling Presentation.  Closing date is 26th April.

Break time snacks

Please can we remind parents that break time snacks should be fruit. Thank you for your support

Years 1 to 6 Sports Day

The years 1 to 6 sports day will be held on Friday 17th May in the Athletics Track in Newbridge Fields.

Children in years 1 to 3 will complete their events in the morning and years 4 to 6 in the afternoon.  

The timings for the day are as follows:

• 9.30am to 12pm - Years 1, 2 and 3 events - Children will return to school for lunch.

• 12.30pm to 3pm - Years 4, 5 and 6 - Children will need to bring sandwiches on this day.

The PTA will be providing refreshments on the day.  

Nursery and Reception Sports Day

We are finalising details of the nursery and reception sports event as soon as the details are confirmed we will let parents know.

School Attendance

Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%.  This week's attendance was 95.9%.

Reminder - if your child is off school please ensure that you notify us by 9.30am.  

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

Year 1 enjoying the sunshine earlier this week.

Reception enjoyed being outside in the sunshine this week jumping in the muddy puddles!

Chilled out Barney having a snooze after a long walk to Newbridge Fields with year 5.

Year 2 enjoyed playing hopscotch, leapfrog and skipping this week.

This week in nursery

As part of this terms unit of work, Traditional Tales, we have been reading The Three Little Pigs.  We have discussed the book and the characters and retold the story.  Using our big blocks we built a house to keep out the big bag wolf.    We have had lots of fun outside this week, we’ve played in the mud kitchen and splashed about in the water.

Enrichment

Year 6 

As part of the learning experience for the end of term production for year 6, children will be participating in sessions to learn about film production. Today's session looked at the role of a make up designer.  The practical make up designer session looked at prosthetic special effects and children created a pretend cut on their hand.  I think you will agree they were very realistic!

Well done to our year 6 netball team who play Ysgol y Ferch o'r Sger this afternoon. The team played 3 matches and won all 3!  Team 1 player of the match - Viktorija,  team 2 player of the match - Esmay, Team 3 player of the match - Sofia. Da Iawn.  

Dance Success

Well done to Amelia in year 4 who received a High Merit in her Entry level Dance exam recently.

Stagecoach Success

Well done to Izzy from year 4 who was recently awarded student of the term in Stagecoach. The Stagecoach teachers commented on her commitment, how hard Izzy works and her massive progression since she started.  Great news.

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!

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

Friday 17th May - Years 1 to 6 Sports Days

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.