Week 33 - Friday 7th June 2024
We hope you all had a lovely half term holiday and enjoyed the little bit of good weather we had to get out and about. We are now in the final part of the school year and we are looking forward to all the exciting learning and events that are planned this term.
Congratulations to Miss Hughes in Reception who got married over the May half term.
Careers Week
We started off the term with a bang straight into our Careers Week! Careers Week is a fantastic opportunity for children to learn about a variety of career choices. This year each year group focussed on a project based approach and children have really enjoyed.
There has been so many photos / videos collated by our teaching team that we have decided to document these in a Careers Week Google Sites. Please click below to view what our children have learnt during Careers Week.
Year 6 Annie production
Year 6 pupils are getting excited about their end of year production, Annie. Cast members have been learning lines, scene designers are busy getting the stage design ready and digital leaders are documenting the process. The children will be performing to their parents and carers on 16th and 17th July.
Here's a taster of the cast, along with a reminder to year 6 parents to order your tickets.
Bump Up Day - Thursday 4th July
Bump Up Day is when we announce who your child's teacher will be for the next academic year. Children will congregate in the main hall for a morning assembly, and we will announce the class teacher for each class. Children will then be able to visit their new classroom and get to know their new class teacher. Year 6 pupils will visit their new secondary school on this day.
Once our assembly has finished, parents will be emailed with details of the new class teachers and the location of their child's new classroom. We always enjoy Bump U Day and know that children get excited to find out who their teacher will be from September 2024.
Wellbeing Team Poster Competition
We announced the winners of the Recycling Competition posters in assembly this morning. Well done to Ava, Evie and Isabella - we look forward to displaying your posters around the school. It was a really hard choice for the wellbeing team to choose the winning posters.
There was a fantastic selection of entries and here are just a small selection of the entries we received.
Enrichment
We started a new term of enrichment this week. This term year groups are doing the following:
Reception - Outdoors and gardening, art and painting
Year 1 - clay, art and outdoor fun
Year 2 - Digital skills, construction and photogrpahy
Year 3 - Cricket / rugby, tennis or badminton
Year 4 - Karate, line dancing and short film review
Year 5 - STEM
Year 6 - Annie Production
Football at break times
Class representatives have devised a new scheme for the playing of football at break and lunch times. The new system was launched to pupils in assembly today. Class teachers will appoint a class referee every day who will be able to ensure that football is played in an appropriate manner.
Bridgend Library Summer Reading Challenge
Bridgend Library visited Oldcastle this morning and launched the Summer Reading Challenge in assembly to all pupils. This year theme is Marvelous Makers and children are encouraged to read a variety of books throughout the summer. Children who sign up to the challenge will receive a prize every time they swap their book in the library, and following the 6 visits they will receive a certificate and a medal in a school assembly in the new school year. The Library will be launching the challenge in a fun day on Saturday 13th July in Newbridge Fields. Parents please check the library social media pages for more information.
Oldcastle Rocks
We are delighted to announce that the PTA will be holding Oldcastle Rocks again this year. The fantastic family event will take place on Saturday 6th July so save the date! The PTA are busy planning the event and we are looking forward to having a range of musical performances, a BBQ, bar, bouncy castles, and so much more.
Cooking Sessions
We would like to invite parents into school to take part in a cooking session. We have been fortunate to link in with a volunteer who has knowledge of creating some exciting meals! We want to help parents learn easy techniques to prepare some cheap and nutritious meals for your family. We hope to be able to use some of the food from the food pantry too. We will provide all the food and the equipment for the session.
We are excited about these cooking sessions and we hope that you can attend. Due to the nature of the session, the places are limited. The session will take place on 25th June 9.30am to 11am.
Time Credits
We are delighted to let you know that we have signed up to Tempo Time Credits which is a scheme we can use to reward our volunteers. We are always extremely grateful for the support of volunteers and we are delighted to be able to provide a reward for time provided to the school. Volunteers earn Tempo Time Credits as part of a reward and recognition scheme for the invaluable work they do within their communities. These Credits can be exchanged for a range of services and activities provided by local and national Recognition Partners. We are in the process of setting up volunteers and look forward to being able to issue Time Credits.
If you volunteer with us we will be in touch with how you can register to receive time credits.
Year 6 Market Place Bundles - Donations Required
Dear parents and carers of Oldcastle pupils,
Our Year 6 pupils have been working hard learning all about fast fashion and Year 6 teachers decided it would be a great idea to allow parents and carers to donate old and unwanted baby and children's clothes for those families who may need it.
After you donate any clothes your children have grown out of or don’t wear anymore we will put those donations together into a bundle by size. These bundles will be given to families in our community who are in need of clothes or can make use of them for their children or to a variety of local charities. The bundles will include information about the clothes inside (Sizes etc…) on the top so you know just what you’re getting!
These clothes will be donated to those in our community all with the help of your old clothes! We would be grateful if you lend a helping hand to our pupils who are giving to our community!
Donations would be much appreciated to start the children's journey of learning the importance of giving to others in need. Please drop clothes suitable for babies to aged 11 years into the school office.
Many thanks,
Year 6 Team.
The pupils have created a radio advert to promote the marketplace scheme - please listen here
Shine Emotional Support
The Shine team will be visiting Oldcastle Primary to host a coffee morning and workshop for parents and carers. The session will be very informal and provide information for parents on how to ensure positive emotional well-being in children. We do hope you can come and benefit from the session and help your child build resilience.
The Shine team will host two sessions - Monday 10th June 2pm to 3pm, and Tuesday 11th June 9am to 10am.
Class and Team Photos
Tempest Photography will be in school next Wednesday 12th June to take class and team photos. Please can children attend school in normal school uniform for the photos. Children who have represented the school in sporting events should bring PE kit to change into for the photo.
Headlice
We are being informed of a number of cases of headlice throughout the school. Please can we ask that parents check their child's hair over the weekend. Thank you for your support.
School Attendance
Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%. This week's attendance was 91.5%.
Reminder - if your child is off school please ensure that you notify us by 9.30am.
School Values
The school values for June will be Honesty and Trust
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
School Photos
Outdoor Language and Play
This week was the last of the Nursery Outdoor Learning sessions. The theme was ‘birds’ and the book that we read was ‘The Dawn Chorus’ about a bird called Peep who wanted to join the other birds singing in the dawn chorus, only to discover that he was actually a Nightingale and his talent was to sing at night. The children and their grown-ups made some bird feeders out of lollipsticks and some lovely bird pictures. They also went on a bird hunt in the nursery outdoor area and had a visit from ‘Polly the Parrot’. A big thank you to the parents and grandparents that have come along and supported these sessions and also to the nursery staff who have helped Mrs Diehl over the past 4 weeks.
Enrichment
Year 5 enjoyed a walk to Newbridge Fields this week as part of their outdoor learning sessions.
Sporting Success
Rugby Success
Congratulations to the following year 5 children who received an award during the end of season rugby presentation for Bridgend Sports Under 10's last weekend.
Boaz D - Supporters Player of the Year
Osian T - Spirit of the Sports
Aaron D - Player of the Year Backs
Aled H - Spirit of the Sports
Frankie F- Participation Award
Jackson H - Participation Award
Henry W - Participation Award
Freddie B - Participation Award
Logan P - Participation Award
Dominic Z - Participation Award
Community News
Community Room
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!
Football Club News - Open Session
Useful Dates
10th June - 5P to Sony
10th June - Shine Session and Coffee afternoon at 2pm
11th June - Shine Session and Coffee morning at 9am
12th June - Class and Team Photos
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
Thursday 2nd May 2024
Monday 22nd July 2024
Inset Days 2024/25
Inset Days have been approved by School Governors for 2024/25 and they are as follows:
Monday 2nd September 2024
Friday 6th December 2024
Friday 21st February 2025
Friday 11th April 2025
Monday 2nd June 2025
Monday 21st July 2025
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
School Vision
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
Safeguarding
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.